5 reasons to watch Karate Kid: Legends |Sportskeeda Lite

Karate Kid: Legends is a martial arts drama movie released in 2025 directed by Jonathan Entwistle and starring Jackie Chan and Ralph Macchio, and featuring Ben Wang in the lead role. It is the sixth part of The Karate Kid movie franchise, and a continuation of the 2010 movie and the Cobra Kai series (2018–2025).

Chan and Macchio reprise their earlier roles, with Macchio entering the movie franchise for the first time since The Karate Kid Part III (1989).

In keeping with the tradition of The Karate Kid movies, the tale of Karate Kid: Legends follows Li Fong, a teenage kung fu student, as he is relocated from Beijing to New York City by his mother. Having a hard time adjusting and burdened by a family loss, Li, who had to leave behind his martial arts days, is again tempted by the world, fighting school bullies, finding new friends, and romance.

With the tutelage of Mr. Han and a surprise sponsor from the Miyagi-Do tradition, Li is forced to reconcile his history and forge his own path, both on and off the ring.

With its brisk runtime, memorable comebacks, and strong performances, there are many reasons to watch Karate Kid: Legends.

Disclaimer: The following list is ranked in no particular order, and the opinions expressed belong solely to the author.

Nostalgic comeback of Jackie Chan & Ralph Macchio and 4 other reasons to watch Karate Kid: Legends

1) Karate Kid: Legends merges the three storylines of the franchise

Karate Kid: Legends unites all three components of The Karate Kid franchise (Image via Apple TV+)

Karate Kid: Legends unites all three storylines of The Karate Kid franchise. Far from being simply a follow-up to the originals, the 2025 movie also connects to the 2010 remake, which had previously acted as a standalone. By connecting characters such as Daniel LaRusso from the original series and Mr. Han from the remake, the movie enriches and expands the Karate Kid universe.

Karate Kid: Legends also weaves the narrative of Cobra Kai into its own. While not a direct sequel to the series, the movie most certainly affirms Cobra Kai as part of the same universe. The Daniel LaRusso presented here is the one scarred by what happened in Cobra Kai, rewarding die-hard fans with a rich, cohesive experience that pays respect to every branch of the franchise.

2) Easy to enjoy thanks to its compact runtime

At 94 minutes, it is the shortest Karate Kid film yet (Image via Instagram/@karatekidmovie)

The other distinctive aspect of Karate Kid: Legends is its length. At just 94 minutes, it is the shortest movie of The Karate Kid franchise compared to The Next Karate Kid, which was 107 minutes, 13 minutes longer than this 2025 installment.

It is also significantly shorter than the original (127 minutes) and the 2010 remake (140 minutes). The shorter runtime keeps the story focused and fast-paced, delivering exciting action and key emotional moments without unnecessary filler. It is perfect for fans wanting a quick, engaging martial arts film.

3) The nostalgia behind Jackie Chan and Ralph Macchio's return

Jackie Chan returns as Mr. Han (Image via Instagram/@karatekidmovie)

Ben Wang might have performed the starring role, but one of the most anticipated draws of Karate Kid: Legends was definitely Jackie Chan's return as Mr. Han and Ralph Macchio's return as Daniel LaRusso.

There was a reason for bringing those iconic characters of the 2010 remake and the original 1984 film together in one package since they had never coexisted nor had been part of a movie in decades. These characters had limited screen time, with Mr. Han appearing mostly in the beginning and latter part of the film, while Daniel LaRusso entered midway with a more subtle role.

While it does make sense to include more of the new lead and Mr. Han, particularly since Macchio's character had so much screen time in Cobra Kai, the fans would have liked to have seen Daniel more prominently featured.

4) Ben Wang's standout role

Ben Wang as Li Fong in the movie (Image via Instagram/@karatekidmovie)

Li Fong, Ben Wang's portrayal of the titular character in the movie, has been quite enjoyable for fans. Wang is a high-energy performer, delivering plenty of stunt work to Karate Kid: Legends.

Though Li Fong has less screen time than Daniel LaRusso had in the original trilogy, he has emerged as a fan-favorite protagonist within a short period since the movie's release. Wang also manages to hold his own and never gets overwhelmed by the legendary aura of Macchio and Jackie Chan.

5) The first Karate Kid movie in over a decade, and the first post-Cobra Kai installment

Ralph Macchio as Daniel LaRusso (Image via Instagram/@karatekidmovie)

Another primary reason why Karate Kid: Legends has resonated with audiences is that it is the first Karate Kid movie in 15 years.

The last installment, the 2010 remake, came as a reboot instead of a continuation. Conversely, Karate Kid: Legends picks up the original series far into the decades after its conclusion, providing die-hard fans of the original a good reason to go back to the cinema.

The launch of the movie also followed the end of Cobra Kai, the original hit spin-off of the movie franchise. The show, both critically successful and popular with fans for more than six seasons, also built massive hype for the new movie.

Viewers interested can see Karate Kid: Legends currently playing in theaters.