WithKarate Kid: Legends' release on the horizon, many must be curious whetherCobra Kaiis a mandatory watch to fully enjoy the movie. Serving as a direct extension of the universe set up by theoriginalKarate Kidmovies,Cobra Kaiachieved what none of the other film reboots in the franchise could. 1994’sThe Next Karate Kidwas the first movie in the franchise to be presented as a reboot, where Mr. Miyagi trained a new student. Unfortunately, the film failed to leave its mark after it performed poorly both critically and commercially.
TheKarate Kid2010 reboottried to achieve something similar and even proved to be commercially successful. It also achieved favorable reviews from viewers and critics, which should have been enough for the film to pave the way for more follow-ups. However, surprisingly, even the 2010 reboot struggled to revive the franchise untilCobra Kaicame along. SinceCobra Kaihas played a crucial role in restoring interest in theKarate KidIP, audiences may naturally be curious whether it needs to be watched before checking out the upcoming movie in the franchise.
Karate Kid: Legends Is A Separate Project From Cobra Kai
The Film Will Try To Etch Its Own Identity In The Franchise
Given how it has not been long sinceCobra Kaiended its run,Karate Kid: Legendswill not entirely be able to leave the shadow of its legacy. No matter how different it tries to be from the Netflix series, viewers will compare it with the show. With that said, however,Karate Kid: Legendshas a completely different creative team.Cobra Kai’s creators, Josh Heald, Jon Hurwitz, and Hayden Schlossberg, have not been directly involved with the movie project in any capacity, and even the movie’s director, Jonathan Entwistle, has never worked on anyKarate Kidprojects before.
Karate Kid: Legends - Release Date, Cast, Story, Trailer & Everything We Know
Everything you need to know about the new Karate Kid movie coming from Sony in 2025, including cast members and the potential storylines.
SinceKarate Kid: Legendsis doing its own thing, viewers who have not watchedCobra Kaican rest assured that prior knowledge of the series is not essential. The movie may drop references and subtle nods toCobra Kaiand the originalKarate Kidmovies. However, since its titular “Karate Kid” is an entirely new character, it seems likeKarate Kid: Legendsis again aiming to reboot the franchise while expanding and retconning a few aspects of its established lore. Owing to this, viewers unfamiliar withCobra Kaiwill be able to enjoy it without feeling lost.
Karate Kid: Legends Is Technically Set In The Same Universe As Cobra Kai
The Movie’s Timeline In The Franchise Has Been Confirmed
Towards theend ofCobra Kaiseason 6, Ralph Macchio’s Daniel LaRusso wonders whether he should quit karate altogether. However, before the season’s final credits start rolling, his wife reminds him of what karate means to him and how he may never be able to leave it behind. This seemed like the perfect setup for Daniel LaRusso’s return as a sensei inKarate Kid: Legends, establishing that the movie would unfold after the show’s events.
Shedding light on the same, Ralph Macchio also confirmed (viaVariety) that the movie takes place three years afterCobra Kai’s events. While it is still unknown whether the movie will draw any references toDaniel’s story fromCobra Kai, the timeline confirmation establishes thatCobra KaiandKarate Kid: Legendsare set in the same universe. Instead of featuring a different version of Daniel LaRusso and marking the inception of a whole new karate universe in the franchise,Karate Kid: Legendsis seemingly attempting to expand the existing narrative.
Karate Kid: Legendsis scheduled to be released on June 03, 2025.
Since many story beats inCobra Kaiestablished that the 2010 Jackie Chan reboot did not unfold in the same universe as the originalKarate Kidfilms,Karate Kid: Legendsis creating some plot holes by making major retcons to established story elements. However, as long as the movie does not contradict the core events from the show and the original trilogy, it should be able to get away with its story changes.
Which Cobra Kai Characters Are Returning In Karate Kid: Legends
Daniel LaRusso Is The Only Confirmed Returning Character
AsKarate Kid: Legends' trailers suggest,Daniel LaRusso is the onlyCobra Kaicharacterwho will appear in the movie. The movie will likely not feature any of the younger new generation of fighters from the series because of its focus on the new character, Li Fong. Like all previous installments in theKarate Kidfranchise,Karate Kid: Legendswill also honor Mr. Miyagi and his profound lessons. With Daniel’s return, it is also hard not to speculate that his wife, Amanda, will also appear in some capacity, but only time will tell whether the film will accommodate her in its narrative.
Why You Should Watch Cobra Kai Before Karate Kid: Legends
The Netflix Show Adds More Depth To Daniel’s Overarching Story
SinceKarate Kid: Legends' primary motive will be to find its place in the franchise, it will likely avoid focusing too much on what has happened in Daniel’s story so far. However, since a lot has happened to the Ralph Macchio character in the Netflix series, and he has significantly changed over the show’s six-season runtime,it would be unfair to ignore hisCobra Kaicharacter development. Owing to this, viewers who wish to learn more about Daniel’s past and how much he has grown as a karate sensei should check outCobra Kaibefore viewingKarate Kid: Legends.
1
100%
2
91%
3
90%
4
95%
5
98%
6
Like most long-running shows,Cobra Kaihas had its share of ups and downs, highs and lows. However, for the most part, the series managed to maintain the perfect balance between fresh storytelling and nostalgia almost throughout its runtime. Even from a production standpoint, the series only improved with each season. SinceCobra Kaiis overall a great show that boasts an impressive Rotten Tomatoes score of 94%, it deserves to be seen even if it does not have any direct story connections withKarate Kid: Legends.
Karate Kid: Legends
Karate Kid: Legends is a sequel to Cobra Kai and The Karate Kid directed by Jonathan Entwistle. The film sees Ralph Macchio and Jackie Chan reprising their roles, continuing the legacy of martial arts mentorship and rivalry in a new era of challenges and apprentices.
Cobra Kai
Cast
Cobra Kai is a sequel series continuing the narrative of the Karate Kid saga, set 30 years after the 1984 All Valley Karate Tournament. It focuses on Johnny Lawrence seeking redemption by reopening the Cobra Kai dojo, reigniting his rivalry with Daniel LaRusso, who strives to maintain balance in his life.
