History Film / TheKarateKid

* ''Film/TheKarateKid1984''

* ''Film/TheKarateKid2010''

Following the 2010 movie, the franchise went with an {{Unreboot}} [[SequelInAnotherMedium series]] called ''Series/CobraKai'' following ''Karate Kid'' antagonist Johnny Lawrence and Daniel [[SequelGap 34 years after the first movie]]. Both Ralph Macchio and William Zabka reprise their roles, and the series debuted on Website/YouTube Premium before undergoing a ChannelHop to Creator/{{Netflix}} starting with the third season. A new film in the series was announced in 2023, set for a 2024 release; the film is set in the continuity of the original films and [[{{Crossover}} features both]] [=LaRusso=] (Ralph Macchio) and Han (Jackie Chan), but is not directly connected to ''Cobra Kai''.

Following the 2010 movie, the franchise went with an {{Unreboot}} [[SequelInAnotherMedium series]] called ''Series/CobraKai'' following ''Karate Kid'' antagonist Johnny Lawrence and Daniel [[SequelGap 34 years after the first movie]]. Both Ralph Macchio and William Zabka reprise their roles, and the series debuted on Website/YouTube Premium before undergoing a ChannelHop to Creator/{{Netflix}} starting with the third season. A new film in the series was announced in 2022, set for a 2024 release; the film is set in the continuity of the original films, but is not directly connected to ''Cobra Kai''.

Next was a SoftReboot, which featured Creator/HilarySwank as Julie Pierce, another teenager that needs help learning self-discipline from mastering UsefulNotes/{{Karate}}, is also trained by Mr Miyagi, and a monastery of additional martial artists. Miyagi was the only continuity between the two films, although he does make several [[ContinuityNod references]] to the previous trilogy.

Next was a SoftReboot, which featured Creator/HilarySwank as Julie Pierce, another teenager that needs help learning self-discipline from mastering Karate, is also trained by Mr Miyagi, and a monastery of additional martial artists. Miyagi was the only continuity between the two films, although he does make several [[ContinuityNod references]] to the previous trilogy.

** In the first film, Miyagi claims that there is no defense against a properly performed crane kick. There's no martial arts move to which there is no defense. In fact, the crane kick would be extremely easy to defense against because the pose very obviously forewarns your opponent that you're about to use it.This is apparently acknowledged in ''Karate Kid 2'', where the crane kick is defended by stepping slightly to the side.

* ArtisticLicenseSports: Barnes's fouls on Danny in the final showdown are so blatant and close together that even the most lenient referee would've disqualified him halfway through the match.
** And this is referenced in Cobra Kai: Terry Silver, Barnes' ''Sensei'', likes to bribe the referees.

** Mr. Miyagi's name is probably a reference to Chojun Miyagi, founder of the Goju-ryu karate school.
** At the same time, it might be as well an obscure reference to Teinosuke Yagi, a real life bonesetter and former jujutsu master who introduced the young Jigoro Kano (the founder of UsefulNotes/{{Judo}}) to his art when the latter was being bullied. The character's full name, back when it was canonically Keisuke Miyagi, was an even bigger reference to T''ei''no''suke'' ''Yagi''.

%% * GettingCrapPastThe Radar: Due to overwhelming and persistent misuse, GCPTR is on-page examples only until 01 June 2021. If you are reading this in the future, please check the trope page to make sure your example fits the current definition.

* AwesomeMcCoolName: Cobra Kai translates from Japanese as "Cobra Society".

* TookALevelInBadass: Daniel goes from a complete scrub to winning a tournament handicapped in the first movie with less than 7 weeks (Nov 1st training starts and Dec 19th was the tournamant) of trainings against the2 time defending champion.

** And this is referenced in Cobra Kai: Terry Silver, Barne's ''Sensei'', likes to bribe the referees.

The next film, from 2010, was a [[ContinuityReboot Hard Reboot]], and focused on the student-master relationship between Andre "Dre" Parker (played by Creator/JadenSmith) and Mr Han (played by Creator/JackieChan). Instead of making the student [[WaxOnWaxOff do chores]], Mr Han does the same sort of TricksterMentor approach and teaches Dre how to become a better son. Oh, and, due to Mr Han being Chinese, Kung Fu is practiced in it [[ArtifactTitle instead of Karate]].

Following the 2010 movie, the franchise went with an {{Unreboot}} [[SequelInAnotherMedium series]] called ''Series/CobraKai'' following ''Karate Kid'' antagonist Johnny Lawrence and Daniel [[SequelGap 34 years after the first movie]]. Both Ralph Macchio and William Zabka reprise their roles, and the series debuted on Website/YouTube Premium before undergoing a ChannelHop to Creator/{{Netflix}} starting with the third season.

* SerialEscalation: The first film had Daniel dealing with a gang of bullies who at worst would rough him up repeatedly. His big showdown with them takes place at a tournament with rules, regulations, and time outs if things get too rough. The sequel has Daniel in a real fight at the end, with the very real possibility that he could lose his life.

* DefeatMeansFriendship: Downplayed. When Daniel wins the tournament, Johnny can be heard shouting: "You're okay, [=LaRusso=]!" Still takes decades before they actually get along.

* RunningGag: Reminding people that [[ItsPronouncedTroPAY it's pronounced Mi-ya-''gi'', not Mi-ya-ji]].

** While the [[Film/TheKarateKidPartIII third film]] is all about John Kreese's revenge towards Daniel and Mr. Miyagi after beating Cobra Kai in the 1984 All-Valley, it's his war buddy, [[BigBad Terry Silver]], that does [[DragonInChief most of the work on ''his'' own terms]] by hiring [[TheHeavy Mike Barnes]] as [[TheRival Daniel's third rival]] and [[EvilMentor corrupting Daniel himself]] as a means for him to experience pain.

** While the [[Film/TheKarateKidPartIII third film]] is all about John Kreese's revenge towards Daniel and Mr. Miyagi after beating Cobra Kai in the 1984 All-Valley, it's his war buddy, [[BigBad Terry Silver]], that does most of the work on HIS own terms by hiring [[TheHeavy Mike Barnes]] as [[TheRival Daniel's third rival]] and [[EvilMentor corrupting Daniel himself]] as a means for him to experience pain.

** While [[TheHeavy Johnny Lawrence is Daniel's]] [[TheRival main rival]] and FinalBoss in the [[Film/TheKarateKid first film]], it's his sensei, John Kreese, who is the film's true [[BigBad main antagonist]], as he is the one who influences Cobra Kai into embracing the "Strike First, Strike Hard, No Mercy" mindset, which turns Johnny, his gang, and the rest of Kreese's students into ruthless bullies as a result. Mr. Miyagi lampshades this after Daniel gets beaten by the Cobra Kais during the Halloween party.

** Colonel Paul Dugan in Film/TheNextKarateKid, being an {{Expy}} of John Kreese who serves as the leader and instructor of [[ThugDojo Alpha Elite]], with [[TheHeavy Ned Randall as his lead student]] and the [[TheRival main rival]] to Julie Pierce.

%%* BlondeBrunetteRedhead: Ali, Kumiko, and Jessica, respectively. Daniel obviously isn't picky when it comes to hair color.

* BreakoutVillain: John Kreese appeared in only three scenes in the original film but was so memorably over-the-top that he was present in the next two sequels [[spoiler:and returns at the end of season one of ''Cobra Kai'']]. Granted, his scene in ''Part II'' was initially scripted for the first movie.

* DefeatMeansFriendship: Downplayed. When Daniel wins the tournament, Johnny can be heard shouting: "You're okay, [=LaRusso=]!"

* WorldOfCardboardSpeech: Daniel's plea to Miyagi to perform the pressure point healing technique on his leg, letting his master know that he fully understands the meaning of balance.

* TheAllegedCar: Daniel's mom drives a car that's constantly breaking down and needs a rolling start to get going.

First is the Larusso trilogy, which focused on a student-master relationship between Daniel Larusso (played by Creator/RalphMacchio) and Mr. Nariyoshi Miyagi (played by Creator/PatMorita). The name "Miyagi" came [[PersonAsVerb to be slang]] for a type of RetiredBadass.

--->'''Daniel's Mom:''' They went bankrupt!...[But] listen to this. I walk out of Rocket with the beginning of Excedrin headache one through ten about to come on, and I'm going back to the car when this woman comes flying out of this restaurant, The Orient Express, and she's screaming, 'I quit! I quit!' Right behind her is this guy and he's yelling just as loud, 'You can't quit! You're fired!' It's one minute to noon, people are coming in to lunch, I'm the first but only applicant - I got the job!

* ArtisticLicenseSports: Barnes's fouls on Danny in the final showdown are so blatant and close together that even the most lenient ref would've disqualified him halfway through the match.

* GangOfBullies: The Cobras band together and are almost always wearing matching outfits when they beat up or antagonize Daniel.

The next film, from 2010, was a [[ContinuityReboot Hard Reboot]], and focused on the student-master relationship between Andre "Dre" Parker (played by Creator/JadenSmith) and Mr Han (played by Creator/JackieChan). Instead of making the student [[WaxOnWaxOff do chores]], Mr Han does the same sort of TricksterMentor approach and teaches Dre how to become a better son.

Many people have noticed that Creator/DCComics is credited in the films, but contrary to popular belief, the films are not directly based on any comic book. Creator/ColumbiaPictures obtained permission from DC (as a professional courtesy) to use the title "The Karate Kid" because the name was already in use for the ComicBook/KarateKid in DC's ''ComicBook/LegionOfSuperHeroes'' comic, but the films draw no inspiration from the character.

* GettingCrapPastTheRadar:
** Johnny rolling a joint in the bathroom.
** The Tea Ceremony. When Yukie and Miyagi did that, Miyagi showed up next scene [[GoodPeopleHaveGoodSex sweating and wearing a tank top.]] Since Kumiko and Daniel were doing the same ceremony, it's pretty obvious what she wanted with him... until hurricane cockblock showed up.

A series of five films beginning in 1984, the movies can be broken into distinct eras.