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Karate Kid: Legends

also known as “Karate Kid: Efsane Dövüşçüler,” “Karate Kid: Legende,” “Karatê Kid: Lendas,” “Karate Kid: Leyendas,” See all »

MPA Rating: PG-13-Rating

for martial arts violence and some language.

Moral Rating:
Moviemaking Quality:
Primary Audience:	Teens Adults
Genre:	Action Sports Family Drama Sequel
Length:	1 hr. 58 min.
Year of Release:	2025
USA Release:	May 30, 2025 (wide release) DVD: August 26, 2025

Relevant Issues

Martial arts competition

A new student re-learns martial arts inorder to enter a tournament.

BULLIES—When someone picks on my child, should I tell him to fight back or to “turn the other cheek”?

Featuring
Joshua Jackson … Victor Jackie Chan … Mr. Han Ralph Macchio … Daniel LaRusso Ming-Na Wen … Li Fong’s Mother Shaunette Renée Wilson … Ms. Morgan See all » Ben Wang … Li Fong Sadie Stanley … Aramis Knight … Wyatt Oleff … Jennifer-Lynn Christie … Caleb Baker … Demolition Mixed Martial Arts Student Katrina Batur … Fights Cheerer Emile Pazzano … Fan
Director
Jonathan Entwistle
Producer
Karen Rosenfelt Columbia Pictures Jerry Weintraub Productions See all » Sony Pictures Releasing Sunswept Entertainmen
Distributor
Columbia Pictures, a division of Sony Pictures

“When masters unite a new legacy begins”

Here’s what the distributor says about their film: “Kung fu prodigy Li Fong (Ben Wang) is uprooted from his home in Beijing and forced to move to New York City. He attracts unwanted attention from a formidable local karate champion. Driven by a desire to defend himself, Li embarks on a journey to enter the ultimate karate competition. Guided by the wisdom of his kung fu teacher, Mr. Han (Jackie Chan), and the legendary Karate Kid, Daniel LaRusso (Ralph Macchio), Li merges their unique styles to prepare for an epic martial arts showdown.”

Prequel: “The Karate Kid” (2010)

Profane language: “Oh my g*d” (1)
Vulgar/Crude language: S-word, *ss words (4)
Nudity: Shirtless males
Sex: None
Drugs/Alcohol: None

Volunteer reviewer needed for this movie

See list of Relevant Issues—questions-and-answers.

Positive
Neutral
Critics

Positive

Positive—Better than expected. It was really entertaining! It does earn its PG-13 rating but it was clean overall. A few curse words including (A**, D**k). Multiple fight scenes, at times intense. A character does get stabbed with a knife, but no blood is shown. A couple kiss in school hallway, but is reprimanded by a teacher. Another kiss scene is shown, but it was kept lighthearted.

I took children ages 15, 13, 10, 8 and they all enjoyed it. It overall had family themes. Teenagers should respect parents and heed to their caution. One teenager unfortunately lives with the regret of not listening to her dad. Also, shows themes of love, family, support and friendship. No homosexuality is present.

Overall, it was very reminiscent of the original “Karate Kid”. Give 4½ stars! Better than average. Go see it and leave the theater with some new karate moves!
My Ratings: Moral rating: Better than Average / Moviemaking quality: 4Â½

Maggie, age 31 (USA)

Neutral

Neutral—If you’ve seen the original, you’ve seen this one. It’s like listening to a modern “remix” of your favorite old songs. It was pretty good, but very, very, VERY predictable.
My Ratings: Moral rating: Average / Moviemaking quality: 3

Chrystal, age 48 (USA)

PLEASE share your observations and insights to be posted here.

Secular Movie Critics

…It’s warm, it’s breezy – it’s a burst of summery family fun… Fans of the franchise will get a kick out of Ralph Macchio and Jackie Chan teaming up for a breezy new chapter… [4/5]

Andrew Lawrence, The Guardian

…A triumphant return to form… Exceptionally well directed… impressive fight choreography… Jackie Chan steals almost every scene he’s in… [B]

Kevin Finnerty, ShowBiz Junkies

…a messy and uninspired addition to the franchise… And the plot is just awful, crammed with so many cliches…

Frank Scheck, The Hollywood Reporter

…Jackie Chan and Ralph Macchio have fantastic chemistry – if only they had more screentime. One of the better installments in this mixed franchise. …

Jack Shepherd, Total Film

…Old-fashioned enough to be likable retro corn…

Owen Gleiberman, Variety

…a mixed bag from a film-making perspective. The use of location is quite excellent… The karate/kung fu sequences aren’t quite Karate Kid royalty, but they’re well choreographed and highly entertaining, especially the finale. …

Becca Johnson, Talking Films

…Ben Wang proves to be a likeable hero… Franchise re-boot fails to land a punch… the film’s cynical, formulaic execution smothers any spark its young star brings to the proceedings. …

Tim Grierson, Screen Daily

…there’s a deep sense of redundancy… we don’t have much opportunity to care about the people fighting… [C]

Wilson Chapman, IndieWire

…dull yet sincere… this movie is exhausting. That would be fine if it weren’t also overly sincere, familiar, and dull. …

Odie Henderson, The Boston Globe

…Wang, for what it’s worth, is a charismatic and likable lead… All the film’s got going for it is Wang. …the events that unfold are unbearably hokey and fake. …

Johnny Oleksinski, New York Post