KARATE KID: LEGENDS (2025)

Genre: Action/Drama
Director: Jonathan Entwistle
Cast: Jackie Chan, Ralph Macchio, Ben Wang, Joshua Jackson, Sadie Stanley, Aramis Knight, Wyatt Oleff, Shaunette Renée Wilson, Ming-Na Wen
Runtime: 1 hr 34 mins
Rating: PG (Some Violence)
Released By: Sony Pictures
Official Website: 

Opening Day: 5 June 2025

Synopsis: Karate Kid: Legends unites the iconic martial arts masters of one of the most beloved film franchises of all time to tell a completely new story full of action and heart. When kung fu prodigy Li Fong (Ben Wang) relocates to New York City with his mother to attend a prestigious new school, he finds solace in a new friendship with a classmate and her father. But his newfound peace is short-lived after 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. 

Movie Review:

It’s been nearly 15 years since The Karate Kid franchise last graced the big screen with the 2010 reboot starring Jackie Chan and Jaden Smith. Though that film leaned more toward kung fu than karate, it was a respectable attempt at honoring the spirit of the original Mr. Miyagi saga. Aside from Netflix’s Cobra Kai series, the franchise has largely remained dormant until now.

Sony Pictures returns to the dojo with Karate Kid Legends, a film that initially promises a thrilling new chapter. Unfortunately, despite some decent action choreography, there’s little else to remember or celebrate in this uninspired entry.

The story written by Rob Lieber centers on Li Fong (Ben Wang, American Born Chinese) and his mother, Dr. Fong (Ming-Na Wen), who relocate to New York City after she lands a job at a local hospital. Li soon befriends Mia (Sadie Stanley), whose father Victor (Joshua Jackson) owns a neighborhood pizza parlor.

Soon, Li clashes with Conor (Aramis Knight), Mia’s ex-boyfriend, and prepares to face him in the Five Boroughs Tournament. However, the plot takes a baffling detour as it shifts focus to Victor’s attempted boxing comeback with Li inexplicably becoming his trainer despite just having been beaten up by Conor. In a puzzling sequence, Li singlehandedly defeats a gang of thugs which somehow earns Victor’s respect.

Though much was made of the return of Jackie Chan and Ralph Macchio, their characters—Master Han and Daniel LaRusso feel like afterthoughts. Han has intermittent appearances while LaRusso doesn’t appear until nearly an hour into the film. Their involvement is awkwardly explained through a vague “origin of karate” backstory linking the Miyagi and Han families.

The film’s biggest flaw is its muddled, unfocused plot. Lieber inexplicably devotes a large portion of the runtime to meandering subplots and forced banter before finally bringing in the iconic mentors. Wouldn’t it make more sense for Han and LaRusso to train Li from the beginning, building toward a satisfying tournament finale? Instead, the final act feels like a hastily assembled series of SNL sketches.

For comparison, the 2010 reboot may have diverged from traditional karate but it delivered powerful training sequences, emotional resonance and a gripping climax. Karate Kid Legends lacks that energy and depth. The fight scenes here are serviceable but formulaic and the emotional beats like Li’s connection to his late brother feel perfunctory and underdeveloped.

Ben Wang, to his credit is a standout. His performance and martial arts presence hold their own opposite veterans like Wen, Chan, and Macchio. He’s clearly committed and with better material, he could’ve anchored a far more compelling film.

In the end, Karate Kid Legends feels like a lazy, desperate attempt to reboot a beloved franchise without understanding what made it special in the first place. Despite the nostalgia bait and familiar faces, this underdog story ultimately lacks bite, heart and originality.

Movie Rating:

(A desperate lazy attempt to revive The Karate Kid for modern audiences)

Review by Linus Tee