The Karate Kid (1984)
A bullied teen finds an unlikely mentor, learning karate and life lessons that uplift his spirit.
New Jersey teen Daniel LaRusso moves to Los Angeles with his mother, and soon strikes up a relationship with Ali. He quickly finds himself the target of bullying by a group of thugs, led by Ali's ex-boyfriend Johnny, who study karate at the Cobra Kai dojo under ruthless sensei John Kreese. Fortunately, Daniel befriends Mr. Miyagi, an unassuming repairman who just happens to be a martial arts master himself. Miyagi takes Daniel under his wing, training him in a more compassionate form of karate for self-defense and, later, preparing him to compete against the brutal Cobra Kai.
How intense is The Karate Kid?
The Karate Kid has no gore and some violence. Emotionally it carries some weight. The pace is measured, and it is a family watch and a comfort watch. The humor runs wholesome. Rated PG.
What The Karate Kid feels like
- Tone
- feel goodheartwarminguplifting
- Pace
- Measured
- Humor
- wholesome
- Best for
- Family nightComfort watch
Where to stream The Karate Kid
US availability via TMDB, last checked Sep 13, 2026. The app filters picks to the services you actually have.
Is The Karate Kid for you?
Is The Karate Kid scary?
No. The Karate Kid is not a scary watch (scare level 0 of 3).
Is The Karate Kid gory or violent?
No gore (0 of 3) and some violence (1 of 3). Squeamish viewers are fine here.
Is The Karate Kid sad or heavy?
A little. There is some emotional weight (1 of 3), but it is not a heavy watch.
Is The Karate Kid OK for kids?
It is rated PG and nothing here runs hot: scare 0, gore 0, violence 1, each out of 3. A safe family pick by the numbers.
How long is The Karate Kid?
The Karate Kid runs 2h 7m.
Where can I stream The Karate Kid?
The Karate Kid is streaming on Netflix.
Does The Karate Kid have a happy ending? spoiler-safe answer
Yes. It lands on a happy note.
Cast and crew
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