Karate Kid: Legends Review – Cast, Story, Release & More

Movie Details: Karate Kid – Legends

Movie Name: Karate Kid – Legends
Release Date: May 30, 2025
Platform: Theatres
Languages: Hindi, English
Director: Jonathan Entwistle
Casts: Jackie Chan, Sadie Stanley, Aramis Knight, Ralph Macchio, Joshua Jackson, Ben Wang
Genre: Martial Arts Drama

Introduction

Karate Kid – Legends is the sixth film in the legendary Karate Kid franchise. The goal of the movie, which stars Jackie Chan and Ralph Macchio again, is to bring back the series' original essence. While it successfully taps into nostalgia, it struggles to offer new excitement, falling into predictability and thin character development.

Plot Summary

The movie opens with a nod to The Karate Kid Part II, where Mr. Miyagi discusses the philosophical link between karate and kung fu.

Main Storyline:

Li Fang (Ben Wang), a kung fu student in Beijing, moves to New York with his mother (Ming-Na Wen), who urges him to give up martial arts and focus on academics.
In New York, he befriends Mia (Sadie Stanley), whose father Victor (Joshua Jackson) is drowning in debt and being threatened by creditors.
Conner (Aramis Knight), Mia’s ex-boyfriend and a skilled martial artist, becomes Li's rival.
Li saves Victor from an attack, leading Victor to ask Li to teach him kung fu. When Victor is injured, Li must step up to compete in the Five Boro Tournament.
Li is trained by his former master Han (Jackie Chan), who calls in Daniel LaRusso (Ralph Macchio) for support.

The tournament climaxes in a rooftop showdown in Manhattan, where Li uses teachings from both his mentors to face off against Conner.

Direction and Execution

The first feature film starring Jonathan Entwistle is Karate Kid: Legends. Known for directing series like The End of the F**ing World*, he successfully brings a retro vibe to the screen. However, the story lacks originality, and the action sequences feel repetitive.

Strengths:

Strong nostalgic feel
Pictures that perfectly reflect the 1980s
Core martial arts philosophy remains intact

Weaknesses:

Predictable plot development
Weak character arc for Daniel LaRusso
The Five Boro Tournament lacks dramatic tension and detail

Performances

Ben Wang shows promise with a convincing and grounded performance, particularly in action scenes.
Despite playing a little part, Jackie Chan nonetheless exudes charm and on-screen presence.
Ralph Macchio returns with fanfare, but his character adds little impact to the story.
Sadie Stanley and Joshua Jackson provide solid supporting roles.
In the Hindi dubbed version, Ajay Devgn voices Jackie Chan effectively, while his son Yug provides Li's voice, which fits the character well.

Highlights

Strong chemistry between Jackie Chan and Ralph Macchio
Decent balance between kung fu and karate philosophies
Fans of the original movies will find nostalgic value in them.

Areas for Improvement:

Lack of originality in action choreography
Rushed and underwhelming tournament finale
Emotionally flat mentor-student relationship

Final Verdict

Karate Kid: Legends honors the history of the brand. While it brings back familiar faces and comforting themes, it doesn’t push boundaries or offer much freshness. A film best enjoyed by longtime fans, but not groundbreaking for new audiences.