Karate Kid: Legends – Film Review
Reviewed by Harris Dang on the 5th of June 2025
Sony presents a film by Jonathan Entwistle
Written by Rob Lieber based on The Karate Kid by Robert Mark Kamen
Produced by Karen Rosenfelt
Starring Jackie Chan, Ben Wang, Ralph Macchio, Joshua Jackson, Sadie Stanley, and Ming-Na Wen
Cinematography Justin Brown
Edited by Dana E. Glauberman
Music by Dominic Lewis
Rating: PG
Running Time: 94 minutes
Release Date: on the 5th of June 2025
Karate Kid: Legends tells the story of Li Fong (Ben Wang), a young martial arts student in Beijing, who is learning under the tutelage of his great uncle, Master Han (Jackie Chan). He hides his martial arts training from his mother (Ming-Na Wen), who forbids him from fighting due to a tragedy that left them both grieving. Once his mother accepts a doctor’s position in New York, Li is obliged to accompany her.
Now struggling to adapt to American city life, Li becomes friends (and eventually romantic partners) with Mia (Sadie Stanley), the daughter of former boxer Victor (Joshua Jackson). They run a pizzeria together. Just when things are improving, Li encounters Mia’s ex, Conor (Aramis Knight), at an MMA dojo. Conor humiliates and bullies him in front of his whole school. Worse, Conor’s father, O’Shea (Tim Rozon), is a creditor (and owner of said dojo) who pressures Victor for money to keep the pizzeria afloat. This eventually leads Li to fight in an upcoming tournament where he needs his friends, family, and his master to succeed.
It is extraordinary that today The Karate Kid’s story still resonates with audiences. With its numerous sequels, a remake, and an acclaimed web series, the franchise shows no signs of slowing down. With the conclusion of Netflix’s Cobra Kai, does Karate Kid: Legends keep the momentum of quality going? Sadly, it throws its kicks and falls off the perch. The original film has stood strong over many decades. It is hard to imagine Legends lasting for a few hours.
To understand why it fails to crane its neck up, one must realise why the original film and Cobra Kai succeeded. The original film’s tried-and-true storytelling formula works because it speaks to the characters’ dilemmas and identifiable emotions with patience and a steady hand. Cobra Kai examined the formula’s deficits by catering to and challenging our nostalgia. It turned said deficits into benefits by making them add depth to the characters, making returning characters more empathetic, and showing a new appreciation for those that we chastised.
Legends fails to reach either of those heights and becomes frustratingly inconsequential. The storytelling feels like an overcaffeinated teenager hopped up on energy drinks who is trying to finish their test before their time is up. All the story beats are ticked off so swiftly that the film takes no time for audiences to contemplate what they’ve witnessed.
Considering there is nothing new in the storytelling (except a story beat involving Victor and Li collaborating, a welcome tweak of the master and student formula), it is a real shame how little emotion is present. This also leads to the fight scenes, which carry the same storytelling momentum. While they are well-choreographed by Peng Zhang (a former member of the Jackie Chan Stunt Team), they are also shoddily edited, overly stylised, and carry no emotional payoff. Meanwhile, the appearances of Jackie Chan and Ralph Macchio (a glorified cameo at best) are pandering fan service, even if their bickering interplay is quite amusing.
On the positive side, Ben Wang does a very good job as Li, as he does what he can to carry this sinking film with genuine charisma (his interactions with the supporting cast are affable), striking physicality (his martial arts prowess is convincing), and decent acting chops. As mentioned, Li and Victor’s collaboration is a welcome story beat. It subverts the audience’s expectations and reminds us of Joshua Jackson’s likable screen presence.
Overall, Karate Kid: Legends is a forgettable and predictable piece of work. It throws its punches in continuing The Karate Kid story when it should have been challenging and subverting it.
Summary: The original film has stood strong over many decades. It is hard to imagine Legends lasting for a few hours.
2.5
Weak!
Related Posts
Lurker – Film Review →
The Perfect Neighbour – Film Review →
From the World of John Wick: Ballerina – Film Review →
