For over four decades,The Karate Kidhas steadily remained a beloved martial arts classic and uplifting tale of perseveranceand heart, with the ’80s staple famously starring Ralph Macchio alongside Pat Morita. Though its premise is undeniably a predictable one for the era in Hollywood: a boy gets picked on by bullies, trains to overcome his adversity, and ultimately comes out triumphant, it’s the profound friendship and connection between Daniel and Mr. Miyagi that has helped the film truly transcend time.
The unprecedented success ofThe Karate Kidhelped launch an enduring franchise that consists of multiple sequels, a remake, spin-off, and TV series,with the latest installment,Karate Kid: Legends, slated to premiere on July 26, 2025. Despite the long-time presence of the series, some fans may be shocked to learn that the wholesome story featured in the 1984 hit was actually based on the personal experiences of its screenwriter, Robert Mark Kamen. Let’s take a closer look.
The Karate Kid
‘The Karate Kid’ Is a Trailblazing Martial Arts Classic
Ralph Macchio and Pat Morita made some iconic movie magic when they shared the screen in the cherished ’80s classicThe Karate Kid,which centers on 17-year-old Daniel LaRusso as he relocates from New Jersey to Los Angeles with his widowed mother, only to find himself the target of a group of ruthless bullies at his high school led by Johnny Lawrence (Willia Zabka), a black belt in karate from the Cobra Kai dojo. Daniel’s luck changes when he meets his apartment’s peculiar-yet-kind handyman Mr. Miyagi, who agrees to teach the teen karate.
Mr. Miyagi takes Daniel under his wing and shows him a less brutal and more compassionate form of martial arts, with the Okinawan-born karate master teaching him the importance of repetition and muscle memory through menial chores. Daniel and Mr. Miyagi develop a powerful bond during their many challenging lessons, and he finds his life taking a turn for the better thanks to the guidance of his wise mentor. With a new-found confidence, Daniel sets out to silence Johnny once and for all by entering a karate tournament and competing against him.
Mr. Miyagi’s 20 Most Famous Quotes From the Karate Kid Movies
Mr. Miyagi is one of the most wise and iconic characters from the Karate Kid movies. But what are his most famous quotes?
The Real-Life Inspiration Behind ‘The Karate Kid’
In the more than forty years sinceThe Karate Kidfirst made its exhilarating debut in theaters, the trailblazing knockout has only grown in prestige and continues to amass passionate fans of all ages, spawning sequels and spin-off shows in the process. The timeless tale still resonates with audiences and tugs at their heartstrings, though many may be surprised to learn that the premise for the film was actually inspired by a true story;The Karate Kidis indeed based on the personal experiences of its screenwriter, Robert Mark Kamen.
When Kamen was 17 years old, he was jumped by a gang of bullies and beaten up after attending the 1964 New York World’s Fair, with the violent attack compelling him to beginstudying martial artsas a way to defend himself. Kamen’s first teacher was a belligerent Marine captain who preached the importance of raw violence when it came to executing his karate skills, though he subsequently decided to study Okinawan Gōjū-ryū instead in order to establisha more meaningful spiritual connectionwith the craft.
10 Highest-Grossing Martial Arts Movies of All Time at the Box Office
Martial arts chart-toppers range from comedic to serious and from animated to live-action.
Kamen dedicated himself to training every day for four hours under a teacher who hardly spoke English but had been taught by the founder of the defensive style Okinawan Gōjū-ryū: sensei Chojun Miyagi. When he later became a Hollywood screenwriter in the early ’80s, Kamen was encouraged by his mentor, Frank Price, to pen a story based on both his own experiences with karate and a news article about a boy who learned martial arts to defend himself from neighborhood bullies.
Credited for popularizing karate in America and lauded as anenduring cinematic masterpiece,The Karate Kidbecame the biggest sleeper hit of the year and grossed $130.8 million against a modest $8 million budget, with Macchio and Morita becoming two of the entertainment industry’s most buzzed about stars. Kamen would return to pen the screenplays for the next two sequels in the franchise and would later write for movies likeThe Fifth ElementandTakenalongside French filmmaker Luc Besson, thoughThe Karate Kidwill always be his crowning achievement in Hollywood.
How to Watch ‘The Karate Kid’
Those who want to relive the magic and charm of the celebrated ’80s classic ahead of the release of the franchise’s latest sequel,Karate Kid: Legends, can rent/buyThe Karate KidonApple TV+, Prime Video, and Fandango.
