The Karate Kid (1984)
Directed by John G. Avildsen · 127 min · Action, Drama, Family
56.9 TOPICAL score · #1,470 of 6,776 films
Vote for it on the board →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.
The Karate Kid (1984, directed by John G. Avildsen) has a TOPICAL score of 56.9 - ranked 1,470 of the 6,776 films TOPICAL scores. It scores highest on historical impact and lasting engagement, and lowest on cast. It won 0 awards from 1 nomination. Critics: 90% on Rotten Tomatoes · 6.9/10 critics' average · Metacritic 61. Audiences: TMDB 7.2/10 (4,907 ratings) · IMDb 7.3/10. Wikipedia covers it in 46 languages, and the Library of Congress chose it for the National Film Registry.
Why this score
Each bar: better than this % of the 6,776 films we score. How the score works.
- Critics90% on Rotten Tomatoes · 6.9/10 critics' average · Metacritic 61
- AudienceTMDB 7.2/10 (4,907 ratings) · IMDb 7.3/10
- Awards0 wins, 1 nomination
- ImpactWikipedia articles in 46 languages · National Film Registry
- Still read93,308 Wikipedia readers in the last 60 days
Starring: Ralph Macchio (actor #1,372), Pat Morita (actor #1,411), Elisabeth Shue (actor #712), William Zabka
“Rewatched today, the original Kid, directed by Rocky's John G. Avildsen, feels smart and fresh, with a wealth of small character details and a leisurely middle section that explores the boy's developing respect for his teacher.”
Wikipedia · read the article - AI legacy read: 8/10