‘Karate Kid: Legends’ Review: A Flawed But Entertaining Distraction That Doesn’t Quite Live Up To The Franchise’s Legacy
When “The Karate Kid” landed in theaters in June 1984, it became a pop culture phenomenon. The pairing of Ralph Macchio’s Daniel LaRusso and Pat Morita’s Mr. Miyagi became instantly iconic. An Oscar-nominated box office smash, it spawned a franchise.
After the solid sequel, “The Karate Kid Part II,” and the passable threequel, “The Karate Kid Part III,” in 1986 and 1989, respectively, came the series’ misstep, “The Next Karate Kid,” in 1994.
