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Forbes
2 days ago
- Entertainment
- Forbes
Does ‘Karate Kid: Legends' Have A Post-Credits Scene? Why You Should Stay Seated
Karate Kid: Legends is now in theaters. Karate Kid: Legends is now playing in theaters everywhere. As you watch the movie on the big screen, you might be wondering whether there's a mid- or post-credits scene that continues the story or teases a future sequel in the beloved franchise. Set three years after the series finale of Cobra Kai, Karate Kid: Legends reunites iconic martial arts masters for a new adventure, bringing back stars like Jackie Chan as Mr. Han and Ralph Macchio as Daniel Laruso while introducing newcomers like Ben Wang as Li Fong. 'After moving to New York City with his mother, kung fu prodigy Li Fong struggles to let go of the past as he tries to fit in with his new classmates," the official synopsis reads. "When a new friend needs his help, Li enters a karate competition – but his skills alone aren't enough. With help from Mr. Han and Daniel LaRusso, he soon learns to merge two styles into one for the ultimate martial arts showdown.' Legends director Jonathan Entwistle spoke to Inverse about what it was like merging the original Karate Kid movies with Macchio and Chan's 2010 reboot into a cohesive story for the 2025 sequel. 'For me, I was very excited that there was already a menu. There was already a recipe in there for what this could be, the heart, the mentorship, the found family, all of these types of things are in there,' he explained. 'Li Fong as the mentor for Victor, and then Jackie and Mr. Han and Daniel LaRusso being the mentor again for Li, and Miyagi being everybody's mentor within all of these pieces.' Karate Kid: Legends is expected to have a $30 million debut at the box office this weekend – if Cobra Kai fans show up in full force – according to Variety. The film currently holds a 55% critics score on Rotten Tomatoes based on 92 reviews so far, with more expected to roll in throughout the weekend. Here's everything to know about the Karate Kid: Legends post-credits scene and whether you should stay in your seat until the very end. Karate Kid: Legends has an extra scene that plays after the title card but before the actual credits, so technically, there's a post-credits scene you'll want to stick around for after the movie ends. Warning: Spoiler ahead for the end-credits scene in Karate Kids: Legends. Cobra Kai. (L to R) William Zabka as Johnny Lawrence, Ralph Macchio as Daniel LaRusso in Cobra Kai. ... More Cr. Curtis Bonds Baker/Netflix © 2024 After the 5 Boroughs tournament, viewers return to the pizza shop with Li Fong, Mr. Han, and the others. They order one pizza to go for Daniel LaRusso, who is staying at Mr. Miyagi's house in California. The uncooked pizza comes with a thank you message from Mr. Han and adds if Daniel ever needs anything, he knows where to find him. In the final scene, there's also a surprise cameo from Johnny Lawrence (William Zabka), last seen in Netflix's spinoff Cobra Kai. Johnny and Daniel, who have since moved past their rivalry, share some friendly banter. When Johnny sees the pizza, he jokes that they should open a Mr. Miyagi-themed pizzeria called "Miyagi Dough," while Daniel decides to go actually cook the pizza. Thankfully, the Karate Kid franchise doesn't seem to be over yet – at least not for Daniel. Macchio confirmed to The Hollywood Reporter that several Cobra Kai spinoffs are in in the works following the Season 6 finale. 'There are a few balls up in the air. I don't know which one is going to land. I hope all of them do, or some of them do, or one of them does,' Macchio revealed. 'The success of Karate Kid: Legends could propel all that stuff. It's different, but the same. There's a Miyagi-ism for you.' Watch the official trailer for Karate Kid: Legends below.
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First Post
2 days ago
- Entertainment
- First Post
‘Karate Kid: Legends' Movie Review: Jackie Chan, Ben Wang, Ralph Macchio will impress you with their moves
As Li Fong (Ben Wang) moves from Beijing to New York, two teachers from two different schools of thought teach him to merge two different fighting traditions into one, just like 'two branches, one tree.' read more When you watch 'Karate Kid: Legends', you will feel why Bollywood cannot make movies like this? Simple, old world charm with not much twist and turns Jackie Chan and Ralph Macchio brings you a delightful movie, which you can watch again and again. The best lesson from the film is 'use your opponent's aggression against him' The hero, Li Fong (Ben Wang), a teenager who's been trained at the Beijing dojo of shifu Han (Jackie Chan), where he has mastered a kung fu move called the dragon kick. His master Han (Jackie Chan) loves him like a son. But his mother, who is a doctor, wants him to discontinue fighting (kung fu). Kung fu runs in Li Fong (Ben Wang) blood and taking kung fu out of him is like taking a fish out of water. STORY CONTINUES BELOW THIS AD A still from 'Karate Kid: Legends' There is a back story to Li Fong (Ben Wang)'s mother not wanting him to fight. Li lost his brother in a fight, but how we get to know at the end of the film. He misses his brother at every moment of his life. Going back to the history of the fights and managing the two styles, both karate and kung fu can be a killing combination. Both put together, the moves are smooth and it's like flowing water. And most importantly you should get into his head and understand the opponent's psychology. Every move matters and more than a fight for power, you need to train your mind. Your opponent can be a hulky man and may look stronger than you, but physiques really don't matter, if you have a stronger mind. You don't really fight to kill, you fight to win. At the end of the film you understand how Li Fong (Ben Wang) has learned to combine both the styles, karate and kung fu with help of both his teachers, one from China and the other from the US. The movie braces two fighting traditions with grace and power. They are like two branches of one tree. Rating: 4 out of 5 WATCH the trailer of 'Karate Kid: Legends' movie here:
Time of India
2 days ago
- Entertainment
- Time of India
‘Karate Kid: Legends' early Twitter Reviews: Ben Wang, Jackie Chan and Ralph Macchio impresses all; fans hail it as 'best film since original'
Karate Kid: Legends, the much-anticipated revival of the iconic martial arts saga, has officially made its way into cinemas—and audiences have a lot to say. The film introduces rising actor as Li Fong, a gifted kung fu prodigy forced to start anew in New York City, under the mentorship of two legends - and . Tired of too many ads? go ad free now Blending the stylistic worlds of Chan's kung fu and Macchio's classic karate, the film attempts to bridge generations of fans. Set against a backdrop of culture shock, rivalries, and personal growth, fans who caught early screenings flooded social media with praise and criticism alike. One viewer wrote, 'KARATE KID: LEGENDS is so breezy, fast-paced, and effortlessly likable from the first frame to the last… JACKIE CHAN steals every scene!' Others echoed similar sentiments, calling it a 'roundhouse kick of fun and nostalgia', lauding Wang's performance and the film's blend of spirited action and heartwarming moments. 'Ben Wang held his own with the GOAT Jackie Chan,' read one post. 'All I wanted was a fun, montage-filled Karate Kid film with great music and fun fights—and they delivered!' However, not all reviews were glowing. Some viewers criticised the underuse of the franchise's original stars. 'Jackie Chan and Ralph Macchio don't get much. They either needed bigger roles or none at all,' one user noted. Others lamented the story's pacing and editing, calling the film 'recycled' and 'cliche-riddled.' Despite the polarised reception, many agree that Ben Wang brings a fresh energy to the role, with several viewers calling this the best Karate Kid film since the 2010 reboot. Ralph Macchio also praised Wang, stating, 'His work ethic, his preparedness, his not taking anything for granted—he will be this generation's Karate Kid.' Speaking about his casting in the film, Ben said in a statement, 'The 2010 reboot was the first Karate Kid I saw. Tired of too many ads? go ad free now It was set in Beijing—I had just moved back from there,' said Wang. 'The idea of starting over and finding mentors resonates deeply with me.' The film also marks a unique milestone in India—the Hindi-dubbed version features Yug Devgan, son of actor , making his voice acting debut as Li Fong. Karate Kid: Legends released nationwide today in English, Hindi, Tamil, and Telugu. The film also stars Sadie Stanley (Kim Possible), , and boasts a diverse ensemble that reflects the franchise's expanding cultural footprint. With its blend of martial arts legacy and Gen-Z freshness, Karate Kid: Legends opened to an average 55% rating on Rotten Tomatoes. However, with fans eager for their dose of adrenaline, it remains to be seen how it will hold up in the week ahead.
Tom's Guide
3 days ago
- Entertainment
- Tom's Guide
'Karate Kid: Legends' is a charming, energetic sequel but not quite a knockout
Following the end of "Cobra Kai's" run on Netflix, Sony Pictures has come out swinging with "Karate Kid: Legends," the sixth movie in the martial arts franchise. Directed by Jonathan Entwistle, "Karate Kid: Legends" is a fresh chapter that unites former stars Jackie Chan and Ralph Macchio with the new titular kid, talented martial artist, Li Fong ("American Born Chinese" star Ben Wang). Critically, the movie looks to be on the back foot. At the time of writing, it's sitting at a middling 59% rating on review aggregate site Rotten Tomatoes. Some critics have fallen for its charms, while others see it as a lacking follow-up. Having just attended a preview screening of "Karate Kid: Legends," I can't necessarily see why it's struggling quite so much. "Karate Kid: Legends" is by no means an all-timer, but I think there's a lot to like here. Read on for my full take on "Karate Kid: Legends" and why I don't think would-be viewers should count this summer movie out just yet. Functioning as a sort of follow-up to 2010's "The Karate Kid," sans Dre Parker (sorry, Jaden Smith), "Karate Kid: Legends" introduces us to Li Fong, a talented kung fu student studying under Chan's Mr. Han in China. Li and his mother move to the Big Apple, and she's pretty keen that he stays out of trouble in their new home. He agrees to do just that but struggles to let go of his past as he tries to fit in. When he inevitably finds trouble with a local karate champ, he opts to enter the ultimate karate competition, and, with the help of both his sensei and the original Karate Kid himself, Daniel LaRusso learns to combine both fighting styles for another showdown. "Karate Kid: Legends," then, is aiming to be another underdog crowd-pleaser, and for the most part, it succeeds. It's absolutely a nostalgia play and a recycling of the franchise's past story beats, but this is a cheesy, new-generation rehash that's nevertheless a very fun ride to be on. The action itself is, importantly, very fun to watch. While it can be sloppily stitched together, the movie's fight sequences and training montages are dynamic, engaging, and occasionally slip up in some dafter manoeuvres. The big win, for me, though, is Ben Wang himself. He's paired up with a likable ensemble, from the much-touted senseis down to Li's love interest (Sadie Stanley) and unlikely ally, Alan (Wyatt Oleff), but "Karate Kid: Legends" is undoubtedly his film. As Li Fong, he gets the chance to show off his obvious physical talents, and he matches the action with plenty of charm that'll have you rooting for him long before the final bout rolls around. Granted, that won't take too long; "Karate Kid: Legends" hurtles along at a breakneck pace, for better and worse. It means returning fans will be spared a lot of set-up, but also means other characters don't get much to do. There are other problems, too. I've already explained it offers little beyond a TikTok-era spin on the "Karate Kid" tale for the TikTok generation, but it also boasts a paper-thin villain in Conor Day (Aramis Knight). Franchise devotees should also go in knowing that both Chan and Macchio are present for far less of the short runtime than the marketing has suggested. It almost feels like Macchio's original "Kid" was brought in after "Cobra Kai" really took off. Nevertheless, the well-trodden formula still just ... works. Despite its issues, "Karate Kid: Legends" follows the beats well and makes for a satisfying watch, one with laughs and heart, and I really do think viewers might enjoy it. "Karate Kid: Legends" is by no means a perfect film, but it is a breezy, charming action-comedy that absolutely hurtles along, delivering energetic, entertaining brawls. It could have used a little room to breathe, and a lot more from its martial arts masters, but the feel-good story, big screen thrills and Ben Wang's winning lead turn won me over. There are issues, but I hope moviegoers give "Karate Kid: Legends" a shot. "Karate Kid: Legends" is in U.S. theaters from Friday, May 30, and is playing in U.K. cinemas now.
The Review Geek
4 days ago
- Entertainment
- The Review Geek
Karate Kid: Legends (2025) Movie Review – Worse than The Minecraft Movie?
Worse than The Minecraft Movie? Karate Kid: Legends is a bad movie and no amount of forced key-jangling nostalgia can save this one. There's very little here that's actually redeemable, with a formulaic and unimaginative story, atrocious editing and a rushed pacing that makes this feel more like an obligatory series of checkboxes to tick off than a genuine love letter to the franchise. coming off the high of Cobra Kai, Karate Kid: Legends could have been a good way of revitalizing the series. You can definitely see the intention here, with the movie attempting to bridge the gap between the end of Cobra Kai and tying it into the separate reboot in 2010, but it's wedged together with about as much finesse as a drunk guy attempting to ballet. With a tighter script and a bit more time to flesh out the characters, it could have worked but what's here is sloppy and poorly executed all round. The movie centers on a kid called Li Fong, a Kung fu prodigy who leaves the dojo, much to Mr Han's disappointment, to move over to New York City with his mum. Its your typical 'fish out of water' story, complete with some childhood trauma, a death in the family, and an estranged relationship with Li Fong's mum. It's your textbook hero origin story and Karate Kid: Legends unashamedly leans into all the tired cliches that come with this. It doesn't take long for Li Fong to get bullied at school by the local asshole, Conor, either because of course we have to include the bullying angle too. Now, Conor is karate whizz and been trained to fight ferociously – something that's at odds with Li Fong's philosophy, where he's not fighting anymore due to that aforementioned tragedy in his past. Don't expect much more with Conor though, as he has about as much depth as a shopkeeper NPC in an RPG. The only half-interesting part of his character stems from the fact that he's the ex boyfriend of Li Fong's current flame, Mia. Mia happens to be the daughter of Victor, an ex boxer who owes money to loan-sharks and through Li Fong, learns to fight again. It's a bit of a switch-and-bait because you kinda expect Victor to be the one training Li Fong but given he's already amazing (but not quite as amazing as Conor), there's not much karate training until near the end of the movie. In fact, amusingly the film includes more boxing training than anything else. With a run-time of under 90 minutes, the film absolutely steamrolls through its plot, leaving little room for anything to grow or evolve. There's a random nerdy, comedic friend that's thrown in, presumably for the comedy angle, but the film is so unoriginal in its execution that the only time you'll be laughing at is the editing. Editors Dana Glauberman and Colby Parker Jr. aren't newcomers to the field, with some pretty commendable shows to their name, so the fact that their editing is so bad is a bit of a mystery. The only thing I can think of is that they wound up in the editing booth high on psychedelics and a copy of Microsoft PowerPoint. We get all the bangers here, including swipes to the left, swipes to the right, zoom cuts, freeze-frames and box turns. Scenes are cut fast, there's some mashed-up animations too (because why not I guess?) and the flashbacks are more distracting than genuinely engaging. I've seen B-movies made on a shoestring budget with tighter editing and words cannot do justice to what an embarrassment this is. Unfortunately, this lack of engagement spills over to the entire movie. Everything is well-orchestrated with absolutely no surprises whatsoever, there's nothing left to the imagination and those looking for ties to Cobra Kai, and a returning Daniel LaRusso (who's heavily featured in the trailer), will have to wait for at least an hour before he makes an appearance. Ralph Macchio feels like he's been added in as an afterthought, with very little to do here other than being a bit of key-jangling nostalgia to remind you of the franchise. The same can be said for Johnny Lawrence too who does show up, but only after the credits in a scene that's actually one of the best in the whole film. The acting is a bit of a mixed bag too. While Ben Wang is great in his role as Li Fong, the rest of the cast range from okay to outright bad. Ming-Na Wen is not good as Li Fong's mother and is arguably the worst out of the entire cast. To be fair, it's not really the cast's fault entirely because the script gives them absolutely nothing to work with and they're constantly wrestling with the editing. This very much feels like a first-draft effort thrown on Sony's desk rather than a polished effort worthy of elevating the Karate Kid name. Ultimately, Karate Kid: Legends is just not a good movie. It's a poor, phoned-in, unimaginative and lazy title that doesn't have the foresight or the creativity to reignite this franchise. Instead, what we get is one of the worst movies of 2025, and in a year where we also got The Minecraft Movie, that's quite a feat. Read More: Karate Kid: Legends Ending Explained
