Li Fong (Ben Wang), a teenager from Beijing, moves to New York after his mother (Ming-Na Wen) lands a new job in the city. He brings with him a deep knowledge of kung fu, having trained under his great-uncle, Mr. Han (Jackie Chan). However, as Li moves to a new place, he makes a vow to leave martial arts behind. This promise is in respect for the tragic loss of his older brother, who was stabbed by a vengeful opponent following a tournament match.
Life in New York proves to be challenging. Li struggles to connect with others and feels like an outsider in his new environment. Things begin to change when he meets Mia Lipani (Sadie Stanley), the daughter of a pizza shop owner and the only child of Victor Lipani (Joshua Jackson), a former local boxing champion. Mia is kind, outspoken, and welcoming, and the two quickly form a close friendship. As they grow closer, Li begins to develop feelings for her.
However, not everyone is happy about this new bond. Mia’s ex-boyfriend, Connor Day (Aramis Knight), takes issue with it. Connor is a local karate champion known for his aggressive attitude. Jealous and threatened, Connor targets Li, looking for an opportunity to bully and humiliate him. Eventually, he challenges Li to settle things in a local martial arts tournament.
Li finds himself torn. His promise to never fight again weighs heavily on him, especially with the memory of his brother’s death still fresh. But if he declines, it's an invitation for Connor to bully him more. Plus, the prize money could help Mia and Victor with their pizza shop. Seeing his student’s internal conflict, Mr. Han reaches out to someone who might be able to guide Li in a different way. So he enlists the Daniel LaRusso (Ralph Macchio), a former karate champion and longtime student and friend of the late Mr. Miyagi (Pat Morita).
Daniel introduces Li to Miyagi-Do Karate and helps him rediscover what martial arts are truly about. It’s not about revenge or proving strength, but about finding balance, peace, and the courage to face life’s challenges.
Let me just say that I love the opening of the film. To me, it is noteworthy for two reasons: First, we get to see Mr. Miyagi again, the heart and soul of this franchise. Pat Morita had a warm presence that could easily light up a room. The Karate Kid just does not feel the same without him, and seeing him, even briefly, is a nostalgic reminder of what made the earlier films so special.
Second, and perhaps more significantly, the film creates a bridge between the original Karate Kid and the 2010 reboot led by Jackie Chan. That’s really the film’s core purpose, to unify both timelines. And I have to admit, it is impressive how they pull it off. The connection feels smooth and clean, setting a clear path for this legacy sequel to stand on its own while respecting what came before. If they plan to bring back more characters from the franchise in the future, it will be much easier since this movie lays the groundwork in a smart and accessible way for it to work.
However, the story structure feels overly familiar. Emphasis on the word: overly. If you have seen the original Karate Kid or even the 2010 remake, Legends follows a nearly identical formula. The protagonist moves to a new place, he/she feels like an outsider, gets bullied, trains in martial arts, and enters a tournament to confront the bully. It is a solid template, but we have seen it five times now.
There are some interesting detours with Legends though, like Victor's storyline. But overall, the structure remains unchanged. It feel repetitive. Yes, it still works because it is an effective narrative arc, but it is time the franchise tried something new.
Another thing I noticed is how much of the original film’s essence has been lost. You can call it a Karate Kid film because Ralph Macchio is in it and there is plenty of martial arts happening, but it does not quite feel the same. What is missing is a figure like Mr. Miyagi, someone who emphasizes peace over conflict. His philosophy grounded the earlier films, reminding us that martial arts is about inner peace and discipline, not just flashy moves or winning a fight.
Karate Kid: Legends leans more into Jackie Chan’s style. It is grittier, more action-heavy, and much of the film focuses on Li Fong’s intense training and slick choreography. That does pay off in the final match, which is exciting and entertaining. But without a Miyagi-like voice to remind us of the deeper message, the story loses a layer of richness. It becomes more about fighting and kind of less about growth.
That said, I still think this film has potential. The martial arts scenes are top-tier and Jackie Chan continues to impress even after all these years. Ben Wang also shows promise. He is charismatic, relatable, and clearly has the physicality for the role. Perhaps with the right direction and a fresh storyline, the sequel, if it happens, could really elevate the franchise.
3.5/5
