The Karate Kid (1984)
88%RT Audience Score: 82%
Awards & Nominations: Nominated for 1 Oscar
2 wins & 3 nominations total
Utterly predictable and wholly of its time, but warm, sincere, and difficult to resist, due in large part to Pat Morita and Ralph Macchio’s relaxed chemistry
The Karate Kid” is a classic ’80s teen flick that still manages to pack a punch today. Sure, it’s formulaic and predictable, but it’s also heartwarming and sincere. Plus, who can resist the unforgettable friendship between Daniel and Mr. Miyagi? Ralph Macchio and Pat Morita deliver great performances that rise above the trite script. And let’s not forget Elisabeth Shue in an early role. Overall, “The Karate Kid” is a fun and uplifting movie that will have you rooting for the underdog. Wax on, wax off!
Production Company(ies)
Cranium Entertainment, Idiot Savant Pictures, Particular Crowd
Distributor
Columbia Pictures
Release Type
Theatrical, Theatrical (Wide)
Filming Location(s)
Golf ‘N’ Stuff – 10555 Firestone Blvd., Norwalk, California, USA
MPAA / Certificate
PG
Year of Release
1984
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Color:Color
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Sound mix:Mono
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Aspect ratio:1.85 : 1
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Runtime:2h 6m
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Language(s):English, Japanese
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Country of origin:United States
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Release date:Release Date (Theaters): Jun 22, 1984 Original
Release Date (Streaming): Feb 1, 2005
Genre(s)
Drama
Keyword(s)
starring Ralph Macchio, Pat Morita, Elisabeth Shue, Randee Heller, Martin Kove, William Zabka, directed by John G Avildsen, written by Robert Mark Kamen, drama, box office performance, budget, reviewed by Richard Schickel, Variety Staff, Geoff Andrew, Caroline Westbrook, Steven D Greydanus, Roger Ebert, PG, Columbia Pictures, produced by Jerry Weintraub, Karate Kid, martial arts, Cobra Kai, bullies, Mr Miyagi, compassionate karate, Johnny Lawrence, Ali Mills, John Kreese, Lucille Larusso, sound mix, Surround
Worldwide gross: $91,119,319
Worldwide gross (inflation-adjusted): $266,827,300
Worldwide gross ranking (inflation-adjusted): 556
Worldwide tickets sold (est.): 29,097,852
US/Canada gross: $91,077,276
US/Canada gross (inflation-adjusted): $266,704,184
US/Canada gross ranking (inflation-adjusted): 232
US/Canada opening weekend: $5,031,753
US/Canada opening weekend (inflation-adjusted): $14,734,626
US/Canada opening weekend ranking (inflation-adjusted): 797
Budget and Earnings Details
Production budget (est.): $8,000,000
Production budget (inflation-adjusted): $23,426,628
Production budget ranking: 1,280
Marketing and distribution budget (inflation-adjusted est.): $12,615,239
Box office net earnings to date (inflation-adjusted est.): $230,785,433
ROI to date (est.): 640%
ROI ranking: 195
Pat Morita – Mr. Kesuke Miyagi
Elisabeth Shue – Ali Mills
Randee Heller – Lucille Larusso
Martin Kove – John Kreese
William Zabka – Johnny Lawrence
Director(s)
John G. Avildsen
Writer(s)
Robert Mark Kamen
Producer(s)
Jerry Weintraub
Film Festivals
Awards & Nominations
Nominated for 1 Oscar
2 wins & 3 nominations total
Academy Awards
All Critics (44) | Top Critics (9) | Fresh (39) | Rotten (5)
This film’s art consists entirely of hiding the cynicism of its calculations under an agreeably modest and disarming manner.
August 1, 2008
Richard Schickel
TIME Magazine
TOP CRITIC
Morita is simply terrific, bringing the appropriate authority and wisdom to the part.
March 21, 2007
Variety Staff
Variety
TOP CRITIC
A surprise summer hit in the States, this is another film-making-by-numbers exercise in teenage wish-fulfilment.
June 24, 2006
Geoff Andrew
Time Out
TOP CRITIC
While this may be as soppy and predictable as they come, it still reminds you why you used to enjoy ’80s teen flicks so much in the first place.
November 3, 2005 | Rating: 3/5
Caroline Westbrook
Empire Magazine
TOP CRITIC
Formulaic, manipulative, hokey — and thoroughly rousing… the film’s sincerity and poignance have a way of steamrolling over gaps in plausibility and logic.
October 10, 2005 | Rating: B+
Steven D. Greydanus
Decent Films
TOP CRITIC
An exciting, sweet-tempered, heart-warming story with one of the most interesting friendships in a long time.
October 23, 2004 | Rating: 4/4
Roger Ebert
Chicago Sun-Times
TOP CRITIC
The characters are unforgettable, the dialogue is clever, and although some of the sequences are predictable, the film never loses heart.
September 6, 2020 | Rating: 9/10
Mike Massie
Gone With The Twins
. . .The adventures of this vengeful boy only inspires indifference. . .[Full Review in Spanish]
August 30, 2017
Diego Galán
El Pais (Spain)
Macchio rises above the trite script to deliver a sympathetic and believable performance. Morita is equally good value and look out, too, for Elisabeth Shue in an early role.
July 30, 2013 | Rating: 3/5
John Ferguson
Radio Times
Upbeat, sentimental and predictable tale, but the acting of Ralph Macchio and Pat Morita (who was Oscar-nominated) is good and their friendship charming.
April 5, 2011 | Rating: B
Emanuel Levy
EmanuelLevy.Com
Predictable yet satisfying…
June 25, 2010 | Rating: 2.5/4
David Nusair
Reel Film Reviews
Avildsen crafted an inspired movie with the perfect mix of 80’s bravado and 70’s artistic integrity.
June 12, 2010 | Rating: 3/4
Jordan Hiller
Bangitout.com…
Plot
Daniel and his mother move from New Jersey to California. She has a wonderful new job, but Daniel quickly discovers that a dark haired Italian boy with a Jersey accent doesn’t fit into the blond surfer crowd. Daniel manages to talk his way out of some fights, but he is finally cornered by several who belong to the same karate school. As Daniel is passing out from the beating he sees Miyagi, the elderly gardener leaps into the fray and save him by outfighting half a dozen teenagers. Miyagi and Daniel soon find out the real motivator behind the boys’ violent attitude in the form of their karate teacher. Miyagi promises to teach Daniel karate and arranges a fight at the all-valley tournament some months off. When his training begins, Daniel doesn’t understand what he is being shown. Miyagi seems more interested in having Daniel paint fences and wax cars than teaching him Karate.
Trivia
Goofs / Tidbits
Ralph Macchio delivers a sympathetic and believable performance as Daniel LaRusso.
John-G.-Avildsen.jpg
