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The Karate Kid Watch Order in the correct order

How to watch The Karate Kid movies and Cobra Kai in order

Last updated: April 13 2026

Written by: ChronoChris

The Karate Kid franchise spans four decades, multiple reboots, and a hugely popular Netflix series. From Daniel LaRusso's first lesson from Mr. Miyagi to the ongoing rivalry of Cobra Kai, there's a watch order that maximizes the emotional payoff of this beloved coming-of-age saga.

Few franchises have had a second act quite like The Karate Kid. The 1984 original is a timeless underdog story about resilience, mentorship, and self-discovery. Its sequels expanded the world, and the 2010 reboot gave the concept fresh life with a new setting and cast. But the franchise's most remarkable chapter came in 2018 with Cobra Kai — a streaming series that picks up the story 34 years after the original film and transforms former villain Johnny Lawrence into one of television's most compelling protagonists. Together, the films and series form a rich, interconnected story worth watching in full.

🕐 Release Order

Release order follows the franchise as audiences experienced it — from the original trilogy, through the spinoff and reboot, and into the acclaimed Cobra Kai series.

  1. The Karate Kid (1984)
  2. The Karate Kid Part II (1986)
  3. The Karate Kid Part III (1989)
  4. The Next Karate Kid (1994)
  5. The Karate Kid (2010)
  6. Cobra Kai — Season 1 (2018)
  7. Cobra Kai — Season 2 (2019)
  8. Cobra Kai — Season 3 (2021)
  9. Cobra Kai — Season 4 (2021)
  10. Cobra Kai — Season 5 (2022)
  11. Cobra Kai — Season 6 (2024–2025)
  12. The Karate Kid: Legends (2025)

The story chronology aligns closely with release order, since the original trilogy and Cobra Kai follow Daniel LaRusso and Johnny Lawrence through consecutive decades of their lives.

📖 Story Chronology

Chronological order follows the same path as release order for the main Miyagi-verse storyline. The 2010 film and Legends (2025) exist in separate but connected universes featuring different characters.

  1. The Karate Kid (1984) — Daniel LaRusso learns karate from Mr. Miyagi and faces Cobra Kai at the All Valley Tournament
  2. The Karate Kid Part II (1986) — Daniel travels to Okinawa with Mr. Miyagi to confront his mentor's past
  3. The Karate Kid Part III (1989) — Daniel faces a new threat from the vengeful Kreese and his ally Silver
  4. The Next Karate Kid (1994) — Mr. Miyagi trains a new student, teenager Julie Pierce
  5. Cobra Kai — Seasons 1–6 (2018–2025) — set 34 years after the original: Daniel and Johnny's rivalry reignites with explosive consequences
  6. The Karate Kid (2010) — set in Beijing: Dre Parker learns kung fu from maintenance man Mr. Han
  7. The Karate Kid: Legends (2025) — Li Fong and Dre Parker join forces, bridging the Miyagi-verse and the 2010 universe

Which Order Should You Choose?

Start with The Karate Kid (1984) — it's essential. The original film establishes the heart of the entire franchise and makes everything that follows, especially Cobra Kai, far more meaningful. Watch Part II and Part III before starting Cobra Kai, as the series heavily references and revisits both films. You can watch The Next Karate Kid and the 2010 reboot at any time, as they have minimal impact on the main storyline. Cobra Kai is required viewing for any fan of the original trilogy — its willingness to humanize Johnny Lawrence and deconstruct the original film's moral simplicity makes it one of the best legacy sequels ever made.

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Did we miss anything? Let us know and we'll keep this guide up to date!