The Karate Kid - Movie Reviews (2025)

The 2010 Karate Kid isn’t by any means as memorable and generation-defining as the original 1984 movie, but, in a world full of failed remakes, it sure is a pleasant surprise.

Full Review | Jan 29, 2024

Inflated and unnecessary at nearly two-and-a-half hours, The Karate Kid offers nothing but indifferencefor those familiar with the original, and little emotional rewards for audiences new to the material.

Full Review | Original Score: 1.5/4 | Aug 18, 2023

This Karate Kid does not surpass the original, but it is superior to those sequels. [Full review in Spanish]

Full Review | Jul 20, 2022

Everyone loves a good underdog story.

Full Review | Original Score: 4/5 | Feb 12, 2022

Keeping comparisons to a minimum, this is a competent and enjoyable film in its own right, the essence of the original being the cultivation of a father/son relationship and the moral platitudes of respect and mercy holding fast in the remake.

Full Review | Original Score: 3/5 | May 19, 2021

Essentially, the plot remains the same.

Full Review | Original Score: 7/10 | Nov 29, 2020

Chan shines like he's never shined before.

Full Review | Original Score: 3.0/4.0 | Sep 13, 2020

The ingenuity of The Karate Kid lies in the casting.

Full Review | Jul 23, 2019

Both actors hooked me into this remake, managing to make me feel both nostalgic and surprised at the same time. This isn't just one of the better remakes in recent memory, it's one of the stronger big-summer releases so far.

Full Review | Original Score: B | May 9, 2019

Smith Jr looks thoroughly bored by Mom and Pop's extravagant gift. I can't say I blame him.

Full Review | Feb 6, 2018

A cliched and predictable script mixed with the miscasting of Jaden Smith make The Karate Kid a pretty dull film. Stick with the original.

Full Review | Original Score: 3/10 | Nov 9, 2013

This remake is fun, lighthearted and enormously entertaining. A great family film.

Full Review | Original Score: 4.5/5 | Dec 25, 2012

The screenplay gives Dre way too many dumb things to say while needlessly stretching out the entire story into a film that runs overly-long at 132 minutes.

Full Review | Original Score: 2/4 | Oct 1, 2012

At two hours plus the film is much too long (do we really need that many montages of seeing Smith train?), but it just manages to provide enough watchable entertainment to keep less demanding members of the audience happy.

Full Review | Original Score: 3/5 | Dec 13, 2011

The story worked in 1984 and it works now.

Full Review | Original Score: 6/10 | Aug 26, 2011

The Karate Kid is an excellent coming-of-age sports film filled with heart and humor that doesn't test your gag reflex. Even if you love the original the new version is a worthy follow up, both comfortable and fresh, and that isn't easy to do.

Full Review | Original Score: 8/10 | Mar 29, 2011

Zwart's adaptation pretty much fails across the board.

Full Review | Original Score: 31/100 | Jan 27, 2011

'The Karate Kid' overcame the remake curse.

Full Review | Original Score: B | Jan 3, 2011

Exploits a well known name in order to push an overwrought kids film that will not impress anyone over the age of twelve.

Full Review | Dec 30, 2010

The Karate Kid 2010 is a thoughtful and professionally executed remake, retaining everything that really mattered about the original -- specifically the sincere relationship between the young protégé and his mentor.

Full Review | Original Score: 3.5/5 | Oct 21, 2010