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The success of the Karate Kid franchise proves that the audience can't get enough of inspiring underdog stories. It all started with Robert Mark Kamen's 1984 movie, The Karate Kid starring Ralph Macchio and Pat Morita. The retabale characters coupled with witty dialogue and well-choreographed action scenes made a deep impression on viewers which eventually led to the birth of multiple sequels.
Over the years, the cast has changed but the central theme of the narrative remains the same. The protagonists are usually teenagers who are being bullied and begin to learn the ways of martial arts under the tutelage of an experienced mentor. The lessons don't only teach them to defend themselves in a volatile situation but also help them grow as people.
Like Karate Kid, there are other movies, mentioned on this list, that have the same message about rising to one's true potential that fans of the franchise won't regret watching.
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Disclaimer: This list contains information from various sources.
3 Ninjas, Ride On and five other movies that are as exhilarating and fun as the Karate Kid movies
1) Wheels on Meals (1984)
Jackie Chan joined the Karate Kid franchise in the 2010 installment wherein he played Mr. Han, an unassuming maintenance man who turns out to be a kung fu master. Even though Chan displays his abilities sparingly in the movie, every fight scene with him in it feels elevated thanks to his years of experience.
Fans of the Karate Kid will get to see more of Chan's innovative stunts in this Hong Kong martial arts movie by Sammo Hung. The story revolves around two cousins, Thomas (Chan) and David (Yuen Biao), who run a fast food van in Barcelona. When the duo befriends a charming pickpocket named Slyvia played by Lola Forner, they find themselves up against an evil gang who want to harm her.
Like the Karate Kid movies, Wheels on Meals also finds the right balance between action and comedy. Fans should especially keep an eye out for the final fight scene between Jackie Chan and Benny Urquidez which is often referred to as one of the best fight scenes of all time.
Where to watch: Wheels of Meals is available for streaming on Plex.
2) 3 Ninjas (1992)
Like the young protégés in the Karate Kid movies, 3 Ninjas also features young heroes in the lead. Samuel, Jeffrey and Michael, portrayed by Michael Treanor, Max Elliott Slade and Chad Power, are three brothers who have been trained in the art of ninjutsu by their grandfather.
When a master criminal sends his henchmen to kidnap the brothers in order to get back at their father, an FBI agent, they have to use all the skills they know to protect themselves. The tight bond between the brothers is one of the main highlights of this movie.
Karate Kid often uses clever humor to lighten tense moments, and 3 Ninjas also does the same. It is also well-paced which means that there is always something interesting happening on screen, making it hard to look away. Directed by Jon Turteltaub, this is the kind of movie that the whole family can enjoy together.
Where to watch: 3 Ninjas can be viewed on Prime Video and Apple TV+.
3) Kung Fu Hustle (2004)
The Karate Kid movies have always focused on how martial arts can help people recognize their own potential. The audience will notice a similar theme in this martial arts comedy that centers around the lead character, Sing, played by Stephen Chow. His main aim is to join the notorious Axe Gang so that he can finally make a name for himself.
Sing, along with his sidekick Bone, played by Lam Chi-chung, pose as members of the gang to extort money from the people of a rundown slum. But the plan hilariously backfires when they realize that three of the slum's tenants are kung fu masters. Eventually, the actual gang gets involved and chaos ensues.
Like the central characters in the Karate Kid movies, Sing also finds the courage to embrace his own shortcomings and push past his insecurities to become the best version of himself. In addition to the sleek fight scenes, Kung Fu Hustle is able to hold the attention of the viewer because of its silly humor and unpredictable characters.
Where to watch: This 2004 action comedy is available on Apple TV+ and Prime Video.
4) The Sensei (2007)
In the Karate Kid movies, all the protagonists learn martial arts to protect themselves from bullies who are picking on them. In this movie by Diana Lee Inosanto, the victim of bullying is McClain Evans, a young gay student played by Michael O'Laskey.
Set in 1985, around the time when AIDS was on the rise, the movie focuses on how Evans is ostracized by his community. In order to protect himself, he starts to train under Karen O'Neil (Inosanto), who is struggling with her own problems.
Like Jackie Chan, Inosanto also has plenty of experience doing stunt work and choreography which lends authenticity to the action scenes. The Sensei has a more somber tone as compared to the Karate Kid movies, but it shares the same message of standing up for one's beliefs.
Where to watch: The Sensei can be streamed on Plex.
5) The Art of Self-Defense (2019)
Unlike the Karate Kid movies, The Art of Self-Defense by Riley Stearns has a dark narrative but that doesn't mean it is not funny. In this chaotic dark comedy, Jesse Eisenberg plays Casey, a mild-mannered accountant who is attacked by a vicious motorcycle gang. He then signs up for a karate class under a charismatic "sensei" who helps him change his ways.
But unlike Pat Morita and Jackie Chan's characters, who advocate understanding and benevolence, Casey's mentor thrives on toxicity, similar to the Cobra Kai gang in Karate Kid. It is interesting to see how Casey's outlook on life changes as he interacts with the different members of the dojo.
The best thing about The Art of Self-Defense is the unpredictability of its narrative which keeps the audience on their toes.
Where to watch: This Jesse Eisenberg starrer is available for streaming on Prime Video.
6) Ride On (2023)
The main pull of the Karate Kid movies is the endearing bond between the mentors and their protégés. This Chinese movie by Larry Yang capitalizes on the same aspect with one key difference, the protégé is a horse. Jackie Chan plays Lao Luo, a talented stuntman whose life falls apart after a terrible injury.
He has a strong bond with Red Hare, his deformed-at-birth stunt horse. So, when debt collectors come for the horse, he does what he does best in order to fend them off. The fight somehow ends up on the internet and both of them become overnight stars.
Ride On is entertaining and funny, but more than that, it is a touching story that celebrates the industry's stunt performers and all their hard work, which often tends to go unrecognized.
Where to watch: Ride On is available on Disney+.
7) Polite Society (2023)
Most martial arts movies have male protagonists but the Karate Kid franchise didn't shy away from putting Hilary Swank in the lead for The Next Karate Kid (1994). Likewise, this movie also stars a female lead, Ria Khan portrayed by Priya Kansara. Ria aspires to become a stunt performer but her parents aren't very supportive of her dreams.
But she is thankful that her sister, Lena, played by Ritu Arya, encourages her to follow her heart. When Lena says "Yes" to a whirlwind marriage, Ria feels something is off and plans to sabotage the relationship in order to protect her sister.
This movie has it all, lovable characters, an intriguing plot, impressive fight sequences and plenty of perfectly-timed humor, all of which Karate Kid fans will appreciate.
Where to watch: This action comedy can be streamed on Netflix, Apple TV+ and Prime Video.
Fans of the Karate Kid franchise should make a point to check out these action-packed movies that are entertaining from start to finish.
