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The Karate Kid

Play trailer 2:25 Poster for The Karate Kid PG 2010 2h 20m Kids & Family Drama Play Trailer Watchlist
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67% Tomatometer 207 Reviews 67% Popcornmeter 250,000+ Ratings
When his mother's career results in a move to China, 12-year-old Dre Parker finds that he is a stranger in a strange land. Though he knows a little karate, his fighting skills are no match for Cheng, the school bully. Dre finds a friend in Mr. Han, a maintenance man who is also a martial-arts master. Mr. Han teaches Dre all about kung fu in the hope that Dre will be able to face down Cheng and perhaps win the heart of a pretty classmate named Mei Ying.
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The Karate Kid

The Karate Kid

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Critics Consensus

It may not be as powerful as the 1984 edition, but the 2010 Karate Kid delivers a surprisingly satisfying update on the original.

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Critics Reviews

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Derek Malcolm London Evening Standard 08/03/2010
2/5
The script is a lumbering, ponderous thing. Go to Full Review
Robbie Collin News of the World 08/02/2010
4/5
On balance, this new version is probably a bit better than the original. Go to Full Review
Sukhdev Sandhu Daily Telegraph (UK) 07/30/2010
3/5
There's life in this franchise yet. Go to Full Review
Brian Eggert Deep Focus Review 08/18/2023
1.5/4
Inflated and unnecessary at nearly two-and-a-half hours, The Karate Kid offers nothing but indifference for those familiar with the original, and little emotional rewards for audiences new to the material. Go to Full Review
Rene Jordan El Nuevo Herald (Miami) 07/20/2022
This Karate Kid does not surpass the original, but it is superior to those sequels. [Full review in Spanish] Go to Full Review
Don Shanahan Every Movie Has a Lesson 02/12/2022
4/5
Everyone loves a good underdog story. Go to Full Review
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Audience Reviews

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Blu B Nov 6 It's the best of the follow up movies since the original. If you seen this as your first Karate Kid movie (Misleading because it's actually Kung Fu) I can't imagine anyone would have that big a problem with it and I would say it's a good movie. Problem is this follows the original pretty exactly beat for beat with a different location really being the only difference. The China setting is great and the best thing about it. It's cool seeing all the different locales. The music is also really good too and I have to say is the one part that comes closest to matching the original. The R&B, remixes of the original tracks, and others work very well together. Everything else is pretty solid honestly. Chan & Smith have decent chemistry together. Smith does a good job being likeable and relatable for only being 12 also. I will say this is probably 15 minutes too long and has some trouble linking the romance and the training together especially in the middle. It can feel like two seperate things. The training also can feel more like extended montgages at times. But it does come together well and the direction is good here making it feel real and gritty. I do feel the coming of age was better done in the original also because Daniel was 17 vs 12 also. Now that being said if you've seen the original this follows it EXACTLY with really no suprises beyond the new setting. And the original duo had signifcantly better chemistry that gives it alot more charm. The 80's asetics also feel like they pop more as well and it's better paced. Particulary leading up into the tournament. The tournament was better in the original also. It's biggest strike is it really doesn't add anything to justify it's existance really. Overall it still has that family feel and familiar beats of the original so if your a big fan of the franchise or any actors here than maybe check this out but most aren't missing out on much if you've seen the 1984 one. And still I'd recommend showing the 84' one still. See more jacek j Sep 27 Better than original. Nice to see a master who actually knows martial arts. See more thiago s @Thiagostone Sep 23 Filme mais ou menos, o roteiro é fraco, as cenas são mais ou menos, a história é fraca, o elenco é fraco, e ninguém ajuda a melhorar o filme, os personagens são fracos, e o filme deveria ter cenas bem melhores e relevantes, para fazer o filme ser bom See more Ryan W Sep 22 Pretty good remake to an amazing movie See more Brooks D Aug 16 A retelling that falls drastically short. See more Jonny H Aug 15 Good lord it upsets me that they call this garbage the karate kid when the movie isn’t even about karate it’s about kung fu and yes they are completely different as a purple belt I know and this is such a boring movie to watch just a waste of 2 and a half hours of my life See more Read all reviews
The Karate Kid

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The Karate Kid

The Karate Kid: Official Clip - Kung Fu Training The Karate Kid: Official Clip - Kung Fu Training 1:59 The Karate Kid: Official Clip - Pick Up Your Jacket The Karate Kid: Official Clip - Pick Up Your Jacket 2:55 The Karate Kid: Official Clip - Everything is Kung Fu The Karate Kid: Official Clip - Everything is Kung Fu 2:58 The Karate Kid: Official Clip - Festival Romance The Karate Kid: Official Clip - Festival Romance 2:18 The Karate Kid: Official Clip - Six Versus One The Karate Kid: Official Clip - Six Versus One 2:54 The Karate Kid: Official Clip - Dre's Victory The Karate Kid: Official Clip - Dre's Victory 3:34 The Karate Kid: Official Clip - Picking Yourself Back Up The Karate Kid: Official Clip - Picking Yourself Back Up 2:55 The Karate Kid: Official Clip - Dance-Off The Karate Kid: Official Clip - Dance-Off 1:33 The Karate Kid: Official Clip - I Want Him Broken The Karate Kid: Official Clip - I Want Him Broken 2:07 The Karate Kid: Official Clip - Dre vs. Cheng The Karate Kid: Official Clip - Dre vs. Cheng 2:26 View more videos
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Movie Info

Synopsis When his mother's career results in a move to China, 12-year-old Dre Parker finds that he is a stranger in a strange land. Though he knows a little karate, his fighting skills are no match for Cheng, the school bully. Dre finds a friend in Mr. Han, a maintenance man who is also a martial-arts master. Mr. Han teaches Dre all about kung fu in the hope that Dre will be able to face down Cheng and perhaps win the heart of a pretty classmate named Mei Ying.
Director
Harald Zwart
Producer
Jerry Weintraub, Will Smith, Jada Pinkett Smith, James Lassiter, Ken Stovitz
Screenwriter
Christopher Murphey
Distributor
Columbia Pictures
Production Co
Overbrook Entertainment, China Film Group Corp., Jerry Weintraub Productions
Rating
PG (Martial Arts Action|Bullying|Some Mild Language|Violence)
Genre
Kids & Family, Drama
Original Language
English
Release Date (Theaters)
Jun 11, 2010, Wide
Rerelease Date (Theaters)
May 10, 2025
Release Date (Streaming)
Feb 12, 2014
Runtime
2h 20m
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