The Karate Kid Part III

Play trailer

1:28

The Karate Kid Part III

PG

1989

1h 51m

Drama

Play Trailer

Watchlist

Watchlist

Tomatometer

Popcornmeter

15%

Tomatometer

33 Reviews

35%

Popcornmeter

50,000+ Ratings

Cobra Kai karate instructor John Kreese (Martin Kove) is still brooding over the defeat handed to him by Daniel LaRusso (Ralph Macchio) and Mr. Miyagi (Noriyuki "Pat" Morita). With his slimy partner, Terry Silver (Thomas Ian Griffith), Kreese plans an intricate payback that involves hiring a mean-spirited ringer (Sean Kanan) to rob Daniel of his championship title. When Mr. Miyagi refuses to train Daniel, even under threat, the boy makes the mistake of turning to Terry for guidance.

Watch on Fandango at Home

Buy Now

Critics Consensus

Inspiration is in short supply in this third Karate Kid film, which recycles the basic narrative from its predecessors but adds scenery-chewing performances and a surprising amount of violence.

Read Critics Reviews

Desmond Ryan

Philadelphia Inquirer

The Karate Kid Part III is a brave but misguided attempt to restate the lesson through a narrative ploy that nearly always works, but here produces no more than recycling.

Rated: 2/4

Jul 15, 2014

Full Review

Kevin Thomas

Los Angeles Times

Part III, however, is not merely a disaster of the most uninspired contrivances but is actually unsuitable for youngsters, the series' natural audience.

Jul 15, 2014

Full Review

Dave Kehr

Chicago Tribune

About all that enlivens The Karate Kid Part III is a screamingly over-the-top performance by Thomas Ian Griffith, who plays a toxic waste magnate and karate buff who hatches a madly complex plot to humiliate Daniel and his teacher.

Rated: 2/4

Jul 15, 2014

Full Review

Rene Jordan

El Nuevo Herald (Miami)

Not better than the first, but its better than the second film, while lost in the exotic landscapes of Okinawa. [Full review in Spanish]

Jun 10, 2022

Full Review

Richard Freedman

Newhouse News Service

Where the original Karate Kid was a fresh and charming film, and the second a dud-clone, the only word for this third installment is stupefying.

Jan 5, 2018

Full Review

John Marriott

Radio Times

The script takes leave of reality at an early stage, and it all becomes increasingly daft and humourless with each scene.

Rated: 1/5

Jul 15, 2014

Full Review

Read all reviews

Audience Member

Definitely the weakest of the original trilogy. There is a feeling of vacantness, the unresolved romance from the second is disappointing, the climax is weak and the plot is very strange. So why am I giving it a positive review? It contains arguably the best, most over the top, deliciously evil, and entertaining villains out of the whole franchise! Every scene with Terry Silver is gold! He flat out steals the entire film. Yes why he goes to such lengths to ruin a teenager and old man is ridiculous, but he does it like he’s a Bond villain. You have to see it to believe it!

Rated 3.5 out of 5 stars

02/14/25

Full Review

Mattias M

yall the biggest negative nancies ever i lovr this movie

Rated 4.5 out of 5 stars

10/29/24

Full Review

Erik B

The final chapter of the LaRusso/Miyagi storyline in the Karate Kid series. This one isn't quite as enjoyable or engaging as the previous two entries, though it does a good job of showing how Daniel and Mr. Miyagi's relationship has grown and matured over the year or so represented by the films. Filled with unlovable characters, this move just isn't as memorable as the prior entries.

Rated 3.5 out of 5 stars

07/15/24

Full Review

B S

I watched all of the Karate kid movies to rewatch Cobra Kai and try to understand everything. This one was so weird. Like Terry Silver's motives and the characters actions don't make a lot of sense, but I'd say it's worth a watch one time.

Rated 2.5 out of 5 stars

07/13/24

Full Review

Adrian G

No creo que sea tan mala como la pintan, es más entretenida que la segunda. Pero creo que le quitaron un poco la personalidad a Daniel larruso, y una vez mas, volvieron a ignorar al interés romántico del protagonista dándole otro por tercera vez. Igual es una película para pasarla bien, no es nada aburrida.

Rated 3.5 out of 5 stars

06/19/24

Full Review

Daniel P

okay well this was not as good as I was hopping the story left me wanting

Rated 2.5 out of 5 stars

06/18/24

Full Review

Read all reviews

Read More

Read Less

POST RATING

WRITE A REVIEW

EDIT REVIEW

John G. Avildsen

Director

Ralph Macchio

Daniel LaRusso

Pat Morita

Mr. Kesuke Miyagi

Robyn Lively

Jessica Andrews

Thomas Ian Griffith

Terry Silver

Martin Kove

John Kreese

The Karate Kid Part III: Official Clip - Strong Roots

1:54

The Karate Kid Part III: Official Clip - Mr. Miyagi vs Terry Silver

2:59

The Karate Kid Part III: Official Clip - Daniel Wins!

2:29

The Karate Kid Part III: Official Clip - Save the Tree!

3:08

The Karate Kid Part III: Official Clip - Doing Damage

1:55

The Karate Kid Part III: Official Clip - Blackmailed

2:59

The Karate Kid Part III: Official Clip - Mr. Miyagi's Little Trees

2:26

The Karate Kid Part III: Official Clip - Refusing to Compete

2:04

The Karate Kid Part III: Official Clip - Killer Instinct

2:12

The Karate Kid Part III: Official Clip -The Real Pain Begins

2:56

View more videos

The Karate Kid Part II

45%

52%

The Karate Kid Part II

Watchlist

TRAILER

for The Karate Kid Part II

The Karate Kid

90%

83%

The Karate Kid

Watchlist

TRAILER

for The Karate Kid

The Age of Innocence

88%

75%

The Age of Innocence

Watchlist

TRAILER

for The Age of Innocence

Kramer vs. Kramer

90%

89%

Kramer vs. Kramer

Watchlist

TRAILER

for Kramer vs. Kramer

The Remains of the Day

96%

89%

The Remains of the Day

Watchlist

Discover more movies and TV shows.

View More

New on Netflix in July 2021

Everything We Know About Cobra Kai Season 2 So Far

Ralph Macchio and William Zabka on Returning to Their Karate Kid Roles in Cobra Kai

The Karate Kid Part III: Trailer 1

1:28

View more videos

View more photos

Synopsis

Cobra Kai karate instructor John Kreese (Martin Kove) is still brooding over the defeat handed to him by Daniel LaRusso (Ralph Macchio) and Mr. Miyagi (Noriyuki "Pat" Morita). With his slimy partner, Terry Silver (Thomas Ian Griffith), Kreese plans an intricate payback that involves hiring a mean-spirited ringer (Sean Kanan) to rob Daniel of his championship title. When Mr. Miyagi refuses to train Daniel, even under threat, the boy makes the mistake of turning to Terry for guidance.

Director: John G. Avildsen
Producer: Jerry Weintraub
Screenwriter: Robert Mark Kamen
Production Co: Columbia Pictures Corporation, Weintraub Entertainment Group
Rating: PG
Genre: Drama
Original Language: English
Release Date (Streaming): Jan 9, 2014
Box Office (Gross USA): $36.8M
Runtime: 1h 51m
Sound Mix: Surround

Most Popular at Home Now