uhhhhhhhh not so good.
The Karate Kid
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Is it age appropriate?
About our ratings -
Is it any good?
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Common Sense says
'80s classic is still fun for families with older tweens.
Themes in this movie include: friendship, growing up, peer pressure, revenge
updated 02.02.10
Why We Rated This 
for Ages 12 and Up
The good stuff
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Role models:
What to watch out for
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What Parents Need to Know
This review of The Karate Kid was written by Sandie Angulo Chen
Parents need to know that this classic '80s martial arts movie is still a fine pick for families with older tweens, but the PG rating seems a little mild considering the number of swear words (including "s--t"), insults, and fights -- not to mention one scene of marijuana use. This is a standard new-kid-in-town flick, but it's also got soul thanks to the teacher-student relationship between wise Mr. Miyagi (Pat Morita) and lonely teen Daniel (Ralph Macchio). Issues of class, race, (teen) romance, and even war are explored in this coming-of-age tale, where karate is a metaphor for life.
Families Can Talk About
Talk to your kids about the media in their life. We have more tools and tips that can help
- Families can talk about whether Daniel is the stereotypical "new boy in town." How does he feel about starting over in a completely new place? How does Daniel's relationship with Mr. Miyagi change both of their lives?
- This is at its root, an underdog story. What other movies fit into this genre? What are some similarities between the main characters' journeys? Who helps them? Who are their rivals?
- How do class and financial status affect Daniel's place in the high-school hierarchy? Ali's country-club parents treat Daniel shabbily. Why? Kids: How do you treat people from different backgrounds or those who are new in town?
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More on The Karate Kid
What’s the Story?
After moving from New Jersey to a small apartment complex in Southern California with his single mom, Daniel LaRusso (Ralph Macchio) finds himself an outsider at his new suburban high school, where the cool guys drive expensive convertibles and take karate so seriously that they're more than happy to beat him silly again and again. Daniel's one pretty friend Ali (Elisabeth Shue) is unfortunately also the ex-girlfriend of Daniel's chief bully, blackbelt-champion Johnny (William Zabka). Unable to adequately defend himself, Daniel turns to his apartment's Okinawan super, Mr. Miyagi (Pat Morita), for help. Miyagi agrees to teach Daniel karate -- but in his own, unique way. After some unorthodox training (waxing cars, sanding floors, painting fences, catching flies), Miyagi convinces Johnny's aggressive karate instructor (Martin Kove) to make his pupils back off ... until the next karate championship.
Is It Any Good?
If you say "wax on!" to anyone born in the late '60s or '70s, they'll immediately answer "wax off!" -- that's how big a cultural phenomenon THE KARATE KID was in the '80s. Like Ferris Bueller's Day Off or Dirty Dancing, this is just one of those special, mid-'80s classics from which fans can quote countless scenes. And despite some dated details (the big hair, the track suits, the funny-looking cars and wardrobe), the story holds up remarkably well, because Daniel is a high-school Everyman. He's not Gossip Girl rich or Zac Efron handsome or extraordinarily gifted in any way; he's just a new kid in town who's willing to train hard, actually get to know an older Japanese man most teenage guys would have made fun of, and better himself in the process. Oh, and he does a killer job at winning the girl, the championship, and the hearts of moviegoers everywhere.
The Karate Kid isn't a slick, angsty coming-of-age drama, but there's so much to just enjoy about it. Shue's Ali is sweet -- especially because she doesn't mind Daniel's working-class background -- but the teens' romance is filler for the central relationship in the movie: that of Daniel and Mr. Miyagi. Not many movies can make multi-generational friendships seem authentic, but Macchio and the late Morita managed to achieve a closeness that was believably touching. When Daniel tells Mr. Miyagi "You're my best friend," it's not awkward -- it's true. Daniel and Mr. Miyagi are a more relatable Luke and Obi Wan or Harry and Dumbledore, and it's that archetypal teacher-hero dynamic that ultimately makes The Karate Kid a winner.
Movie Details
Studio: Sony Pictures, Director: John Avildsen
Run time: 127 minutes
Theatrical release: 6/22/1984, DVD release: 6/7/2005
MPAA Rating: PG for thematic intensity and mild violence
Run time: 127 minutes
Theatrical release: 6/22/1984, DVD release: 6/7/2005
MPAA Rating: PG for thematic intensity and mild violence
Our Members Say
See all 11 member reviews
Most Recent Reviews
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I rate this title on for age 10 and give it
uhhhhhh
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I rate this title iffy for age 11 and give it
- My concerns are:
- Excessive violence
wax on; wax off.
I love this movie. It's totally awesome.
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I rate this title on for age 7 and give it
- My concerns are:
- Excessive violence
GRRRRRRRRRREAT
Six year old might be disturbed by the violence that occurs in this movie. But it is great.
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I rate this title on for age 8 and give it
- My concerns are:
- Excessive violence
- Inappropriate language
- My highlights are:
- Good role models
An OK Karate Movie
an OK Karate movie, doesnt show karate as it really is, but still worth watching.
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I rate this title on for age 2 and give it
- My concerns are:
- Excessive violence
nothing bad except violence
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I rate this title on for age 4 and give it
- My concerns are:
- Excessive violence
- Inappropriate language
see it
see it
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I rate this title on for age 8 and give it
- My concerns are:
- Excessive violence
Very well done movie can drag at times
THis is a very fun movie to watch, it is good for younger viwers too, but it dose have some issues: 1. Lots of karate violence with punching and kicking, the final showdown leads to daren's leg being broken. 2. Some brief language that probably wouldn't get in a PG today, but noting seriouse. So overall, this is a fun movie for teens and their younger brothers!
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I rate this title on for age 0 and give it
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I rate this title on for age 0 and give it
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I rate this title pause for age 0 and give it
careful for kids 10 and under
we just watched this with our 8 & 10 year olds (3rd & 4th grade) and while it is a good story, I don't think I was ready for my kids to watch it. The main bully was rolling a joint (try explaining that to an 8 year old), and there were a lot of curse words that you expect from a HS kid, but not that you want your child to hear (ie the karate kid telling his mom that this is bull$%^&). I would say 5th grade would be the minimum age for me. Was this rated before their was PG13? It seemed more of a PG13 movie to me.
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I rate this title on for age 0 and give it
this is the best!
i think this was a great movie. but in one scene daniel drinks scotch with his teacher. and lots of violence but at the end its great.
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