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Parents' Guide to

The Karate Kid, Part III

By Renee Schonfeld, Common Sense Media Reviewer

age 11+

Disappointing, often violent sequel is for series fans only.

Movie PG 1989 112 minutes
The Karate Kid, Part III Poster Image

A Lot or a Little?

What you will—and won't—find in this movie.

Community Reviews

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age 12+

Based on 2 parent reviews

fuji apllle
fuji apllle Parent of 6, 12, 15, 16 and 17-year-old
October 28, 2022
age 18+
colten97
colten97 Parent of 13-year-old
October 10, 2012
age 6+

Hilarious. I think my stomach is still sore.

One of the worst movie ever made in my opinion, also the funniest. This isn't terrible like "Face Off" or "Con Air" or even "Airborne"...these films were able to do much more of what they intended. There are no jokes in Karate Kid 3. just trash. The script is so horrible and Macchio knows it, that's why he has to overact with his body... He hops around like a pogo stick in an attempt to make the dullness and pointlessness go away. It honestly sounds like a 6th grader wrote the script. And the acting is putrid. The love interest is completely pointless, and her acting is not even worthy of a detailed criticism. THere is so much here... I could go on forever, so I'll just mention the biggest plot foul-up. The bad guys spend the whole movie trying to force Macchio to defend his "Under 18" All Valley Tournament (he's a real life 27 yr old) while periodically kicking the hell out of him... Why force him to enter the tournament? Just kick the hell out of him. Anyway, with the stale, worn out, bottom of the barrel guidance of Myagi, Larusso pulls out a one punch victory to finish the tournament over his nemesis, who had been penalized points for kicking the hell out of him illegally throughout the match. So Larusso is beside himself with pride, laughing, cheering and pointing to Myagi in triumph. Now, what's to stop his enemies from kicking the hell out of him as soon as he leaves the building? Bottom line is the story and acting are both the worst failures I think I've ever seen. There was nothing that worked. Only exciting moment is Myagi taking on 3 dudes, but it's obviously a stunt double. F for intent. A plus for accidental humor. It's literally given me and a friend a stomach ache on several occasions. we couldn't breathe. I recommend it with all my heart.
See all 2 parent reviews

What's the Story?

Shortly after a major defeat to Daniel LaRusso (Ralph Macchio), his vanquished opponent John Krees (Martin Kove) plots revenge on him and his beloved coach, Mr. Miyagi (Pat Morita). Krees enlists the support of an unscrupulous businessman and the two set out to force Daniel to defend his title against a devious, unethical challenger, and to destroy Mr. Miyagi's lifelong dream, a fledgling bonsai shop. Daniel gets caught up in the corrupting atmosphere of revenge, and it's up to Mr. Miyagi to show him the way back to integrity and self-respect.

Is It Any Good?

Our review:
Parents say (2 ):
Kids say (15 ):

A flimsy, predictable plot, ridiculous mustache-twirling villains, and some really bad acting make for a disappointing third outing in this successful 1980s franchise. With the exception of some nice visuals of Miyagi and Daniel in training and bonsai in a natural mountain setting, there's not much to recommend. Though the original's writer and director are on board again, it seems a feeble effort to capitalize on the built-in fan base. Even the karate bouts are shot with little flair or originality. It's harmless, mindless, and mostly charmless.

Talk to Your Kids About ...

  • Families can talk about how Mr. Miyagi teaches Daniel much more than karate moves. What life lessons does Daniel learn? What other films have you seen that do a good job of portraying such a strong mentor-student relationship?

  • The filmmakers made the villains in this movie very cartoonish: sneering most of the time, laughing at the heroes, and fighting very unfairly. Were they believable villains? Memorable?

  • Daniel's spirit is compared to a bonsai tree. How does Daniel "choose how he grows" like the magical tree on the mountain side?

  • If you've seen The Karate Kid and/or The Karate Kid, Part II, did this sequel meet your expectations? Why or why not? What sequels have you seen that you liked as much as or even more than the original?

Movie Details

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