In the decades since, this trilogy has given us unforgettable characters, incredible performances, an animated series, a groundbreaking theme park ride, a Broadway musical, and even a Hollywood “what if” — the alternate reality where Eric Stoltz, not Michael J. Fox, played Marty McFly.

At its heart, The Karate Kid has always been more than about karate. It’s about mentorship, resilience, discipline, and learning to find balance in life. With each installment, the story evolved — sometimes leaning into melodrama, sometimes reinventing itself for new audiences — but always staying rooted in the universal truth Mr. Miyagi taught: “Karate here [points to head]. Karate here [points to heart]. Karate never here [points to fist].”