Ember's analysis
- Pacing
- Brisk
- Intensity
- Moderate
- Complexity
- Easy to follow
- Violence
- Mild
- sincere
- warm
- uplifting
- family movie night
- nostalgic rewatch
What critics said
Critics broadly regarded this fourth franchise entry as unnecessary and weak, while acknowledging the solid performances of Pat Morita and Hilary Swank.
What sets it apart
May contain story progression spoilers
Julie is coping with the deaths of her parents while struggling with her grandmother, classmates, and authority figures.
Miyagi teaches Julie karate not merely for competition but to help her process pain and regain direction.
Julie Pierce replaces the franchise's previous male apprentice as Miyagi's student.
Karate training and the Buddhist monk setting frame physical technique as a path toward composure and self-knowledge.
Films like The Next Karate Kid, and why
The Karate Kid
Both are family-friendly martial arts coming-of-age dramas centered on a troubled teenager mentored by an older martial artist.
The Karate Kid Part II
Shares a teen protagonist, school conflict, disciplined training, and an uplifting sports-drama arc.
Sidekicks
Combines adolescent alienation, mentorship, personal transformation, and accessible martial arts action.
Akeelah and the Bee
A family-oriented teen sports drama about overcoming grief, bullying, and self-doubt through dedicated training.
Movie Details
- Director
- Christopher Cain
- Release Date
- 1994-07-18
- Runtime
- 107 min
- Rating
- 5.4 / 10 (1213)
Cast
- Pat Morita
- Hilary Swank
- Michael Ironside
- Constance Towers
- Chris Conrad
- Arsenio Trinidad
- Michael Cavalieri
- Walton Goggins
- Jim Ishida
- Rodney Kageyama
Where to watch in United States
- Rent
- Amazon Video, Apple TV Store, Google Play Movies, YouTube, Fandango At Home, Spectrum On Demand
- Buy
- Amazon Video, Apple TV Store, Google Play Movies, YouTube, Fandango At Home
Streaming options come from TMDB and change over time.
Common questions
- What is The Next Karate Kid about?
- A grieving teenager finds direction, resilience, and a new sense of belonging through an unlikely karate apprenticeship with Mr. Miyagi.
- What is The Next Karate Kid like to watch?
- Ember's analysis rates the pacing of The Next Karate Kid as brisk, its intensity as moderate and its storytelling as easy to follow.
- Is The Next Karate Kid violent?
- Only mildly. Ember rates the violence in The Next Karate Kid as mild.
- What did critics think of The Next Karate Kid?
- Critics broadly regarded this fourth franchise entry as unnecessary and weak, while acknowledging the solid performances of Pat Morita and Hilary Swank.
- Which films are like The Next Karate Kid?
- Films with a similar feel include The Karate Kid, The Karate Kid Part II, Sidekicks, and Akeelah and the Bee.
- How long is The Next Karate Kid?
- The Next Karate Kid runs 107 minutes.
- Where can I watch The Next Karate Kid?
- In United States, The Next Karate Kid is available to rent or buy from Amazon Video, Apple TV Store, Google Play Movies, YouTube, Fandango At Home, Spectrum On Demand.
