Picture: Sony Pictures
While the long-awaited return of Karate Kid to the big screen was an undoubted disappointment when it came to the box office (and even critical reviews), those who have been waiting to check it out in the United States will be able to do so beginning in late September when the movie drops onto the streamer as part of the Sony Pictures first window deal. Here’s what you need to know.
Jackie Chan, Ben Wang, and Ralph Macchio lead the cast of this movie, which serves as the sixth main movie entry in the franchise and serves as a continuation of sorts for both Cobra Kai and the 2010 movie that featured Jayden Smith. While it’s connected to the universe, you can still watch it completely fresh, in case you think that might be a barrier.
First released in theaters on May 30th, 2025, the new film also featured the talents of Joshua Jackson, Sadie Stanley, and Ming-Na Wen. The plot revolves around kung fu prodigy Li Fong, who moves from Beijing to New York. When a friend needs help, he enters a karate competition, but his skills fall short. With guidance from Mr. Han and Karate Kid legend Daniel LaRusso, Li fuses kung fu and karate for the ultimate showdown.
Of course, many Netflix subscribers have reinvigorated their love or discovered it for the first time through the Cobra Kai series, which sees many of the original stars of the movies join together in a series that ran for six seasons, with the concluding episodes releasing in early 2025.
The showrunners of Cobra Kai, speaking with The Direct, said about the link, “Well, it’s technically a ‘Karate Kid’ movie.” You know, that’s our show, ‘Cobra Kai,’ and the commonality is they both have Daniel LaRusso. That movie is kind of branching off the tree from the Jackie Chan movie of 2010, and you’ll have to see how they tie those things together.”
Despite the fan base being bigger than ever, Karate Kid: Legends has been considered a box office disappointment for 2025, with it only grossing just over $115 million on its $45 million budget.
Reviews were mixed from critics, with it landing a splat score of 58% but it has fared much better with super fans and more casual fans of the Karate Kid movie franchise, holding a 90% on RT from audiences. Most of the criticism leveled against the film involved its overreliance on nostalgia without pushing the story much further.
When will Karate Kid: Legends release on Netflix?
Thanks to a deal struck back in 2021 and expected to run through at least 2026, all Sony Pictures movies, whether through the main label or its smaller labels like Sony Pictures Classics, come to Netflix in the US through what’s known as the first window. That first window is 18 months following its exclusive theatrical window.
Generally speaking, Netflix receives new Sony Pictures movies around 120 days (sometimes give or take a week or two), which equates to around four months, meaning that at the moment, we can probably expect a release date for on or around September 27, 2025. Although some movies have been released earlier, Karate Kid: Legends is set to hit Netflix on September 27th. Once on Netflix, it’ll remain for 18 months before jumping over to Disney+ and Hulu.
Screencapture: Netflix
For more on Netflix’s slate of Sony movies still to come to Netflix US in 2025 and indeed everything else coming in September, keep it locked here on What’s on Netflix
Will Karate Kid: Legends be on Netflix internationally?
Yes, but most regions of Netflix don’t have a first window deal like the United States. As we’ve covered before, India does get Sony movies around the same time as the US (late September), with most other regions then picking up between 2-4 years after its initial theatrical release in varying windows. The United Kingdom, for instance, owns the second window for the Sony Pictures movie, so it’ll stream there sometime in early 2027.
Are you looking forward to watching Karate Kid: Legends on Netflix? Let us know in the comments.
Rating: TV-14
