With its classic underdog storyline, brilliant cast, and pumping Peter Cetera soundtrack, The Karate Kid was nothing short of a cultural phenomenon. This was the movie that made Ralph Macchio a household name, put Pat Morita on the map, and launched Elizabeth Shue’s career.
It also celebrated the cultural zeitgeist of martial arts in the 1980s with a story inspired by the real-life experience of writer Robert Mark Kamen. Directed by Rocky’s John G. Avildsen, The Karate Kid spawned three sequels and a TV spin-off. But if all that’s not enough, here are 10 more movies fans should seek out.
10 The Outsiders
The Outsiders is essential viewing for any fans of The Karate Kid, not least for the fact it’s the movie that landed Macchio the part of Daniel LaRusso. He plays Johnny Cade, a troubled working-class teen growing up in 1960s Tulsa, Oklahoma, who ends up embroiled in a deadly gang war with a rival group of boys from the rich side of town.
Directed by Francis Ford Coppola, The Outsiders boasts an incredible array of talents destined for big things including Patrick Swayze, Rob Lowe, Matt Dillon and Tom Cruise, but it’s Macchio who steals the show as the doomed Johnny.
9 3 Ninjas
It’s not big and it’s certainly not clever, but there’s something endearingly nostalgic about this Karate Kid rip-off, all these years later. Going by the notion that three is better than one, this kid-friendly martial arts effort focuses on a trio of young brothers trained in the ways of ninjutsu by their Japanese grandfather Mori Tanaka.
Things take an interesting turn after Tanaka’s former student, Hugo Snyder, hatches a plan to kidnap the three boys. Directed by Jon Turteltaub, who went on to make Cool Runnings and National Treasure, the first 3 Ninjas movie is an enjoyable retro-fest. Just steer clear of the sequels.
8 Best of the Best
This underrated blend of Rocky and The Karate Kid bombed at the box office but enjoyed a second life on VHS, spawning two direct-to-video sequels. Best of the Best centers on a team of American martial artists chosen to represent the US at an international tournament against Team Korea.
It’s packed with star names, including Eric Roberts as a single father hoping to make a better life for his son through martial arts, and James Earl Jones as the team’s obligatory coach. The main focus, however, is on Philip Rhee’s Tommy Lee, a fighter out for vengeance after losing his brother in a previous tournament.
7 Over The Top
There’s something gloriously silly about Over The Top. Critics and audiences hated it upon release, but it’s far from Sylvester Stallone’s worst film. In fact, it’s quite endearing in places and certainly makes for an entertaining watch.
It centers on Stallone’s Lincoln Hawk, a trucker attempting to mend his broken relationship with his estranged son, Michael, following the death of his wife. It’s no easy feat, especially as Hawk is en route to an arm-wrestling championship, where the prize for the winner happens to be a big rig truck. Occasional wooden acting and plot holes aside, it’s a fun watch.
6 Showdown
Showdown is The Karate Kid in everything but name. It tells the story of Ken, a teenager who just moved over from Kansas with his mother. After taking a liking to local girl Julie, Ken ends up on the wrong end of a beatdown from her possessive boyfriend Tom.
Eager to stand up to him, Ken takes up karate with the help of his school’s janitor Billy. Here’s where things get interesting. Firstly, Billy is played by martial arts legend Billy Blanks. Secondly, Billy has a score to settle with bully Tom’s sensei, Lee. Showdown may lack finesse but it’s fun and features some great fight scenes.
5 Surf Ninjas
Don’t let the presence of Rob Schneider and a dodgy hair dye job put you off; Surf Ninjas is great. Silly, but great. This colorful martial arts comedy centers on a pair of teenager surfers from LA who discover they are the heirs to the Asian kingdom of Patusan.
All that stands between them and their throne is the villainous Colonel Chi (played by Leslie Nielsen in top scenery-chewing form) and an army of ninjas. One filed under the so-bad-its-good category, the fact a Sega Game Gear plays a pivotal role in the plot only adds to the nostalgic fun.
4 Sidekicks
This sweet martial arts comedy features winning turns from Chuck Norris and the late Jonathan Brandis. A fresh twist on The Karate Kid format, Sidekicks centers of Brandis’s Barry, an asthmatic kid struggling with life at school. Tormented by bullies and often unwell, he regularly escapes into a fantasy world where he imagines himself as an action star kicking butt alongside Norris. Eventually, however, Barry decides to stand up for himself and fight back.
Blending imaginative fantasy set pieces with an uplifting story about a young boy overcoming life’s obstacles, the fact Norris appears happy to send up his action persona only adds to the fun.
3 A Dangerous Place
A Dangerous Place is B-grade teen action at its best, and a film often unfairly overlooked when discussing the early 90s heyday of martial arts movies. When teenager Ethan’s older brother, Greg, passes away in unusual circumstances, the police determine he took his own life. But Ethan suspects something more sinister is afoot.
After learning Greg was heavily involved in a local martial arts team called the Scorpions, he decides to join up in the hopes of finding out what really happened to him. A solid blend of action and intrigue is bolstered by the presence of Corey Feldman in a supporting role.
2 The Sensei
Diana Lee Inosanto made her name as a martial artist and stuntwoman on the likes of Buffy the Vampire Slayer prior to writing, directing and starring in this critically-lauded but largely overlooked martial arts effort. Set in Colorado, in 1985 during the rise of the AIDS panic, it centers on teenager McClain Evans, a gay high school student who frequently finds himself a target for violent bullies.
After one potentially violent attack, McClain’s mother asks Karen (Inosanto), a martial arts teacher haunted by the loss of her pro-boxer fiancé, for help. A fresh and thoughtful take on The Karate Kid format.
1 Bloodsport
Bloodsport famously purported to be based on the experiences of Frank Dux, a real-life martial arts expert who claims to have been invited to take part in a secret underground fighting tournament known as the Kumite. Regardless of whether it’s true or not, the resulting movie based on those experiences makes for thrilling, occasionally cartoonish viewing.
The film that helped launch the career of Jean-Claude Van Damme, who stars as Dux, Bloodsport may be aimed at an older audience but it plays more like a real-life version of Street Fighter, complete with colorful fighters and some very special moves.
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