The Karate Kid. It’s an iconic title that rolls off the tongue, and basically is a household name at this point. Whether you first heard it referenced in your favorite T.V. show, or your parents showed it to you as their cherished childhood classic, there is no doubt that The Karate Kid remains unforgettable even forty years later. Cobra Kai, a modern continuation of the franchise, is one of Netflix’s hottest shows as it approaches its finale.
Ralph Macchio, now 63 years old, plays the Karate Kid himself, Daniel LaRusso, who he continues to bring to life through Cobra Kai. He reflects on his relation to the legacy of this character in his memoir, Waxing On: The Karate Kid and Me. The plot of the original film was simple, but its “heart,” Macchio describes in his memoir, is what made it so appealing. Daniel LaRusso was representative of all the underdogs of the world, and became a role model for an entire generation of young boys growing up in the ’80s.
On November 20th, 2024, over forty years since the original film’s release, Macchio finally received his star on the Hollywood Walk of Fame. It was placed directly next to the star of Pat Morita, who played Mr. Miyagi, Daniel LaRusso’s iconic sensei and one of the most important contributors to The Karate Kid‘s appeal.
With just how much The Karate Kid’s legacy has flourished over the past four decades, it’s hard to believe that the star of the franchise once cringed at the original movie’s concept and title. When he first heard that the movie he was auditioning for was entitled The Karate Kid, Macchio recalls, in his memoir, thinking; “what a silly, lame… title.”
Reading the initial screenplay, Macchio remembers thinking the teenage characters and plot lines were somewhat “corny and stereotyped.” However, what stood out to him from the very beginning was the relationship between the titular character and his karate sensei, Mr. Miyagi.
The heartwarming and comedic father-son dynamic between the two was undoubtedly one of the reasons why The Karate Kid is such a lovable and undying classic film. While the high school subplots may appear slightly outdated and overdone as the years go by, this relationship at the heart of it helped to curate the “soulful magic” of it all. The concept of the underdog story itself may not have seemed innovative, but this unprecedented magic sprinkled throughout the film along with Macchio’s fantastic performance shaped it into the household name it is today.
After two sequels and various spin-off films, the franchise found a way to continue its legacy through the series Cobra Kai. The modern Netflix series has masterfully found a way to appeal to almost every audience possible; it contains plenty of ’80s nostalgia for the fans who grew up with the original films, intensely choreographed action scenes, and unpredictable drama that makes it impossible to stop watching.
Most importantly, Cobra Kai remains loyal to the original films, delving deeper into every character and storyline from forty years ago, while concurrently introducing fresh new ones. The creators put great care into referencing even the smallest details of the original stories and even helped soften out some of their more jagged elements. For example, the main love interest from the first film, played by Elisabeth Shue, was written off at the start of the second film with a single line. This was a decision criticized by many, including Macchio himself, as she was one of LaRusso’s primary sources of motivation in The Karate Kid and a central plot figure. However, Cobra Kai brought her back into the franchise and provided a more in-depth reasoning for her exit.
Daniel LaRusso is now a father and a wealthy owner of a car dealership, who is forced to confront old enemies and revisit the past while also navigating fatherhood. Although different from the trilogy, and forty years in the future, Macchio believes Cobra Kai still maintains the “heart” of the original.
Macchio himself became deeply involved in the production of Cobra Kai, even directing a couple of the episodes. After all, it is the first Karate Kid television spin-off he agreed to that would focus on the original characters, despite countless eager offers to expand on the legendary story. He goes into great detail in his memoir regarding his feelings about the various plotlines and expresses his appreciation for the way they were handled in Cobra Kai. It is evident reading through the memoir that Macchio is not only deeply connected to the franchise, but that he holds a deep love for all the details of filmmaking and acting, and puts great effort into bringing stories to life in the most effective way possible.
Of course, The Karate Kid is not the only story Macchio helped bring to life. Most notably, he played the beloved role of Johnny Cade in the 1983 classic, The Outsiders. The film is another story with a legacy that continues to thrive today, with a musical adaptation opening on Broadway just last year. It also remains a staple within the middle school literature curriculum, gaining new fans every year and maintaining a thriving fandom on apps such as YouTube and TikTok.
Macchio also played the lead role in the 1984 film Crossroads, and was featured in the iconic comedy classic “My Cousin Vinny.” Additionally, he took his passion for acting to another level when he received the opportunity to star in a Broadway production entitled Cuba and His Teddy Bear alongside the legendary Robert De Niro.
Outside of his acting career, Macchio prefers spending time with his family and enjoys the quiet life as opposed to the chaos of Hollywood. He is extremely close to his two children, Julia and Daniel, and his wife Phyllis, his high school sweetheart who he met when he was fifteen years old at a cousin’s birthday party.
At his acceptance ceremony for his star on the Hollywood Walk of Fame, his Karate Kid co-star William Zabka said Macchio’s “passion and authenticity is contagious and challenging and everything you’d want and hope from a creative partner.” Another Karate Kid star, Tamlyn Tomita, highlighted Macchio’s unmatched integrity in “seeking balance,” “ever-present gratitude,” “brilliant tenacity,” “self-deprecating wit,” and “good old-fashioned class.” The relationships between The Karate Kid stars remain another outcome of its legacy, which Macchio reflects on further in his memoir.
On May 30th, 2025, Karate Kid: Legends will come to theaters, further expanding the Karate Kid universe. It will take place three years after the finale of Cobra Kai, which was released on February 13th, 2025, and will star Macchio alongside Jackie Chan and Ben Wang. It will serve as a link between the two main iterations of the Karate Kid, with Macchio and Jackie Chan being the mentors to a new “Karate Kid.”
With the film’s upcoming release, the massive popularity of Cobra Kai among both Gen Zs and older fans of the original films, and Macchio’s new generation of devoted fans on TikTok, it appears that the legacy of The Karate Kid is far from waning even forty years after its release.
The Karate Kid. It’s an iconic title that rolls off the tongue, and basically is a household name at this point. Whether you first heard it referenced in your favorite T.V. show, or your parents showed it to you as their cherished childhood classic, there is no doubt that The Karate Kid remains unforgettable even forty years later.