Why So Blu?

Karate Kid: Legends (Blu-ray Review)

When a franchise has lasted four decades, every new installment comes with high expectations and a bit of pressure. The Karate Kid series has always been about more than just fighting—it’s about mentorship, discipline, and finding strength in unlikely places. With Karate Kid: Legends, the torch officially passes to a new generation while still honoring the past. The question is, can it balance nostalgia with a fresh story? The answer: mostly yes.

Film

Karate Kid: Legends brings the franchise back with a new face and some very familiar ones. The story follows Li Fong (Ben Wang), a talented kung fu student who moves from Beijing to New York with his mother (Ming-Na Wen) after a family tragedy. Struggling to adjust, Li finds friendship with Mia (Sadie Stanley) and her father Victor (Joshua Jackson), a former boxer running a neighborhood pizza shop. But when Mia’s jealous ex, Conor (Aramis Knight), sets his sights on Li, the young newcomer finds himself drawn into conflict both inside and outside the dojo.

As Li tries to balance his new life, he’s taken under the guidance of not one, but two legends: Mr. Han (Jackie Chan) and Daniel LaRusso (Ralph Macchio). The two mentors—one from kung fu, the other from karate—help him prepare for the Five Boroughs Tournament, where Li must not only prove himself but also learn the true meaning of discipline, resilience, and family.

Characters & Performances

At the center of the film is Ben Wang as Li Fong, and he’s a star in the making. He’s physically convincing in the fight sequences but, more importantly, he sells the emotional core of a teen caught between grief, cultural displacement, and personal growth. He’s instantly likable, and you want to see him succeed.

Jackie Chan slips back into the mentor role with ease, bringing both warmth and a little of his trademark humor. Ralph Macchio’s return as Daniel is pure nostalgia fuel, and while his role isn’t as central as fans might hope, his scenes with Li add weight to the legacy the movie is trying to build.

Joshua Jackson is surprisingly strong as Victor, the down-on-his-luck boxer whose friendship with Li gives the movie some of its most heartfelt moments. Sadie Stanley makes Mia more than just a love interest—she adds spark and energy whenever she’s on screen. Aramis Knight, meanwhile, does solid work as Conor, though his role doesn’t quite reach the level of menace of past Karate Kid rivals. And while Ming-Na Wen is always a welcome presence, her character feels underused here.

How the Film Flows

The first act takes its time setting up Li’s new life in New York and his bond with Victor and Mia. While it’s nice to see the film invest in character relationships, it does mean the martial arts action takes a little while to kick in. Once Han and Daniel enter the story, though, the energy picks up, and the second half leans more into the classic tournament structure fans expect.

The pacing is a bit uneven—slow in the setup, then almost too quick when it comes to Li’s training and the climactic tournament. Some emotional beats, especially Li’s grief and personal struggles, could have used more breathing room. Still, the film never drags, and it manages to keep its focus on Li’s journey even as it juggles legacy characters.

Does the Plot Work?

The plot is ambitious. By introducing a new hero while tying in both Jackie Chan’s and Ralph Macchio’s worlds, it tries to bridge every corner of the franchise. For the most part, it works—Li’s story is compelling, and his connection to Victor and Mia gives the film a unique flavor compared to past entries.

That said, sometimes the movie bites off more than it can chew. Bringing in both Han and Daniel is exciting, but it feels a little rushed and doesn’t give either mentor as much depth as they deserve. Still, the heart of the story—Li finding confidence and a sense of belonging—lands exactly where it should.

Pacing & Action

When the action arrives, it delivers. The choreography blends kung fu and karate in creative ways, especially as Li learns to adapt both styles to his own identity. The tournament finale might come a bit quickly, but the matches are energetic, tense, and shot with clarity. Fans of the franchise’s tradition of one-on-one showdowns won’t walk away disappointed.

The emotional pacing, however, isn’t quite as sharp as the fights. Li’s arc from grief to triumph is powerful but occasionally feels rushed. With a little more time, the film could have been an even stronger character study.

How It Fits the Franchise

Karate Kid: Legends feels like a true attempt to merge the franchise’s two biggest eras: the original Karate Kid films and the 2010 reboot with Jackie Chan. By bringing Daniel and Han together, the movie positions itself as a unifying chapter, one that hands the torch to a new generation without discarding what came before.

It’s not perfect—some legacy callbacks feel a bit like fan service rather than organic storytelling—but it still respects the spirit of the series. The themes of mentorship, resilience, and personal growth are alive and well, and Li feels like a character who could carry the franchise forward.

Final Verdict

Karate Kid: Legends isn’t the flawless knockout it could have been, but it’s a worthy new entry with a fresh hero worth rooting for. Ben Wang shines in the lead role, the action sequences are exciting, and the film captures enough of the franchise’s spirit to stand tall alongside its predecessors.

It’s a film that blends nostalgia with new energy—and while the pacing wobbles and the plot overreaches at times, it ultimately delivers what fans want: heartfelt mentorship, thrilling fights, and the reminder that, win or lose, it’s the lessons learned along the way that matter most.

See our legacy review of the original Karate Kid’s 4K UHD Blu-ray HERE

Video  

Encoding: MPEG-4/AVC

Resolution: 1080p

Aspect Ratio: 1.85:1

HDR: N/A

Layers: BD-50

Clarity/Detail: Karate Kid: Legends was released simultaneously on 4K UHD Blu-ray.  That disc is a reference quality 4K transfer.  The “downgrade” so to speak, is still impressive and gorgeous.  Clarity is pin-sharp, with much detail in every rich set piece. Interiors and exteriors are lovingly lit with deep blacks and vibrant colors. Even on Blu-ray, Karate Kid: Legends did not come to play games.

Depth: Clean camera movement is apparent throughout the films duration.  The quick movement in fight scenes presents zero issues, with sharp focus on foreground and background objects. There is nothing to complain about in this department.

Black Levels: Black levels go deep, especially juxtaposed against the vibrant colors of New York and Beijing at night.  This type of black level is what most films should aspire for.

Color Reproduction: Color grading is near what the HDR grade could be, with no artificial sweetening coming from the process. A rooftop climax provides some stunning colorful visuals that will make you think you’re watching HDR.

Skin Tones: Flesh tones are natural and clean.

Noise/Artifacts: None

Audio

Audio Format(s): English DTS-HD MA 5.1, Spanish DTS-HD MA 5.1

Subtitles: English SDH, French

Dynamics: Surprisingly, the DTS-HD MA 5.1 sounds in many ways like a dynamic mix that’s set in a 5.1 configuration.  The mix is loud, full and dynamic.  Music pounds and so do kicks and punches. Surrounds really add to the ambience of the big city setting too. Dialogue is excellent in clarity as well.

Height: N/A

Low Frequency Extension: Bass extension is a thrill with deep, big booming drops for music and action.  There is a fantastic depth here that makes the sound sonically more refined than you’re average 5.1 mix.

Surround Sound Presentation: Surrounds bring NYC and the new-school tournament in the film to life.  Crowds, traffic, and even quiet moments settle into the speakers and wrap the sounds around the listener.

Dialogue: Dialogue sounds fantastic all throughout.

Extras

Bonus features for Karate Kid: Legends are standard fare for the modern Blu-ray Disc.  These features bring up the series, the legacy and the lore of the films and how the new entry fits in with the rest. The Blu-ray comes with a slipcover and digital code!

Bonus Materials:

• Deleted Scenes
• Gag Reel – Even icons forget their lines! Laugh out loud at these hysterical outtakes.
• Two Masters, One Student – Hear how the bringing together of icons Jackie Chan and Ralph Macchio shaped an all-new Karate Kid story.
• Becoming the Karate Kid – Follow Ben Wang’s journey as he steps into a career-defining role.
• Strength & Character: The Cast – Celebrate the amazing talent who round out the cast.
• Karate, Kung Fu, and The Art of Action – Explore the unique partnership of stunt choreography and immersive
• Honoring the Miyagi Legacy – The cast and filmmakers reflect on the enduring legacy of Mr. Miyagi and how his wisdom is at the heart of this story.

Summary

By my estimation, my opinion if you will… Karate Kid: Legends feels the most authentic after the original film.  Maybe it’s because it’s not a reboot.  Maybe it has to do with there not being a gender swap or recycling characters to keep the movie synced with the series.  We do get Ralph Macchio and Jackie Chan.  The refreshing point for me as a viewer was how little of them we actually get in the film.  A charming Ben Wang plays so well with Sadie Stanley, Joshua Jackson (a standout I didn’t expect) and Ming Na-Wen that their own story was way more engrossing than the legacy elements.  While the film isn’t without stumbles, this is a solid, entertaining and often humorous film that’s great for fans of the series, newcomers and for people like me who love and compete in combat sports.  Who knows? Perhaps I have a soft spot for Karate Kid: Legends because of it’s legitimate boxing subplot… Call it what you will, but I liked this one, and I recommend it on this excellent Blu-ray or it’s 4K brethren. Choose your own adventure, buyer-san!

Buy Karate Kid: Legends on Blu-ray HERE

Buy Karate Kid: Legends in 4K HERE

 

Buy Karate Kid: Legends’ 4K Steelbook HERE