Netflix’s Cobra Kai Proves TV Can Beat Martial Arts Movies
Cobra Kai on Netflix holds a 94% Rotten Tomatoes score and outshines most martial arts films with story depth and nostalgia. Read now!
Introduction
Martial arts movies used to dominate theaters. Think Bruce Lee’s Enter the Dragon (1973), Jet Li in Once Upon a Time in China, or Jackie Chan’s blend of action and comedy in the 1980s and 90s. The genre became a global phenomenon, but it often followed a familiar pattern: underdog student, wise mentor, training montage, final showdown. Then in 2018, Cobra Kai arrived—not in theaters, but on YouTube Red, later saved by Netflix.
Instead of just rehashing The Karate Kid, the series flipped the formula. Johnny Lawrence, the 1980s bully, became a struggling mentor. Daniel LaRusso, once the underdog, now looked privileged and out of touch. This reversal alone set the tone. And critics responded: Cobra Kai holds a 94% Rotten Tomatoes score, with even its “worst” season sitting at 90% (Rotten Tomatoes). By 2025, the show had finished six seasons and sparked conversations about whether long-form television can actually surpass martial arts films in both quality and impact.
Let’s break down why Cobra Kai didn’t just revive The Karate Kid—it may be the best martial arts show ever made.
1. Why Cobra Kai’s Format Outworks Martial Arts Movies
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More Time for Character Arcs: Movies like Ip Man or The Raid rely on two hours of intensity. Cobra Kai had six seasons, giving space for Johnny’s redemption, Daniel’s midlife struggles, and new characters like Miguel and Hawk.
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Not Just About Fighting: While the fight choreography is strong, much of the appeal comes from storylines around family, mentorship, and rivalries. That depth isn’t possible in one movie.
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Critical Consistency: While martial arts franchises often dip in quality (Karate Kid III, anyone?), Cobra Kai maintained Certified Fresh scores across all seasons.
Bottom line: The long-form format gave martial arts storytelling room to breathe. It’s bingeable, not disposable.
2. Nostalgia Used Correctly, Not as a Crutch
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Respect for the Original: Unlike many reboots (Charlie's Angels 2019, Total Recall 2012), Cobra Kai didn’t erase its roots. It leaned into The Karate Kid’s history, reviving villains like Terry Silver and Chozen.
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Rewriting the Past: Sequels once mocked (Karate Kid III) became stronger when Cobra Kai reframed them. Fans revisited old movies with new appreciation.
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Balance of Old and New: Nostalgia can alienate new viewers, but Cobra Kai brought in a younger cast—Miguel, Tory, Sam—making the story accessible for Gen Z.
It’s not just a continuation; it’s a correction and expansion of a beloved franchise.
3. Comedy and Self-Awareness Keep It Fresh
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Genre Awareness: Martial arts TV can burn out fast. Into the Badlands (AMC) looked great but ended after three seasons. Cobra Kai survived six because it didn’t take itself too seriously.
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Humor in the Drama: Johnny calling Facebook “the internet” or his retro one-liners add levity. Without comedy, endless fights would feel stale.
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Audience Connection: Viewers laughed at Johnny’s cluelessness but still rooted for him. That balance kept audiences engaged season after season.
Humor kept the punches landing without fatigue.
4. Martial Arts Choreography on TV’s Budget
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Consistent Quality: Netflix funded sharp fight choreography. Large ensemble brawls (school fight in Season 2, house fight in Season 3, Sekai Taikai in Season 6) matched big-screen energy.
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Longer Story, More Fights: Instead of one climactic battle, Cobra Kai spread fights across multiple episodes. Training sessions, tournaments, hallway battles—all felt cinematic.
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Modern but Campy: The show embraced exaggerated, over-the-top fights. It wasn’t aiming for gritty realism like The Raid. It knew its identity.
TV budgets don’t always deliver, but here they worked because choreography mattered as much as dialogue.
5. Why Critics and Audiences Agreed (Rare in Martial Arts)
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Rotten Tomatoes: 94% average across seasons. Most shows dip after 3 seasons, but Cobra Kai didn’t.
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Audience Ratings: High viewership numbers on Netflix. Season 4 debuted as Netflix’s #1 global show in its release week (Netflix Top 10).
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Consistency Over Hype: Unlike viral Netflix hits (Tiger King, Squid Game), Cobra Kai didn’t just trend once. It held interest for six years.
That kind of consistency is unusual in the martial arts space, where movies often spike once then fade.
6. How Cobra Kai Surpassed The Karate Kid
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Reversal of Roles: Johnny Lawrence became the teacher. Daniel LaRusso became the antagonist at times. That twist created depth.
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Expanded Universe: Side characters (Hawk, Tory, Demetri) got arcs that mattered. Unlike one-off movie sidekicks, their growth lasted seasons.
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Retroactively Improving the Films: Even corny moments in the 80s trilogy gained meaning through callbacks and recontextualization.
In short: it didn’t just ride nostalgia. It improved the franchise it came from.
FAQs
Is Cobra Kai better than The Karate Kid movies?
In terms of character depth and consistency, yes. The movies remain iconic, but Cobra Kai redefined the story and expanded it. The 94% critic score across six seasons shows critical consensus.
Why did Cobra Kai succeed when other reboots failed?
Because it respected the source material while updating it. It didn’t discard the past like Terminator: Dark Fate or overload on nostalgia like Ghostbusters: Afterlife. It struck a balance.
How does Cobra Kai compare to martial arts shows like Warrior or Into the Badlands?
Warrior (HBO Max) is more grounded and violent. Into the Badlands was visually stylish but short-lived. Cobra Kai blended heart, humor, and nostalgia, making it more sustainable.
Will there be a Cobra Kai spin-off?
Yes. Netflix confirmed spin-offs are in development as of 2025, with rumors of a young Miyagi project (The Hollywood Reporter).
What other martial arts shows are worth watching in 2025?
Check out Warrior (HBO Max), Kung Fu (The CW, also streaming), and the upcoming Mortal Kombat: Onslaught animated series. For UK audiences, Raven (1990s cult classic) is on BritBox.
Conclusion
Cobra Kai is proof that TV can outdo martial arts movies. It took everything fans loved about The Karate Kid—underdogs, tournaments, rivalries—and expanded it into six seasons of character-driven storytelling. Unlike reboots that fizzle, it delivered consistent quality, humor, and choreography.
For fans of martial arts, it’s a reminder that the genre doesn’t need to stay locked in two-hour movie formats. Television can deliver longer arcs, richer character growth, and still pack in the adrenaline. Whether you grew up with Daniel LaRusso or just discovered Johnny Lawrence, Cobra Kai gave the martial arts genre new life.
If you’ve been sleeping on it, this is the time to binge.
