3 reasons why Netflix’s Cobra Kai beats all The Karate Kid films

When Netflix decided to give The Karate Kid a new lease on life with Cobra Kai, fans weren't sure if it would work out. Would the show be able to bring back the charm of the movies we all grew up with? Well, the proof is in the pudding, folks—Cobra Kai knocked it out of the park with six seasons that won us over.

The original Karate Kid flicks gave us unforgettable characters and lessons that will stay with us forever. But this new show has taken everything we loved and cranked it up a notch. It has a deeper storyline and characters with more layers than an onion.

Cobra Kai doesn't just play on our nostalgia—it weaves it into this huge, epic story. It takes the classic face-off between Daniel LaRusso, played by the legendary Ralph Macchio, and Johnny Lawrence, brought to life by William Zabka. It turns it into this complex dance of alliances and rivalries that are anything but predictable.

So, why does Cobra Kai blow the Karate Kid movies out of the water?

Reasons why Cobra Kai is better than Karate Kid movies

1) A much richer narrative

While the Karate Kid movies were mostly about Daniel's story, Cobra Kai opens the whole thing into a much bigger, more complex tale. It's like catching up with Daniel and Johnny, those two guys from way back, but now they're all grown up and still dealing with their old issues.

The show throws in their kids and some new students, which makes for an interesting mix of old and new faces fighting it out. What's noteworthy about Cobra Kai is that it's not just living off our warm fuzzy feelings from the movies. It doesn't just keep playing the same old tunes. It gives the characters we know a fresh look and makes us see them in a new light.

The show is full of moments that'll make you smile and others that'll surprise you.

2. Unpredictable outcomes of dynamic fights

If you remember the old Karate Kid movies, Daniel had it in the bag every time. His feel-good, underdog wins were awesome and predictable. But in Cobra Kai, things are a whole different ballgame. Daniel's success is not a given anymore, and that makes it way more exciting.

Cobra Kai mixes things up with its fight scenes. It's not just the same old routine from the movies. We get to see schoolyard throwdowns, and then there are big tournaments like the Sekai Taikai, with all sorts of matchups like round robins and tag teams that keep you on the edge of your seat.

And even the big bad guys, like Johnny and Daniel, show us their softer side. They throw in twists, like when Johnny and Daniel team up for a bit. It's not something you'd expect, and it's pretty cool to see. What's coolest is how Cobra Kai makes you care about the characters, not just who wins the fight.

It's like a real-life drama playing out on the mat. It's about the journey these characters go on and how the fights change them and their relationships.

3) William Zabka’s performance

William Zabka nails it with his portrayal of Johnny Lawrence in Cobra Kai. In the old movies, Johnny was just a flat-out bully, but the show gives him so much more depth. He's still messed up, but now he's someone we can relate to and root for. The way they show his difficulty in keeping up with the times and trying to be a good teacher, even though he sometimes gets it wrong, is interesting to watch.

Slash Film says Zabka does an amazing job playing this guy who's trying his best to be better, and it pulls at your heartstrings as he is:

“Permanently stuck on reliving his youth.”

Johnny's performance has humor, vulnerability, and toughness, which makes him a crowd-pleaser. The way his character goes from bad to good isn't just believable, it's also messy and real, which is refreshing compared to the usual paths you see. The friendship that grows between him and Daniel is one of the best parts of the show, as it shows how much they both change and grow.

And their rivalry turns into a bromance with more karate kicks!