Description
The Karate Kid is a 1984 American martial arts film directed by John G. Avildsen, who had previously worked on the movie Rocky. It stars Ralph Macchio, Pat Morita, Elisabeth Shue and William Zabka. The story follows Daniel LaRusso a teenager that learns karate with the help of Mr. Miyagi to defend himself and compete in a tournament against his bullies, one of whom is Johnny Lawrence, the ex-boyfriend of his love Ali Mills.
The Karate Kid was released in the United States on June 22, 1984 and received mostly positive reviews from critics, many of whom praised the action sequences, writing, storyline, acting performances, and music. The film was a commercial success, grossing over $130 million worldwide, making it one of the highest-grossing films of 1984.
The film revitalized the acting career of Pat Morita, who was previously known mostly for comedic roles, and earned him a nomination for the Academy Award for Best Supporting Actor. The film subsequently launched a media franchise and is credited for popularizing karate in the United States.
