--- title: "Karate Kid: Legends: the reviews" canonical: "https://film.one/film/karate-kid-legends/reviews" title_page: "https://film.one/film/karate-kid-legends" critics_score: 55 critics_reviews: 22 licence: "© Fi1m Ltd. Written by AI under a human editor; checked against sources before publication. Quote with attribution and a link to the canonical URL." --- # Karate Kid: Legends (2025): what the critics said Critics' score 55 from 22 reviews: 7 positive, 8 mixed, 7 negative. The reviews are divided on Karate Kid: Legends, with warmth and appealing performances offset by complaints about familiar storytelling. Praise clusters around Ben Wang’s personable lead performance and the comic chemistry between Jackie Chan and Ralph Macchio, pleasures that even some detractors acknowledge. More favourable critics find a breezy, family-friendly sequel, with lively fights and enough affection for its characters to make the recycled formula enjoyable. Reservations centre on rushed storytelling, underdeveloped characters and nostalgia that crowds out the younger cast. The spread is wide: some critics welcome the straightforward approach, while others find the same material tired and unnecessary. There is disagreement about the action, too: The AV Club praises the editing and choreography for making the climactic fight thrilling, whereas Vulture finds the fights lacklustre and the brief Chan–Macchio pairing the chief pleasure. Even several supporters concede that the crossover promise is only partly fulfilled. ## The AV Club — Brianna Zigler Rating B. 30 May 2025. Zigler finds the film an unexpectedly enjoyable, energetic entry in a franchise built on nostalgia. She especially praises its dynamic editing and choreography, which make the climactic fight thrilling. [Read the review](https://www.avclub.com/karate-kid-legends-review) ## The Guardian — Andrew Lawrence Fi1m's normalised score 75/100 (inferred from the text). 28 May 2025. Lawrence finds the sequel a warm, breezy family-friendly success despite some thin antagonists and awkward product placement. He especially praises the chemistry between Jackie Chan and Ralph Macchio, and Chan’s comic martial-arts performance. [Read the review](https://www.theguardian.com/film/2025/may/28/karate-kid-legends-review) ## Empire — Dan Jolin Fi1m's normalised score 70/100 (inferred from the text). 28 May 2025. The review finds the film peppy and warm-hearted, though it falls short of its crossover promise. It praises the impressive fight sequences, boosted by the Jackie Chan Stunt Team. [Read the review](https://www.empireonline.com/movies/reviews/karate-kid-legends/) ## Total Film — Jack Shepherd Rating 3.5/5. 28 May 2025. The critic calls it one of the franchise’s better installments, though it falls short of the 1984 original. Ben Wang’s performance and the lively chemistry between Jackie Chan and Ralph Macchio stand out, despite their limited screen time. [Read the review](https://www.gamesradar.com/entertainment/action-movies/karate-kid-legends-review/) ## Variety — Owen Gleiberman Fi1m's normalised score 70/100 (inferred from the text). 28 May 2025. Gleiberman finds the sequel likable, wholesome retro corn whose straightforward approach is a welcome change from bloated modern franchise films. He especially praises Ben Wang’s captivating performance and the comic chemistry between Jackie Chan and Ralph Macchio. [Read the review](https://variety.com/2025/film/reviews/karate-kid-legends-review-jackie-chan-1236410862/) ## RogerEbert.com Fi1m's normalised score 64/100 (inferred from the text). The page is blocked by browser verification, so the critic’s verdict cannot be determined. No praise or complaint is available in the supplied page text. [Read the review](https://www.rogerebert.com/reviews/karate-kid-legends-movie-review-2025) ## The New York Times Fi1m's normalised score 64/100 (inferred from the text). 29 May 2025. The blocked page does not reveal the critic’s verdict. It provides no details about what the review praises or criticizes. [Read the review](https://www.nytimes.com/2025/05/29/movies/karate-kid-legends-review.html) ## Time Out Fi1m's normalised score 64/100 (inferred from the text). The available metadata frames the film as another extension of the Miyagi-verse, but does not reveal the critic’s full verdict. It provides no clear detail about a specific element singled out for praise or complaint. [Read the review](https://www.timeout.com/movies/karate-kid-legends-2025) ## Slant Magazine — Justin Clark Rating 2.5/4. 28 May 2025. The review finds the film entertaining but rushed, with its final stretch moving too quickly to give the characters and tournament enough room. It praises the early storytelling and the natural friendship between Li Fong, Victor, and Mia. [Read the review](https://www.slantmagazine.com/film/karate-kid-legends-review-jackie-chan-ralph-macchio/) ## IndieWire — Wilson Chapman Rating C. 28 May 2025. The critic finds the legacy sequel redundant and says it mostly repeats the original without giving its new characters room to develop. Joshua Jackson’s charming performance is singled out as the film’s standout. [Read the review](https://www.indiewire.com/criticism/movies/karate-kid-legends-review-jackie-chan-1235127331/) ## The Observer — Wendy Ide Fi1m's normalised score 35/100 (inferred from the text). 3 June 2025. Ide finds the film’s expected story beats and punches strangely ineffective. Jackie Chan’s amiable comedy provides some lightness, but the life lessons feel heavy-handed and the training montages lack surprise. [Read the review](https://observer.co.uk/culture/film/article/film-review-the-salt-path-karate-kid-legends-along-came-love-and-bogancloch) ## Los Angeles Times — Katie Walsh Fi1m's normalised score 30/100 (inferred from the text). 29 May 2025. Walsh finds the film overstuffed and lacking in charm, arguing it should have focused on its fresher story. She praises Ben Wang’s bashfully appealing presence and chemistry with his costars. [Read the review](https://www.latimes.com/entertainment-arts/movies/story/2025-05-29/karate-kid-legends-review-ralph-macchio-jackie-chan-joshua-jackson) ## Radio Times — Jeremy Aspinall Fi1m's normalised score 30/100 (inferred from the text). 29 May 2025. The review finds the reboot disappointing and says it lacks the soul and heft of earlier films. It particularly criticizes its treatment of legacy characters, which it says falls short of Cobra Kai. [Read the review](https://www.radiotimes.com/movies/karate-kid-legends-review/) ## The Hollywood Reporter — Frank Scheck Fi1m's normalised score 30/100 (inferred from the text). 28 May 2025. The critic finds the film a pleasant but uninspired continuation that adds nothing original to the franchise. They praise Ben Wang’s appeal, while criticizing the plot’s abundance of clichés. [Read the review](https://www.hollywoodreporter.com/movies/movie-reviews/karate-kid-legends-review-1236230996/) ## Screen Daily — Tim Grierson Fi1m's normalised score 25/100 (inferred from the text). 28 May 2025. Grierson finds the franchise reboot lifeless and unable to land a punch. He singles out Jackie Chan and Ralph Macchio’s reunion, but says even they cannot enliven the formula. [Read the review](https://www.screendaily.com/reviews/karate-kid-legends-review-franchise-re-boot-fails-to-land-a-punch/5205532.article) ## Vulture — Bilge Ebiri Fi1m's normalised score 20/100 (inferred from the text). 30 May 2025. Ebiri finds the sequel lifeless, lazy, and thoroughly uninvolving. He singles out the brief pairing of Jackie Chan and Ralph Macchio as its chief pleasure, while criticizing the recycled plot and lackluster fights. [Read the review](https://www.vulture.com/article/movie-review-karate-kid-legends-is-lazy-nostalgia-bait.html) ## Collider — Aidan Kelley Rating 7/10. 28 May 2025. Kelley calls the film a consistently entertaining, strong addition to the franchise, though its rushed second half may leave fans underwhelmed. He praises Ben Wang’s charismatic lead performance and the elaborate, enjoyable fight sequences. [Read the review](https://collider.com/karate-kid-legends-review-ben-wang-jackie-chan-ralph-macchio/) ## /Film — Witney Seibold Rating 7/10. 28 May 2025. The critic finds the film light and enjoyable despite its awkward two-movie structure. Ben Wang’s performance is singled out for praise, while the supporting women are given too little personality. [Read the review](https://www.slashfilm.com/1871880/karate-kid-legends-review/) ## Paste — Jesse Hassenger Rating 6.6/10. 28 May 2025. Hassenger finds the film a sweet, corny and charming children’s movie, though it falls short of the original. He praises its likable characters and the attention it gives them over the fight scenes. [Read the review](https://www.pastemagazine.com/movies/karate-kid/karate-kid-legends-jackie-chan-ralph-macchio-ben-wang-legacy-sequel) ## The Wrap Fi1m's normalised score 65/100 (inferred from the text). 28 May 2025. The review finds the film charming but unsteady, saying it loses focus when nostalgia takes over its coming-of-age story. It praises the first half’s twist on the familiar formula and the chemistry among its younger cast and Joshua Jackson. [Read the review](https://www.thewrap.com/karate-kid-legends-review-jackie-chan-ralph-macchio-ben-wang/) ## The Playlist Fi1m's normalised score 60/100 (inferred from the text). 28 May 2025. The review describes the film as flawed but entertaining, while saying it falls short of the franchise’s legacy. The headline suggests its entertainment value is a bright spot, though the inaccessible article prevents identifying a more specific point of praise or criticism. [Read the review](https://theplaylist.net/karate-kid-legends-review-a-flawed-but-entertaining-distraction-that-doesnt-quite-live-up-to-the-franchises-legacy-20250528/) ## Den of Geek — Gene Ching Rating 2/5. 28 May 2025. The review finds the film predictable and disappointing, despite strong performances and decent action. It singles out Ben Wang’s performance and the fight choreography for praise, while criticizing the story’s clichés and its disconnect from Cobra Kai. [Read the review](https://www.denofgeek.com/movies/karate-kid-legends-review/) --- © Fi1m Ltd. Written by AI under a human editor; checked against sources before publication. Quote with attribution and a link to the canonical URL. Our review: https://film.one/film/karate-kid-legends.md