Cobra Kai

Last updated

Cobra Kai
CobraKaiTitleScreen.png
The outro scene featuring the Cobra Kai dojo logo.
Genre
Created by
Based on The Karate Kid
by Robert Mark Kamen
Starring
Composers
Country of originUnited States
Original languageEnglish
No. of seasons6
No. of episodes60 (list of episodes)
Production
Executive producers
Producers
  • Katrin L. Goodson
  • Bob Wilson
Production locations Atlanta, Georgia
Los Angeles, California
CinematographyCameron Duncan
Editors
  • Nicholas Monsour
  • Jeff Seibenick
  • Ivan Victor
Camera setup Single-camera
Running time22–48 minutes
Production companies
Original release
Network YouTube Red
ReleaseMay 2, 2018 (2018-05-02)
Network YouTube Premium
ReleaseApril 24, 2019 (2019-04-24)
Network Netflix
ReleaseJanuary 1, 2021 (2021-01-01) 
present (present)

Cobra Kai is an American martial arts comedy drama television series created by Josh Heald, Jon Hurwitz, and Hayden Schlossberg, and distributed by Sony Pictures Television. It serves as a sequel to the original The Karate Kid films created by Robert Mark Kamen. [1] The series stars Ralph Macchio and William Zabka, reprising their respective roles as Daniel LaRusso and Johnny Lawrence from the film series, alongside Courtney Henggeler, Xolo Maridueña, Tanner Buchanan, Mary Mouser, Jacob Bertrand, Gianni DeCenzo, Peyton List, Vanessa Rubio, and Dallas Dupree Young. Martin Kove and Thomas Ian Griffith also reprise their roles from the films as part of the main cast, with many others returning in guest or recurring roles.

Contents

Cobra Kai re-examines The Karate Kid narrative from Johnny's point of view, beginning with his decision to reopen the Cobra Kai karate dojo, and the rekindling of his old rivalry with Daniel. [2] The first and second seasons launched on YouTube Red / YouTube Premium in May 2018 and April 2019. Netflix acquired the series in June 2020 after YouTube decided to stop producing scripted original programming. The third, fourth, and fifth seasons were released in January 2021, December 2021, and September 2022, respectively. Production for the sixth and final season stopped during the period of the 2023 Writers Guild of America strike and 2023 SAG-AFTRA strike, and resumed after January 1, 2024. [3] Season six is divided into three parts, each consisting of five episodes. Part one was released on July 18, 2024, and part two on November 15, 2024. Part three will be released on February 13, 2025. [4] [5]

The series has attained high viewership on both YouTube and Netflix, and has received critical acclaim for its writing, performances, action sequences, humor, character development, and faithfulness to the films. It has received numerous awards and nominations, with the third season being nominated for Outstanding Comedy Series at the 73rd Primetime Emmy Awards.

Premise

Thirty-four years after being defeated by Daniel LaRusso in the 1984 All-Valley Karate Tournament at the end of The Karate Kid (1984), Johnny Lawrence suffers from alcoholism and depression. He works as a part-time handyman and lives in an apartment in Reseda, Los Angeles, having fallen far from his wealthy lifestyle in Encino. He has an estranged son named Robby, from a previous relationship, whom he has abandoned. In contrast, Daniel is now the owner of a successful car dealership and is married to co-owner Amanda with whom he has two children: Sam and Anthony. However, Daniel often struggles to meaningfully connect with his children especially after his friend and mentor Mr. Miyagi passed away prior to the series' beginning.

After using karate to defend his teenage neighbor Miguel Diaz from a group of bullies, Johnny agrees to teach Miguel the way of the fist and re-opens Cobra Kai. The revived dojo attracts a group of bullied social outcasts who find camaraderie and self-confidence under Johnny's tutelage. The reopening of Cobra Kai reignites Johnny's rivalry with Daniel, who responds by opening the Miyagi-do dojo, whose students include Sam and Robby, leading to a rivalry between the respective dojos.

Cast and characters

Main

CharacterActorSeasons
1 2 3 4 5 6
Part 1Part 2Part 3
Daniel LaRusso Ralph Macchio Main
Johnny Lawrence William Zabka Main
Amanda LaRusso Courtney Henggeler Main
Miguel Diaz Xolo Maridueña Main
Robby Keene Tanner Buchanan Main
Samantha LaRusso Mary Mouser Main
Eli "Hawk" Moskowitz Jacob Bertrand Recurring Main
Demetri AlexopoulosGianni DeCenzoRecurringMainRecurring [b] Main
John Kreese Martin Kove Guest [b] Main
Tory Nichols Peyton List Does not appearRecurring [c] Main
Carmen Diaz Vanessa Rubio RecurringMainTBA
Terry Silver Thomas Ian Griffith Does not appearMainDoes not appearMain
Kenny Payne Dallas Dupree Young Does not appearRecurringMain

Recurring

  • Joe Seo as Kyler Park (seasons 1, 3–5; guest season 6)
  • Annalisa Cochrane as Yasmine (seasons 1, 3; guest seasons 4–6)
  • Bret Ernst as Louie LaRusso Jr. (seasons 1, 3; guest seasons 4–6)
  • Bo Mitchell as Brucks (season 1; guest seasons 3, 6)
  • Hannah Kepple as Moon (seasons 1–4; guest seasons 5–6)
  • Dan Ahdoot as Anoush Norouzi (seasons 1–2; guest seasons 3–6)
  • Dawson Towery as Rory (season 1)
  • Jonathan Mercedes as A.J. (season 1)
  • Susan Gallagher as "Homeless" Lynn (season 1; guest seasons 2–4)
  • Griffin Santopietro as Anthony LaRusso (seasons 1, 4–6; guest seasons 2–3)
  • Nichole Brown as Aisha Robinson (seasons 1–2; guest season 4)
  • Rose Bianco as Rosa Diaz (seasons 1, 4, 6; guest seasons 2–3, 5)
  • Terayle Hill as Trey (season 1; guest seasons 2–3)
  • Jeff Kaplan as Cruz (season 1; guest seasons 2–3)
  • Owen Morgan as Bert (seasons 2–6; guest season 1)
  • Aedin Mincks as Mitch (seasons 2–6)
  • Khalil Everage as Chris (seasons 2–6)
  • Paul Walter Hauser as Raymond "Stingray" Porter (seasons 2, 5; guest seasons 4, 6)
  • Nathaniel Oh as Nathaniel (seasons 2–6)
  • Okea Eme-Akwari as Shawn Payne (season 3; guest seasons 4, 6)
  • Selah Austria as Piper Elswith (season 4; guest season 2)
  • Milena Rivero as Lia Cabrera (season 4)
  • Brock Duncan as Zack Thompson (season 4)
  • Oona O'Brien as Devon Lee (seasons 4–6)
  • Yuji Okumoto as Chozen Toguchi (seasons 5–6; guest seasons 3–4)
  • Alicia Hannah-Kim as Kim Da-Eun (seasons 5–6)
  • Owen Harn as Gabriel (season 5)
  • Carsten Norgaard as Gunther Braun (season 6; guest season 5)
  • Brandon H. Lee as Kwon Jae-Sung (season 6)
  • Daniel Kim as Yoon Do-Jin (season 6)
  • Lewis Tan as Sensei Wolf (season 6)
  • Patrick Luwis as Axel Kovačević (season 6)
  • Rayna Valladingham as Zara Malik (season 6)
  • William Christopher Ford as Dennis de Guzman (season 6)

Guest

  • Ed Asner as Sid Weinberg (seasons 1, 3)
  • Vas Sanchez as Nestor (seasons 1–2, 4)
  • Erin Bradley Dangar as Counselor Blatt (seasons 1, 3)
  • Diora Baird as Shannon Keene (seasons 1–5)
  • David Shatraw as Tom Cole (seasons 1, 3)
  • Ken Davitian as Armand Zarkarian (seasons 1–3)
  • Matt Borlenghi as Lyle (seasons 1–3, 5–6)
  • Candace Moon as Laura Lawrence (seasons 1, 4)
  • Keith Arthur Bolden as Daryl (seasons 1, 4)
  • Randee Heller as Lucille LaRusso (seasons 1–2, 4)
  • Talin Chat as Xander Stone (season 1)
  • Kim Fields as Sandra Robinson (season 2)
  • Ron Thomas as Bobby Brown (seasons 2–3)
  • Rob Garrison as Tommy (season 2)
  • Tony O'Dell as Jimmy (season 2)
  • Alex Collins as Graham (season 2)
  • John Cihangir as Doug Rickenberger (seasons 2–3)
  • Barrett Carnahan as young John Kreese (seasons 3–6)
  • Jesse Kove as David (season 3)
  • Emily Marie Palmer as Betsy (seasons 3, 5)
  • Tamlyn Tomita as Kumiko (season 3)
  • Traci Toguchi as Yuna (season 3)
  • Dee Snider as himself (season 3)
  • Terry Serpico as Captain George Turner (seasons 3, 5)
  • Nick Marini as young Terry Silver (seasons 3–6)
  • Seth Kemp as "Ponytail" (season 3)
  • Elisabeth Shue as Ali Mills (season 3) [b]
  • Deborah May as Mrs. Mills (season 3)
  • Salome Azizi as Cheyenne Hamidi (season 4)
  • Kevin Allison as Emile (season 4)
  • Julia Macchio as Vanessa LaRusso (seasons 4–5)
  • P.J. Byrne as Greg Hughes (season 4)
  • Carrie Underwood as herself (season 4) [b]
  • Luis Roberto Guzmán as Hector Salazar (season 5)
  • Josh Lawson as Owen (season 5)
  • Sean Kanan as Mike Barnes (seasons 5–6)
  • Robyn Lively as Jessica Andrews (season 5)
  • Sunny Mabrey as Elizabeth-Anne Rooney / Lizzie-Anne (season 5)
  • Tracey Bonner as Dr. Emily Folsom (season 5)
  • Jake Huang as Sensei Hyan-Woo (season 5) [d]
  • Tyron Woodley as Sensei Odell / K.O. (season 5)
  • Dante Ha as Sensei Min-Jun (season 5)
  • Stephen Thompson as Sensei Morozov (season 5)
  • Craig Henningsen as Sensei Bacaria (season 5)
  • Steve Brown as Sensei Suk-Chin (season 5)
  • C.S. Lee as Kim Sun-Yung (season 6)
  • Adam Herschman as Stevie (season 6)
  • Christian Carlson as Zenker (season 6)
  • Tony Cavalero as Shane Page (season 6)
  • Déjà Dée as Dr. Judith (season 6)
  • Bethany DeZelle as Grace Nichols (season 6)
  • Charlotte Ann Tucker as young Tory Nichols (season 6)
  • Caitlin Hutson as Cara (season 6)
  • Jewelianna Ramos-Ortiz as Maria Álvarez (season 6)
  • Justin Ortiz as Diego Aguilar (season 6) [e]
  • Josh Banks as Stew (season 6)
  • Josh Lamboy as Sensei Ivanov (season 6)
  • Britt Baker as Sensei Oksana (season 6)
  • Brian Takahashi as young Mr. Miyagi (season 6)

Archival footage

The following characters only appear via archival footage from the film series:

Episodes

SeasonEpisodesOriginally releasedNetwork
1 10May 2, 2018 (2018-05-02) YouTube Red
2 10April 24, 2019 (2019-04-24) YouTube Premium
3 10January 1, 2021 (2021-01-01) Netflix
4 10December 31, 2021 (2021-12-31)
5 10September 9, 2022 (2022-09-09)
6 [7] [8] 155July 18, 2024 (2024-07-18)
5November 15, 2024 (2024-11-15)
5February 13, 2025 (2025-02-13)

Production

The thematic genesis for Cobra Kai began with a few works of pop culture. First, the 2007 music video for the song "Sweep the Leg" by No More Kings stars William Zabka (who also directed the video) as a caricature of himself as Johnny Lawrence, and features references to The Karate Kid (1984), including cameo appearances by Zabka's former co-stars. [9] [10] In a 2010 interview, Zabka jokingly discussed this video in the context of his vision that Johnny was the true hero of the film. [11] Next in June 2010, Ralph Macchio appeared in Funny or Die's online short, "Wax On, F*ck Off", in which his loved ones stage an intervention to turn the former child star from a well-adjusted family man into an addict besieged with tabloid scandal in order to help his career (with frequent references to The Karate Kid). [12] A recurring joke in the sketch is that Macchio is confused for an adolescent. The short was lauded by TV Guide's Bruce Fretts, who referred to the video as "sidesplitting" and "comic gold". [13] Finally, in 2013, Macchio and Zabka made guest appearances as themselves in the How I Met Your Mother episode "The Bro Mitzvah", where Macchio is invited to Barney Stinson's bachelor party, leading to Barney shouting that he hates Macchio and that Johnny was the real hero of The Karate Kid. Towards the end of the episode, a clown in the party wipes off his makeup and reveals himself as Zabka. [14] This influenced the launch of Cobra Kai, which gives a balanced perspective for Johnny, Daniel, and other characters. [15] Zabka continued to be a recurring character throughout the ninth season of the show.

Development

Cobra Kai was greenlit in August 2017, with ten half-hour episodes, written and executive produced by Josh Heald, Jon Hurwitz, and Hayden Schlossberg. Although the series received offers from Netflix, Amazon, Hulu, and AMC, it ultimately ended up on the subscription service YouTube Red (later YouTube Premium). [16] [17] The trio was joined by executive producers James Lassiter and Caleeb Pinkett of Overbrook Entertainment in association with Sony Pictures Television. [18] The first season was released on May 2, 2018, and the second season on April 24, 2019. The creators of the series explored moving to another platform ahead of the season two premiere, but the deal did not go through. [19]

The third season was produced for YouTube and was initially set for a 2020 release, [20] [21] but in May 2020, the series left YouTube and moved to another streaming platform, ahead of its third-season premiere. As YouTube was not interested in renewing the series for a fourth season, the producers wanted to find a streaming venue that would leave that option open. [22] The show moved to Netflix in June, taking the third season with them. [23] Netflix released the first two seasons from YouTube on August 28, 2020, and the new third season on January 1, 2021. [24] A fourth season was renewed, prior to season three being released, [25] and was released on December 31, 2021. [26] [27] The fifth season premiered on September 9, 2022. [28] [29]

In January 2023, the series was renewed for a sixth and final season. [30] [31] Production was halted in May, however, due to the combined impact of the 2023 Writers Guild of America strike and the 2023 SAG-AFTRA strike. [32] [33] It resumed sometime after January 1, 2024. [3]

Casting

According to Heald, Hurwitz, and Schlossberg, only the characters from The Karate Kid, The Karate Kid Part II (1986), The Karate Kid Part III (1989), and The Next Karate Kid (1994) comprise the "Miyagi-verse" (characters who interacted with Mr. Miyagi) that shapes Cobra Kai. Hurwitz has also clarified that he does not consider The Karate Kid animated series (1989) to be part of the Miyagi-verse canon, but an Easter egg from it appears in season three, in response to the question about its status within Cobra Kai. [34] [35] [36]

In season one, Macchio and Zabka reprised their respective roles of Daniel LaRusso and Johnny. Additional The Karate Kid actors included Randee Heller as Daniel's mother Lucille LaRusso, [37] and Martin Kove as John Kreese. [38] The cast list for season one included Xolo Maridueña as Miguel Diaz, Mary Mouser as Daniel's daughter Samantha "Sam" LaRusso, Tanner Buchanan as Johnny's son Robby Keene, and Courtney Henggeler as Daniel's wife Amanda. Ed Asner was cast in a guest role as Johnny's wealthy, verbally abusive step-father, Sid Weinberg. [39] [40] Vanessa Rubio joined the cast as Miguel's mother Carmen. [41]

In season two, Macchio, Zabka, Maridueña, Mouser, Buchanan, and Henggeler all returned, [38] with Jacob Bertrand, Gianni DeCenzo, and Kove being promoted to series regulars, and newcomers Paul Walter Hauser and Peyton List joining the cast. [42] [43] The Karate Kid actors Heller, Rob Garrison (Tommy), Ron Thomas (Bobby), and Tony O'Dell (Jimmy) made guest appearances during this season. In season three, Macchio, Zabka, Maridueña, Mouser, Buchanan, Henggeler, Bertrand, DeCenzo, and Kove returned. Reprising their roles from The Karate Kid and The Karate Kid II in guest appearances during this season were Elisabeth Shue (Ali Mills), Ron Thomas (Bobby), Tamlyn Tomita (Kumiko), Traci Toguchi (Yuna), and Yuji Okumoto (Chozen Toguchi).

In season four, Rubio and List were promoted to series regulars, [44] while Dallas Dupree Young and Oona O'Brien were cast in recurring roles. [44] In addition, Thomas Ian Griffith reprised his role as Terry Silver from The Karate Kid Part III, [45] while Okumoto [46] and Heller made guest appearances. In season five, Okumoto had a recurring role as Chozen. [47] In addition, Sean Kanan and Robyn Lively reprised their respective roles as Mike Barnes and Jessica Andrews from Part III. [48] Alicia Hannah-Kim also joined the cast as Kim Da-eun while Young was upgraded to a series regular. [49]

In season six, Kanan returned as Barnes, [50] Griffith returned as Silver, and William Christopher Ford reprised his role as Dennis de Guzman from Part III. [51] C.S. Lee was cast to portray Master Kim Sun-Yung, a character first referenced by Terry Silver in that film. [52] Lewis Tan, Patrick Luwis, and Rayna Vallandingham joined the cast in supporting roles. [53]

Filming

Principal photography for the first season began in August 2017 in Atlanta, Georgia. Filming took place at various locations throughout that month at places including Union City, Marietta, and the Briarcliff Campus of Emory University. [54] In November, shooting moved to locales such as the North Atlanta Soccer Association Tophat fields in East Cobb. [55] In December, the production was working out of Marietta and Conyers. [56] Various exterior shots were also filmed in parts of Los Angeles such as Tarzana and Encino. [57] Exterior locations included Golf N' Stuff in Norwalk and the South Seas Apartments in Reseda, both of which were originally featured in The Karate Kid. [58]

Principal photography for the second season began in September 2018 in Atlanta, Georgia. In October, production continued around Atlanta with shooting also occurring in Marietta. [59] In November, the series was filming in Union City. [60] In December, shooting transpired at the closed Rio Bravo Cantina restaurant in Atlanta. [61]

Principal photography for the fourth season began in February 2021 and ended in April in Atlanta, Georgia. [62]

Filming for the fifth season began in September 2021 and finished in December. Like previous seasons, parts were filmed in Atlanta, Georgia, Marietta, Georgia and Los Angeles, California. The Mexico scenes were filmed in Puerto Rico on a two-day filming block, just like the two-day filming block of Okinawa, Japan and the Tokyo Metropolitan Government Building in Tokyo, Japan for the third season. [63]

Release

Marketing

The series was promoted at the annual Television Critics Association's winter press tour held in January 2018, when YouTube's global head of original content Susanne Daniels described the show: "It is a half an hour format but I would call it a dramedy. I think it leans into the tone of the movie in that there are dramatic moments throughout. I think it's very faithful really in some ways to what the movie set about doing, the lessons imparted in the movie if you will. It's next generation Karate Kid." [64]

Several trailers for the show were released from February [65] [66] [67] to March, before the premiere date was revealed to be May 2. [68]

YouTube Premium released a six-minute commercial parodying ESPN's 30 for 30 in April 2019, featuring the main cast members and select ESPN personalities analyzing the 1984 match between Daniel and Johnny. [69] [70] It was nominated for a Clio Award. [71]

Premiere

The series held its world premiere on April 24, 2018, at the SVA Theatre in New York City, New York, during the annual Tribeca Film Festival. Following the screening, a discussion was held with writers, directors, and executive producers Hayden Schlossberg, Jon Hurwitz, and Josh Heald, in addition to series stars and co-executive producers William Zabka and Ralph Macchio. [72]

YouTube partnered with Fathom Events for special screenings of the first two episodes of the series at around 700 movie theaters across the United States. The event also included a screening of the original film. [73] [74]

Reception

Critical response

Critical response of Cobra Kai
Season Rotten Tomatoes Metacritic
1100% (49 reviews)72 (11 reviews)
291% (31 reviews)66 (7 reviews)
390% (51 reviews)72 (15 reviews)
495% (37 reviews)70 (8 reviews)
598% (44 reviews)78 (7 reviews)
681% (32 reviews) Part 167 (11 reviews) Part 1

All five seasons of Cobra Kai have received positive critical reviews. At the review aggregator website Rotten Tomatoes, the entire series received a 94% approval rating. [75] On Metacritic, which uses a weighted average, the series holds an average rating of 71 out of 100. [76]

The first season had a positive response from critics. At Rotten Tomatoes, it holds a 100% approval rating, with an average score of 7.5 out of 10 based on 49 reviews. The website's critical consensus reads: "Cobra Kai continues the Karate Kid franchise with a blend of pleasantly corny nostalgia and teen angst, elevated by a cast of well-written characters." [77] Cobra Kai was 2018's best-reviewed TV drama on Rotten Tomatoes. [78] Metacritic assigned the season a score of 72 out of 100 based on 11 critics, indicating "generally favorable reviews". [79]

The second season had a positive response from critics. At the review aggregator website Rotten Tomatoes, it holds an 90% approval rating with an average score of 7.4 out of 10, based on 31 reviews. Its critical consensus reads: "While Cobra Kai's subversive kick no longer carries the same gleeful impact of its inaugural season, its second round is still among the best around – no amount of mid-life crisis and teenage ennui's ever gonna keep it down." [80] Metacritic's weighted average assigned the second season a score of 66 out of 100, based on seven critics, indicating "generally favorable reviews". [81]

The third season of the series had a positive response from critics. At the review aggregator website Rotten Tomatoes, it holds a 90% approval rating, with an average score of 8 out of 10 based on 51 reviews. The website's critical consensus reads: "By pairing its emotional punches with stronger humor, Cobra Kai's third season finds itself in fine fighting form." [82] On Metacritic with its weighted average, assigned a score of 72 out of 100, based on 15 critics, indicating "generally favorable reviews". [83]

The fourth season had a positive response from critics. It received a 95% Rotten Tomatoes approval rating, with an average score of 7.9 out of 10 based on 37 reviews. The website's critical consensus reads: "Cobra Kai still delights in a fourth season that mines great fun from shifting alliances, chiefly the uneasy truce between Johnny Lawrence and Daniel LaRusso." [84] [85] Metacritic's weighted average assigned the fourth season a score of 70 out of 100, based on eight critics, indicating "generally favorable reviews". [86]

The fifth season had a positive response from critics. It received a Rotten Tomatoes approval rating of 98%, with an average rating of 8 out of 10 based on 44 reviews. The site's critical consensus reads: "Deftly managing an expanded roster of punchy personalities, Cobra Kai graduates to a black belt proficiency in heartfelt melodrama and sly humor." [87] On Metacritic, it received a weighted score of 78 out of 100, based on seven critics, indicating "generally favorable reviews". [88]

Viewership

YouTube

The first episode, which was posted on YouTube for free along with episode two, had been viewed 5.4 million times within the first 24 hours. [89] While it was noted that the response had been, in part, a result of YouTube releasing the episode for free, it was noted by Cinema Blend's Britt Lawrence that YouTube Red's new series debuted to numbers that made rival streaming services take notice. [90] By October 30, 2018, ahead of the second-season premiere, YouTube was promoting the report that the first episode had then been viewed over 50 million times. [91] The first episode was No. 8 on YouTube's list of ten top-trending videos of 2018. [92]

According to market research company Parrot Analytics, the first season of Cobra Kai was the world's most in-demand streaming television show during May 2018. [93] Parrot Analytics later reported that the second season of Cobra Kai was the world's most in-demand digital television show during April [94] and through May 2019. [95] As of September 2020, the season 1 premiere has over 90 million views, [96] and the season 2 premiere has over 86 million views. [97]

Netflix

After the series moved to Netflix in August 2020, season 1 and season 2 of Cobra Kai became the most-watched series on the platform. [98] It was the most-watched show on streaming media in the United States between August 29 and September 6, according to Nielsen ratings. During the week, the show's 20 episodes drew nearly 2.2 billion streaming minutes in the United States. [99] The first season was watched on Netflix by 50 million member households in its first four weeks, [100] making Cobra Kai the most-streamed show on Netflix during the month of September 2020. [101] [102]

In February 2021, after the release of season 3, Forbes announced that it "kicked off 2021 as one of most viewed original series on a streaming platform". During the period of December 28, 2020 January 3, 2021, it came in "second only to Netflix's Bridgerton", with over 2.6 billion viewing minutes. [103] Cobra Kai then moved to first place during the period of January 4–10, 2021. [104] Critics also offered cultural commentary in response to season three. Jen Yamato of Los Angeles Times stated that by the end of season three, there are three white men at the center of Cobra Kai, a franchise rooted in and deeply indebted to Eastern tradition. [105] Gustavo Arellano of Los Angeles Times suggested that Cobra Kai offers a "way forward for all of us during these tumultuous times", as he saw this uplifting season 3 finale the weekend before the Jan. 6 U.S. Capitol invasion. [106] The Hollywood Reporter , former NBA champion and student of martial arts Kareem Abdul-Jabbar suggested that his friend and teacher, the late Bruce Lee, was linked to the influence of the original Karate Kid films. [107] Finally, Albert Wu and Michelle Kuo of the Los Angeles Review of Books argued that while the original Karate Kid "film functioned as a post-Vietnam critique of American empire, staking its position explicitly: pacifism over violence, peace over war, an admittedly romanticized version of Eastern wisdom over the macho bravado of jock culture", Cobra Kai "models" the "unending appeal" of the "American Empire". [108]

Awards and nominations

YearAwardCategoryNominee(s)ResultRef.
2018 Teen Choice Awards Choice Summer TV ShowCobra KaiNominated [109]
[110]
Choice Summer TV StarXolo MaridueñaNominated
Imagen Awards Best Young Actor – TelevisionXolo MaridueñaNominated [111]
[112]
Primetime Creative Arts Emmy Awards Outstanding Stunt Coordination for a Comedy Series or Variety Program Hiro KodaNominated [113]
2019 Shorty Awards Best Web SeriesCobra KaiNominated [114]
Primetime Creative Arts Emmy Awards Outstanding Stunt Coordination for a Comedy Series or Variety Program Hiro KodaNominated [113]
Teen Choice Awards Choice Summer TV ShowCobra KaiNominated [115]
Clio Awards Television/Streaming: Social Media-30 for 30 Cobra KaiNominated [71]
[70]
[69]
2021 Nickelodeon Kids' Choice Awards Favorite Family TV ShowCobra KaiNominated [116]
MTV Movie & TV Awards Best Show Cobra KaiNominated [117]
Best Fight "Finale House Fight"Nominated
Best Musical Moment "I Wanna Rock"Nominated
Screen Actors Guild Awards Outstanding Performance by a Stunt Ensemble in a Comedy or Drama Series Cobra KaiNominated [118]
Hollywood Critics Association TV Awards Best Streaming Series, ComedyCobra KaiNominated [119]
Primetime Emmy Awards Outstanding Comedy Series Hayden Schlossberg, Jon Hurwitz, Josh Heald, Caleeb Pinkett, Susan Ekins, James Lassiter, Will Smith, Ralph Macchio, William Zabka, Luan Thomas, Joe Piarulli, Michael Jonathan Smith, Stacey Harman, Bob Dearden and Bob WilsonNominated [120]
[121]
Primetime Creative Arts Emmy Awards Outstanding Sound Editing for a Comedy or Drama Series (Half-Hour) and Animation Patrick Hogan, Jesse Pomeroy, Daniel Salas, Ryne Gierke, AJ Shapiro, Andres Locsey, Shane Bruce and Mitchell Kohen (for "December 19")Nominated
Outstanding Sound Mixing for a Comedy or Drama Series (Half-Hour) and Animation Joe DeAngelis, Chris Carpenter, Mike Filosa and Phil McGowan (for "December 19")Nominated
Outstanding Stunt Performance Jahnel Curfman, Julia Maggio, John Cihangir and Marc Canonizado (for "December 19")Nominated
People's Choice Awards The Show of 2021Cobra KaiNominated [122]
The Drama Show of 2021Nominated
The Bingeworthy Show of 2021Nominated
2022 Screen Actors Guild Awards Outstanding Performance by a Stunt Ensemble in a Comedy or Drama Series Cobra KaiNominated [123]
Nickelodeon Kids' Choice Awards Favorite Family TV ShowCobra KaiNominated [124]
People's Choice Awards The Drama Show of 2022Cobra KaiNominated [125]
Primetime Creative Arts Emmy Awards Outstanding Sound Editing for a Comedy or Drama Series (Half-Hour) and AnimationPatrick Hogan, Daniel Salas, Jesse Pomeroy, Gary DeLeone, Nick Papalia, Andres Locsey, and Mitchell Cohen (for "The Rise)Nominated [126]
Outstanding Stunt Coordination for a Comedy Series or Variety Program Ken BarefieldNominated
Producers Guild of America Awards Episodic Comedy Cobra KaiNominated [127]
Saturn Awards Best Action/Adventure Television Series (Streaming) Cobra KaiNominated [128]
2023 Critics' Choice Super Awards Best Action Series Cobra KaiWon [129]
[130]
Best Actor in an Action Series, Limited Series or Made-for-TV Movie Ralph Macchio Nominated
Best Actor in an Action Series, Limited Series or Made-for-TV Movie William Zabka Nominated

Home media

During the show's time on YouTube Red, Cobra Kai was not released on DVD, [131] but once the show made its move to Netflix, Sony Pictures released the first and second seasons in a "Collector's Edition" DVD set on November 24, 2020 in the United States. [132] In 2022, Sony Pictures released the third season in January [133] [134] and the fourth in September, both in the United States. [135] Sony Pictures released the fifth season in September 2023 in the United States. [136]

Key
  = Available only on DVD
  = Available only on Blu-ray
  = Available on both DVD & Blu-ray
SeasonRelease date
Region 1 [137] Region 2/B [138] Region 2/B
(Germany) [139]
Region 4/B [140]
1 & 2November 12, 2019 (headband version) November 24, 2020 (regular release)May 4, 2020 (DVD)
December 21, 2020 (Blu-ray)
January 14, 2022 (LE)No release
1No releaseNo releaseDecember 17, 2020August 14, 2019
2No releaseNo releaseDecember 17, 2020May 7, 2020
3January 11, 2022January 17, 2022July 10, 2022 (LE)January 12, 2022
4September 13, 2022October 17, 2022TBANovember 9, 2022
5September 12, 2023October 2, 2023TBAOctober 11, 2023

Soundtracks

Cobra Kai: Wax Off – EP

Cobra Kai: Wax Off – EP
EP by
Leo Birenberg
& Zach Robinson
ReleasedJuly 23, 2021 (2021-07-23)
Genre Soundtrack
Length13:45
Label Madison Gate Records
Leo Birenberg
& Zach Robinson chronology
Cobra Kai: Season 3 (Soundtrack from the Netflix Original Series)
(2021)
Cobra Kai: Wax Off – EP
(2021)
Cobra Kai: Season 4, Vol. 1 "All Valley Tournament 51" (Soundtrack from the Netflix Original Series)
(2022)

Madison Gate Records released an extended play entitled Cobra Kai: Wax Off – EP on July 23, 2021, featuring extended versions of four previously released tracks from the first two seasons soundtracks. [141]

Track listing

All music is composed by Leo Birenberg and Zach Robinson

No.TitleLength
1."Quiver – Extended"3:51
2."Cobra Guy – Extended"2:31
3."A Badass Name for a Dojo – Extended"3:02
4."Sam and Robby – Extended"4:20
Total length:13:45

Video games

Cobra Kai: The Karate Kid Saga Continues, a video game based on the series, was released for PlayStation 4, Xbox One, and Nintendo Switch on October 27, 2020, and for Microsoft Windows on January 5, 2021. [142]

A mobile game entitled Cobra Kai: Card Fighter was released on March 19, 2021, on iOS and Android devices. [143]

Book

In 2022, Ralph Macchio published the memoir Waxing On: The Karate Kid and Me (Dutton), in which he reflects upon the making of and legacy of the Karate Kid films and Cobra Kai. [144]

Related Research Articles

<i>The Karate Kid</i> 1984 film by John Avildsen

The Karate Kid is a 1984 American martial arts drama film written by Robert Mark Kamen and directed by John G. Avildsen. It is the first installment in the Karate Kid franchise, and stars Ralph Macchio, Pat Morita, Elisabeth Shue, and William Zabka. The Karate Kid follows the story of Daniel LaRusso (Macchio), an Italian-American teenager from New Jersey who moves with his widowed mother to the Reseda neighborhood of Los Angeles. There, LaRusso encounters harassment from his new bullies, one of whom is Johnny Lawrence (Zabka), the ex-boyfriend of LaRusso's love interest, Ali Mills (Shue). LaRusso is taught karate by a handyman and war veteran named Mr. Miyagi (Morita) to help LaRusso defend himself and compete in a karate tournament against his bullies.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Ralph Macchio</span> American actor (born 1961)

Ralph George Macchio Jr. is an American actor. He is best known for playing Daniel LaRusso in three Karate Kid films, as well as in Cobra Kai (2018–present), a sequel television series on YouTube Premium and Netflix. Macchio also played Johnny Cade in The Outsiders (1983), Jeremy Andretti in the television series Eight Is Enough, William Gambini in My Cousin Vinny (1992), Eugene Martone in Crossroads (1986), and Archie Rodriguez in the television series Ugly Betty. He also had a recurring role as Officer Haddix in the television series The Deuce.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">William Zabka</span> American actor (born 1965)

William Michael Zabka is an American actor. He portrayed Johnny Lawrence in The Karate Kid (1984), The Karate Kid Part II (1986) and the TV series Cobra Kai (2018–present).

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Martin Kove</span> American actor (born 6/3/1947)

Martin Kove is an American actor and martial artist. He is best known for his role as John Kreese, the main antagonist of The Karate Kid (1984). Kove reprised the role in The Karate Kid Part II (1986), The Karate Kid Part III (1989), and the television series Cobra Kai (2018–present). He also appeared as Nero the Hero in Death Race 2000 (1975), and afterward as Clem in White Line Fever (1975). Kove was a regular on the TV series Cagney and Lacey (1982–1988), portraying Police Detective Victor Isbecki. He appeared in Rambo: First Blood Part II (1985) and Quentin Tarantino's Once Upon a Time in Hollywood (2019).

<i>The Karate Kid Part III</i> 1989 American martial arts drama film

The Karate Kid Part III is a 1989 American martial arts drama film, the third entry in the Karate Kid franchise and a sequel to The Karate Kid Part II (1986). It stars Ralph Macchio, Pat Morita, Robyn Lively, and Thomas Ian Griffith in his film debut. As was the case with the first two films in the series, it was directed by John G. Avildsen and written by Robert Mark Kamen, with stunts choreographed by Pat E. Johnson and music composed by Bill Conti. In the film, the returning John Kreese, with the help of his former army friend Terry Silver, attempts to gain revenge on Daniel and Mr. Miyagi which involves recruiting a ruthless martial artist and harming their relationship.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Yuji Okumoto</span> American actor (born 1959)

Yuji Don Okumoto is an American actor. He is best known for his role as Chozen Toguchi in the film The Karate Kid Part II (1986) and its sequel television series Cobra Kai (2021–present). He has also appeared in the films Better Off Dead,Real Genius, True Believer (1989), American Yakuza (1993), Contact (1997), The Truman Show (1998), Pearl Harbor (2001), Only the Brave (2006), Inception (2010) and Driven (2018).

The Karate Kid is an American martial arts drama franchise created by Robert Mark Kamen. The series follows the journey of various coming-of-age teenagers who are taught in the ways of martial arts by an experienced mentor in order to stand up for themselves after being bullied, or assert their dominance towards others.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Jacob Bertrand</span> American actor (born 2000)

Jacob Scott Thomas Bertrand is an American actor. Since 2018, Bertrand has played the series regular role of Eli "Hawk" Moskowitz in the YouTube Premium and Netflix series Cobra Kai. He is also known for the voice of Bam in Batwheels, portraying the titular character in Disney XD's Kirby Buckets and playing Jack Malloy in the 2016 Disney Channel Original Movie, The Swap.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Johnny Lawrence (character)</span> Fictional character from the Karate Kid franchise

John "Johnny" Lawrence is a fictional character of The Karate Kid media franchise, portrayed by William Zabka. Introduced in The Karate Kid (1984) as Daniel LaRusso's rival, Johnny briefly returns at the beginning of the sequel, The Karate Kid Part II (1986). 32 years later, Zabka began to reprise the role in the sequel television series Cobra Kai (2018–present), where he serves as one of the main protagonists.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Rob Garrison</span> American actor (1960–2019)

Robert Scott Garrison was an American actor known for his role as Tommy in the 1984 film The Karate Kid and the second season of its spinoff Cobra Kai.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Susanne Daniels</span> American entertainment executive

Susanne Lieberstein Daniels is an American entertainment executive, producer, and author. She developed TV shows such as Dawson's Creek, Buffy The Vampire Slayer, Gilmore Girls, and Cobra Kai, and YouTube livestream events with artists including Katy Perry, Taylor Swift, and Paul McCartney.

<i>Cobra Kai</i> season 1 Season of television series

The first season of Cobra Kai was released on YouTube Red on May 2, 2018 and consisted of 10 episodes. The series is a direct sequel to the original four films in The Karate Kid franchise, focusing on the characters of Daniel LaRusso and Johnny Lawrence over 30 years after the original film.

<i>Cobra Kai</i> season 2 Season of television series

The second season of Cobra Kai, stylized as COBRA KAII, was released on YouTube Premium on April 24, 2019, and consisted of 10 episodes. The series is a direct sequel to the original four films in The Karate Kid franchise, focusing on the characters of Daniel LaRusso and Johnny Lawrence over 30 years after the original film. This is the final season to be originally released on YouTube's streaming service as Netflix would acquire the streaming rights to Cobra Kai following YouTube's decision not to renew the series past a third season.

<i>Cobra Kai</i> season 3 Season of television series

The third season of Cobra Kai, stylized as COBRA KAIII, was released on Netflix on January 1, 2021, and consisted of 10 episodes. The series is a direct sequel to the original four films in The Karate Kid franchise, focusing on the characters of Daniel LaRusso and Johnny Lawrence over 30 years after the original film. This is the first season to be released on Netflix after YouTube decided to sell the series following the first two seasons. YouTube ordered the season in 2019 and initially set a 2020 release date which was delayed after Netflix's acquisition.

<i>Cobra Kai</i> season 4 Season of television series

The fourth season of Cobra Kai, also known as Cobra Kai IV, released on Netflix on December 31, 2021, and consisted of 10 episodes. The series is a direct sequel to the original four films in The Karate Kid franchise, focusing on the characters of Daniel LaRusso and Johnny Lawrence over 30 years after the original film. It is the second season to be released in 2021 and second to initially release on Netflix after the first two seasons released on YouTube. The season was also released on DVD on September 13, 2022, a few days after the premiere of the show's fifth season.

<i>Cobra Kai</i> season 5 Season of television series

The fifth season of Cobra Kai, also known as Cobra Kai V, was released to Netflix on September 9, 2022, and consisted of 10 episodes. The series is a direct sequel to the original four films in The Karate Kid franchise, focusing on the characters of Daniel LaRusso and Johnny Lawrence over 30 years after the original film. This is the third season to be released to Netflix.

<i>Karate Kid: Legends</i> Upcoming film by Jonathan Entwistle

Karate Kid: Legends is an upcoming American martial arts drama film directed by Jonathan Entwistle and written by Rob Lieber. It is the sixth film in The Karate Kid franchise following The Karate Kid (2010), and stars Jackie Chan and Ralph Macchio, both reprising their roles from previous films, with Ben Wang as the main lead alongside Joshua Jackson, Sadie Stanley, Ming-Na Wen, Aramis Knight, and Wyatt Oleff. It is the first film in the series not to be produced by Jerry Weintraub, who died in 2015.

<i>Cobra Kai</i> season 6 Season of television series

The sixth and final season of Cobra Kai, also known as Cobra Kai VI, consists of 15 episodes and is releasing on Netflix. Unlike previous seasons, the sixth season will be released in three parts of five episodes each. The first of these was released on July 18, 2024. A second part was released on November 15, 2024, followed by the final part set to release on February 13, 2025. The series is a direct sequel to the original four films in The Karate Kid franchise, focusing on the characters of Daniel LaRusso and Johnny Lawrence over 30 years after the titular film. The season was originally set to be released in 2023, but experienced delays as a result of the 2023 Hollywood labor disputes. The second part, however, got an early release date after originally receiving a November 28, 2024 release window. The season features 13 starring roles, all of which returned from previous seasons, including Gianni DeCenzo who was a series regular in seasons 2–4, but was demoted to a recurring cast member in the previous season.

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Notes

  1. Credited as Sony Pictures Television Studios for seasons 3–5. Current Netflix prints for seasons 1 and 2 use the 2020 Sony Pictures Television Studios logo.
  2. 1 2 3 4 Credited as a "Special Guest Star".
  3. Despite being credited as a recurring guest star, List was frequently listed alongside other starring cast members in promotional material for the third season. [6]
  4. Huang also portrayed an unnamed Cobra Kai student in the fourth season
  5. Ortiz also portrayed an unnamed Cobra Kai student in the third season