The Karate Kid franchise began with the original film released in 1984, featuring a young boy named Daniel LaRusso who learns karate from Mr. Miyagi, a wise mentor. The film explores themes of perseverance, friendship, and self-defense, becoming a cultural touchstone and spawning several sequels. In addition to the original series, the franchise expanded with a 2010 remake starring Jaden Smith and Jackie Chan. The story continues to resonate through the popular Netflix series Cobra Kai, which revisits the characters from the original films, focusing on their lives decades later and the ongoing rivalry between Daniel and Johnny Lawrence.