Warning: Contains SPOILERS for Karate Kid: Legends!
AlthoughKarate Kid: Legendswas a box office and critical disappointment, I already know what the franchise needs to do next in order to make up for it.The Karate Kidbegan a modern renaissance in the 2010s with the release ofCobra Kai, the spinoff TV series that concluded with the release of season 6 in 2025. WhileKarate Kid: Legendswas meant to capitalize on the success ofCobra Kai, this didn’t quite work, leading to the film underperforming at the box office. However, if the franchise wants to continue focusing on its legacy, there is a clear path forward.
Karate Kid: Legendshad a surprisingly low budget, with the 2025 film costing only $45 million to make. Unfortunately,Karate Kid: Legendshas only made $90 million at the box office as of the writing of this article. Since most movies have a break-even point of double their budget thanks to the costs of marketing and distribution,this means thatKarate Kid: Legendsmay have only barely turned a profit, if it made a profit at all. While this may paint a grim future forThe Karate Kidfranchise’s theatrical releases, all hope isn’t lost.
After the box office failure ofKarate Kid: Legends, it is clear that the franchise needs to focus more on hardcoreThe Karate Kidfans rather than appealing to a general audience. If bringing back characters from the originalThe Karate Kidand the modern reboot won’t work for general audiences,it is doubtful that another legacy approach will. So, making smaller-scale movies targeted at fans of the movies andCobra Kaimay be the way to keep the franchise going. Luckily, there is one major actor who can help this legacy grow: Hillary Swank.
1994’sThe Next Karate Kidwas the firstThe Karate Kidproject to release after the original trilogy. The film starredHillary Swank as Julie Pierce, a girl who meets Mr. Miyagi while he is in Boston for a military reunion.The Next Karate Kidwas a box office failure and is considered to be one of the worstThe Karate Kidprojects by critics. However, it does have its fans, and it has an undeniable place in the history ofThe Karate Kiduniverse. So, if the next film wants to bring back another major star, Hillary Swank is the best option.
Karate Kid Has Ignored Hilary Swank’s Julie Pierce For Too Long
The Franchise Needs To Bring Her Back
Although Julie Pierce was the secondThe Karate Kidprotagonist after Daniel LaRusso, she has never been acknowledged since the release of the 1994 film.The franchise has completely ignored her, and that needs to change. The issue is thatThe Next Karate Kidwas poorly received, and manyThe Karate Kidfans probably haven’t seen it.
Luckily, bringing Hillary Swank back in afutureThe Karate Kidsequelcould fix this. Julie Pierce could be redeemed in a legacy sequel, fixing the issues withThe Next Karate Kid. Putting her alongside Daniel LaRusso and other legacy characters could reinforce her importance, meaning that she will no longer be ignored. On top of that, the lack of popularity that exists aroundThe Next Karate Kidmeans that a future movie could do almost anything it wants with the character of Julie Pierce.
Restrictions On Karate Kid Movies May Increase The Likelihood Of Hilary Swank’s Return
Cobra Kai Characters Are Stuck On Netflix
Interestingly,Karate Kid: Legendscould not use any of the originalCobra Kaicharactersbecause they are owned by Netflix, not Columbia Pictures. So, while Johnny Lawrence could appear in the film, the majority of theCobra Kaicast had to stay behind. Bringing back characters from the TV show would be the obvious next step for another movie, but since that can’t happen, the pool of returning characters is limited. This increases the likelihood of Julie Pierce returning, as she is one of the few big-name characters who didn’t appear inKarate Kid: Legends.
