The Karate Kid (1984) | John Avildsen cover art

The Karate Kid (1984) | John Avildsen

The Karate Kid (1984) | John Avildsen

Listen for free

View show details

About this listen

Daniel LaRusso (Ralph Macchio) and his mother (Randee Heller) move from New Jersey to Reseda, CA , to start a new life. It seems promising at first, but soon Daniel hates his new environs, thanks to a few run-ins at school with a group of karate-trained bullies. He does manage to irk the leader of the bullies, Johnny (William Zabka), when he starts seeing his ex-girlfriend, Ali (Elisabeth Shue). Johnny and gang belong to a no-holds-barred karate school in town that has a slogan of "no mercy", run by ex-Vietnam vet John Kreese (Martin Kove). After the landlord of Daniel's apartment complex, Mr. Miyagi (Pat Morita), saves him from the gang one day, he decides to teach the young man some karate, except in the ways of the honored Japanese tradition. Miyagi and Kreese form a pact that Daniel is to be "off limits" until the day of the big karate tournament in town, where the different styles of karate come to clash, but Daniel is far from ready for the match. With help from Miyagi, he prepares every day for the event, but he finds the teaching methods unorthodox, monotonous, and strenuous.

What listeners say about The Karate Kid (1984) | John Avildsen

Average Customer Ratings

Reviews - Please select the tabs below to change the source of reviews.

In the spirit of reconciliation, Audible acknowledges the Traditional Custodians of country throughout Australia and their connections to land, sea and community. We pay our respect to their elders past and present and extend that respect to all Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander peoples today.