Movies like The Karate Kid
If you like "The Karate Kid" you are looking for feel good, inspirational and sentimental movies about / with martial arts, teenager, karate, teacher, fight, high school student and underdog themes of Action, Drama and Family genre shot in USA.
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1. Identify all themes of interest from this film (block below).
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The Karate Kid (1984)
269K
Genre: Action, Drama, Family, Sport
Country: USA
Duration: 126 min.
Story:
Hassled by the school bullies, Daniel LaRusso has his share of adolescent woes. Luckily, his apartment building houses a resident martial arts master: Kesuke Miyagi, who agrees to train Daniel ... and ends up teaching him much more than self-defense. Armed with newfound confidence, skill and wisdom, Daniel ultimately faces off against his tormentors in this hugely popular classic underdog tale.
Style:
feel good, inspirational, sentimental, touching, teen, saga, captivating, entertaining, cult classic, slasher ...
Audience:
teens, kids, family friendly, family outing, pre-teens, girls' night, teen drama
Plot:
martial arts, teenager, karate, teacher, fight, high school student, underdog, coming of age, childhood, bullying, human spirit, high school, teaching the ways of the world, training, friendship, martial arts tournament, teachers and students, self esteem, martial artist, child, master apprentice relationship, cheerleader, kung fu, kids and family, hand to hand combat ...
Time:
80s, 20th century, 90s, year 1984
Place:
los angeles, california, usa, north america, canada, new jersey, united states of america
Movie in categories
Most similar movies to The Karate Kid
The list contains related movies ordered by similarity. Recommendation engine sorted out realistic, inspirational, serious and feel good films with plots about rivalry, underdog, mentor, friendship, redemption, martial arts and contests and competitions mostly in Sport, Drama and Action genres. Some movies like The Karate Kid: Cobra Kai (2018), Best of the Best (1989), Bloodsport (1988), Never Back Down (2008), Rocky (1976). The matching attributes are highlighted in bold.
Genre: Action, Drama, Family, Sport
Country: USA
Duration: 112 min.
Story:
Kreese, his life in tatters after his karate school was defeated by Daniel and Mr. Miyagi, visits Terry, a friend from Vietnam. Terry is a ruthless business man and a martial arts expert, and he vows to help Kreese take revenge on Daniel and Mr. ...
Style:
inspirational, action packed, lighthearted, saga, spiritual ...
Audience:
teens, kids, family outing, family friendly, pre-teens ...
Plot:
martial arts, bullying, karate, teacher, teenager, fight, underdog, ninja, fight scenes, childhood, children, teachers and students ...
Time:
80s, 20th century
Place:
tahiti, usa, vietnam, los angeles, north america ...
Similarity:
100%
Genre: Action, Family, Sport
Country: USA
Duration: 113 min.
Story:
Mr. Miyagi and Daniel take a trip to Okinawa to visit Mr. Miyagi's dying father. After arriving Mr. Miyagi finds he still has feelings for an old love. This stirs up trouble with an old rival who he originally left Okinawa to avoid. In the mean ...
Style:
sentimental, saga, action packed, slasher, lighthearted ...
Audience:
teens, kids, family outing, family friendly, pre-teens ...
Plot:
martial arts, childhood, underdog, bullying, fight, teenager, teacher, kung fu, fight scenes, revenge, epic battle, friends ...
Time:
80s, 20th century, 90s, future
Place:
japan, asia, los angeles, okinawa japan, tokyo ...
Similarity:
100%
240K
Genre: Action, Comedy, Drama, Sport
Country: USA
Duration: 30 min.
TV show
Story:
This Karate Kid sequel series picks up 30 years after the events of the 1984 All Valley Karate Tournament and finds Johnny Lawrence on the hunt for redemption by reopening the infamous Cobra Kai karate dojo. This reignites his old rivalry with the ...
Style:
captivating, light, motivational, exciting, epic ...
Audience:
teen drama
Plot:
karate, martial arts, dojo, martial arts training, master apprentice relationship, martial artist, starting over, coming of age, father son relationship, fight, bullying, contests and competitions ...
Time:
90s, 2010s, 2020s
Place:
california, north america, thailand, los angeles, southern california
Similarity:
93%
Genre: Action, Drama, Family, Sport
Country: USA, China, Hong Kong
Duration: 140 min.
Story:
12-year-old Dre Parker could have been the most popular kid in Detroit, but his mother's latest career move has landed him in China. Dre immediately falls for his classmate Mei Ying but the cultural differences make such a friendship ...
Style:
inspirational, feel good, sentimental, sincere, teen ...
Audience:
teens, kids, girls' night, chick flick, family friendly ...
Plot:
teachers and students, boy, human spirit, contests and competitions, perseverance, bullying, martial arts, coming of age, coach, underdog, kung fu, friends ...
Time:
2010s, year 2010, 21st century
Place:
china, beijing china, america, asia, detroit ...
Similarity:
62%
Movie in collections
Genre: Action, Drama, Sport
Country: USA
Duration: 97 min.
Story:
A team from the United States is going to compete against Korea in a Tae Kwon Do tournament. The team consists of fighters from all over the country--can they overcome their rivalry and work together to win?
Style:
inspirational, emotional, exciting, serious, suspenseful ...
Audience:
boys' night, family friendly, teens
Plot:
martial arts, martial artist, martial arts tournament, taekwondo, violence, underdog, culture clash, redemption, vengeance, karate, kung fu, fight scenes ...
Time:
80s, year 1989
Place:
seoul, asia, south korea, portland oregon, los angeles ...
Similarity:
100%
Genre: Action, Drama, Family, Romance, Sport
Country: USA
Duration: 107 min.
Story:
During a commemoration for Japanese soldiers fighting in the US Army during World War II, Mr. Miyagi meets the widow of his commanding officer. He gets to know her granddaughter Julie, an angry teenager who is still feeling the pain of losing both ...
Style:
teen, action packed, cult classic, absurd, depressing ...
Audience:
teens, kids, family outing, pre-teens, family friendly ...
Plot:
martial arts, high school, karate, teenage girl, high school student, bullying, hawk, bully, teen angst, showdown, training, female protagonist ...
Time:
year 1994, 90s, 20th century, 80s
Place:
boston, los angeles, massachusetts, usa, california
Similarity:
60%
102K
Genre: Action, Biography, Drama, Sport
Country: USA
Duration: 92 min.
Story:
Frank Dux has entered the "kumite", an illegal underground martial-arts competition where serious injury and even death are not unknown. Chong Li, a particularly ruthless and vicious fighter is the favorite, but then again Dux has not ...
Style:
exciting, grindhouse, intense, serious, cult classic ...
Audience:
manly, boys' night, teens
Plot:
martial arts, mixed martial arts, heroes, martial arts tournament, mentor, tournament, underground fighting, kung fu, hand to hand combat, underdog, master warrior, airport ...
Time:
80s, 20th century
Place:
hong kong, asia, china
Similarity:
80%
Genre: Action, Drama, Sport
Country: USA
Duration: 113 min.
Story:
Rebellious Jake Tyler is lured into an ultimate underground fight Scene at his new high school, after receiving threats to the safety of his friends and family Jake decides to seek the mentoring of a veteran fighter who trains him for one final ...
Style:
serious, exciting, teen, entertaining, inspirational ...
Audience:
teens, boys' night, chick flick, girls' night, teen drama
Plot:
martial arts, high school, youth, athlete and trainer, underground fighting, duel, teenager, fight, boxing, revenge, streetfighting, rivalry ...
Time:
2000s, year 2008, 80s, 21st century
Place:
florida, usa, orlando florida, brazil, tokyo
Similarity:
75%
Movie in collections
682K
Genre: Drama, Sport
Country: USA
Duration: 120 min.
Story:
When world heavyweight boxing champion, Apollo Creed wants to give an unknown fighter a shot at the title as a publicity stunt, his handlers choose palooka Rocky Balboa, an uneducated collector for a Philadelphia loan shark. Rocky teams up with ...
Style:
inspirational, uplifting, touching, cult classic, saga ...
Audience:
boys' night, manly, kids, family outing, teens
Plot:
boxing, underdog, fight, boxer, self esteem, training, rocky, love story, shyness, tough guy, character study, pride and honor ...
Time:
70s, year 1976, 20th century, year 1975
Place:
philadelphia, pennsylvania, north america, usa
Similarity:
63%
526K
Genre: Action, Drama, Sport
Country: USA
Duration: 140 min.
Story:
The youngest son of an alcoholic former boxer returns home, where he's trained by his father for competition in a mixed martial arts tournament - a path that puts the fighter on a collision course with his estranged, older brother, an ex-marine ...
Style:
emotional, tense, inspirational, touching, sentimental ...
Audience:
boys' night, teens, manly
Plot:
martial arts, courage, mixed martial arts, fight scenes, boxing, fistfight, estrangement, muscleman, happy ending, father son relationship, athlete and trainer, fight ...
Time:
year 2011, 2010s, 21st century
Place:
pittsburgh, usa, iraq, atlantic city new jersey, el paso texas ...
Similarity:
100%
Genre: Action, Comedy, Crime, Drama
Country: Hong Kong, USA
Duration: 85 min.
Story:
Young Jason Stillwell (Kurt McKinney) moves with his parents to Seattle, where local bullies harass them without mercy. Jason's father Tom (Tim Baker) does not believe in violence, so the family takes it on the chin. One day Jason enrolls in a ...
Style:
serious, cult classic, exciting, action adventure, retro ...
Audience:
teens, boys' night
Plot:
martial arts, karate, martial arts training, kickboxing, training, ghost, vengeance, kung fu, mixed martial arts, showdown, fighter, fight ...
Time:
80s
Place:
seattle, washington state, usa, russia, los angeles ...
Similarity:
100%
243K
Genre: Drama, Sport
Country: USA
Duration: 91 min.
Story:
After iron man Drago, a highly intimidating 6-foot-5, 261-pound Soviet athlete, kills Apollo Creed in an exhibition match, Rocky comes to the heart of Russia for 15 pile-driving boxing rounds of revenge.
Style:
inspirational, saga, tense, suspenseful, action packed ...
Audience:
teens, family outing, boys' night, manly
Plot:
boxing, boxer, revenge, training, underdog, cold war, christmas, brutality, vengeance, boxing match, fight, mercilessness ...
Time:
80s, 20th century, year 1985
Place:
philadelphia, soviet union, las vegas, moscow russia, pennsylvania ...
Similarity:
100%
Genre: Drama, Romance, Sport
Country: USA
Duration: 107 min.
Story:
High school wrestler Louden Swain is a man obsessed , trying to shed 23 pounds in a dangerously short time and take on Shute, the undefeated, tough-as-nails 168-pound champion who's the best wrestler in the state. Matthew Modine stars as the ...
Style:
inspirational, melancholic, serious, sentimental, realistic ...
Audience:
teens, girls' night, teen drama, adult
Plot:
high school, coming of age, wrestling, cheerleader, underdog, male nudity, adolescence, weight loss, training, teen angst, high school wrestling, rivalry ...
Time:
80s, year 1985
Place:
washington state, washington d.c., california, new jersey
Similarity:
100%
113K
Genre: Comedy, Drama, Family, Sport
Country: USA
Duration: 101 min.
Story:
Scotty Smalls moves to a new neighborhood with his mom and stepdad, and wants to learn to play baseball. The neighborhood baseball guru Rodriquez takes Smalls under his wing. They fall into adventures involving baseball, treehouse sleep-ins, the ...
Style:
feel good, sentimental, teen, sweet, cult classic ...
Audience:
teens, kids, family friendly, family outing, teen drama
Plot:
baseball, friendship, childhood, coming of age, dog, adolescence, boy, bullying, small town, child, children, kids and family ...
Time:
60s, 20th century, year 1962, 90s, 50s ...
Place:
utah, california, los angeles, usa
Similarity:
67%
Genre: Action, Drama
Country: USA
Duration: 130 min.
Story:
Set in the world of drone technology and fifth generation fighters, this sequel will explore the end of the era of dogfighting.
Style:
realistic, saga, entertaining, emotional, intellectual ...
Audience:
teens, adult
Plot:
fighter pilot, fighter plane, warplane, aircraft carrier, u.s. military, u.s. navy, aerial combat, fighter jet, test pilot, aviation, desert, leadership ...
Time:
2020s, 60s, year 1986, 80s, year 1969 ...
Place:
usa, los angeles, california, mojave desert, san diego california
Similarity:
100%
Genre: Action, Drama, Family, Sport
Country: USA, Canada
Duration: 94 min.
Story:
After the sudden death of Dre's old Kung Fu Instructor, Mr. Han, young Kung Fu Champion, Dre Parker must learn The Dark Stepstones of how to become a good Instructor and teach his old fellow enemies a little more than respect.
Style:
epic, surprise ending, freeze frame
Audience:
teen drama
Plot:
karate, overprotective mother, motorcycle, pizza, library, anger, doctor, showdown, tournament, competition, coach, teenager ...
Time:
80s, year 1986, 2020s
Place:
beijing china, okinawa japan, los angeles, manhattan new york city, china ...
Similarity:
31%
11K
Genre: Action, Adventure, Comedy, Drama, Sport
Country: USA
Duration: 101 min.
Story:
Barry is an asthmatic kid having trouble in life. He lives with his father, a computer programmer, in Texas. Barry is struggling to get by in life, dealing with his rough school life, bullies, as well as his health. Barry's only source of ...
Style:
humorous, cult classic, suspense, sentimental, epic ...
Audience:
teens, kids, family outing, girls' night, teen drama
Plot:
childhood, karate, bully, bullying, school, heroes, youth, teenager, mentor, martial arts, kung fu master, bike ...
Time:
90s, 80s
Place:
austin texas, usa
Similarity:
50%
226K
Genre: Drama, Sport
Country: USA
Duration: 99 min.
Story:
Now the world champion, Rocky Balboa is living in luxury and only fighting opponents who pose no threat to him in the ring, until Clubber Lang challenges him to a bout. After taking a pounding from Lang, the humbled champ turns to former bitter ...
Style:
inspirational, captivating, suspenseful, action packed, saga ...
Audience:
family outing, boys' night, teens, manly
Plot:
boxing, boxer, revenge, comeback, training, underdog, friendship between men, celebrity, fight, tough guy, friendship, rivalry ...
Time:
80s, 20th century, year 1981
Place:
philadelphia, pennsylvania, usa, north america, los angeles ...
Similarity:
50%
Movie in collections
331K
Genre: Action, Drama, Sport
Country: USA
Duration: 133 min.
Story:
The former World Heavyweight Champion Rocky Balboa serves as a trainer and mentor to Adonis Johnson, the son of his late friend and former rival Apollo Creed.
Style:
inspirational, emotional, reflective, brutal, suspense ...
Audience:
boys' night, manly, teens, family outing, adult
Plot:
boxing, underdog, boxer, training, fight, mentor, athlete and trainer, coach, legacy, boxing match, gym, sex scene ...
Time:
year 2015, 2010s, year 1998, year 2016, 90s ...
Place:
philadelphia, tijuana mexico, mexico, pennsylvania, usa ...
Similarity:
50%
Genre: Biography, Drama, Sport
Country: USA
Duration: 129 min.
Story:
A track coach in a small California town transforms a team of athletes into championship contenders.
Style:
touching, inspirational, sentimental, emotional, sweet ...
Audience:
teens, family outing, boys' night, kids, girls' night
Plot:
teacher, underdog, mentor, high school, coach, track and field, athlete and trainer, human spirit, football, athlete, dedicated educator, competition ...
Time:
80s, 20th century
Place:
california, palo alto california, usa, new jersey, texas
Similarity:
50%
160K
Genre: Drama, Sport
Country: USA
Duration: 104 min.
Story:
A lifetime of taking shots has ended Rocky's career, and a crooked accountant has left him broke. Inspired by the memory of his trainer, however, Rocky finds glory in training and takes on an up-and-coming boxer.
Style:
inspirational, saga, serious, realistic, action packed ...
Audience:
manly, teens, family outing, boys' night, girls' night
Plot:
boxing, boxer, fight, underdog, betrayal, training, father son relationship, boxing trainer, showdown, street fight, gym, fistfight ...
Time:
80s, 90s, 20th century
Place:
philadelphia, pennsylvania, usa, madison square garden manhattan new york city, russia
Similarity:
50%
Genre: Drama, Family
Country: USA
Duration: 112 min.
Story:
Eleven year-old Akeelah Anderson's life is not easy: her father is dead, her mom ignores her, her brother runs with the local gangbangers. She's smart, but her environment threatens to strangle her aspirations. Responding to a threat by ...
Style:
touching, independent film, emotional, sentimental, sweet ...
Audience:
family outing, kids, family friendly, toddlers, teens ...
Plot:
african american, coming of age, self esteem, child prodigy, hopes, female protagonist, teacher, prodigy, teachers and students, elementary school, mentor, black ...
Time:
year 2006, 21st century
Place:
los angeles, washington d.c., america, south central los angeles, usa ...
Similarity:
50%
Genre: Action, Comedy, Drama, Family, Sport
Country: USA
Duration: 104 min.
Story:
The Ducks are offered scholarships at Eden Hall Academy but struggle with their new coach's methods and come under pressure from the board to retain their scholarships before their big game against the Varsity team.
Style:
epic, realistic, semi serious, feel good, sincere ...
Audience:
kids, teens, family friendly, family outing, pre-teens ...
Plot:
ice hockey, hockey, hockey player, competition, olympics, high school, childhood, college, school, coming of age, underdog, winter ...
Time:
90s, 20th century, year 1996
Place:
minnesota, usa, new jersey
Similarity:
26%
Movie in collections
Genre: Action, Sport
Country: USA
Duration: 90 min.
Story:
After thief Alex Cardo gets caught while stealing an ancient katana in East Asia, he soon finds himself imprisoned and beaten up by the crowd there. One of the guards, Demon, feels upset by Alex appearance and tortures him as often as he gets the ...
Style:
suspense, intense, realistic, serious, independent film ...
Audience:
boys' night
Plot:
martial arts, prison brawl, master warrior, martial arts tournament, tough heroes, rivalry, contests and competitions, prison life, prison, prison violence, tournament, fistfight ...
Time:
90s, 80s
Place:
hong kong
Similarity:
50%
242K
Genre: Drama, Sport
Country: USA
Duration: 102 min.
Story:
When he loses a highly publicized virtual boxing match to ex-champ Rocky Balboa, reigning heavyweight titleholder, Mason Dixon retaliates by challenging Rocky to a nationally televised, 10-round exhibition bout. To the surprise of his son and ...
Style:
inspirational, sincere, touching, melancholic, action packed ...
Audience:
boys' night, teens, manly, family outing
Plot:
boxing, father son relationship, comeback, boxer, athlete's life, training, fight, life, life philosophy, restaurant owner, loneliness, against the odds ...
Time:
year 2006, 2000s, 21st century
Place:
philadelphia, pennsylvania, usa, las vegas
Similarity:
50%
247K
Genre: Drama, Sport
Country: USA
Duration: 119 min.
Story:
After Rocky goes the distance with champ Apollo Creed, both try to put the fight behind them and move on. Rocky settles down with Adrian but can't put his life together outside the ring, while Creed seeks a rematch to restore his reputation. ...
Style:
inspirational, saga, sincere, rough, feel good ...
Audience:
family outing, teens, boys' night, manly
Plot:
boxing, boxer, underdog, training, comeback, fight, tough heroes, coma, working class, tough guy, bodybuilding, rocky ...
Time:
70s, 20th century, 80s
Place:
philadelphia, pennsylvania, usa, north america
Similarity:
50%
Genre: Action, Drama, Family, Sport
Country: USA
Duration: 86 min.
Story:
Martial arts champion Andre Lima's fighting days ended with his wife's death. The past nine years Andre has struggled to rebuild his world around his two children. When his daughter's health suddenly fails, his finances collapse.
Style:
heartfelt, emotional, serious, intense, realistic ...
Plot:
martial arts, cage fighting, family drama, father daughter relationship, grief, single father, loss, redemption, financial difficulty, resilience, second chance, comeback ...
Similarity:
25%
Genre: Action, Comedy, Family, Sport
Country: USA, Japan
Duration: 93 min.
Story:
During a championship baseball match, the three brothers hear that their grandfather in Japan is in trouble, and head out to help him, conceding the match. When they arrive in Japan, they must use all their powers to defend him against his ancient ...
Style:
humorous, epic, feel good, semi serious, slapstick comedy ...
Audience:
kids, family outing, teens, pre-teens, teen drama
Plot:
ninja, child martial arts, martial arts, childhood, young heroes, revenge, heroes, youth, vengeance, friends, underdog, vigilantism ...
Time:
year 1994, 90s, 80s
Place:
japan, asia, tokyo
Similarity:
25%
Genre: Action, Sport
Country: USA
Duration: 101 min.
Story:
Picking up after the events of Never Back Down 2, former MMA champion Case Walker is on the comeback trail to become champion once again.
Style:
inspirational, serious, realistic, suspense, suspenseful ...
Plot:
martial arts, mixed martial arts, fight, hand to hand combat, tournament, martial artist, martial arts training, friendship, master warrior, fight scenes, kickboxing, kickboxer ...
Similarity:
25%
Genre: Drama, Family, Sport
Country: USA
Duration: 90 min.
Story:
Andy "Brink" Brinker and his in-line skating crew--Peter, Jordy, and Gabriella--who call themselves "Soul-Skaters" (which means they skate for the fun of it, and not for the money), clash with a group of sponsored skaters, Team ...
Style:
captivating, feel good, semi serious, exciting, epic ...
Audience:
kids, family outing, teen drama
Plot:
friendship, rivalry, underdog, rise to the top, teenage life, rising to stardom, ambition, betrayal, dishonesty, moral dilemma, hopes, skating ...
Time:
90s, 20th century
Similarity:
25%
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