KARATE KID 2 A First Look That Will Change Everything The Karate Kid is a 1984 American martial arts drama film written by Robert Mark Kamen and directed by John G. Lost. It’s the first installment of the Karate Kid franchise and stars Ralph Macchio, Pat Morita, Elisabeth Shue and William Zabka. Karate Kid follows Daniel LaRusso (Macchio), a teenager who is taught karate by Mr. Miyagi (Morita) to help him defend himself and compete in a tournament against his bullies, one of whom is Johnny Lawrence (Zabka), the ex-boyfriend of his love interest Ali Mills (Shue).
Columbia Pictures approached Kamen to compose a film similar to Avildsen’s earlier hit, Rocky (1976), after hiring the director. Kamen was inspired by his own life while writing the movie. As a result, he maintained firm opinions about the cast and vigorously requested Morita’s inclusion. Preparations for the film began immediately after the final script edit was completed, and casting took place between April and June 1983. Principal photography began on October 31, 1983 in Los Angeles and was completed on December 16, 1983.
The film was Macchio’s second leading role after The Outsiders (1983). The Karate Kid was premiered in theaters in the United States on June 22, 1984. The movie received mostly positive reviews from critics, many of whom praised the action sequences, writing, themes, performances and music. The film was also a commercial success, grossing over $130 million worldwide, making it one of the highest-grossing films of 1984 and the biggest hit of the year in Hollywood. The film revitalized the acting career of Morita, who was previously known mainly for comic roles, and earned him a nomination for the Academy Award for Best Supporting Actor. Later, the film launched a media franchise and is credited with the popularity of karate in the United States.