Watch The Next Karate Kid

The Next Karate Kid is a 1994 martial arts film directed by Christopher Cain and starring Pat Morita, Hilary Swank, and Michael Ironside. The film is the fourth and final installment in the Karate Kid series. The film follows the story of Julie Pierce (Hilary Swank), a troubled teenager who has just lost both her parents in a car accident. Julie is sent to live with her estranged grandmother, Miyagi (Pat Morita), a wise and skilled karate master. Miyagi teaches Julie the ways of karate and guides her in how to find inner peace and deal with her emotions while dealing with bullies at her new high school.

As the film progresses, Julie gains confidence and self-esteem through her karate training. She also learns about the legacy of Mr. Miyagi's own karate mentor, whom he lost in World War II. This knowledge motivates Julie to keep training and overcome the challenges she faces, including the bullying of a ruthless male student and his gang, led by Colonel Dugan (Michael Ironside), a retired army colonel who runs a military academy.

Throughout the movie, Julie and Miyagi develop an endearing relationship, with each learning from the other's experience and wisdom. As Julie becomes more skilled in karate, she also becomes more confident in herself and becomes a source of inspiration for those around her, including her new friend Eric McGowen (Chris Conrad).

The Next Karate Kid features some spectacular martial arts sequences, which were choreographed by Pat E. Johnson. The movie showcases the skills of Hilary Swank, who trained extensively in martial arts for the role and became the first woman to play a lead role in the Karate Kid series.

The film is widely regarded as a departure from the series' previous three installments, with a new cast of characters and a more nuanced approach to the themes of bullying and emotional issues facing teenagers. Pat Morita's performance as the wise and gentle Mr. Miyagi is, as always, a highlight of the film, and serves as a fitting swansong to the character he had played since the original Karate Kid in 1984.

Overall, The Next Karate Kid is an entertaining and empowering movie with strong performances, breathtaking martial arts sequences, and a positive message about facing and overcoming one's fears while standing up against injustice. The chemistry between the cast members is also commendable, bringing a real sense of warmth and camaraderie to the film. It may not be as well-known as its predecessors, but it is definitely a worthwhile addition to the Karate Kid franchise.

The Next Karate Kid is a 1994 action movie with a runtime of 1 hour and 47 minutes. It has received mostly poor reviews from critics and viewers, who have given it an IMDb score of 4.6 and a MetaScore of 36.