The Karate Kid (1984) Parents Guide: Is the movie OK for kids?
Age Rating, Sex, Violence & Language
New Jersey teen Daniel LaRusso moves to Los Angeles with his mother, and soon strikes up a relationship with Ali. He quickly finds himself the target of bullying by a group of thugs, led by Ali's ex-boyfriend Johnny, who study karate at the Cobra Kai dojo under ruthless sensei John Kreese. Fortunately, Daniel befriends Mr. Miyagi, an unassuming repairman who just happens to be a martial arts master himself. Miyagi takes Daniel under his wing, training him in a more compassionate form of karate for self-defense and, later, preparing… Sign up for the full guide
Rated PG • 1984 • 2h 7m
The Karate Kid (1984) earned its PG rating for its frequent martial arts violence and persistent, intense bullying. The film follows Daniel LaRusso as he learns to defend himself from a group of aggressive karate students from the Cobra Kai dojo. Parents should be aware of several scenes of fighting, including a prolonged chase and beating, as well as teen drinking, an instance of implied teen marijuana use, and some moderate profanity… Sign up for the full guide
Cast
Is The Karate Kid appropriate for kids?
The Karate Kid (1984) earned its PG rating for its frequent martial arts violence and persistent, intense bullying. The film follows Daniel LaRusso as he learns to defend himself from a group of aggressive karate students from the Cobra Kai dojo. Parents should be aware of… Read more — free account
Content severity in The Karate Kid
What happens in The Karate Kid, moment by moment
- 0:05 ♥ Sex & Nudity 3/10
- 0:11 🍷 Substances 3/10
- 0:12 ♥ Sex & Nudity 4/10
Sex and nudity in The Karate Kid
Sexual content is very light. A character's shirt at the beginning of the film has a cartoon of two pigs with the caption 'Makin' Bacon.' At a party, a male character kisses a female character against her will. The main characters, Daniel and Ali, share a few chaste, romantic kisses.
Violence and gore in The Karate Kid
The film's violence is primarily rooted in martial arts and bullying. There are multiple fights between teens involving kicks and punches, resulting in bloody noses and bruised faces. In one scene, Daniel is chased on his bike and pushed down a steep hill by bullies. The most intense sequence involves Daniel being chased and brutally beaten by five other teens before Mr. Miyagi intervenes. During the final tournament, a coach explicitly orders his students to intentionally injure Daniel, which they do, leading to…
Read more — free accountLanguage in The Karate Kid
Language is moderate for a PG film. The dialogue includes several uses of "ass," "hell," and "damn." Stronger profanity includes multiple instances of "shit," "bullshit," and at least one use of "asshole."
Drugs, alcohol, and smoking in The Karate Kid
There are a few scenes involving substance use. At a beach party, teenagers are seen drinking beer. In a bathroom during a school dance, a teen is briefly shown smoking what is implied to be a marijuana joint. In a poignant scene, Mr. Miyagi is shown drunk while mourning a painful anniversary.
Mature themes in The Karate Kid
The film's central themes are bullying and mentorship. The bullying is frequent and at times intense, showing both physical and psychological torment. A key subplot involves a coach, Kreese, encouraging his students to be ruthless and to cheat by intentionally injuring their opponent. The film also contains a very serious and emotional scene where Mr. Miyagi tearfully recounts how his wife and newborn son died in a Japanese-American internment camp during World War II.
Scary moments in The Karate Kid
No standout scary moments have been catalogued for The Karate Kid yet. Because this title is recommended for younger kids, sign up to get community-flagged jump scares, tense scenes, and startling imagery as parents submit them.
Frequently Asked Questions
Is The Karate Kid appropriate for kids?
Bontent's parent guide suggests The Karate Kid is best for ages 10+. It's rated PG. The Karate Kid (1984) earned its PG rating for its frequent martial arts violence and persistent, intense bullying. The film follows Daniel LaRusso as he learns to defend himself from a group of aggressive karate…
What age rating does The Karate Kid have?
The Karate Kid is officially rated PG. Bontent's independent parent guide recommends it for ages 10+.
What is The Karate Kid about?
The Karate Kid (1984) earned its PG rating for its frequent martial arts violence and persistent, intense bullying. The film follows Daniel LaRusso as he learns to defend himself from a group of aggressive karate students from the Cobra Kai dojo. Parents should be aware of several scenes of fighting, including a…
Is there sex or nudity in The Karate Kid?
Sexual content is very light. A character's shirt at the beginning of the film has a cartoon of two pigs with the caption 'Makin' Bacon.' At a party, a male character kisses a female character against her will. The main characters, Daniel and Ali, share a few…
How violent is The Karate Kid?
The film's violence is primarily rooted in martial arts and bullying. There are multiple fights between teens involving kicks and punches, resulting in bloody noses and bruised faces. In one scene, Daniel is chased on his bike and pushed down a steep hill by…
Is the language in The Karate Kid appropriate for kids?
Language is moderate for a PG film. The dialogue includes several uses of "ass," "hell," and "damn." Stronger profanity includes multiple instances of "shit," "bullshit," and at least one use of "asshole."
Are drugs, alcohol, or smoking shown in The Karate Kid?
There are a few scenes involving substance use. At a beach party, teenagers are seen drinking beer. In a bathroom during a school dance, a teen is briefly shown smoking what is implied to be a marijuana joint. In a poignant scene, Mr. Miyagi is shown drunk…
What mature themes appear in The Karate Kid?
The film's central themes are bullying and mentorship. The bullying is frequent and at times intense, showing both physical and psychological torment. A key subplot involves a coach, Kreese, encouraging his students to be ruthless and to cheat by…
How long is The Karate Kid?
The Karate Kid runs 127 minutes, directed by John G. Avildsen, released in 1984.
Where can I read the full The Karate Kid parent guide?
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