Caution: Spoilers ahead please
Ralph Macchio has been the face of The Karate Kid franchise for decades. So when news broke that he would return in Karate Kid: Legends, fans had high hopes. But after watching the film, many—including myself—are walking away disappointed. Compared to his important role in Cobra Kai, Macchio’s appearance in Karate Kid: Legends feels like an afterthought.
Let’s break down why this return didn’t live up to the hype—and why fans deserved more from Daniel LaRusso.
Daniel Barely Appears in the Movie
Yes, Ralph Macchio is technically in Karate Kid: Legends. The film even opens with a scene from The Karate Kid Part II showing Daniel and Mr. Miyagi talking about legacy and ancestors. This scene helps set up the connection between Miyagi’s teachings and Jackie Chan’s Mr. Han from the 2010 reboot. But after that quick flashback, Daniel vanishes—for almost an hour.
Most of the story moves to Beijing, where Mr. Han meets a new student, Li Fang. When Li moves to New York, Han keeps in touch with him through occasional phone calls. But Daniel? Nowhere to be seen.
It’s not until the movie’s final act that Daniel finally steps back in. Mr. Han visits Daniel to ask for help training Li. They share a nice moment remembering Mr. Miyagi, but it’s brief. Daniel then joins the training sessions and appears in the lead-up to the tournament—but that’s about it.
In total, Ralph Macchio shows up for only a small portion of the movie. It’s a big shift from how involved he’s been in past entries. Fans hoping to see more of Daniel will likely feel shortchanged.
Daniel’s Role Doesn’t Matter Much to the Story
One of the biggest letdowns is that Daniel’s presence doesn’t really change the outcome of the film. The main focus is clearly on Li Fang, and rightfully so—his journey is compelling, and Ben Wang delivers a great performance. But Daniel’s involvement feels shallow.
All he really contributes is helping come up with a move called the “Tiger Trap,” which Li uses in the final match. That’s it. There’s no deep mentorship, no major turning point, and not enough emotional impact to justify bringing Daniel back at all.
The movie tries to draw a meaningful connection between Mr. Han, Daniel, and the teachings of Mr. Miyagi. Unfortunately, it doesn’t go deep enough to make that connection stick. We’re told there’s a bond, but it’s not fully shown or felt.
Honestly, if Daniel had been left out of the movie altogether, not much would’ve changed. That’s a tough pill to swallow, especially for fans who’ve followed his journey for over 40 years.
After Cobra Kai, This Feels Like a Step Back
Part of why this all feels so disappointing is because Cobra Kai treated Daniel with the respect he deserves. The Netflix series gave Macchio the chance to grow his character in meaningful ways. We saw Daniel struggle, learn, teach, and fight. He was a central figure, not just a nostalgic cameo.
Cobra Kai proved that there’s still plenty of story left to tell with Daniel LaRusso. It balanced the spotlight between new characters and old legends. That’s why seeing him so sidelined in Karate Kid: Legends stings even more.
It’s clear the new movie wanted to focus on Li Fang’s journey—and that’s totally fair. But if Daniel was going to be included, he needed a stronger purpose. A few scenes at the end just aren’t enough.
Will We See Daniel Again?
It’s hard to say what’s next for Ralph Macchio in the Karate Kid universe. If Karate Kid: Legends does well at the box office or on streaming, there’s always a chance he could return in a bigger way. Fans would love to see Daniel take on a more active mentorship role, or maybe even revisit his own struggles now that Mr. Miyagi is gone.
The good news? Macchio clearly still has the passion for the role. If the right script comes along, we might get the Daniel LaRusso story fans are waiting for.
Karate Kid: Legends had the chance to honor Ralph Macchio’s legacy in a powerful way—but it missed the mark. Daniel LaRusso is more than just a side character. He helped build this franchise from the ground up.
Seeing him appear so briefly, with little impact on the story, is disappointing—especially after Cobra Kai showed how great his return could be.
For now, we can only hope that if Daniel returns again, it’ll be with more purpose, more screen time, and more heart.
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