The Karate Kid Part III
Movie, 1989, Miyagi-Do, Set in 1985
The Karate Kid Part III is #3 of 7 in release order and #3 of 7 in chronological order in the The Karate Kid.
The story
Despondent over the closing of his karate school, Cobra Kai teacher John Kreese joins a ruthless businessman and martial artist to get revenge on Daniel and Mr. Miyagi.
The Karate Kid Part III recap
Kreese is broke and his dojo is empty. His old army friend Terry Silver, a rich toxic waste businessman, swears to help him get revenge on Daniel and Miyagi. Back in California, Daniel uses his college money to open a bonsai shop with Miyagi and befriends Jessica, who works at a nearby pottery shop. Silver hires Mike Barnes, a vicious karate fighter, to make Daniel defend his title. Miyagi refuses to train Daniel for another tournament, so Silver pretends to be a kind mentor and trains him himself, teaching him violent techniques. Daniel grows aggressive, and Barnes and his friends keep harassing him, at one point making him climb down a cliff to save a rare bonsai tree. At a club, Daniel hurts a man in a fight and realises what Silver has done.
The Karate Kid Part III ending explained
Silver reveals the plan, and Miyagi rescues Daniel and fights off Silver and his men. Miyagi then trains Daniel again. In the final, Barnes is told to rack up points and hurt Daniel badly, but Daniel uses a kata Miyagi taught him and wins. Kreese and Silver's plan collapses, and Cobra Kai is finished, at least until the TV series Cobra Kai brings Silver back decades later.
Post-credits scenes
No. There is no post-credits scene.
Where to watch The Karate Kid Part III
The Karate Kid Part III is streaming on Netflix and YouTube TV in the US. You can rent or buy it on Amazon, Apple TV, and Google Play.
Ratings
IMDb 5.4/10, Rotten Tomatoes 18%
Where it fits
- Release order: after The Karate Kid Part II, before The Next Karate Kid.
- Chronological order: after The Karate Kid Part II, before The Next Karate Kid.
What to watch before The Karate Kid Part III
In release order, the essentials before The Karate Kid Part III (1989) are The Karate Kid (1984) and The Karate Kid Part II (1986).
Cast
- Ralph Macchio as Daniel
- Pat Morita as Mr. Miyagi
- Robyn Lively as Jessica
- Thomas Ian Griffith as Terry
- Martin Kove as Kreese
- Sean Kanan as Mike Barnes
- Jonathan Avildsen as Snake
- William Christopher Ford as Dennis
- Randee Heller as Lucille
- Pat E. Johnson as Referee
- Rick Hurst as Announcer
- Frances Bay as Mrs. Milo
Directed by John G. Avildsen.