Overview
- Critics describe the film as competently made and nostalgically charged but not groundbreaking, with Le Parisien awarding it 3.5 out of 5 stars.
- Jackie Chan and Ralph Macchio reprise their roles as masters Han and Daniel LaRusso to guide a new generation of karate students.
- Ben Wang stars as Li Fong, a Beijing teenager in New York, and has been praised for his dynamic presence ahead of his role in the 2026 Hunger Games film.
- The story follows the classic training-and-showdown formula with a fresh role-reversal twist and pays discreet, emotional tribute to the late Pat Morita alongside callbacks to earlier installments.
- A post-credits scene delivers a humorous hint at future storylines as Sony expands its martial arts dojo-verse.