TV · in order
Karate Kid & Cobra Kai in Order
Cobra Kai is a direct sequel to the original Karate Kid films. Watch The Karate Kid (1984) first, ideally the full trilogy, then all six seasons of Cobra Kai.
Karate Kid & Cobra Kai in Order โ complete list
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Why this order?
Cobra Kai is one of the rare legacy sequels that genuinely rewards homework. It picks up decades after the events of the original films, with Johnny Lawrence and Daniel LaRusso both middle-aged and still nursing the rivalry that started at the 1984 All Valley Karate Tournament. The show constantly mines the trilogy for callbacks, returning characters, and emotional payoffs, so the more of the films you have seen, the richer it plays.
The watch order here is the same as the release order, which keeps things refreshingly simple. Start with The Karate Kid (1984), then The Karate Kid Part II (1986) and Part III (1989), then move into Cobra Kai. At an absolute minimum, watch the first film before the series, because the entire premise of the show is built on Daniel and Johnny's confrontation in it. The two sequels are not strictly required, but Part II and Part III both seed characters and grudges that resurface in later Cobra Kai seasons, so skipping them means missing some of the bigger reveals.
A word on what to leave out. The Next Karate Kid (1994) with Hilary Swank and the 2010 remake starring Jackie Chan and Jaden Smith sit in the broader "Miyagi-Verse" but fall outside the core Cobra Kai through-line, so we keep them off this list. Karate Kid: Legends (2025) is a closer relative: it is set after Cobra Kai and continues the same continuity, but because it postdates the series and is not required to follow the story, we treat it as an optional follow-up rather than part of the main order.
One bit of trivia worth knowing: Cobra Kai actually premiered on YouTube Premium in 2018 and only moved to Netflix in 2020, where its expanded sixth and final season was split into three parts, with the finale arriving in February 2025. If you enjoy this kind of generational callback storytelling, the Rocky and Creed films scratch a similar itch.
Timeline 1984โ2018
Every entry plotted by release year โ see the gaps, clusters and revivals at a glance.
Where to play it today
Affiliate links (Bookshop.org for books, store links for games/films) slot in here.
Frequently asked questions
What order should I watch Cobra Kai in?
Watch in release order: The Karate Kid (1984), Part II (1986), and Part III (1989), then all six seasons of Cobra Kai. The series is a direct sequel, so the films come first.
How many seasons of Cobra Kai are there?
Six. Cobra Kai ran from 2018 to 2025. The expanded sixth and final season was released by Netflix in three parts, with the finale arriving in February 2025.
Do I need to watch the Karate Kid movies before Cobra Kai?
You should watch at least The Karate Kid (1984), since the show's whole premise builds on it. Part II and Part III add context and characters that pay off in later seasons but are optional.
Is Karate Kid: Legends part of Cobra Kai?
It is connected. Karate Kid: Legends (2025) is set after Cobra Kai and continues the same continuity, but because it comes after the series and is not required to follow the story, we treat it as an optional follow-up rather than part of the core watch order.
Does The Next Karate Kid or the 2010 remake fit into Cobra Kai?
Not directly. The Next Karate Kid (1994) and the 2010 remake are separate stories in the wider Miyagi-Verse. Cobra Kai follows the original Ralph Macchio trilogy, so those films are left off this order.
Where can I watch Cobra Kai and the Karate Kid films?
Cobra Kai streams on Netflix (it originally premiered on YouTube Premium before moving there in 2020). The original Karate Kid film trilogy is generally available to rent or buy on services like Amazon Prime Video and Apple TV, with streaming availability that varies by region.
Last verified · Sources: en.wikipedia.org, Wikidata
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