The Karate Kid is a 1984 John G. Avildsen film starring Ralph Macchio and Pat Morita. It is a martial arts movie and an "underdog" story much in the model of a previous Avildsen smash, the 1976 boxing picture Rocky.

Danny LaRusso (Ralph Macchio) is desperately eager to learn karate because bullies are tormenting him at his new high school. Unfortunately, these bullies happen to be students at the local dojo, where the philosophy is “strike hard, strike fast, no mercy.” Mr. Miyagi, Danny’s kindly neighbor, agrees to teach the boy karate himself after witnessing a particularly brutal episode of harassment. The elderly Japanese handyman convinces the dojo to leave Danny alone until the upcoming karate tournament, where they will settle their differences once and for all.
Throughout the movie Danny is constantly being challenged whether it be by himself or karate students who bully him. Once he meets Mr. Miyagi, he immediately begins to learn valuable life lessons such as discipline, respect, and courage. This movie is all about conquering your fears and how conquering fears can be a truly rewarding experience. This is a great movie for kids of all ages to watch, as they will learn that anything is possible with the right attitude and dedication. There are no dull moments in this movie. The film is balanced with funny and emotional scenes. This movie will definitely leave you with a good feeling inside.