Cobra Kai Season 6: Hilary Swank’s Potential Karate Kid Franchise Return Addressed By Ralph Macchio
Summary
Cobra Kaiseason 6 has earned the worst Rotten Tomatoes score of the show’s run. The series, which was developed for YouTube Red before the service shut down and found a new home at Netflix, is a continuation of theKarate Kidfranchise featuring the return of many legacy characters including Ralph Macchio as Daniel LaRusso and William Zabka as Johnny Lawrence.Cobra Kaiseason 6, which is set to be the final season of the long-running series, is being released in three parts, with part 2 due on November 15 and part 3 coming in 2025.
Rotten Tomatoeshas now aggregated an official Tomatometer score forCobra Kaiseason 6, compiled from 17 different critics' reviews.The season’s score is a solidly Fresh 82%, paired with an 89% score from audiences. While the critic score could fluctuate as more reviews are added both during its premiere week and as each of the upcoming two parts premiere, but at the time of writing it is the lowest of any season in the entire series.
How Cobra Kai Season 6 Compares To The Franchise As A Whole
The Karate Kid Movies Have A Poorer Rotten Tomatoes Track Record
WhileCobra Kaiseason 6 reviewshave so far kept the new season below the show’s considerably high average, it is neverthelessan excellent score when compared to the rest of the multimedia franchise. The big-screen branch of the series has had a much more uneven critical reception over the years, with only the 1984 original and the 2010 remake starring Jackie Chan and Jaden Smith receiving Fresh scores. Below, see a breakdown of the Rotten Tomatoes critic scores for the entire franchise:
90%
45%
15%
7%
66%
100%
91%
95%
98%
Cobra Kaiseason 6 (2024-2025)
82%
The 8% drop between season 6 and the previous lowest-ratedCobra Kaiscore, which was 90% for season 3, is relatively severe considering the narrow band of scores the rest of the seasons occupy. However, it is still higher than every one of theKarate Kidmoviesreleased after the original. In fact, it isa full 75% higher than the lowest-ranked movie on the platform, which is the Hilary Swank-ledThe Next Karate Kid. That difference alone would still be considered a Fresh score on the platform.
Ultimately, it does not seem likely thatCobra Kaiseason 7 will happen even after earning this strong Rotten Tomatoes score. For one thing, its critical reception is proof of diminishing returns for the series, despite its Fresh score. TheupcomingKarate Kidmovie, which features Macchio returning as Daniel LaRusso opposite the 2010 remake’s Jackie Chan reprising his role as Mr. Han, would probably oversaturate the market. However, if the movie performs poorly, Netflix may see fit to resume production on the show or another television spinoff.
Cobra Kai
Cast
Cobra Kai is a sequel series continuing the narrative of the Karate Kid saga, set 30 years after the 1984 All Valley Karate Tournament. It focuses on Johnny Lawrence seeking redemption by reopening the Cobra Kai dojo, reigniting his rivalry with Daniel LaRusso, who strives to maintain balance in his life.
