The Karate Kid Six-Movie Ultimate Collection 4K Review

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Over four decades since Daniel LaRusso triumphed in the All-Valley Tournament, “The Karate Kid” has received its grandest and most lavish release yet. Concurrently with this week’s 4K and Blu-ray release of “Karate Kid: Legends,” Sony Pictures Home Entertainment has assembled a monumental collection tailored for die-hard “Karate Kid” enthusiasts. By gathering all six feature films into a single 4K set, they are commemorating the entire franchise in style.

This Ultimate Collection of “The Karate Kid” series reunites the original trilogy on 4K quality with fresh special features, and it also introduces the 4K debuts for “The Next Karate Kid”, the 2010 version, and “Karate Kid: Legends”. Each film has its individual 4K case and comes with an exclusive slipcover within a large box set that recreates one of the most memorable scenes from the series.

Unfolding the collector’s box reveals an interactive display of Daniel and Johnny’s climactic fight from the All-Valley tournament, accompanied by the actual sound effect from when Daniel clinched his final point. The diorama is quite substantial when fully expanded and adds a touch of nostalgia to any shelf, commemorating the beloved characters that made “The Karate Kid” series so endearing. However, it’s worth noting that the display may require some support to keep it standing upright, as the scene tends to droop slightly if not properly extended. This minor issue doesn’t detract from the overall visual appeal, but it may affect the box set’s stability on exhibition.

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Alongside the unique pop-up packaging, the Complete Karate Kid Collection offers additional items such as a double-sided headband, three patches representing different dojos from the series, and a deck of trading cards featuring its most notable characters, both heroes and villains. The set also includes a wealth of new and classic bonus features with the films.

The standout aspect of this package might well be the addition of all 13 episodes from the hard-to-find animated series based on ‘The Karate Kid’. Usually, the online versions of these episodes are of poor quality. While there hasn’t been any significant restoration or enhancement for this release, it boasts the best version of the show ever seen by fans, as all 13 episodes have been compiled and included in the 4K disc of ‘The Karate Kid Part III’.

Personally, I must say that the 4K versions of the Karate Kid discs are simply outstanding, matching up beautifully with the quality we’ve come to expect from the earlier Karate Kid 4K releases. Interestingly enough, all three films in the series were already available on 4K, with only the original movie being sold individually as a standalone disc. The other two, Part II and Part III, were initially released together as part of a trilogy set back in 2021. When that trilogy was launched, many agreed that the transfers and Dolby Vision were nothing short of stunning. The work on Part II is particularly noteworthy, as it really shines when the film takes us to the breathtaking landscapes of Okinawa. Those vistas are truly out of this world.

Among the franchise’s titles, “The Next Karate Kid” is the one I was most eager to delve into, as it’s the only older film in the series yet to receive a 4K upgrade. Some might worry that it won’t measure up to its three predecessors due to its later restoration and less acclaimed status. However, these concerns prove unfounded. Regardless of your personal opinion about “The Next Karate Kid”, the 4K version is impressive. Certainly, some of the wider shots in the monastery sequence really stand out, boasting a realistic grain structure that beautifully recreates the ’90s atmosphere on screen.

In the 2010 remake and “Karate Kid: Legends,” the story comes full circle by featuring both Miyagi and Han together. However, what seems to be missing from this collection is a sense of Cobra Kai presence. Adding all six seasons of the TV series might seem excessive, but including the first episode or season in 4K would have been a wonderful addition. Given that much of the modern Karate Kid experience is defined by the TV show and Johnny Lawrence’s return (who remains the second-best character after Miyagi), it feels like the collection should have some representation of Cobra Kai, even if just an episode was included.

The Ultimate Collection of Sony’s Karate Kid, undeniably, is the finest physical home release the series has ever witnessed, a treasure trove that die-hard fans would gladly display on their shelves. However, it carries a hefty price tag of $219.99, which could be seen as steep. Yet, if you’re determined to own the entire set in 4K resolution, this is your only viable option at the moment, making the cost potentially justifiable. It’s speculative, but it’s not unreasonable to assume that the individual movies might eventually become available on 4K as well, following Sony’s pattern with other Columbia Classics films.

A copy of the Karate Kid Ultimate Collection was provided for the purpose of this review.

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2025-08-29 01:55