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Easter eggs
Hidden details in every movie and series: 36 in total. Tap a poster to see its eggs. Titles you haven't marked as seen stay locked so nothing gets spoiled.
- Referencenod to comics or other movies
- Cameoa familiar face shows up
- Setupplanted now, pays off later
- Behind the scenesproduction trivia
- Behind the scenesBased on the screenwriter's life
Screenwriter Robert Mark Kamen was attacked by a gang at 17, after the 1964 New York World's Fair, and began studying martial arts. That went into the script. Director John G. Avildsen also made Rocky, and Stallone joked that Kamen had ripped it off.
source ↗ - CameoThe Miyagi who almost wasn't
The studio wanted Toshiro Mifune as Miyagi, but he did not speak English. Pat Morita was turned down at first for being seen as a comedy actor. He grew a beard and taped a second audition with an accent modeled on his uncle.
source ↗ - Behind the scenesJohnny's first pick
Crispin Glover was the first choice for Johnny. William Zabka got it, a wrestler who had never trained in karate. Ralph Macchio was cast on the strength of The Outsiders (1983).
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- Behind the scenesA scene from the first film
The opening scene, right after the first film's ending, was planned as that film's finale. It was only shot after production on the second one began.
source ↗ - Behind the scenesOkinawa is Hawaii
The Okinawa scenes were shot on Oahu, Hawaii, because the Japanese island had changed a lot with the military bases. The crew built seven replicas of Okinawan houses and recruited 50 extras born in Okinawa. Filming ran from September 23 to December 20, 1985.
source ↗ - ReferenceGlory of Love
The theme song, Glory of Love by Peter Cetera, hit number one in the US and was nominated for the Oscar for best song. The score is by Bill Conti.
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- Behind the scenesIt almost became a prequel
Writer Kamen wanted a prequel, with Daniel and Miyagi traveling in a dream to 16th-century China and a female lead. The producers balked. He only came back after the studio paid him a lot more.
source ↗ - Behind the scenesWho is older?
Thomas Ian Griffith plays Terry Silver, a war veteran about 20 years older than Daniel, but he is four months younger than Ralph Macchio. Silver exists because Martin Kove, who plays Kreese, had a scheduling conflict.
source ↗ - Behind the scenesRomance rewritten
Robyn Lively was 16 when she filmed, and Ralph Macchio was 27. Jessica and Daniel's romantic scenes were rewritten into a close friendship. The film is dedicated to cinematographer James Crabe, who died in 1989.
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- CameoHilary Swank before the Oscars
Hilary Swank plays Julie Pierce in the film she starred in before winning her two Oscars. Critics praised her performance and Pat Morita's.
source ↗ - Behind the scenesWhen it was shot
In January 1993 it was reported that Christopher Cain would direct the fourth film. Production began that June in Washington, D.C., under the title The Next Karate Kid.
source ↗ - SetupThe dance song
When Miyagi dances with Julie, Fascination plays, the same song Ali and Johnny danced to at the country club in the first film. It had already come back in the second.
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- ReferenceNo karate in it
The 2010 film keeps the name but is about kung fu, in China. Jackie Chan said the cast called it The Kung Fu Kid. In China, the title is The Kung Fu Dream.
source ↗ - Behind the scenesThe real Forbidden City
The Chinese government gave access to the Forbidden City, the Great Wall and the Wudang Mountains. Filming ran from July to October 16, 2009.
source ↗ - CameoJaden Smith and Justin Bieber
The official theme, Never Say Never, is by Justin Bieber with Jaden Smith. Composer James Horner replaced Atli Örvarsson, who had been hired first.
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- ReferenceThe Sweep the Leg video
In 2007, before the series, the video for Sweep the Leg by No More Kings starred William Zabka as a caricature of Johnny. He directed it himself. Zabka joked in interviews that Johnny was the real hero of the film.
source ↗ - ReferenceThe two on How I Met Your Mother
In 2013, Macchio and Zabka appeared as themselves in the How I Met Your Mother episode The Bro Mitzvah. The character Barney shouts that he hates Macchio.
source ↗ - Behind the scenesDebuting on YouTube
The first season came out on May 2, 2018, on YouTube Red, with 10 episodes. Critics praised the performances, the fights and the faithfulness to the films.
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- CameoKreese joins the main cast
Martin Kove, the Kreese of the films, was promoted to the main cast this season, along with Jacob Bertrand and Gianni DeCenzo.
source ↗ - Behind the scenesThe last one on YouTube
Season 2 premiered on April 2, 2019, on YouTube Premium. It was the last released there: YouTube decided not to renew the series past a third season, and Netflix bought the rights.
source ↗ - ReferenceAn award and a record
The season won an Emmy and set viewing records, according to Wikipedia, though critics thought it fell short of the first.
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- ReferenceThe first on Netflix
It premiered on January 1, 2021. It reached the Netflix top 10 in 85 countries and 45 million viewers in four months. It was nominated for the Emmy for outstanding comedy series.
source ↗ - CameoAli Mills returns
Elisabeth Shue returns as Ali Mills, the girlfriend from the first film, in a guest role this season.
source ↗ - CameoChozen and Kumiko
Yuji Okumoto and Tamlyn Tomita return as Chozen and Kumiko, the characters from Part II, in guest roles this season.
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- CameoTerry Silver in the flesh
Thomas Ian Griffith returns as Terry Silver, the villain of Part III, and joins the main cast as a newcomer this season.
source ↗ - CameoCarrie Underwood
Singer Carrie Underwood appears as herself, performing at the All Valley tournament.
source ↗ - Behind the scenesNumber one in three days
The season came out on December 31, 2021, the second of that year, and topped Netflix's global charts within three days. Two soundtrack albums followed on January 7, 2022.
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- CameoMike Barnes returns
Sean Kanan returns as Mike Barnes, the brutal champion from Part III, in guest spots in seasons 5 and 6.
source ↗ - CameoJessica Andrews
Robyn Lively returns as Jessica Andrews, Daniel's friend from Part III, in a guest role this season.
source ↗ - Behind the scenesA shifting cast
The season premiered on September 9, 2022. Dallas Dupree Young joined the main cast, and Gianni DeCenzo moved to recurring, credited as a special guest star. Yuji Okumoto, as Chozen, got more screen time.
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- Behind the scenesThree parts
The final season has 15 episodes, released in three parts of five: July 18, 2024, November 15, 2024 and February 13, 2025. Part 2 came out ahead of its planned November 28 window.
source ↗ - Behind the scenesDelayed by the strikes
Season 6 was set for 2023 but was delayed by that year's Hollywood labor disputes.
source ↗ - CameoNew and old faces
Elizabeth Berkley appears as Winnie Taylor, and Brian Takahashi plays young Mr. Miyagi. Sean Kanan returns as Mike Barnes.
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- Behind the scenesVictory Boulevard
Filming took place in Montreal, from April 1 to June 3, 2024, under the working title Victory Boulevard.
source ↗ - SetupOne universe
When the cast was announced in November 2023, the studio confirmed the 2010 film shares a universe with the original films and Cobra Kai. The role of Li went to Ben Wang, picked in a worldwide casting call.
source ↗ - ReferenceBill Conti's themes
Composer Dominic Lewis wrote the score and worked in Bill Conti's themes from the first film. He is the franchise's fourth composer. The story is set three years after Cobra Kai.
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