Which 80s movie franchise is Cobra Kai based on and does it have any connection?

first released in 2018 on subscription service YouTube Red before moving over to for the third series in 2021.

The martial arts comedy-drama series is a sequel to the original The Karate Kid films that were created by Robert Mark Kamen.

The first film released in 1984, followed by two sequels, The Karate Kid Part 2 in 1986 and The Karate Kid Part 3 in 1989.

The original films showed various coming-of-age teenagers who were taught martial arts by an experienced mentor so they could learn to defend themselves after being bullied.

Cobra Kai takes place 33 years after the first film, with actors Ralph Macchio and William Zakba reprising their roles as Daniel LaRusso and Johnny Lawrence, respectively.

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The two had a rivalry in the original films which spills into the series, with both Daniel and Johnny both trying to outdo one another.

Cobra Kai re-examines the Karate Kid narrative from Johnny's point of view, which begins with his decision to reopen the Cobra Kai karate dojo, which rekindles his old rivalry with Daniel.

Besides this, the storylines of the films and the series are not connected but loyal fans have spotted some in the Cobra Kai episodes.

For instance, a 1947 Ford Convertible that Ralph waxed from the original Karate Kid film was featured in an episode of the series, as well as a coin from China that was found in a trunk which fans have speculated could be a connection to the films.

In September 2022, a new film was announced as being in development, described as "the return of the original Karate Kid franchise".

It will feature Ralph as Daniel, while Jackie Chan will reprise his role as Mr Han from the 2010 remake version of the film.

Cobra Kai co-creator Jon Hurwitz later revealed he was not involved with the project and that there would be no direct connection to the Netflix series.

The showrunner Josh Heald also said the same and expressed: "The guys and I are not personally involved in the movie.

"That's a Sony feature, we kind of exist in this universe, so as we are wrapping our series, Ralph is actually going to go off to participate and film that movie.

"But our series doesn't set up the movie, the movie kind of exists in its own piece of its own universe with Jackie Chan's character and Ralph's character, and the various other characters in that story."

Cobra Kai season six part two is now streaming on Netflix.