The Next Karate Kid
| The Next Karate Kid | |
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Theatrical release poster
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| Directed by | Christopher Cain |
| Produced by | Jerry Weintraub |
| Written by | Mark Lee |
| Starring |
Pat Morita Hilary Swank Michael Ironside |
| Music by | Bill Conti |
| Cinematography | László Kovács |
| Edited by | Ronald Roose |
| Distributed by | Columbia Pictures |
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Release date
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Running time
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107 minutes |
| Country | United States |
| Language | English |
| Budget | $12 million |
| Box office | $15.8 million |
The Next Karate Kid (also known as The Karate Kid Part IV) is a 1994 American martial arts drama film starring Pat Morita and Hilary Swank. It is the fourth and final installment in the original The Karate Kid series. It was directed by Christopher Cain and written by Mark Lee, with music by Bill Conti. This is the only film in the series released in the 1990s, 10 years after the first installment, and also the only film in the series not to feature Ralph Macchio in the lead role and neither be written for the screen by Robert Mark Kamen nor directed by John G. Avildsen.
It was released on September 9, 1994. Upon its release, The Next Karate Kid was a critical and commercial failure. Many critics praised the acting but saw the film as unnecessary.
The film's two taglines are: An ancient tradition is about to collide with a new generation and Who says the good guy has to be a guy?
Mr. Miyagi travels to Boston to attend a commendation for Japanese-American soldiers who fought in the 442nd Regimental Combat Team during World War II. He meets Louisa Pierce, the widow of his commanding officer, Lieutenant Jack Pierce. At Pierce's home, they catch up on old times and war stories.
Miyagi is introduced to Pierce's granddaughter, Julie, a teenage girl struggling with anger issues due to her parents' deaths in a car accident. Her behavior has led to friction between Julie and her grandmother and her fellow students. She sneaks into the school at night to care for an injured hawk, Angel, which she keeps in a pigeon coop on the roof.
Miyagi invites Louisa to stay at his house in Los Angeles to enjoy peace and quiet tending his garden while he stays in Boston as Julie's caretaker. At school, Julie meets and befriends Eric McGowen, a security guard in training and a pledge for a shady school security fraternity, the Alpha Elite. The members are taught to enforce the school rules, even using physical force, by a self-styled colonel, Dugan. In this group is Ned, who makes repeated unsuccessful sexual advances on Julie. Eric learns of Angel and promises to feed her while Julie is with Miyagi.
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