The Karate Kid, a martial arts drama film, was released in theaters and became a cultural touchstone in the 1980s, popularizing karate and martial arts in the Western world.
Actor Ralph Macchio gained widespread recognition and became associated with the role of Daniel LaRusso, the main character in The Karate Kid film.
Following the success of The Karate Kid, there was a notable increase in interest and enrollment in karate schools and martial arts training in the United States and other countries.
The sequel to the original Karate Kid film was released, continuing the story of Daniel LaRusso and his mentor Mr. Miyagi.
The legacy of The Karate Kid was revived with the launch of the TV series 'Cobra Kai', which continued the story of the original characters decades later and introduced the franchise to a new generation.