Cobra Kai is an American comedy-drama and martial arts television series. The series is a direct continuation and spin-off of the first four films in The Karate Kid franchise , and initially picks up 30 years after the 1984 titular film .[ 1] The series' first season premiered on the streaming service YouTube Red on May 2, 2018,[ 2] followed by a second season the following year on April 24, on the renamed YouTube Premium .[ 3] YouTube initially renewed and produced a third season of the series to release in 2020,[ 4] [ 5] but was not interested in developing any further seasons due to a shift from scripted to unscripted programming.[ 6] As a result, distributor Sony Pictures Television opted to look for a new service to stream the series.[ 7] Among other streaming services, Hulu and Netflix were named as possible new networks for the series.[ 8]
In 2020 it was ultimately announced that Netflix had purchased the completed third season, while YouTube and Netflix would share non-exclusive streaming rights to the first two seasons.[ 9] Netflix held the series until 2021[ 10] and started production on a fourth season .[ 11] The third season, initially set to release on January 8,[ 12] was released a week earlier on January 1 to coincide with New Year's Day .[ 13] The fourth season streamed later that year on December 31.[ 14] A fifth season followed on September 9, 2022.[ 15] In January 2023, Netflix renewed Cobra Kai for a sixth and final season,[ 16] set to stream in December of that year.[ 17] Amid the 2023 Writers' Guild of America strike and the 2023 SAG-AFTRA strike , the season was initially delayed to 2024.[ 18] Netflix later announced that the final season would consist of 15 episodes and be released in three parts of five episodes; the first on July 18, 2024, followed by the second on November 28, and the final part on February 13, 2025.[ 19] The release date of part two was later changed to November 15.[ 20] [ 21]
Ralph Macchio and William Zabka returned from the film series as Daniel LaRusso and Johnny Lawrence respectively.[ 22] New actors to the franchise include Courtney Henggeler , Xolo Maridueña , Tanner Buchanan , Mary Mouser .[ 23] Jacob Bertrand , Gianni DeCenzo, Peyton List , Vanessa Rubio , and Dallas Dupree Young were all added to the main cast in later seasons after recurring in earlier ones.[ 24] [ 25] [ 26] Additionally, Martin Kove returned to the franchise to portray John Kreese with a main role beginning in the second season after a guest role at the end of the first,[ 27] while Thomas Ian Griffith reprised his role as Terry Silver beginning in the fourth.[ 28] Other characters from the film series have appeared as guest stars and recurring characters.[ 29] [ 30] [ 31] [ 32] Sony is developing a sixth feature film, to be released after the series concludes, that will tie-in with the 2010 reboot film and is set to star Macchio.[ 33]
Cobra Kai has received critical acclaim,[ 34] [ 35] [ 36] receiving nominations for multiple People's Choice and Emmy awards .[ 37] [ 38] [ 39] It also topped viewership charts on both YouTube and Netflix with each respective season's release.[ 40] [ 41] [ 42] [ 43]
As of November 15, 2024,[update] 60 episodes of Cobra Kai have been released, concluding the second part of the sixth season.[ 44]
^ Goldberg, Lesley (August 4, 2017). " 'Karate Kid' TV Sequel, Starring Ralph Macchio and William Zabka, a Go at YouTube Red (Exclusive)" . The Hollywood Reporter . Archived from the original on June 14, 2021. Retrieved February 20, 2024 .
^ Turchiano, Danielle (May 10, 2018). " 'Cobra Kai' Renewed for Season 2 at YouTube Red" . Variety . Archived from the original on October 11, 2021. Retrieved February 20, 2024 .
^ Pedersen, Erik (March 7, 2019). " 'Cobra Kai' Season 2 Teaser Trailer & Premiere Date: A New Dojo Rivalry Is Born" . Deadline Hollywood . Archived from the original on May 29, 2023. Retrieved February 20, 2024 .
^ Otterson, Joe (May 2, 2019). " 'Cobra Kai' Renewed for Season 3 at YouTube Premium" . Variety . Archived from the original on November 15, 2020. Retrieved February 20, 2024 .
^ Baldwin, Kristen (May 2, 2019). "YouTube renews Cobra Kai for season 3, makes all shows free" . Entertainment Weekly . Archived from the original on November 15, 2020. Retrieved February 20, 2024 .
^ Goldberg, Lesley (June 22, 2020). " 'Cobra Kai' Moves to Netflix as YouTube Officially Out of Scripted" . The Hollywood Reporter . Archived from the original on June 9, 2021. Retrieved February 20, 2024 .
^ Andreeva, Nellie (June 22, 2020). " 'Cobra Kai' Moves From YouTube To Netflix Ahead Of Season 3" . Deadline Hollywood . Archived from the original on May 8, 2021. Retrieved February 20, 2024 .
^ Andreeva, Nellie (May 28, 2020). " 'Cobra Kai' Closing In On New Streaming Home With YouTube Poised To Release Hit Series Ahead Of Season 3" . Deadline Hollywood . Archived from the original on June 3, 2021. Retrieved February 20, 2024 .
^ Andreeva, Nellie (October 2, 2020). " 'Cobra Kai' Renewed For Season 4 By Netflix, Sets Season 3 Premiere Date On Streamer" . Deadline Hollywood . Archived from the original on April 30, 2021. Retrieved February 20, 2024 .
^ Cordero, Rosy (August 24, 2020). "Cobra Kai fans will have to wait until 2021 to return to the dojo" . Entertainment Weekly . Archived from the original on December 5, 2023. Retrieved February 20, 2024 .
^ Goldberg, Lesley (October 2, 2020). " 'Cobra Kai' Gets Early Season 4 Renewal at Netflix" . The Hollywood Reporter . Archived from the original on May 1, 2023. Retrieved February 20, 2024 .
^ Baldwin, Kristen (October 2, 2020). "Cobra Kai season 3 premiere date revealed" . Entertainment Weekly . Archived from the original on September 15, 2021. Retrieved February 20, 2024 .
^ Ramos, Dino-Rey (December 24, 2020). "Johnny Lawrence Switches 'Cobra Kai' Season 3 Release Date" . Deadline Hollywood . Archived from the original on December 25, 2020. Retrieved February 20, 2024 .
^ Cordero, Rosy (September 25, 2021). " 'Cobra Kai': Season 4 Premiere Date Revealed In New Teaser—Netflix Tudum" . Deadline Hollywood . Archived from the original on December 30, 2021. Retrieved February 20, 2024 .
^ Cremona, Patrick (September 20, 2022). "Cobra Kai season 5: Release date, cast and guide to Netflix series" . Radio Times . Archived from the original on March 30, 2023. Retrieved February 20, 2024 .
^ Bell, BreAnna (January 20, 2023). " 'Cobra Kai' Renewed for Sixth and Final Season at Netflix" . Variety . Archived from the original on January 30, 2024. Retrieved February 20, 2024 .
^ Cordero, Rosy (November 14, 2023). " 'Cobra Kai' Casts C.S. Lee As Iconic 'Karate Kid' Character For Season 6" . Deadline Hollywood . Archived from the original on January 5, 2024. Retrieved February 20, 2024 .
^ Cordero, Rosy (February 5, 2024). " 'Cobra Kai' Officially Kicks Off Production On Sixth & Final Season" . Deadline Hollywood . Archived from the original on February 11, 2024. Retrieved February 20, 2024 .
^ Cite error: The named reference 3PartRelease
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^ Cordero, Rosy (July 17, 2024). " 'Cobra Kai' Sets Earlier Premiere Date For Season 6 Part 2" . Deadline Hollywood . Retrieved July 20, 2024 .
^ Cite error: The named reference 2025 release
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^ Petski, Denise (October 24, 2017). "Courtney Henggeler In 'Cobra Kai'; Tamlyn Tomita Joins 'Man In The High Castle' " . Deadline Hollywood . Archived from the original on November 15, 2020. Retrieved February 20, 2024 .
^ Agard, Chancellor (October 24, 2017). "Karate Kid sequel series: Ralph Macchio, William Zabka reunite in BTS photo" . Entertainment Weekly . Archived from the original on November 15, 2020. Retrieved February 20, 2024 .
^ Morris, Lauren (December 10, 2020). "Meet the cast of Cobra Kai season 3" . Radio Times . Archived from the original on September 15, 2021. Retrieved February 20, 2024 .
^ Petski, Denise (February 26, 2021). " 'Cobra Kai': Vanessa Rubio & Peyton List Upped To Series Regulars For Season 4; Two Cast As Recurring" . Deadline Hollywood . Archived from the original on October 22, 2021. Retrieved February 20, 2024 .
^ Cordero, Rosy (May 24, 2022). " 'Cobra Kai': Alicia Hannah-Kim To Star As South Korean Sensei In Season 5; Dallas Dupree Young Upgraded To Series Regular" . Deadline Hollywood . Archived from the original on August 17, 2022. Retrieved February 20, 2024 .
^ Andreeva, Neliie (May 24, 2018). " 'Cobra Kai': Martin Kove Becomes Series Regular For Season 2 Of YouTube Show" . Deadline Hollywood . Archived from the original on November 15, 2020. Retrieved February 20, 2024 .
^ Rosenstock, Ben (January 11, 2022). "Thomas Ian Griffith on Bridging the Gap Between Karate Kid Part III and Cobra Kai" . Vulture . Archived from the original on October 16, 2023. Retrieved February 20, 2024 .
^ Baldwin, Kristen (July 11, 2022). "Elisabeth Shue breaks silence about her top-secret Cobra Kai appearance" . Entertainment Weekly . Archived from the original on December 5, 2023. Retrieved February 20, 2024 .
^ Cordero, Rosy (August 14, 2021). " 'Cobra Kai' Cast And Creators On How Season 3 Sets Up The All Valley Tournament, And More – Contenders TV: The Nominees" . Deadline Hollywood . Archived from the original on August 21, 2021. Retrieved February 20, 2024 .
^ Weldon, Sarah (January 20, 2023). "The Karate Kid cast: Where are they now?" . Entertainment Weekly . Archived from the original on January 26, 2024. Retrieved February 20, 2024 .
^ Baldwin, Kristen (August 9, 2022). "It's no joke, LaRusso! Mike Barnes will return for Cobra Kai season 5" . Entertainment Weekly . Archived from the original on August 24, 2022. Retrieved February 20, 2024 .
^ Paul, Larisha (November 21, 2023). "Jackie Chan's Mr. Han and Ralph Macchio's Daniel LaRusso Will Appear in New 'Karate Kid' Film" . Rolling Stone . Archived from the original on December 2, 2023. Retrieved February 20, 2024 .
^ Grobar, Matt (May 15, 2021). " 'Cobra Kai' Stars Ralph Macchio & William Zabka On "The Gift" Reprising 'Karate Kid' Roles And Challenges Of Middle-Aged Stunt Work – Contenders TV" . Deadline Hollywood . Archived from the original on September 25, 2022. Retrieved February 20, 2024 .
^ Otterson, Joe (September 25, 2021). " 'Cobra Kai' Season 4 Sets Netflix Premiere Date" . Variety . Archived from the original on September 26, 2022. Retrieved February 20, 2024 .
^ Lenker, Maureen Lee (February 4, 2019). "Exclusive: The Karate Kid returning to theaters for its 35th anniversary" . Entertainment Weekly . Archived from the original on February 14, 2024. Retrieved February 20, 2024 .
^ Andreeva, Nellie (July 13, 2021). " 'Cobra Kai' Gives Sony Pictures TV First Comedy Series Nomination In Decades As 'The Boys' & 'Shark Tank' Complete Emmy Trifecta" . Deadline Hollywood . Archived from the original on August 7, 2022. Retrieved February 20, 2024 .
^ "Cobra Kai - Emmy Awards, Nominations and Wins" . Academy of Television Arts & Sciences . Archived from the original on June 9, 2021. Retrieved February 20, 2024 .
^ Thompson, Jake (November 8, 2021). "Cobra Kai's Mary Mouser Is (Almost) Speechless Over Triple People's Choice Awards Nominations" . E! News . Archived from the original on November 28, 2021. Retrieved February 20, 2024 .
^ Hays, Dade (October 1, 2020). " 'Cobra Kai' Tops U.S. Streaming Ratings, With Amazon's 'The Boys' And Disney's 'Mulan' Breaking Up Netflix Party" . Deadline Hollywood . Archived from the original on November 15, 2020. Retrieved February 20, 2024 .
^ Zorilla, Monica Marie (February 8, 2021). " 'Cobra Kai' Kicks Its Way to the Top of Two Weekly Nielsen Streaming Lists" . Variety . Archived from the original on September 13, 2021. Retrieved February 20, 2024 .
^ Maas, Jennifer (January 4, 2022). "Netflix Top 10: 'Cobra Kai' Season 4 Takes Lead After Just Three Days of Viewing" . Variety . Archived from the original on January 4, 2022. Retrieved February 20, 2024 .
^ Hailu, Selome (October 6, 2022). "Nielsen Streaming Top 10: 'Cobra Kai' Debuts at No. 1, 'Rings of Power' Still Edges Out 'House of the Dragon' " . Variety . Archived from the original on January 18, 2023. Retrieved February 20, 2024 .
^ "Shows A-Z - Cobra Kai on netflix" . The Futon Critic . Archived from the original on March 2, 2024. Retrieved March 2, 2024 .