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The Karate Kid (2010 film)

The Karate Kid is a 2010 martial arts drama film directed by Harald Zwart and written by Christopher Murphey from a story by Robert Mark Kamen.

By Ethan Anderson| Reviewed by Olivia Bennett, Standards & Fact-Checking Lead| Updated July 27, 2026|2 min read| Fact-checked

The Karate Kid is a 2010 martial arts drama film directed by Harald Zwart and written by Christopher Murphey from a story by Robert Mark Kamen. The film stars Jaden Smith and Jackie Chan and is the fifth entry in The Karate Kid franchise. The plot follows Dre Parker, a boy who moves from Detroit to Beijing and learns to defend himself with the help of Mr. Han.

Plot

The film follows 12-year-old Dre Parker after he moves with his mother from Detroit to Beijing. There he is bullied by local students and trains under Mr. Han to prepare for a martial arts competition.

Production

Harald Zwart directed the film from a screenplay by Christopher Murphey, based on a story by Robert Mark Kamen. The film was produced by Columbia Pictures in association with other companies and filmed largely in China.

Cast

The principal cast includes Jaden Smith as Dre Parker, Jackie Chan as Mr. Han, and Taraji P. Henson as Dre’s mother. Supporting roles include Wenwen Han and Zhenwei Wang.

Release

The film premiered in Westwood, California on June 7, 2010 and opened in the United States on June 11, 2010. It was also released in China later in June 2010 and in Hong Kong in August 2010.

Reception

The film received mainstream theatrical distribution and was marketed as a family-oriented martial arts drama. Available sources here do not provide detailed critical or box-office figures.

Key facts

  • The 2010 film The Karate Kid is a remake of the 1984 film The Karate Kid.
  • Jaden Smith and Jackie Chan star as Dre Parker and Mr. Han.
  • The film is the fifth entry in The Karate Kid franchise.
  • The story is set largely in Beijing, China.
  • It was released in the United States on June 11, 2010.
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Canadian context

The film was released internationally and later became widely available to Canadian audiences through home media and streaming platforms; it also features Canada-relevant interest through Jackie Chan and Jaden Smith’s broad North American audience appeal.

Frequently asked questions

Is The Karate Kid (2010) a remake?
Yes. It is a remake of the 1984 film The Karate Kid.
Who directed The Karate Kid (2010)?
Harald Zwart directed the film.
Who stars in The Karate Kid (2010)?
The lead roles are played by Jaden Smith and Jackie Chan, with Taraji P. Henson in a supporting role.
What is The Karate Kid (2010) about?
It follows Dre Parker, who moves to Beijing, faces bullying, and learns martial arts from Mr. Han.
When was The Karate Kid (2010) released?
It was released in the United States on June 11, 2010.

References

  1. Wikipedia — https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/The_Karate_Kid_(2010_film)
    Supports: Director, screenplay, story, cast, franchise position, plot, premiere and U.S. release date.
  2. Rotten Tomatoes — https://www.rottentomatoes.com/m/karate_kid_2010
    Supports: Release date, runtime, genre, rating, and synopsis.
  3. Common Sense Media — https://www.commonsensemedia.org/movie-reviews/the-karate-kid-2010
    Supports: Plot details, director, cast, runtime, and MPAA rating.
  4. Netflix — https://www.netflix.com/title/70125931
    Supports: Synopsis and principal cast.