TV SERIES · 2018–2025 · USA
Cobra Kai
- Created by
- Josh Heald, Hayden Schlossberg, Jon Hurwitz
- Network
- Netflix, YouTube Premium
- Seasons
- 6
- Episodes
- 65
- Studio
- Hurwitz & Schlossberg Productions, Sony Pictures Television, Overbrook Entertainment
33 archived facts 5 topics 1 source Last reviewed Sep 2026
This Karate Kid sequel series picks up 30 years after the events of the 1984 All Valley Karate Tournament and finds Johnny Lawrence on the hunt for redemption by reopening the infamous Cobra Kai karate dojo. This reignites his old rivalry with the successful Daniel LaRusso, who has been working to maintain the balance in his life without mentor Mr. Miyagi.
Summary: TMDB
All facts (33)
- #001
The "Sweep the Leg" video includes cameo appearances by William Zabka's former co-stars from The Karate Kid.
- #002
Cobra Kai's creators said they appreciated the parallel fandoms around the series, including the How I Met Your Mother storyline, and that being asked about a YouTube video questioning whether Daniel was the real bully gave them confidence while conceiving and pitching the show.
- #003
In 2013, Ralph Macchio and William Zabka appeared as themselves in the How I Met Your Mother episode "The Bro Mitzvah", where Macchio is invited to Barney Stinson's bachelor party and Barney shouts that he hates Macchio and that Johnny was the real hero of The Karate Kid.
- #004
Cobra Kai was pitched in 2017 to outlets including Netflix, Amazon, Hulu, and AMC, with the pitch using a mock trailer assembled from footage of earlier works by Ralph Macchio and William Zabka.
- #005
YouTube Red, later known as YouTube Premium, greenlit Cobra Kai in August 2017.
- #006
James Lassiter and Caleeb Pinkett of Overbrook Entertainment served as executive producers on Cobra Kai, working in association with Sony Pictures Television alongside the series' creators.
- #007
Cobra Kai's first and second seasons premiered on YouTube Red / YouTube Premium in May 2018 and April 2019, respectively.
- #008
Before the second season of Cobra Kai premiered, its creators looked into moving the series to a different platform, but that deal fell through.
- #009
Cobra Kai's third season was made for YouTube with a planned 2020 release, but in May 2020 the series left YouTube for Netflix before that season premiered.
- #010
Because YouTube was not interested in renewing Cobra Kai for a fourth season, its producers sought a streaming venue that would keep that option open, and the show moved to Netflix in June 2020 along with the third season.
- #011
Cobra Kai was renewed for a fourth season before season three was released, and that fourth season arrived on December 31, 2021.
- #012
The fifth season of Cobra Kai premiered on September 9, 2022.
- #013
Production on Cobra Kai's sixth and final season was paused during the 2023 Hollywood labor disputes and picked up again after January 1, 2024; the season was split into three five-episode parts released on July 18, 2024, November 15, 2024, and February 13, 2025.
- #014
Cobra Kai is described as the "Miyagi-verse" because its characters interacted with Mr. Miyagi, and the series explores themes and characters from The Karate Kid (1984), The Karate Kid Part II (1986) and The Karate Kid Part III (1989) in greater depth.
- #015
In Cobra Kai, all of the main actors and a few supporting actors reprise the roles they originally played.
- #016
Jon Hurwitz has said he does not regard The Karate Kid animated children's show (1989) as part of the Miyagi-verse canon, though an Easter egg from that show appears in Cobra Kai season three in response to the question about its status within the series.
- #017
Throughout Cobra Kai's run, there was speculation that Hilary Swank might reprise her role as Julie Pierce from The Next Karate Kid (1994).
- #018
According to Josh Heald, Cobra Kai's writers had a storyline for Julie Pierce tied to Mr. Miyagi and a stolen necklace mystery, but they reached out to Hilary Swank before going too deep to ask whether she would participate.
- #019
At the end of the series in 2025, Josh Heald, Jon Hurwitz and Hayden Schlossberg stated that Hilary Swank would not appear, citing the timing of whatever was going on as making it never an option.
- #020
Heald, Hurwitz and Schlossberg also indicated they would have to see what might happen in this universe if they were fortunate enough to continue writing within it, calling Julie Pierce a character they have a lot of excitement to revisit.
- #021
In season one of Cobra Kai, Ralph Macchio and William Zabka reprised their roles as Daniel LaRusso and Johnny Lawrence.
- #022
Other Karate Kid actors appeared in Cobra Kai season one, with Randee Heller as Daniel's mother Lucille LaRusso and Martin Kove as John Kreese.
- #023
Cobra Kai's first-season cast included Xolo Maridueña as Miguel Diaz, Mary Mouser as Samantha "Sam" LaRusso, Tanner Buchanan as Robby Keene and Courtney Henggeler as Amanda LaRusso.
- #024
Ed Asner guest-starred in Cobra Kai as Sid Weinberg, Johnny's wealthy and verbally abusive step-father, while Vanessa Rubio played Miguel's mother Carmen.
- #025
For Cobra Kai's second season, Ralph Macchio, William Zabka, Xolo Maridueña, Mary Mouser, Tanner Buchanan and Courtney Henggeler all reprised their roles.
- #026
Jacob Bertrand, Gianni DeCenzo and Martin Kove were promoted to series regulars for Cobra Kai's second season.
- #027
Paul Walter Hauser and Peyton List joined the cast of Cobra Kai in its second season as newcomers.
- #028
Elisabeth Shue appeared as a guest in Cobra Kai season three, reprising her Karate Kid role of Ali Mills.
- #029
Ron Thomas returned as Bobby in a guest appearance in the third season of Cobra Kai, reprising his role from The Karate Kid.
- #030
Tamlyn Tomita, Traci Toguchi and Yuji Okumoto made guest appearances in Cobra Kai season three, reprising their Karate Kid II roles as Kumiko, Yuna and Chozen Toguchi.
- #031
For the fourth season of Cobra Kai, Rubio and List were promoted to series regulars, while Dallas Dupree Young and Oona O'Brien joined in recurring roles.
- #032
Thomas Ian Griffith returned to his Karate Kid Part III role as Terry Silver in Cobra Kai.
- #033
Okumoto and Heller appeared as guest stars on Cobra Kai.
Sources & editorial notes
Reference databases
Sources for the entries on this page
- Wikipedia Cobra Kai — Wikipedia
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