Cobra Kai forever, am I right?
Throughout the first four seasons of Cobra Kai, I’ve developed an appreciation not only for the real Cobra Kai (Johnny Lawrence-style), but Miyagi-Do and everything else this amazing drama has to offer, becoming one of the best shows on Netflix. However, since Cobra Kai Season 5 won’t premiere until September 2022, I’m in need of another show or movie that I can watch to feel those same awesome feelings again - and if you’re here, you’re probably looking for a new show too.
Thankfully, I have a good list of both movies and shows like Cobra Kai that you can stream right now.
Warrior (HBO Max)
First off, we have Warrior, a martial arts crime drama that is set in the late 1800s. This show follows Ah Sahm, a prodigy from China who has immigrated to the United States in search of his sister, landing him in San Francisco. However, as soon as he arrives, he finds that the country isn’t as he originally thought, and he ends up getting sold into crime factions for his fighting skills.
Warrior is a great show. Some of its fight scenes are so incredibly well done and will have your eyes glued to the television for minutes on end, but what really sells it for me is the story of the main character himself, Ah Sahm. He’s a very likable protagonist and one that you’ll get hooked on instantly, much like the characters of Cobra Kai.
Into The Badlands (Netflix)
If you’re looking for a more modern show that’s come out in the last few years, check out Into the Badlands. This AMC original series takes place in a post-apocalyptic feudal land, titled, “the Badlands,” hence the title. In this place, a warrior and his student train to become the ultimate fighting masters, but as life happens, they encounter people that want to use their talents to their own advantage.
Into the Badlands is one of those shows that only ran for a short period of time, but was really good. As someone who hadn’t watched a lot of series’ that depicted martial arts very well (at least from the United States), it was great to see a show come out that showed amazing martial arts skills, on a network that was very popular with huge hit series like The Walking Dead or Breaking Bad. This is one to watch for sure for fans of Cobra Kai.
Stream Into the Badlands on Netflix.
Ip Man (Amazon Prime)
Based on the martial arts movie series in China, Ip Man is all about one of the masters of Chinese kung-fu, quite literally known as Ip Man, and all about his life as a teacher and passing on his teachings to his students - most notably, one of the most famous of all time, Bruce Lee.
While this series is romanticized a bit just because it is TV, it still honors the legendary story of one of the most knowledgeable teachers in all of martial arts history, and is so entertaining from beginning to end. As a fan of Cobra Kai, I obviously loved the fighting scenes that this show had to offer, mixed in with the truly amazing story of this teacher. It makes me want to watch the movies that the series was based on.
Stream Ip Man on Amazon Prime.
Stranger Things (Netflix)
Probably one of the most known Netflix shows ever, this is the perfect series to give you that ‘80s nostalgia Cobra Kai delivers on a consistent basis. Stranger Things is set in the town of Hawkins, a seemingly quiet little town in Indiana. When a boy goes missing and strange happenings begin to occur, it’s up to his friends and someone they just met with weird powers to band together in order to save him.
Stranger Things has become a phenomenon on Netflix, with Season 4 of the series just releasing in May 2022, breaking records. For fans of Cobra Kai, if you’re looking for something that will completely transport you back in time to the eighties, there really is no better show than Stranger Things. And what makes it better is that it has that danger-vibe that Cobra Kai has, where they face a new enemy every season. This is a show that you don’t want to miss.
Stream Stranger Things on Netflix.
Iron Fist (Disney+)
If you’re looking for something that has superheroes in it, check out Iron Fist. This Netflix original, which has now moved over to Disney+, follows Danny Rand, a young man who has spent many years of his life training in the martial arts in the city of K’un-Lun, somewhere far from his home planet, but when he finally becomes the most powerful he can be, he decides to use these talents to avenge his dead parents and return back to Earth, even though everyone thought he was dead for fifteen years.
I’ll be honest - out of all the Marvel TV shows that have happened, Iron Fist is one of my least favorite in terms of pure storytelling. However, if you’re a fan of Cobra Kai and you want another show that has some kick-ass fight scenes, Iron Fist is a great option. And plus, if you end up watching any of the other Marvel shows that came out on Netflix, he does show up in The Defenders, so you get to learn his backstory beforehand.
The Mighty Ducks: Game Changers
Disney+ has some great original shows, and The Mighty Ducks: Game Changers is one of them. In this sports series set in the same world of the Mighty Ducks movies, the original team is now known for its skills and cuts anyone that isn’t the pinnacle of the best, including Evan Morrow. Upset over being cut, he decides to form his own hockey team, and seeks the help of Gordon Bombay, the old coach of the original Ducks.
I feel like this premise sounds quite familiar, doesn’t it? While The Mighty Ducks: Game Changers has nothing to do with martial arts, it’s very similar in what it tries to do. It takes place in the same world, has characters from the original movie that return to the show, features new characters, and has a classic underdog story. I mean, what’s not to enjoy? Plus, how can you not be impressed with how skilled these kids are on ice? I mean, I can barely wobble ice and you’re telling me they can play a whole game like this? Talk about talent.
Stream The Mighty Ducks: Game Changers on Disney+.
Kung Fu Panda Series (Netflix, Amazon Rental)
Okay, okay, hear me out. The Dreamworks series, Kung Fu Panda, follows Po, a big ol’ panda who has a love for food and kung fu. But when his life is suddenly thrown upside down when he is named the Dragon Warrior, someone who is meant to do good with kung fu, it’s up to him to learn how to become the best he can be - and save everyone else when lives are threatened.
From that premise, you'd never expect this to be a kids movie series, but Kung Fu Panda is specifically targeted towards a younger generation. However, I do think fans of Cobra Kai would love this series because while it does have its moments of younger humor, there is something so sweet about Po. He’s such an easy-going protagonist who just wants to do good, and his fights of good vs evil - especially in the first movie vs Tai Lung - reminds me of many of the competitions in Cobra Kai.
Stream Kung Fu Panda on Netflix.
Rent the rest of the Kung Fu Panda series on Amazon.
Kung Fu (HBO Max)
This CW series is kick-ass. In Kung-Fu, which is based on the 1970s series of the same name, a young Chinese-American woman is going through an existential crisis as she is visiting China, wondering what to do with her life. While she’s there, she ends up dropping out of college and joining an all-female Shaolin monastery. Once she’s learned everything she could, she returns home and uses her skills to protect the innocent.
There are so many shows on the CW, some of which are very good, and others that have gotten canceled throughout the years. However, Kung-Fu is one of the better new shows that has come out, and I really enjoy it, especially as a fan of Cobra Kai. The fight scenes are awesome, and the protagonist is really cool and likable and kick-ass. Does it have some of those classic CW cliches? Yeah, of course it does. But it’s still a super entertaining martial arts show.
Highlander The Series (Peacock)
If you’re looking for another fun continuation of a classic movie like Cobra Kai, check out Highlander: The Series. A continuation of the movies of the same name, we follow the hero, Duncan MacLeod, otherwise known as “Highlander,” an immortal man who has seen the worst in humanity throughout his years, and must fight between good and evil.
While it’s not as grounded as Cobra Kai, this series is full of amazing moments that will really keep you entertained. With six seasons to binge, Highlander: The Series not only provides really good fight scenes that will keep you on the edge of your seat, but has a basic premise that all Cobra Kai fans can relate to - good vs evil, just like the good dojo vs the bad dojo.
Stream Highlander: The Series on Peacock.
Dragon: The Bruce Lee Story (Amazon Rental)
For another movie on this list, check out Dragon: The Bruce Lee Story. In this biographical film based on the book, Bruce Lee: The Man Only I Knew by Linda Lee Cadwell (Bruce Lee’s wife), this movie takes a deep dive into the mind of Bruce Lee, from his life at home to his life as a fighter, and all the way to his rise as one of Hollywood’s most known martial artists.
What I think Cobra Kai fans will like about this movie is that it really shows the life behind the martial artist. While we do love the fighting scenes in the show and all the rivalries that occur, at the end of the day, there's more to the story. They all have struggles and personal issues to face, and Dragon: The Bruce Lee Story tells that beautifully. Instead of just telling the story of Lee, I feel like this movie celebrates his life, and it’s something that all fans of martial arts, not just Cobra Kai, should watch.
Rent Dragon: The Bruce Lee Story on Amazon.
Kingdom (Netflix)
South Korean horror has been growing in popularity over the last decade, and Kingdom is a part of that. This Netflix original series is set in Korea during the Joseon period, and tells the story of a young prince who must travel across his country in order to look into a plague that is turning people into monsters - often reminding the viewer of zombies.
For fans of Cobra Kai, you are going to love the action sequences in this show. Not only does it combine some sick martial arts, but the usage of certain types of weapons against the monsters is skillfully done and will have your eyes glued to the screen. I’ve always been a big fan of zombie TV shows, including another great South Korean one on Netflix, All Of Us Are Dead, but Kingdom was one of the first that really got me into it - and you should watch it too.
The Karate Kid Series (Peacock)
Without it, Cobra Kai wouldn’t even exist. In The Karate Kid, Daniel LaRusso is the new kid in town who gets bullied by Johnny Lawrence and his friends, members of the dojo, Cobra Kai. With the help of his apartment building’s maintenance man, Mr. Miyagi, he starts to learn the art of karate to not only take on his bullies, but become one of the best martial artists in the Valley.
Who says that you can’t spend a day re-watching The Karate Kid movies? I can’t tell you how much I love Cobra Kai when it flashes back between the original films and now, because you can really tell the love that the creators of the show poured into it and how much they respect the original movies. And with so many characters from these films popping back up in the series, it’s the perfect time to re-watch them and refresh your memory on who they are.
Stream The Karate Kid movies on Amazon Prime through AMC+..
Rent The Karate Kid series on Amazon.
To be honest, this just makes me want to learn karate myself - or maybe just pop some popcorn and sit down and watch other people be badass. Regardless of how you feel, maybe now you’ll have a new show or movie to enjoy.
