<Tr> <Th> Box office </Th> <Td> $90.8 million </Td> </Tr> <P> The Karate Kid is a 1984 American martial arts drama film produced by Jerry Weintraub, directed by John G. Avildsen, written by Robert Mark Kamen, and stars Ralph Macchio, Pat Morita and Elisabeth Shue . It is an underdog story in the mold of a previous success with Rocky (1976), which Avildsen also directed . The film features the Gōjū - ryū style of karate . The Karate Kid was a commercial success upon release and garnered critical acclaim, earning Morita an Academy Award nomination for Best Supporting Actor . The film became the first installment in an ongoing film series, spawning three sequels, a 2010 remake and an upcoming follow - up television series . </P> <P> High school senior Daniel LaRusso and his mother move from Newark, New Jersey to Reseda, Los Angeles, California . Their maintenance man is an eccentric, kind and humble Okinawan immigrant named Kesuke Miyagi . </P> <P> At a beach party, Daniel meets Ali Mills, a high school cheerleader from Encino . Johnny Lawrence, Ali's ex-boyfriend, is the top student of a karate dojo called "Cobra Kai," who breaks Ali's radio in a fit of anger . Daniel attempts to intervene but is easily overpowered and humiliated by the better - trained Johnny . Johnny and his gang bully, bother, and harass Daniel . They start by provoking a fight that gets Daniel thrown out of the soccer team, then causing Daniel to crash on the street and wrecking his bicycle, which Miyagi subsequently repairs . At a Halloween party, Daniel douses Johnny with water, leading to a chase . Daniel is caught by Johnny and his accomplices and beaten savagely . Mr. Miyagi rescues him and defeats the five attackers with ease . </P>

Where does the original karate kid take place