Entertainmentthe tonight showCobra KaiRalph Macchio

Ralph Macchio: Director Had Worst Movie Title In Mind For 'The Karate Kid'

The "Cobra Kai" star strikes back at fan theories and rumors on "The Tonight Show."
Open Image Modal
By 

General Assignment Reporter, HuffPost

|

Ralph Macchio admitted Tuesday that he thought “The Karate Kid” was a hokey title for a movie. He said the name seemed too “cheesy” for a film directed by John Avildsen, who won an Oscar for helming “Rocky.”

But Avildsen had an even worse suggestion for naming the 1984 classic, the actor recalled on “The Tonight Show”: “East Meets West In West.”

“What does that mean?” Macchio told host Jimmy Fallon.

Watch above as Macchio, whose Daniel LaRusso grows up to become a middle-aged car dealership owner and sensei in Netflix’s “Cobra Kai” series, takes on fan theories and rumors about the original movie that started it all and defined his career.

Our 2024 Coverage Needs You

As Americans head to the polls in 2024, the very future of our country is at stake. At HuffPost, we believe that a free press is critical to creating well-informed voters. That's why our journalism is free for everyone, even though other newsrooms retreat behind expensive paywalls.

Our journalists will continue to cover the twists and turns during this historic presidential election. With your help, we'll bring you hard-hitting investigations, well-researched analysis and timely takes you can't find elsewhere. Reporting in this current political climate is a responsibility we do not take lightly, and we thank you for your support.

to keep our news free for all.

Support HuffPost
Suggest a correction
|
Submit a tip