Why Cobra Kai Season 7 Isn’t Happening
Warning! This article contains spoilers for Cobra Kai season 6's part 3.
Cobra Kai has had a strong 6-season run on Netflix, but it will not be returning with season 7 on the streamer. While many factors have contributed to the end of Cobra Kai's run, some have been more crucial than others. Long before Cobra Kai landed on Netflix and became one of the most valuable IPs for the streaming giant, it was an original YouTube Premium series. The show's seasons 1 and 2 premiered on YouTube Red before the subscription service shut down its scripted original programming.
For a while, Cobra Kai was in limbo before Netflix acquired it in June 2020, allowing it to show its full potential to a global audience. The rest was history. Since its Netflix release, Cobra Kai's popularity and acclaim have only grown from strength to strength with each season. Owing to this, it is hard not to wonder why, despite having impressive commercial and critical value, Cobra Kai is ending with season 6.
Cobra Kai Season 6 Was Written To Be The Show’s Final
Cobra Kai's Showrunners Decided Where The Series Would End
Cobra Kai's creators, Josh Heald, Jon Hurwitz, and Hayden Schlossberg, did not let Netflix decide where the series would end. Instead, they allowed it to run its natural course and ended it with season 6 because it seemed like the right time to conclude its story. As Jon Hurwitz revealed via Twitter, they always wanted to "end Cobra Kai on their own terms" and were also grateful they got the opportunity to do so. Hurwitz's statement confirms that the show's creators decided to end its run when they were satisfied with how they had explored and exhausted every storyline and character beat.
Hayden Schlossberg also shared similar explanations about Cobra Kai's pre-planned season 6 ending. He revealed that "the point was in season 5 to have the kids kind of come together so that they can kind of join as one giant team in this Sekai Tekai against the next level fighters that they’re about to face." As Schlossberg added, they also intentionally left a few plot threads hanging toward Cobra Kai season 5's ending to "see what happens with all that" while knowing that in season 5 they were "in endgame times."
Why It Makes Sense For Cobra Kai Season 6 To Be The Last
Cobra Kai Did Not Have Any More Stories To Tell
Cobra Kai season 5 effectively paved the way for the series' final arc after resolving almost all the bad blood and rivalries between the main characters. While Daniel LaRusso and Johnny Lawrence finally saw eye to eye in season 5's final arc, even their students realized the animosity between them was not as entrenched as it once seemed. Terry Silver's All-Valley dojo domination also reached an abrupt end when Daniel and Johnny's students exposed his unethical acts and ruined his reputation.
With only a few story beats left to explore, Cobra Kai needed just one more installment after season 5 to bring a well-rounded and natural closure to its overarching narrative.
Additionally, Cobra Kai season 5 also set the groundwork for Johnny Lawrence's redemption by confirming that he was going to be a father again. John Kreese's narrative, too, reached its final run when he escaped from prison and set out to confront his past and exact revenge on Silver. With only a few story beats left to explore, Cobra Kai needed just one more installment after season 5 to bring a well-rounded and natural closure to its overarching narrative.
Most of Cobra Kai's main characters, like Robby, Miguel, Tory, Sam, Demetri, and Eli, also reach the end of their school life in season 6's final arc. Since coming-of-age themes have always been crucial drivers of Cobra Kai's story, it would not have made sense for the show to extend beyond season 6. It could have shifted its focus to the next generation of fighters in subsequent seasons, but the series would not have been the same without the original characters audiences have grown attached to. Therefore, it is good that season 6 has marked the end of Cobra Kai's long run.
What Is Next For The Karate Kid Franchise After Cobra Kai
A New Karate Kid Movie's Release Has Already Been Confirmed
After Cobra Kai season 6, audiences can look forward to Karate Kid: Legends, which is scheduled to be released on May 30, 2025. Although the movie does not serve as a direct follow-up to Cobra Kai, it will be set in the same universe as the Netflix series and unfold after its events in the franchise's overarching timeline. The movie serves more as a reboot that not only marks Ralph Macchio's return as Daniel LaRusso but also teams him up with Jackie Chan's Mr. Han from the 2010 Karate Kid reboot.
Cobra Kai Key Facts | |
Created By | Josh Heald, Jon Hurwitz, and Hayden Schlossberg |
Rotten Tomatoes Critics' Score | 92% |
Rotten Tomatoes Audience Score | 90% |
Number of Seasons | 6 |
Streaming On | Netflix |
The two iconic martial artists from the franchise will join forces to train a new student, Li Fong (played by Ben Wang), and hopefully pave the way for another movie series. When it comes to Cobra Kai, the show's creators have not revealed much about their plans after season 6. However, interestingly, Jon Hurwitz has confirmed (via Twitter) that he and Cobra Kai's other showrunners are already "actively working" on a spin-off idea.
Cobra Kai is a sequel series continuing the narrative of the Karate Kid saga, set 30 years after the 1984 All Valley Karate Tournament. It focuses on Johnny Lawrence seeking redemption by reopening the Cobra Kai dojo, reigniting his rivalry with Daniel LaRusso, who strives to maintain balance in his life.
- Network
- Netflix, YouTube Premium
- Cast
- Ralph Macchio, William Zabka, Courtney Henggeler, Xolo Mariduena, Tanner Buchanan, Mary Mouser, Peyton List, Jacob Bertrand, Gianni DeCenzo, Dallas Dupree Young, Vanessa Rubio, Thomas Ian Griffith, Martin Kove, Cameron Markeles, Talin Chat, Samuel Goergen, Rob Garrison, Brandon Gibson, Alan Heckner, Kristin Brock, Randee Heller, Lara Silva, David Kronawitter, Dominick Racano, Tony Bravado
- Showrunner
- Jon Hurwitz
- Directors
- Hayden Schlossberg, Jon Hurwitz, Joel Novoa, Jennifer Celotta, Steven K. Tsuchida, Sherwin Shilati, Marielle Woods, Steve Pink, Lin Oeding, Michael Grossman
- Writers
- Josh Heald, Ashley Darnall, Chris Rafferty, Bill Posley
- Producers
- James Lassiter, Ralph Macchio, Susan Ekins, Will Smith, William Zabka, Caleeb Pinkett, Bob Wilson, Luan Thomas, Joe Piarulli, Jason Belleville, Katrin L. Goodson
- Seasons
- 6
- Story By
- josh heald
- Streaming Service(s)
- Netflix
