Cobra Kai. (L to R) Ralph Macchio as Daniel LaRusso, William Zabka as Johnny Lawrence, Yuji Okumoto as Chozen in Cobra Kai. Cr. Curtis Bonds Baker/Netflix © 2024
Cobra Kai is coming back for a final supersized sixth season on Netflix. With filming now completed and the release dates set for three mini-seasons here’s everything we know about season 6 of Cobra Kai, including what to expect from the story, why the show is ending, who’s starring, and much more.
First premiering as a YouTube original series, Cobra Kai officially moved to Netflix after two seasons and has soared in popularity, becoming a massive hit for the streaming giant around the globe.
The series continues The Karate Kid movies that have been active since the mid-1980s. It takes place 34 years after the events of the original Karate Kid reigniting the rivalry between Johnny Lawrence and Daniel LaRusso.
Now, let’s dig into season 6 of Cobra Kai, beginning with the official trailer for Part 1, released on July 1st:
When will Cobra Kai season 6 be on Netflix?
In May 2024, Netflix officially confirmed not one, not two, but three release dates for Cobra Kai season 6. That’s because the 15-episode sixth season is set to be released across three “mini-seasons.”
- Part 1 premieres on Netflix on July 18th, 2024.
- Part 2 arrives four months later, premiering on November 28th, 2024.
- The series will conclude with a “Grand Finale” scheduled to be released sometime in 2025. Our understanding is that this may be in February 2025 – more to come!
One of the creators behind Cobra Kai told audiences to treat each release as a mini-season, saying:
“My advice is to stop thinking of Season 6 as one final season and instead view it as 3 distinct mini seasons. Each batch was written knowing the release plan, so the experience was designed to be enjoyed in 5 episode chunks. Waiting for all 15 episodes to come out will not enhance your viewing experience.”
Cobra Kai. (L to R) Gianni DeCenzo as Demetri, Jacob Bertrand as Eli ‘Hawk’ Moskowitz, Tanner Buchanan as Robby Keene, Xolo Maridueña as Miguel Diaz in Cobra Kai. Cr. Curtis Bonds Baker/Netflix © 2024
Why is Cobra Kai Ending after Six Seasons on Netflix?
For most prior seasons, Netflix has constantly renewed Cobra Kai ahead of new seasons dropping, so the long wait for confirmation of season 6 was excruciating. On January 20th, 2023 (five months after season 5 dropped in September 2022), Netflix officially announced that Cobra Kai would return for a sixth and final season.
In a statement on Twitter, the showrunners expressed their heartfelt gratitude to fans and promised a big final season to close out the story. Their complete statement is as follows:
“When Daniel LaRusso arrived in the Valley with his mother in 1984, little did he know that his life was about to be forever changed. The same went for three young kids from New Jersey who hadn’t yet met one another. Daniel’s journey from bullied teen to underdog hero became an indelible part of our childhoods, and something that we would always carry with us in our hearts.
Reacquainting the world with The Karate Kid universe has been our humble honor. Making Cobra Kai has allowed us to join the same hallowed dojo once inhabited by the great Robert Mark Kamen, John Avildsen, Jerry Weintraub, and all the amazing original cast members. It has also enabled us to play sensei, expanding the original storylines and birthing a new generation of underdogs. We’ve never once taken this opportunity for granted.
Our day one goal with Cobra Kai has always been to end it on our terms, leaving the Valley in the time and place we’ve always imagined. So it is with immense pride and thankfulness that we are able to announce that achievement. The upcoming Season Six will mark the conclusion of Cobra Kai.
While this may be a bittersweet day for the fandom, the Miyagiverse has never been stronger. This fandom is the BEST on the planet and we hope to be telling more Karate Kid stories with you down the line. Because as we all know, Cobra Kai Never Dies.
In the meantime, strap in for the BIGGEST SEASON OF COBRA KAI YET. And let today be a celebration of all that’s come, as well as all that’s still left to be told. We couldn’t do it without you.
We made it.
Strike First. Strike Hard. No Mercy.
— Josh Heald, Jon Hurwitz, Hayden Schlossberg”
Reacting to the renewal, Hayden Schlossberg said in a Tweet:
“Big thanks to the fans for getting us to the finish line. Now get ready for one final round and lots of big surprises along the way.”
Of course, the creators have always teased that the show may only get to season 6. Speaking to Deadline about the possibility of a sixth season in early 2022, Hayden Schlossberg said:
“We have an end in mind. How many seasons it takes to get there, we don’t know. We’re enjoying making it so much. If it gets tiring to us, we’ll stop before that; we have a few more seasons already planned out.”
This affirms an earlier tweet from Jon Hurwitz, who replied to a Tweet in 2020 stating that they’d like to do six seasons.
Hurwitz has been keen to point out that Netflix didn’t decide to bring the show to an end. Rather, the creators did. In a Tweet on February 27th, Hurwitz said:
“Netflix didn’t tell us it was the last season. We told them it was the last season. We’ve always wanted to end Cobra Kai on our own terms and we are grateful we have the opportunity to do so. But that doesn’t mean we’re finished with the Miyagiverse. We love this world.”
Cobra Kai. (L to R) Oona O’Brien as Devon, Mary Mouser as Samantha LaRusso, Peyton List as Tory Nichols in Cobra Kai. Cr. Curtis Bonds Baker/Netflix © 2024
How well did Cobra Kai season 5 perform on Netflix?
Using various sources, we can look at how well the show performed in its fifth season following its release on September 9th, 2022.
For the first time, we can use hourly data provided by Netflix to look at the show’s performance.
As we covered in our September 14th Top 10 report (which uses CVE metrics), the show lagged behind the fourth season. In the report, What’s on Netflix contributor Frédéric states:
” …its fifth season and its launch of 17.1 million CVE lags a little behind the 21.4 million CVE of Season 4.
But Season 4 was released on the first of January, so that might explain the difference (people have time off around Christmas). “
This data comes from Netflix’s top 10 site, where we get 40 hourly figures weekly. Between September 4th and October 9th, 2022, the show was watched for 274.72M hours globally and in the top 10s before dropping out of the rankings.
Here’s how viewing hours are broken down per week:
| Week Period | Hours Viewed(M) | Rank | Week in Top 10 |
|---|---|---|---|
| September 4th, 2022 to September 11th, 2022 | 106,700,000 | 1 | 1 |
| September 11th, 2022 to September 18th, 2022 | 95,550,000 (-10%) | 1 | 2 |
| September 18th, 2022 to September 25th, 2022 | 38,120,000 (-60%) | 3 | 3 |
| September 25th, 2022 to October 2nd, 2022 | 20,820,000 (-45%) | 4 | 4 |
| October 2nd, 2022 to October 9th, 2022 | 13,530,000 (-35%) | 7 | 5 |
How does season 5 compare with season 4 in viewership?
There’s a notable drop, but the two series had a similar trajectory. Season 5 kicked off with an 11% drop down from season 4.
The two seasons then saw the same decline week-to-week:
| Week | Season 5 | Season 4 |
|---|---|---|
| Week 1 (Partial Week) | 106,700,000 | 120,060,000 |
| Week 2 | 95,550,000 (-10%) | 107,810,000 (-10%) |
| Week 3 | 38,120,000 (-60%) | 41,240,000 (-62%) |
| Week 4 | 20,820,000 (-45%) | 23,840,000 (-42%) |
| Week 5 | 13,530,000 (-35%) | – |
What to expect from Cobra Kai season 6 on Netflix
Below, we’ve compiled our predictions, expectations, and what we’ve been told publicly about the upcoming season.
We’ve also asked two Cobra Kai superfans, The Cobra Kai Kid and Watch Party, for their predictions on what to expect from the sixth season.
Officially so far, Jon Hurwitz has revealed that season 6 takes place roughly one year away after the season finale of season 2.
What is the future of Cobra Kai?
With Terry Silver’s cheating antics revealed to his students, they all turned their back on their sensei, and he was subsequently arrested for his crimes.
The future of Cobra Kai has now been thrown into severe doubt, and so too will the dojo’s place in the Sekai Taikai.
As Kim Da-Eun has a 50% stake in Cobra Kai, she may overcome this hurdle and use students from her own dojos by using the Cobra Kai name and branding.
Cobra Kai. (L to R) Khalil Everage as Chris, Nathaniel Oh as Nate, Griffin Santopeitro as Anthony Larusso, Owen Morgan as Bert, Mary Mouser as Samantha LaRusso, Aedin Mincks as Mitch, Gianni DeCenzo as Demetri, Xolo Maridueña as Miguel Diaz, Jacob Bertrand as Eli ‘Hawk’ Moskowitz, Tanner Buchanan as Robby Keene, Peyton List as Tory Nichols in Cobra Kai. Cr. Curtis Bonds Baker/Netflix © 2024
Will Mike Barnes take over Cobra Kai?
Mike revealed to Daniel and Chozen that he was promised a 50% stake in Cobra Kai by Terry Silver many years ago. While he is unsure if he can find the document or the lawyer to prove it, there is a chance the former enemy of Daniel can continue to redeem himself and Cobra Kai if he were to take over the dojos.
However, this could also lead to a potential Cobra Kai civil war if Mike Barnes leads Terry’s former students who may have to fight the students of Kim Da-Eun.
If Kreese is involved with Kim Da-Eun, we could easily see him try to manipulate the situation by getting Kim Da-Eun to stake her 50% against Barnes’ 50% in a winner takes all bet at the Sekai Takai.
What is Kreese up to?
With Kreese making his escape from prison, the only person he can now turn to is Kim Da-Eun, the granddaughter of his former master.
Silver and Kim Da-Eun were already a formidable pairing, but Kreese now has nothing to lose, making him more dangerous than ever.
Hurwitz teased in a Tweet, “Kreese certainly has a complicated legal situation as we enter S6. I don’t think it’s safe to assume anything.”
Picture: Netflix
What is the future of Miyago-Do and Eagle Fang?
With Silver defeated, Miyagi-Do and Eagle Fang should be able to return triumphantly, re-open their dojos, and begin training the students for the Sekai Takai.
Who represents their respective dojos remains to be seen, but we would expect Miguel to represent Eagle Fang and Hawk to represent Miyagi-Do.
Depending on the situation with Cobra Kai, Robby could represent the dojo over Kenny; however, if Robby were to rejoin Miyagi-Do or Eagle Fang, he may have to compete against either Hawk or Miguel.
Samantha will represent Miyagi Do, and Devon Lee could again represent Eagle Fang. As for Tory, her place in the tournament could be in doubt if the Sekai Takai organizers ban her for not coming clean earlier about Silver’s cheating. This may also lead to Tory’s further redemption if she is allowed to compete.
Cobra Kai. (L to R) Nathaniel Oh as Nate, Mary Mouser as Samantha LaRusso, Dallas Dupree Young as Kenny, Oona O’Brien as Devon, Khalil Everage as Chris, Gianni DeCenzo as Demetri, Tanner Buchanan as Robby Keene, Jacob Bertrand as Eli ‘Hawk’ Moskowitz, Xolo Maridueña as Miguel Diaz in Cobra Kai. Cr. Curtis Bonds Baker/Netflix © 2024
Karate Kid Universe to Expand in Season 6
In a Q&A on Twitter, showrunner Jon Hurwitz gave a hint that season 6 will perhaps be the biggest when it comes to expanding the lore of the series:
“Season 6 expands the Karate Kid/Cobra Kai universe more than the first 5 seasons combined. The world building has been truly exhilarating. Excited for everyone to see the diversity of scenes we’ve been filming episode to episode. We’re going to so many new places in the Miyagiverse.”
Hurwitz also teased lots more 80s music in season 6, “Season 6 will have its fair share of 80s music and not just metal. There’s a very non-Johnny song in an early season montage that I know my wife and daughters are going to love.”
Demetri to feature more character growth in season 6
In March 2024, Gianni DeCenzo, who plays Demetri, discussed his character’s journey in an interview with us. He hopes Demetri will continue developing into a more confident individual, reflecting on his growth from a hesitant beginner to someone who has found success and confidence through karate, even reaching the semi-finals in his first tournament. Although he jokes about his character dying in a non-Karate-related accident, he assures that the upcoming season will be exciting without giving away any spoilers.
When will the baby be born?
Johnny is having a baby with Carmen, and it’s unclear when the baby is due, which could impact Johnny’s attendance at the Sekai Takai.
Cobra Kai. (L to R) Tanner Buchanan as Robby Keene, Vanessa Rubio as Carmen, William Zabka as Johnny Lawrence, Rose Bianco as Rosa in Cobra Kai. Cr. Curtis Bonds Baker/Netflix © 2024
Will Julie Pierce make an appearance?
Nearly all significant characters from the original Karate Kid movies have returned to reprise their roles in Cobra Kai. The only omission so far is Julie Pierce, previously played by Academy Award-winning actress Hilary Swank.
It would be extremely fun to see Swank return to reprise her role as Julie, as the character could return to help train the Miyagi Do students to prepare the Sekai Takai.
If there is a further conflict with Kim Da-Eun, it would be incredibly fun to see Julie Pierce go one-on-one with the Korean master of Tang Soo Do.
Cobra Kai Season 6 New and Returning Cast List
The first cast member announced for the sixth and final season came courtesy of Deadline in November 2023. There, it was announced that C.S. Lee (who appeared in Netflix’s Avatar: The Last Airbender) will play the role of Master Kim Sun-Young, who originated from the original movies.
C.S. Lee – Photo by Kevin Winter/Getty Images
As for returning cast members, as you may know, Cobra Kai has an extensive cast list, and most are expected to reprise their roles.
- Ralph Macchio as Daniel LaRusso
- William Zabka as Johnny Lawrence
- Courtney Henggeler as Amanda LaRusso
- Xolo Maridueña as Miguel Diaz
- Tanner Buchanan as Robby Keene
- Mary Mouser as Samantha LaRusso
- Jacob Bertrand as Hawk
- Gianni DeCenzo as Demetri
- Martin Kove as John Kreese
- Vanessa Rubio as Carmen Diaz
- Peyton List as Tory Nichols
- Griffin Santopietro as Anthony LaRusso
- Dallas Dupree Young as Kenny Payne
- Yuji Okumoto as Chozen
- Oona O’Brien as Devon
- Alicia Hannah-Kim as Kim Da-Eun
We can also confirm the following will appear in recurring guest roles in season 6:
Recurring cast members in Cobra Kai season 6
- Adam Herschman (Accepted, Obliterated) will play Stevie in the final episodes.
- Patrick Luwis (Rebel Moon, Barbie)
- Paula Rae Taylor as Draga
- Gabriel Bonilla (Good Trouble, Westworld) as Remi
- Charlene Amoia as Julia
- Julian Graham as Marco
Production Timeline for Cobra Kai Season 6
The earliest we heard about the development of the sixth and final season was about the writer’s room opening up in mid-February 2023. The show’s final season reportedly has a budget between $2 and $3M per episode.
Numerous people attending the ATL Comic Convention in late February reported that Ralph Macchio stated they were “aiming” for a May 2023 production start. Filming for the show is to again occur in Atlanta, Georgia, but showrunner Jon Hurwitz teased that he expects something to be filmed outside of the US state like most previous seasons.
According to ProductionWeekly, Cobra Kai season 6 will be filmed under the codename THE ABORIST, suggesting that the show’s final season will be filmed between late Spring and late summer 2023 and concluded in late Summer 2023.
Cobra Kai. (L to R) Gianni DeCenzo as Demetri, Jacob Bertrand as Eli ‘Hawk’ Moskowitz, Joe Seo as Kyler, Xolo Maridueña as Miguel Diaz in Cobra Kai. Cr. Courtesy of Netflix © 2024
However, on May 1st, 2023, the WGA strike began and paused any development on the show, delaying the start of any production. Speaking to Deadline on May 20th, the three creators behind the show stated they were due to begin production the day the strike began.
Hurwitz also stated in a post:
“We hate to strike, but if we must, we strike hard. Pencils down in the Cobra Kai writers room. No writers on set. These aren’t fun times, but it’s unfortunately necessary. The moment a fair deal is in place, we’ll get back to kicking ass. In the meantime, sending strength and support to the negotiating committee. You got this.”
In June 2023 at Netflix TUDUM in Brazil, Cobra Kai was among the shows and movies featured on the roster. There, we got a first look at the cast reuniting to have a readthrough of the script for Cobra Kai season 6.
In July 2023, SAG-AFTRA joined the WGA in striking, meaning that filming cannot resume until both strikes have been resolved as both unions cover Cobra Kai. The WGA strike concluded after a deal was struck in late September, with Hurtwitz celebrating the news by encouraging a SAG-AFTRA deal and adding that he’s “Ready to get back into the dojo!”
On September 25th, Hurwitz confirmed that scripts for the fifth season weren’t complete ahead of the strike, saying:
“Much of the Cobra Kai season hasn’t been written yet. We’ll get back into the writers room in the coming weeks. Once the SAG strike ends, we’ll figure out when we can get back on set.”
SAG-AFTRA concluded their strike in early November 2023 and since then, it’s understood that Cobra Kai season 6 begins production in early 2024.
Cobra Kai season 6 has been filming since January 18th, 2024, and while it wrapped up filming in Atlanta in mid-May 2024, the show ultimately concluded filming a month later in mid-June.
Soon after filming began, Netflix released the first look behind the scenes image of the sixth season of Cobra Kai.
Picture: Behind the scenes of Cobra Kai season 6
Episode Titles, Writers and Directors for Cobra Kai season 6
We’re still putting the pieces of the puzzle together here for the final season of Cobra Kai, but here’s a breakdown of the directors, writers, and episode titles we know so far:
- Episode 6-1 – Peacetime in the Valley
- Episode 6-2 – The Prize
- Written by: Joe Piarulli & Luan Thomas
- Episode 6-3 – Sleeper
- Written by: Mattea Greene
- Episode 6-4 – Underdogs
- Written by: Chris Rafferty
- Episode 6-5 – Best of the Best
- Written by: Michael Jonathan Smith
- Episode 6-6
- Written by: Joe Piarulli & Luan Thomas
- Episode 6-7
- Written by: Ashley Darnall
- Episode 6-8
- Written by: Ashley Darnall & Emily Abbott
- Episode 6-9
- Written by: Chris Rafferty
- Episode 6-10
- Written by: Bob Dearden & Olga Lexell
- Episode 6-11
- Written by: Joe Piarulli & Luan Thomas
- Episode 6-12
- Written by: Ashley Darnall & Kyle Civale
- Episode 6-13
- Written by: Chris Rafferty
- Episode 6-14
- Episode 6-15 – Ex Degenerate
- Written by: Josh Heald & Jon Hurwitz & Hayden Schlossberg
Directing this season are Sherwin Shilati and Joel Novoa, with more names to come.
Cobra Kai. (L to R) Tanner Buchanan as Robby Keene, Xolo Maridueña as Miguel Diaz, Okea Eme-Akwari as Shawn, Dallas Dupree Young as Kenny in Cobra Kai. Cr. Curtis Bonds Baker/Netflix © 2024
Are you looking forward to the sixth and final season of Cobra Kai on Netflix? Let us know in the comments below!
Kasey Moore contributed to this preview.