Ready for another Best of the Best? We sure are. With the franchise’s plug ‘n play global fanbase and the current wave of nostalgia driven revivals like Karate Kid and Cobra Kai, it feels like only a matter of time before some profit minded producer brings this beloved martial arts series back to the screen for a new generation.
Way back in 2015, while promoting his “comeback” movie Underdog Kids, Phillip Rhee (Furious) revealed that he would be rebooting his successful Best of the Best saga, which started with Best of the Best (1989), Best of the Best 2 (1993), Best of the best 3: No Turning Back (1995) and ended with Best of the Best 4: Without Warning (1998).
“We’re going to reboot the whole franchise with a new cast. I have things… I’m going to bring in elements that nobody has ever seen before. I will produce the picture”, Rhee told TAE back in 2015.
Since then, the hopes of a new Best of the Best chapter has been more or less stagnant, until 2025, when Phillip and his brother, Simon Rhee, had a meeting with Eric Roberts (Maximum Impact), who co-starred in the first two Best of the Best films. The three were photographed together with a post that read: “We had so much fun sharing old stories and planning Best 5.” Phillip even shared a screen shot (via IG) of the script for Best of the Best 5: Honor the Brave, which he co-write with Mark Nemcoff stating: ““BEST 5” is going to be AWESOME! I promise. 👊👊👊”
The Rhee brothers definitely know how to get a production off the ground, as they did back in the pre-internet days (IMDB ’em!). Simon himself is still very much active, primarily for his stunt work, for a wide array of popular films such as 2022’s Carter, 2024’s MaXXXine, and the recent Naked Gun reboot.
At the recent 2026 UK Martial Arts Show (UKMAS), the Rhee brothers had this to say: “We’ve been working with two great directors and a showrunner on a channel. Cobra Kai was such a big hit, and then Cobra Kai people [characters in the series] were talking about Best of the Best, so now we’re talking about a Best of the Best TV series.”
Of course, nothing is official yet, and there’s still no word on whether the series, if it moves forward, would incorporate elements from the already completed Best of the Best 5: Honor the Brave script.
🔥 Footnote: In reference to the Rhees mentioning Cobra Kai characters talking about Best of the Best, check out this list of homages from the series:
- Cobra Kai (Season 6, Episode 5) is fittingly titled Best of the Best.
- Johnny (William Zabka) makes his top students watch scenes from Best of the Best 2 during practice.
- Johnny references the film’s protagonist, Alex Grady (Eric Roberts), who suffers a severe shoulder injury but miraculously heals in time to compete in the next fight.
- Johnny uses the Best of the Best injury as a coping mechanism and motivation for his students, as the tournament draws near.
We’ll keep you updated on Best of the Best continuation as we learn more. Until then, we leave you with all the Trailers (plus some other goodies down below) for this legendary martial arts franchise:
I really enjoyed 1-3. The fourth was awful thouggh
JJ Bona, why “nothing is official”? Over the last two years the Rhee brothers have confirmed many times that the fifth movie is gonna happen, the script is written and they got a studio ready to produce it.
Here are all the posts and interviews with them mentioning the project:
https://www.instagram.com/p/DGj-ECoxLht/
https://www.instagram.com/reel/C5jJ71rJ9TS/
36:58
https://youtu.be/QOc103SNJE8
1:50
https://youtu.be/tbh2ro7M22Q
1:12:45
1:14:57
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=PHaEKcJJ3ho
35:17
https://youtu.be/hXPb-AMCtxQ
I hope it happens too, but unfortunately, a “mention” isn’t official. Still waiting for ‘Lethal Weapon 5’ (a title that has been mentioned for years) as well as some of these.
With that said, now that Eric Roberts has actually met with them, we’re headed in the right direction. Hope they get Mickey Rourke, too! Also looking forward to Furious II and Ninja Turfs (aka Ninja Turf 2).
Appreciate your in-depth reference links. Great work! =)
Plus, the alleged Shaolin Soccer and Kung Fu Hustle sequels.
If we’ve learnt anything, it’s that there’s a world of difference between “got a studio ready to produce it” and “there’s a studio producing it”. Let’s see what happens!
They need to do it Leroy Nguyen-style and hit the button!
Phillip Rhee posted a photo of the script titled ‘BEST OF THE BEST 5: Honor the Brave’ and written by him and Marc Nemcoff
https://www.instagram.com/p/DNFW6jEOR-M/
“legendary martial arts franchise”
At 14, I made shitty shorts with a friend.
They are now legendary and we we’re hailed as visionary directors.
Dust off the clip of that slo-mo ice cream drop.
We have to see that at least five times in this.
The project is no longer a feature film, but a TV series in the vein of Cobra Kai. Confirmed by Simon Rhee: https://youtube.com/watch?v=gLwytZW8Zc8&t=79s
5 months ago, the Rhee brothers had a meeting with directors JJ Perry and Lin Oeding (both from Cobra Kai), and Craig Gore, the executive producer of the TV series Chicago P.D., S.W.A.T., and Law & Order:
https://www.instagram.com/p/DR2GtDDFAkz/
https://www.imdb.com/title/tt39473828/fullcredits/?ref_=tt_cst_sm
Simon also helped train the cast of Cobra Kai during season 3. I saw video of Jacob Bertrand and Tanner Buchanan at Rhee’s dojang training on their kicks.
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ihe3GVOg248&pp=ygUUc2ltb24gcmhlZSBjb2JyYSBrYWk%3D
from Simon’s YouTube channel