Sony Pictures Consumer Products is preparing for the next big rollout of “Cobra Kai” licensed products by striking hard and fast at retail worldwide.

Patricia DeLuca, Senior Managing Editor

July 1, 2022

1 Min Read
"Cobra Kai" apparel.
"Cobra Kai" apparel.Sony Pictures Consumer Products

Film franchises are evergreen for licensed consumer products. But when a once-dormant franchise finds new life on episodic streaming media, it calls for specially licensed products.  

 “Cobra Kai” is the continued story of “The Karate Kid” and the rivalry between film characters, Johnny Lawrence and Daniel LaRusso, that first debuted in theaters in 1984. More than 30 years after the film’s debut, the franchise’s stars, actors Ralph Macchio and William Zabka, co-produced what would become “Cobra Kai” with showrunners, Josh Heald, Jon Hurwitz and Hayden Schlossberg. 

The streaming series originally launched on YouTube in 2018. Netflix acquired the series in 2020 and has premiered seasons 3 and 4 on its platform.  

“Cobra Kai” has reignited a spark in the franchise with its legions of fans. It’s rare when a revived franchise is a success, but even rarer when it has a solid licensing program to support it.  

While some of the characters of “Cobra Kai” may be stuck in the ’80s (like Lawrence’s penchant for hair metal), the licensing rollout behind the series is very much current.  

Read more about Sony Pictures Consumer Products and “Cobra Kai” in the May 2022 issue of License Global.  

About the Author(s)

Patricia DeLuca

Senior Managing Editor, License Global

Patricia DeLuca currently serves as License Global's Senior Managing Editor.

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