With a new Karate Kid film confirmed to be in the works following the fifth season of Cobra Kai, Ralph Macchio remains in the spotlight. The former child actor's career has caught a second wind thanks to the revival of his character, Daniel LaRusso, in the hit Netflix series.
Following a movie hot streak in the '80s opposite some of the biggest names in Hollywood, Macchio has appeared in several television shows. From his more than 40-year-long career, these are Macchio's best projects, according to Rotten Tomatoes Tomatometer.
Teachers (1984) - 59%
Teachers tracks interconnected narratives led by Alex Jurel (Nick Nolte), a popular social studies teacher who, due to the school being overburdened with a lawsuit, is temporarily assigned to be the students' psychologist.
Macchio plays Eddie Pilikian, a troublemaker who Jurel takes under his wing. Though overburdened with its multiple storylines, efforts to be comedic, and attempts to address social issues, Teachers remains watchable thanks to the performances of young stars like Macchio, alongside Laura Dern and Crispin Glover.
Hitchcock (2012) - 60%
Based on the life of the titular filmmaker, Hitchcock tells the story of Alfred and his wife Alma Reville, specifically during the filming of Hitchcock's most rewatchable movie, Psycho. While those around him insist he either settle on more conventional projects or retire, Hitchcock is determined to make his most ambitious film yet.
Opposite Anthony Hopkins as Alfred Hitchcock, Macchio appears as the small but vital part of Psycho screenwriter Joseph Stefano. While the film as a whole received mixed reviews, critics generally praised the cast for their fun recreation of one of Hollywood's most pivotal pictures.
The Outsiders (1983) - 69%
Directed by Francis Ford Coppola, The Outsiders focuses on the Greasers, a teen gang in rural Oklahoma who are at odds with a rival group, the Socials. When a Greaser kills a Social, the effects reverberate through the entire clan as the offenders go into hiding.
Macchio, opposite a cast of future A-Listers Matt Dillon, Patrick Swayze, Rob Lowe, and Tom Cruise in one of his most underrated roles, plays Johnny Cade, the young instigator of the whole affair. Though the film didn't get the most glowing reviews, it's considered a cult classic and acted as a career springboard for many of today's biggest stars.
Crossroads (1986) - 75%
Against the backdrop of rural Mississippi, Crossroads follows a young blues guitarist who, with the help of an older musician, attempts to track down a missing song from one of his favorite artists. Along the journey, the kid learns of heartbreak, growing up, and what it means to play music soulfully.
Starring Macchio as the 17-year-old guitarist Eugene Martone, the film was praised for its originality and authentic musical connections. Hard to market, the film struggled to find an audience at the time but now enjoys a cult following.
My Cousin Vinny (1992) - 87%
My Cousin Vinny begins when two young New Yorkers are wrongfully charged with murder while traveling through Alabama. Not knowing anyone in the area, they take on a family member from New York to represent them, despite his barely passable qualifications.
Led by Joe Pesci as injury lawyer Vinny Gambini, Macchio plays the accused Bill Gambini, a smart, talkative kid. With the cast praised all around for their humorous performances, My Cousin Vinny co-star Marissa Tomei won Best Supporting Actress in a surprise upset during the 1993 Academy Awards.
The Karate Kid (1984) - 89%
In the suburbs of Los Angeles's San Fernando Valley, The Karate Kid finds 17-year-old Daniel LaRusso subjected to bullying by students of the Cobra Kai dojo. When the handyman in Daniel's apartment complex, Mr. Miyagi, takes interest in him, Daniel learns karate from this unexpected master and challenges Cobra Kai at the Under 18 All-Valley Karate Championships.
Thanks to incredible word-of-mouth, compelling drama, and exciting action sequences, the film became a sensation and made Macchio an '80s Teen Star overnight. Following The Karate Kid's success, it spawned multiple sequels, reboots, and a TV show spin-off, Cobra Kai.
The Deuce (2017 - 2019) - 93%
Taking place in New York City during the '70s and '80s, The Deuce centers on a cast of characters connected to the town's rising porn industry, from porn stars themselves to the police trying to crack down on them. Macchio appears on the side of the law as Officer Haddix, a disillusioned cop working the beat in areas frequented by sex workers.
Praised for capturing the grit of the time period without losing sight of its weighty characters, The Deuce starred James Franco, Maggie Gyllenhaal, and David Krumholtz, alongside Macchio in a crime drama from the creator of The Wire.
Cobra Kai (2018 - ) - 95%
Set 34 years after the events of The Karate Kid, Cobra Kai focuses on the life of Johnny Lawrence (William Zabka), the opponent Daniel defeated in the Under 18 All-Valley Karate Championships. Now washed up, Johnny reopens Cobra Kai to teach his teenage neighbor to fend off bullies, provoking Daniel to open a studio as well.
Reprising his role as Daniel LaRusso, Macchio supports a cast of young actors alongside Zabka to bring a refreshing new chapter to The Karate Kid saga. Originally starting on YouTube Red before being picked up by Netflix, the show has continued to become more popular with each season.
Ugly Betty (2008 - 2009) - 97%
Ugly Betty follows Betty Suarez (America Ferrera), a Queens-raised Mexican American woman hired to work at a fashion magazine despite her apparent lack of fashion sense. Macchio appears in a recurring role as Archie Rodriguez, a councilman and boyfriend of Betty's older sister Hilda (Ana Ortiz).
Thanks in part to the work of Macchio and several other recurring cast members, the ABC comedy ran for four seasons before it was canceled due to low ratings. During that time, the series won two Golden Globes and received 18 Emmy nominations, with star America Ferrera bringing home an Emmy for her work on the first season.
Psych: The Movie (2017) - 100%
Psych: The Movie occurs after the finale of its television show predecessor Psych, following Shawn (James Roday) and Gus (Dulé Hill) as they look into a new crime linked to Juliet (Maggie Lawson) in San Francisco. Macchio reprises his bit role as Nick Conforth, a police academy teacher with shot nerves that got in the way of him becoming a cop.
Thanks to a loyal fanbase, the involvement of the show's creator, and the return of several original cast members, the film grabbed a large audience during its initial broadcast. The film's success inspired another sequel Psych 2: Lassie Come Home, which debuted on Peacock in 2020.