Kickboxer

R

Released Sep 8, 1989

1h 45m

Action

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List

36%

11 Reviews

Tomatometer

64%

50,000+ Ratings

Audience Score

Eric Sloane (Dennis Alexio) is an American kickboxing pro, helped by his brother, Kurt (Jean-Claude Van Damme), in his quest for glory. But when the two go to Thailand to take on legendary Tong Po (Michel Qissi), the opponent viciously beats Eric and leaves him paralyzed. Swearing vengeance, Kurt tracks down master Xian Chow (Dennis Chan) and begins learning the sport himself while also getting caught up in criminal intrigue involving thuggish crime boss Freddy Li (Ka Ting Lee).

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steve d

It's not technically a 5 star movie but its combination of peak JCVD, impact on martial artists, quotable lines, cheesy 80s dance scene and spot in pop culture (along with Bloodsport) require a 5 star rating

Rated 5 out of 5 stars

11/18/23

Full Review

DanTheMan 2

I always felt that Kickboxer was chasing the success Cannon Films had with Bloodsport, but rewatching today reminded me of how wrong I was. It's very much a more violent retelling of The Karate Kid but with Van Damme learning the art of Muay Thai, mixed with elements of Rocky III and even Rambo. There's a certain amount of fun to be had with its premise, the movie not slouching one bit even during the drastic tone shifts encountered throughout. Directors David Worth and Mark DiSalle populate the movie with plenty of inventive angles and wide photography (that sunset shot is awe-inspiring) and when matched to Van Damme's fight choreography and over-emotive acting, the film delivers in the way only 80s movies can. The music by Paul Hertzog is reminiscent of what I've heard in the original Killer Instinct (I swear there's a riff in this movie that's sampled for the main theme of that game), but Paul delivers another great soundtrack once again back by the legendary vocals of Stan Bush. It's much calmer than his work on Bloodsport but equally evocative. Through the insurmountable plot implausibilities and inhuman amounts of comically exaggerated violence, Kickboxer will have you moving and grooving, like Van Damme's slut drops, all the way to its end.

Rated 3.5 out of 5 stars

09/08/23

Full Review

William D

Great movie lots of fun to watch.

Rated 4 out of 5 stars

08/23/23

Full Review

william d

Amazing movie. I would recommend this movie and the 5th from the series for anyone who loves martial arts movies. The 2nd-4th are no where near as good as the others.

Rated 4 out of 5 stars

07/18/23

Full Review

Miles G

The film is 80's through and through. If you can look past the botched dialogue & cheesy action, there is a wealth of aesthetic, beautiful women & musical value triggering nostalgia for the era.

Rated 3 out of 5 stars

07/18/23

Full Review

Cameron L

You couldn't get better atmosphere and fighting scenes in the streets of Siam

Rated 5 out of 5 stars

06/18/23

Full Review

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Mark DiSalle

Director

David Worth

Director

Jean-Claude Van Damme

Kurt Sloane

Dennis Alexio

Eric Sloane

Dennis Chan

Xian Chow

Michel Qissi

Tong Po

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Kickboxer: Trailer 1

2:10

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Variety Staff

Variety

Combine Karate Kid and Rocky with a bit more blood and gore, dull direction and a smattering of inept actors and you have Kickboxer.

Jan 11, 2018

Full Review

Chris Willman

Los Angeles Times

This may not be the dumbest action picture of the year, but it's not for lack of trying.

Jan 11, 2018

Full Review

Geoff Andrew

Time Out

Don't see it for psychological complexity, social comment, acting, plot or humour; go, if you must, just for kicks.

Feb 9, 2006

Full Review

Mike Massie

Gone With The Twins

The final moments of the match are so poorly edited and ludicrous in structure that they contribute to unintentional, laugh-out-loud hilarity.

Rated: 2/10

Sep 6, 2020

Full Review

TV Guide

Kickboxer deviates little from genre formula in its story of a peace-loving martial artist who is pushed too far and goes on a maniacal rampage in the last reel.

Rated: 2/4

Jan 11, 2018

Full Review

John Ferguson

Radio Times

The fight sequences are staged with such lan that it is easy to ignore the hackneyed script - Van Damme had a hand in that as well - and rather wooden performances.

Rated: 3/5

Jan 11, 2018

Full Review

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Synopsis

Eric Sloane (Dennis Alexio) is an American kickboxing pro, helped by his brother, Kurt (Jean-Claude Van Damme), in his quest for glory. But when the two go to Thailand to take on legendary Tong Po (Michel Qissi), the opponent viciously beats Eric and leaves him paralyzed. Swearing vengeance, Kurt tracks down master Xian Chow (Dennis Chan) and begins learning the sport himself while also getting caught up in criminal intrigue involving thuggish crime boss Freddy Li (Ka Ting Lee).

Director: Mark DiSalle, David Worth
Screenwriter: Glenn A. Bruce
Distributor: Cannon Films
Production Co: Kings Road Entertainment
Rating: R
Genre: Action
Original Language: English
Release Date (Theaters): Sep 8, 1989, Original
Release Date (Streaming): Jan 4, 2017
Box Office (Gross USA): $13.2M
Runtime: 1h 45m
Sound Mix: Surround

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