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Jean-Claude Van Damme, Donald Gibb, Leah Ayres, Norman Burton, Forest Whitaker ... see more see more... , Roy Chiao , Philip Chan , Bolo Yeung , Wayne Archer , Ken Boyle , Michael Paul Chan , David Ho , Eric Neff , Eric Ng , Pierre Rafini , Ken Siu , Paolo Tocha , Sean Ward , John Cheung , Mark Di Salle , John Law , Michel Qissi , Dr. Charles Wang , Geoff Brown , Mandy Chan , Dennis Chiu , Nathan Chkueke , Chung Shun Tak , Keith Davey , Rick Erikson , John Foster , A.P. George , Claude Heme , Henry Ho , Edward E. Ketterer , Kimo Lai Kwok Ki , Johnny Lai , Simon Lai , Thomas Lam , Christopher Lay , Wilson Lee , Lily Leung , Samson Li , Bernard Mariano , Greg Richardson , Andrew Rule , Saheed Sahabuddin , Joshua Schroeder , Susan Sheers , Rocky Jasminder Singh , Tom Tam , Tsui Siu Hung , Wong Tak Ming , Bill Yuen Ping Kuen , Victor Wong , Wayne Morris

Jean-Claude Van Damme makes his starring debut in the aptly titled Bloodsport. An American soldier at large in Hong Kong, Van Damme becomes involved in the Kumite (also spelled Kumatai), a highly ille... read more read more...gal kickboxing competition. Whoever survives the bout will be crowned Kumite champion of the world-a title that has plenty of challengers with homicide in their hearts. The finale offers a duel to the death (or near-death) between Van Damme and reigning Kumite king Bolo Yeung. The script is based on the real-life exploits of martial arts champ Frank Dux (who serves as the film's fight coordinator). Denied such niceties as production values, Bloodsport scores big-time in the violent action department. A sequel followed in 1995, inventively titled Bloodsport 2. ~ Hal Erickson, Rovi

Flixster Users

71% liked it

66,256 ratings

Critics

33% liked it

18 critics

R, 1 hr. 32 min.

Directed by: Newt Arnold

Release Date: February 26, 1988

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DVD Release Date: June 1, 2004

Stats: 3,426 reviews

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Flixster Reviews (3,426)

  • fb733768972
    March 19, 2012
    fb733768972
    "Bloodsport," even though it is based upon a real martial arts fighter, feels extremely corny and sloppily put together. The dialogue feels like it was written and directed by a young teenager who was given a professional camera, along with some big name hollywood actors who real... read morely do not seem interested in their own characters. Usually the action in a film like this would be the deciding factor between enjoyment or utter awfulness, and honestly, this film fails at that as well. The action is very poorly edited and there is practically no signs of practised choreography here. I could not keep myself from laughing during this entire film, not because of intended comedy, but because the characters were very unintertesting, the story is extremely generic, the cinematography captures the worst angles during the fight sequences, and the overall film suffers. Seeing as it is based on an actual person, you would think that the filmmakers would have put a but more devotion into the film and hired a better actor than Van Damme, but what can you do. The film was made, and it really sucks. Still, throughout the film you can find some enjoyment during the fight and chase sequences.
  • axadntpron
    February 6, 2012
    axadntpron
    I, like most film fans, can appreciate the films of Kubrick, Goddard, Pabst, Bergman, and other auteurs. With patience, time, and access to a well-vetted Wikipedia page, one can slowly begin to peel back layer by layer the many different meanings encompassed in the very best of c... read moreinema.
    However, it takes a certain kind of man to truly take on headfirst a film as profound, devastatingly honest, and important as Newt Arnold's Bloodsport. Arnold not only understands the human condition better than any filmmaker I have ever seen, but he also knows how to trim the fat and get to the very heart of what keeps people coming back to the movies over and over again. All of this, and much much more, is on display here in Bloodsport.
    Arnold utilizes slow motion to great effect here as he knows that watching a fibula break just isn't the same when witnessed in real time. Also, the raw energy of the immensely talented cast only adds greater depth to the already riveting story that touches on, but is not limited to: alienation, addiction, love, and above all, pain. While I am sure there are countless metaphors buried beneath all of the abdominal blows and roundhouse kicks, I couldn't even begin to touch on them here. Hell, I don't even know if a doctoral dissertation could begin to unpack all of the symbolism Arnold gives us in a single frame. It's best to leave that to the experts, should there ever exist someone willing to take on such heady subject matter.
    Hitchcock once said "For me, cinema is not a slice of life, but a piece of cake." I can only assume that Hitch got his hands on an early print of Bloodsport when he said this as I can not imagine any other film being more deserving of your time than this blood-soaked masterpiece.
  • phubbs1
    October 23, 2011
    phubbs1
    Van Dammes finest hour, this is a great martial arts fest with brilliant scenes and some stunning Hong Kong scenary. The fights are great, alittle dated now but still cool with nice fake blood splashing around and over the top moves. It lifts your spirits as Van Damme, as predict... read moreed, beats the final opponent, avenges his buddy and wins the tournament.
    The other fighters are a great line up too, real collection of styles and looks to show its a world tournament, this is how 'Street Fighter' should have been, in fact it could be SF2 easily. Good training scenes, nice soundtrack and its based on reality which is kinda new for Jean Claude.
  • stormyweather980
    September 8, 2009
    stormyweather980
    "Bloodsport" is a great fighting movie. Jean-Claude Van Damme stars in this movie that is based on a real life fighting champion, Frank Dux. Frank travels to Japan to try and become the fighting champion of the Kumite tournament. His biggest challenge in the tournament is Chong L... read morei (Bolo Yeung), the current Kumite champion.
    "Bloodsport" is sure to satisfy just about anybody who likes fighting movies. Like always, Jean-Claude Van Damme puts on some great fighting sequences. Donald Gibb does a good job portraying Frank's friend, Ray Jackson. I recommend "Bloodsport" to anybody who likes exciting fighting movies. It was the first great Van Damme fighting movie, now there are several more such as "Kickboxer," "Hard Target," and "Double Impact." NOTE: That was my Amazon review from the year 2000. Van Damme rocks, period, or kicks.
  • TheGame90
    December 11, 2008
    TheGame90
    This kind of reminds me of another movie......ooh yeah the ultimate Van Damme movie collection
  • 76Majikat
    October 30, 2008
    76Majikat
    Probably one of my most watched flms as a kid. It all looks pretty corny now, but like this film for sentimental value
  • middleeasternfilms
    May 3, 2008
    middleeasternfilms
    It is what it is...a Van Damme movie. Great fight sequences with different martial arts styles represented, but only for fans of either Van Damme or martial arts movies. Van Damme is his usual self here - for better or worse - but this does include Oscar Winner Forest Whitaker so... read more how many karate movies can say they have a Best Actor winner in them?
  • Chiefilms
    March 2, 2008
    Chiefilms
    Van Damme's calling card, sets the example for how every Van Damme film, bad guy does something, kill people to get to him, shows his ass in the process.
  • dhetteix
    January 18, 2008
    dhetteix
    Bad. Not that it won't entertain, but this movie fails at everything it sets out to do... even the amount of blood in "Bloodsport" is pretty pathetic, and the fighting is standard.

    Failing at an interesting plot wouldn't be so bad for a movie like this, but it also tries to be a... read more biopic, a love story, a movie about honor, an underdog story, a crime drama, a buddy picture, and Mortal Kombat.

    Still, perhaps that is it's charm... a pathetic, sniveling charm.
  • sanjurosamurai
    September 29, 2007
    sanjurosamurai
    maybe the best tournament movie of all time

View All Bloodsport Reviews

Critic Reviews

John J. Puccio
September 18, 2010
John J. Puccio, Movie Metropolis

Van Damme may have been an excellent martial artist (he had fought as an amateur and professionally for several years before entering the movies), but he was no actor. Full Review

November 2, 2008
TV Guide's Movie Guide

Bloodsport is strictly for martial arts buffs; little is offered here in the way of plot, dialog, or acting. Full Review

Felix Vasquez Jr.
August 9, 2007
Felix Vasquez Jr., Cinema Crazed

A campy Van Damne actioner fit for lovers of B films.

February 9, 2006
Time Out

A well-plucked turkey, humourless and plagued by a script full of stilted mumbo-jumbo. Full Review

Alex Sandell
March 24, 2005
Alex Sandell, Juicy Cerebellum

Scary to think that a movie this bad could make anyone a star.

Luke Y. Thompson
May 22, 2004
Luke Y. Thompson, New Times

Proudly plotless in a way that other low-budget actioners ought to emulate more often.

Fred Topel
July 14, 2003
Fred Topel, About.com

Classic Van Damme. Fighting, fighting and more fighting.

Clint Morris
September 17, 2002
Clint Morris, Moviehole

Enough martial-arts to fill a sushi box

Scott Weinberg
July 25, 2002
Scott Weinberg, eFilmCritic.com

Lotsa chop-socky and basically nothing else.

Emanuel Levy
October 1, 2005
Emanuel Levy, EmanuelLevy.Com

No review available.

Critic ratings and reviews powered by RottenTomatoes.com

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Facts

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    • Chong Li: You break my record, now I break you, like I break your friend.
    • Chong Li: Very good. But brick not hit back!
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Bloodsport Trivia

  • Jean Claude Van Damme was supposed to Star aside Arnold schwarzenegger in this film but got fired and decided to make bloodsport, which action thriller was this?  Answer »
  • What movie contained the following dialogue? Ray: "Aren't you a little young for full contact?" Frank: "Aren't you a little old for video games?"  Answer »
  • In the film bloodsport what is the name of jean-claude van damme's character?  Answer »
  • Which movie did jean claude van dam do the splits from two chairs?  Answer »
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