Back to trending
Bloodsport

Bloodsport

Action · Drama · 1988

An American Army Major goes AWOL to Hong Kong for an outlawed martial arts contest called the Kumite.

Movie details

Bloodsport

“The true story of an American ninja.”

1988 Action · Drama 1h 32m

Critical arithmetic

One number, for now.

TMDB

7.1 / 10

Community rating

An American Army Major goes AWOL to Hong Kong for an outlawed martial arts contest called the Kumite.

CriticWise case file

What this film says about your taste.

Not a recommendation score. A measure of how closely the film’s taste signals resemble yours.

The archetype split

Who fights over Bloodsport?

The split comes from the same five-axis model used by the test, not audience ratings or review sentiment.

Taste neighbourhood

Nearby on the taste map.

TMDB supplies the candidates. CriticWise reorders them by craft, strangeness, prestige, emotion, and pace.

Never Back Down: No Surrender

Never Back Down: No Surrender

Drama · 2016

Picking up after the events of Never Back Down 2, former MMA champion Case Walker is on the comeback trail to become champion once again.

Never Back Down

Never Back Down

Drama · 2008

Jake, full of anger after his father's death, is just starting to find a place for himself at his new Orlando high school - until Ryan, head of an underground MMA fight club, picks Jake out as a prime opponent. After being trounced by Ryan in front of the entire school, Jake begins training under the firm, moral guidance of a MMA master, where he learns how to fight... and how to avoid a fight. But it becomes obvious that a rematch will be inevitable if Jake wants to stop Ryan and his bullying, once and for all.

Beast

Beast

Action · 2026

MMA legend Patton James, now a commercial fisherman, is pulled back into the cage when his brother is in danger. Reuniting with his old coach Sammy, he commits to one final fight in one championship against the brutal champion Xavier Grau.

Life After Fighting

Life After Fighting

Action · 2024

Retired martial arts world champion Alex Faulkner has settled into a simple life, when the disappearance of two of his students leads to an unthinkable discovery close to home. Just when all hope of finding the children is lost, he locates the imprisoned girls and unsurfaces an international child trafficking operation, which draws him back into the fight of his life against those behind it.

Walking Tall

Walking Tall

Adventure · 2004

A former U.S. soldier returns to his hometown to find it overrun by crime and corruption, which prompts him to clean house.

Mortal Kombat Legends: Battle of the Realms

Mortal Kombat Legends: Battle of the Realms

Animation · 2021

When Shao Kahn's Outworld barbarians terrorize Earthrealm, Lord Raiden is determined to put an end to the carnage once and for all. This leaves one option: a final Mortal Kombat tournament for the future of Earthrealm – win it or lose everything. Raiden's elite fighters Liu Kang, Johnny Cage, Sonya Blade, and a few new faces kick the action into overdrive as they go head-to-head with Outworld's most bloodthirsty warriors. But deep in the Netherrealm, an unspeakable scheme by the malevolent Shinnok unfolds, threatening to obliterate existence.

Blood and Bone

Blood and Bone

Action · 2009

In Los Angeles, an ex-con takes the underground fighting world by storm in his quest to fulfill a promise to a dead friend.

The Quest

The Quest

Action · 1996

Ghang-gheng, the ancient winner-take-all competition in which the deadliest fighters from around the world employ the most spectacular feats of martial arts skills ever displayed in order to win the prized Golden Dragon. But fighting prowess alone will not be enough for Chris to triumph over such daunting foes.

Dragon: The Bruce Lee Story

Dragon: The Bruce Lee Story

Drama · 1993

This film is a glimpse into the life, love and the unconquerable spirit of the legendary Bruce Lee. From a childhood of rigorous martial arts training, Lee realizes his dream of opening his own kung-fu school in America. Before long, he is discovered by a Hollywood producer and begins a meteoric rise to fame and an all too short reign as one the most charismatic action heroes in cinema history.

Kickboxer

Kickboxer

Action · 1989

If your enemy refuses to be humbled... Destroy him. Accompanied by his brother Kurt, American kickboxing champion Eric Sloane, arrives in Thailand to defeat the Eastern warriors at their own sport. His opponent: ruthless fighter and Thai champion, Tong Po. Tong not only defeats Eric, he paralyzes him for life. Crazed with anger, Kurt vows revenge.

Where it lives

Watch in your region.

Cinema release signals and current streaming, rental, and purchase options for your region.

Streaming availability data supplied by JustWatch.

Names above the title

The people responsible.

Directed by

Newt Arnold

Written by

Christopher Cosby · Mel Friedman · Sheldon Lettich

Jean-Claude Van Damme

Jean-Claude Van Damme

Frank Dux

Donald Gibb

Donald Gibb

Ray Jackson

Leah Ayres

Leah Ayres

Janice

Norman Burton

Norman Burton

Helmer

Forest Whitaker

Forest Whitaker

Rawlins

Roy Chiao

Roy Chiao

Tanaka

Philip Chan Yan-kin

Philip Chan Yan-kin

Captain Chen

Court is in session

Put Bloodsport on trial.

Two incompatible taste archetypes. One film. Read the arguments, then issue a completely binding cultural ruling.

The defence The Sentimental Softie

“Momentum is a formal choice.”

The velocity sharpens instinct and tension, making every beat land before self-importance can settle in.

The prosecution The Cool Ironist

“Speed as an alibi.”

The film races past its weak spots and hopes acceleration will keep the audience from inspecting the evidence.