Jean-Claude Van Damme’s Best Martial Arts Movies That Are Action-Packed

Some action stars prefer shooting and blowing things up. Others prefer using their hands and feet as weapons. Jean-Claude Van Damme, nicknamed “The Muscles from Brussels,” falls under the latter category. Considering his martial arts background, the actor’s preference for old-fashioned one-on-one combat is hardly surprising. His father enrolled him in a Shotokan karate school when he was only 10, and after a short while, he earned a 2nd-dan black belt in karate.

As a teen, Jean-Claude Van Damme won the middleweight title at the European Professional Karate Association as well as the Mr. Belgium bodybuilding title. Soon after, Hollywood came calling and he took full advantage of the opportunity. In the years that followed, Van Damme would star in some of the most popular martial arts-themed action movies. For this list, we shall leave out gun-heavy movies like Hard Target and Sudden Death, only focusing on those where martial arts is the primary focus.

10

‘Double Impact’ (1991)

Twins look adorable together, but movie villains always think it wise to separate them. Such is what happens in Double Impact where Chad and Alex Wagner (both portrayed by Van Damme) find themselves in different parts of the world after their parents get murdered by the goons of a crime boss. Chad spends his younger years in Paris and Alex in Hong Kong. Luckily, they reunite as adults and vow to take down the person who ruined their family.

Double Kicks

This laconic exploration of revenge and brotherly love isn’t a paragon of action cinema, but it’s entertaining. Van Damme took on the role after seeing Jeremy Irons portray a dual role in Dead Ringers and because he felt he’d be able to showcase his acting skills more. Well, no performance is worthy of an award here, and the plot is lean, but what’s better than two Van Dammes beating miscreants? Bolo Yeung is back too, so watch out Chad and Alex.

9

‘Black Eagle’ (1988)

Black Eagle

Release Date

May 1, 1988

Runtime

93 Minutes

Director

Eric Karson

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Black Eagle’s protagonist is Ken Tani (Shō Kosugi), an American martial artist and special agent codenamed “Black Eagle.” When an F-111 carrying a laser tracking device is shot down in Malta’s airspace by Russian forces, Ken is sent to retrieve it. But he isn’t alone. A group of KGB agents led by Colonel Vladimir Klimenko and his lackey, Andrei (Jean-Claude van Damme), are also heading to the site. Grab popcorn.

Blending Martial Arts and Espionage

The endless fight sequences and paranoiac mood make for mesmerizing viewing in Black Eagle. Shō Kosugi brings texture, verve, and flair to the central role and Van Damme is effectively refreshing in his villainous role. The final product is a spine-tingling affair that makes you feel like you are the one getting hit. The film could have used better subplots, but pure action fans are unlikely to complain.

8

‘Kickboxer’ (1989)

Kickboxer

Release Date

April 20, 1989

Runtime

97 minutes

Director

Mark DiSalle

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  Dennis Alexio

  Eric Sloane

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  Dennis Chan Kwok-San

  Xian Chow

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Kurt Sloane (Jean-Claude Van Damme) from Kickboxer looks up to his brother, Eric, a U.S. kickboxing champion. Unfortunately, Eric gets brutally paralyzed during a fight with Muay Thai fighter Tong Po, leaving Kurt with nothing but revenge on his mind. He seeks out Master Xian Chow for training, and while at it, he enjoys the steadfast love of Chow’s niece.

Discover the Art of Muay Thai

Kickboxer‘s strength lies in its subtle metamorphosis from a wholesome family drama into a dark story of barbarity and resilience. Despite relying on the genre’s dated attributes, the film fascinates. Unquestionably, Van Damme, with his star-wattage, gives one of his greatest performances, and Michel Qissi fits the emotionless Tong Po to a tee. Today, this picture is still celebrated as the first one to bring Muay Thai to a global audience.

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7

‘Street Fighter’ (1994)

Based on the video game of the same name, Street Fighter follows Colonel Guile (Van Damme) on a mission to bring down General M. Bison (Raul Julia), the malevolent drug-dealing dictator of Shadaloo City, who aims to conquer the globe using an army of genetic supersoldiers. While a itt, Guile enlists the help of a few street fighters.

As Incredible as the Game

Directed by Steven E. de Souza (better known for scripting the ‘80s action hits Commando and Die Hard), Street Fighter has all the color and vim befitting a top-shelf video game adaptation production. The ingenious story creates room for plenty of fights, as is the case with the game, making this irresistible entertainment. Van Damme and Julia never hit a false note while playing off each other, the latter’s goofiness complementing the former’s fiery persona personally. Consequently, Julia received a Saturn Award nomination for Best Supporting Actor.

6

‘Lionheart’ (1990)

Lionheart

Release Date

June 7, 1990

Runtime

105 minutes

Director

Sheldon Lettich

Behold! Yet another brother in Lionheart. The film stars Jean-Claude Van Damme as Lyon, a French Foreign Legionnaire who leaves his post without authorization and heads to Los Angeles after learning that bro has been brutally killed. He then joins the underground fighting circuit so he can feed his brother’s widow and child. As he seeks revenge, Legion officers also pursue him for desertion.

Family vs. Patriotism

Lionheart marked Van Damme’s breakthrough as a leading man and for a good reason. Who wouldn’t love a man that’s willing to fight to the death so that his niece can get a bicycle? The actor’s battered hero represents the true American protagonist, standing up for family and devoid of pretension. The actor himself also considers this an essential film for anyone who wants to check out his movies. Miss anything, but don’t miss Lyon’s adventures.

5

‘Bloodsport’ (1988)

Bloodsport

Release Date

February 26, 1988

Runtime

92minutes

Director

Newt Arnold

In Bloodsport, Frank Dux (Vane Damme), a marine, decides to participate in Kumite, a brutal and clandestine martial arts tournament in Hong Kong, as a way to honor his mentor. He does so without alerting his superiors. Predictably, trouble emerges later on.

Battle of the Titans

Made with love by Newt Arnold, this taut martial arts thriller is terrifying and literate, with consummate performances from Bolo Yeung (at his dour and vicious best), Forest Whitaker, Leah Ayres, Donald Gibb, and Roy Chiao. The film heavily boosted the careers of Van Damme and Yeung (never creepier than you’ll see him here), playing a sadistic fighter with iron fists who keeps triggering cackling, psycho laughter among his supporters. The fight sequences are handled with expert attention to detail, so get ready for a gritty, hard-hitting affair.

4

‘The Quest’ (1996)

The Quest

Release Date

April 19, 1996

Runtime

95 minutes

The Quest dumps Van Damme into the 1920s, where he is Christopher Dubois, a street thief evading the police. To avoid capture, he becomes a stowaway on a ship, only to get captured by pirates and sold as a slave. He eventually finds himself in Tibet where he participates in the legendary Ghang-gheng martial arts tournament.

International Stakes

The film feels like the Olympics, mainly because each fighter represents a different country. You’ll love how politics are handled. For example, Okinawa, which was annexed by Japan in 1879, is given a separate spot in the tournament because of its historic role in the development of martial arts. Beyond the fights, the acting is superb. Van Damme is amazing as usual, but watch out for Bond actor Roger Moore as a villainous, slave-trading mercenary.

3

‘Cyborg’ (1989)

Cyborg

Release Date

April 7, 1989

Runtime

86 Minutes

Director

Albert Pyun

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  Deborah Richter

  Nady Simmons

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  Vincent Klyn

  Fender Tremolo

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  Alex Daniels

  Marshall Strat

Cyborg is set in a post-apocalyptic world where a plague has crippled civilization. A cyborg named Pearl Prophet (Dayle Haddon) is soon tasked with transporting vital information that might cure the disease. Unfortunately, she gets kidnapped. After learning about the developments, slinger Gibson Rickenbacker (Van Damme) springs into action.

Cheap and Shiny

The plot of Cyborg might be rooted in science fiction, but it’s a martial arts affair. Director Albert Pyun refrains from bothering audiences with the theory. Instead, we get countless beatdowns in the wasteland. Pyun wrote the film in one weekend and filmed it in 23 days. With a budget of $500,000, it is one of the cheapest movies ever made, but there is so much fun that you won’t notice it.

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2

‘No Retreat No Surrender’ (1986)

No Retreat, No Surrender

Release Date

May 2, 1986

Runtime

85 minutes

Director

Corey Yuen

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  Ivan Kraschinsky “The Russian”

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  Kurt McKinney

  Jason Stillwell

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  Kathie Sileno

  Kelly Reilly

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No Retreat, No Surrender follows Jason Stillwell (Kurt McKinney), a young Bruce Lee fan forced to move to Seattle after his dad’s dojo gets attacked by members of a crime syndicate. He soon discovers Bruce Lee’s spirit and becomes an expert. But his ultimate test comes when he is pitted against the syndicate’s enforcer, Ivan Kraschinsky (played by Jean-Claude Van Damme).

Taking Things Seriously

The film borrows a thing or two from Rocky IV and The Karate Kid, but it still walks its path, thanks to the Bruce Lee storyline. The fight sequences also look very realistic, which isn’t surprising considering how intense Van Damme was on set. He reportedly knocked Pete Cunningham unconscious, forcing the director to ban him from making contact with any actors or stuntmen. A true action star who can kick a**.

1

‘Kickboxer: Retaliation’ (2018)

Kickboxer: Retaliation

Release Date

January 26, 2018

Runtime

110 minutes

Director

Dimitri Logothetis

Van Damme switches roles in Kickboxer: Retaliation. The film picks up where the original left off. After defeating Tong Po, Kurt Sloane (Alain Moussi) gets kidnapped and imprisoned. He is then forced to fight a genetically enhanced fighter. This time, Van Damme portrays Sloane’s trainer, Master Durand.

Wearing the Tutor Cap

A moving tale of cross-generational camaraderie, Kickboxer: Retaliation hits high notes from all angles. Beautiful shots of Bangkok and its environs further accent the sensitively choreographed underdog story. Van Damme is perfect in his mentor role, a move clearly inspired by the Creed movies. You’ll also love the supporting cast, which includes boxing legend Mike Tyson as a convict forced into the brutal world of kickboxing.