Common Sense Media Review
By Jeffrey M. Anderson
,
based on child development research. How do we rate?
Early Van Damme martial arts movie is fun but violent.
Parents Need to Know
Why Age 15+?
Any Positive Content?
Where to Watch
Videos and Photos
Bloodsport
Parent and Kid Reviews
What's the Story?
In BLOODSPORT, young Frank Dux (pronounced "Dukes") tries to break into the home of Senzo Tanaka (Roy Chiao) to steal a katana but then changes his mind and replaces it. Tanaka likes what he sees in the boy and agrees to train him in the ways of martial arts. Years later, now-adult Frank (Jean-Claude Van Damme) is a decorated Army captain who's been invited to fight in the Kumite, an underground competition in Hong Kong. Turned down for official leave, he goes illegally and is pursued by two CID agents, Helmer (Norman Burton) and Rawlins (Forest Whitaker). In Hong Kong, Frank befriends fellow competitor Ray Jackson (Donald Gibb) and meets reporter Janice Kent (Leah Ayres), who wants to break the story on the secret tournament. The competition begins, and Frank quickly learns that the fearsome Chong Li (Bolo Yeung) is the one to beat—and it could be the fight of his life.
Is It Any Good?
It's hard to argue that this Van Damme martial arts movie is actually good, but it's acceptable to call it entertaining, especially given how it's aged, emphasizing its silly qualities. A B movie from Cannon Films, Bloodsport was Van Damme's breakout role, and even though he received a Golden Raspberry ("Razzie") nomination for it, the movie was a success, and he became a star. The movie's biggest trouble is that it's painfully White-centric, with characters of color only on-screen in supporting roles that cross into stereotype. (Roy Chiao, who plays Frank's sensei, is recognizable as the scheming "Lao Che" from Indiana Jones and the Temple of Doom, and villain Bolo Yeung is best known for tangling with Bruce Lee in Enter the Dragon.)
It's also hard to watch the montage scenes accompanied by cheesy 1980s pop music with a straight face, let alone not laugh at some of the "crazy faces" and posing that goes on during the fights. (Van Damme shows off his ability to do the splits many times.) And the whole idea of a secret underground fighting tournament that, apparently, everyone knows about is pretty laughable. But once the competition starts, it's easy to get caught up in the whirlwind of different fighting styles and the artistry contained therein. If you watch it in the right mood, even the silly stuff in Bloodsport ("OK, USA!") can inspire friendly laughter.
Talk to Your Kids About ...
Families can talk about Bloodsport's violence. How did it make you feel? Was it exciting? Shocking? What did the movie show or not show to achieve this effect? Why is that important?
Did you notice any stereotypes in the movie? How could the movie have avoided them?
What's the appeal of martial arts movies? Is it just the violence? Is there something visual or poetic about the fighting styles? Is it about the skill and training involved?
Do the characters demonstrate courage? Why is that an important character strength?
Movie Details
- In theaters : April 29, 1988
- On DVD or streaming : August 10, 2016
- Cast : Jean-Claude Van Damme , Donald Gibb , Leah Ayres , Forest Whitaker
- Director : Newt Arnold
- Inclusion Information : Female Movie Actor(s) , Black Movie Actor(s)
- Studio : Cannon Films
- Genre : Action/Adventure
- Run time : 92 minutes
- MPAA rating :
- Last updated : August 24, 2025
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