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Jean-Claude Van Damme: Karate King poster

Jean-Claude Van Damme: Karate King

Film202358 min7.4/10 on TMDB

Directed by Olivier Monssens

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An American low-budget action film celebrated an unexpected worldwide success in 1988: "Bloodsport". With its, the world of film fans and martial arts cinema discovered a new idol: Jean-Claude Van Damme. In the 1970s there was Bruce Lee, but at the end of the 1980s a Belgian won the day. Van Damme was a karate master and had unparalleled strength and flexibility. For ten years he was one of Hollywood's hottest action stars. But excessive overconfidence and drugs bring him down again. At home in Europe he becomes a laughing stock on talk shows. Only with "JCVD" does he manage to get back on his feet, playing his character with perspective and self-irony, but without ever giving up the reputation that his action films brought him and which has been a cult for several generations. The highs and lows of his eventful life are told through archive footage and contributions from people close to the popular Belgian actor.Read moreLess

An American low-budget action film celebrated an unexpected worldwide success in 1988: "Bloodsport". With its, the world of film fans and martial arts cinema discovered a new idol: Jean-Claude Van Damme. In the 1970s there was Bruce Lee, but at the end of the 1980s a Belgian won the day. Van Damme was a karate master and had unparalleled strength and flexibility. For ten years he was one of Hollywood's hottest action stars. But excessive overconfidence and drugs bring him down again. At home in Europe he becomes a laughing stock on talk shows. Only with "JCVD" does he manage to get back on his feet, playing his character with perspective and self-irony, but without ever giving up the reputation that his action films brought him and which has been a cult for several generations. The highs and lows of his eventful life are told through archive footage and contributions from people close to the popular Belgian actor.

The story

An American low-budget action film celebrated an unexpected worldwide success in 1988: "Bloodsport". With its, the world of film fans and martial arts cinema discovered a new idol: Jean-Claude Van Damme. In the 1970s there was Bruce Lee, but at the end of the 1980s a Belgian won the day. Van Damme was a karate master and had unparalleled strength and flexibility. For ten years he was one of Hollywood's hottest action stars. But excessive overconfidence and drugs bring him down again. At home in Europe he becomes a laughing stock on talk shows. Only with "JCVD" does he manage to get back on his feet, playing his character with perspective and self-irony, but without ever giving up the reputation that his action films brought him and which has been a cult for several generations. The highs and lows of his eventful life are told through archive footage and contributions from people close to the popular Belgian actor.

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Cast & crew

Claude Goetz
Claude Goetz
Self - Interviewee
Philippe GratonPhilippe GratonSelf - Interviewee
Michel QissiMichel QissiSelf - Interviewee
Monette Loza
Monette Loza
Self - Interviewee
Marc Duvinage
Marc Duvinage
Self - Interviewee
Sheldon LettichSheldon LettichSelf - Interviewee
David Worth
David Worth
Self - Interviewee
Ally WalkerAlly WalkerSelf - Interviewee
Mabrouk El MechriMabrouk El MechriSelf - Interviewee
Olivier Monssens
Olivier Monssens
Self - Narrator (voice)
Explore the crew
Original Music Composer
Benjamin Schoos
Director of Photography
Guillaume Tunzini
Director of Photography
Thomas Labourasse
Director of Photography
Denis Dufays
Director of Photography
François Roland
Director of Photography
Marie Pannetrat