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Best of the Best

Play trailer Poster for Best of the Best PG-13 1989 1h 37m Action Play Trailer Watchlist
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33% Tomatometer 6 Reviews 73% Popcornmeter 10,000+ Ratings
Five American martial artists prepare to battle the South Korean champions in the 1988 Seoul Summer Olympics.
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Best of the Best

Critics Reviews

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Roger Ebert Chicago Sun-Times Jan 1, 2000
1/4
There is not a single scene in this movie that I found amusing, original or interesting. What we really have here is a documentary of the actors wasting their lives. Go to Full Review
David Nusair Reel Film Reviews Oct 30, 2021
2/4
...a watchable yet entirely forgettable drama... Go to Full Review
JK Sooja Common Sense Media Jul 30, 2021
1/5
Perhaps in attempts to capitalize on the success of the original Karate Kid movie series (1984-89), this unfortunate movie was green lit. But nothing about Best of the Best is accurate or good. Go to Full Review
Michael A. Smith Nolan's Pop Culture Review Jan 8, 2005
4/5
I LOVE this movie. Bad sequels take away from the original. Go to Full Review
Emanuel Levy EmanuelLevy.Com Nov 5, 2004
1/5
Scott Weinberg eFilmCritic.com Jul 25, 2002
3/5
Surprisingly not-awful cable-flick action-fest! Go to Full Review
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Audience Reviews

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Ganna T @RT25226856 Sep 23, 2026 There are talented actresses—and then there are stars who redefine excellence. This Sri Lankan actress stands proudly in that second category. Her performances are a masterclass in emotion, elegance, and authenticity. Whether she steps into a dramatic role, a romantic lead, or a powerful character with depth, she brings an unmatched presence that captivates audiences instantly. Her ability to express complex feelings with subtlety, her dedication to every role, and her natural screen charisma make her one of the brightest gems in Sri Lanka’s entertainment industry. She doesn’t just act—she transforms every scene she touches, leaving viewers inspired, moved, and eager for more. Beyond her artistry, she carries herself with grace, professionalism, and a genuine love for her craft. She represents the very best of Sri Lankan cinema and continues to raise the bar with every performance. A true icon. A true inspiration. The best of the best. See more Celestial S @RT87144092 Sep 21, 2026 Worst of the worst Movie See more Nicholas G @RT87452460 May 12, 2026 A great action gem from the 80s. It's a shame that professional movie raters hate anything good. I am glad I view a 1 from them as a 10! See more Nav S @Nav_Sarao Mar 25, 2026 Thanks to the awful critics, who seem to rate a film on everything apart from how entertaining it is, I almost missed this gem when I saw it was only rated at 33%. Glad I listened to those other audience reviews that told me to ignore them. Best of the Best is a gem. The actions scenes are excellent and, unlike most Hollywood films, you can actually see what is going on during the fights and they are not unrealistic. It also has a fantastic ending with a great moral message. Certainly one of the best martial arts movies Hollywood has ever dished out. See more Phil H @P-Hubbs Mar 22, 2026 I can see why this has gained a bit of a cult status, what with the casting and reasonable fight sequences. Looking back its certainly up there with other tournament fight movies, what few there were. It's pretty obvious that the reason this never took off back in the day was simply that Jean Claude Van Damme had cornered that particular market. He was the martial arts King in Hollywood and no one was coming close. Had Van Damme been in this, well now you're talking, the movie takes on a whole new level. As it stands now looking back, yeah its fine, a solid fight flick, even if the movie poster does make Roberts look like the main bad guy. See more William R @RT31794279 Sep 16, 2025 Thw movie was great and is a classic for anyone who grew up in the 80s and 90s and are now 40+ years old. See more Read all reviews
Best of the Best

My Rating

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Movie Info

Synopsis Five American martial artists prepare to battle the South Korean champions in the 1988 Seoul Summer Olympics.
Director
Robert Radler
Producer
Phillip Rhee, Peter E. Strauss
Screenwriter
Paul J. Levine
Production Co
SVS Films
Rating
PG-13
Genre
Action
Original Language
English
Release Date (Streaming)
May 23, 2014
Box Office (Gross USA)
$5.9M
Runtime
1h 37m
Sound Mix
Surround
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