Thirty-seven years ago today, a 1989 Jean-Claude Van Damme film that played a pivotal role in cementing him as a movie star was released. Decades later, Kickboxer was ranked among the “Best Martial Arts Movies of All Time” by a highly respected outlet.
‘Kickboxer’ Starring Jean-Claude Van Damme Was Released on September 8, 1989
After it had previously come out in a handful of countries, Jean-Claude Van Damme’s Kickboxer was released on September 8, 1989, in the United States, Canada, and Denmark. In addition to starring in the film, the action star also conceived the movie’s story with Mark DiSalle and served as its fight director and choreographer.
The movie was co-directed by Mark DiSalle and David Worth and focuses on an American kickboxer named Eric Sloane who travels to Bangkok, Thailand, to avenge his brother. Once there, he is trained in Muay Thai to battle Tong Po, a local champion who paralyzed his brother from the waist down during a brutal fight. The film co-starred Michel Qissi, Dennis Alexio, Dennis Chan, and Ka Ting Lee.
After headlining 1988’s Bloodsport, Kickboxer further showed that Van Damme had become a huge star. According to IMDb, Kickboxer brought in nearly ten times what it cost to make, which made it a massive success. Produced for an estimated $1.5 million, the beloved action movie made more than $14.6 million at the worldwide box office.
Who Ranked ‘Kickboxer’ Among the ‘Best Martial Arts Movies of All Time’
On June 15, 2023, Paste Magazine published its ranking of the “100 Best Martial Arts Movies of All Time.” The list featured two Van Damme classic films, Bloodsport at No. 64 and Kickboxer at No. 79. The outlet celebrated Kickboxer for several reasons, including how fantastic it feels when the villain Tong Po is defeated. More recently, on September 6, 2026, MovieWeb included the film in its ranking of “8 Classic Martial Arts Movies of the ’80s That Are Free To Stream.”
How to Stream ‘Kickboxer’ For Free
As Kickboxer’s inclusion in MovieWeb’s article indicates, the classic Jean-Claude Van Damme movie is available to stream for free in the United States. In fact, the film can be streamed with ad support on Tubi, Fandango, and Plex without paying anything or even signing in.
This story was originally published by Men’s Journal on Sep 8, 2026, where it first appeared in the News section. Add Men’s Journal as a Preferred Source by clicking here.