Kickboxer: Vengeance (2016)
Kickboxer: Vengeance (2016)
Directed by: John Stockwell
Starring: Alain Moussi, Jean-Claude Van Damme, Dave Bautista, Sara Malakul Lane, Georges St-Pierre
Genre: Martial Arts / Action / Sports
Runtime: 90 mins
Streaming on: Sometimes available on Prime Video, Apple TV, Tubi (availability may vary)
OverviewA reimagining of the 1989 martial arts classic, Kickboxer: Vengeance follows Kurt Sloane (Alain Moussi), a young fighter seeking justice for his brother, who was killed in an underground match against the brutal champion Tong Po (Dave Bautista).
To stand a chance, Kurt trains under the legendary Master Durand (Jean-Claude Van Damme, returning to the franchise in a mentor role). What follows is a training montage-packed journey of revenge, honor, and high-flying martial arts action, culminating in a fierce, no-holds-barred fight to the finish.
What Worked
Alain Moussi delivers strong fight choreography and physicality in the lead Van Damme’s presence as the wise mentor adds nostalgic weight Dave Bautista is a terrifying, imposing Tong Po Solid martial arts action with brutal hand-to-hand sequences Fun throwback to classic ‘80s fight films — with modern flair
Fan Reactions
“Van Damme passing the torch — and still kicking.” “Bautista is a beast. Scary good as Tong Po.” “It’s cheesy, it’s violent, it’s everything a Kickboxer movie should be.” “Loved the training scenes — classic martial arts movie feel.”
Final VerdictKickboxer: Vengeance blends nostalgia and new blood for a fun, bone-crunching ride. While the plot sticks to formula, the action is energetic, and the mix of veterans and newcomers works well. A solid reboot for fans of old-school martial arts flicks.
