American martial arts movies 1970-1989
A list of 50 martial arts movies made in the USA or starring American martial artists produced between 1970 and 1989 (also please check out all the trailers for these films at www.youtube.com/playlist?list=PLfsgget5iANF68SoJDGB0Fx_HG-Hybxjb
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50 titles
- DirectorRobert ClouseStarsBruce LeeJohn SaxonJim KellyA Shaolin martial artist travels to an island fortress to spy on an opium lord - who is also a former monk from his temple - under the guise of attending a fighting tournament.
- DirectorVictor M. OrdonezEd PalmosAl VallettaStarsKarin ManiRobert TortiBritt HelferA martial artist stops a street gang from stealing her car, but her grandmother ends up being killed by the same gang. She witnesses firsthand how corrupt and inept law enforcement is, and decides to take matters into her own hands.
- DirectorRobert ClouseStarsJim KellyGloria HendryScatman CrothersA Mafia buy out of Papa Byrd's karate school downtown ends in his death. Byrd's daughter, Sydney, refuses to sell, and wants revenge. Byrd's students call the Black Belt Jones for help. Jones reluctantly teams with Sydney in many battles.
- DirectorIvan HallStarsJames RyanCharlotte MichelleNorman CoombesTwo former ranking figures of the Axis powers schedule a deadly martial arts tournament in an isolated locale. The two rivals then race to assemble the top competitors from around the world, with Steve Hunt being the most sought after fighter.
- DirectorIvan HallStarsJames RyanAnneline KrielMichael MayerWhen Dr. Horatio Kane is kidnapped and is forced to create an army of martial artists his daughter Kandy Kane is the only one who can help. She enlists the help of Steve Chase to save her father and the day.
- DirectorCirio H. SantiagoStarsJillian KesnerDarby HintonRey MalonzoFemme fatale martial arts expert teaches the mafia a lesson.
- DirectorMichael FinkStarsOwen WatsonWarhawk TanzaniaMalachi LeeWhen a priceless African statue is stolen and its courier is murdered, the Force Four are called in to deal out some old fashioned retributive action.
- DirectorRobert ClouseStarsJoe LewisBong Soo HanSonny BarnesA martial-arts expert leads a team of fellow martial artists to rescue a senator's daughter from an island ruled by the evil leader of a fanatical religious cult.
- DirectorEric KarsonStarsChuck NorrisKaren CarlsonLee Van CleefA martial artist must defeat a plan by ninjas to create a worldwide training camp for terrorists.
- DirectorPatrick G. DonahueStarsJean GlaudéJeff RiskJerry JohnsonAfter their ex-platoon leader is paralyzed and his wife is raped and murdered, his former squadron of five soldiers reunite to seek revenge. But an unknown figure in black is personally hunting the squadron down too.
- DirectorEdward D. MurphyStarsCameron MitchellGeoffrey BinneyHope HolidayMartial arts students visit an island with ghosts of dishonored fighters. They encounter a Hitler lookalike running a female slavery operation, leading to encounters with cannibals, piranhas, zombies, and chaos.
- DirectorBarry RosenStarsWarhawk TanzaniaLarry FleischmanWilfredo RoldanA tough black martial artist cop takes on warring street gangs and an evil demon that haunts the New York City subways.
- DirectorMichael SchultzStarsTaimakVanityChristopher MurneyIn New York City, a young man searches for a Master to obtain the final level of martial arts mastery known as the Glow.
- DirectorSam FirstenbergStarsMichael DudikoffSteve JamesJudie AronsonAmerican soldier, obviously very skilled in martial arts, single-handedly takes on mercenaries in the Philippines.
- DirectorMenahem GolanStarsFranco NeroSusan GeorgeShô KosugiAfter passing a ninja master test in Japan, Cole visits a war buddy in the Philippines. He helps him fight men, who want his buddy's plantation.
- DirectorSam FirstenbergStarsShô KosugiKeith VitaliVirgil FryeAfter ninjas killed his family, Cho and his son Kane come to America to start a new life. He opens a doll shop but is unwittingly importing heroin in the dolls. When his friend betrays him, Cho must prepare for the ultimate battle.
- DirectorSam FirstenbergStarsShô KosugiLucinda DickeyJordan BennettAn evil ninja attempts to avenge his death from beyond the grave, by possessing an innocent woman's body.
- DirectorSteve CarverStarsChuck NorrisDavid CarradineBarbara CarreraAfter helping the local police with some horse thieves, a Texas Ranger aims at a drug lord with arms trade as well. They're interested in the same woman and they're both into martial arts.
- DirectorLee FrostStarsSondra CurrieTony YoungPhil HooverA lady cop infiltrates an all-female criminal gang.
- DirectorRichard MooreStarsDavid CarradineJeff CooperChristopher LeeA young martial artist embarks on an adventure, encountering other martial artists in battle until one day he meets an aging blind man who will show him the true meaning of martial arts and life.
- DirectorJohn G. AvildsenStarsRalph MacchioPat MoritaElisabeth ShueA martial arts master agrees to teach karate to a bullied teenager.
- DirectorAndrew DavisStarsChuck NorrisHenry SilvaBert RemsenA Chicago cop is caught in the middle of a gang war while his own comrades shun him because he wants to take down an irresponsible cop.
- DirectorCorey YuenStarsKurt McKinneyJean-Claude Van DammeJ.W. FailsJason, a Bruce Lee fan, sees his karate instructor/dad beaten by martial art thugs. They move to Seattle where, after humiliations, he trains with Bruce Lee's ghost so he can defend himself and others against thugs.
- DirectorJohn CarpenterStarsKurt RussellKim CattrallDennis DunA rough-and-tumble trucker and his side kick face off with an ancient sorcerer in a supernatural battle beneath Chinatown.
- DirectorNewt ArnoldStarsJean-Claude Van DammeDonald GibbLeah Ayres"Bloodsport" follows Frank Dux, an American martial artist serving in the military, who decides to leave the army to compete in a martial arts tournament in Hong Kong where fights to the death can occur.
- DirectorMark DiSalleDavid WorthStarsJean-Claude Van DammeDennis AlexioDennis ChanKurt Sloane must learn the ancient kick boxing art of Muay Thai in order to avenge his brother.
- DirectorRobert RadlerStarsEric RobertsJames Earl JonesSally KirklandA team from the United States is going to compete against Korea in a Tae Kwon Do tournament. The team consists of fighters from all over the country - can they overcome their rivalry and work together to win?
- DirectorPeter ManoogianStarsAndrew PrineDenise CrosbyPatrick ReynoldsA former pilot rebels against his creator, teaming up with the scientist responsible for android technology, her pet robot Spot, a rough-and-tumble riverboat guide, and a martial arts warrior.
- DirectorTerence H. WinklessStarsDon WilsonJoe Mari AvellanaRob KamanDon Wilson plays retired kickboxer Jake Raye, who travels to Manila, where his brother is favored to win a kickboxing competition. His brother is killed, and Jake realizes he must enter the competition himself to flush out his brother's killer.
- DirectorJohn G. AvildsenStarsPat MoritaRalph MacchioPat E. JohnsonDaniel accompanies his mentor, Mr. Miyagi, to Miyagi's childhood home in Okinawa. Miyagi visits his dying father and confronts his old rival, while Daniel falls in love and inadvertently makes a new rival of his own.
- DirectorJohn G. AvildsenStarsRalph MacchioPat MoritaRobyn LivelyOstracised villain John Kreese attempts to gain revenge on Daniel and Miyagi, with the help of a Vietnam War comrade, the wealthy owner of a toxic waste disposal business.
- DirectorEric KarsonStarsShô KosugiJean-Claude Van DammeDoran ClarkCIA agent must outrace KGB agent in searching of super weapon lost in Mediterranean.
- DirectorRobert ClouseStarsKurt ThomasTetchie AgbayaniRichard NortonAn American gymnast travels to a foreign country to compete in a deadly game not won by anyone other than a native in more than 900 years.
- DirectorErnest PintoffStarsJoe LewisChristopher LeeDonald PleasenceThe world's new Karate hero (Joe Lewis) is out to stop drug dealers, gangs, and help save the world from an evil con (Sir Christopher Lee).
- DirectorAndrew DavisStarsSteven SeagalPam GrierHenry SilvaA former Special Operations Vietnam vet works as a Chicago cop, and uncovers C.I.A. wrongdoing.
- DirectorSteve CarverStarsChuck NorrisChristopher LeeRichard RoundtreeA SFPD undercover narcotics cop aims to avenge his partner's death and destroy a drug-smuggling ring operated by the Chinese Triads.
- DirectorWoo-sang ParkY.K. KimStarsY.K. KimVincent HirschJoseph DiamandA martial arts rock band goes up against a band of motorcycle ninjas who have tightened their grip on Florida's narcotics trade.
- DirectorOscar WilliamsStarsJim KellyGeorge MemmoliGeoffrey BinneyMartial-arts expert tries to rescue an ambassador's daughter who was kidnapped in Thailand.
- DirectorWoo-sang ParkStarsJun ChongPhillip RheeJames LewA Korean immigrant in L.A. encounters difficulties when he refuses to join the all-Korean gang in his highschool.
- DirectorChun-Ku LuStarsRon Van CliefCharles BonetPhillip KoThree rival gangs embark on a search for Bruce Lee's handwritten "finger fighting " manual.
- DirectorDon BendellStarsBob ChaneyDon BendellSteve BoergadineBendell's self-defense school is considered pretty good, but not in the league of the one run by his rival. One thing leads to another, and the two men find themselves, and their students, squaring off in a winner-take-all.
- DirectorPaul AaronStarsJennifer O'NeillChuck NorrisClu GulagerWhen the detectives of an undercover police unit are being mysteriously killed by a martial artist, a professional kickboxer is hired to assist them.
- DirectorDon HuletteStarsChuck NorrisGeorge MurdockTerry O'ConnorTruck driver searches for his brother, who has disappeared in a town run by a corrupt judge.
- StarsChuck NorrisAlan OppenheimerKeone YoungChuck Norris is an operative for the United States government who has a team consisting of Pepper, a technological genius, Kimo, a Samurai warrior, Reed, his apprentice, Tabe, a Sumo warrior, and Too Much, the young ward. Together they foil the plans of The Claw and his right hand man, The Super Ninja.
- DirectorJames FargoStarsChuck NorrisMary Louise WellerCamila GriggsA casino security guard is forced into violence from when the Hong Kong mob threatens his friends.
- DirectorTed PostStarsChuck NorrisAnne ArcherJames FranciscusAn ex-US Army commando must find the reason why his comrades from his unit are being systematically murdered before he is next.
- DirectorMichael MillerStarsChuck NorrisRon SilverSteven KeatsA sheriff tries to stop the killing spree of a silent maniacal murderer who, as the result of secret genetic experimentation by an unethical scientist, has the ability to self-heal.
- DirectorAl AdamsonStarsJim KellyHarold SakataGeorge LazenbyThe Pig has a plan to eradicate some people with a freeze bomb that instantly freezes people to death. It is up to Detective Ash to stop him and protect the woman with the secret to the ice bomb embedded in a microdot under the skin of her forehead.
- DirectorAl AdamsonStarsJim KellyBill RoyRoberto ContrerasRobert Sand, agent of D.R.A.G.O.N. (Defense Reserve Agency Guardian Of Nations), is playing tennis on his vacation with a beautiful black girl, when his commanding officers ask him to save a Chinese girl who happens to be Sand's girlfriend, and the daughter of a top Eastern Ambassador. The ransom for the abduction was the secret for a terrific new weapon - the freeze bomb - but the 'Warlock' behind the deed is also into the business of drug dealing and Voodoo ritual murders. The search takes him from Hong Kong to California through Miami, and plenty of action, against bad men, bad girl, and bad animals.
- DirectorSam FirstenbergStarsMichael DudikoffSteve JamesLarry PoindexterOn a remote Caribbean island, Army Ranger Joe Armstrong investigates the disappearance of several marines, which leads him to The Lion, a super-criminal who has kidnapped a local scientist and mass-produced an army of mutant Ninja warriors.