← Back to results
The Big Brawl
1980 95 min Hong Kong, United States of America R 16+
★6.4
Action, Comedy
Director: Robert Clouse
Trailers
Description
A young Asian American martial artist is forced to participate in a brutal formal street-fight competition.
Budget:
$6M
US Gross:
$8.53M
Worldwide:
$21.49M
Starring
Jackie Chan
Actor
Kristine DeBell
Actor
José Ferrer
Actor
Awards
1 nomination total
Key opinion
The Big Brawl is viewed as a light-hearted, comedic vehicle that serves as Jackie Chan's experimental but uneven first attempt at a U.S. market film. While it lacks the high-stakes intensity of his later Hong Kong work, it remains a charming watch for dedicated fans who appreciate his nascent physical charisma and inventive fight choreography.
| Acting | Jackie Chan showcases early evidence of his signature star quality and physical prowess despite being constrained by Hollywood expectations. | |
| Originality | The fight choreography cleverly utilizes surrounding objects and humorous staging to compensate for lower-stakes combat sequences. | |
| Acting | Supporting performances from actors like Mako and H.B. Hagerty provide memorable and solid character work. | |
| Score | The jazz-influenced and uplifting score effectively bolsters the film's light-hearted, ironic tone. | |
| Theme | The comedic-action tone is polarized: enthusiasts enjoy the naive, breezy charm of the 1930s gangster setting, while others see it as a lackluster film that does not function well as an introduction to Chan's talents. |