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The Challenge

Play trailer Poster for The Challenge R,  1982,  1h 52m,  Crime/ Drama Play Trailer Watchlist
Watchlist 53% 17 Reviews Tomatometer 70% 250+ Ratings Popcornmeter
53% Tomatometer 17 Reviews 70% Popcornmeter 250+ Ratings
An American boxer (Scott Glenn) enters a ritual feud between two Japanese brothers (Toshirô Mifune, Atsuo Nakamura) over two coveted samurai swords.

Critics Reviews

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Gene Siskel Chicago Tribune Apr 19, 2021
3/4
It's much better than the routine chop-socky karate film. Go to Full Review
Peter Stack San Francisco Chronicle Apr 19, 2021
1/4
A few lively action scenes do little to help out this uninspired affair, directed by John Frankenheimer and shot in Japan. Go to Full Review
Sumner Rand Orlando Sentinel Apr 19, 2021
3.5/5
A beautifully made, handsomely filmed and thoroughly engrossing action movie that has much more going for it than martial arts. Go to Full Review
Ed Travis Cinapse Nov 8, 2023
Under Frankenheimer’s confident direction, The Challenge steps on the gas so masterfully I’m unsure how the film isn’t more highly regarded or strongly remembered as a tough guy cinema undiscovered masterpiece. Go to Full Review
John Stark San Francisco Examiner Apr 19, 2021
1/4
Frankenheimer, whose career goes up and down, has hit rock bottom with this one. Go to Full Review
George Williams Sacramento Bee Apr 19, 2021
Glenn... moves like an arthritic giraffe and never until the climax shows that his character is a former boxing champion lately skilled in Asian martial arts. Lines of dialogue have not been spit out with such incompetence since the early Steve McQueen. Go to Full Review
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Audience Reviews

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Ron L Apr 8, 2017 Ridiculous, yet fun as hell culture-clash 80s action movie. Scott Glenn is awesome as always as is Mifune, who it was weird seeing in his twilight. Some cheesy but glorious one liners, and surprisingly decent action sequences. See more
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The Challenge

My Rating

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Cast & Crew

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John Frankenheimer

Director

Scott Glenn

Rick

Toshiro Mifune

Toru Yoshida

Atsuo Nakamura

Hideo Yoshida

Donna Kei Benz

Akiko Yoshida

Calvin Jung

Ando

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The Challenge

The Challenge (1982) The Challenge (1982) The Challenge (1982) View more photos

Movie Info

Synopsis An American boxer (Scott Glenn) enters a ritual feud between two Japanese brothers (Toshirô Mifune, Atsuo Nakamura) over two coveted samurai swords.
Director
John Frankenheimer
Producer
Robert L. Rosen, Ron Beckman
Rating
R
Genre
Crime, Drama
Original Language
English
Release Date (Streaming)
Mar 30, 2021
Runtime
1h 52m
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