IMDb 5.7 1980 HD

The Big Brawl

The Big Brawl

1980
Action Comedy
95 min R USA
5.902 / 10
5.7 IMDB

A young Asian American martial artist is forced to participate in a brutal formal street-fight competition.

Personnel // Cast & Crew

Director Robert Clouse
Starring
Jackie Chan / Mako / Kristine DeBell / José Ferrer / Rosalind Chao / Chao-Li Chi / H.B. Haggerty / Ron Max

How Viewers Describe This Film

Common themes and sentiments

brutal intense action-packed compelling uneven serious physical entertaining historical raw gritty compelling

Reviews

G
Genevieve Dubois
May 23, 2026
2.5 / 5
2.5

'The Big Brawl' offers a glimpse into Jackie Chan's burgeoning international career, placing him in a narrative driven by brutal, formalised street combat. The story, revolving around a young man forced into a dangerous fighting tournament, is direct…

A
Arthur Finch
May 23, 2026
3.5 / 5
3.5

This film is an interesting artefact from Jackie Chan's career, showcasing his talent in 'The Big Brawl'. The plot, concerning a young martial artist drawn into a perilous street-fighting competition, is straightforward and effective. Chan delivers a compelling…

P
Penelope Davies
May 23, 2026
2.0 / 5
2.0

'The Big Brawl' presents Jackie Chan in a less effervescent mode, a film that seems to grapple with its own identity. The premise of a martial artist forced into a formalised street fight is intriguing, but the execution…

M
Marcus Bellweather
May 23, 2026
3.0 / 5
3.0

In 'The Big Brawl', we encounter Jackie Chan in a role that leans heavily on his formidable martial arts skills, albeit within a narrative that feels more grounded and less overtly comedic than his subsequent global triumphs. The…

E
Eleanor Vance
May 23, 2026
2.5 / 5
2.5

Jackie Chan headlines 'The Big Brawl', a film that charts his early steps into the Western market. The plot, which sees a young martial artist coerced into a brutal street-fighting competition, offers a stark premise. While Chan's physical…

FAQs

The film adopts a serious tone, focusing on the dramatic circumstances that force the protagonist into a brutal fighting competition. While Jackie Chan's presence might suggest moments of levity, the core narrative leans towards the grittiness of the organised street fights and the pressures faced by the main character, creating a more intense viewing experience than some of his lighter fare.