American Kickboxer


American Kickboxer is a 1991 South African-American martial arts action film directed by Frans Nel and written by Emil Kolbe, based on an original story by the film's lead actor, John Barrett.

Plot

Robert James "B.J." Quinn is the current middleweight kickboxing champion of the world ready to face his next opponent, Chad Hunter. Hunter proves to be quite the opponent with his impressive skills but in the second round Quinn accidentally hits Chad with an elbow while going for a spinning back fist, causing the doctor to stop the fight. Quinn retains his title.
At a party celebrating a new sponsor, cocky middleweight contender Jacques Denard hits on Quinn's girlfriend Carol. Quinn confronts him and as the two begin to push each other, party-goer Ken tries to split them up. Quinn punches Ken so hard that he crashes through a table and dies. Quinn is sentenced to twelve months on manslaughter charges and is no longer allowed to compete in professional kickboxing. A year later Quinn is released from prison and is shocked to learn that Denard has become the middleweight champion.
Quinn befriends Chad. At another party, Quinn beats Denard with a chair. Denard challenges Quinn to fight him for $100,000. With the help of Chad and former trainer Howard, Quinn prepares for the big fight.
At the fight, Denard's dirty tactics take their toll on Quinn. When Quinn goes down during one of the later rounds, he gets up at a nine-count. He surprises Denard with a flurry of kicks and ends it with a tornado kick, sending Denard to the ground for the ten-count. Chad, Howard, Carol, and others gather to congratulate Quinn.

Cast

  • John Barrett as Robert James "B.J." Quinn
  • Keith Vitali as Chad Hunter
  • Terry Norton as Carol Quinn
  • Brad Morris as Jacques Denard
  • Roger Yuan as Howard
  • Ted Le Plat as Willard
  • Len Sparrowhawk as Bob Wiser
  • Gavin Hood as Ken
  • Patrick Lyster as Prosecutor
  • Larry Martin as Judge Rivers
  • Gary Chalmers as Attorney
  • Jeff Fannell as Dick
  • Alex von Reumont as Jerry
  • Tom Agnew as Adrian Holligan Sr.
  • Judd Lasarow as Adrian Holligan Jr.
  • Zia Garfield as Daley Adams
  • Graham Clarke as Alex Bone
  • Caroline Smart as Doreen
  • Mark Mulder as Eugene
  • Deon Stewardson as Jim, Sports Editor

    Production

The film was shot in South Africa in late 1990 when martial arts films were becoming popular to shoot there for budgetary reasons.

Sequels

In 1993, two sequels were released. American Kickboxer 2 was a sequel in name only, shot on location in the Philippines and starring former kickboxing champion Dale 'Apollo' Cook as a cop forced to team up with his ex-wife's former boyfriend to save his ex-wife's daughter.
A direct sequel entitled To the Death was directed by Darrell Roodt and featured John Barrett as the renamed "Rick Quinn" and Michel Qissi replacing Brad Morris as Jacques Denard, who starts out as Quinn's rival but ultimately becomes his ally.

Release

The film was released theatrically in South Africa on March 1, 1991. It never received a theatrical release in the United States, but Cannon Films released the film on home video on July 24, 1991.
In 2022, the streaming service Swissx TV offered NFT ownership of American Kickboxer to commemorate its 30th anniversary.