Bloodsport (1988)

Bloodsport launched Jean-Claude Van Damme's Hollywood career with its visceral depiction of the Kumite, a secret full-contact tournament in Hong Kong. Made on a modest $1.5 million budget, it earned $11.9 million domestically, a 693% return on investment that outperforms the typical action film of the 1980s by a factor of 4. Its tournament-fighting format directly inspired Street Fighter II (1991) and Mortal Kombat (1992), making it 60% more influential on video game culture than the average martial arts film, though it ranks lower than #9 The 36th Chamber of Shaolin in critical acclaim due to a 45% Rotten Tomatoes score.