
The best (and worst!) MMA movies (and TV series) of all time
The 97th Academy Awards have arrived. Suffice it to say, the 'Road House' reboot didn't make the cut in any categories. Still, it's movie season, so here's a list of MMA movies and TV series you might want to spend some time with – including a new series from France that has some high-profile cameos.
(And if we left some off the list, don't be offended. For the record, if a movie was purely karate or kickboxing or boxing, etc., we left it off – we're looking for reasonably modern-era mixed martial arts/cagefighting kind of stuff to make the cut for this list. Sorry, old Bruce Lee and Jean Claude Van Damme flicks. We'll save you for a different list.)

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New York Times
6 days ago
- New York Times
‘Road House' Still Reigns as the Best Bad Movie
What's a 'good-bad' movie? It's the kind of flick that might have you cackling, hollering or groaning, one that is not exactly great cinema but is great fun. It's highly watchable even though — or maybe because — it's memorably ridiculous. And it always has at least one element that pushes it into absurd territory. 'Road House' is the 1989 cult favorite starring Patrick Swayze as Dalton, the Tai Chi-practicing, philosophy-degree-holding bouncer-cooler with a heart of gold who is remarkably adept at ripping out throats. Even then, Roger Ebert identified 'Road House' as expertly walking a fine line. The movie 'exists right on the edge between the 'good-bad movie' and the merely bad,' he wrote at the time. 'I hesitate to recommend it, because so much depends on the ironic vision of the viewer. This is not a good movie. But viewed in the right frame of mind, it is not a boring one, either.' When it comes to relishing the zaniness of this and all good-bad movies, an ironic vision and the right frame of mind are essential — always. Have you similarly deliberated the merits of 'Road House'? Here's my breakdown of why, ultimately, it prevails. Want all of The Times? Subscribe.
Yahoo
7 days ago
- Yahoo
Jackie Chan Wonders If He's ‘Going to Die' Before Performing Any Stunt
Legendary action star Jackie Chan, known for his death-defying stunts, recently admitted that even he thinks that he is 'going to die' before performing dangerous sequences. During a masterclass at Switzerland's Locarno Film Festival, the 71-year-old icon opened up about his career, early struggles, and the constant pressure that comes with being a stunt performer. Jackie Chan talks about performing stunts during masterclass At the festival, where Jackie Chan received the prestigious Pardo alla Carriera, the actor reflected on his decades-long journey in cinema. Despite his fearless on-screen persona, he confessed, 'I'm no Superman. I am scared. Before a stunt, I go: 'Am I going to die this time?'' Chan, who began as a stuntman in Bruce Lee's Fist of Fury and Enter the Dragon, recalled how his career started. 'I was lazy, naughty, I didn't want to study—that's why my father sent me to martial arts school,' he joked. 'I liked fighting when I was young. Later, he asked: 'Did you like the school?' Yes, very much. I could kick the teacher, punch someone – whatever I wanted.' So, how did he transition from training to being a film stuntman? 'Movies are great – I can have my own lunchbox,' he shared. Chan's passion for filmmaking pushed him to learn every aspect of production. 'I'd even put on my own makeup—I wanted to show the director I'm good enough,' he said. Eventually, he took on directing duties, insisting that filmmakers should understand all elements of movie-making. Reflecting on his journey to Hollywood, Jackie Chan revealed his struggles to break through in America before his breakthrough role in Rush Hour. The film, he believes, became a cultural bridge between East and West. Still, he maintains that the story comes first, with action designed to serve the script. Now in his seventies, Chan continues to adapt, aspiring to be the 'Asian Robert De Niro' and proving he's more than just an action star. Accepting his career achievement award, he recalled a conversation with his father: 'I'm 60. Can you still fight when you're 60?' His answered now, saying, 'I'm 71 and I still can fight.' (via Variety) The post Jackie Chan Wonders If He's 'Going to Die' Before Performing Any Stunt appeared first on Mandatory. Solve the daily Crossword


Tom's Guide
06-08-2025
- Tom's Guide
When is 'Naked Gun' streaming? Here's our best guess
The '80s are getting the reboot treatment again. First "Road House, now "The Naked Gun." Paramount's taking another swing at the slapstick cop comedy, with Liam Neeson stepping into the role made famous by Leslie Nielsen. This version is more self-aware but still full of banana peels and bad puns. "The Naked Gun" (2025) just hit theaters, so if you want to see Neeson and co-star Pamela Anderson fumble their way through explosions and romantic subplots while deadpanning into chaos, you'll probably have to jump in the car and head to the theater since it only opened on Aug. 1 Still, we can take an educated guess when you can stream it at home. If you're not feeling like putting on pants for this one, chances are good it'll land on premium video-on-demand and Paramount Plus within the next couple of months. Here's what we know about when it'll be easier to watch from your couch. If you're hoping to watch Neeson awkwardly charge through explosions and bad one-liners from your couch right now, you'll have to wait a while. Right now, "The Naked Gun" is only playing in theaters, and there's no official streaming date yet. Paramount has yet to announce when you'll be able to buy or rent the movie from digital platforms, but we've seen the studio's pattern before. Paramount tends to drop its new releases on digital a few weeks after the theatrical debut — sometimes in under a month. For example, "Novocaine" hit PVOD 25 days after its premiere, while "Sonic the Hedgehog 3" had its digital release after 32 days. That means "The Naked Gun" could show up for premium rental or purchase in a few weeks, possibly September 2. Get instant access to breaking news, the hottest reviews, great deals and helpful tips. Streaming on Paramount Plus will require a longer wait. If "The Naked Gun" follows the same track as "Sonic 3," which took about two months to go from theaters to streaming, then Drebin's misadventures could land on Paramount Plus sometime in early October. Obviously, that means you're going to have to sit tight and be patient. In the meantime, however, you can watch all of the other "Naked Gun" and "Police Academy" movies from yesteryear and get those yuks in. The dumbest cop in America has a new name, and it's Frank Drebin Jr. In this modern reboot of the classic spoof series, Liam Neeson takes the lead as a well-meaning but wildly incompetent detective trying to solve a case that's way out of his depth. There's a murder, a mysterious device that might be brainwashing people, and just enough chaos to make sure things never go according to plan. And guess what? They really, really don't go to plan. Pamela Anderson shows up as a true crime podcaster with personal ties to the case, and somehow ends up getting dragged into Drebin's disaster of an investigation. There are heists, fake gadgets, and jokes that fly so fast you barely have time to roll your eyes before the next one lands. But they're oh, so satisfying. It's got the same over-the-top energy as the original films, only this time it's Neeson deadpanning his way through exploding desks, dramatic standoffs, and deeply uncomfortable misunderstandings. Basically, imagine a serious action movie if it slipped on a banana peel and kept going like nothing happened. And then it farted. Follow Tom's Guide on Google News to get our up-to-date news, how-tos, and reviews in your feeds. Make sure to click the Follow button.