How to watch

Kickboxer launched with Jean-Claude Van Damme seeking vengeance against the fighter who paralyzed his brother. The original spawned a string of sequels, and decades later the franchise was rebooted with a new star and Van Damme in a mentor role. The 1989 original became a staple of the martial-arts video era, and decades later the reboot brought in real fighters alongside Van Damme, who returned as a mentor rather than the lead.

🕐 Release Order

Release order charts the franchise from its 1989 origin through the sequels to the 2010s reboot.

1. Kickboxer (1989)
2. Kickboxer 2: The Road Back (1991)
3. Kickboxer 3: The Art of War (1992)
4. Kickboxer 4: The Aggressor (1994)
5. Kickboxer 5 (1995)
6. Kickboxer: Vengeance (2016)
7. Kickboxer: Retaliation (2018)

The reboot films tell their own version of the origin story, separate from the original run of sequels.

📖 Story Chronology

The original continuity runs from the 1989 film through Kickboxer 5, while Vengeance and Retaliation form a rebooted timeline.

1. Original series: Kickboxer (1989) → 2 → 3 → 4 → 5 (1995)
2. Reboot series: Kickboxer: Vengeance (2016) → Kickboxer: Retaliation (2018)

Which Order Should You Choose?

Start with the 1989 original — it's the high point of the series. If you want the full classic run, continue through the numbered sequels, though quality dips. For a modern take, watch the two reboot films as their own self-contained story. Keep the two continuities separate and you won't get lost. Keep the two continuities separate: the classic run peaks with the 1989 film, while Vengeance and Retaliation form a self-contained modern origin story with a new hero.

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