Best Of The Best 1 & 2 Are The Best Action Movies You Never Saw

Welcome to The Best Movie You NEVER Saw, a column dedicated to examining films that have flown under the radar or gained traction throughout the years, earning them a place as a cult classic or underrated gem that was either before it’s time and/or has aged like a fine wine.
In 1989, the movie Best of the Best had a somewhat abbreviated run in theaters. Only grossing a mere $1.7 million, the movie was a major hit on home video and cable. That’s why, three years later, a sequel, Best of the Best 2, hit theaters… for a while. While the first film has maintained a certain cult status, the sequel, and the two more that followed, have been largely forgotten - until now on this edition of The Best Movie You Never Saw. We'll tell you why this Eric Robert, Phillip Rhee and Ralf Moeller action flick deserves some love.
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[@pesky716]

I got so excited to see these films highlighted!! I loved these growing up, and have always believed these are unbelievably underrated.

[@Kthomasritchie]

Chris Penn began his martial arts training with Yoshukai Karate in the early 1980’s (he earned his black belt). He studied some martial arts under Benny “The Jet” Urquidez, but most of his training came from boxing and kickboxing with his best friend, martial artist and actor, Don “The Dragon” Wilson.

[@abdulhouser]

Peace and blessings to Chris Penn.

[@Yougotadollar]

He also had a black belt in drug use.

[@beeftestosterone4355]

He had training before these movies?!?!? Sure could've fooled me

[@DanielZ5]

That would probably explain why don appears in stealing harvard I always wondered why he's just there lol love those scenes

[@gjergjaurelius9798]

​@@YougotadollarI didn't have a drug problem. It was heart disease. WTF is your problem?

[@JeremyAustin-hw1qy]

My brother and I were born in 83 so we were able to grow up with these movies i even have the first 2 on dvd

[@anjomo96]

I loved this movie! Both 1 & 2. I admire the fact that they subverted genres for the sequel. It was refreshing to see. I remember watching this on vhs as a kid. Such a good movie. The ending...yeah holding back tears. Definitely an underrated gem and the last truly good martial arts movie of the 90s.

[@oleartur]

Pop it,pop it, come on pop it😂😂😂

[@boogiedaddy3434]

Man, I haven't seen or heard of these since I was a kid. I was lucky enough to grow up working in a video store and I used to watch these and Kickboxer all the time.

[@celebro469]

If HBO was showing this 3 times a day I was watching it.

[@talya1877]

I love these movies so much! Why is it so hard to find a copy of BoTB2?

[@davonhall9652]

You're not lying. I got mine off Amazon.

[@HumbleHurricane]

Dont have time to watch right now but just the title alone makes you the MAN! Big props for making this and I had to show love💯🔥🙏🏿🥋 I shall return

[@NakedSnake85]

Simon Rhee has the most fluent kicks ever put on screen🔥

[@shoua7]

Best of the Best (part 1) is one of the best martial arts movie ever made.

[@kylereece1979]

When I was 12, BOTB was cleaning up on home video. All my friends in my class, area were renting it, and raving about it. Even my friends parents' loved it because of its huge heart and drama. And, 32 years later, I can still say that. It is a brilliant, entertaining martial arts film with the extra punches to the gut comin' from the character studies and plot developments. The mounting tension between Dae Han and Tommy as they prepare to face eachother, Continants apart, is amazing. The Final Fight between Tommy and Dae Han is still one of my all time favourite fights, that is perfectly heightned by THAT wonderful score. Seriously, the main theme and music throughout is absolutely stunning.

[@Axolotl_Mischief]

Oooh no, I most certainly DID watch these waaay back in the day on HBO, many, many times... 🙏

[@robertcatania1120]

Absolutely love the first best of the best and the second was a decent sequel. Glad you are spreading awareness about this underrated gem. They did make video games about this franchise back in the day as well.

[@NX-ez4xq]

What makes the shoulder dislocation scene so good isn't the "pop it, Tommy". What makes it hit so hard is that, after his agonized scream, his young son hides his face and cries out for his dead mother. Talk about hitting in the feels.

[@virgil3241]

I randomly found it a few months ago on streaming. I have no idea where, uncut and no commercials. I wish I could remember I would put it here. First time watching it for 20 plus years. Watched it so many times back in the day and beyond

[@marcusvondoom]

I met Eric Roberts @ Pensacon a few years ago. Super nice guy, I also told him, he should have won a Oscar for Star 80.

[@richflixphotography4215]

Part 2 has been a guilty pleasure of mine since I was a kid. So many quotable lines. “Don’t you ever touch me again” “you have ruined my perfection” and damn near everything Sonny Landham said 😂😂😂

[@bannedfreespeech]

Who's James makes me chuckle everytime

[@richflixphotography4215]

@@bannedfreespeech absolute classic part. No one answered him 😂😂

[@sketchalot69]

As someone who is named James and grew up watching these two movies with friends it's safe to say I was ignored a lot thanks to that... I love these movies but I can't stand that part... Oh who am I kidding I love it

[@diskjokk]

OMG! I love these movies! I almost forgot about them though.... Thank you so much for the reminder on how awesome these movies are! I will rewatch them this weekend! It's been a long time since I've seen them.

[@WarriorEsoteric]

Part 1 is a bonafide martial arts/drama classic, changed my life as a little kid

[@jasonaugustine3370]

They are both good movies The Rhee brothers are incredible

[@ImranHussain-bs2bl]

I always find it hilarious in the first film when Eric Roberts disclocates his shoulder in the tournament and he goes down screaming in pain but he's holding his leg??!!

[@jdorffer]

Of course ive watched both of these, they are awesome

[@joshnlevinson]

I loved these movies as a teenager. I actually liked 2 more than 1.

[@DIEKALSTER8]

I have watched 2 and 3 maybe 2 times each at most, but the first one must be 20+ times. I can quote a bunch of lines form it. Cheeeeeeesy AF! 🤣 Love it!

[@secondbest2877]

Eric Roberts definitely a top 5 B Movie actor…..

[@hectorbartlett567]

Did you know he was an Oscar nominee, in 1986 for Runaway Train ... A must-see movie!

[@The3rdGunman]

@@hectorbartlett567 Runaway Train was an amazing hidden gem of a film

[@brianlagrant9757]

This is why having physical media like DVDs and Blu Rays are so important. You can never find these kinds of movies on streaming platforms. I bought both these movies years ago and watch them regularly.

[@MikeG82]

Just torrent them if you can’t find them

[@antoiner3820]

I still have mines that I brought on vhs years ago.

[@Neilos_FPL]

To save a life in defeat is to earn victory and honour within. Your brother too, was a great fighter. I deeply regret your loss, and I offer myself as your brother

[@projectvzero]

One of my all time favs. I was introduced to the movie by my old man do to his taekwando teacher (Hee- il Cho) making an appearance in the first film. Ended up really influencing my appreciation for good story writing. (Minus the cheese) I love how the assumed MC is just there to hold our hand through the movie and the true MC pops off in the end subverting our assumptions. Sicario does this trope very well, for example. But Best of the Best introduced me to the concept ❤

[@BrandRedacted]

I don't think James actually beat Brakus. He fought him, and Brakus almost killed him. He just knows what it takes to beat him

[@Slevin_86]

As a kid I saw the 2nd first at the movies been just 7 yr old, the 1st my mom had to rent it. It could watch both back to back.

[@williamfaust8131]

Amazing cast and movie! I grew up on this!

[@JV-ll1cu]

I remember watching first one as a kid and the ending almost made me cry

[@asgads]

I remember watching the first part over and over again

[@willieadams3376]

I loved these movies when I was a kid.

[@jasonaugustine3370]

It might not be widely known, but Philip and Simon father is the grandmaster of taekwondo Jhoon Rhee

[@shannonrobitaille613]

It's so funny. Little known fact, Wayne Newton is a karate black belt in real life

[@Brandon-up7sg]

Yeah there’s a lot of karate black belts out there and most of them aren’t actually any good sadly

[@ministerofdarkness]

Danke Schoen!🥋

[@davonhall9652]

I have definitely seen those movies. I even own them on dvd. Classics as far as I'm concerned.

[@ministerofdarkness]

How a bout that theme song??! The Best!🎸

[@Tecnicos-qj8pb]

Love BOTB franchaise, great video ☺️

[@user-zt6bt8dp2c]

Part one is streaming on Pluto TV can stream for free.

[@Sweat404]

I just watched it recently, all 4 movies are available on a streaming service in Japan called U-next.

[@user-yj2os6yl9t]

Ah nice...JoBlo always talks about some gem of a movie. I remember renting the first one and then seeing the second one couple years later. My brother and I actually jumped and we're all excited when the Dehan character comes in. Just fucking awesome!

[@EricSatterberg1]

Ohhhh I saw them. Loved them!!

[@jonathanhunziker582]

Love these movies!

[@ZECHS101]

Has anyone out there heard of “No retreat, No surrender “?

[@AERuffy]

Best of the Best was my jam

[@markhurley3714]

Ride him like a toilet seat, Tommy! Best of the best line and delivery :)

[@sketchalot69]

He says RIDE him like a toilet seat?! For the last 30+ years I could have sworn he said GRIND him like a toilet seat! As much as I love these movies, that one line I thought made no sense and didn't belong... I now stand corrected... It was a genius line

[@juliansmith1951]

Best of the Best in 1989 movie is very good plus awesome also being shown on HBO back in the 90s many times

[@abdulhouser]

Peace and blessings to Sonny Landham.

[@damedan9389]

"Tommy. . .NO." I stopped whatever bs I was doing 😅😅

[@jasonbryant1552]

Me and a friend of mine always wondered which James Earl Jones character said "No" better: either when he's telling Tommy "no" to killing Dae Han or him screaming "no" when he finds out Padme died.

[@kimrice394]

Loved Best of the Best! Love Eric Roberts! He’s a crier for sure😀.

[@mataiguana5]

Love, like and own the collection. Would like to see at least the first two released on 4k, the don't even have an official USA BD release.

[@ranger51262]

Back when this ( BoB1 )came out, I had No Idea who any of the actors were, Now Im pretty familiar with everyone of them

[@PhilLeotardosGhost]

Part 3 was fun too.

[@MarioLamRedRebel]

I like both movies 👍 the fight scène ''s are the best from the USA

[@antoiner3820]

I still haven't gotten best of the best:without warning yet. It's the only one i don't own....yet.

[@avace917]

Both movies are on KZbin.

[@williamfaust8131]

You guys should do the movie “Downtown” great movie with Academy Award Winner Forest Whitaker and Anthony “Goose” Edwards

[@jamesmorant1406]

Good fun, martial arts movies watched them on HBO all the time

[@JimmyRaptis]

Tommy pop it !

[@Diefenbaker02]

my favourite movie ever.. made my kids watch it lol..

[@Stamatos]

Hey, this has to be a double dip. I'm not complaining but pretty sure you've done these movies already. P.S. I'VE SEEN THEM 😁

[@Brandon-up7sg]

Philip rhee is doing best of the best 5 right now

[@Aroused_Pineapple]

Tommy.... Noooooo. Tommy..... NOOOOO!

[@The3rdGunman]

Coach....COACH...He's gonna kill 'em!

[@mctapoutos7426]

SAW THEM SO MANY TIMES THAT THE TAPE GOT FU

[@The3rdGunman]

Looks like they based Ken's Street Fighter 5 look on Eric Roberts.

[@mikedlc9766]

I liked Chris Penn and he looked convincing to me

[@HeavyJ713]

The non traditional ending is what separate this movie from the rest for ke

[@Soxfandan]

Of course I saw them. I've owned them for years.

[@deandraemarshall6786]

I have it on VUDU, but the 2nd one isn’t on there.

[@Strathaczar]

I musta got lucky. I bought this on Amazon Prime a few years ago. I guess it's no longer available??? I dunno? However, Best of the Best 2 isn't anywhere on Amazon, and I don't know why. I wanted to get it, but it's never been on there, nor has it ever appeared. It's one of the few movies I do wanna get on there, and I can't.

[@justinmontana7218]

Steven seagal is Bad ass .Out fot Justice and Hard to Kill rocks.But to Best of the best its a great Movie

[@paradoxr.n.o8688]

I've seen these movies

[@jamesriegel13]

I enjoyed the first movie and I thought the second one was alright

[@JeremyAustin-hw1qy]

Phillip rhee is awesome in this series of movies i wish he had done more stuff like these but unfortunately he just became another mark dacascos

[@lordofthereels6790]

Whitest Kids U Know NEEDS a Joblo video on it. Shoot try to get some of them on it maybe? They seem like they'd be down.

[@milushardwick2404]

Does anyone remember the video game?

[@gypsydildopunks7083]

Korean karate team. Come on, man. You're better than that

[@jacobanderson9262]

Part 2? No Way! Although the fight scenes were cool, Chris Penn was killed in the first 10 minutes, and the movie just got worse story wise. 1 and only the first one was worth anyone's time

[@Andy-vh1kl]

I thought it was tae kwon do not karate

[@Neilos_FPL]

Love these movies. Sadly 3 and 4 were crap

[@gypsydildopunks7083]

NOOOOOOoooooooooooo

[@ToddAdams1234]

I’m sorry to dis-agree, but “I” personally didn’t like either one of those movies.

[@nicholasbennett7367]

The 3rd one was terrible

[@gabrieljude2478]

The movie tanked because you got a bunch of actors that nobody couldn't careless about. Who would have guessed that no one wanted to see unattractive middle aged guys doing karate.

[@MikeG82]

Outside of Philip they definitely didn’t look like elite karate guys