01
Black Samurai
Why this pick
Jim Kelly again brings the cool, unflappable martial-arts hero energy, facing a flamboyant criminal conspiracy in a brisk, proudly pulpy blaxploitation action package.
A FILM WORTH A CLOSER LOOKTHE FEATURE PRESENTATION
MOVIE1974 1h 27m USA
IF THIS ONE STAYED WITH YOU
Movies like
Black Belt Jones
ActionComedy
CINEHUNCH / THE NEXT FRAME
Keep the feeling.
SIMILAR PICKS / A PERSONAL CONNECTION
If you loved Black Belt Jones, try these.
01
02
Three the Hard Way
Why this pick
Its charismatic Black action heroes, comic-book-scale villains, and energetic 1970s style echo the gleeful, community-defending momentum of Black Belt Jones.
03
The Black Dragon
Why this pick
Ron Van Clief anchors this lean martial-arts exploitation adventure with the same period flavor: flashy hand-to-hand fights, underworld opponents, and a self-assured hero.
04
The Last Dragon
Why this pick
For more martial-arts swagger with an affectionate sense of fun, this blends a highly stylized urban world, memorable villains, broad comedy, and an earnest hero’s training journey.
05
Hot Potato
Why this pick
Jim Kelly’s relaxed screen presence and agile fighting remain the draw in this playful international caper, a good fit for Black Belt Jones’s breezy, star-driven action-comedy appeal.
Finding the atmosphere, tension and little details that made this one stay with you.
Our curator needs a little longer. Please come back shortly.
No confident matches yet. Try our personal film finder.
01 / THE STORY
A little about the film.
The Mafia have learned of the construction of a new civic center, and have bought up all the land at the intended building site except for a karate dojo owned by Pop Byrd (Scatman Crothers), who refuses to give up his property. The Don contacts an indebted drug dealer named Pinky, who had laundered $250,000 from the Mafia that he'd subsequently loaned to Pop Byrd in-order to get the dojo built. The Don orders Pinky to either get his money back or Repossession the property. Black Belt Jones (Jim Kelly (martial artist)), an expert Martial arts and hand-for-hire, is contacted by his old friend Pop to help protect the dojo. Though Pinky intends to offer Pop to trade the building in exchange for clearing their mutual debt to the Don, he accidentally kills him during an intimidation attempt. Before he dies, Pop tells Pinky that he couldn't give them the building even if he wanted to, as it belongs not to him but his daughter Sydney. Pinky sends thugs to the dojo to try and intimidate the other employees. Though he was unable to protect his friend, Jones and the other students effortlessly fend off the thugs.
Showing saved details. Some information may be out of date.
02 / FACES IN THE FRAME
The people who bring it to life.
Jim Kelly
Black Belt Jones
Scatman Crothers
Pop Byrd
Alan Weeks
Toppy
Andre Philippe
Don Steffano
Mel Novak
Blue Eyes
Alex Brown
Plummer
Clarence Barnes
Tango
Gloria Hendry
Sydney