01
Only the Strong
Why this pick
Matches Showdown’s early-’90s, earnest martial-arts-drama energy, with a skilled fighter drawn into protecting young people from escalating local violence.
A FILM WORTH A CLOSER LOOKTHE FEATURE PRESENTATION
MOVIE1993 1h 40m USA
IF THIS ONE STAYED WITH YOU
Movies like
Showdown
ActionDrama
CINEHUNCH / THE NEXT FRAME
Keep the feeling.
SIMILAR PICKS / A PERSONAL CONNECTION
If you loved Showdown, try these.
01
02
Best of the Best
Why this pick
From Showdown’s director, this has the same straightforward, character-led combat filmmaking and treats fighting skill as a source of discipline, guilt, and redemption.
03
No Retreat, No Surrender
Why this pick
Its underdog training arc, school-age conflicts, and unpretentious fight-driven momentum strongly align with Showdown’s youthful martial-arts atmosphere.
04
American Samurai
Why this pick
A close fit for the era’s lean, hard-hitting direct-to-video martial-arts style, pairing tournament combat with a personal rivalry and a serious tone.
05
Angel Town
Why this pick
Its outsider hero becomes entangled in neighborhood danger, giving it a similarly grounded mix of personal responsibility, local conflict, and martial-arts action.
Finding the atmosphere, tension and little details that made this one stay with you.
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01 / THE STORY
A little about the film.
Billy Grant is a police officer who is called to stop a noise complaint at a local party. Along with his partner, Spinelli, Billy enters the house to find two men causing all sorts of trouble. When Billy attempts to stop things peacefully, one of the thugs attempts to assault Billy, who uses his unarmed combat skills to stop the thug. However, when he puts the thug down, the thug's head smacks hard against the stairs. The other troublemaker looks in horror and yells to Billy, "You killed my brother, pig!". Spinelli shows up and arrests the one thug. Billy attempts to revive the thug's brother but he ends up dead. Feeling guilt for what has happened, Billy decides to quit the police force.
02 / FACES IN THE FRAME
The people who bring it to life.
Kenn Scott
Ken Marx
Christine Taylor
Julie
Linda Dona
Kate
Michael Cavalieri
Rob
Mike Genovese
Officer Spinelli
Nicholas Hill
James
James Lew
Hit Man
Billy Blanks
Billy Grant