Best of the Best (1989)
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- PG-13
- 1h 37min
- Action, Drama
- 10 Nov 1989 (USA)
- Movie
A team from the United States is going to compete against Korea in a Tae Kwon Do tournament. The team consists of fighters from all over the country - can they overcome their rivalry and work together to win?
Director:
Writers:
Award:
- 1 nomination.
- See more »
Photos and Videos
Complete, Cast awaiting verification
| Eric Roberts | ... |
Alex Grady
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| Phillip Rhee | ... |
Tommy Lee
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| James Earl Jones | ... |
Frank Couzo
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| Sally Kirkland | ... |
Catherine Wade
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| Chris Penn | ... |
Travis Brickley
(as Christopher Penn)
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| John Dye | ... |
Virgil Keller
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David Agresta | ... |
Sonny Grasso
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| Tom Everett | ... |
Don Peterson
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| Louise Fletcher | ... |
Mrs. Grady
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| John P. Ryan | ... |
Jennings
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| Edan Gross | ... |
Walter Grady
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| Simon Rhee | ... |
Dae Han Park
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Master Hee Il Cho | ... |
Korean Coach
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| James Lew | ... |
Sae Jin Kwon
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Ken Nagayama | ... |
Yung Kim
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Master Ho Sik Pak | ... |
Han Cho
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Dae Kyu Chang | ... |
Tung Sung Moon
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Diane Mizrahi | ... |
Nurse
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| Cal Bartlett | ... |
Dr. Weisman
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| Ahmad Rashad | ... |
Ahmad Rashad
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| Edward Bunker | ... |
Stan
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Helen Funai | ... |
Tommy's Mother
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Eugene Choe | ... |
Little Tommy
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| Bob Telford | ... |
Referee #1
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Ricky Barnard | ... |
Referee #2
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Danny Gibson | ... |
Referee #3
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Greg Williams | ... |
Referee #4
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David Rody | ... |
Announcer (Try Out)
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| Samantha Scully | ... |
Carol Ann
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Adrianne Sachs | ... |
Kelly
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| Melanie Kinnaman | ... |
The Woman
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| Kane Hodder | ... |
Burt
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Steve Hulin | ... |
Buzz Cut
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| Pete Antico | ... |
Townie #1
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William H. Burton Jr. | ... |
Townie #2
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Steve Santosusso | ... |
Townie #3
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Orion Masters | ... |
Gate Attendant
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Miriam Ezra | ... |
Tommy's Secretary
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Jonathan Strauss | ... |
Boy #1
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Jeffery Jagger | ... |
Boy #2
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David Park | ... |
Tommy's Older Brother
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Chang Park Kim | ... |
Korean Referee
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Kwang Jae Lee | ... |
Korean Announcer
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| Rest of cast listed alphabetically: | |||
| Michael E. Burgess | ... |
Tournament Fighter (uncredited)
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| Fabian Carrillo | ... |
Tournament Fighter (uncredited)
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Tyra Reneé Fuller | ... |
Audience Member (uncredited)
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| Mylo Ironbear | ... |
Tournament Fighter (uncredited)
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Tony Moya | ... |
Corner Referee (uncredited)
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Directed by
| Robert Radler | ... | (directed by) (as Bob Radler) |
Written by
| Phillip Rhee | ... | (story) and |
| Paul Levine | ... | (story) |
| Paul Levine | ... | (written by) |
| Max Strom | ... | (additional dialogue) |
Produced by
| Frank Giustra | ... | executive producer |
| Michael Holzman | ... | executive producer |
| Phillip Rhee | ... | producer (produced by) |
| Deborah Scott | ... | associate producer |
| Marlon Staggs | ... | line producer |
| Peter E. Strauss | ... | producer (produced by) |
Music by
| Paul Gilman | ... | (music composed by) |
Cinematography by
| Douglas Ryan | ... | director of photography (as Doug Ryan) |
Editing by
| William Hoy | ... | (edited by) |
Editorial Department
| Julie Dole | ... | assistant editor |
| James Garrett | ... | assistant editor (as Jim Garrett) |
| Dan Muscarella | ... | color timer |
| Dan Perrett | ... | apprentice editor |
Casting By
| James F. Tarzia | ... | (as Jim Tarzia) |
Production Design by
| Kim Rees | ||
Art Direction by
| Maxine Shepard | ||
Costume Design by
| Cynthia Bergstrom | ||
Makeup Department
| Patty Beigel | ... | makeup assistant (as Patty Biegil) |
| Kim Messina | ... | hair stylist: Sally Kirkland (as Kimi Messina) |
| Lynn Small | ... | makeup assistant |
| Peggy Teague | ... | makeup effects supervisor |
| Paul Thompson | ... | makeup effects assistant |
Production Management
| Joel DeLoach | ... | production manager |
Second Unit Director or Assistant Director
| Chuck Conner | ... | first assistant director |
| Jake Jacobs | ... | first assistant director: second unit, US |
| Chuck Kim | ... | first assistant director: Korean |
| Robert Levine | ... | second assistant director |
| Molly M. Mayeux | ... | second second assistant director (as Molly Mayeaux) |
Art Department
| Mark Anderson | ... | lead man |
| Tom Cortese | ... | on-set dresser |
| Shannon Gale | ... | assistant to production designer |
| Steve Guerino | ... | property assistant |
| Chet Hilgers | ... | property master |
| Deborah Krikun | ... | graphic designer |
| Greg Lawrence | ... | storyboard artist |
| Jon Marsala | ... | construction foreman (as John Marsala) |
| Darrell McCully | ... | construction coordinator |
Sound Department
| John Adams | ... | cable person |
| Joe Barnett | ... | sound assistant |
| Bill Daly | ... | sound mixer |
| Brian Geer | ... | sound assistant |
| Paul Gilman | ... | sound designer |
| Lewis Goldstein | ... | supervising digital sound editor (as Lew Goldstein) |
| Erin Hoien | ... | foley recordist |
| Kristen Janusis | ... | mixing assistant |
| Sherry Klein | ... | re-recording mixer |
| Rob Luna | ... | dialogue editor |
| Rached M'Dini | ... | assistant sound editor |
| Terry O'Bright | ... | foley recordist |
| Tom Rota | ... | sound assistant |
| Catherine Rowe | ... | foley artist |
| Joan Rowe | ... | foley artist |
| Katie Rowe | ... | foley artist |
| R. Russell Smith | ... | re-recording mixer (as Rusty Smith) |
| Christopher M. Taylor | ... | boom operator (as Chris Taylor) |
| Ken Teaney | ... | re-recording mixer |
Visual Effects by
| Luc G. Nicknair | ... | visual effects first assistant camera (uncredited) |
Stunts
| Bobby Burns | ... | stunts |
| Gilbert B. Combs | ... | stunts (as Gil Combs) |
| John Juhász | ... | stunts: assistant to Mr. Rhee |
| Clay M. Lilley | ... | stunts (as Clay Lilley) |
| Don Charles McGovern | ... | stunts |
| Myke Michaels | ... | stunts |
| Chuck Picerni Jr. | ... | stunts |
| Steve Picerni | ... | stunts |
| Simon Rhee | ... | fight choreographer / stunt coordinator |
| Jack Verbois | ... | stunts |
Camera and Electrical Department
| Kenneth C. Barrows | ... | first assistant camera (as Ken Barrows) |
| Russ Caldwell | ... | best boy electric |
| David R. Casey | ... | electrician (as David Casey) |
| Danny Cosica | ... | grip |
| E. Chip Foody | ... | rigging gaffer |
| Rusty Geller | ... | steadicam operator |
| Cranston Gobbo | ... | best boy grip |
| Bill Hodge | ... | swingman |
| Paige Jeffers | ... | still photographer |
| Jay Anthony Jones | ... | first assistant camera |
| Larry Kaster | ... | gaffer |
| Dong-sam Lee | ... | first assistant camera: Korean crew |
| Mark Lemon | ... | camera loader |
| Lee Song Lim | ... | second assistant camera: Korea |
| Ed Malone | ... | electrician |
| Ed Maloney | ... | electrician |
| Lloyd Moriarity | ... | key grip (as Lloyd Moriarty) |
| David Parks | ... | second assistant camera |
| Richard Ruskuski | ... | swing man (as Ricc Ruskuski) |
| Huh Song Ryong | ... | third assistant camera: Korea |
| Lynn Smith | ... | first assistant camera |
| Craig Wallace | ... | grip |
| Jerry Watson | ... | director of photography: second unit |
Casting Department
| Jeff Olan | ... | extras casting assistant (uncredited) |
Costume and Wardrobe Department
| Kim Gunther | ... | costumer |
| Emily Payne | ... | costumer |
Location Management
| Jerry Jaffe | ... | location manager |
Music Department
| Ron Gell | ... | music supervisor |
| Marcie Jo Gilman | ... | music score production assistant |
| Paul Gilman | ... | music performer |
| Lewis Goldstein | ... | music editor (as Lew Goldstein) |
| Jay Kuys-Nicholls | ... | music supervisor |
Script and Continuity Department
| Judi Townsend | ... | script supervisor |
Transportation Department
| John 'Hoover' Lee | ... | driver: honeywagon |
| Tom Waisanen | ... | transportation coordinator |
Additional Crew
| Jessica Allen | ... | production assistant |
| Jeanette Bellwood | ... | accountant |
| Thomas Betz | ... | second prelay engineer (as Tom Betz) |
| David Chong | ... | production executive: Korea |
| Myles Connolly | ... | assistant coordinator (as Myles Connally III) |
| Daniel Dvorsky | ... | customs expeditor |
| Daniel A. Haro | ... | set paramedic |
| Greg Hodge | ... | first prelay engineer |
| Pat Johnston | ... | facility coordinator: EFX Systems |
| Kevin King | ... | production assistant |
| Konstantinos Kovas | ... | production assistant (as Dino Kovas) |
| Jeanette Kremer | ... | production assistant |
| Debora McClune | ... | production coordinator (as Debby McClune) |
| Jim McDermott | ... | head swingman |
| Jennifer Miller | ... | production assistant |
| Joel Jeffrey Nishimine | ... | production assistant (as Joel Nishimine) |
| Perry Patterson | ... | production assistant |
| Janine Paver | ... | production assistant |
| Debra Piazzie | ... | production assistant |
| Nancy Pyne-Hapke | ... | studio teacher |
| Patricia Pérez | ... | craft service |
| Min Hi Rhee | ... | executive advisor: Korean crew |
| Paul Rodriguez | ... | facility manager: EFX Systems |
| Ditta Smolka | ... | massage therapist |
| Susan Strauss | ... | production executive |
| Truman Van Dyke | ... | insurance broker |
| Lonn Wade | ... | production assistant |
| Sean Wade | ... | production assistant |
| Brad Watson | ... | production assistant |
| Myke Zykoff | ... | production assistant |
Production Companies
Distributors
- Taurus Entertainment Company (1989) (United States) (theatrical)
- Cineplex Odeon Films (1989) (Canada) (theatrical)
- Entertainment Film Distributors (1990) (United Kingdom) (theatrical)
- Motion Picture Group (MPG) (1990) (Netherlands) (theatrical)
- Twentieth Century Fox (1990) (France) (theatrical)
- Ascot Elite Home Entertainment (1990) (Germany) (VHS)
- CNR Video (1990) (Netherlands) (VHS)
- SVS Video (1990) (United States) (VHS)
- Star Video (1990) (Poland) (VHS)
- Belgische Radio en Televisie (BRTN) (1992) (Belgium) (tv) (BRTN TV1)
- CNR Video (1992) (Netherlands) (VHS)
- Image Entertainment (1992) (United States) (video) (laserdisc)
- RTL Plus (1992) (Germany) (tv)
- SVS/Triumph Home Video (1992) (United States) (video) (laserdisc)
- Vision (1992) (Poland) (VHS)
- Transeuropa Video Entertainment (TVE) (1993) (Argentina) (VHS)
- Columbia TriStar Home Video (1995) (United States) (VHS)
- RTL Entertainment (1995) (Netherlands) (tv) (RTL5)
- 4Digital Media (2016) (United Kingdom) (DVD)
- Columbia TriStar Home Video (2004) (United States) (DVD)
- Flashback Home Vídeo (Brazil) (VHS)
- Nameless Media (2017) (Germany) (Blu-ray) (DVD)
- Sony Pictures Television (2007) (United States) (tv) (syndication)
Special Effects
Other Companies
- DHL Worldwide Express (air freight service)
- EFX Systems (digital re-recording by)
- Film Finances (completion bond)
- Genuine Quality Security (security service)
- John Millerburg Inc. (titles)
- Keylite Production Services (location services)
- Otto Nemenz International (Arriflex cameras provided by)
- Payments Plus (payroll services)
- Ray Mercer & Company (opticals)
Storyline
| Plot Summary |
Team USA gets rid of personal ghosts while fighting Team Korea in Taekwondo championship. "Adversity overcome" formula with excellent fighting scenes.
Written by Gene Gorokhovsky |
| Plot Keywords | |
| Taglines | There's a kind of inner strength you never know you have...until it's ALL you have. See more » |
| Genres | |
| Parents Guide | View content advisory » |
| Certification |
Additional Details
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Box Office
| Budget | $5,000,000 (estimated) |
| Opening Weekend United States | $990,000, 11 Nov 1989 |
Did You Know?
| Trivia | Simon and Phillip Rhee, Dae Han and Tommy Lee, are real-life brothers. See more » |
| Goofs | When Alex receives his letter indicating he has been selected for the National Team, the word Congratulations is misspelled as "congradulations". See more » |
| Movie Connections | Edited into Best of the Best II (1993). See more » |
| Soundtracks | Tales of Power See more » |
| Quotes |
Dae Han:
[during the awards ceremony, slowly hobbling towards Tommy Lee and putting his medal around Tommy Lee's neck]
To save a life in defeat is to earn victory and honor within. Your brother too, was a great fighter. I deeply regret your loss, and I offer myself as your brother. [Putting his head down and tearfully crying. Raises his head back up and accepts his apology] See more » |