Where to watch Best of the Best (US)
Team USA takes on South Korea
Phillip Rhee co-wrote and starred alongside Eric Roberts in this underdog story of an American taekwondo team facing South Korea. James Earl Jones anchors the production, treating every training sequence like high art. The crew chased raw authenticity, shooting on location across Los Angeles and Seoul for three grueling months.
Panned by critics, kept alive by fans
Critics trashed it, and Leonard Maltin famously dismissed it as a waste of a strong cast in search of a real script. That grounded grit built a big cult following anyway, spawning sequels and earning fresh respect in the Cobra Kai era. Pure heart makes it a VHS brawler that still packs a punch.
Stills
Cast and crew
Director: Robert Radler
Cast: Eric Roberts, Phillip Rhee, James Earl Jones, Sally Kirkland, Chris Penn
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