Only the Strong (1993): cast, story & where to watch

Released in 1993, Only the Strong is an action film directed by Sheldon Lettich, running about 99 minutes. “The ultimate martial art.” — that tagline sets the tone.

What it’s about. Former Green Beret Louis Stevens returns to his hometown of Miami after completing military service in Brazil, only to learn that his old high school has become a haven for gangs and drug dealers. After Stevens uses his capoeira skills to kick several drug dealers off of the school property, Kerrigan, one of Stevens' old teachers, sees the impact that Stevens has on the students. Kerrigan gives him the task of teaching Capoeira to a handful of the worst at-risk students at the school.

Who’s in it. Only the Strong stars Mark Dacascos as Louis Stevens, Paco Christian Prieto as Silverio, Stacey Travis as Dianna and Richard Coca as Orlando Aliveres, among others.

How it landed. With an audience score of 6.9/10, Only the Strong has drawn a solid, mixed-to-positive response. It went on to earn $3.3M at the box office.

Where to watch. Streaming options change often. See the full, country-by-country breakdown on our where to watch Only the Strong page.

If you liked it. Fans of Only the Strong tend to enjoy The Dark Knight, The Lord of the Rings: The Return of the King, Inception and The Lord of the Rings: The Fellowship of the Ring.