The Challenge (1982): cast, story & where to watch
1982 · Film · ★ 5.9
Released in 1982, The Challenge is an action, drama and science fiction film directed by John Frankenheimer, running about 109 minutes. “He has trained every thought, every muscle, every nerve, for the moment of truth!” — that tagline sets the tone.
What it’s about. Rick, a down-and-out American boxer, is hired to transport a sword to Japan, unaware that the whole thing is a set up in a bitter blood-feud between two brothers, one who follows the traditional path of the samurai and the other a businessman. At the behest of the businessman, Rick undertakes samurai training from the other brother, but joins his cause. He also becomes romantically involved with the samurai's daughter.
Who’s in it. The Challenge stars Scott Glenn as Rick, Toshirō Mifune as Toru Yoshida, Donna Kei Benz as Akiko Yoshida and Atsuo Nakamura as Hideo Yoshida, among others.
How it landed. With an audience score of 5.9/10, The Challenge has drawn a solid, mixed-to-positive response. It went on to earn $3.6M at the box office.
Where to watch. In US you can rent or buy it from Amazon Video, Apple TV Store and Fandango At Home. See the full, country-by-country breakdown on our where to watch The Challenge page.
If you liked it. Fans of The Challenge 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.
Frequently asked
- Where can I watch The Challenge (1982)?
- In US, The Challenge is available to rent or buy from Amazon Video, Apple TV Store and Fandango At Home. Availability varies by country — check our where-to-watch page for every region.
- Is The Challenge worth watching?
- The Challenge holds an audience score of 5.9 out of 10, and is a strong pick if you enjoy action, drama and science fiction. Reactions are mixed, so it may depend on taste.
- Who stars in The Challenge?
- The Challenge stars Scott Glenn, Toshirō Mifune, Donna Kei Benz, Atsuo Nakamura and Calvin Jung.
- When was The Challenge released?
- The Challenge was released in 1982, with a runtime of about 109 minutes.