Return of the Champ (1981): cast, story & where to watch
1981 · Film · ★ 10
Released in 1981, Return of the Champ is a drama, comedy and romance film directed by Tsugunobu Kotani, running about 99 minutes.
What it’s about. A not-so-young "Young Guy" (Kayama) returns in this reunion feature, which takes Yuichi and Ishiyama to New York, where the former runs in the New York Marathon and romances TV producer Minagawa. A delightful throwback to Toho's '60s style filmmaking.
Who’s in it. Return of the Champ stars Yūzō Kayama as Yūichi Tannuma, Kunie Tanaka as Shinjiro Ishiyama, Ryoko Sakaguchi as Junko Minagawa and Agnes Lam See-Chung as Flora, among others.
How it landed. With an audience score of 10.0/10, Return of the Champ sits among the best-reviewed titles in the catalogue.
Where to watch. Streaming options change often. See the full, country-by-country breakdown on our where to watch Return of the Champ page.
If you liked it. Fans of Return of the Champ tend to enjoy The Shawshank Redemption, The Godfather, Schindler's List and The Godfather Part II.
Frequently asked
- Where can I watch Return of the Champ (1981)?
- Streaming, rental and purchase options for Return of the Champ change frequently. Check our where-to-watch page for the latest availability in your country.
- Is Return of the Champ worth watching?
- Return of the Champ holds an audience score of 10.0 out of 10, and is a strong pick if you enjoy drama, comedy and romance. Most viewers rate it highly.
- Who stars in Return of the Champ?
- Return of the Champ stars Yūzō Kayama, Kunie Tanaka, Ryoko Sakaguchi, Agnes Lam See-Chung and Kirin Kiki.
- When was Return of the Champ released?
- Return of the Champ was released in 1981, with a runtime of about 99 minutes.