| Year | Title | Role | Notes | |------|-------|------|-------| | 1984 | Monaco Forever | Gay karate man | Cameo (uncredited); comedy/heist film | | 1985 | No Retreat, No Surrender | Ivan Kraschinsky | First leading villain role; martial arts film shot in Seattle | | 1986 | Predator | Alien / extra | Uncredited; Van Damme originally played the alien before being replaced by Kevin Peter Hall | | 1988 | Bloodsport | Frank Dux | Breakthrough hit; based on (disputed) true story of the Kumite | | 1988 | Black Eagle | Andrei | Co-stars with Sho Kosugi | | 1989 | Cyborg | Gibson Rickenbacker | Written for Van Damme after he dropped out of Predator 2 | | 1989 | Kickboxer | Kurt Sloane | Cult classic; features the famous "dancing" ritual |
As the 90s ended, so did Van Damme’s theatrical reign. Budgets shrank, but the output remained prolific. Some are terrible; some are hidden gems.
17. Street Fighter (1994)
18. Sudden Death (1995)
19. The Quest (1996)
20. Maximum Risk (1996)
21. Double Team (1997)
22. Knock Off (1998)
23. Legionnaire (1998)
24. Universal Soldier: The Return (1999)
25. Inferno (1999) (Released as Desert Heat)
26. Replicant (2001)
27. The Order (2001)
28. Derailed (2002)
29. In Hell (2003)
30. Wake of Death (2004)
31. Narco (2004)
32. Second in Command (2006)
33. The Hard Corps (2006)
This is the prime "Van Damme-issance." Big budgets, glossy villains, and the star in peak physical condition. If you only watch one era, watch this one.