As one of the most iconic action stars of all time, it’s no surprise thatJean-Claude Van Dammehas been involved in several movie sequels over the years. Whether reprising iconic roles likeLuc Deveraux fromUniversal Soldieror joining beloved franchises such asKung Fu Panda, Van Damme has consistently shown up in various follow-up films.
Some ofthe best JCVD movieswere sequels to beloved films, although not all of these movies were favored by audiences or critics. As a star who has appeared in plenty of disappointingdirect-to-video movies, it’s important to separate the hits from the misses, asVan Damme’s career spans everything from unappreciated cult classics to forgettable cash grabs.
10Kill ‘Em All 2 (2024)
Jean-Claude Van Damme reprised his role as the B-movie action hero Philip inKill ‘Em All 2, a direct-to-video release that saw him face off against a Russian-French terrorist who wants to enact his vengeance for killing his brother. With a generic story and doing little to differentiate itself, this unnecessary sequel is for JCVD diehards only.
The problem withKill ‘Em All 2isn’t that it’s unwatchable; it’s just thatVan Damme has been in so many better moviesthat it makes you wish you were watching one of them instead. Overall, this blend of action and heist stylings just feels cheap, rushed, and inconsequential.
9Kickboxer: Vengeance (2016)
The originalKickboxerfrom 1989 is a genuine Jean-Claude Van Damme classic, but the same unfortunately cannot be said for the sixth installment,Kickboxer: Vengeance. Rather than reprise his iconic role as Kurt Sloane,JCVD instead returned as a new character, Master Durand, with Alain Moussi playing Sloane.
This makesKickboxer: Vengeancemore of a reboot than a proper sequel, and it retreads many of the same story beats as the original. The harsh truth about this soft reboot is that it’s inferior in practically every way to what came before it. It’s exciting to see Van Damme back, but it just didn’t live up to expectations.
8Universal Soldier: The Return (1999)
As one of Jean-Claude Van Damme’s best-known characters, it was exciting to see him reprise his role as Luc Deveraux inUniversal Soldier: The Return. Deveraux was a deceased Vietnam War veteran who was reanimated through a secret government program and sent on dangerous missions.
Set 15 years after the original movie,The Returnfeatured plenty of fun B-movie thrillsand a hefty body count, but its generic story held it back. As the fourth entry in its franchise, it offers action-packed spectacle but falls short of high art while remaining a fun watch for those looking for some mindless entertainment.
7Minions: The Rise of Gru (2022)
Jean-Claude Van Damme has never been shy about playing up his legacy as a B-movie action icon, as seen from self-referential releases likeJCVD. The star took this to another level with his hilarious role inMinions: The Rise of Gru, wherehe played a character appropriately named Jean Clawed.
This French supervillain was a notable member of the Vicious 6 and was an enjoyable supporting addition to this hugely popular kids’ franchise. As a knowing reference for adult action movie fans to catch while watching the movie with their children, the addition of JCVD inMinions: The Rise of Gruwas a fun Easter egg.
6Kickboxer: Retaliation (2018)
Jean-Claude Van Damme reprised his role as Master Durand inKickboxer: Retaliation, a sequel that was a notable improvement on what came before it. WhileKickboxer: Vengeancefelt like a shameless retread of the original 1989 movie,Retaliationwas an enjoyable throwback to the pulpy action movies of the 1980s and 1990s that more than delivered.
With Alain Moussi again playing Kurt Sloane,JCVD excelled in a mentorship role, and the addition of Mike Tyson as the American boxer Briggs elevated the film even further.Kickboxer: Retaliationticked all the right boxes, and it’s no surprise plans have been made for a third installment, with UFC fighter Conor McGregor rumored (via Movieweb) to play a role.
5Kung Fu Panda 3 (2016)
Jean-ClaudeVan Damme reprised his role as Master Croc inKung Fu Panda 3,where he was heard alongside an all-star cast including Jack Black, Bryan Cranston, Dustin Hoffman, and Angelina Jolie. As a kung fu master and former leader of the Wool Stealing Crocodile Bandits, Master Croc was captured by General Kai and transfigured into a jade slave.
Like the rest of the franchise,Kung Fu Panda 3received widespread acclaim for its top-tier animation, sharp sense of humor, and family-friendly appeal. In a minor but important supporting role, JCVD added to this series’ unique cast of colorful characters and lent his distinctive charisma to its impressive ensemble.
4The Expendables 2 (2012)
As Jean-Claude Van Damme’s first widely released film since 1999, his appearance as Jean Vilain inThe Expendables 2signaled this star’s return to the mainstream. Appearing alongside icons like Sylvester Stallone, Jason Statham, and Dolph Lundgren, this all-star sequel powerfully represented JCVD’s status as one of the all-time great action stars and was a welcome return to blockbuster releases.
As the main antagonist ofThe Expendables 2, Vilain is a martial artist, mercenary, and terrorist leader who planned to bring the world to its knees through the use of five tons of weapons-grade plutonium.Van Damme sadly only appeared in oneExpendablesmovie, but he certainly left a lasting impression.
3Kung Fu Panda 2 (2011)
TheKung Fu Pandaseries stands as one of DreamWorks’ most acclaimed animated franchises, and Jean-Claude Van Damme helped make it even better as the kung fu expert Master Croc in the second installment. This exciting sequel sawPo (Jack Black) fighting back against the ruthless Lord Shen(Gary Oldman), a peacock intent on conquering China.
With the perfect blend of action and comedy,Kung Fu Panda 2was a fun-filled feature that’s sure to please the entire family. By exploring darker themes than what’s usually expected in a kids’ film,Kung Fu Panda 2powerfully expanded upon Po’s backstory while giving supporting characters like Croc time to shine.
2Universal Soldier: Regeneration (2009)
Universal Soldier: Regenerationserved as an alternate sequel to the original 1992 movie that ignored the events ofThe Returnfrom ten years before. As a film packed with B-movie thrills from start to finish, this long-overdue sequel understands what audiences connected with in this series to begin with.
It was exciting to see Jean-Claude Van Damme return as Private Luc Deveraux.This direct-to-video release was even better than its theatrical predecessorand served to redeem the franchise after disappointments like the made-for-TV moviesUniversal Soldier II: Brothers in ArmsandUniversal Soldier III: Unfinished Business.
1Universal Soldier: Day of Reckoning (2012)
TheUniversal Soldierfranchise received its best sequel in 2012 with the release ofUniversal Soldier: Day of Reckoning. Featuring Jean-Claude Van Damme and Dolph Lundgren reprising their roles from the original movieand martial arts legend Scott Adkins in the lead role. This hyper-violent and brutal display of action movie carnage will be sure to please JCVD fans.
Through the introduction of surreal horror elements,Day of Reckoningmanaged to differentiate itself from what came before and inject this franchise with a new sense of energy. By daring to take creative risks and shake up this series' pre-established formula,Day of Reckoningbecame a cult classic that’s every bit as engaging as its iconic original film.
