The Last Kumite

After winning what he intends to be his final karate tournament, Michael Rivers is offered an even darker opportunity: a secret Kumite-style event in Bulgaria where the best fighters compete outside the law. When he refuses the proposition, businessman Ron Hall retaliates by taking Rivers' daughter. Pushed into an impossible choice, Michael travels to Eastern Europe to enter the brutal competition in a bid to save her. On arrival he discovers several competitors are fighting for the same reason, their loved ones held hostage. With veteran trainers Master Loren and Julie Jackson at his side, Rivers must outfight ruthless opponents and outwit the men who staged the whole thing.

Released in 2024, the film was directed by Ross W. Clarkson from a screenplay by creator Sean David Lowe. It leans on a starry cast of genre names, including Mathis Landwehr, Kurt McKinney, Billy Blanks, Matthias Hues, and Cynthia Rothrock, bringing classic martial arts faces to a modern action thriller.

Detailed box office totals have not been widely reported, and the film appears to have found most of its audience through genre-focused screenings and digital platforms rather than blockbuster ticket runs. No official worldwide gross figures are being circulated publicly.

Among martial arts fans the movie has sparked discussion because of its cast of bona fide fight veterans and emphasis on practical stunts. Clips of the tournament bouts and throwback-style fight choreography have been shared on social channels, helping the picture gain a foothold with viewers who favor old-school combat scenes over heavy CGI.

Critical and audience reaction has been mixed to positive, with a 6.8/10 average from 118 votes reflecting that split. Reviewers and fans tend to praise the choreography and the presence of familiar action stars, while noting the plot follows a familiar underworld tournament template. The film presses on themes of honor, sacrifice, corruption, and what someone will risk to protect family.