Ember's analysis
- Pacing
- Brisk
- Intensity
- Strong
- Complexity
- Layered
- Violence
- Brutal
- propulsive
- violent
- stylized
- action movie night
- martial arts marathon
What critics said
Critics generally found the film serviceable for martial arts fans, praising its fights, stylized look, music, and understandable story while faulting its disjointed, overcomplicated plot and thin writing.
What sets it apart
May contain story progression spoilers
Scott James is drawn into The Octagon while investigating the long-ago murder of his friend.
The Octagon is presented as a clandestine organization of ninja assassins involved in international terrorism.
Scott confronts terrorism and organized crime by becoming a more capable fighter than his enemies.
The film repeatedly frames Scott as a lone warrior facing numerous trained attackers.
Films like The Octagon, and why
Enter the Dragon
martial arts action, revenge-driven protagonist, and stylized one-against-many combat
Revenge of the Ninja
ninja-centered action, international criminal conspiracy, and showcase fight choreography
An Eye for an Eye
Chuck Norris martial arts action, vigilante justice, and direct revenge themes
Movie Details
- Director
- Eric Karson
- Release Date
- 1980-08-14
- Runtime
- 104 min
- Rating
- 5.1 / 10 (159)
Cast
- Chuck Norris
- Karen Carlson
- Lee Van Cleef
- Art Hindle
- Carol Bagdasarian
- Kim Lankford
- Tadashi Yamashita
- Kurt Grayson
- Yuki Shimoda
- Larry D. Mann
Where to watch in United States
- Streaming
- fuboTV, MGM+ Amazon Channel, Philo, MGM Plus Roku Premium Channel, MGM Plus
Streaming options come from TMDB and change over time.
Common questions
- What is The Octagon about?
- A disciplined martial artist hunts the secretive assassins linked to his friend's murder, confronting a terrorist conspiracy built on betrayal and combat.
- What is The Octagon like to watch?
- Ember's analysis rates the pacing of The Octagon as brisk, its intensity as strong and its storytelling as layered.
- Is The Octagon violent?
- Yes. Ember rates the violence in The Octagon as brutal.
- What did critics think of The Octagon?
- Critics generally found the film serviceable for martial arts fans, praising its fights, stylized look, music, and understandable story while faulting its disjointed, overcomplicated plot and thin writing.
- Which films are like The Octagon?
- Films with a similar feel include Enter the Dragon, Revenge of the Ninja, and An Eye for an Eye.
- How long is The Octagon?
- The Octagon runs 104 minutes.
- Where can I watch The Octagon?
- In United States, The Octagon streams on fuboTV, MGM+ Amazon Channel, Philo, MGM Plus Roku Premium Channel, MGM Plus.
