Redbelt
A principled Los Angeles jujitsu instructor is forced into the commercial fight world when debts and deception threaten the studio he built.
Ember's analysis
- Pacing
- Brisk
- Intensity
- Strong
- Complexity
- Layered
- Violence
- Moderate
- tense
- cerebral
- pulp
- martial arts movie night
- neo-noir double feature
What critics said
Critics generally found the film engrossing and elevated by Chiwetel Ejiofor's performance, while viewing its noir-inflected martial arts morality tale as unevenly resolved.
What sets it apart
May contain story progression spoilers
Mike Terry rejects competitive fighting because he sees it as degrading, making principle the central obstacle and motivation.
The film delays and complicates its expected tournament structure with noir puzzles, debts, and moral dilemmas.
Mike's struggling studio, mounting debts, and entanglement with movie and fight businesses threaten his refusal to compromise.
The car accident, surveillance, broken studio window, movie-star rescue, and business dealings form an increasingly complicated mystery.
Films like Redbelt, and why
The Karate Kid
shared martial arts drama, moral conflict, and disciplined protagonist under pressure
Night and the City
shared neo-noir intrigue, professional desperation, and morally compromised institutions
Haywire
shared deconstructed action form, terse dialogue, and principled protagonist navigating betrayal
The Set-Up
shared sports-world corruption, pulpy noir atmosphere, and fatalistic pressure toward competition
Movie Details
- Director
- David Mamet
- Release Date
- 2008-04-07
- Runtime
- 99 min
- Rating
- 6.4 / 10 (303)
Cast
- Chiwetel Ejiofor
- Tim Allen
- Alice Braga
- Jose Pablo Cantillo
- Randy Couture
- Ricky Jay
- Joe Mantegna
- Max Martini
- Emily Mortimer
- David Paymer
Where to watch in United States
- Streaming
- Sony Pictures Core Amazon Channel
- Rent
- Amazon Video, Apple TV Store, Google Play Movies, YouTube, Fandango At Home
- Buy
- Amazon Video, Apple TV Store, Google Play Movies, YouTube, Fandango At Home
Streaming options come from TMDB and change over time.
Common questions
- What is Redbelt about?
- A principled Los Angeles jujitsu instructor is forced into the commercial fight world when debts and deception threaten the studio he built.
- What is Redbelt like to watch?
- Ember's analysis rates the pacing of Redbelt as brisk, its intensity as strong and its storytelling as layered.
- Is Redbelt violent?
- Somewhat. Ember rates the violence in Redbelt as moderate.
- What did critics think of Redbelt?
- Critics generally found the film engrossing and elevated by Chiwetel Ejiofor's performance, while viewing its noir-inflected martial arts morality tale as unevenly resolved.
- Which films are like Redbelt?
- Films with a similar feel include The Karate Kid, Night and the City, Haywire, and The Set-Up.
- How long is Redbelt?
- Redbelt runs 99 minutes.
- Where can I watch Redbelt?
- In United States, Redbelt streams on Sony Pictures Core Amazon Channel.
