Jean-Claude Van Damme was once one of the biggest stars of the 90s. However, his career took a downturn in the 2000s and he mostly starred in low budget, straight-to-dvd movies. This changed when Sylvester Stallone cast him in The Expendables 2 and pushed him to the forefront of mainstream cinema once again.
Despite slipping from the mainstream radar, Van Damme has always been renowned for his loyal, diehard followers. With that, classic movies like Sudden Death have remained in the pop culture ethos. On August 27, 2024, this movie will receive a second wind when it is released on 4K Blu-ray. Here’s everything we know.
What Is the Plot of Sudden Death?
Released in 1995, Sudden Death is an action thriller starring Jean-Claude Van Damme as a divorced father and former fireman who finds himself facing off against a group of terrorists during a hockey game. When a group of terrorists hold the Vice President and others hostage during the seventh game of the NHL Stanley Cup finals, Darren McCord (Van Damme) must use his wits and martial arts skills to take them down single-handedly, whilst also protecting his children who are attending the game.
Sudden Death was part of a wave of action movies that followed in the footsteps of Die Hard, featuring a lone hero fighting off an army of villains in a confined environment. Despite receiving mixed reviews from critics, the film performed marginally well at the box office, grossing $64.4 million against a reported budget of $35 million. However, over time, Sudden Death has developed a cult following among fans of Van Damme and action enthusiasts, who appreciate its over-the-top action sequences and memorable one-liners. As a result, the film has become a beloved classic within the action genre, despite its initial lack of critical acclaim.
Everything We Know About the 4K Release?
Renowned film distribution company Kino Lorber will be releasing the 2-disc set. A brand-new HDR Dolby Vision master from a 16-bit 4K scan of the 35mm original camera negative will be the focal point of the release. Ross Boyask and Mike Leeder, action movie historians, will provide brand-new audio commentary. A variety of additional elements will also be included, such as up-to-date interviews with director Peter Hyams , the movie’s villain Powers Boothe (Tombstone), Ross Malinger who plays Van Damme’s son, and of course, the film’s main star Van Damme. Along with the original theatrical trailer and TV spot for the movie, it will also feature behind-the-scenes footage. Sudden Death‘s 4K Blu-ray can be preordered at KinoLorber.com.
Coming August 27th on 4KUHD!https://t.co/G47oln8CWN
SUDDEN DEATH (1995)
DISC 1 (4KUHD):
• Brand New HDR Dolby Vision Master – From 16bit 4K Scan of the 35mm Original Camera Negative
• NEW Audio Commentary by Action Film Historians Mike Leeder and UK Cult Movie Director Ross… pic.twitter.com/LmegByUze7— KL Studio Classics / Kino Cult (@KLStudioClassic) June 20, 2024
Where Will Van Damme Go Next?
As mentioned, Jean-Claude Van Damme’s career has been re-climbing since he was cast in Sylvester Stallone‘s Expendables franchise. Following the movie, he led his own TV series on Prime Video called Jean-Claude Van Johnson. In the series, he played a fictional version of himself who moonlights as an assassin. The series was met with critical acclaim and once again pushed Van Damme further into the spotlight. As well as dazzling action scenes, the show also gave Van Damme the chance to showcase his comedic chops. He then built upon this when he starred in The Last Mercenary, a Netflix original movie.
More recently, the action superstar has returned to roles in lower budget movies that have typically gone straight to DVD or streaming. However, his next project could be his final mark on Hollywood. In 2022, it was announced that Van Damme will star in What’s My Name? According to reports, Van Damme is set to play himself in the film, suffering from amnesia following a catastrophic vehicle accident. As he seeks to discover who he is, he must also contend with variety of opponents from throughout his career who have set out to kill him. What’s My Name? will be directed by Jeremy Zag, with the screenplay coming from Nick Vallelonga and Paul Sloan, and Van Damme.
What’s My Name? is reported to be Van Damme’s final action movie. It is currently in pre-production and no other stars are attached as of yet. Before the film is released, Van Damme will star in the action movie Silent Kill, and his most recent movie, Darkness of Man, is now available on various streaming platforms. Want to read more about Jean-Claude Van Damme? Here’s our pick of his top 6 movie roles.
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