Bruce Lee filmography

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Bruce Lee filmography
Bruce-Lee-as-Kato-1967-restored.jpg

Lee as Kato in the television series The Green Hornet (August 1967)

Contents

Filmography
Feature films37
Television appearances20
Documentaries52
Other102

This article details the filmography of actor and martial artist Bruce Lee.

Several of Lee's films premiered after his death, including Enter the Dragon , Game of Death and Circle of Iron .

Feature films

YearTitleChinese titleRoleNotes
1941 Golden Gate Girl 金門女As an infant
1946The Birth of Mankind人类的诞生
1948Wealth is Like a Dream富貴浮雲
1949Sai See in the Dream夢裡西施Yam Lee
The Story of Fan Lei-fa
1950 The Kid 細路祥Kid CheungAlternate title: My Son, A Chung. Available on region 1 English-subtitled DVD from Cinema Epoch.
Blooms and Butterflies
1951Infancy人之初Ngau
1953A Myriad Homes千萬人家
Blame it on Father父之過Alternate title: Father's Fault
The Guiding Light苦海明燈Son as teenagerAvailable on region 1 English-subtitled DVD from Cinema Epoch / Alternate title: A Son Is Born
A Mother's Tears慈母淚Alternate title: A Mother Remembers
In the Face of Demolition 危樓春曉
1955 An Orphan's Tragedy 孤星血淚Frank Wong (child)Available on region 1 English-subtitled DVD from Cinema Epoch
Orphan's Song孤兒行
Love
Love Part 2愛(下集)
We Owe It to Our Children兒女債Alternate title: The More the Merrier
The Faithful Wife
1956The Wise Guys Who Fool Around詐痲納福
Too Late For Divorce早知當初我唔嫁
1957 The Thunderstorm 雷雨Chow ChungBased on the play Lei Yu by Cao Yu
Darling Girl
1960 The Orphan 人海孤鴻Sam
1968 The Wrecking Crew 風流特務勇破迷魂陣Action director
1969 Marlowe 醜聞喋血Winslow WongAlso action director
1970 A Walk in the Spring Rain 春雨漫步Action DirectorLee, personal friend of producer Stirling Silliphant, is credited as the film's fight choreographer.
1971 The Big Boss 唐山大兄 Cheng Chao-an Also action director
Alternate title: Fists of Fury [lower-alpha 1]
1972 Fist of Fury 精武門 Chen Zhen Also action director
Alternate title: The Chinese Connection [lower-alpha 1]
The Way of the Dragon 猛龍過江Tang LungAlso producer, director, action director and screenwriter
The film was released in the U.S. after Enter the Dragon; hence the Alternate title: Return of the Dragon
1973 Fist of Unicorn 麒麟掌Action Director and fight choreographer

Released posthumously

YearTitleChinese titleRoleNotes
1973 Enter the Dragon 龍爭虎鬥Mr. LeeAlso action director, writer and producer
Sent as a spy into a martial arts tournament hosted by a rogue-monk-turned-drug lord
Released six days after Lee's death
1974The Green Hornet青蜂侠 Kato A compilation of episodes from the TV series edited together and released as a feature film
Released one year after Lee's death
1976The Fury of the Dragon Kato A compilation of episodes from the TV series edited together and released as a feature film
Released one year after Lee's death
1978 Game of Death 死亡遊戲Billy LoThere are two versions of this film, each one with a different plot (the original from an incomplete 1972 film and the 1978 build doing a "footage mashup")
Lee was shown in incomplete original footage from 1972, plus stock footage from Enter the Dragon and other films
The original was finally released as a short film in the year 2000.
Circle of Iron Co-writer
Alternate title: The Silent Flute
Film co-written by Bruce Lee, who was seeking to illustrate the differences between Eastern and Western philosophies
1981 Game of Death II 死亡塔Billy Lo / Lee Chen ChiangAlternate title: Tower of Death
Unrelated to the first Game of Death, it was marketed as a sequel in the U.S.
Lee appears in stock footage from Enter the Dragon and other films

Box office performance

YearTitleWorldwide gross revenue (est. US dollars)Budget
(US dollars)
Return on investment
(ROI)
Notes
Nominal value Inflation adjusted
1968 The Wrecking Crew $8,000,000$70,000,000?? [lower-alpha 2]
1971 The Big Boss (Fists of Fury)$50,000,000$400,000,000$100,00050,000% [lower-alpha 3]
1972 Fist of Fury (The Chinese Connection)$100,000,000$730,000,000$100,000100,000% [lower-alpha 4]
Way of the Dragon (Return of the Dragon)$130,000,000$730,000,000$130,000100,000% [lower-alpha 5]
1973 Enter the Dragon $400,000,000$2,000,000,000$850,00047,000% [lower-alpha 6]
1978 Game of Death $50,320,736$240,000,000$850,0005,900% [lower-alpha 7]
Circle of Iron $2,600,000$12,000,000?? [lower-alpha 8]
1981 Game of Death II $349,181$1,200,000?? [lower-alpha 9]
Total$741,269,917$3,964,000,000$2,030,000100,000%
Average$92,658,740$496,000,000$406,00037,000%

Television appearances

YearTitleChinese titleRoleCountry and channelNotes
1966 The Green Hornet 青蜂侠 Kato Flag of the United States.svg U.S.ABC Alternate title: The Kato Show (Hong Kong title)
1966–1967
Where the Action Is HimselfFlag of the United States.svg U.S.ABC
1967 Batman 蝙蝠俠 Kato Flag of the United States.svg U.S.ABC Visiting hero
Episodes: "The Spell of Tut", "A Piece of the Action" and "Batman's Satisfaction"
Ironside 無敵鐵探長Leon SooFlag of the United States.svg U.S.NBC Guest star
Episode: "Tagged for Murder"
1968 Blondie Mr. Yoto, Karate InstructorFlag of the United States.svg U.S.CBS Guest star
Episode: "Pick on a Bully Your Own Size"
1969 Here Come the Brides 新娘駕到LinFlag of the United States.svg U.S.ABC Guest star
Episode: "Marriage, Chinese Style"
1970 Enjoy Yourself Tonight 歡樂今宵HimselfFlag of Hong Kong 1959.svg Hong KongTVB
1971 Longstreet 血灑長街Li Tsung / Fight ChoreographerFlag of the United States.svg U.S.ABC Appeared in four episodes: "The Way of the Intercepting Fist", "Spell Legacy Like Death", "Wednesday's Child" and "I See, Said the Blind Man"
The Pierre Berton Show HimselfFlag of Canada (Pantone).svg CanadaScreen Gems
1993Fame in the Twentieth CenturyHimselfFlag of the United Kingdom.svg U.K.BBC
1999Famous FamiliesHimselfFlag of the United States.svg U.S.FOX Episode: "The Lees: Action Speaks Louder"
2003 I Love the '70s LeeFlag of the United States.svg U.S.MTV
2007La RentadoraHimselfFlag of Spain.svg SpainTV3 Episode: "Be Water My Friend"
2008Dragonland – L'urlo di Chen terrorizza ancora l'occidenteHimselfFlag of Italy.svg Italy – Canale 21
2009How Bruce Lee Changed the WorldHimselfFlag of the United States.svg U.S.TVPG
2011Bruce Lee Lives!HimselfFlag of the United States.svg U.S.TVPG
2015Too Young To DieHimselfFlag of Germany.svg GermanyBroadview TV "Bruce Lee: Die Faust Hollywoods"
2017Autopsy: The Last Hours of... Bruce LeeHimselfFlag of the United States.svg U.S.TV-14
2018ITV Celebrities InterviewsHimselfFlag of France.svg FranceITV "La Grand Émission 2018 Sur Bruce Lee"
2021History's Greatest MysteriesHimselfFlag of the United States.svg U.S.A&E Season 2, Episode 3: "The Death of Bruce Lee"

Note: all the series produced after Lee's death (1973) feature archival footage of Lee.

Documentaries

YearDocumentary titleChinese titleNotes
1973 Bruce Lee: The Man and the Legend 李小龍的生與死Updated in 1984 and re-titled Bruce Lee: The Legend
The Real Bruce Lee
The Last Days of Bruce Lee
1974Kung Fu Killers
1976The Young Bruce Lee
1984Bruce Lee: The Legend李小龍的生與死(下) Golden Harvest tribute; focused on their films starring Lee. Featured on the Hong Kong Legends Bruce Lee: The Man and the Legend DVD.
1990The Best of the Martial Arts Films金裝武術電影大全
Bruce Lee – Best of the Best
1992Bruce Lee and Kung Fu Mania
Spirit of the Dragon
1993Top Fighter
Dragon: The Bruce Lee Story
Bruce Lee: The Curse of the Dragon Included on Enter the Dragon DVDs and Blu-rays
Death by Misadventure
Martial Arts Master
1994 Bruce Lee: The Lost Interview
Cinema of VengeanceHistory of martial arts cinema with clips of Lee
Bruce Lee: The Immortal Dragon Biography episode; available on DVD
The Life of Bruce Lee
1997Secrets of the Warrior's Power
1998The Intercepting Fist
Bruce Lee: The Path of the Dragon
Bruce Lee: In His Own WordsFeaturette on Enter the Dragon DVDs and Blu-rays
Mystic Origins of the Martial Arts
The Immortal Masters
Jackie Chan: My Story成龍的傳奇
1999Century Hero
Hollywood Screen Tests: Take 2
2000 Bruce Lee: A Warrior's Journey 李小龍:死亡遊戲之旅Found as a special feature on the 2004 DVD release of Enter the Dragon. Also on HD DVD and Blu-ray.
Bruce Lee in G.O.D.: Shibōteki Yūgi Bruce Lee in G.O.D. 死亡的遊戲
The Unbeatable Bruce Lee
2002Bruce Lee: The Legend Lives On
The Art of Action: Martial Arts in Motion Picture功夫片歲月
Jackie Chan: Fast, Funny and Furious
Modern Warriors
2003Cinema Hong Kong: Kung Fu電影香江:功夫世家
2004Dragon: Since 1973龍:一九七三以後
2008 The Legend of Bruce Lee 李小龍傳奇It was aired in many parts of the world: China (CCTV), Iran (IRIB), Brazil (Rede CNT; Band), Italy (RAI 4), United States (KTSF), Vietnam (HTV2; DN1-RTV), South Korea (SBS), Japan (NTV), Canada (FTV), Hong Kong (ATV Home), Philippines (Q), Taiwan (TTV), Venezuela (Televen), United Kingdom (Netflix) and Indonesia (Hi Indo).
2009Sebring
2010Young Bruce Lee: The Birth of a Legend
Bruce Lee, My Brother
2012 I Am Bruce Lee It won Leo Awards in 2012.
2013No Way as Way
Fighter of Death
2015 Ip Man 3
2016 Birth of the Dragon During the premiere of the film, director George Nolfi and star Philip Ng presented a commemorative plaque to the Chinese Hospital in San Francisco, where Bruce Lee was born. / The film won the Golden Angel Award at the 12th Chinese American Film Festival.
2019 Warrior
Iron Fists and Kung Fu Kicks
Once Upon a Time in Hollywood
Ip Man 4: The Finale
2020 Be Water Part of ESPN Films' 30 for 30 .

It won the Gold List Award in 2021.

2022Bruce Lee: The Way of the Warrior
2023 The Final Game of Death Also on Blu-ray.

Note: all the documentaries listed here were produced after Lee's death; therefore, all the Lee footage is composed of archive footage and some never-before-seen footage.

Video games

YearVideo game titleRoleNotes
1984 Bruce Lee Himself
Kung-Fu Master ThomasOriginally based on Game of Death
1985 Yie Ar Kung-Fu Oolong (Lee in MSX version)
1987 China Warrior WangMobile phones and PS2
1989 Bruce Lee Lives Himself
1993 Super Street Fighter II Fei LongInspired by Enter the Dragon
1993 Dragon: The Bruce Lee Story Himself
2002 Bruce Lee: Quest of the Dragon Himself
2003 Bruce Lee: Return of the Legend Himself/Hai Feng
2008 Ultimate Bruce LeeHimself
2010 Bruce Lee: Dragon WarriorHimselfSmartphone game
Limited release
2011 Kung Fu WarriorHimselfSmartphone game
2013 Broforce Bro Lee
2014 EA Sports UFC Himself PS4 and Xbox One game
2014 Bruce Lee: Enter The GameHimselfSmartphone game
2016 EA Sports UFC 2 — Bruce Lee BundleHimself PS4 and Xbox One game
2018 Bruce Lee Dragon RunHimselfSmartphone game
2018 EA Sports UFC 3 — Bruce Lee BundleHimself PS4 and Xbox One game
2019 Kung-fu Bruce: The Legend ContinuesHimselfSmartphone game
Circa 2020 I Am FighterLeeSmartphone game
Circa 2020 Kung Fu Attack: Final FightLeeSmartphone game
Circa 2020 King of KungFuLeeSmartphone game
2020 EA Sports UFC 4 — Bruce Lee BundleHimself PS4 and Xbox One game
2020 Street Kungfu: King FighterLeeSmartphone game
2021 Superhero Captain X vs Kungfu LeeLeeSmartphone game
2022 KungFu Superstar: Call Me SifuHimselfSmartphone game
2022 KungFu Fighting WarriorHimselfSmartphone game

Note 1: In Super Mario RPG , when Mario is about to fight a boss, his comrade Mallow stops him and says "Who do you think you are? Bruce Lee? You can't go in there with your fists flying!"

Note 2: Check Kim Dragon in World Heroes (1992), World Heroes 2 (1993), World Heroes Jet (1994) and World Heroes Perfect (1995).

Note 3: Check Marshall Law in Tekken (1994), Tekken 2 (1995), Tekken 3 (1996), Tekken 4 (2002), Tekken 5 (2005), Tekken 6 (2007) and Tekken 7 (2016) as well as Forest Law in Tekken Tag Tournament (1999), Marshall Law and Forest Law in Tekken Tag Tournament 2 (2011).

Music videos

1975 Robert Lee Bruce Lee's brother released an album entitled "The Ballad of Bruce Lee". [4]
2001 LMF Hip-hop band from Hong Kong released a song with videoclip called "1127". [5]

Bruceploitation films

See also

Notes

  1. 1 2 When The Big Boss was being prepared for American distribution, the U.S. release was to be re-titled The Chinese Connection, a play on the popular The French Connection , since both dealt with drug trafficking. The U.S. title of Lee's second film, Fist of Fury, was to be kept nearly the same, except using the plural Fists. However, the titles were accidentally reversed. The Big Boss was released as Fists of Fury and Fist of Fury became The Chinese Connection. [1]
  2. In the United States and Canada, the film earned $2.4 million in theatrical rentals. [2] This was equivalent to estimated box office gross receipts of approximately $8 million. [3]
  3. See The Big Boss § Box office
  4. See Fist of Fury § Box office
  5. See The Way of the Dragon § Box office
  6. See Enter the Dragon § Box office
  7. See Game of Death § Box office
  8. See Circle of Iron § Box office
  9. See Game of Death II § Box office

Related Research Articles

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References

  1. "The Big Boss – Chinese Kungfu Kaleidoscope". Cultural China. 1972. Archived from the original on August 21, 2016. Retrieved June 25, 2016.
  2. "Big Rental Films of 1969", Variety, January 7, 1970, p 15
  3. Vogel, Harold L. (2010). "Table 3.4. Motion picture theater industry statistics, 1965-2009". Entertainment Industry Economics: A Guide for Financial Analysis. Cambridge University Press. pp. 88–9. ISBN   978-1-139-49732-9. 1965 (...) MPAA U.S. + Canadian rentals % of BO (...) 29.8
  4. "Robert Lee — The Ballad of Bruce Lee". YouTube.
  5. "LMF — 1127 Official Music Video". YouTube.