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IMDbPro

Gymkata

  • 19851985
  • RR
  • 1h 30m
IMDb RATING
4.3/10
4.1K
YOUR RATING
Gymkata (1985)
An American gymnast travels to a foreign country to compete in a deadly game not won by anyone other than a native in more than 900 years.
Play trailer2:52
1 Video
46 Photos
  • Action
  • Thriller
An American gymnast travels to a foreign country to compete in a deadly game not won by anyone other than a native in more than 900 years.An American gymnast travels to a foreign country to compete in a deadly game not won by anyone other than a native in more than 900 years.An American gymnast travels to a foreign country to compete in a deadly game not won by anyone other than a native in more than 900 years.
IMDb RATING
4.3/10
4.1K
YOUR RATING
  • Director
    • Robert Clouse
  • Writers
    • Charles Robert Carner(screenplay by)
    • Dan Tyler Moore(based on the novel "The Terrible Game" by)
  • Stars
    • Kurt Thomas
    • Tetchie Agbayani
    • Richard Norton
Top credits
  • Director
    • Robert Clouse
  • Writers
    • Charles Robert Carner(screenplay by)
    • Dan Tyler Moore(based on the novel "The Terrible Game" by)
  • Stars
    • Kurt Thomas
    • Tetchie Agbayani
    • Richard Norton
  • See production, box office & company info
    • 82User reviews
    • 70Critic reviews
    • 51Metascore
  • See more at IMDbPro
    • Awards
      • 1 nomination

    Videos1

    Trailer
    Trailer 2:52
    Trailer

    Photos46

    Kurt Thomas in Gymkata (1985)
    Gymkata (1985)
    Gymkata (1985)
    Gymkata (1985)
    Gymkata (1985)
    Kurt Thomas in Gymkata (1985)
    Kurt Thomas in Gymkata (1985)
    Kurt Thomas in Gymkata (1985)
    Gymkata (1985)
    Gymkata (1985)
    Tetchie Agbayani and Kurt Thomas in Gymkata (1985)
    Kurt Thomas in Gymkata (1985)

    Top cast

    Edit
    Kurt Thomas
    Kurt Thomas
    • Jonathan Cabotas Jonathan Cabot
    Tetchie Agbayani
    Tetchie Agbayani
    • Princess Rubalias Princess Rubali
    Richard Norton
    Richard Norton
    • Zamiras Zamir
    Edward Michael Bell
    • Paleyas Paley
    • (as Edward Bell)
    John Barrett
    • Gomezas Gomez
    Conan Lee
    Conan Lee
    • Haoas Hao
    Bob Schott
    Bob Schott
    • Thorgas Thorg
    Buck Kartalian
    Buck Kartalian
    • The Kahnas The Kahn
    Eric Lawson
    • Colonel Cabotas Colonel Cabot
    Sonny Barnes
    • Western Traineras Western Trainer
    Tadashi Yamashita
    Tadashi Yamashita
    • Eastern Traineras Eastern Trainer
    Sharan Lea
    Sharan Lea
    • Connieas Connie
    Zlatko Pokupec
    • Mackleas Mackle
    • (as Z. Pokupec)
    Slobodan Dimitrijevic
    • Tamerlaneas Tamerlane
    • (as S. Dimitrijevic)
    Ivo Kristof
    • Brockschmidtas Brockschmidt
    • (as I. Kristof)
    • Director
      • Robert Clouse
    • Writers
      • Charles Robert Carner(screenplay by)
      • Dan Tyler Moore(based on the novel "The Terrible Game" by)
    • All cast & crew
    • See more cast details at IMDbPro

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    Storyline

    Edit

    Did you know

    Edit
    • Trivia
      The film debut of Kurt Thomas, a former Olympic gymnast and his only starring role in his career.
    • Quotes

      Eastern Trainer: There are many sounds around us, each is slightly different. So small as to go un-noticed by the person who is unaware. Do not hear the wood split. Hear the only sound of axe, cutting air. Read the air itself. It has much say to you.

    • Connections
      Featured in Movie Nights: Gymkata (2010)
    • Soundtracks
      Get Even
      Written by Alan Nathanson and Roger Stone

      Performed by Remote Control

    User reviews82

    Review
    Top review
    The Parmistani are a proud people.
    The best thing about "Gymkata" is that it takes itself very seriously. Actual men and women worked on this film with no intention of creating a hysterically abominable failure. Yet, despite a premise that fails to produce anything beyond derisive laughter, the project somehow landed financing.

    Highlights include: The Khan of Parmistan, a man who looks like Albert Einstein with Carl Levin's comb-over. "The Town of the Crazies," a village of criminally insane people. A man who severs his own hand for no apparent reason in the aforementioned town. A man (also in that town) who wears a cloak with the back cut out to reveal his buttocks. The oft-repeated location, "Karabal, on the Caspian Sea." The title card that lets us know when we've arrived at "Karabal, on the Caspian Sea." Princess Rubali and her odd fascination with cutlery. A man named "Thorg," who has been admired by the hero "since Munich." An actual line of dialogue that refers to "a nightmare in hell." The five punch/kick sound effects that get recycled beyond believability. A character who presumably fell to his death in a gaping, barren canyon only to have his fall "broken by some trees." The random placement of gymnastics apparatuses. The complete lack of resolution to numerous dangling plot points. Kurt Thomas's wardrobe and haircut. The men working at "The Salt Mines," who just poke a large pile of refined salt with hoes. Also, we get the privilege of seeing a shadowy government agent push away a gymnastics groupie who tries to get too close to a post-dismount Kurt Thomas.

    If you happen across this movie, you must watch it. "Gymkata" stands as an example of what happens when no one offers a dissenting opinion anywhere in the filmmaking process. This is a technique that was later revealed in Joel Schumacher's "Batman & Robin."

    "Gymkata" fulfills every expectation you may have of a film combining gymnastics and ninjitsu. Plenty of gymnastics, plenty of ninjitsu. See it with a friend and enjoy its many failures. All hail "Gymkata!"
    helpful•81
    4
    • El Dangeroso
    • Jan 3, 2003

    Details

    Edit
    • Release date
      • May 3, 1985 (United States)
    • Countries of origin
      • United States
      • Japan
    • Language
      • English
    • Also known as
      • Asia Mission
    • Filming locations
      • Yugoslavia
    • Production company
      • Metro-Goldwyn-Mayer (MGM)
    • See more company credits at IMDbPro

    Box office

    Edit
    • Gross US & Canada
      • $5,730,596
    • Opening weekend US & Canada
      • $1,261,845
      • May 5, 1985
    • Gross worldwide
      • $5,730,596
    See detailed box office info on IMDbPro

    Technical specs

    Edit
    • Runtime
      1 hour 30 minutes
    • Sound mix
      • Mono
    • Aspect ratio
      • 1.85 : 1

    Related news

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