# Enter the Dragon

> 1973 film directed by Robert Clouse

**Wikidata**: [Q331617](https://www.wikidata.org/wiki/Q331617)  
**Wikipedia**: [English](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Enter_the_Dragon)  
**Source**: https://4ort.xyz/entity/enter-the-dragon

## Summary
*Enter the Dragon* is a 1973 martial arts action film directed by Robert Clouse. It is best known as the final completed film of legendary martial artist and actor Bruce Lee. The movie was a co-production between Warner Bros. and Concord Production Inc. and became a global cultural phenomenon, significantly influencing the perception of Asian cinema and martial arts in the West.

## Key Facts
- **Title**: *Enter the Dragon*
- **Release Year**: 1973
- **Director**: Robert Clouse
- **Country of Origin**: United States
- **Production Companies**: Warner Bros. and Concord Production Inc.
- **Genre**: Action, Martial Arts, Thriller
- **Starring**: Bruce Lee, John Saxon, Jim Kelly
- **Runtime**: 98 minutes
- **Box Office Gross**: $90 million (worldwide)
- **Budget**: $850,000
- **IMDb ID**: tt0070034
- **Wikidata ID**: Q11424
- **Wikipedia Title**: Enter the Dragon
- **Sitelink Count**: 48
- **Part of**: National Film Registry (selected for preservation by the Library of Congress)
- **Release Dates**:
  - July 26, 1973 (premiere)
  - August 17, 1973 (United States)
  - August 19, 1973 (United Kingdom)
  - October 18, 1973 (France)
  - November 23, 1973 (Germany)
  - December 1, 1973 (Italy)
  - December 22, 1973 (Japan)
  - December 25, 1973 (Australia)
  - January 10, 1974 (Spain)
  - January 11, 1974 (Netherlands)
  - January 18, 1974 (Sweden)
  - January 25, 1974 (Denmark)
  - January 30, 1974 (Norway)
  - March 11, 1974 (Finland)
  - December 24, 1973 (Hong Kong)
  - October 1980 (Re-release)
  - June 22, 1982 (Re-release)
  - July 17, 1986 (Re-release)

## FAQs
**What is *Enter the Dragon*?**  
*Enter the Dragon* is a 1973 martial arts action film directed by Robert Clouse. It stars Bruce Lee in his final completed film role and is widely regarded as one of the most influential martial arts films ever made.

**Who stars in *Enter the Dragon*?**  
The main cast includes Bruce Lee (Lee), John Saxon (Roper), and Jim Kelly (Williams). Lee's performance is central to the film's enduring legacy.

**What genre is *Enter the Dragon*?**  
It is classified as an action film, martial arts film, and thriller. It blends high-octane fight sequences with a spy-thriller plot.

**What is the plot of *Enter the Dragon*?**  
The film follows Lee, a martial artist recruited by a British agent to infiltrate a crime lord's island tournament. His real mission is to gather intelligence, but he also seeks personal vengeance.

**What is the runtime and budget of *Enter the Dragon*?**  
The film runs for 98 minutes and had a production budget of $850,000. It grossed over $90 million worldwide, making it a massive box office success.

**What awards or recognitions has *Enter the Dragon* received?**  
It was selected for preservation in the National Film Registry by the Library of Congress in recognition of its cultural, historical, and aesthetic significance.

**What is the significance of *Enter the Dragon* in film history?**  
The film is notable for introducing global audiences to martial arts cinema and elevating Bruce Lee to international stardom. It also helped establish the modern action film genre.

**What is the connection between *Enter the Dragon* and Bruce Lee?**  
It was Bruce Lee's final completed film before his death in 1973. His performance and untimely passing shortly after filming contributed to the film's mythic status.

**What is the relationship between *Enter the Dragon* and Warner Bros.?**  
Warner Bros. co-produced and distributed the film, marking a major collaboration between Hollywood and Hong Kong cinema. It was one of the first such partnerships to achieve global success.

**What is the film's connection to the National Film Registry?**  
*Enter the Dragon* was selected for preservation in the National Film Registry in 1992, recognizing its cultural importance and cinematic innovation.

## Why It Matters
*Enter the Dragon* is a landmark in global cinema, bridging Eastern and Western filmmaking traditions. It introduced martial arts to mainstream Western audiences and elevated Bruce Lee to a global icon. The film's success reshaped the action genre, inspiring countless filmmakers and establishing a template for modern martial arts films. Its legacy extends beyond entertainment, influencing fashion, fitness, and philosophy.

## Notable For
- Being Bruce Lee’s final completed film
- One of the first co-productions between Hollywood and Hong Kong
- Grossing over $90 million worldwide on an $850,000 budget
- Selected for preservation in the National Film Registry
- Introducing martial arts to Western mainstream cinema
- Launching the modern martial arts film genre
- Featuring iconic fight choreography and cinematography
- Being re-released multiple times, maintaining cultural relevance
- Influencing global pop culture, including fashion and fitness
- Inspiring the "Bruceploitation" subgenre of films

## Body

### History and Production
*Enter the Dragon* was produced as a joint venture between Warner Bros. and Concord Production Inc., a company founded by Bruce Lee. The film was directed by Robert Clouse and released in 1973. It was Lee’s final completed film before his death in July of that year, which added to its cultural and historical significance.

### Plot and Genre
The film is a martial arts thriller that follows Lee, a martial artist recruited by a British agent to infiltrate a crime lord’s island tournament. While ostensibly gathering intelligence, Lee also seeks personal vengeance. The film blends action, espionage, and philosophical themes, making it a hybrid of genres.

### Cast and Crew
- **Director**: Robert Clouse
- **Producer(s)**: Warner Bros., Concord Production Inc.
- **Starring**: Bruce Lee, John Saxon, Jim Kelly
- **Supporting Cast**: Ahna Capri, Bob Wall, Kareem Abdul-Jabbar (then Lew Alcindor), Shih Kien
- **Cinematography**: Gilbert Hubbs
- **Music**: Lalo Schifrin
- **Editing**: Evan Lottman

### Release and Box Office
The film premiered on July 26, 1973, and was released globally throughout the latter half of the year. It grossed over $90 million worldwide on a budget of $850,000, making it one of the most profitable films of its time. Its success led to multiple re-releases, including in 1980, 1982, and 1986.

### Cultural Impact
*Enter the Dragon* revolutionized martial arts cinema and introduced global audiences to Asian action stars. It influenced the genre for decades, inspiring filmmakers like Quentin Tarantino and John Woo. The film also contributed to Bruce Lee’s posthumous legacy, spawning the "Bruceploitation" subgenre.

### Awards and Recognition
The film was selected for preservation in the National Film Registry by the Library of Congress in 1992. It is recognized for its cultural, historical, and aesthetic significance. It remains one of the most studied martial arts films in cinema history.

### Technical Specifications
- **Runtime**: 98 minutes
- **Genre**: Action, Martial Arts, Thriller
- **Country of Origin**: United States
- **Language**: English, Cantonese, Mandarin
- **Color**: Color
- **Aspect Ratio**: 1.85:1
- **Sound Mix**: Mono, Stereo
- **Filming Locations**: Hong Kong, California

### Related Entities
- **Production Companies**:
  - Warner Bros.
  - Concord Production Inc.
- **Director**: Robert Clouse
- **Star**: Bruce Lee
- **Distributor**: Warner Bros.
- **Genre**: Action, Martial Arts, Thriller
- **Part of**: National Film Registry

### Legacy and Influence
The film’s influence extends beyond cinema into martial arts, philosophy, and global pop culture. It inspired countless sequels, remakes, and homages. Its iconic imagery and themes continue to resonate in modern media, including video games, comic books, and television.

### Filmography and Trivia
- **Sequel(s)**: *Enter the Ninja* (1981), *Bloodsport* (1988)
- **Inspired By**: Bruce Lee’s vision of martial arts cinema
- **Cultural References**: Referenced in *Kill Bill*, *The Matrix*, and *Kung Fu Panda*
- **Iconic Lines**: “Be like water making its way through cracks.”
- **Signature Move**: The "One-Inch Punch"

### Distribution and Re-releases
The film has been re-released multiple times, including in 1980, 1982, and 1986. Each re-release has introduced the film to new generations, maintaining its relevance in global cinema.

### Critical Reception
Critics praised the film for its innovative fight choreography, cinematography, and Bruce Lee’s magnetic performance. It holds a 91% approval rating on Rotten Tomatoes and is considered one of the greatest action films ever made.

## References

1. The Movie Database
2. [Source](https://www.loc.gov/programs/national-film-preservation-board/film-registry/complete-national-film-registry-listing/)
3. Enter the Dragon. Rotten Tomatoes
4. [Source](https://www.imdb.com/title/tt0070034/releaseinfo)
5. Freebase Data Dumps. 2013
6. Kinopoisk
7. [Source](https://www.kijkwijzer.nl/films/enter-the-dragon/)
8. terjesztesre_kerulo_filmalkotasok_nyilvantartasa.xlsx
9. [Source](http://www.allocine.fr/film/fichefilm_gen_cfilm=467.html)
10. List of film licenses issued from 1945 to 2020
11. [Source](https://www.eirin.jp/list/index.php?s_year=2023&s_month=10&e_year=2023&e_month=10&pageID=3)
12. [Source](https://www.eirin.jp/list/index.php?s_year=2013&s_month=4&e_year=2013&e_month=4&pageID=2)
13. [Source](https://www.cnc.fr/professionnels/visas-et-classification/41913)
14. Online-Filmdatenbank
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16. Quora
17. mymovies.it
18. Bechdel Test Movie List
19. [Source](https://ui.eidr.org/view/content?id=10.5240/4A2B-EBF0-D6E9-16FE-59F0-P)
20. Danish Film Database
21. [Source](https://www.acmi.net.au/works/85655)
22. [Source](https://www.acmi.net.au/works/88509)
23. TheTVDB
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