Shortly before his departure, Lee also learns that the man responsible for his sister's death, O'Hara, is working as Han's bodyguard on the island. Lee is persuaded to attend a high-profile martial arts tournament on Han's private island to gather evidence that will prove Han's involvement in drug trafficking and prostitution. Lee, a highly proficient martial artist and instructor from Hong Kong, is approached by Braithwaite, a British intelligence agent investigating a suspected crime lord named Han. Įnter the Dragon is also considered one of the most influential action films of all time, with its success contributing to mainstream worldwide interest in the martial arts as well as inspiring numerous fictional works, including action films, television shows, action games, comic books, manga and anime. Its themes generated scholarly debate about the changes taking place within post-colonial Asian societies following the end of World War II.

Among the first films to combine martial arts action with spy film elements and the emerging blaxploitation genre, its success led to a series of similar productions combining the martial arts and blaxploitation genres.

In 2004, it was selected for preservation in the United States National Film Registry by the Library of Congress as being 'culturally, historically, or aesthetically significant'. It was also widely regarded as one of the greatest martial arts films of all time. Having earned more than 400 times its budget, it is one of the most profitable films of all time as well as the most successful martial arts film. An American and Hong Kong co-production, it premiered in Los Angeles on 19 August 1973, one month after Lee's death.Įnter the Dragon was estimated to have grossed over US$400 million worldwide (estimated to be the equivalent of over $2 billion adjusted for inflation as of 2022 ), against a budget of $850,000. It was Lee's final completed film appearance before his death on 20 July 1973 at the age of 32. It stars Bruce Lee, John Saxon and Jim Kelly. Enter the Dragon ( Chinese: 龍爭虎鬥) is a 1973 martial arts film directed by Robert Clouse from a story written by Michael Allin.

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