Top 10 Epic JCVD Moments
Jean-Claude Van Damme, the Muscles from Brussels, the beast, you know his names, and these are his greatest moments. WatchMojo presents the Top 10 greatest moments of JCVD, from his epic splits, his emotional monologues, to his kickboxing dance numbers and his screams. These are the unforgettable instances of this legend.
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#10: Kick the Tree “Kickboxer” (1989)
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Okay, let’s set the scene: Van Damme plays Kurt, the corner man to his brother Eric, the U.S. kick boxing champion. Seeking a new challenge, they set their sights on a fight with Thailand’s top kick boxer, Tong Po, who proceeds to brutally paralyze Eric in the ring. Kurt vows vengeance, and begins training with a local master to learn the art of Muay Thai. Part of his training sees Kurt kicking a bamboo tree. Wavering and in pain, he’s told to quit and leave, but that’s not our Van Damme! He proceeds to go berserk on the tree, hammering away with his leg with such fury that eventually the tree topples over. Timber!
#9: Electric Splits “Timecop” (1994)
Can’t an action hero just catch some Zs in peace? Van Damme awakes from his beauty sleep to find two men attacking him, one with a Taser and the other brandishing dual knives. He manages to take down the knife-wielding baddie with relative ease, only to find the man with the Taser has got him cornered. Realizing that the floor is covered in water, he pulls off a daring split, raising himself to safety as his assailant fires his weapon. A cheeky peek over his shoulder to watch the man get shocked to death is the icing on the cake.
#8: Snake Slap-Punch “Hard Target” (1993)
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“Hard Target” is packed to the brim with memorable moments, including our hero surfing on a motorcycle. In this scene, however, Van Damme’s character, Chance, is laying on some serious charm, but a rattlesnake creeps in to spoil the mood. With lightning-fast reactions, he catches the snake by the neck before it can strike, then knocks it out cold. Going full badass, he then bites the rattle off the snake to leave a surprise for his “friends”. Moments later, we get to see Van Damme’s trap in action, as a trip wire launches the snake at a villain’s face. That’s gotta hurt.
#7: Stallone vs. Van Damme “The Expendables 2” (2012)
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“The Expendables” movies give viewers exactly what they want: huge action stars kicking ass. Van Damme actually turned down the first film, but took on a more appealing role in the second as the main villain; seriously, his last name was Vilain. According to sources, Van Damme completely embraced the role, steering clear of the cast and crew during filming so he could stay in character. And of course, Mr. Vilain found himself in a highly anticipated showdown with Sly himself, a fellow kickass action star. It’s brute force from Stallone and acrobatic kicks from Van Damme. The fight is great, but the quippy dialogue cements this scene as one of JCVD’s best.
#6: Make My Movie Challenge Funny or Die (2014)
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Thank you Funny or Die for immortalizing this magical moment in JCVD history. The comedy video site set up the “Make My Movie Challenge” with Van Damme, giving common folk the chance to make a movie starring the split-master himself. They recorded a bunch of clips with Van Damme in front of a green screen, punching and kicking imaginary bad guys, trekking through unseen landscapes, and laying down the cheesiest dialogue possible. The contest was great, and some impressive videos emerged, but still the best footage has to be the collection of Van Damme clips itself. He’s clearly loving it; just take a look at the intensity he puts into killing every invisible enemy.
#5: The Epic Split Volvo Trucks Ad (2013)
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Sure, the man may have had some great times making snow angels up in the Rockies for those incredible Coors Light commercials, but nothing can top his ride with Volvo… Or rather, on Volvo. The commercial begins with a close-up of Van Damme with his eyes closed. On a first viewing, you probably wouldn’t have noticed the two trucks in the background. As the Enya tune becomes more powerful, so does the commercial, and so does Van Damme. The camera pans back to reveal he’s standing on the side mirrors of two Volvo trucks. Promoting the power of precision steering, the trucks peel apart, leaving Van Damme in an impossible split. It’s both impressive and oddly beautiful.
#4: Ball Breaker “Lion Heart” (1990)
In an underground fighting ring, Van Damme’s Lyon Gaultier is informed that there are no rules. His character is then mocked by his opponent, who says he is so pretty that he doesn’t know if he wants to fight him or… you know… Well, Lyon doesn’t take too kindly to these words, and, in front of a rowdy crowd, he gives the unsuspecting fighter a one-punch operation of sorts. A ruthless blow below the belt leaves the bad guy crippled, unable to fight, or do that other thing that he’d mentioned earlier. Hey man, they said no rules.
#3: On the Dance Floor “Kickboxer” (1989)
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The fight scenes in Kickboxer are pretty incredible, and this one… well this one’s certainly unbelievable. Van Damme is out on the dance floor, working it with two girls, when he begins to bust out some of the most bizarre yet impressive dance moves ever captured on film. He seems to be all about the hips, varying between smaller and larger gyration patterns. He performs some splits – apparently pretty common in this strange style of dance – and also throws in some vicious wiggles. It’s a real sight to behold… And yeah, there’s some fighting that goes down, but the dancing is what really stands out here. He was a great sport recreating the scene on Conan, but nothing can top the original.
#2: The Scream “Blood Sport” (1988)
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Engaging in the most secret, most brutal martial arts competition in the world would certainly weigh heavily on any man’s mind. So would being hunted by the military. And you know what? So would all the other things that come with being this badass, like romance, and training montages, and the rest of the Van Damme movie tropes. In this scene, though, the man-myth-legend himself feels all these hardships culminate in one single moment. In the final fight – brutalized, on the ground, and struggling to see straight – Van Damme enters an enlightened beast mode, screaming at the top of his lungs and flexing every muscle as he relives his journey. Only then does he find the inner and outer strength to finish the fight. Before we unveil our top picks, here are a few honorable mentions: - Television Turn On “Domingo Legal” (1993-) - Tight with the Knife “Six Bullets” (2012) - Splits While Knife Throwing “Black Eagle” (1988) - Demonstrates the Splits “Double Impact” (1991)
#1: What It Means to Be a Hero “JCVD” (2008)
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If there’s one thing our man is not necessarily known for, it’s his acting ability. It’s not that he’s a bad actor; it’s just that people tend to focus on his ability to kick ass and perform jaw-dropping splits. However, in the film “JCVD”, where Van Damme plays Van Damme, he takes a short break from the splits, kicks, and punches, to demonstrate real acting chops. Discussing heroism, the character Van Damme takes the viewer through his beautiful journey from scrawny, desperate boy, to the man he is today. It’s a monologue that’s over seven minutes long, during which Van Damme portrays a range of emotions, effectively tugging at our heartstrings. He really can do it all. Do you agree with our list? What do you think is Van Damme’s best moment? For more entertaining Top 10s published daily, be sure to subscribe to WatchMojo.com.
