Best of the Best II (1993): Battle of the Dead and Journey of Revenge

“Best of the Best II” (1993) is a sequel to the popular martial arts film “Best of the Best” (1989). Directed by Robert Radler, the film continues the story of the original film, starring Eric Roberts, Phillip Rhee, and Chris Penn.

After returning from Korea, three members of the United States National Team – Alex Grady (Eric Roberts), Tommy Lee (Phillip Rhee), and Travis Brickley (Chris Penn) – open a martial arts school in Las Vegas. Travis goes undercover at “The Coliseum,” a brutal underground fighting arena run by Weldon Mardano, where Gustave Brakus (Ralf Moeller) is the undefeated champion. When Travis challenges Brakus and is killed by him, Alex and Tommy set out to avenge their friend. They face brutal fights and dangerous conspiracies to bring the killer to justice.

Eric Roberts as Alex Grady
Phillip Rhee as Tommy Lee
Chris Penn as Travis Brickley
Ralf Moeller as Gustave Brakus
Wayne Newton as Weldon Mardano
Reviews and Revenue

Despite its stellar cast, “Best of the Best II” was not a box office success, grossing only $6.6 million against a $7 million budget. The film received mostly negative reviews from critics, with a 10% rating on Rotten Tomatoes based on 10 reviews. However, the film was a success on VHS, leading to two direct-to-video sequels.

The soundtrack of “Best of the Best II” includes songs such as:

“World Destiny” (performed by Rave Crusader)
“Paranoid” (performed by Angel Ice)
“Je N’Aime Que Toi” (performed by Angel Ice)
“Down for the Count” (performed by Mark Yoakam)
“Guilty” (performed by Public Nuisance)
“Willie Rise” (performed by Lil D & Big C)
“Everybody Loves a Winner” (performed by William Bell)
“No Guts, No Glory” (performed by Jeff Steele)
“(To Be) The Best of the Best” (performed by Mark Free)

“Best of the Best II” brings the audience to the action scenes of martial arts and continues the story of friendship, loyalty and revenge. Although not successful in terms of revenue and received many mixed reviews, the film still holds a certain place in the hearts of martial arts fans.