An examination of the Oscar-winning director who brought to life some of cinema's most beloved motion pictures.An examination of the Oscar-winning director who brought to life some of cinema's most beloved motion pictures.An examination of the Oscar-winning director who brought to life some of cinema's most beloved motion pictures.
- Awards
- 3 wins & 3 nominations
Matthew McConaughey
- Self
- (archive footage)
Sigourney Weaver
- Self
- (archive footage)
John Travolta
- Self
- (archive footage)
Elisabeth Shue
- Self
- (archive footage)
- …
Morgan Freeman
- Self
- (archive footage)
Renée Zellweger
- Self
- (archive footage)
Susan Sarandon
- Melissa Compton
- (archive footage)
Lesley Ann Warren
- Faye Hanlon
- (archive footage)
Liza Minnelli
- Self
- (archive footage)
- Director
- Writer
- All cast & crew
- Production, box office & more at IMDbPro
Storyline
Did you know
- TriviaThis documentary is a companion to a book about John G. Avildsen entitled "The Films of John G. Avildsen: Rocky, The Karate Kid, and Other Underdogs", written by Larry Powell and Tom Garrett.
Featured review
Solid Look At An Inspiring Filmmaker
I consider "Rocky" and "The Karate Kid" to be two of my favorite films of all-time. Most often, names like Sylvester Stallone, Ralph Macchio, or Pat Morita are synonymous with those efforts. Yet, both movies were directed by John G. Avildsen. This documentary tells his film-career story, especially focusing on those two iconic pieces of cinema in examining how he had a hand in shaping the great cinematic underdog narrative.
Avildsen had a bit of a strange Hollywood career in that he helmed two blockbusters but didn't really do a whole let else (or at least nothing near as iconic) in the industry. "King of the Underdogs" delves into both of those accounts.
Though touching on some of his other directorial efforts, "Rocky" and "Karate Kid" are the main focus here, as they should be. Interviews from the cast, crew, and Avildsen himself shed some great light on how masterful he was behind the camera and working with all types of actors (young, old, etc.). It's fun to see these nostalgic reminisces.
At the same time, most of those figures also acknowledge that Avildsen could have a prickly, controlling side, potentially part of the reason why he didn't get more work than he ultimately did. He did things his way, and if he couldn't have it he'd either not start a project or walk away from one.
Overall, this was an entertaining and enlightening look at a film figure you may not know all that much about even though his biggest successes are now beloved by all. I feel like I understand his film industry journey much better after "King of the Underdogs", and it was an enjoyable experience all-around.
Avildsen had a bit of a strange Hollywood career in that he helmed two blockbusters but didn't really do a whole let else (or at least nothing near as iconic) in the industry. "King of the Underdogs" delves into both of those accounts.
Though touching on some of his other directorial efforts, "Rocky" and "Karate Kid" are the main focus here, as they should be. Interviews from the cast, crew, and Avildsen himself shed some great light on how masterful he was behind the camera and working with all types of actors (young, old, etc.). It's fun to see these nostalgic reminisces.
At the same time, most of those figures also acknowledge that Avildsen could have a prickly, controlling side, potentially part of the reason why he didn't get more work than he ultimately did. He did things his way, and if he couldn't have it he'd either not start a project or walk away from one.
Overall, this was an entertaining and enlightening look at a film figure you may not know all that much about even though his biggest successes are now beloved by all. I feel like I understand his film industry journey much better after "King of the Underdogs", and it was an enjoyable experience all-around.
Details
- Release date
- Country of origin
- Language
- Also known as
- John G. Avildsen: El gran desconocido
- Filming locations
- Production company
- See more company credits at IMDbPro
- Runtime1 hour 18 minutes
- Color
- Sound mix
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Top Gap
By what name was John G. Avildsen: King of the Underdogs (2017) officially released in Canada in English?
Answer