Directed by Roland Emmerich, the firstUniversal Soldier installment was released in 1992.
Though it wasn’t a hit on par withJean-Claude Van Damme’sTimecop,Universal Soldiernonetheless found a passionate following.
As such, it’s one that has remained endlessly rewatchable.
The sequels, however, take a different route.
Though it included several of the same characters, it didn’t feature anotherJean-Claude and Dolph Lundgren movie collaboration.
Instead, former football player turned Emmy-winning producer, Matt Battaglia, took on the role of Luc Deveraux.
Custom Image By Milica Djordjevic
Universal Soldier III: Unfinished Businessonce again saw a distinct lack of Lundgren andVan Damme in the sci-fi genreoffering.
It was similarly panned by critics and audiences alike.
Nonetheless,it marked the start of theUniversal Soldierfranchise taking some big genre swings.
Universal Soldier is a 1992 action film starring Jean-Claude Van Damme and Dolph Lundgren. The duo plays Luc Deveraux and Andrew Scott, two Vietnam War soldiers who are killed, cryogenically frozen, and then brought back to life for a secret government experiment to create superhumans. The film spawned a long-running franchise that led to five sequels.
Also, withVan Damme and his martial arts movesback as Luc and S.E.T.H.
played by Michael Jai White, the action was a marked improvement.
1999’sUniversal Soldier: The Returnwas Van Damme’s last theatrical, live-action release until 2012.
Three years later saw the release ofUniversal Soldier: Day of Reckoning.
This time, however,Scott Adkins took over from Van Dammeas the titular protagonist.
As well as that exploration, there was a return to form on the brutal action front.
As a result,Universal Soldier: Day of Reckoninggarnered the franchise’s best reviews.
Large praise also went to seeingVan Damme in a more ambiguous villain role.
The film spawned a long-running franchise that led to five sequels.
