Everything Action Theater: Gymkata (1985)
Celebrating its 40th anniversary this weekend, you can watch the ridiculous cult favorite Gymkata in the latest Everything Action Theater. Starring Olympic gymnast Kurt Thomas as Jonathan Cabot, he’s recruited to go undercover in Parmistan to compete in “The Game”, where the winner gets to make any request they wish from the Parmistan king. The US wants to install an early warning satellite base in the country. Combining his Olympic-level gymnastics with explosive karate training, Jonathan becomes a master of Gymkata and uses it to battle his way through The Game. The movie is based on a 1977 novel called The Terrible Game, and it was directed by prolific martial arts director Robert Clouse, who also directed Enter the Dragon, The Big Brawl, China O’Brien, Game of Death, and Black Belt Jones. It’s become a fan favorite in the “so bad it’s good” world of movies, and you can watch the entire film below via the Internet Archive.
