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The Way of the Dragon

Directed by Bruce Lee · 1972 ·

Short answer

Is The Way of the Dragon worth watching?

Yes. The Way of the Dragon (1972) earns a 73% Celluloid Score. That puts it in our Recommended tier. Critics and audiences are closely aligned on this one. See the 4 inputs.

73%
Celluloid Score Recommended

4-input transparent breakdown

80% Editorial Rating
84% Audience snapshot · excluded
68 Metascore
★★★½☆ Letterboxd 3.5
7.2 IMDb /10
0
Watch Trailer
Released
Runtime
1h 40m
Age rating
M (Australia) · 19 (South Korea) · G (Japan)
Cast
Bruce Lee , Nora Miao , Chuck Norris , Wei Ping-Ao , Huang Tsung-Hsun , Robert Wall , Hwang In-shik , Chin Ti
Streaming
WeTV
Country
Hong Kong
Language
Cantonese

Also known as 猛龍過江 El furor del dragón La Fureur du dragon Die Todeskralle schlägt wieder zu O Voo do Dragão ドラゴンへの道 맹룡과강 猛龙过江

Where to watch

  • WeTV

Rent: Amazon Video, Apple TV, Google Play, YouTube, Fandango at Home

Buy: Amazon Video, Apple TV, Google Play, YouTube, Fandango at Home

Where to watch The Way of the Dragon by country

Country Streaming on
India WeTV
Indonesia WeTV
Japan Hulu, U-NEXT, WeTV
Malaysia WeTV
Philippines WeTV
South Korea Wavve, TVING, WeTV
Thailand WeTV
United Arab Emirates WeTV
United States WeTV

Subscription availability, refreshed from TMDB. Rental and purchase options may differ.

Why this score?

  • Celluloid's editorial rating is positive (80/100).
  • General viewers mostly liked it (84%).
  • Metascore is generally favorable (68/100).
  • Celluloid Score 73% combines 4 rating inputs; audience sentiment is shown separately. Consult the source notes for verification dates where recorded.

Best for

  • Short runtime — easy weeknight watch

Not ideal for

  • Viewers who only watch top-tier, 90%+ rated films

Scores reflect data indexed at build time. Component sources are shown on this page; Celluloid Score is our composite, not a third-party trademark. Scoring policy

Streaming availability, artwork and title metadata courtesy of TMDB. This product uses the TMDB API but is not endorsed or certified by TMDB.

Is The Way of the Dragon worth watching?

Yes — The Way of the Dragon earns a 73% Celluloid Score. That puts it in our Recommended tier. It suits short runtime — easy weeknight watch, but viewers who only watch top-tier, 90%+ rated films may want to skip it. Read our full review (3.5/5).

Celluloid verdict

Lee wrote and directed himself into the Colosseum opposite Chuck Norris, and built the best one-on-one fight in the genre around it.

, Founder & Editor

Critics and audiences are closely aligned on this one.

What is The Way of the Dragon about?

After a Chinese restaurant in Rome is threatened by the mafia, who will stop at nothing to acquire the property, the owner recruits a family friend in Hong Kong, kung fu expert Tang Lung, to help them defend their business.

Watch the Trailer

Critic Reviews

Short review 4 min read English The Way of the Dragon

The Way of the Dragon (1972) Review: Bruce Lee Takes Rome

The Way of the Dragon sends Bruce Lee to Rome to protect a family restaurant from gangsters; clumsy comedy gives way to some of the finest fights ever filmed.

Yes, for martial arts fans. The humour is dated and the first half drags, but Bruce Lee's fights, including his duel with Chuck Norris, are essential viewing.

The Way of the Dragon stills

Official production imagery supplied through TMDB, kept with the movie instead of split into a thin gallery page.

The Way of the Dragon production still 1
The Way of the Dragon production still 2
The Way of the Dragon production still 3
The Way of the Dragon production still 4
The Way of the Dragon production still 5
The Way of the Dragon production still 6

Images courtesy of TMDB. TMDB does not endorse or certify Celluloid.

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The Way of the Dragon: frequently asked questions

Is The Way of the Dragon worth watching?

Yes. The Way of the Dragon (1972) has a Celluloid Score of 73%, averaged from the available Celluloid editorial, Metascore, Letterboxd and IMDb ratings. That puts it in our Recommended tier. Audience sentiment is shown separately and does not change the score.

Where can I watch The Way of the Dragon?

In the United States, The Way of the Dragon streams on WeTV with a subscription, and you can rent it from Amazon Video, Apple TV, Google Play, YouTube or buy it from Amazon Video, Apple TV, Google Play, YouTube. Elsewhere: WeTV in India; WeTV in Indonesia; Hulu, U-NEXT, WeTV in Japan; WeTV in Malaysia. Availability changes; the where-to-watch table on this page is refreshed from TMDB.

How long is The Way of the Dragon?

The Way of the Dragon runs 1 hour 40 minutes (100 minutes).

What is The Way of the Dragon rated?

The Way of the Dragon is rated M in Australia, 19 in South Korea and G in Japan. These are the official classifications as recorded on TMDB; check your local classification board for content advice.

Who stars in The Way of the Dragon?

The Way of the Dragon is directed by Bruce Lee and stars Bruce Lee, Nora Miao, Chuck Norris, Wei Ping-Ao, Huang Tsung-Hsun.

What is the Metascore for The Way of the Dragon?

Metacritic's Metascore for The Way of the Dragon is 68 out of 100. It is one of the inputs to the Celluloid Score.

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