🎯 Quick Overview
Trailer
- Director: Tsui Hark
- Genre: Action, Comedy, Thriller
- Release year: 1997
- Runtime (length): 1h 33min
- IMDb rating: 4.8/10 (38K votes)
- Rotten Tomatoes: 11%
😅 Plot Summary – Badly Explained
A Belgian muscles-from-Brussels teams up with a cross-dressing basketball star to fight a guy who really, really hates glass… and babies, all while dodging a tiger in a minefield!
🍿 Double Team: Detailed Plot Synopsis
The Setup: Quinn’s Retirement Interrupted
Jack Quinn, a top counter-terrorist agent, is enjoying retirement with his pregnant wife when he’s drawn back for one last mission: to capture Stavros, a notorious terrorist. The mission goes awry at an amusement park in Antwerp when Quinn hesitates upon seeing Stavros with his young son, resulting in a chaotic shootout. Stavros’s son is killed, and Stavros escapes, vowing revenge.

The Colony: A Prison and a Think Tank
Following his failure, Quinn awakens in ‘The Colony,’ a clandestine island facility housing former agents deemed too valuable to kill but too dangerous to be free. In this high-tech prison, inmates are forced to analyze terrorist threats globally. However, Quinn discovers Stavros is targeting his wife, prompting a daring escape plan.

Teaming Up with Yaz: A Flamboyant Alliance
After escaping the Colony, Quinn seeks the help of Yaz, an eccentric arms dealer, played by Dennis Rodman. Together, they uncover that Stavros has kidnapped Quinn’s wife, Kathryn, and taken her to Rome. Quinn and Yaz form an unlikely alliance to rescue Kathryn and confront Stavros in a climactic showdown.

⚠️ Spoilers and Ending Explained
🎬 Cast & Characters
- Jack Quinn (Jean-Claude Van Damme): A counter-terrorist expert forced out of retirement when his nemesis resurfaces and kidnaps his family.
- Stavros (Mickey Rourke): A ruthless international terrorist seeking revenge against Quinn for the death of his son.
- Yaz (Dennis Rodman): An eccentric arms dealer who becomes Quinn’s unlikely ally in his mission to rescue his family.
- Kathryn Quinn (Natacha Lindinger): Jack’s pregnant wife, who becomes a target for Stavros’s vengeance.
- Goldsmythe (Paul Freeman): The enigmatic guardian of the Colony, a secret prison for dangerous operatives.
💬 Memorable Quotes
- Stavros: “You know, Jack… I can call you Jack, can’t I? I bet there’s not a single night where you can close your eyes tight enough without seeing my little boy’s face.” – Stavros taunts Jack, highlighting the personal cost of their conflict and foreshadowing his revenge.
- Stavros: “There’s nothing wrong with stepping on a mine. It’s stepping off that counts.” – Stavros ominously warns Jack during their final confrontation in a minefield, emphasizing the deadly stakes.
- Yaz: “Does this make it a five-pointer?” – Yaz delivers this line after slam-dunking a villain into a bus, referencing his basketball background.
💰Box Office
- Budget: $30,000,000
- Domestic Gross: $11,438,337
- Worldwide Gross: $11,438,337
💥 Double Team Reviews
Personal Review
Okay, I’ll admit it, I kinda love ‘Double Team’. It’s so bad it’s good! Van Damme kicking a tiger? Rodman’s crazy outfits? A Roman coliseum exploding? What’s not to love? I remember watching this as a kid and being totally blown away by the sheer ridiculousness of it all. Maybe it’s nostalgia, but I still get a kick out of this movie. Sure, the plot makes no sense, but who cares when there’s so much action and over-the-top craziness? I even found myself laughing at Rodman’s basketball puns. For me, ‘Double Team’ is a guilty pleasure that I’ll happily watch again and again!
- Who would enjoy:
- “Fans of Jean-Claude Van Damme”
- “Fans of 90s action movies”
- “Viewers who enjoy cheesy action films”
- “Those interested in Dennis Rodman’s acting career”
- Content warnings ⚠:
- “Intense action violence”
- “Explosions”
- “Gun violence”
- “Brief partial nudity”
Professional Reviews
- Hollywood Reporter: “Double Team is a frenetic, over-the-top action spectacle that’s visually stunning but ultimately falls flat due to its nonsensical plot and reliance on tired action movie tropes. Tsui Hark’s direction is energetic, but even that can’t save this from being a mess.
- Variety: “Tsui Hark brings his signature visual flair to Double Team, but the film is dragged down by a convoluted story and wooden performances. Van Damme and Rodman have an odd-couple chemistry that provides some amusement, but it’s not enough to elevate this above a standard action flick.
- Empire Magazine: “While the action sequences are visually dynamic, the illogical plot and questionable acting leave much to be desired. Mickey Rourke’s villain is cartoonish, and Dennis Rodman’s performance is more distracting than entertaining. Ultimately, Double Team fails to deliver a cohesive or engaging experience.
Audience Reactions
The sheer absurdity of the plot and action made it hilariously entertaining.: Many viewers found the film to be a guilty pleasure, embracing its over-the-top action and campy humor.
Dennis Rodman’s unique persona added an unexpected layer of entertainment.: Rodman’s performance was polarizing, but even critics admitted it was memorable and added a distinct flavor to the movie.
Overall Consensus: Double Team is a polarizing action film that’s either loved for its campy humor and over-the-top action, or hated for its nonsensical plot and questionable acting. It’s a guilty pleasure for some, a disaster for others.
Awards
🛠️ Behind the Scenes
- “The script for ‘Double Team’ was originally called ‘The Colony’ and was reportedly much more serious and intelligent before undergoing major alterations.”
- “Director Tsui Hark, known for his Hong Kong action films, made his American directorial debut with ‘Double Team’.”
- “Dennis Rodman was cast shortly after being suspended from the Chicago Bulls, capitalizing on his fame and controversial persona.”
🖥️ How to Watch Double Team?
Double Team is currently available for streaming on Tubi. You can also rent or purchase the movie on platforms such as Amazon Prime Video, Apple TV, Google Play Movies, and Vudu. Check your local listings for potential broadcast options.

🎥 Similar Movies
If you enjoyed Double Team, you might like these similar films:
- Hard Target (1993): Also directed by a Hong Kong action director (John Woo) and starring Jean-Claude Van Damme, delivering similar high-octane action.
- Face/Off (1997): Released in the same year, ‘Face/Off’ features over-the-top action and a personal vendetta between a hero and a villain, sharing thematic similarities.
- The Prisoner (1967-1968): The ‘Colony’ concept in ‘Double Team’ is inspired by ‘The Prisoner,’ where former agents are held in a seemingly idyllic but inescapable environment.
- Simon Sez (1999): Another film starring Dennis Rodman as a quirky sidekick in an action setting. Both films also include Cyber-Monks.
🛒 Double Team Related Products
- Jean-Claude Van Damme 6-Film Action Pack [DVD]: This DVD collection features six of Jean-Claude Van Damme’s most action-packed films, including ‘Bloodsport’, ‘Kickboxer’, ‘Timecop’, and others. It’s a great way to experience more of Van Damme’s iconic martial arts moves and explosive action.
- NBA Dennis Rodman Funko POP! Figurine: An excellent Funko Pop, depicting Dennis Rodman, complete with iconic tattoo details and hair style. Perfect way to collect Dennis Rodman’s most memorable style.
- Action Movie Poster: Double Team (1997): This high-quality poster captures the unforgettable image of Van Damme and Rodman, a conversation starter for any room.
- 80s 90s Action Movie T-Shirt Van Damme Kickboxer Shirt: Show off your love for classic action flicks with this nostalgic tee, available in various sizes and colors.
🎧 Soundtrack
Double Team features a captivating soundtrack that enhances the movie’s atmosphere and emotional impact. Here are some notable tracks:
- “Rush Hour” – performed by Joey Schwartz
- “Just a Freak (feat. Dennis Rodman)” – performed by Crystal Waters
You can find the complete soundtrack on Amazon Music and Apple Music.
🤨 FAQ
Double Team was filmed in various locations, including Antwerp, Belgium; Nice, France; and Rome, Italy, specifically at the Roman Colosseum.
Double Team is often criticized for its over-the-top action sequences, nonsensical plot, and perceived poor acting, particularly by Dennis Rodman. Some reviews do call it “entertainingly overblown action” and a “guilty pleasure.”
The Colony is a secret island prison housing former intelligence agents considered too valuable to kill but too dangerous to be set free. It functions as a think tank where the inmates analyze and attempt to resolve international terrorist threats.
🔥 Bonus Content
Van Damme training (Double Team)
Ever wonder how Jean-Claude Van Damme got into shape for all those crazy stunts? This video gives you a sneak peek at his training regime for ‘Double Team’ – it’s both impressive and, well, kinda hilarious! Check it out!
Van Damme’s Double Team Is So Good It’ll Save Your Baby’s Life – Best Movie Ever
Okay, let’s be real, ‘Double Team’ is bonkers, but in the best way possible! This review hilariously breaks down why it’s a must-see for any Van Damme fan (and maybe even saves some babies?). You HAVE to watch this!
Double Team – Nostalgia Critic
Ready for a dose of snark with your ‘Double Team’? The Nostalgia Critic rips this movie apart in the funniest way possible. Trust me, even if you love the film, you’ll laugh your head off!
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