Film

Boyka: Undisputed IV

Name: Boyka: Undisputed IV
Genre: Action, Drama, Thriller, Crime
Released: 2016
Cast: Scott Adkins, Teodora Duhovnikova, Alon Aboutboul, Julian Vergov, Martyn Ford

Martial arts action

Boyka: Undisputed IV is a lean, muscular action thriller that trades tournament brackets for moral weight. Scott Adkins plays an underground fighter grappling with guilt after a death in the ring, drawn into dangerous fights to save a stranger's wife. It's visceral and surprisingly human—less interested in spectacle than in what violence costs.

TMDb rating

3.6

Should you watch it?

Watch it if you want a lean, brutal martial-arts picture where the choreography does the talking and a rough moral streak gives the punches some weight.

Skip it if you find sentimental plotting and long dialogue scenes a chore, because much of the running time is spent setting up the next bout.

What it asks of you: Under ninety minutes of hard, grim tone that asks you to sit with violence and bleak settings rather than drift between set pieces.

Not sure? Find tonight's pick in a minute.

If you liked this

Warrior2011

Two brothers, a fighter's redemption arc, and genuinely brutal fight choreography. Joel Edgerton and Tom Hardy disappear into their roles; the emotional stakes feel earned rather than imposed.

But It's long and deliberately paced—the fighting matters because everything outside the ring matters equally. Not a highlight-reel film.

Never Back Down2008

Sean Faris discovers MMA and learns discipline through combat. Well-made underdog story with excellent fight direction and a mentor figure who actually teaches something instead of just nodding wisely.

But The dialogue can be clunky and the emotional beats occasionally heavy-handed. It lives comfortably in B-movie territory.

Undisputed2002

The original Boyka film, starting the franchise with Wesley Snipes as a prison boxer. Scott Adkins plays a younger fighter here; you get the full arc of his character's evolution. Tighter than you'd expect.

But Early 2000s action filmmaking looks dated now. The plotting is functional rather than complex.

Not sure tonight? Get a pick in a minute, starting from Boyka: Undisputed IV

The wildcard

Something you would not have found on your own.

Raging Bull1980

Both films use the ring as a space for moral reckoning. Boyka's guilt-driven redemption arc echoes LaMotta's journey, though Boyka finds grace where Jake finds only regret. Both understand fighting as confession.

Scorsese's masterpiece about boxer Jake LaMotta's self-destruction. Black and white, brutal, poetic—it's about what fighting does to a man's soul. Scorsese invented the modern fight film here.

But It's slow, morally difficult, and more interested in psychology than action beats. The protagonist is abusive and hard to like; it demands patience and emotional maturity.

Road House1989

Patrick Swayze as a cooler enforcer who has to confront violence and philosophy. Surprisingly thoughtful for an action film—there's a genuine meditation on restraint and doing the right thing.

But The romance subplot drags and some of the dialogue tips into unintended comedy. It's of its era in ways that don't always hold up.

Bloodsport1988

Jean-Claude Van Damme in tournament fighting at its most earnest. Raw charisma, real martial arts, and a story driven by honour and personal redemption rather than plot mechanics.

But The framing device is hokey and the acting outside action sequences ranges from wooden to hammy. You're mainly here for the fights.

Here Comes the Boom2012

Kevin James, a teacher turned MMA fighter to save his school. It's comic and charming; fighting is genuinely showcased with real fighters and decent choreography under the comedy.

But The tone is uneven—it wants to be both silly and inspirational. Some jokes land poorly and the sentimentality can feel forced.

Fighting2009

Channing Tatum as a street fighter discovering the sport. Solid action and a protagonist learning humility and real technique. The New York setting feels lived-in.

But The plot is predictable and the dialogue sparse to the point of emptiness. Character development takes a backseat to kinetic scenes.

The Raid 22014

A cop goes undercover in prison and all hell breaks loose. The fight choreography is balletic and inventive; action filmmaking at the highest technical level, narrative serving the action rather than drowning it.

But It's Indonesian with subtitles—a barrier for some. The plot is deliberately minimalist and the violence is graphic and sustained.

John Wick2014

Keanu Reeves as a retired assassin pulled back into the life. Gorgeously shot action, incredible fight design, and a protagonist with real discipline and control. Modern action filmmaking at its best.

But Dialogue is sparse and the emotional beats rely on implication. If you need explanation, you'll find it frustrating.

The Night Comes For Us2018

Both feature protagonists trying to atone through violence, caught in cycles they're trying to break. The difference: here, the cost is unmistakable and permanent. Where Boyka finds redemption, this film asks if redemption is even possible.

A gangster tries to escape his life by protecting a child; escalating violence as consequence. Indonesian action cinema with stunning choreography and real emotional weight underneath the brutality.

But It's violently graphic—the action is beautiful but relentless and very hard to watch. Subtitled and uncompromising in its brutality.

Leverage2008

Both ask what violence and criminal skill are *for*—whether they can serve justice outside the system. Boyka uses fighting to save someone; Leverage uses cons and planning to do the same. One is brutal and personal; the other is clever and social. Same question, completely different answers.

A con-artist team executes elaborate plans to help people the system failed. Brilliantly plotted, warm without being sentimental, genuinely funny. Each episode is a small heist film; it respects your intelligence.

But It's lighter than Boyka—comfort viewing rather than intense drama. If you need moral darkness and struggle, this optimism might feel evasive.