Film

Remo Williams: The Adventure Begins

Name: Remo Williams: The Adventure Begins
Genre: Action, Adventure, Comedy
Released: 1985
Cast: Fred Ward, Joel Grey, Wilford Brimley, J.A. Preston, George Coe

A 1985 action-comedy about a Brooklyn cop faked dead and drafted into a secret government assassination unit, trained by a cantankerous Korean martial arts master. It's cartoonish and earnest at once, full of quips and impossible stunts, riding the energy of Joel Grey's scene-stealing deadpan crankiness. For fans of '80s action that doesn't take itself seriously.

TMDb rating

3.2

If you liked this

Lethal Weapon1987

Similar buddy-cop energy with a stone-serious cop paired with an unpredictable mentor figure, punctuated by action sequences that prioritize spectacle and humor over realism. The banter is sharp and the chemistry carries you.

But It's considerably darker and more violent than Remo Williams, and the tone shifts between comedy and genuine stakes in ways that don't always land smoothly.

The Man from U.N.C.L.E.2015

Spy-adventure with a similar blend of action, comedy, and tongue-in-cheek style. Slick, beautifully shot, and unafraid to play for laughs while delivering actual thrills. Henry Cavill's deadpan charm echoes Grey's energy.

But It's more stylish and contemporary, which means it lacks the scrappy, low-budget charm of Remo's earnest '80s excess.

Romancing the Stone1984

Adventure film with action, comedy, and a similar embrace of fun over plausibility. The pacing is snappy, the romance is sweet without slowing things down, and it treats its own absurdity as the entire point.

But It's led by a different energy—romantic chemistry rather than mentor-pupil conflict—and has less martial arts and more slapstick.

Not sure tonight? Get a pick in a minute, starting from Remo Williams: The Adventure Begins

The wildcard

Something you would not have found on your own.

Brewster's Millions1985

Both are mid-budget '80s films that trust their audience to enjoy a premise that doesn't need to be cool—they're earnest about the absurd.

Also from 1985, also stars Richard Pryor in a high-concept premise where an ordinary person navigates absurd bureaucratic rules. Both films share a scrappy '80s sensibility, practical effects-driven comedy, and genuine warmth beneath the spectacle.

But It's a financial comedy with no action at all; the humor is rooted in character and situation rather than stunts, so the whole register is completely different.

Commando1985

Pure '80s action comedy: Schwarzenegger quipping his way through an improbable rescue mission with cartoon physics and genuine affection for its own ridiculousness. Untroubled by realism, committed to fun.

But It's much more straightforward action-hero stuff and far less interested in character dynamics or oddball humor. The jokes land differently.

The Pink Panther1963

Peter Sellers as a bumbling secret agent trained by imperious superiors mirrors Remo's dynamic beautifully. Slapstick, dry wit, and a protagonist who's constantly outmatched by his own incompetence and the situation.

But It's a 1963 comedy that relies heavily on physical humor and dated comedic sensibilities; the pacing and energy feel entirely different from '80s action.

Big Trouble in Little China1986

Kurt Russell stumbling through a supernatural martial arts adventure with deadpan charm and impossible escapes. Knows it's ridiculous, committed to the bit, genuinely fun without winking too hard.

But The plot is genuinely hard to follow and it's far more interested in visual gags and atmosphere than coherent storytelling.

Johnny English2003

Rowan Atkinson as a bumbling secret agent repeatedly outmaneuvered by circumstance echoes Remo's underdog energy and physical comedy. Affectionate toward spy-movie tropes while gently mocking them.

But It's broader, more recent, and played for family audiences; the humor often feels safer and less sharp than Remo's.

Kingsman: The Secret Service2015

Spy-action hybrid that loves its genre conventions while subverting them, with slick action sequences and characters who banter through fight scenes. Energetic and self-aware without losing its edge.

But It's far slicker and more violent, with a completely different tone. The film is genuinely stylish where Remo is charmingly rough-edged.

Sweet Revenge1984

Low-budget action-comedy about an outsider thrust into a dangerous situation, trained and sent into the field. Similar scrappy energy and willingness to blur action with humor without Hollywood polish.

But It's obscure for good reason—the pacing is choppy and it lacks the strong charisma Remo has with its leads.

The Tale of Zatoichi1962

The relationship between master and student shaped both films. Zatoichi takes it seriously; Remo makes it funny. Both ask what it means to create a weapon out of a person.

Shintaro Katsu as a blind swordsman trained from childhood by an off-screen master, using impossible combat skills in a beautifully composed black-and-white film. It's the serious, poetic version of Remo's mentor-training arc, with genuinely transcendent action sequences.

But It's in Japanese, it's a 1962 samurai film, and it's entirely grave where Remo is comic. The pace is meditative rather than propulsive.

Shanghai Knights2003

Both films believe that good humor and genuine action sequences amplify rather than contradict each other. A protagonist trained in impossible skills, dropped into absurd situations, trying to stay alive through wit and training.

Jackie Chan and Owen Wilson travel from China to London solving crimes and delivering impossible martial arts sequences. The buddy dynamic, the fish-out-of-water energy, and the commitment to making action funny—not comedy interrupted by action—echoes Remo's core DNA.

But It's significantly more polished and modern, with a completely different action vocabulary. Jackie Chan's acrobatic style is the opposite of the '80s combat Remo deploys.