LOS ANGELES, CA — The Big Bad Film Fest, Los Angeles’ premier celebration of global action cinema, has announced its explosive 2025 lineup. The festival will run August 22–24 at LOOK DINE-IN Cinemas Glendale, delivering three packed days of hard-hitting films, global premieres, and fan-favorite retrospectives.
Kicking things off is the world premiere of Gladiator Underground, an action showcase from returning filmmaker Chaya Supannarat. The film starring martial arts dynamo DY Sao (Bangkok Dog) and Martial Club members Andy Le (Everything Everywhere All at Once) and Brian Le (Bangkok Dog) opens the festival on Friday night with a post-screening Q&A featuring director Supannarat, Sao, and the Le brothers.
Across the weekend, the festival will spotlight nine feature films, including world, North American, and West Coast premieres, as well as a curated selection of 12 short films representing the next wave of international action talent.
The festival will close on a high note with a 10th anniversary screening of Soi Cheang’s SPL 2: A Time for Consequences (Kill Zone 2), starring action legends Tony Jaa, Wu Jing and Max Zhang. Distributed by Well Go USA, the film is currently available to stream on Hi-YAH!, a Big Bad Film Fest partner platform.
Highlights from the 2025 Lineup:
- Brandon Slagle’s Affinity (World Premiere), starring John Wick: Chapter 4 and Fist of the Condor star Marko Zaror (Diablo).
- The West Coast Premiere of Yu Irie’s Samurai Fury, presented by Toei Company and fresh from its world debut at NYAFF.
- Steven C. Miller returns with a special screening of his buddy-action comedy Under Fire, starring Dylan Sprouse and Mason Gooding, followed by a cast and crew Q&A.
- Mark L. Lester presents his cult classic Showdown in Little Tokyo starring Dolph Lundgren and the late Brandon Lee with a live Q&A.
- Fan favorite Scott Adkins stars in Prisoner of War, directed by Louis Mandylor.
- For the first time ever, Big Bad will feature two After Dark screenings, including Prisoner of War.
- The West Coast Premiere of the long-lost “Pyun Cut” of 1991’s Captain America, restored to director Albert Pyun’s original tragic vision. Following its August 1st world premiere at AAIFF, this version is being championed by Pyun’s widow and supported by the Pyun estate. “It’s an honor to be trusted with this screening,” said co-founder Patrick Young. “Pyun reminded us decades ago of the emotional range superhero films are capable of.”
From Japan comes the North American Premiere of Tamura Yuto: ISOLATED, the latest entry in the Japan Unified Garden franchise. This marks a rare theatrical screening outside Japan. Renowned action choreographer Koichi Sakamoto (Mob Psycho 100, Mega Monster Battle)—who served as fight director—will appear for a post-screening Q&A moderated by the Action For Everyone podcast.
“We’re thrilled to return with an expanded program that includes exciting premieres, a killer shorts block, and rare repertory gems,” said co-founder Powell Robinson. “It’s going to be an unforgettable weekend for action lovers.”
🎟 Tickets and badges are now available at bigbadfilm.com
FULL FESTIVAL SCHEDULE
FRIDAY – OPENING NIGHT
7:00 PM
WORLD PREMIERE – Gladiator Underground
Q&A with Chaya Supannarat, DY Sao, Brian Le, and Andy Le
- Dangerous Delivery (short, dir. Etienne Laurendeau)
10:00 PM
Prisoner of War
SATURDAY
12:00 PM
WEST COAST PREMIERE – Samurai Fury (dir. Yu Irie)
- Trapo Sucio (short, dir. Jordan Santacana)
3:00 PM
Special Screening – Under Fire
Q&A with Steven C. Miller, Simon Rhee, and Mason Gooding
6:00 PM
Showdown in Little Tokyo
Q&A with director Mark L. Lester
- Dragon Jacket Kung-Fu (short, dir. Atsuhiro Yamada)
9:00 PM
WEST COAST PREMIERE – Captain America: The Albert Pyun Cut
SUNDAY
12:00 PM
Shorts Block
- Angie – dir. Ángel G. Brophy
- Shaolin Office – dir. Alexis Bouillé
- Prevail – dir. Ryan Dalan
- In Your Dreams – dir. Nathaniel Gary Henry
- Nameless – dir. Brian Otting
- Brawler – dir. Bulent Ozlarusso
- NYX – dir. Bulent Ozlarusso
- Kingdom Come – dir. Emil Křižka
- Work It Out – dir. Spencer Schwendiman
2:00 PM
WORLD PREMIERE – Affinity (dir. Brandon Slagle)
4:10 PM
NORTH AMERICAN PREMIERE – Tamura Yuto: ISOLATED (dir. Hiroyuki Tsuji)
Q&A with Koichi Sakamoto, moderated by the Action For Everyone Podcast
6:30 PM
10-YEAR ANNIVERSARY SCREENING – SPL 2: A Time for Consequences (dir. Soi Cheang)
Big Bad Film Fest 2025 promises a pulse-pounding celebration of cinematic adrenaline. Whether you’re in it for world premieres, martial arts icons, or cult classics reimagined, this year’s lineup is not to be missed.
