# The Way of the Dragon (1972) — Celluloid fact sheet

Source: https://celluloidscore.com/movies/way-of-the-dragon-1972/
Last reviewed: 2026-07-25

| Field | Value |
|-------|-------|
| Celluloid Score | 75% |
| Critic Score | 80% |
| Audience Score | 84% |
| Metascore | 68/100 |
| Letterboxd | 3.5/5 |
| IMDb | 7.2/10 |
| Director | Bruce Lee |
| Genres | Action, Crime |
| Runtime | 100 min |

## Quick answer

The Way of the Dragon (1972) earns a 75% Celluloid Score — Recommended. Lee wrote and directed himself into the Colosseum opposite Chuck Norris, and built the best one-on-one fight in the genr Metascore 68/100. Directed by Bruce Lee.

## Critics consensus

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

## Synopsis

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.

## Cast

Bruce Lee, Nora Miao, Chuck Norris, Wei Ping-Ao, Huang Tsung-Hsun, Robert Wall, Hwang In-shik, Chin Ti

## Critic reviews on Celluloid: 1

## Common questions

**Is The Way of the Dragon worth watching?**
The Way of the Dragon holds a 75% Celluloid Score. Lee wrote and directed himself into the Colosseum opposite Chuck Norris, and built the best one-on-one fight in the genre around it.

**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.

**Who directed The Way of the Dragon?**
The Way of the Dragon (1972) was directed by Bruce Lee.

**What is the Celluloid Score of The Way of the Dragon?**
75% — the average of five public sources: critics 80%, audience 84%, Metascore 68/100, Letterboxd 3.5/5, and IMDb 7.2/10.

**Where can I watch The Way of the Dragon?**
Streaming availability varies by region — see the The Way of the Dragon page for current options.

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Reviewed and scored by Celluloid · Editor: Kaiser Khan (https://celluloidscore.com/author/kaiser-khan/)

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