Millions of people watched unauthorized versions of Kickboxer: Retaliation online before the Jean-Claude Van Damme film’s January release, according to a complaint filed Monday in California federal court.
Our House Films claims Tunnel Inc., a postproduction house, violated its contract by distributing the final cut of the movie to third parties without permission.
“Tunnel has failed to respond to Plaintiff’s requests for substantive information concerning the parties to whom the final cut was disseminated,” writes attorney Paul Sorrell in the complaint. He adds that because the film was available illicitly online worldwide prior to the release producers were robbed of all or a substantial portion of its value.
The latest installment in the Kickboxer franchise made less than $5,000 at the domestic box office. It brought in about $58,000 in United Arab Emirates theaters, at which its 2016 counterpart, Kickboxer: Vengeance, grossed more than $200,000. The original 1989 Kickboxer film earned almost $15 million domestically.
Our House is suing for copyright infringement and negligence, and is seeking at least $5 million in damages.
Tunnel has not yet replied to a request for comment on the complaint, which is posted below.
