THE GAME OF CLONES: BRUCEPLOITATION COLLECTION VOL. 1

One of the Most Important Bruceploitation Releases Ever Produced

For decades, Bruceploitation films occupied one of the most controversial corners of martial arts cinema. To many viewers they were little more than cheap imitations created in the wake of Bruce Lee’s death. To others, however, they represented a fascinating cinematic phenomenon born from the enormous impact Bruce Lee had on popular culture around the world.

The box set “The Game of Clones: Bruceploitation Collection Vol. 1” from Severin Films stands as one of the most significant releases ever devoted to this unique genre. More than a simple collection of movies, it serves as a preservation project and a historical document dedicated to an often-overlooked chapter of martial arts film history.

The Birth of Bruceploitation

When Bruce Lee passed away in 1973, the Hong Kong film industry suddenly lost its biggest star.

Audiences wanted more Bruce Lee films, and producers were eager to continue capitalizing on the unprecedented popularity he had generated. As a result, numerous actors were recruited to fill the void.

Names such as Bruce Li, Bruce Le, Dragon Lee, Bruce Liang and many others appeared on cinema screens around the world. These performers starred in films that borrowed heavily from Bruce Lee’s image, fighting style and legacy.

What followed became known as Bruceploitation.

For many years these productions were dismissed as low-budget cash grabs. Today, however, film historians and martial arts cinema enthusiasts increasingly view them as a unique and important cultural phenomenon worthy of preservation and study.

Severin Films and the Project

Severin Films has earned a strong reputation among collectors for producing high-quality releases of cult, exploitation and genre cinema.

With “The Game of Clones,” the company approached Bruceploitation with a level of respect rarely seen before. Rather than mocking these films, Severin treats them as historical artifacts that reflect a very specific moment in Hong Kong cinema and the global martial arts film boom of the 1970s and 1980s.

The result is a carefully assembled collection that highlights both the entertainment value and historical significance of the genre.

What the Collection Includes

The set gathers several important Bruceploitation titles and presents them in far better quality than many collectors had previously experienced through aging VHS tapes or early DVD releases.

In addition to the films themselves, the collection contains a wealth of supplementary material, interviews, featurettes and archival content designed to provide historical context and deeper insight into the phenomenon.

For many enthusiasts, these extras are just as valuable as the movies themselves.

The Documentary “Enter the Clones of Bruce”

One of the crown jewels of the collection is the documentary “Enter the Clones of Bruce.”

Featuring interviews with actors, filmmakers, historians, researchers and collectors, the documentary offers a comprehensive look at the rise of Bruceploitation and its lasting legacy.

Rather than dismissing the genre, it examines why it emerged, why it became so popular and how it continues to attract fans decades later.

For anyone interested in martial arts film history, it is essential viewing.

Why Collectors Value This Release

For Bruceploitation fans, this collection represents one of the most important releases ever dedicated to the genre.

It is worth noting that the set is not aimed exclusively at Bruce Lee fans. In fact, many Bruce Lee enthusiasts have long viewed Bruceploitation with skepticism or outright dislike, believing that these productions exploited Bruce Lee’s image and legacy for commercial gain.

By contrast, Bruceploitation collectors and fans of classic Hong Kong exploitation cinema often view these films as a unique cinematic movement with its own history, stars and cultural significance.

For these enthusiasts, “The Game of Clones” serves as a genuine archive, bringing together films, documentaries and historical material that were once scattered across aging VHS tapes, obscure DVDs and private collections.

Final Thoughts

“The Game of Clones: Bruceploitation Collection Vol. 1” is both a remarkable collector’s item and an important piece of film preservation.

Whether one loves Bruceploitation or views it with skepticism, the historical significance of this release is undeniable.

Severin Films has successfully transformed a once-neglected corner of martial arts cinema into a subject worthy of serious appreciation and study.

For Bruceploitation fans, Hong Kong cinema collectors and anyone interested in martial arts film history, this collection deserves a place on the shelf.


Sources

Severin Films

IMDb

Hong Kong Movie Database (HKMDB)

Enter the Clones of Bruce Documentary

Various Bruceploitation Research Sources