Editing Jean-Claude Van Damme (section)

=== 1989 to 1999: International stardom ===
After the success of ''[[Bloodsport (film)|Bloodsport]]'', Cannon Films offered him the lead in ''[[Delta Force 2: The Colombian Connection|Delta Force 2]]'', ''[[American Ninja 3]]'' or ''[[Cyborg (film)|Cyborg]]'', a [[cyberpunk]] martial arts film directed by [[Albert Pyun]].<ref>{{Cite news|title=Punch Lineage|language=en|work=tribunedigital-chicagotribune|url=https://www.chicagotribune.com/1989/08/27/punch-lineage/|access-date=24 July 2018}}</ref> He chose ''Cyborg'' which premiered in 1989. The film was a low budget box office success and led to two sequels, neither of which Van Damme appeared in.

Cannon used Van Damme again in ''[[Kickboxer (1989 film)|Kickboxer]]'' released that same year. It was highly successful, returning over $50 million on a $3-million budget.<ref>{{cite news | first=Martha | last=Sherrill | title= The muscles from brussels | newspaper=[[The Washington Post]] | date=11 August 1991}}</ref> The film started the [[Kickboxer (film series)|''Kickboxer'' franchise]]. He did not appear in any of the film's four sequels, though he did return as a different character in the reboot series.

In 1990, he starred in ''[[Death Warrant (film)|Death Warrant]]'', the first script credit for [[David S. Goyer]]. Also that year he starred in ''[[Lionheart (1990 film)|Lionheart]]''.<ref>{{cite news|url=https://www.latimes.com/archives/la-xpm-1994-09-23-fi-42149-story.html|title=Van Damme Gains 'Franchise' Status|last=Bates|first=James|date=23 September 1994|newspaper=Los Angeles Times|access-date=23 August 2010|url-status=live|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20190412071240/https://www.latimes.com/archives/la-xpm-1994-09-23-fi-42149-story.html|archive-date=12 April 2019}}</ref> ''[[Lionheart (1990 film)|Lionheart]]'' was directed by [[Sheldon Lettich]] who had co-written ''Bloodsport'', and said the film was "the first movie to demonstrate that Van Damme was more than just a flash-in-the-pan "Karate Guy" who would never rise above simplistic low-budget karate movies."<ref name="sheldon">[http://birthmoviesdeath.com/2015/02/05/badass-interview-talking-jean-claude-van-damme-with-lionheart-director-shel Evan Sathoff, "Badass Interview: Talking Jean-Claude Van Damme With LIONHEART Director, Sheldon Lettich", 5 Feb 2015] {{Webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20150620100826/http://birthmoviesdeath.com/2015/02/05/badass-interview-talking-jean-claude-van-damme-with-lionheart-director-shel |date=20 June 2015 }} accessed 20 June 2015</ref> It also featured rear nudity from Van Damme which Lettich says "became a very memorable moment for the ladies in the audience, and for the gay guys as well. Showing off his butt (clothed or unclothed) almost became a signature trademark of his after that."<ref name="sheldon" />

In 1991, ''[[Double Impact]]'' was released. Directed by Lettich, it features Van Damme in the [[dual role]] of Alex and Chad Wagner, estranged twin brothers fighting to avenge the deaths of their parents. Upon its opening it received mixed reviews. ''[[The Los Angeles Times]]'' said the film "delivers the goods", while ''[[Variety (magazine)|Variety]]'' didn't like the plotline and predicted a flop. The film grossed $23,683,813 in its first 28 days.<ref>{{Cite web |title=AFI{{!}}Catalog |url=https://catalog.afi.com/Catalog/moviedetails/58868 |access-date=4 March 2023 |website=catalog.afi.com}}</ref>  It made a total of $30,102,717 in the US.<ref>{{Cite web |title=Double Impact |url=https://www.boxofficemojo.com/title/tt0101764/credits/ |access-date=4 March 2023 |website=Box Office Mojo}}</ref> Retrospective critics perceive it to be a fun action film, with good comical moments, and a good performance by Van Damme who plays two distinct characters.<ref>{{Cite web |last=Eoin |date=15 July 2014 |title=Double Impact (1991) Review |url=https://theactionelite.com/double-impact-1991-review/ |access-date=4 March 2023 |website=The Action Elite |language=en-CA}}</ref><ref>{{Cite web |last=Travis |first=Ed |date=9 June 2019 |title=DOUBLE IMPACT: 2 Van Dammes For The Price Of 1 = Best Deal In Cinema History? |url=https://cinapse.co/double-impact-2-van-dammes-for-the-price-of-1-best-deal-in-cinema-history-29548cf47269 |access-date=4 March 2023 |website=Medium |language=en }}{{Dead link|date=October 2024 |bot=InternetArchiveBot |fix-attempted=yes }}</ref><ref>{{Cite web |title=Reliving the Summer of 1991 Diary - Week Twelve |url=https://www.brianorndorf.com/2011/08/reliving-the-summer-of-1991-diary-week-twelve.html |access-date=4 March 2023 |website=BRIANORNDORF.COM}}</ref><ref>{{Cite web |title=Double Impact (1991) – Cinema Crazed |date=22 August 2016 |url=https://www.cinema-crazed.com/blog/2016/08/22/double-impact-1991/ |access-date=4 March 2023 |language=en-US}}</ref>

In 1992, he starred in one of the biggest blockbusters of the year in the sci-fi action picture, ''[[Universal Soldier (1992 film)|Universal Soldier]]'', directed by [[Roland Emmerich]] for [[Carolco]].  Van Damme (as [[Luc Deveraux]]) and [[Dolph Lundgren]] (as Sergeant Andrew Scott) play U.S. soldiers during the [[Vietnam War]] who end up shooting each other dead after Devereaux discovers that Scott has gone insane and resorted to [[War crimes|mutilating civilians]].<ref name="Inc.19922">{{cite journal|url=https://books.google.com/books?id=9c8DAAAAMBAJ&pg=PA19|title=Black Belt|journal=Black Belt. Buyer's Guide|date=October 1992|publisher=Active Interest Media, Inc.|page=19|issn=0277-3066|access-date=21 May 2011}}</ref> They are later [[Undead|reanimated]] in a secret Army project along with a large group of other previously dead soldiers and sent on a mission. At the [[1992 Cannes Film Festival]], Van Damme and Lundgren were involved in a verbal altercation that almost turned physical when both men pushed each other only to be separated, but it was believed to have only been a publicity stunt.<ref name="Uni ebert2">{{cite news|url=http://rogerebert.suntimes.com/apps/pbcs.dll/article?AID=%2F19920710%2FREVIEWS%2F207100302%2F1023|title=Universal Soldier|date=10 July 1992|access-date=21 May 2011|newspaper=Chicago Sun-Times|archive-date=27 September 2012|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20120927041018/http://rogerebert.suntimes.com/apps/pbcs.dll/article?AID=%2F19920710%2FREVIEWS%2F207100302%2F1023|url-status=dead}}</ref><ref name="Ebert20002">{{cite book|url=https://books.google.com/books?id=4uCzo6NkpdsC&pg=PA365|title=I hated, hated, hated this movie|last=Ebert|first=Roger|date=1 April 2000|publisher=Andrews McMeel Publishing|isbn=978-0-7407-0672-1|page=365|access-date=1 August 2011}}</ref> ''Universal Soldier'' opened in theatres on 10 July 1992, a moderate success domestically with $36,299,898 in US ticket sales, but a major blockbuster worldwide, making over $65 million overseas, which earned the film a total of $102 million worldwide, on a $23 million budget.<ref>{{cite news|url=https://www.courant.com/1994/09/16/van-damme-very-determined/|title=Van Damme very determined|date=16 September 1994|work=[[Hartford Courant]]|access-date=21 May 2011|archive-date=2 April 2012|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20120402135437/http://articles.courant.com/1994-09-16/features/9409210865_1_action-director-john-woo-movie-scripts|url-status=live}}</ref>

He was considered to play Simon Phoenix in ''[[Demolition Man (film)|Demolition Man]]''<ref>{{Cite news|title=The Jean-Claude Van Damme/Steven Seagal Movie That Never Will Be...'Demolition Man'|language=en|publisher=MTV News|url=http://www.mtv.com/news/2429786/the-jean-claude-van-dammesteven-seagal-movie-that-never-will-bedemolition-man/|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20151223035137/http://www.mtv.com/news/2429786/the-jean-claude-van-dammesteven-seagal-movie-that-never-will-bedemolition-man/|url-status=dead|archive-date=23 December 2015|access-date=24 July 2018}}</ref> and was briefly considered for the role of Michael Cheritto in ''[[Heat (1995 film)|Heat]]''.<ref>{{cite web|url=https://m.imdb.com/title/tt0113277/trivia?ref_=m_tt_trv_trv|title = Heat (1995) - IMDb|website = [[IMDb]]}}</ref> [[File:Van Damme Cannes.jpg|thumb|right|Van Damme at the [[Cannes Film Festival]] in 1993<ref name="GICannesDate">{{cite web|title=Opening Ceremony In Cannes, France On May 13, 1993|url=http://www.gettyimages.fr/detail/photo-d'actualit%C3%A9/opening-ceremony-in-cannes-france-on-may-13-1993-photo-dactualit%C3%A9/115115390#opening-ceremony-in-cannes-france-on-may-13-1993-jean-claude-van-picture-id115115390|website=Getty Images|date=3 June 2011 |publisher=Getty Inc.|access-date=30 August 2016}}</ref>]]

In 1993, he made a cameo in ''[[Last Action Hero]]'', and starred in ''[[Nowhere to Run (1993 film)|Nowhere To Run]]''. The film was the first in a three-picture deal between Van Damme and [[Columbia Pictures]] and his fee was $3.5 million. Columbia said the film is "true to his audience and goes beyond his audience."<ref>{{cite magazine|url=http://www.ew.com/article/1993/01/22/career-makeover-jean-claude-van-damme|title=Career makeover: Jean-Claude Van Damme|first=Jess|last=Cagle|magazine=Entertainment Weekly|date=22 January 1993}}</ref>

In 1994, he starred in ''[[Hard Target]]'' for [[Universal Pictures]], the first American film from director [[John Woo]]. Also released that year, he starred in ''[[Timecop]]'', playing a time-traveling cop.<ref>{{cite AV media|title=Van Damme Collection: Bloodsport // Timecop (Warner Bros. Double Feature)|date=19 May 2009|language=en, fr, ja|publisher=Warner Home Video|id=8 83929 06918 7|isbn=1-4198-8152-3|medium=film}}</ref> Directed by [[Peter Hyams]], the film was a huge success, grossing over $100 million worldwide, and remains his highest-grossing film in a lead role to date. Also that year, he starred in ''[[Street Fighter (1994 film)|Street Fighter]],'' written and directed by [[Steven E. de Souza]] for Universal and based on the video game. It was poorly received critically. Though a commercial success, making approximately three times its production cost.

Van Damme and Hyams re-teamed for Universal's ''[[Sudden Death (1995 film)|Sudden Death]]'', released in 1995. Van Damme portrays a [[French Canadians|French Canadian]]-born [[firefighter]] with the [[Pittsburgh Bureau of Fire|Pittsburgh Fire Bureau]] who suffered a personal crisis after he was unable to save a young girl from a house fire. Now removed from active duty, he has become demoted to being [[fire marshal]] for the [[Pittsburgh Civic Arena]], where a gang of terrorists are holding [[U.S. Vice President]] and several other VIPs hostage in a luxury suite during a game. The movie was a modest success.<ref>{{Cite web|url=https://filmstories.co.uk/features/sudden-death-the-film-where-van-damme-fought-a-penguin-to-death/|title=Sudden Death: the film where Van Damme fought a penguin to death|first=Matt|last=Edwards|date=21 October 2020|website=Film Stories}}</ref>

In 1996, he starred and directed ''[[The Quest (1996 film)|The Quest]]''. The film, though it under-performed domestically, did better internationally at the box-office and was a commercial success.<ref>{{cite web | url=https://www.nathanrabin.com/happy-place/2022/5/23/jean-claude-van-damme-and-roger-moore-are-a-terrific-twosome-in-van-dammes-1996-directorial-debut-the-quest | title=Jean-Claude van Damme and Roger Moore are a Terrific Twosome in van Damme's 1996 Directorial Debut the Quest | date=23 May 2022 }}</ref><ref>{{cite web | url=http://www.boxofficeprophets.com/column/index.cfm?columnID=20004 | title=The Number One Movie in America: Maximum Risk }}</ref><ref>{{cite web | url=https://www.giantfreakinrobot.com/ent/jean-claude-van-damme-friends.html | title=Jean-Claude van Damme Ashamed of '90s Hit Sitcom Role | date=30 October 2023 }}</ref> That year, he appeared in the TV show ''[[Friends]]'' in the two-part episode "[[The One After the Superbowl]]". He also starred in ''[[Maximum Risk]]'', the first American film directed by [[Ringo Lam]], and their first collaboration. The film was mildly successful at the box office.<ref>{{cite web | url=https://wegotthiscovered.com/movies/a-lukewarm-action-movie-with-a-very-familiar-twist-gets-reheated-on-streaming/ | title=A lukewarm action movie with a very familiar twist gets reheated on streaming | date=16 September 2022 }}</ref>

He followed up with ''[[Double Team (film)|Double Team]]'' (1997), a sci fi action film with basketball superstar [[Dennis Rodman]]. It was Hong Kong director [[Tsui Hark]]'s American debut.

In 1998, he and Hark reunited on ''[[Knock Off (film)|Knock Off]],'' a [[box-office flop]].<ref>{{cite news | url=https://www.nytimes.com/2008/11/09/movies/09lim.html | title=Hard Body Plays an Old Softie (Himself) | work=The New York Times | date=6 November 2008 | last1=Lim | first1=Dennis }}</ref> Also that year, Van Damme acted in the war film ''[[Legionnaire (film)|Legionnaire]]''. Despite a $35 million budget, it was not released theatrically in the US, only overseas.<ref>{{cite news|title= A Direct Hit? New Van Damme Film Bypasses Theaters, Takes Battle Straight to Video|newspaper= [[Chicago Tribune]]|date=11 February 1999|url= http://articles.chicagotribune.com/1999-02-11/features/9902110414_1_legionnaire-mobster-video-stores|archive-url= https://web.archive.org/web/20120913142722/http://articles.chicagotribune.com/1999-02-11/features/9902110414_1_legionnaire-mobster-video-stores|url-status= dead|archive-date= 13 September 2012|access-date=22 December 2010|first=Donald|last=Liebenson}}</ref>

In 1999, he starred in ''[[Universal Soldier: The Return]]'', (1999), where he returns as [[Luc Deveraux]]. The movie did poorly at the box office debuting at #4, which proved to be his last theatrical release until ''JCVD'' in 2008.<ref>{{cite news | date= 23 August 1999 | first = Richard |last=Natale | title= As 'Sixth Sense' Sizzles, Newcomers Feel a Chill | work= [[The Los Angeles Times]] | url= https://www.latimes.com/archives/la-xpm-1999-aug-23-ca-2814-story.html | url-status = live | archive-url = https://web.archive.org/web/20121103071015/http://articles.latimes.com/1999/aug/23/entertainment/ca-2814 | archive-date = 3 November 2012 | access-date= 12 December 2018}}</ref> That year he also starred in ''[[Inferno (1999 film)|Inferno]] (1999).''