Only the Strong is a 1993 martial arts film directed by Sheldon Lettich, starring Mark Dacascos. It is considered to be the only Hollywood film that showcases capoeira, an Afro-Brazilian martial art, from beginning to end.

Though Mark Dacascos is a talented martial artist, his background is not initially in capoeira. Just prior to his audition, he received his training from famed capoeirista Amen Santo, who was responsible for much of the fight choreography and has a small role in the film.[2]

Soundtrack
Only the Strong (Original Motion Picture Soundtrack), composed of eleven hip hop and capoeira music songs, was released in 1993 via Fox Records. It features contributions from Jibril Serapis Bey, Marcel Branch, Patrick McCain, Donna Simon, Mellow Man Ace, Miami Boyz and New Version of Soul, as well as Kao Rossman, Scott G., Iki Levy, Stuart S. Shapiro, Blueblood, DJ Muggs, Kid Fury and LRoc on production duties. The most prominent songs in the film are Serapis Bey's "Paranauȇ" and "Zoom-Zoom-Zoom" - the latter being more well known as the theme song for Mazda's TV commercials.[3][4][5]

Soundtrack
Only the Strong (Original Motion Picture Soundtrack), composed of eleven hip hop and capoeira music songs, was released in 1993 via Fox Records. It features contributions from Jibril Serapis Bey, Marcel Branch, Patrick McCain, Donna Simon, Mellow Man Ace, Miami Boyz and New Version of Soul, as well as Kao Rossman, Scott G., Iki Levy, Stuart S. Shapiro, Blueblood, DJ Muggs, Kid Fury and LRoc on production duties. The most prominent songs in the film are Serapis Bey's "Paranauȇ" and "Zoom-Zoom-Zoom" - the latter being more well known as the theme song for Mazda's TV commercials.[3][4][5]

No. Title Writer(s) Producer(s) Length
1. "Paranauê" (performed by Jibril Serapis Bey)
Kao RossmanStuart Shapiro
Kao RossmanStuart S. Shapiro
3:10
2. "Miami Boyz" (performed by Miami Boyz)
A. CuffBrian Graham
Kid Fury of Bass Patrol 3:51
3. "Zoom-Zoom-Zoom" (performed by Jibril Serapis Bey) Rossman Kao Rossman 2:53
4. "Comin' Together"
Scot Wendell GreeneLevy Yizhaq
Scott G.Iki Levy
1:37
5. "Babalu Bad Boy" (performed by Mellow Man Ace)
Ulpiano ReyesLawrence Muggerud
DJ Muggs 3:43
6. "Swang da Funk" (performed by New Version of Soul)
Brion H. GibsonJames Elbert PhillipsJames Ray HallMichael Bernard CrockerMichael O. JohnsonPhillip Madison JonesS. Owings
BluebloodLRoc
4:17
7. "Donovan's Mix"
RossmanTony Vargas
Kao RossmanStuart S. Shapiro
2:55
8. "Olelê, O'Lalá" (performed by Jibril Serapis Bey) Vargas Kao Rossman 3:09
9. "Enter the Dojo" Yizhaq
Scott G.Iki Levy
3:22
10. "Only the Strong" (performed by Marcel Branch, Patrick McCain and Donna Simon)
Marcel BranchPatrick McCainDonna Aileen SimonYizhaqGreeneRossmanShapiro
Scott G.Iki Levy
4:10
11. "Only the Strong (Remix)" (performed by Marcel Branch, Patrick McCain and Donna Simon)
BranchMcCainSimonGreeneYizhaqRossmanShapiro
Scott G.Iki LevyThe Baka Boyz (add.)
3:04
Total length: 36:11
Box office and reception
Only the Strong earned US$3,273,588 at the U.S. box office, making only more than half of its US$6 million budget.[1]

The film was universally panned by critics, earning a 13% approval rating on Rotten Tomatoes based on 15 reviews.[6] Roger Ebert gave the film one out of four stars, saying, "The message of a movie like Only the Strong, building on the fascist undertones of its title, is almost cruel in its stupidity and naivete. It's almost a relief that few people in the audience for such a film ever remember if it even had a message or not".[7] Joe Brown of The Washington Post also wrote a scathing review, saying it "relies slightly less relentlessly on violence for its own sake than most in this genre, but the film is clumsily assembled and edited, heavy on the slow-mo, and its simplistic story plays like 'The Kids From Fame' armed with very sharp knives".[8]

Mark Alan Dacascos (born February 26, 1964) is an American actor and martial artist.[1] He won numerous karate and kung fu championships between the ages of 7 and 18. He is known for his roles as Wo Fat in Hawaii Five-0, Louis Stevens in Only the Strong, Mani in Brotherhood of the Wolf, Toby Wong in Drive, Ling in Cradle 2 the Grave, the titular role in Crying Freeman and as Zero in John Wick: Chapter 3 – Parabellum.

Perhaps best known as "The Chairman" on Food Network's Iron Chef America series since January 2005, he has continued the role as of 2022 on Netflix's Iron Chef: Quest for an Iron Legend.

Personal life
Dacascos is married to actress Julie Condra, who starred with him in Crying Freeman.[11] They have three children: two sons and a daughter.[12]

Sheldon Lettich (/ˈlɛtɪtʃ/ LET-itch;[1] born January 14, 1951) is an American screenwriter, film director and producer. He is best known for his collaborations with Jean-Claude Van Damme and his work in the action film genre.

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