Comparing the career arcs of martial arts blockbuster icons is no easy feat, and some would argue impossible. On one hand, a side-by-side comparison of box office numbers is the brass tacks’ treatment that seems obvious. Conversely, a career is so much more than successful movie roles, especially when it comes to the legacies of Jean-Claude Van Damme and Steven Seagal. While both Van Damme and Seagal were both unstoppable in their own rights in the ’80s and ’90s, we put them side by side to see whose career transcended the decades more favorably. We raise the questions: Who would win in a fight? Who can take a joke? Which films held up better? And who’s still going strong? We roundhouse kick our way through the facts to answer the question that everyone wants to be answered: Who had the better career?

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Lasting Legacy in Film (Based on Ratings)

A look at highest rated films overall lands Seagal with a 79% on Rotten Tomatoes for fan favorite Under Siege, and JCVD with a 92% for his involvement in 2018’s Kickboxer: Retaliation. While both actors dominated the ’80s and ’90s, the slow burn into the legacy phases of their careers deserves a look. Both hard hitting titans are household names in their own right, but here’s where it gets tricky: a blockbuster success does not necessarily mean a critical success, which is a curse that both stars suffer from. Does this kind of treatment come with the territory? After all, Seagal and Van Damme are both martial artists first, and actors and entertainers after the fact. All things considered, Van Damme has seen more favorable reviews overall as of late, and this will only help in cementing his legacy over Seagal’s.

Who is More Accomplished in the Martial Arts Community?

     Cannon Films

Critics and fans alike can compare film scores until they’re blue in the face, but there are other factors to consider. In the Martial Arts genre, knowing who is a better fighter is paramount, and the numbers don’t lie. The Muscles From Brussels (JCVD), boasts an intimidating amount of awards and accolades over his contemporary, including: Gold in the Mr. Belgium Bodybuilding Championships in ‘76 (gold), Belgium Karate Lightweight Championships in ‘77 (gold), Belgium Karate Team European Championships in ‘79 (gold), and Belgium Coupe des Espoirs Karate Tournament Championships in ‘80 (silver). His full list of light contact and kickboxing competitions shows that he means serious business on and offscreen.

Seagal is by no means an amateur, but took a different path in his upbringing. In fact, he’s a 7th-Dan black belt in Aikido, which is a discipline based less around fighting, and more about situational awareness. Seagal holds no awards, but it is worth noting that he ran his father-in-law’s dojo in Japan during his early years. While Seagal clearly has the moves in his films, he is objectively a less decorated fighter than Van Damme.

Who is Easier to Work With?

     NBC

Extreme martial arts “chops” often beget extreme personalities, and both actors have been described as “difficult” to work with throughout their careers. While it’s no mystery that Van-Damme had a heavy hand in choreographing the fight sequences in his films, causing tension, Steven Seagal is the only person in history to be banned for life from SNL. While he learned situational awareness from his Aikido upbringing, the cast of SNL largely expressed the sentiment that he lacks self-awareness, and it was difficult to land jokes during the tapings. Conversely, Van-Damme has been seen having fun recreating the infamous Kickboxer dance on the late-night circuit.

Life Outside of Film

     Youtube

Steven Seagal is an avid guitarist, and has a collection of axes that even the most seasoned of musicians would envy. Seagal boasts having guitars once owned by Jimmy Hendrix, Kurt Cobain, and legendary blues musician B.B. King in his arsenal. Citing music as his first love, Seagal released albums in 2005 and 2006, Songs from the Crystal Cave, and Mojo Priest, respectively. While the 7th-Dan blackbelt hasn’t gone platinum, he’s successfully toured to support his passion, and has even helped score some of his films. Van Damme, on the other hand, is a decorated and celebrated martial artist. While Van Damme would surely lose a battle of the bands against Seagal, a battle in the form of hand-to-hand combat would surely mark him as the victor.

Net Worth

     Lionsgate

Celebrity Net Worth states that Seagal is worth an intimidating $16 million, and puts Van Damme at a whopping $40 million. While both stars accumulated the lion’s share of their wealth in the ’80s and ’90s, Van Damme benefited from being more prolific, and to more favorable reviews later in his career.

The Legacies Continue

     Destination Films

An important thing to consider is that both Seagal and Van Damme are still going strong in their respective careers. We’re talking about two finely tuned fighting machines in their twilight years, so while things may have slowed down for the stars, they will be unrelenting in their execution and endeavors for years to come. Who had the better career? By sheer numbers alone, Van Damme appears to be dominating on most fronts, but Seagal is a legend in his own right, and won’t go down without a fight.