The Full Final Fight of Bruce Lee’s First Movie
Bruce Lee’s very first major film, “The Big Boss” (1971), ends with a brutal and intense final fight that introduced audiences to a new kind of martial arts star—one with unmatched speed, power, and raw charisma. The film’s climactic battle between Lee’s character, Cheng Chao-an, and the villainous boss Hsiao Mi (played by Han Ying-chieh) remains a powerful showcase of Bruce Lee’s fighting philosophy and physical mastery.
Set in an ice factory where Cheng has discovered a massive drug smuggling operation, the final fight is personal. Cheng has lost friends and family to the boss’s violent empire, and this confrontation is about justice, revenge, and inner strength. Unlike many polished, wire-assisted kung fu duels of the era, this fight is gritty and grounded. Bruce Lee’s movements are sharp and explosive—his punches land like gunshots, and his kicks are delivered with whip-like speed.
The boss, armed with knives and dirty tactics, is ruthless, but Lee’s focused intensity is unstoppable. One of the fight’s most dramatic moments comes when Cheng, wounded and bleeding, channels his pain into sheer determination. Using powerful sidekicks, sweeps, and devastating hand strikes, Lee slowly but decisively overpowers his opponent. The fight ends with an iconic sequence where Cheng smashes the villain through a wall—an exclamation point on his triumph.
What makes this final scene so memorable is how it blends emotional tension with physical combat. Lee wasn’t just performing choreography—he was telling a story with every move. It was a fitting climax to a film that launched him into superstardom and marked the beginning of a legendary, though tragically short, career.
