INTRODUCTION
Prisoner of War is a 2025 film starring Scott Adkins. What makes this film unique is that it blends the styles of Bloodsport (1988) with conventional films about World War II. This is not, however, a standard war movie. Rather than focus on specific battles and WWII weaponry, this film explores the perils of captivity and the strength of the human spirit. That is not to say that this film is a philosophical exploration of what one can endure. It is, after all, a Scott Adkins film and the fight scenes are the true star of Prisoner of War (2025).
SUMMARY
Prison of War (2025) begins in 1942 during the Battle of Bataan. A Royal Air Force pilot, played by Scott Adkins is shot down over the Philippines and taken prison by Japanese forces. Once in the prisoner of war camps, Scott Adkins’s character learns that the officers are forcing the captives to fight for their entertainment. The matches are a method for controlling the prisoners of war, and their survival depends on their physical endurance and psychological resistance. As the fights progress, the cycles of violence and tightening stakes increase, much like any “kumite” based story.
The fights are intense and bloody, but they become a symbol to both the captives and the Japanese troops. Themes of glory and honor take on a much meaning as winning the fight, and both sides explore what those concepts mean. The story continues with aspects of a traditional World War II film by depicting issues of morale and power dynamics.
ANALYSIS
It is difficult to analyze a Scott Adkins film objectively. Scott Adkins is an amazing martial artist and an amazing actor. His films do tend to follow a certain formula, which may seem predictable, but also offer a comfortable escape into a familiar story format.
Positive
Prisoner of War (2025) is a martial arts film worth watching. The camera work in this movie stands out because it avoids the cut-on-impact technique that has become popular in modern films. Instead, Prisoner of War (2025) offers two to four second exchanges in one frame and provides full body visibility. The action shots show impacts that move both actors off-axis, which means the actors must maintain balance throughout contact and react physically rather than posing. It is a simple technique, but it makes the fight scenes feel heavier and authentic.
A quick look at the cast and crew of this film explains why Prisoner of War (2025) stands out as a marital arts film. In addition to Scott Adkins, the film stars Peter Shinkoda and Donald Cerrone. Peter Shinkoda has a background in Shotokan Karate, Judo, Boxing, and general weapons training. He is known for his roles in action films like Daredevil (2015–2016), The Defenders (2017), and War (2007). In contrast to Peter Shinkoda’s action movie background, Donald Cerrone brings real world combat sport experience. As a professional mixed martial arts fighter, Cerrone has a background in kickboxing, Muay Thai, and Brazilian jiu-jitsu. He has also starred in action films such as The Commando (2022), 3 Days in Malay (2023), and The Weapon (2023).
All of this comes together under the director Louis Mandylor. While Mandylor may be best known for his role in the My Big Fat Greek Wedding films (2002-2023, but in the stunt/action circuit he’s better known for grinding out practical fight movies and working closely with physical performers rather than VFX-heavy approaches. Under his direction the film also uses a bench of career stunt actors rather than celebrity martial artists and several of the opposing fighters come out of the Eastern European stunt pipeline.
Negative
Prisoner of War (2025) is a martial arts film worth watching. It is not, however, a World War II film worth watching. The story line revolves around the forced fights in the prisoner of war camp, not the overarching experiences of the various battles. Anyone looking for a traditional WWII film will be disappointed by the use of WWII as a backdrop and not the focus.
CONCLUSION
Is this film worth the watch? Yes, but only as a martial arts/action film. The fight choreography, actors, director, and stunt team are top notch. The camera work adds to the fight sequences and makes this film stand out from other modern action films. The only reason to pass on this film is if you are looking for a traditional World War II movie.
- Prisoner of War (2025) – Worth The Watch? - February 24, 2026
- From Wudang Sword to Lightsaber: Natasha Liu Bordizzo and the Legacy of Cinematic Fight Choreography - January 26, 2026
- Yuen Woo-Ping: Shaping Narratives One Sword Stroke at a Time - December 11, 2025
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