Rick, a down-and-out American boxer, is hired to transport a sword to Japan, unaware that the whole thing is a set up in a bitter blood-feud between two brothers, one who follows the traditional path of the samurai and the other a businessman. At the behest of the businessman, Rick undertakes samurai training from the other brother, but joins his cause. He also becomes romantically involved with the samurai's daughter.
Unfortunately the movie The Challenge is not yet available on HBO Max.
| Directing | John Frankenheimer | Director |
| Art | Yoshiyuki Ishida | Production Design |
| Writing | Ivan Moffat | Writer |
| Production | Ron Beckman | Producer |
| Sound | Jerry Goldsmith | Original Music Composer |
| Writing | John Sayles | Writer |
| Writing | Richard Maxwell | Writer |
| Production | Robert L. Rosen | Producer |
| Camera | Kōzō Okazaki | Director of Photography |
| Crew | Steven Seagal | Martial Arts Choreographer |
