The film was directed by James Yukich, whose previous credits include the Genesis music videos "That's All" and "Invisible Touch".

Starring Mark Dacascos and Scott Wolf as brothers Jimmy and Billy Lee, along with Alyssa Milano as Marian Delario and Robert Patrick as antagonist Koga Shuko, the plot takes place in an earthquake-crippled Los Angeles in 2007; the city is styled as a mix between a post-apocalyptic and 80s/90s punk environment.

Koga Shuko, a crime lord and businessman, explains to his underlings about a powerful, magic medallion called the Double Dragon, which has been split into two pieces.

Teenage brothers Billy and Jimmy Lee, and their guardian/adoptive mother Satori Imada head home after citywide curfew from a martial arts tournament.

On their way, they are accosted by gang members, who rule the streets after dark due to an uneasy pact made with the police department seven years earlier to keep them from running amok during the day.

Unable to find the brothers on his own, Shuko unites and takes over the gangs by displaying his power and sends them after the Lees.

Marian points out a discovery they made that the wearer of the medallion is immune to the powers of its counterpart, meaning Shuko is not able to possess him as long as he has it.

They combine the two pieces, granting them matching uniforms and the medallion powers, and they briefly see a vision of Satori's spirit as she gives them encouraging words.

Shuko is sent to jail, the police department has renewed strength to fight the gangs instead of compromising with them, and Billy and Jimmy can now keep both halves of the Double Dragon safe.

[2] Though warnings were broadcast on several news channels the previous night, the explosion caused residents of the nearby city to panic, leading to 210 phone calls to emergency services over ten minutes.

[4] Writing for The New York Times, Stephen Holden called it "a movie of frantic action and clever special effects" with "jumpy nonstop energy that overrides the script's incongruities and the amateurish performances".

[10] According to Box Office Mojo, the film grossed $1,376,561 domestically in its opening weekend at 1,087 theaters in the United States and Canada.

[16] In South Korea, the film released in 1998 and sold 7,179 tickets in Seoul City,[17] equivalent to an estimated gross revenue of approximately ₩43,074,000[18] ($30,736).

Plot and visual elements of the film were reused in the 1995 fighting game version of Double Dragon produced by Technos Japan.