"The Big Brawl" opened on August 29, 1980, on 231 North American screens. In its opening weekend, it grossed US$1,108,025 ($4,792 per screen), topping the weekend box office. By October 1980 (upon its release in England), the film had grossed in the United States, making it a commercial success there. It ranked among the year's top 40 highest-grossing films in North America, and its US gross is equivalent to adjusted for inflation in 2018. However, it was ultimately a disappointment to distributor Warner Brothers, who were expecting an "Enter the Dragon" sized hit.