Paper Tiger

Paper Tiger (1975 film)

Paper Tiger is a 1975 adventure film directed by Ken Annakin and starring David Niven, Toshiro Mifune, Hardy Krüger and Kazuhito Ando. It was adapted by Jack Davies from his 1974 novel. The plot is about an Englishman (Niven) who is hired as a tutor to the son of a Japanese diplomat (Mifune), using embellished claims of military heroism. His alleged skills are put to the test when he and the son are kidnapped by terrorists. The title comes from a Chinese expression meaning a person who looks powerful or strong but is in fact ineffectual.

Paper Tiger (2019 film)

Paper Tiger is a 2019 stand-up comedy special by American comedian Bill Burr. Released via Netflix on September 10, 2019, it was filmed at the Royal Albert Hall in London and directed by filmmaker Mike Binder. Burr performed at the Royal Albert Hall for the first time on June 6, 2018, returning in 2019 to perform extra dates on March 4 and 5 for his show, which was then named 50. Paper Tiger was nominated at the 63rd Annual Grammy Awards for Best Comedy Album.

Paper Tiger (2026 film)

Paper Tiger is a 2026 crime-drama film written and directed by James Gray. A co-production between the United States, Brazil, and Italy, it stars Adam Driver, Scarlett Johansson, and Miles Teller, and follows a suburban American family who become entangled with the Russian mob.

Paper tiger

"Paper tiger" is a calque of the Chinese phrase zhǐlǎohǔ. The term refers to something or someone that claims or appears to be powerful or threatening but is actually ineffectual and unable to withstand challenge.

paper tiger

Noun

1. Something or someone that appears powerful, strong or threatening but is in reality weak, ineffective, or unable to withstand challenge.