Another Top 10 Martial Arts Movies

In this wuxia film, the two main characters, Leo and Jin, are tasked with killing the new leader of the Flying Daggers, a rebel group akin to the Robin Hood and his Merry Men, of their county. In the process, they find and arrest a blind dancer named Mei, for whom Jin ends up having feelings. Although this Oscar-nominated movie focuses a bit more on romance than it does on martial arts, it’s still a film that has plenty of action, stunning visuals and cinematography. Fans of Asian combat fighting styles definitely won’t be disappointed.

Set during the latter part of the Qing Dynasty in China, this early ‘80s film shows martial artists from the Yi Ho society that are being taught to be immune to bullets by the Shaolin Monk Ti Tan. Although the plot may be confusing at first and some scenes involving the sacrificing of students can be disturbing, this fantasy flick stands out thanks to its combination of special effects and authentic kung fu.

The oldest movie on this Top 10, this Hong Kong film tells a story of a general’s son being kidnapped and held hostage so that the leader of a gang of bandits can be released from prison. The general’s daughter Golden Swallow is the heroine, as she goes off and fights against a number of bandits in an attempt to save her brother, though she also gets some help from the secret Kung Fu society leader Fan Da-Pei. Often considered a masterpiece of Hong Kong cinema, it’s undoubtedly a must-see for wuxia enthusiasts.

The 2nd collaboration between Welsh filmmaker Gareth Evans and Indonesian actor and martial artist Iko Uwais, this action flick is an incredible showcase of both the martial art known as pencak silat and the fight choreography skills of Uwais and Yayan Ruhian. Entertaining, thrilling and fast paced, the movie follows SWAT member Rama as he helps a police squad take down a crime lord by raiding a building that’s home to both crooks and harmless occupants. Well-received by critics and earning multiple awards around the world, the martial arts extravaganza also spawned a well-liked sequel three years later.

In this film, Jackie Chan portrays the real-life Chinese martial artist Wong Fei-hung as he goes from being a troublemaking youngster to being sent by his father to train under his brutally strict uncle Beggar So. How strict is he? Well, he’s got a reputation for crippling his own students. He also wastes no time forcing his regime onto the young Wong, eventually teaching him the style of the Eight Drunken Immortals, which allows him to discover his own form of martial arts and achieve victory.

In the first of six films from this series, we see Jackie Chan play a Hong Kong police detective named Kevin, or Chan Ka-Kui, whose task is to arrest drug lord Chu Tao and bring him to justice. However, complications ensue as, while trying to protect star witness and Chu Tao’s secretary Selina Fong, Ka-Kui ends up being framed for the murder of another police officer. With killer action and some of Jackie Chan’s most incredible stunts, “Police Story” is filled with martial arts action and was a major smash in East Asia.

This film tells a story based on Huo Yuanjia, a real-life Chinese martial artist who fights against men from many different countries around the world during a time when China was being heavily influenced by Western imperialism. Need proof? Just watch the beginning of the movie, in which our hero fights against a Belgian, a Spaniard and a Brit. Though this movie isn’t all about fighting, as Jet Li’s character does learn more about life throughout his journey, it’s hard not be thrilled by its action scenes, like his fight against an American wrestler and the gigantic final battle against Japanese fighter Anno Tanaka.

Based somewhat on the real life story of Bruce Lee’s martial arts master of the same name, this film focuses on the Wing Chun practitioner as he engages in many different battles. His opportunities to do so are thanks in part to Japan invading China, which allows him to also teach Japanese soldiers the martial art. Although some events may be fictional, and other parts are exaggerated for dramatic effect, “Ip Man” was still a huge hit at the box office despite not getting a North American release. In addition to helping cement lead actor Donnie Yen’s stardom in Asia, it also featured astonishing fight choreography by the legendary Sammo Hung.

After Chen Zhen goes back home to China to marry his fiancée, he discovers that his martial arts master is dead under suspicious circumstances - though the official story is illness. Determined to find justice and seek vengeance forHuo’s death, Chen fights against students of a Japanese dojo in Shanghai in a fight largely for the sake of national pride. What ensues for most of the movie thereafter is an epic battle between the martial arts schools representing the two countries, which helped make this flick a Bruce Lee classic.

Before we unveil our top pick, here are a few honorable mentions.
- “Yojimbo” (1961)

- “Once Upon a Time in China” (1991)

- “Hero” (2002)

- “The Prodigal Son” (1981)

- “Snake in the Eagle’s Shadow” (1978)

In this kung fu movie, we watch Liu Yude as he trains to be a martial artist following an injury he suffered during the rebellion against the Manchu government. Based on the legend of the Shaolin martial arts disciple, Liu Yude soon masters the art of kung fu and becomes known as San Te while being taught under the abbot of the Shaolin Temple. When San Te returns home to get his revenge, he ends up sharing some of his newly acquired fighting knowledge with others and ultimately defeats the Manchus. Solidifying the star power of lead actor Gordon Liu and the talent of director Liu Chia-Liang in Asian cinema, the action flick didn’t only inspire the hip hop group Wu-Tang Clan, but is also consistently cited as one of the finest kung fu movies ever made.

Do you agree with our list? Which of these martial arts films is your all-time favorite? With kickass Top 10s published daily, be sure to subscribe to WatchMojo.com.