Top 20 Martial Arts Movies of the Century So Far
#20: “John Wick: Chapter 4” (2023)
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Martial arts are utilized throughout the “John Wick” film series, but if we have to choose the entry that utilizes them best, we’re going with “Chapter 4” - although “Chapter 3” is a very close runner up! This fourth flick sees the master hitman looking for a way out from his lifestyle for good by seeking a duel with a powerful member of his ex-organization. Several of the supporting cast are major stars in martial arts films, including Scott Adkins, Hiroyuki Sanada, and Donnie Yen, all of whom shine, along with star Keanu Reeves. While the action is exceptional throughout, ranking purely based on the martial arts and hand to hand combat scenes is why “John Wick: Chapter 4” lands here on our list.
#19: “Red Cliff” (2008-09)
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John Woo is mostly known for his Hong Kong crime thrillers, but this semi-historical, two-part epic war film shows that the director can tackle anything. Based partly on the influential and ubiquitous historical novel “Romance of the Three Kingdoms” and the historical Battle of Red Cliffs, “Red Cliff” follows an alliance of independent kingdoms resisting an overwhelming Han army. While it may be a war film, thanks to the unorthodox strategies employed, there are plenty of opportunities for close-quarters fighting from the heroes, who perform some downright superhuman feats of skill in battle. If you’re looking to learn more about Chinese history, with some liberties taken and plenty of action, “Red Cliff” might be for you.
#18: “The Villainess” (2017)
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A bloody Korean action film, “The Villainess” follows Sook-hee, a.k.a. Yeon-soo, a young woman consumed by a desire for revenge against the man who killed her father. The film sees many twists and turns as Yeon-soo struggles with her attempts to make a normal life amid her training to become a killer. The action throughout is intense and incredibly creative, with fights taking place on moving vehicles like motorcycles and a bus, and even an extended sequence shot from her point of view! The vilest thing about “The Villainess” though is that eventually, it’s over.
#17: “Shadow” (2018)
A wuxia film by acclaimed director Zhang Yimou (expect that name to come up a lot), “Shadow” follows the body double of the commander of the Kingdom of Pei’s military. Forced to take the commander’s place, his “shadow” Jingzhou must execute an elaborate plan involving a duel to retake the city for which he’s named. Featuring a muted color palette, “Shadow” is full of ambiguity, as the courtly intrigue and elaborate chess matches between the players will keep you guessing until the very end and beyond. Meanwhile, the action alternates between the graceful, otherworldly motions wuxia is known for, and utterly brutal violence. Plus, it has perhaps the coolest use of umbrellas in fight scenes ever!
#16: “Kung Fu Jungle” (2014)
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“Kung Fu Jungle” is also known as “Kung Fu Killer,” which is probably more appropriate, given its premise. Donnie Yen stars as a martial arts instructor imprisoned for accidentally killing his opponent in a duel, who’s brought out of prison to help catch a serial killer who kills martial arts masters using their respective disciplines. The fights can get as gloriously ridiculous as the set-up, with battles on a giant skeleton, a movie set, and a busy highway. In fact, the only thing more absurd is the number of cameos sprinkled throughout! Fans of Hong Kong action cinema will get a kick out of spotting so many familiar faces, but even if you don’t recognize any of them, “Kung Fu Jungle” is a killer thriller!
#15: “Shang-Chi and the Legend of the Ten Rings” (2021)
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It may be a Marvel movie, but “Shang-Chi and the Legend of the Ten Rings” is also a martial arts film. The title character’s conflict with his father, Xu Wenwu, better known as the Mandarin, sees him confront his destiny and his family in equal measure. The fight scenes pay tribute to several styles of martial arts films, with influences ranging from modern kung-fu to more heightened, wuxia-like choreography. While the movie does feature some typical Marvel hallmarks, like the CGI-heavy final battle, “Shang-Chi and the Legend of the Ten Rings” hits hardest with its more grounded fight scenes and the powerful emotional core centered on Shang-Chi and his family.
#14: “Chocolate” (2008)
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After her mother gets cancer, Zen, a young woman on the Autism spectrum with a love for martial arts, decides to collect on debts owed to her mom to pay for her treatment. And since most of the debts are owed by gangsters, Zen must use her martial arts to get them to pay up - the hard way. It’s always nice to see a character on the spectrum who can kick ass! Additionally, the film pays tribute to famed martial arts stars like Bruce Lee and Tony Jaa through its choreography. “Chocolate” may not always be sweet, but hey - dark chocolate is better anyway.
#13: “The Grandmaster” (2013)
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Unquestionably one of the more underrated depictions of the life of Wing Chun master Ip Man, “The Grandmaster” is a visually stunning martial arts film. Director Wong Kar-wai’s beautiful cinematography and use of slow motion lend weight and grace to nearly every scene, the fights included. Along with Ip Man’s journey to prominence in the world of martial arts, his story is paralleled by Gong Er, a martial artist consumed by vengeance against a traitorous disciple of her father’s. “The Grandmaster” may not go for the intensity of some other films, but its sense of melancholy and overall spectacle makes it a unique experience.
#12: “SPL II: A Time for Consequences” (2015)
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Despite its name, “SPL II” or “Kill Zone 2” isn’t a sequel. It follows a Thai prison guard whose daughter is dying, played by Tony Jaa, teaming up with an undercover Hong Kong police detective, played by Wu Jing, as they work to take down the black-market organ market at the prison where the former works. The action is incredible throughout, with Jaa’s furious Muay Thai being a definite highlight, although the villains, such as Zhang Jin’s warden, prove just as amazing. Whether it’s moments of frenetic chaos like the prison riot, or the final 2-on-1 battle, “SPL II” delivers some dynamite action, plus some hard-hitting emotional beats, especially with the daughter. The biggest “consequence” of seeing this movie is that you’ll love it!
#11: “The Protector” (2005)
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The film that solidified him as one of the breakout martial arts stars of the new millennium, Tony Jaa stars as Kham, a young man whose family were once charged with guarding the War Elephants of the King of Thailand. But when one of his tusked charges is taken by a corrupt politician in bed with organized crime, Kham heads to the big city to bust heads and find his friend. This entry is full to the brim with incredible stunt work and bone-breaking action, with Jaa’s mastery of Muay Thai on full display.
#10: “Kill Bill” (2003-04)
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Since it’s basically one movie split in two, we’re including both of these films. Quentin Tarantino’s loving tribute to martial arts films, among other genres, “Kill Bill” tells the story of the Bride, an assassin out for revenge against the people who betrayed her, most notably the title character. “Kill Bill” may be an extended homage, but it’s also a spectacular martial arts film in its own right. Uma Thurman kicks all kinds of ass as the Bride! Her duels with the people on her kill list are major highlights, as is the massive, blood-soaked brawl with the Crazy 88! Full of violence, philosophy, and Tarantino’s signature hyper-real dialogue, the “Kill Bill” films are possibly the best martial arts movies to come from the West.
#9: “Ong-Bak: The Thai Warrior” (2003)
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Tony Jaa leaped onto the martial arts scene with this 2003 flick, delivering a flying elbow to the cranium of the entire martial arts genre. Jaa once again plays a man on a mission, a villager on the hunt for the stolen head of an ancient Buddha statue. His fight takes him into the Bangkok underworld, where his ferocious Muay Thai skills are unleashed. This entry brought Muay Thai and other Southeast Asian martial arts to the forefront of Martial Arts cinema, which had previously been dominated by films and styles from China. The film’s prequel doubled down on this, exploring the style even further.
#8: “Kung Fu Hustle” (2004)
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Writer/director/actor Stephen Chow may not be the first filmmaker to mix kung fu and comedy, but he’s indisputably one of the subgenre’s finest talents. Building on the success of “Shaolin Soccer” and a deep back-catalog of kung-fu comedy hits, Chow’s 2004 film sees him as a wannabe gangster who becomes caught in the middle of a war between a local gang and the residents of a rundown apartment block, which turns out to be owned by a retired pair of bonafide martial arts badasses. The film liberally mixes martial arts with special effects, leading to an end result that’s equal parts “Crouching Tiger” and “Bugs Bunny.”
#7: “Fearless” (2006)
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At the time of its release, this period action epic was touted as the final such film for martial arts legend Jet Li. Li plays Huo Yuanjia, a legendary figure within Chinese martial arts who fought and defeated several foreign fighters in publicized matches in the early 1900s. This was seen as a great victory for Chinese national pride, and Li’s portrayal of Yuanjia certainly plays to his legacy as a source of Chinese patriotism. Under the direction of accomplished martial arts director Ronny Yu, Li reminds viewers with almost every precise movement why he’ll be remembered as one of the all-time greats of his genre.
#6: “House of Flying Daggers” (2004)
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In the early to mid-2000s, period martial arts films with an emphasis on operatic grandeur and style were all the rage, and this entry from director Zhang Yimou is definitely emblematic of that. The story follows a police officer on the trail of the titular rebel group, who are fighting against the corrupt government. In his search, he meets Mei, a blind dancer who may be a member of the Flying Daggers, but his loyalties are tested when his affection for Mei begins to outweigh his sense of duty. A beautiful and haunting film that also features incredible fight choreography, this entry is equal parts action and tragic fable of love and duty.
#5: “Flash Point” (2007)
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While period films are a huge part of martial arts cinema, we’d be remiss if we didn’t make some room for contemporary crime dramas, like this 2007 entry starring the one and only Donnie Yen. Yen plays a cop on the trail of a trio of Vietnamese gangsters, a chase that culminates in a knock-down, drag-out brawl between Yen and co-star Collin Chou. Don’t get us wrong, the rest of the movie is great, but this final showdown has to be one of the most intense, brutal, brilliantly choreographed fight scenes of the last few decades. That alone should get you excited to see this one if you haven’t already.
#4: “Hero” (2002)
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Getting back to period films, this entry unites our old friends Jet Li and Zhang Yimou for another sweeping martial arts epic. The story unfolds “Rashomon” style, with Li’s nameless swordsman and the future Emperor of China giving conflicting retellings of Li’s victory over three assassins. Li claims his quest is only to protect the Emperor, who instead suspects treachery is afoot. Much like our last Zhang Yimou entry, this one contains some of the most beautiful, elegantly choreographed and performed action scenes out there. Unfolding more like elegant, emotionally charged dances than the brutal showdowns of some other movies on our list, the fights in this entry are some of the most captivating out there.
#3: “Ip Man” (2008)
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Perhaps the most celebrated and enduring role of Donnie Yen’s career, the “Ip Man” franchise is a staple of modern martial arts movies and it all began here. Yen plays the titular Ip Man, a revered figure within the martial arts community who mastered the Wing Chun style of martial arts. In his first outing as Master Ip, Yen fights against the Japanese occupation of China in the 1930s, even facing down ten black belts in one iconic scene. We’d be remiss if we didn’t also mention the numerous sequels, which continued to tell the story of Ip Man’s life and accomplishments. However, the original is still number one with us.
#2: “The Raid: Redemption” (2011)
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Few films have come along and hit the martial arts genre quite as hard as this one did when it exploded onto the scene in 2011, instantly catapulting star Iko Uwais to stardom and setting a new bar for gritty, brutal martial arts action. When a raid on a Jakarta apartment complex run by a local drug lord goes horribly wrong, a SWAT team suddenly finds themselves attacked on all sides, and the only way out involves a whole lot of people getting really badly hurt. The action in this entry is beyond brutal and definitely not for the faint of heart. But for fans of no-holds-barred action mayhem? Accept no substitute. Except maybe “The Raid 2.” That’s just as incredible, if not more so!
#1: “Crouching Tiger, Hidden Dragon” (2000)
Ang Lee’s iconic martial arts epic swept the world in 2000, setting the tone for martial arts films to come in the new millennium. As much a tribute to Wuxia martial arts films of old as a bold new entry in the genre, the film sees two famed warriors caught in a web of intrigue and deception after the theft of The Green Destiny, a fabled sword. The visuals of this film need no introduction, as the tightly choreographed fight sequences and wirework chase scenes have become engrained not just in martial arts cinema, but cinema as a whole. If you watch just one martial arts film from the last two decades, make it this one.
