The 11 Best Kung Fu / Martial Arts Movies Of All Time

From amazing scenes of the struggle between good guys and bad guys to epic stories about revenge and heroic quests for honor, the films “Kung fu” (or films about martial arts) have become an integral part of the history of the movie. With such a large number of wonderful films to choose from, we thought that it would be better if you decided which of them is being ruleed over others – and look at the legendary Kung Fu film stars that made them. In the end, the films “Kung -Fu” in many respects were inspired by modern militants. In recent years, you cannot find militants at the box office that are not inspired by the martial arts genre. In this list we present a list of 10 amazing films about kung fu – the best films about martial arts of all time.

11. The 36th Chamber of Shaolin (1978)

The 36th Chamber of Shaolin, also known as The Master Killer, Shaolin Master Killer and Shao Lin San Shi Liu Fang, is a 1978 Hong Kong kung fu film directed by Lau Kar-leung and produced by Shaw Brothers, starring Gordon Liu. The film follows a highly fictionalized version of San Te, a legendary Shaolin martial arts disciple who trained under the general Chi Shan. The 36th Chamber of Shaolin is widely considered to be one of the greatest kung fu films and a turning point in its director’s and star’s careers.

10. Shaolin Temple (1982)

The Shaolin Temple is a 1982 Chinese–Hong Kong martial arts film directed by Chang Hsin Yen and starring Jet Li in his debut role (credited as Jet Lee in the film) along with Ding Lan and Yu Hai in supporting roles. The film is based on the Shaolin Monastery in China and depicts Shaolin Kung Fu. The film was among the first major co-productions between Hong Kong and mainland China, and the first to be filmed in mainland China with a mostly mainland cast. The film’s plot has an episodic storytelling structure while combining action, comedy and romance elements. Plot, A young man, hounded by a psychopathic general, learns martial arts at the Shaolin temple to avenge his father’s death. To achieve this he forgoes a budding romance with his kungfu master’s daughter, a shepherdess.

9. Once Upon a Time in China (1991)

Once Upon a Time in China is a 1991 Hong Kong martial arts film written and directed by Tsui Hark, starring Jet Li as Chinese martial arts master and folk hero of Cantonese ethnicity, Wong Fei-hung. It is the first installment in the Once Upon a Time in China film series. Plot, Legendary martial arts hero Wong Fei-Hung fights against foreign forces’ plundering of China. When Aunt Yee arrives back from America, Wong Fei-Hung assumes the role of her protector. Legendary martial arts hero Wong Fei-Hung fights against foreign forces’ plundering of China.

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8. The Big Boss (1971)

The Big Boss is a 1971 Hong Kong action martial arts film produced by Raymond Chow and starring Bruce Lee in his first major film in a lead role. The film was a critical success and excelled at the box office. Lee’s strong performance overshadowed Tien, already a star in Hong Kong, and made Bruce Lee famous in Asia and eventually the world. Plot, A young man sworn to an oath of non-violence works with his cousins in an ice factory where they mysteriously begin to disappear. Cheng (Lee), a young Chinese man sworn to an oath of non-violence, is sent to live in Thailand with his uncle and cousins.

7. Drunken Master (1978)

Drunken Master is a 1978 Hong Kong martial arts comedy film directed by Yuen Woo-ping, and starring Jackie Chan, Yuen Siu-tien, and Hwang Jang-lee. It was a success at the Hong Kong box office which was also considered a hit. It is an early milestone of the kung fu comedy genre, and helped make Jackie Chan famous in Asia. Plot, Although a talented martial artist young and mischievous Wong Fei-hung or Freddie Wong continually causes trouble by refusing to continue with his training and rebels against an overbearing assistant martial arts teacher despite being the son of the extremely respected martial artist Robert Wong.

6. Ip Man (2008)

Ip Man is a 2008 Hong Kong biographical martial arts film based on the life of Ip Man, a grandmaster of the martial art Wing Chun and teacher of Bruce Lee. The film focuses on events in Ip’s life that supposedly took place in the city of Foshan during the Sino-Japanese War. an acclaimed kung fu master based in Fuoshan, a city famous for its martial arts schools. Ip Man practices Wing Chun, and although he is the strongest fighter in the city, he does not have his own school, and he does not take students. At home, he spends only light sparring with friends to point out each other’s mistakes. Years pass, warlike Japanese seize China, and Ip Man turns out to be one of the few who, even under the most severe conditions of occupation, does not forget about the honor, dignity and, of course, the wisdom that kung fu carries.

5. Ong-Bak: Muay Thai Warrior (2003)

Ong-Bak: Muay Thai Warrior also known in the United States as Ong-Bak: The Thai Warrior is a 2003 Thai martial arts film directed by Prachya Pinkaew and featured action choreography by Panna Rittikrai. It stars Tony Jaa in the lead role, alongside Petchtai Wongkamlao and Pumwaree Yodkamol. Ong-Bak proved to be Jaa’s breakout film, with the actor hailed internationally as the next major martial arts star. Jaa went on to star in Tom-Yum-Goong (called The Protector in the US and Warrior King in UK) and directed and starred in two prequels of Ong-Bak titled Ong-Bak 2 and Ong-Bak 3. Plot, When the head of a statue sacred to a village is stolen, a young martial artist goes to the big city and finds himself taking on the underworld to retrieve it. In a poor Thai village, the sacred statue of Ong Bak watches over its inhabitants, who feel safe and secure in its presence.

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4. Kung Fu Hustle (2004)

Kung Fu Hustle (Chinese: 功夫; lit. ‘Kung Fu’) is a 2004 action-comedy film directed, produced, co-written by, and starring Stephen Chow. The film tells the story of a murderous neighbourhood gang, a poor village with unlikely heroes, and an aspiring gangster’s fierce journey to find his true self. Eva Huang, Yuen Wah, Yuen Qiu, Danny Chan Kwok-kwan and Leung Siu-lung co-starred in prominent roles. The martial arts choreography is supervised by Yuen Woo-ping. Kung Fu Hustle was a co-production between Hong Kong and Mainland Chinese companies, filmed in Shanghai.

3. Fist of Legend (1994)

Fist of Legend is a 1994 Hong Kong martial arts film directed by Gordon Chan, featuring action choreography by Yuen Woo-ping, and produced by Jet Li, who also starred in the lead role. The film was released on 22 December 1994. It is a remake of the 1972 film Fist of Fury, which starred Bruce Lee as the lead character. The film is set in the Shanghai International Settlement in 1937 at the beginning of the Second World War as the Imperial Japanese Army are stationed in Shanghai, China. It holds a 100% rating on Rotten Tomatoes.

2. Enter the Dragon (1973)

Enter the Dragon is a 1973 martial arts action-spy film directed by Robert Clouse and starring Bruce Lee, John Saxon and Jim Kelly. It was Lee’s final completed film appearance before his death on 20 July 1973 at age 32. An American and Hong Kong co-production, it premiered in Los Angeles on 19 August 1973, one month after Lee’s death. The film is estimated to have grossed over US$400 million worldwide (estimated to be the equivalent of over $2 billion adjusted for inflation as of 2022), against a budget of $850,000. Having earned more than 400 times its budget, it is one of the most profitable films of all time as well as the most successful martial arts film.

1. Crouching Tiger Hidden Dragon (2000)

Crouching Tiger, Hidden Dragon is a 2000 wuxia film directed by Ang Lee and written by Wang Hui-ling, James Schamus and Kuo Jung Tsai. The film features an international cast of actors of Chinese ethnicity, including Chow Yun-fat, Michelle Yeoh, Zhang Ziyi and Chang Chen. It is based on the Chinese novel of the same name serialized between 1941 and 1942 by Wang Dulu, the fourth part of his Crane Iron pentalogy. A multinational venture, the film was made on a US$17 million budget, grossing $213.5 million worldwide.