For even the most devoted film fans, martial arts cinema can seem like a daunting world to penetrate. Sure, the starting points are well-known: Enter the Dragon, Crouching Tiger Hidden Dragon, Fist of Legend, a handful of Jackie Chan flicks. Starting in the 1970s, the Hong Kong film industry churned out thousands of movies full of mind-bending action scenes and choreographed fight sequences. Sifting out the must-sees can be particularly difficult – and not just because many of them are hard to actually find. More than other genres, martial arts movies are not differentiated not by plotlines but the visual details and physical skills of the stars.
So here are the 20 best martial arts movies ever made.
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.
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, featured stunt choreography by Panna Rittikrai and starring Tony Jaa. Ong-Bak proved to be Jaa’s breakout film, with the actor hailed internationally as the next major martial arts star. In its opening weekend, it grossed US$1,334,869 ($3,449 per screen), on its way to a US total of $4,563,167, and Worlwide $20,112,926 with budget $1,100,000.
Fist of Fury (1972)
Fist of Furya is a 1972 Hong Kong action martial arts film written and directed by Lo Wei, produced by Raymond Chow, and starring Bruce Lee in his second major role after The Big Boss (1971). Lee, who was also the film’s action choreographer, plays Chen Zhen, a student of Huo Yuanjia, who fights to defend the honor of the Chinese in the face of foreign aggression, and to bring to justice those responsible for his master’s death. in distributor rental earnings. Against a tight budget of $100,000, the film went on to gross an estimated US$100 million worldwide earning 1,000 times its budget.
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. The film was directed by Wilson Yip, and stars Donnie Yen as Ip Man. The film ranks as the 8th highest-grossing film in Hong Kong of 2008. In total, the film had grossed $22,108,789 worldwide, despite not being released in North America and most of Europe.RELATED:
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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. Though Fist of Legend is widely considered one of Li’s best films, during the downturn period of the Hong Kong film industry, its box office HK$14,785,382 ($1.890.000 USD)
The Way of the Dragon (1972)
The Way of the Dragon is a 1972 Hong Kong martial arts action-comedy film written, co-produced and directed by Bruce Lee, who also stars in the lead role. The film went on to gross an estimated US$130 million worldwide (equivalent to over $700 million adjusted for inflation), against a tight budget of $130,000, earning a thousand times its budget. It was the highest-grossing Hong Kong film up until Lee’s next film, Enter the Dragon (1973).
Tom-Yum-Goong (2005)
Tom-Yum-Goong is a 2005 Thai martial arts action film starring Tony Jaa. The film was directed by Prachya Pinkaew, who also directed Jaa’s prior breakout film Ong-Bak. As with Ong-Bak, the fights were choreographed by Jaa and his mentor, Panna Rittikrai. The film’s total worldwide box office gross is US$25,715,096 with budget $5 million. It is the most successful Thai film released in the US.
Fearless(2006)
Fearless, is a 2006 martial arts film directed by Ronny Yu and starring Jet Li. It is loosely based on the life of Huo Yuanjia, a Chinese martial artist who challenged foreign fighters in highly publicized events, restoring pride and nationalism to China at a time when Western imperialism and Japanese manipulation were eroding the country in the final years of the Qing Dynasty before the birth of the Republic of China. With budget CNY 90 million ($18 million USD) film earned in Worldwide $68.1 million USD.
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. Film with budget $17 million earned in Worldwide US$214 million.
Once Upon a Time in China (1991)
Once Upon a Time in China (released in the Philippines as Enter the New Game of Death) 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 instalment in the Once Upon a Time in China film series. Film earned in Worldwide HK$29,672,278 (US$ 3.793.511 million).RELATED:
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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, earning two and a half times the amount of Yuen’s and Chan’s previous film, Snake in the Eagle’s Shadow, which was also considered a hit. Film earned in Worldwide HK$129.000.000 (US$ US$16,483,650).
Police Story (1985)
Police Story is a 1985 Hong Kong action comedy film starring and directed by Jackie Chan, who also wrote the screenplay with Edward Tang. It is the first film in the Police Story franchise, and Chan as Hong Kong police detective “Kevin” Chan Ka-Kui, alongside Brigitte Lin and Maggie Cheung. In the film, Ka-Kui helps arrest a drug lord, but must clear his own name after being accused of murder. Film earned in Worldwide US$18.7 million.
The Raid 2 (2014)
The Raid 2 is a 2014 Indonesian action thriller film written, directed and edited by the Welsh filmmaker Gareth Evans. It is the sequel to the 2011 film The Raid and stars Iko Uwais, Arifin Putra, Oka Antara, Tio Pakusadewo, Alex Abbad, Julie Estelle, Ryuhei Matsuda, Kenichi Endō, and Kazuki Kitamura. In the film, Rama is sent undercover to expose the corrupt police officials colluding with the crime families of Jakarta’s criminal underworld. Film earned in Worldwide US$$6.77 million
Drunken Master II (1994)
Drunken Master II is a 1994 Hong Kong action-comedy kung fu film directed by Lau Kar-leung and starring Jackie Chan as Chinese martial arts master and folk hero of Cantonese ethnicity, Wong Fei-hung. Drunken Master II was named one of the top 100 best films of all time by Time magazine. In 2015, the British Film Institute (BFI) selected Drunken Master II as one among the ten best action movies of all time. With budget $2 million film earned in worldwide US$ 34,300,528, equivalent to US$63 million adjusted for inflation.
The Karate Kid (1984)
The Karate Kid is a 1984 American martial arts drama film written by Robert Mark Kamen and directed by John G. Avildsen. It is the first installment in the Karate Kid franchise, and stars Ralph Macchio, Pat Morita, Elisabeth Shue and William Zabka. The film was also a commercial success, with budget $8 million grossing over $130 million worldwide, making it one of the highest-grossing films of 1984 and Hollywood’s biggest sleeper hit of the year.RELATED:
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Kung Fu Hustle (2004)
Kung Fu Hustle 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. With Budget $20 million grossed worldwide US$104.9 million
Five Deadly Venoms (1978)
Five Deadly Venoms is a cult 1978 Hong Kong martial arts film directed by Chang Cheh and produced by the Shaw Brothers Studio. The story revolves around five kung-fu fighters with unique animal styles: The film is considered one of the most popular martial arts films of its era and was listed at number 11 on Entertainment Weekly’s Top 50 Cult Films list.
Hero(2002)
Hero is a 2002 wuxia film directed, co-written, and produced by Zhang Yimou, and starring Jet Li, Tony Leung Chiu-wai, Maggie Cheung, Zhang Ziyi, Donnie Yen and Chen Daoming. The historical background of the film refers to the Warring States Period in ancient China, when China was divided into 7 countries. With budget $31 million grossed in worldwide $177.4 million.
Kill Zone (2005)
SPL: Sha Po Lang (Chinese: 殺破狼, released in the United States as Kill Zone) is a 2005 Hong Kong action film directed by Wilson Yip, who also writer with Szeto Kam-Yuen and Ng Wai-lun. The film stars Donnie Yen, Sammo Hung and Simon Yam. The film was released on 18 November 2005. With budget $277.000 film earned worldwide US$950.000.