20 best martial arts movies: from Bruce Lee to Jackie Chan

2024 Author: Malcolm Clapton | [email protected]. Last modified: 2023-12-17 03:44

Classics of oriental martial arts, witty comedies and modern action films.

20. Who am I?

• Hong Kong, 1998.
• Action, comedy, adventure.
• Duration: 118 minutes.
• IMDb: 6, 8.

A special forces group carrying out a mission in the jungle of South Africa is destroyed. The lone surviving fighter loses his memory and desperately tries to make sense of his past.

Of course, such a list should start with the work of Jackie Chan. This famous actor and director became famous not only for the cool action scenes and stunts that he performs without a stunt double. Chan also manages to present the most difficult action with humor.

19. Hot spot

• Hong Kong, China, 2007.
• Action, crime.
• Duration: 87 minutes.
• IMDb: 6, 8.

A gang of Vietnamese criminals plans to organize a daring raid in order to free their leader and destroy all witnesses of their activities. But Detective Sergeant Jang Ma interferes in their plans. He alone is able to deal with all the villains.

Donnie Yen, one of the best screen kung-fu masters of the last decades, played the main role in this film. Since childhood, he was engaged in martial arts at his mother's school, and he got into the cinema almost by accident. But now Ian's paintings have a huge following. The on-screen battles of this actor are always very realistic and at the same time grippingly staged.

18. Chocolate

• Thailand, 2008.
• Action, drama.
• Duration: 92 minutes.
• IMDb: 6, 9.

Zen is the daughter of the mistress of the boss of the Thai mafia and the Japanese yakuza. She is autistic but has an incredible martial arts talent. To help his terminally ill mother, Zen puts on small shows with a friend. And then she finds a notebook that lists people who owe their family a lot of money.

Those who consider martial arts exclusively for men should definitely watch "Chocolate" with the magnificent Thai actress and sportswoman Jaanin Wismmitananda. It is also interesting that her heroine copies the movements that she sees in the movies. Therefore, viewers can recognize selected scenes from Ong Bak, as well as Honor of the Dragon, the next film on our list.

17. Dragon's Honor

• Thailand, USA, Hong Kong, France, 2005.
• Action, crime, thriller.
• Duration: 111 minutes.
• IMDb: 7, 1.

An elephant and a baby elephant are stolen from a peasant family from Thailand. The main character Kham, who fell in love with these animals since childhood, goes to Australia to return them, and at the same time to deal with the kidnappers.

Thai actor Tony Jaa really grew up in a family of elephant breeders and trained since childhood, jumping at a run on huge animals. So the picture can be considered partly autobiographical. In this film, a large-scale fight scene in a restaurant looks most remarkable: four minutes of action on several floors with a huge number of extras were filmed in one shot without editing.

16. Ong Bak

• Thailand, 2003.
• Action, thriller, crime.
• Duration: 108 minutes.
• IMDb: 7, 2.

Villains steal the head of a Buddha statue from a small Thai village. A Muay Thai master named Ting sets out to find the relic in Bangkok.

In this film, Tony Jaa played his first major role. Adventure thriller immediately sets a good pace. Still, the best is the fifteen-minute fight scene in fight club. Here the hero faces three opponents, each of whom fights in his own style.

15. Snack bar on wheels

• Hong Kong, 1984.
• Action, crime, comedy.
• Duration: 108 minutes.
• IMDb: 7, 2.

Cousins Thomas and David work in a minibus-based traveling café in Barcelona. One day they help a charming thief in trouble. From that moment on, the brothers' lives change.

This film is one of the best in terms of staging Jackie Chan fights. By the way, he shot a picture of Sammo Hung. Many people remember him for his leading role in the series "Chinese Policeman". In fact, he is a very famous stage director. At the same time, Hung himself played the role of detective Moby in this film.

14. Once upon a time in China

• Hong Kong, 1991.
• Action, adventure.
• Duration: 134 minutes.
• IMDb: 7, 3.

At the end of the 19th century, China suffered from American expansion. The respected doctor and kung fu master Won Feihun is not happy about these events, but he tries not to openly conflict with the invaders. But when his lover is kidnapped and tried to sell to a brothel, Won Feihong begins to take revenge.

Jet Li was considered by many to be the main successor of Bruce Lee in martial arts films. It was he who was entrusted to play the legendary historical figure - the martial arts masters of the Qin dynasty. Although the best fighting scenes are still in the sequel "Once Upon a Time in China 2". There the hero meets the villain played by Donnie Yen.

13. Path of the dragon

• Hong Kong, 1972.
• Action, crime.
• Duration: 99 minutes.
• IMDb: 7, 3.

Tang Long travels from Hong Kong to Rome to help his friends. The local mafia is trying to take their restaurant away. But the bandits underestimate the young man: he can defeat any opponent with his bare hands.

Bruce Lee's first Hollywood work popularized martial arts films around the world. And it was in this picture that Chuck Norris made his debut on the screens: he, in the form of the villain Colt, turned out to be the main opponent of Tan Lung, and their fight still looks great.

12. Fist of Fury

• Hong Kong, 1972.
• Action, drama.
• Duration: 106 minutes.
• IMDb: 7, 4.

Martial artist Chen Zhen arrives in Shanghai for his teacher's funeral. It turns out that the Japanese occupying the city are mocking the students of Chinese kung fu schools. Chen Zhen decides to defend the honor of his comrades.

It was this film that made Bruce Lee and his style famous. Prior to that, the actor played only one major role in the film "Big Boss". But in "Fist of Fury" maximum time is devoted to his skill. The scene where the hero Li fights two dozen opponents at once has become legendary.

11. Project A

• Hong Kong, 1983.
• Action, comedy.
• Duration: 100 minutes.
• IMDb: 7, 4.

At the beginning of the 20th century, Hong Kong was terrorized by a gang of pirates. Marine Police Sergeant Ma Yulong, nicknamed the Dragon, reveals their plans and engages in a fight with the leader.

Jackie Chan directed this film personally. Although the main roles are exactly the same trinity that later starred in "Diner on Wheels": Sammo Hong, Yuan Biao and Chan himself.

10. Drunken Master

• Hong Kong, 1978.
• Action, comedy.
• Duration: 111 minutes.
• IMDb: 7, 5.

The son of kung-fu master Won Feihun is not distinguished by discipline and fights with everyone he meets. However, he shows excellent martial arts abilities. His father sends him to Master Su, who teaches the Eight Drunken Saints style. The young man escapes from the cruel mentor, but encounters an evil mercenary.

It was this film that made Jackie Chan famous and his unique style. He played the same famous Won Feihun that Jet Li would later portray in "Once Upon a Time in China," but showed him to be completely different. The second part of the picture came out only in 1994, and there, by the way, the fights are even better.

9. Fist of legend

• Hong Kong, 1994.
• Thriller, drama, action.
• Duration: 103 minutes.
• IMDb: 7, 5.

The Fist of Fury remake tells much the same story. Chen Zhen learns of the death of his teacher and confronts the Japanese dojo.

This film not only repeated the main plot of the famous classic with Bruce Lee, but also perfectly copied some of the battle scenes. A large-scale fight with many rivals looks more modern here and is staged more interesting.

8. Fearless

• China, Hong Kong, 2006.
• Action, biographical, drama.
• Duration: 104 minutes.
• IMDb: 7, 6.

Huo Yuanjia dreams of becoming a famous martial artist. But in the pursuit of fame, he loses almost everything in life. And only years later, the realization of the real purpose in life comes to him.

All the same Jet Li played another legendary historical figure. The real wushu master Huo Yuanjia was a famous fighter who also fought against the colonization of China. The picture freely retells the main points of his biography.

7. Raid

• Indonesia, France, USA, 2011.
• Action, crime, thriller.
• Duration: 96 minutes.
• IMDb: 7, 6.

A police squad is sent to a multi-storey building to arrest a well-known drug dealer who has settled there. The house is guarded by dozens of criminals armed to the teeth, so the special forces want to conduct the operation quietly. But the plans are disrupted by an absurd accident, and the raid turns into a bloody showdown.

This picture is packed with action-scenes literally from the very beginning to the end. And the main role in the film was played by Iko Yuvays - the master of the Indonesian wrestling Pencak Silat. The film also has a sequel "Raid 2", where the quality of filming has already improved, and the staging of fights has remained at the same high level. But the movie "Raid: Bullet in the Head" has nothing to do with the franchise, it just plays the same actor.

6. Police story

• Hong Kong, 1985.
• Action, comedy, crime.
• Duration: 106 minutes.
• IMDb: 7, 6.

Police arrest Mafia boss Chi Thow. One of the employees, Kevin Chang, is assigned to guard the criminal's secretary, who is a witness in the case. But the girl suddenly disappears.

And one more directorial work of Jackie Chan, in which he played the traditional role of a gallant policeman for himself. Perhaps one of the most energetic films of this actor with great humor and incredible action.

5. Showdown in the style of kung fu

• Hong Kong, China, 2004.
• Comedy, action, crime.
• Duration: 99 minutes.
• IMDb: 7, 7.

Swindler Sin trades in petty crimes, posing as a member of the Axes gang. But he ends up in an area where many residents know kung fu very well and will not let themselves be offended. Meanwhile, the real "Axes" decide to capture the only place free from their influence.

If Jackie Chan's films, albeit in a comedic form, adhere to the traditions of martial arts cinema, then "Showdown in Kung Fu Style" is a frank parody of the genre. Director and lead actor Stephen Chow had already become famous at that time thanks to the film "Killing Football". Here he turns to the crime theme, but again he does it in a fun and well-choreographed manner.

4. Exit of the Dragon

• Hong Kong, 1973.
• Action, drama, crime.
• Duration: 102 minutes.
• IMDb: 7, 7.

On a secluded island, turned into a real fortress, the best fighters from all over the world compete. The police suspect this is all just a cover for smuggling. Then the Shaolin monastery mentor Li is sent to the island.

In addition to Bruce Lee, who played the main role, many other legendary fighters appeared in the film. For example, Bolo Yen and world karate champion Jim Kelly. And in the crowd there are still unknown stuntmen Jackie Chan and Sammo Hung. Alas, this is the last picture with Bruce Lee. He did not live to see the premiere for several days.

3. Crouching Tiger, Hidden Dragon

• Taiwan, Hong Kong, USA, China, 2000.
• Fantasy, action, adventure.
• Duration: 120 minutes.
• IMDb: 7, 8.

Renowned martial artist Li Mubai passes a magical green steel sword to his friend and plans to go into meditation. But soon the artifact is kidnapped by the villains. Li Mubai sends in search of him and meets his longtime enemy.

It was this film by Ang Lee (the future director of Brokeback Mountain) that brought back the interest in martial arts films in the 21st century. The tape received 10 Oscar nominations and won four of them.

2. Hero

• China, Hong Kong, 2002.
• Fantasy, action, drama.
• Duration: 107 minutes.
• IMDb: 7, 9.

The hero, who is called Nameless, arrives at the court of the future emperor and says that he defeated three enemies who were planning to assassinate the ruler. He describes in detail all of his adventures, but it is very difficult to distinguish truth from fiction.

The picture, where Jet Li played the main role again, consists of three parts. Moreover, each of them is shown in its own color scheme. Several martial arts masters starred in the film. But the most impressive is the fight between the Nameless One and the hero named Sky, played by Donnie Yen.

1. Yip Man

• Hong Kong, China, 2008.
• Action, drama, historical.
• Duration: 106 minutes.
• IMDb: 8, 0.

Martial artist Ip Man lives in Foshan County. He no longer takes students and only occasionally arranges sparring with colleagues. But then he has to fight with the visiting master Jin and the invaders from Japan.

Donnie Yen starred in a film based in part on the legendary master's real life biography. The real Yip Man taught the Wing Chun style, and it was from him that Bruce Lee himself learned. The fights in the film are simply incredible. It is not surprising that later the film came out as many as three sequels.