8 Greatest Martial Arts Movies of All Time, Ranked

The 8 Greatest Martial Arts Movies of All Time, Ranked

Gordon Liu as Liu Yude/Monk San Te in The 36th Chamber of Shaolin produced by the Shaw BrothersImage via Shaw Brothers Studio

By Remus Noronha Published 53 minutes ago Remus is a writer, editor, journalist, and author with an eye for detail and an extremely active imagination. He is an enthusiast of everything to do with the graphic medium, whether it's Western comics and their adaptations or manga and anime. Remus is also the author of the sci-fantasy novel Once Upon a Time in Hyperspace and several works of short fiction in the mystery, comedy, and horror genres. Sign in to your Collider account Summary Generate a summary of this story follow Follow followed Followed Like Like Thread Log in Here is a fact-based summary of the story contents: Try something different: Show me the facts Explain it like I’m 5 Give me a lighthearted recap

Since its inception in the early 20th century, the martial arts movie genre has evolved into a major force in the world of cinema, commanding the allegiance of fans around the world with its hard-hitting action, over-the-top stunts, and stylish choreography. While they may not all be critical favorites, these films have inspired and thrilled generations of viewers, and the genre still produces some of the most entertaining works in film and television today. They might not all have great plots or characters, but none of that matters in the face of the sheer fun these movies bring to the screen.

Of course, the relative quality of martial arts films is highly subjective, and every fan is bound to have their own metrics that define a great entry in the genre. However, there are a handful of movies made over the decades that display the undeniable skill and raw ferocity required to mark them as the greatest ever made. Read on to discover our ranked selection of the greatest martial arts movies of all time, including dramas, comedies, and everything in between.

8 ‘Fist of Fury’ (1972)

Image via Golden Harvest

Directed by Lo Wei, First of Fury is a Hong Kong action film that stars Bruce Lee in his second major role. Set in early 20th-century Shanghai, the movie follows Chen Zhen (Lee), who fights against Imperial Japanese oppressors to avenge his mentor and defend the honor of the Chinese people. Nora Miao and Chikara Hashimoto co-star in key roles, and Lee also worked as the movie’s action choreographer.

Released in 1972, Fist of Fury was one of the highest-grossing Hong Kong films of the year and was well-received domestically for its realistic choreography and historical narrative, though it was largely panned by American critics. In the years since, the film has been re-evaluated as an exciting and dramatic action movie anchored by Bruce Lee’s charismatic performance in the lead role. The film went on to inspire multiple sequels, remakes (including one that’s also on this list), and TV series starring Donnie Yen.

7 ‘Kung Fu Hustle’ (2004)

Stephen Chow as Sing in Kung Fu HustleImage Via Columbia TriStar Film Distributors International

A martial arts comedy directed, produced, co-written by, and starring Stephen Chow, Kung Fu Hustle revolves around a poor neighborhood in 1940s Shanghai that’s terrorized by a violent gang. Petty criminal Sing (Chow) dreams of joining the gang, but when he encounters a pair of married kung fu masters, it sets him on the path to discovering his true potential. Besides Chow, the movie also features Huang Shengyi, Yuen Wah, Yuen Qiu, Danny Chan Kwok-kwan, and Leung Siu-lung in key roles.

Easily one of the most entertaining kung fu movies of all time, Kung Fu Hustle is as hilarious as it is thrilling, combining slapstick comedy, cartoonish special effects, and hard-hitting martial arts action with a surprisingly poignant character story. Acclaimed by critics and audiences alike, the film was a box office success at the time of its premiere in China and became one of the highest-grossing foreign-language films in the US after its international release in 2005. The movie also earned numerous accolades, including nominations for a Golden Globe and a BAFTA and five Golden Horse Awards out of 10 nominations.

6 ‘Fist of Legend’ (1994)

Jet Li as Chen Zhen poised and ready to fight in Fist of Legend.Image via Golden Harvest

A 1994 remake of Bruce Lee’s Fist of Fury, Fist of Legend was directed by Gordon Chan and stars Jet Li, with action choreography by Yuen Woo-ping. The movie follows the same basic plot as Fist of Fury, following Li’s Chen Zhen as he returns to China after the death of his master and seeks vengeance. The movie also stars Chin Siu-ho, Yasuaki Kurata, Shinobu Nakayama, Billy Chow, and Paul Chun in key roles.

Arguably the best film of Jet Li’s extensive career, Fist of Legend improves on its 1972 predecessor by providing greater nuance in its characterizations, especially those of its Japanese characters. Though it had a disappointing box office run, the film earned critical acclaim and is now regarded as one of the greatest martial arts movies of all time. Yuen Woo-ping’s stellar fight choreography, which is one of the highlights of the film, brought the legendary director-choreographer into the international spotlight and led to him being hired as the martial arts choreographer for iconic films like the original Matrix trilogy and Quentin Tarantino’s Kill Bill.

5 ‘Drunken Master II’ (1994)

Jackie Chan in 'Legend of Drunken Master.'Image via Golden Harvest Company

Directed by Lau Kar-leung, Drunken Master II (released in North America as The Legend of Drunken Master) is a Hong Kong action-comedy kung fu movie starring Jackie Chan. A sequel to Chan's 1978 film Drunken Master, the movie follows Wong Fei-hung (Chan) as he finds himself unwittingly caught up in a plot to steal ancient Chinese artifacts and smuggle them out of the country. Besides Chan, the movie also stars Anita Mui, Ti Lung, Felix Wong, and more in supporting roles.

Widely regarded as one of the greatest action movies of all time, Drunken Master II was a record success at the Hong Kong box office and earned critical acclaim, both in Hong Kong and internationally. A fun kung fu comedy that expertly balances humor and stylish action with a solid anti-colonial narrative, it's arguably one of Jackie Chan’s best movies and a true masterpiece of martial arts filmmaking. The movie also earned several accolades, including the Hong Kong Film Award and Taipei Golden Horse Award for Best Action Choreography.

4 ‘Ong-Bak’ (2003)

Tony Jaa as Ting about to throw a kick in Ong-Bak: Muay Thai Warrior

Tony Jaa as Ting in Ong-Bak: Muay Thai WarriorImage via EuropaCorp

Directed by Prachya Pinkaew, Ong-Bak (also known as Ong-Bak: The Thai Warrior) is a Thai martial arts film that follows a young Muay Thai fighter called Ting, played by Tony Jaa. After a priceless Buddhist artifact is stolen from his remote village, Ting travels to Bangkok to get it back from the dangerous gangsters who took it using his formidable martial arts skills. The film also stars Petchtai Wongkamlao, Pumwaree Yodkamol, and more in supporting roles.

A massively successful Thai film that earned acclaim from critics and fans around the world, Ong-Bak is the movie that launched Tony Jaa to international stardom. While its plot and characters may be quite simplistic, the film’s action is unmatched, with hard-hitting fight choreography and a powerhouse performance by Jaa. The movie’s success spawned a franchise that includes two prequels, both directed by and starring Jaa, and the series is widely credited with bringing greater recognition to the sport of Muay Thai.

3 ‘Ip Man’ (2008)

Donnie Yen as Ip Man in 'Ip Man'Image via Mandarin Films

A biographical martial arts film, Ip Man was directed by Wilson Yip and stars Donnie Yen as the titular grandmaster of Wing Chun martial arts. The film explores Ip Man’s life as a young martial artist during the Sino-Japanese War, who is forced to use his martial arts skills to help his family survive. The movie also features Simon Yam, Lynn Hung, Lam Ka-tung, Xing Yu, Hiroyuki Ikeuchi, and Tenma Shibuya in supporting roles.

One of the most acclaimed martial arts films ever made, Ip Man premiered in 2008 to positive reviews and international box office success, grossing over $22 million globally despite not being released in North America or most of Europe. Anchored by Donnie Yen’s career-defining performance in the lead role, the film is a gripping combination of action and drama that earned several accolades and continues to enjoy a dedicated fan following. The film’s success led to the development of three sequels and a spin-off film, Master Z: Ip Man Legacy.

2 ‘The 36th Chamber of Shaolin’ (1978)

Gordon Liu as Liu Yude/Monk San Te in The 36th Chamber of Shaolin produced by the Shaw BrothersImage via Shaw Brothers Studio

Directed by Lau Kar-leung and written by Ni Kuang, The 36th Chamber of Shaolin (also known as Master Killer) is a classic Hong Kong kung fu drama starring Gordon Liu and Lo Lieh. The film follows 17th-century Shaolin martial arts disciple San Te (Liu) as he trains in the 35 chambers of the Shaolin temple, hoping to one day avenge his people and liberate his nation from the cruel rule of the Qing Dynasty. Wilson Tong Wai-shing, John Cheung Ng-long, Henry Yu Yang, and more appear in supporting roles.

A universally acclaimed action drama that’s easily one of the greatest kung fu films of all time, The 36th Chamber of Shaolin is an intense martial arts movie that follows its fictionalized historical protagonist on a grueling physical and spiritual journey to self-mastery. The movie was quite successful in its day and led to the release of two loosely connected sequels, Return to the 36th Chamber (1980) and Disciples of the 36th Chamber (1985). The film has had a tremendous impact on popular culture, leaving its mark on everything from Kung Fu Panda to the Wu-Tang Clan, and its influence and popularity in the genre are second only to one other film.

1 ‘Enter the Dragon’ (1973)

Bruce Lee in a defensive position in 'Enter the Dragon'.Image via Golden Harvest

Directed by Robert Clouse, Enter the Dragon may just be the most famous martial arts movie of all time. Starring Bruce Lee in his final completed film appearance before his death, the film is part spy thriller, part action drama, following a Shaolin martial artist from Hong Kong (Lee) who takes on an undercover mission for a British intelligence agency to infiltrate the private island of an international crime lord. Besides Lee, the film also stars John Saxon, Ahna Capri, Bob Wall, Shih Kien, Jim Kelly, and more in key roles.

Bruce Lee was already a celebrated movie star before Enter the Dragon, but the film, released just one month after his death, cemented his status as a cinematic legend. Combining inventive martial arts choreography with a thrilling spy story and elements of the then-emergent Blaxploitation genre, the movie was a massive box office success and developed a huge cult following. Venerated as the greatest martial arts movie of all time by legions of fans, the film was selected for preservation in the National Film Registry by the United States Library of Congress in 2004.

enter-the-dragon-1.jpg Like Follow Followed Enter the Dragon R Action Crime Drama Martial Arts Release Date August 19, 1973 Runtime 102 Minutes Director Robert Clouse Writers Michael Allin

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Bruce Lee
John Saxon

Genres Action, Crime, Drama, Martial Arts Powered by

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Enter the Dragon
Ip Man

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