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The Best Martial Arts Movies From Dragon To My Ape-man

The Best Martial Arts Movies From Dragon To My Ape-man

From Jackie Chan And Bruce Lee To The Matrix And Bill, In This Article, We Will Introduce The Best Martial Arts Movies.

Comedy movies have always been and will continue to be one of the most popular genres of action movie lovers since the distant decades of cinema. From Oriental films such as The Dragon to Western films such as The Matrix and Kill Bill, they have been considered the most popular movies in the genre.

A genre in which great actors have played roles, and all of them will forever remain in the minds of cinema lovers; Actors like the late Jet Lee, Jackie Chan, and the late Bruce Lee, some of the most influential actors in martial arts films.

In this article, we decided to look at the best martial arts movies. Films are considered the most popular and influential amid a massive flood of good martial arts films, so if you are interested in them, you can get acquainted with more films in this genre and watch them.

The best Chinese and American martial arts films

Shaolin Football Movie Movie Cover

40- Shaolin Soccer movie

Shaolin football movie

Director: Steven Choo

Author: Steven Chow

Cast: Steven Cho, Zhao Wei, Danny Chan, Patrick Tse

Release Date: 2001

Shaolin Soccer Average on IMDB: 7.3 out of 10

We start the article on the best martial arts films with a film that is not only one of the best films of this genre but is also very popular in our country. Shaolin Soccer, directed by Yeong Kookfie, was produced by Universe Entertainment in 2001 with a budget of $ 10 million and grossed $ 43 million at the box office. As children, we all tried to play the characters of this football movie at least once in the streets while watching the Shaolin movie, but we always got stuck in this way.

As its name suggests, the story of this film is about football, but not the regular football that we all know. The story is about one of the old monks of the Shaolin Temple who, by uniting his brothers, intends to win football matches by taking advantage of their superhuman forces and, in this way, popularize Shaolin kung fu among the people.

Flash Point movie cover with Danny Yen

39- Flash Point movie

Flashpoint movie

Director: Wilson Yip

Author: Nicole Tang

Cast: Danny Yen, Louis Koo, Colin Cho, Shing Yoo

Release date: 2007

Average Flash Points on IMDB: 6.7 out of 10

With the presence of actors like Danny Yen and Colin Chow, Flash Point can be considered a fun and high-quality film in the martial arts genre. The film received a lot of controversy after its release in 2007, but most people who watched it were still satisfied. The film was made on a meager budget, equivalent to $ 10 million in Hong Kong or $ 1.5 million, produced by Danny Yen and quickly became very popular.

The film’s story is about a Carbald agent who infiltrates a small but, at the same time, the hazardous group in the role of an undercover agent. This criminal gang, formed by a combination of Chinese and Vietnamese people, commits many small and enormous crimes, so this secret agent intends to stand against them. However, he must not only prevent his identity from being revealed but also face the great dangers that threaten him and his family.

Cover of Undisputed 3: Redemption starring Boyka

38. Undisputed 3: Redemption

Invincible Movie 3: Salvation

Director: Isaac Florentine

Author: David New White

Cast: Scott Adkins, Michael Shannon Jenkins, Mark Evans, Robert Costanzo

Release date: 2010

Average Scores of Undisputed 3: Redemption on IMDB: 7.4 out of 10

After the immense popularity of Undisputed 2: Last Man Standing among the people of cinema and especially the fans of martial arts and action movies, the next part of this series, Undisputed 3: Redemption, was made. An adult film that, just like its predecessor, is filled with exciting battles and bloody skirmishes that can make the lovers of such films fulfill all their desires. Undisputed 3: Redemption was produced in 2010 by Israeli producer Nu Image Studio and released by Warner Home Video.

This film not only managed to satisfy the fans of its previous version but also made many people fall in love with martial arts films, especially this movie series. If we want to make a brief reference to the story of this film, no matter how small, no doubt essential parts of the previous movie of this series, Undisputed 2: Last Man Standing, will be spoiled for you, which is why we decided to refrain from mentioning the story of this film.

However, if you have not yet seen the movie of this popular series in the martial arts genre, prioritize watching them enjoy the moment of a martial arts film with the character of Yuri Boyka.

Come Drink with Me Movie

37- Drink with Me

Come and drink with me

Director: King Ho

Author: King Ho

Cast: Cheng PP, Jackie Chan, Elliott Ngook, Ko Feng, Ellen Choi Chung-san

Release date: 1966

Average scores of Come Drink with Me on IMDB: 6.9 out of 10

We came across one of the oldest films on the list of the best martial arts films in history. Drink with Me is considered one of those films that played an essential role in the flourishing of martial arts films and increased the popularity of Eastern cinema in the West and Europe. The film is also considered one of Jackie’s CChan’sfirst role-playing experiences in martial arts films. The film was produced in 1966 by Ron Ron Shaw and produced by Shaw Brothers Studio in Hong Kong.

The film’s story is about a group of great fighters with desires that they do everything to achieve. To achieve these demands, they decide to kidnap the son of that city’s commander so they can fulfill their needs through ransom. France sold more than 13,000 cinema tickets for the film, indicating the growing popularity of martial arts films in Europe.

Kickboxer movie cover starring Jean-Claude Van Damme

36- Kickboxer movie

Kickboxer movie

  • Director: Mark Disposal
  • Author: Glenn E. Brooke
  • Cast: Jean-Claude Van Damme, Dennis Alexio, Dennis Chan, Michelle Qaisi
  • Release date: 1989
  • Kickboxer Average IMDB Score: 6.4 out of 10

We do not think anyone is a fan of martial arts films and did not enjoy watching Jean-Claude Van Damme in martial arts films. After its release in 1989, Kickboxer quickly gained traction due to the fantastic acting of Jean-Claude Van Damme, its compelling story and crazy action scenes, its breathtaking battles, and its worldwide popularity skyrocketed. The film, the first installment in the Kickboxer series, was produced in 1989 by Mark Diesel of Kings Road Entertainment with a budget of $ 3 million and grossed $ 50 million.

Due to this film’s tremendous financial success and its fascinating story, it put the production of the following parts on the agenda of its producers very quickly. Despite the lack of factors in the first part, other parts of the series were able to bring good financial success to its creators. However, watching Jean-Claude Van Damme in martial arts films is not without merit, and if you are satisfied with watching the first part of this film, watch the other features as well.

Jet Li in the movie Tai Chi Master

35. Tai Chi Master movie

Master Tai Chi movie

  • Director: Yuen Woo-ping
  • Author: Yeb Kung Kim
  • Cast: Jet Li, Michelle Yeo, China Seo Ho
  • Release date: 1993
  • Average Tai Chi Master scores on IMDB: 7.1 out of 10

We came to the first Jet Li movie in this article. One of the most popular actors in martial arts films, whose presence in a movie undoubtedly doubles its charm, and the audience of that film also knows that with the company of this famous actor, he is going to watch a movie full of fascinating action and martial moments. Master Tai CChi’s1993 film, produced by Jet Li himself, was produced by Eastern Production Studios with a budget of almost two million dollars and was released by Gala Film Distribution.

The film’s story is about two characters, Tin Bao, played by China Seo Ho, and Joon Bao, played by Jet Li. The two characters who went to the Shaolin Temple as children grew up together in this temple and became close friends. In their youth, the two were exiled and entered the real world for disobeying the rules of the Shaolin Temple. From now on, they have to deal with real-world problems, which forms the film’s main storyline.

Kung Fu Panda Movie Cover

34- Kung Fu Panda movie

Kung Fu Panda movie

  • Director: John Stevenson, Mark Asbon
  • Author: Glenn Berger, Jonathan Ebel
  • Cast: Jack Black, Dustin Hoffman, Angelina Jolie, Jackie Chan
  • Release date: 2008
  • Average Kung Fu Panda scores on IMDB: 7.6 out of 10

Kung Fu Panda animation is the only animation on this list, and it is impossible not to have seen it if you are interested in martial arts movies. An animation that is very popular not only in the world but also in our own country, and its characters can be considered among the most unforgettable characters of history animations, From the funny panda of this collection to Master Shifu. The animation, the first installment in the Kung Fu Panda movie series, was produced by Melissa Cobb and DreamWorks Animation Studios in 2008 with a budget of $ 130 million and grossed $ 631 million.

The film tells the story of a panda named Poe who learns kung fu from Master Shifu so that he can stand up to one of the students who has been attacked. The character of Tailang, a mighty tiger, intends to eliminate Po and Master Shifu. Also, the presence of famous actors such as Jack Black, Dustin Hoffman, Angelina Jolie, and Jackie Chan has doubled its appeal. The excellent sales of this animation caused the next episodes to be made very quickly, and even a few TV series about it went on air. Still, many cinemagoers believe that none of them could repeat the quality of their first episode.

Bloodsport movie cover

33- Bloodsport movie

Bloody Ring movie

  • Director: Newt Arnold
  • Author: Sheldon Leticz
  • Cast: Jean-Claude Windham, Donald Gabe, Leah Ears, Blue Young
  • Release date: 1988
  • Average Bloodsport scores on IMDB: 6.8 out of 10

Do not find combat. Bloodsport is not only one of the best martial arts films in the history of cinema but also one of the best roles of Jean-Claude Windham, better known as Frankie, who at that time became very popular among action movies enthusiasts due to his extraordinary role in this film. The film was produced in 1988 by Mark Dell and delivered by Cannon Films with a budget of $ 2 million and grossed $ 50 million at the box office.

The film’s story is about the character of Frank Dox, who, after the death of his best friend, his friend’s father, who is a martial arts master, teaches Frank all his skills so that Frank can participate in ninjutsu competitions instead of his lost son. Due to the excellent sales and popularity of this film, its producers decided to produce the following parts of it as well, the other three details of which were released in 1996, 1997, and 1999, but they could not repeat the quality of the first part at all. Probably the most critical factor in this is the absence of Jean-Claude Vandam in these films.

Fearless movie cover

32- Fearless movie

Fearless movie

  • Director: Rani Yu
  • Author: Chris Chao, Li Feng
  • Cast: Jet Li, Nakamura Shido, Sun Lee, Dong Yang
  • Release date: 2006
  • Average Fearless Scores on IMDB: 7.6 out of 10

We came across another popular and well-known martial arts actor, Jet Lee. Fearless is based on a true story that adds to the thrill. Unlike other action movies with unrealistic levels, this movie’s real story can make the audience better connect with the storyline. The film was produced in 2006 by Rani Yu and Jet Lee and by Edko Films Studios with a budget of $ 18 million, and after its release, it was able to experience good sales of $ 70 million.

The story of this film is about a fearless fighter named Howe, played by Jet Lee, who manages to defeat the leader of a large group in a very close battle. One of HHowe’sfriends gives him false news about the group, and Howe kills the group leader. This dangerous group kills only their daughter and her husband to take revenge, and when Hao realizes that all these tragedies have been formed due to a lie, he goes to the brink of taking his own life but finally decides to start a new life.

Kung Fu Hustle comedy movie cover

31- Kung Fu Hustle movie

Kung Fu Live Movie

  • Director: Steven Choo
  • Author: Steven Chow
  • Cast: Steven Cho, Danny Chan, Lam Suite, Shing Yu
  • Release date: 2004
  • Average Kung Fu Hustle scores on IMDB: 7.7 out of 10

Kung Fu Hustle is a martial arts action movie that many people love as to tribute to Bruce Lee. The characters of this film perform Bruce LLee’sunique moves in a few scenes, so this film has become very popular among Bruce Lee fans. Kung Fu Hustle, directed by Steven Choo and produced by Columbia Pictures Film Studios in 2004, grossed $ 105 million and $ 105 million.

It’s A film that shows the stories and problems of people who want to join illegal gangs and gives this subject to its audience in an attractive frame. The film’s story is set in the 1940s and tells the story of a team in Shanghai. This movie can be a great and entertaining option filled with exciting action scenes and incredibly engaging battles for fans of action and martial arts movies to watch.

Danny Yen in the movie Kill Zone

30- Kill Zone movie

Slaughter area film

  • Director: Wilson Yip
  • Author: Wilson Yip
  • Cast: Danny Yen, Samo Hong, Simon Yum, Wu Jing
  • Release date: 2005
  • Average Kill Zone Scores on IMDB: 6.9 out of 10

Detective Kill Zone tells the story of Chen, an old police detective. He is late in his career and must care for a girl who witnessed a murder. A very dangerous criminal gang committed the murder, so this girl’s life is in great danger. On the other hand, our character, the master of martial arts in this city, decides to deal with the perpetrators of this murder personally, and in this way, he must face great dangers.

Kill Zone, known in Eastern countries as SPL: Sha Po Lang, directed by Wilson Yip, was released in Hong Kong and became very popular due to its compelling action story. After the success and popularity of this film among the people of cinema, its producers decided to produce the next episodes of it. This series’s second and third episodes went to cinemas in 2015 and 2017. However, like many action movie series, the subsequent episodes of this series, after the popularity of the first episode, did not meet the expectations of its fans.

The Forbidden Kingdom movie cover

29- The Forbidden Kingdom movie

Forbidden Kingdom movie

  • Director: Rob Minkoff
  • Author: John Fasco
  • Cast: Jackie Chan, Jet Lee, ‌ Lee Bing‌bing, Colin Cho
  • Release date: 2008
  • The Forbidden KKingdom’saverage rating on IMDB: is 6.5 out of 10

If we see Jet Li or Jackie Chan in a martial arts film, we will face an attractive movie. If these two famous martial arts actors act in a film, that film will undoubtedly become one of the most anticipated films for action and martial arts fans. It becomes. The Forbidden Kingdom with Jackie Chan and Jet Lee has such a story, and it is a very entertaining movie. The film was produced by Casey Silver Productions in 2008 with Casey Silver Productions with a budget of $ 55 million and grossed $ 130 million.

The film tells the story of an American teenager who is very interested in martial arts films and was sent from ancient Boston to ancient China after receiving a magic wand from a Chinatown. He soon realizes that the legendary great Chinese warrior, nicknamed the Monkey King, has been turned to stone by magic. He can bring this great warrior back to life by delivering that magic wand, which, of course, has to deal with small and large dangers along the way. If you like watching Jet Li and Jackie Chan in a movie, don’t miss the Forbidden Kingdom movie.

Ninja Assassin movie poster

28- Ninja Assassin movie

Killer Ninja Movie

  • Director: James McTigue
  • Author: Matthew Sand
  • Cast: Rain, Naomi Harris, Ben Miles, Lee Joon
  • Release date: 2009
  • Ninja Assassin Average IMDB Score: 6.3 out of 10

The director of V For Vendetta, Mr. James McTigo, became very famous after making this film and decided to enter the field of martial arts films; by making Ninja Assassin, he showed that he has a remarkable ability in making action and martial arts films. Ryan, who starred in the movie at the MTV Awards, won the festival award for his role. The film was produced in 2009 by Joel Silver & Wachowski and produced by Silver Pictures Studios for $ 45 million and released by Warner Bros. Pictures.

The film’s story is about a group of murderous ninjas who, for unknown reasons, kill many people in horrible ways. On the other hand, they are looking for one of their former members who has turned against them to avenge his betrayal of the group. Although the film did not sell for more than $ 62 million, it is still a beautiful and entertaining movie for killer ninjas.

The main character of The Prodigal Son

27- The Prodigal Son movie

The son of a prodigal son

  • Director: Samo Hung
  • Author: Samo Hong
  • Cast: Samo Hong, Yuen Bio, Frankie Chan
  • Release date: 1981
  • Average rating of The Prodigal Son on IMDB: 7.3 out of 10

The Prodigal Son is one of those martial arts comedies that can undoubtedly have a lot to say among martial arts comedies. The story of this film is based on the life of a natural person, but due to the increasing appeal of the film, its comedy and action battles have become more than the real story. The film was produced and released in 1981 by Raymond Chaw and Golden Harvest Studios.

The film’s story is about a character named Lang Chang, A person known and feared by everyone as a fearless fighter. However, one day Chang realizes that his wealthy father made his reputation, and because of their family’s financial situation, everyone knows him as a good fighter. To prove himself, he decides to go to a kung fu instructor, and with a great deal of commitment to doing so, he regains his former reputation without the help of his family’s money.

Jet Lee in the movie Fist of Legend

26- Fist of Legend movie

Legendary Fist Movie

  • Director: Gordon Chan
  • Author: Gordon Chan
  • Cast: Jet Li, China Seo Ho, Shinobu Nakayama, Billy Cho
  • Release date: 1994
  • Average Fist of Legend scores on IMDB: 7.5 out of 10

Undoubtedly, Fist of Legend is not only one of the best martial arts films in the cinema, but also one of the best films and role-playing by the famous actor of this genre, Jet Lee. One of the reasons for the film’s tremendous popularity is the character of Chen Zen, who has played many roles in the history of martial arts films, the most important of which was Bruce Lee. And once again, it was welcomed by fans of martial arts movies.

In this film, the role of Jet Li in the part of Chen Zan will make the fans of martial arts movies enjoy it to the fullest. The story of this film has precisely the same process as the story of Dragon Rage, starring Bruce Lee, but with the difference that the ending of this film is different from the ending of Dragon Rage so that the viewers do not see an utterly repetitive film with other actors. So if you like the movie Dragon, do not miss watching the film of the legendary fist in any way.

The Blade movie cover

25. The Blade movie

Blade film

  • Director: Tsui Hark
  • Author: Kwan Hui
  • Cast: Vincent Zhao, Moses Chan, Hong Yan Yan, Sang Li
  • Release date: 1995
  • Average rating of The Blade on IMDB: 7 out of 10

The Blade is one of the unique martial arts movies in the world. It’s A film that captured the story of a martial arts and action film with an exciting and, at the same time, new approach. It’s An approach that incorporates new genres of filming in this genre, breathtaking battles, and more dramatic scenes than other martial arts films. The film was produced by Tsui Hark in 1995 by Film Workshop and released in cinemas.

Hollywood director Quentin Tarantino said in an interview that The Blade is one of his favorite action movies. The film’s story is about a blade maker who, after his father’s death by a kung fu master, decides to take revenge on this veteran fighter, and in this way, many dangers await him. The film is also among the top 50 action films and one of the best martial arts films in history in terms of Time Out media.

Gordon Liu in The Eight Diagram Pole Fighter

24- The Eight Diagram Pole Fighter

The movie Eight Poles Fighting Poles

Made by the Shaw Brothers, it is another famous and viral Hong Kong film that has significantly impacted the martial arts genre of cinema. The film was released in 1984 by Mena Fang by Shaw Brothers Studio. The film is based on one of the most popular old stories, Generals of the Yang Family. Alexander Fu, one of the actors in the film, lost his life in an accident during the filming process and removed his character from the story after a change.

The story is about General YYang’sfamily who were killed or imprisoned on the beach with their seven sons. Of course, in the meantime, his fifth and sixth sons were able to escape and save their lives. His sixth son suffered many mental and psychological problems after this tragedy, and the fifth son was able to move on with his life, but as new problems arose, he was forced to deal with them. One of these problems was the arrest of his little sister, who now has to do his best to save her.

Samo Hong in The Magnificent Butcher

23. The Magnificent Butcher

Amazing Butcher Movie

  • Director: Yeon Woo Ping
  • Author: Edward Tang
  • Cast: Samo Hong, Quan Tak Hing, Yuan Biao
  • Release date: 1979
  • Average rating of The Magnificent Butcher on IMDB: 7.3 out of 10

The Magnificent Butcher is one of several films based on one of the CChina’slegendary characters, Wang Fei, and tells the story of Bal Lam Sai, one of the legendary character students. The film’s story concerns this character and people close to him, who are threatened by great dangers, so they must face them. In this film, Jackie Chan plays the role of Wang Fei, and the creators of The Magnificent Butcher, inspired by that film, released their films in cinemas. The Magnificent Butcher, considered a martial comedy, was intended to replicate the success and popularity of one of Jackie CChan’sfilms, Drunken Master, and was somewhat successful. The film was released in 1979, a year after Raymond Chow, directed by Raymond Chao and produced by Golden Harvest Productions. It grossed less than $ 1 million, A sale that was probably considered less than the manufacturers expected.

Jackie Chan in Snake in the Eagle's Shadow

22- Snake in the EEagle’sShadow

Snake movie in the shadow of an eagle

As we get closer to the end of the article, we will see more memorable films by Jackie Chan and Bruce Lee, and Snake in the EEagle’sShadow is precisely one of those films. A film that many fans of martial arts movies in Iran known as the Shadow of the Eagles, and certainly has a lot of fans not only in the world but also in our country. The film, produced by Chen Chuan, was produced and released by Seasonal Film Corporation. After its release, it managed to record relatively good sales of $ 4 million at the box office under its name.

The film’s story narrates two basic styles of kung fu and the contrast between these two styles. Kinds, each of which has many masters and students, is one of the most basic kung fu styles. Meanwhile, Shen GGuang’scharacter, the creator of the eagle fist style, hates the snake fist style very much, and for this reason, he decides to destroy this style. If you like Jackie CChan’smovies, do not miss watching Snake in the EEagle’sShadow.

Dragon Inn movie

21. Dragon Inn movie

Dragon Hotel Movie

  • Director: King Ho
  • Author: King Ho
  • Actors: Lingfeng Shanguan, Chan Shi, Ying Bei
  • Release date: 1967
  • Average Dragon Inn scores on IMDB: 7.4 out of 10

The Dragon Inn has an awe-inspiring record. About half of the main cast had their first cinematic experience in the film, which makes Dragon Inn one of the best martial arts films in history. Chinese director King Hu significantly impacted Taiwanese and Hong Kong cinemas by making martial arts films in the 1970s, and Dragon Inn is arguably one of his most important films.

The film’s story is about an army commander sentenced to death whose children need help. For this reason, the skilled sworders who accepted him decide to take care of this army commander’s son and daughter together and face possible dangerous problems. This movie is in the wuxia subgenre, A subgenre that tells legends and old stories in the form of martial arts movies and is considered one of the most popular subgenres of the action and martial arts genres. The Dragon Hotel movie will be an excellent choice if you like old stories.

The main character of the movie A Touch of Zen starring Su Feng

20- A Touch of Zen movie

The film does not show Zen

  • Director: King Ho
  • Author: King Ho
  • Cast: Su Feng, Roy Chiao, ‌ Jackie Chan, Samo Hung
  • Release date: 1971
  • Average A Touch of Zen scores on IMDB: 7.5 out of 10

A Touch of Zen is another film by King Ho and another wuxia subgenre. As we have said, this director is considered one of the most influential directors in the martial arts genre, and many of his works are included in this list. This movie, with the presence of simple characters and dealing with them very well, can be a very entertaining movie for lovers of martial arts movies. The film was made in 1971 by Hisa Woo Ling and lasted about 180 minutes.

The film’s story takes place in China in the 14th century during the reign of the Ming Dynasty. The main character of this story is a young woman named Feng, who is the only survivor of the families killed by their rule. Feng, who is hiding with his mother in an abandoned building after meeting a man named Shi, decides with his help to confront the ruling class and take many risks along the way.

Ip Man movie cover

19- Ip Man movie

My IP movie

  • Director: Wilson Yip
  • Author: Edmund Wang
  • Cast: Danny Yen, Simon Yum, Samo Hong, Lin Hong
  • Release date: 2008
  • Average Ip Man scores on IMDB: 8 out of 10

Ip Man is one of the most popular martial arts movie series in the world and our country. The first part of this series was released in 2008, and after its great popularity, made the following features, the last part of which was shown in 2019. A series in which five prominent films and a few films focusing on the story of this series has been released in cinemas today. The first installment of the $ 11 million series was released by Mandarin Films Studios and grossed $ 23 million.

The story of the films in this series is about the great master of martial arts and kung fu, Yip Man. A person who was the first martial arts teacher in Hong Kong and taught kung fu in general in this country. The most important student of this master’s is Bruce Lee, whom you undoubtedly know even if you are not a martial arts fan. This series tries to depict the important events of the life of this great master in an attractive format and has a successful performance in this direction, which is well shown by the popularity of Ip Man films.

Jackie Chan in the movie Supercop

18. Supercop movie

Super Police movie

  • Director: Stanley Tong
  • Author: Edward Tong
  • Cast: Jackie Chan, Michelle Yeo, Maggie Chong, Yuen Wa
  • Release date: 1992
  • IMDB Average Supercop Score: 6.9 out of 10

Again Jackie Chan, and again, one of the best martial arts movies in cinema history. Supercop is about a Hong Kong detective sent to China for his extraordinary skills, and the Chinese police inform him about a large group of narcotics. Our story detective, played by Jackie Chan, and Inspector Jessica Young, played by Michelle Yeo, take on the critical task of confronting this dangerous group of narcotics. As you can guess, they do not have an easy task in this direction and have to deal with many dangers and problems.

Super Police is one of the comedy and action movies that can undoubtedly entertain you for an hour and a half with Jackie Chan, and if you are a fan of such movies, you will not regret watching it. The film was produced in 1992 by Willy Chan and Jackie Chan by Media Asia Studios with a budget of one million dollars and was released worldwide. The film grossed a whopping $ 35 million at the box office.

Bruce Lee in The Big Boss

17- The Big Boss movie

Great Boss movie

  • Director: Lou Wei
  • Author: Bruce Lee
  • Actors: Bruce Lee, Maria Yai, James Teen, Nora Miao
  • Release date: 1971
  • The Big Boss Average IMDB Score: 6.9 out of 10

As we could have guessed, Bruce LLee’sfilms would be at the top of the list, and we finally got to one of them. The film the great boss, which is also very popular in our country, with the presence of Bruce Lee and his writing, is considered one of the best martial arts films and one of the top roles of this great martial arts actor. The 1971 film, directed by Raymond Chow and produced by Golden Harvest Studios, grossed a whopping $ 100,000 and $ 50 million worldwide.

The film’s story is about the character of Cheng, played by Bruce Lee, who promises his mother to avoid fights and conflicts. He goes to an island with his uncle and works in an ice cream factory. Due to the problems that arise in this factory, the workers complain to the head of the factory one after the other, and the head kills them one after the other, and this causes the grip of these problems to be opened, despite the promise. Which he gave to his mother, and he is forced to confront this angry director.

Drunken Master movie cover with Jackie Chan

16- Drunken Master movie

Drunk Master movie

  • Director: Yuen Wu Ping
  • Author: Yuen Wu Ping
  • Cast: Jackie Chan, Yuan Xiu Tien, Huang Jang Li, Casanova Wang
  • Release date: 1978
  • Average Drunken Master scores on IMDB: 7.4 out of 10

Drunken master is one of the most influential films in the martial arts genre, and due to its great popularity, it made the following episodes. Still, the quality and impact of the first episode are higher than the second and third episodes. The film, starring Jackie Chan, will not be erased from the minds of martial arts fans. The 1987 film, produced by NegCiun by Seasonal Film Corporation with a budget of less than $ 1 million, grossed $ 17 million.

The excellent sales of this film and its deconstruction of action and martial arts genres are the most important reasons why its subsequent episodes went to the cinemas. The film’s story is about the life of Fang Wang, played by Jackie Chan, the son of Kung Fu master Robert Wang. His father blames Freddie Wang for his playfulness and harassment of family members and strangers. His father decides to take him to SSuhai’steacher to punish him so that his son can be educated under him. A master who is known for being strict, and this is the central theme of the story of the film.

Fist of Fury movie poster with Bruce Lee

15. Fist of Fury movie

Dragon Wrath movie (Fist of Wrath)

  • Director: Lou Wei
  • Author: Ni Quang
  • Cast: Bruce Lee, Nora Miao, Ricky Hashimoto
  • Release date: 1972
  • Average Fist of Fury scores on IMDB: 7.2 out of 10

Almost no one in Iran knows Fist of Fury as the Fist of Fury, and all fans of action movies have this movie in mind as the Dragon Fury. Many Bruce Lee fans consider the film to be the best film and the best acting role among his movies, although there is a lot of discussion about this issue. The hugely popular 1972 film, directed by Raymond Chaw and produced by Golden Harvest Studios with a budget of $ 100,000, grossed an unprecedented $ 100 million. Sales are constantly increasing due to the frequent release of the film in different decades.

The film tells the story of Chen Zen, played by Bruce Lee. He thinks his master’s death was not accidental and killed him, so he decides to take revenge on the perpetrators. He initially faces opposition from his new master but does not listen to him and intends to take personal revenge on his master Suzuki. Dragon Wrath is so popular among action movie lovers that you may not be interested in it or watch it.

Hero movie cover with Jet Lee

14- Hero

Movie Hero

  • Director: Zhang You
  • Author: Zhang You, Feng Li
  • Cast: Jet Li, Tony Liang Chao Wei, Maggie Zhang, Zhang Xiei
  • Release date: 2002
  • Average Hero scores on IMDB: 7.9 out of 10

The story of the hero film is about an anonymous warrior played by Jet Lee. A warrior who claims to have killed all of King KKane’senemies and therefore approaches him with the king’s permission. King Kane had so many dangerous enemies that they went to the brink of killing him many times, but they did not reach the king, and on the other hand, King Kane could not destroy them. For this reason, the anonymous warrior of our story has done an essential job for the king. The report does not go well, and there are some exciting twists in this warrior’s story.

Zhang YYimu’sfilm became one of the most expensive martial arts films in China after his low-budget films, and of course, it was a tremendous financial success. A movie in which we can witness exciting and entertaining battles and enjoy them to the fullest. The 2002 film Hero, directed by Zhang Yimou and produced by Sil-Metropole Organization with a budget of $ 31 million, grossed $ 180 million. A show that shows well that the Chinesedirector’ss very popular among fans of martial arts movies.

Cover of Once Upon a Time in China with Jet Lee

13- Once Upon a Time in China

The movie Once Upon a Time in China

  • Director: Tsui Hark
  • Author: Tsui Hark
  • Cast: Jet Li, Yuen Biao, Jackie Chiang, Rosamond Kuan
  • Release date: 1991
  • Average Scores Once Upon a Time in China on IMDB: 7.2 out of 10

We arrived at the first episode of the movie series Once Upon a Time in China. A string with six movies, but according to many cinemagoers and fans of Chinese martial arts movies, the first part of this series has a much higher quality than the other parts. The first film in the series, starring Jet Lee and produced by Tsui Hark in 1992, was produced and released by Golden Harvest Studios and grossed nearly $ 10 million at the box office under its name.

If you like martial arts movies about historical events, do not miss the movie Once Upon a Time in China. The film’s story takes place in the Foshan region of China in the 19th century and narrates the life of one of the great masters of martial arts, Wang Fei Hong. This great master of martial arts is taking on a critical task and intends to face foreign forces and defend his country against them. A decision that brings many dangers and problems not only for him but also for many people, but he still does not give in to these problems and continues to stand.

Movie The New One-Armed Swordsman

12. The New One-Armed Swordsman

Uniform Swordsman Revenge Movie

  • Director: Chang Che
  • Author: Ni Quang
  • Cast: David Chiang, T. Long, Lee Ching
  • Release date: 1971
  • The New One-Armed SSwordsman’saverage rating on IMDB: is 7.2 out of 10

The movie One Hand Swordsman Revenge, which many people know as the New Uniform Swordsman, is made in the form of the Uniform Swordsman movie series, which is one of the best martial arts movies in the history of cinema. Not only is it one of the most popular martial arts series, but it is also the best-selling Asian film series. The New One-Armed Swordsman, produced in 1971 by Ron Ron Shaw and Shaw Brothers Studio, sold well in Asia, Europe, and North America. Of course, this film’s exact sales amount is not available worldwide.

The film’s story is about the character Lai, A carbald struggle that no one can stand against him. He decides to fight a corrupt martial arts master, and because of this immoral master’s deadly weapon, he is defeated and forced to cut off his right hand with his sword because of a promise he made before the competition. After living a quiet life, he takes refuge in a village, meets a young and just fighter, and decides to show everyone that he is still a solid and competent fighter.

The 36th Chamber of Shaolin

11- The 36th Chamber of Shaolin movie

Thirty-sixth Shaolin Hall movie

  • Director: Lao Kar Leung
  • Author: E. Kang
  • Cast: Gordon Liu Chia Hui, Lu Li, Wang Yu
  • Release date: 1978
  • The average score of The 36th Chamber of Shaolin on IMDB: is 7.7 out of 10

Achieve among fans of martial arts movies. Undoubtedly, the 70s can be considered the golden age of martial arts films. The 36th Chamber of Shaolin is another high-quality film made in this period, which after its release, due to its fascinating story and fascinating characters, became very popular. The film was produced and released in 1978 by Mona Fang by the Shaw Brothers Studios.

The story of the film is about SSun’scharacter. A character who experiences a difficult life in the Canton area. This area is under the control of General Teen, and he oppresses the people a lot and tries to destroy the freedom fighters. San, considered one of the libertarians, fled the area after being identified but killed his family. San, who has heard of the Shaolin Temple, decides to go to this temple and learn martial arts under the supervision of its masters, and this is the beginning of the remarkable story of this movie.

Ong-Bak: The Thai Warrior movie poster with Tony Ja

10- Ong-Bak: The Thai Warrior

Ong Beck: Thai Fighter

  • Director: Prakia Pincao
  • Author: Pana Ritikray
  • Cast: Tony Jae, Mam Jokumuk
  • Release date: 2003
  • Ong-Bak: The Thai Warrior Average Rating on IMDB : 7.1 out of 10

Before the release of Ong-Bak: The Thai Warrior, many people did not know Tony Jae, but after the release of this movie, many believed that a viral star was born in martial arts. With his extraordinary acting in this film, the actor was able to gain the admiration of many critics and cinema people, who have named him as one of the best actors of the new era of cinema in the martial genre. Produced in 2003 by EuropaCorp Studios with a budget of $ 1 million, the film was produced by Prachia Pincao and grossed a whopping $ 21 million.

The film’s story is about the narrator of a young fighter named Behnam Ting, who lives in a small and quiet village. A Buddha statue in this village is considered very sacred by the villagers. One day, the head of the figure is stolen by several thieves, so Ting decides to pursue the thieves to get the statue back. After reaching a big city, he finds himself in front of a dangerous group that he must confront to reach his goal. Ong Beck: The Thai Fighter will be a fun option for martial arts lovers.

House of Flying Daggers movie cover

9- House of Flying Daggers

House of flying daggers movie

House of Flying Daggers could easily be one of the cinemas’ iconic action movies. With its fascinating and entertaining story, a film has everything that fans of action and martial arts films want, but it has not been considered as it should be and perhaps by the cinema people. The attention to detail in this film is truly extraordinary; Eye-catching costumes and highly paid personalities. The film was produced by William Kang and produced by Edko Films Studios in 2004 with a budget of $ 12 million and grossed $ 93 million at the box office.

The film’s story takes place in the ninth century AD when the Tang Dynasty finds its glory in great danger due to various riots, and this becomes the film’s main story. From the stunning opening shots of the movie to the captivating atmosphere, all the elements are perfectly captured in the film to make it one of the best viewing options for martial arts lovers.

Jackie Chan in Police Story

8- Police Story movie

Police story film

  • Director: Jackie Chan
  • Author: Jackie Chan
  • Cast: Jackie Chan, Bill Tung, Charlie Chow
  • Release date: 1985
  • Average Police Story scores on IMDB: 7.5 out of 10

We came to the top-rated Police Story movie series. A series that, if you are a fan of old war movies, you have watched it. The first part of this series, directed and written by the famous martial arts actor Jackie Chan, went to the cinemas in 1985, and it quickly became prevalent, and this popularity reached our country as well. The first installment of the series was produced in 1985 by Raymond CChow’sGolden Way Films Ltd with a budget of $ 2 million and managed to sell well for $ 19 million.

The film’s story is about the character of Chan Ka Kui, played by Jackie Chan, who is known by many in the story of the film as Quinn. Quinn is one of the most skilled police officers in Hong Kong and faces a significant challenge. The leader of a large drug trafficking gang makes shoes for him and blames him for killing a corrupt policeman. Kevin, who is a good cop, has to defend his lost reputation, and for this reason, he faces many problems to remove this stigma from his name and regain his lost credibility.

The main characters of Five Deadly Venoms

7- Five Deadly Venoms movie

Movie Five Deadly Poisons

  • Director: Chang Che
  • Author: Chang Che
  • Cast: Chiang Sheng, Sun China, پ Philip Wook
  • Release date: 1978
  • Average Five Deadly Venoms on IMDB: 7 out of 10

Five Deadly Venoms tells a newer story among the films on this list. A story about a great kung fu master who sees his death approaching: for this reason, he gives his last disciple a critical mission to ensure that his teachings to his old disciples are not used in the path of evil. For this reason, he sends his disciple to his five former disciples so that if any of them goes to be evil, he will destroy them.

Five Deadly Venoms is one of the most popular martial arts films in which there is no mention of the great and prominent actors of the military genre, namely Jet Lee, Jackie Chan, and Bruce Lee. The film was produced in 1978 by the Shaw Brothers on a meager budget and did not sell very well. However, rest assured that if you are interested in martial arts movies, you will not regret watching this movie.

The Raid: Redemption movie cover

6- The Raid: Redemption movie

Assault Movie: Salvation

  • Director: Garth Hugh Evans
  • Author: Garth Hugh Evans
  • Cast: Echo Oveys, Joe Taslim, Doni Alamshiah, Yayan Rohan
  • Release date: 2011
  • Average rating of The Raid: Redemption on IMDB: 7.6 out of 10

After its release in Indus and later in the United States, the raid series quickly gained popularity and met with positive reviews from film critics. The success of this film, considered one of the best martial arts series in cinema history, led to the production and release of the second part in 2014. The Raid: Redemption, produced in 2011 by PT Merantau Films and directed by Ario Saganatoro, grossed $ 1 million and $ 10 million at the box office.

The story of both films in this series is about the country’s special forces. In the first film, a team of 20 special police forces is trapped on a dangerous and vital mission in a 30-story building. This vast building is run by one of the country’s most significant criminal gangs, so this team of police forces is facing a challenging task to get out of it alive. If you like martial arts movies, The Raid movies will be a fascinating and entertaining work for you.

Kill Bill: Volume 1 Poster with Uma Thurman

5- Kill Bill: Volume 1

Kill Bill: Part One

  • Director: Quentin Tarantino
  • Author: Quentin Tarantino
  • Cast: Uma Thurman, David Carradine, Vivica E. Fox, Michael Madsen
  • Release date: 2003
  • Average Kill Bill: Volume 1 on IMDB: 8.2 out of 10

Quentin Tarantino is not only one of the best martial arts movies but also one of the best action movies in the industry’s history. An unforgettable film that, with pure madness, does not allow the viewer’s excitement to diminish for a moment. Kill Bill was originally a four-hour film split into two separate films due to its long time and was released in the first and second parts. The first installment of the series, produced in 2003 by Lawrence Bander and produced by A Band Apart Studios with a budget of $ 30 million, grossed a whopping $ 181 million at the box office.

The story film tells the story of Beatrice Kido, The character we know in the story as the bride. She left behind a very bitter tragedy and witnessed the death of her husband and child at her wedding. He came out of a coma after four years and decided to avenge the murder of his family with the help of his martial arts skills. Kill Bill is one of the few American-made martial arts films to follow in the footsteps of the best martial arts films. The second part of the film was released in 2004. If you are interested in absolute madness, we recommend that you do not miss watching this movie.

The main characters of the movie Crouching Tiger, Hidden Dragon

4- Crouching Tiger, Hidden Dragon

The movie The Rising Tiger, The Hidden Dragon

We came across one of the few Oriental martial arts films with one of the best chances of winning an Academy Award for Best Picture of the Year. Crouching Tiger, Hidden Dragon In 2000, after the memorable film Gladiator, he failed to win this award but won the best foreign language film. The film was also nominated for an Academy Award in 10 different categories, making it one of the most successful martial arts films. The 2000 film, produced by William Kang and based on the $ 17 million novel of the same name, grossed a whopping $ 215 million.

The Rising Tiger, The Hidden Dragon, is undoubtedly one of the best Oriental films to watch for martial arts enthusiasts. The story film takes place in China during the Qing Dynasty in the 19th century and tells the story of two very skilled warriors who try to get back a stolen sword. In this way, they face many problems, and their personal lives also undergo significant changes.

The Legend of Drunken Master starring Jackie Chan

3- The Legend of Drunken Master

The movie Legend of the Drunk Master

  • Director: Lao Kar Liang
  • Author: Edward Tong
  • Cast: Jackie Chan, T. Long, Anita Mui, Ken Lu
  • Release date: 1994
  • Average rating of The Legend of Drunken Master on IMDB: 7.5 out of 10

We have reached the top three martial arts films in cinema history. The Legend of Drunken Master is a spiritual sequel to the movie Drunken Master, and many refer to it as Drunk Master 2. Jackie Chan did not appear in any traditional martial arts film after appearing in The Dragon Lord in 1982 until he starred in The Legend of the Drunk Master. The film was produced in 1994 by Golden Harvest Studios and by Eric Tsang with a budget of $ 2 million and managed to sell well at the box office for $ 34 million.

Comedy and martial arts films can be considered very entertaining works for fans of martial arts films. The story of this movie has a lot to do with the level of Drunken Master, and for this reason, if we tell a part of it, essential elements of the story of the previous movie may spoil for you. For this reason, we only recommend that you watch the film the drunken master with the extraordinary Jackie CChan’srole-playing.

Playing the role of Keanu Reeves in the movie The Matrix

2- The Matrix movie

Matrix movie

  • Director: Wachowski sisters
  • Author: Wachowski sisters
  • Cast: Keanu Reeves, Lawrence Fishburne, Hugo Weaving, Joe Pantoliano
  • Release date: 1999
  • The average score of The Matrix on the IMDB site: is 8.7 out of 10

The “Atrix” movie series can easily be called one of the most iconic series in the history of the action genre, and its first part is one of the best action movies in history. The story of technological progress and the problems it can cause for human beings has always been. It will always be one of the most exciting and popular subjects in cinema and television, and the Matrix film shows the same subject with an excellent and fascinating storyline.

The film’s story is about the design and construction of artificial intelligence by human hands, which imprisons different people in a virtual reality called “Atrix” by building conscious and intelligent machines.

If you are a fan of action movies, do not doubt that you will enjoy this movie to the fullest. The $ 60 million film was produced and released in 1999 by Village Roadshow Pictures Studios and produced by Joel Silver and Erwin Staff. The special effects used in this film were unique at that time, and this issue made many people around the world interested in this film. The film’s countless successes, including four Academy Awards and a whopping $ 470 million in sales, made the filmmakers think about making the next episodes.

Enter the Dragon movie poster with Bruce Lee

1- The dragon movie enters

  • Director: Robert Close
  • Author: Michael Allen, Bruce Lee
  • Cast: Bruce Lee, John Saxon, Robert Wall, Jim Kelly
  • Release date: 1973
  • Average Enter the Dragon scores on IMDB: 7.6 out of 10

The Dragon enters; This straightforward sentence will remind you of Bruce Lee and will most likely bring to your attention his fantastic acting in this professional martial film. As you might have guessed before it reached number one, Dragon comes in at number one of the best martial arts films in history to show that no better film has hit theaters in nearly half a century. The 1973 film, directed by Raymond Chow and produced by Concord Production Inc. with a budget of $ 900,000, grossed a whopping $ 400 million at the box office.

The story of the film is about LLee’scharacter played by Bruce Lee. A character tasked with carrying out a critical mission, in which he must fight a large gang of narcotics. During this mission, he accidentally encounters the murderer of his sister, and this is the primary process of the film story. The water is in your hand if you have not yet watched the movie Dragon Arrive. Lay down on the ground and watch it—a film in which you will find everything you want from a martial arts movie.

What is your opinion, dear friends of the site, about the list of the best martial arts movies in history? Which movies do you think are empty on this list? Share your opinion with us and other audiences of the site.

Common Questions

1- What are the best attractive martial arts movies?

Among the best martial arts films are Dragon, Ip Man, and The Legend of the Drunk Master. You can read the complete list of 40 exciting martial arts movies.

2. What are the best old American martial arts movies?

Bloody Ring, starring Jean-Claude Van Damme, the killer ninja, is one of two fascinating old martial arts films. You can read the complete list of 40 martial arts films.