50 Best Martial Arts Movies featuring the timeless Spirit and Heritage of Martial Arts

Martial arts movies have been an essential part of global cinema, showcasing the timeless spirit and heritage of martial arts. These films display the beauty, elegance, and power of martial arts, while also incorporating themes of honor, discipline, and personal growth.

Here are 50 of the best martial arts movies that have left an indelible mark on the genre:

1. Enter the Dragon (1973): Bruce Lee’s classic film about a martial artist who infiltrates a tournament to spy on a crime lord.
2. Fist of Fury (1972): Bruce Lee’s powerful portrayal of a martial artist seeking revenge for his master’s death.
3. Ip Man (2008): The story of the legendary martial artist who trained Bruce Lee, featuring Donnie Yen.
4. The 36th Chamber of Shaolin (1978): A young man seeks revenge and learns martial arts at the Shaolin Temple.
5. Drunken Master (1978): Jackie Chan’s iconic role as a mischievous martial artist who learns from a drunken master.
6. Crouching Tiger, Hidden Dragon (2000): A visually stunning wuxia film directed by Ang Lee, featuring Michelle Yeoh and Zhang Ziyi.
7. House of Flying Daggers (2004): A captivating wuxia film with intricate martial arts choreography and a romantic storyline.
8. Kung Fu Hustle (2004): A comedic martial arts film directed by Stephen Chow, featuring a unique blend of action and humor.
9. The Matrix (1999): A groundbreaking sci-fi film that brought martial arts into the digital age, with innovative fight choreography.
10. Legendary Weapons of China (1982): A martial arts film featuring an array of traditional Chinese weaponry and a complex plot.
11. Dragon Gate Inn (1967): An influential wuxia film that set the stage for the modern wuxia epic.
12. Wing Chun (1994): A martial arts comedy starring Michelle Yeoh as a master of the Wing Chun style.
13. The Prodigal Son (1981): A martial arts film about a young man discovering the truth about his reputation as a fearsome martial artist.
14. The Raid: Redemption (2011): A high-octane martial arts film featuring a SWAT team’s intense battle in a criminal-infested apartment complex.
15. The Raid 2 (2014): The sequel to “The Raid: Redemption,” continuing the story of a police officer’s undercover mission in the criminal underworld.
16. Ong-Bak: Muay Thai Warrior (2003): A martial arts film showcasing the traditional Thai martial art of Muay Thai.
17. The Protector (2005): A martial arts film featuring Tony Jaa’s incredible skills in Muay Thai and traditional Thai weaponry.
18. The Grandmaster (2013): A biographical martial arts film about the life of Ip Man, directed by Wong Kar-wai and starring Tony Leung.
19. Fearless (2006): A martial arts film starring Jet Li as a legendary martial artist seeking redemption.
20. Hero (2002): A visually stunning wuxia film directed by Zhang Yimou, featuring an all-star cast including Jet Li, Tony Leung, and Maggie Cheung.
21. Once Upon a Time in China (1991): A martial arts film starring Jet Li as the legendary martial artist Wong Fei Hung.
22. Once Upon a Time in China II (1992): The sequel to “Once Upon a Time in China,” continuing the story of Wong Fei Hung.
23. Once Upon a Time in China III (1993): The third installment in the “Once Upon a Time in China” series.
24. Once Upon a Time in China IV (1994): The final installment in the “Once Upon a Time in China” series.
25. The Legend of the Condor Heroes (1983): A classic wuxia film based on the novel by Jin Yong.
26. A Chinese Ghost Story (1987): A romantic wuxia film with supernatural elements and impressive martial arts choreography.
27. The Blade (1995): A martial arts film directed by Tsui Hark, known for its innovative fight choreography and dark themes.
28. The Storm Riders (1998): A wuxia film featuring impressive martial arts choreography and visual effects.
29. A Man Called Hero (1999): A martial arts film based on the popular manhua series of the same name, featuring impressive fight scenes and visual effects.
30. The New Legend of Shaolin (1994): A martial arts film starring Jet Li as a young man seeking revenge and learning martial arts at the Shaolin Temple.
31. The Legend of Drunken Master (1994): A martial arts comedy starring Jackie Chan as a mischievous martial artist who learns from a drunken master.
32. The Swordsman (2012): A wuxia film featuring impressive swordplay and a complex storyline.
33. The Assassin (2015): A wuxia film directed by Hou Hsiao-hsien, known for its stunning visuals and minimalist storytelling.
34. The Bodyguard (2016): A martial arts film starring Sammo Hung as a bodyguard protecting a wealthy family from assassins.
35. Master Z: Ip Man Legacy (2018): A martial arts film featuring Max Zhang as a former rival of Ip Man.
36. The Invincible Dragon (2019): A martial arts film starring Max Zhang as a police officer with superhuman abilities.
37. The Legend of the Demon Cat (2017): A wuxia film featuring supernatural elements and impressive martial arts choreography.
38. The Thousand Faces of Dunjia (2017): A wuxia film directed by Yuen Woo-ping, known for his work on “The Matrix” and “Crouching Tiger, Hidden Dragon.”
39. The Monkey King 3 (2018): A wuxia film based on the classic Chinese novel “Journey to the West.”
40. The Meg (2018): An action-adventure film featuring martial arts star Jason Statham fighting against a giant prehistoric shark.
41. The Wandering Earth (2019): A science fiction film featuring martial arts star Wu Jing as a member of a team saving Earth from destruction.
42. The Climbers (2019): A mountain climbing film featuring martial arts star Wu Jing as a member of a team attempting to climb Mount Everest.
43. Ip Man 4: The Finale (2019): The final installment in the “Ip Man” series, featuring Donnie Yen as the legendary martial artist.
44. Enter the Fat Dragon (2020): A martial arts comedy starring Donnie Yen as a police officer who gains weight and must learn martial arts again.
45. Vanguard (2020): A martial arts film directed by Stanley Tong, known for his work with Jackie Chan.
46. The Rescue (2021): A disaster film featuring martial arts star Eddie Peng as a member of a rescue team.
47. Rising Sun (2021): A martial arts film directed by Derek Kwok, known for his work on “The Thousand Faces of Dunjia.”
48. The Grandmaster Returns (2022): A martial arts film featuring Tony Leung as the legendary Ip Man, continuing the story of the grandmaster.
49. The Flying Swords of Dragon Gate (2011): A wuxia film directed by Tsui Hark, featuring impressive martial arts choreography and visual effects.
50. The Four (2012): A wuxia film featuring a group of detectives who use their martial arts skills to solve crimes and fight against evil forces.