The All-Time Greatest Martial Art Movies

Ranker Film
Updated September 22, 2023 70.1K votes 5.4K voters 246.9K views
Over 5.4K Ranker voters have come together to rank this list of The All-Time Greatest Martial Art Movies
Voting Rules
Movies must have martial arts in them.
Latest additions: Expend4bles, Polite Society, Furies
Most divisive: Chocolate

All the best movies with martial arts action compiled into a list of the best martial art movies. Martial arts movies are amazing to watch, so they're a perfect fit for film. From the revenge tactics of The Bride in the Kill Bill series to the martial arts mastery of Bruce Lee in Enter the Dragon and Way of the Dragon (among many others), this list of movies with martial arts is a great fit for anyone who loves action.

Martial arts films have been with us for decades. This list includes all different forms of martial arts including karate, jiu jitsu, kenpo, muay thai, and many other fighting techniques. While most of these films are action oriented, some are also comedic (like Rush Hour and Shanghai Noon), or even animated (Kung Fu Panda). Martial art movies are also the perfect kind of film that a dad can enjoy with this teenage son or any other action-loving family member. If you're into martial art movies, then this is the list for you.

What are the best martial arts movies? Take a look at this list and you'll see for yourself.
Ranked by
  • Enter the Dragon
    1

    Enter the Dragon

    Bruce Lee, John Saxon, Jim Kelly
    2,215 votes
    • Released: 1973
    • Directed by: Robert Clouse
    Released: 1973
    Bruce Lee plays a martial-arts expert determined to help capture the narcotics dealer whose gang was responsible for the death of his sister. Lee enters a kung fu competition in an attempt to fight his way to the dealer's headquarters with the help of some friends.

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  • Fist of Fury
    2

    Fist of Fury

    Bruce Lee, Nora Miao, James Tien
    1,278 votes
    • Released: 1972
    • Directed by: Lo Wei
    Chen Zhen (Bruce Lee) has left his homeland of China and relocated to stay with family in Thailand. Chen, who swore to his mother that he would avoid violence in his new life and even wears a necklace to remind himself of this oath, is tested when he confronts trouble at his job. When he finds out the factory he works at is a cover for a drug ring, and his family members are murdered by members of the gang, he can avoid fighting no more and decides to confront his corrupt boss.

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  • Ip Man
    3

    Ip Man

    Donnie Yen, Simon Yam, Louis Fan
    1,897 votes
    • Released: 2008
    • Directed by: Wilson Yip
    Released: 2008
    In the martial arts biopic Ip Man, lead character Ip Man (Donnie Yen) is a grandmaster of Wing Chun, a form of close combat. Set in 1930s Foshan, China, the film delves into his life during the Sino-Japanese War. Amidst turmoil and invasion, Ip Man's skills are put to test as he fights for dignity and freedom. Directed by Wilson Yip, this action-packed drama won Best Film at the Hong Kong Film Awards. With its compelling narrative and impressive fight choreography, Ip Man stands as a notable entry in the genre of historical martial arts films.

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  • Drunken Master
    4

    Drunken Master

    Jackie Chan, Siu Tien Yuen, Jang Lee Hwang
    1,312 votes
    • Released: 1978
    • Directed by: Woo-Ping Yuen
    Released: 1978
    Unable to see eye to eye with his father, completely broke and with nowhere else to turn, young Wong Fei-Hung (Jackie Chan) grudgingly accepts the tutelage of Su Hua Chi (Siu Tien Yuen), a notoriously intoxicated martial arts master. Su Hua Chi teaches Wong the techniques of Drunken Boxing, an unusually fluid fighting style. Wong is then forced to put his new skills to the test when his father is targeted by deadly assassin Thunderleg (Jang Lee Hwang), who has never lost a fight.

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  • Return of the Dragon
    5

    Return of the Dragon

    Bruce Lee, Chuck Norris, Nora Miao
    1,100 votes
    • Released: 1972
    • Directed by: Bruce Lee
    Way of the Dragon is a 1972 Hong Kong martial arts action comedy film written, produced and directed by Bruce Lee, who also stars in the lead role. This was Bruce Lee's only completed directorial effort. The film co-stars Nora Miao, Chuck Norris, Robert Wall and Hwang In-Shik. The film was released in Hong Kong on 30 December 1972.
  • The Legend of Drunken Master
    6

    The Legend of Drunken Master

    Jackie Chan, Andy Lau, Anita Mui
    1,261 votes
    • Released: 1994
    • Directed by: Jackie Chan, Lau Kar-leung
    Drunken Master II is a 1994 Hong Kong kung fu film directed by Lau Kar-leung and Jackie Chan, who stars as Chinese folk hero, Wong Fei-hung. It was Chan's first traditional style martial arts film since The Young Master and Dragon Lord. The film was released in North America as The Legend of Drunken Master in 2000. The film is a follow-up to Chan's 1978 film Drunken Master, directed by Yuen Woo-ping, but not a direct storyline sequel. Another film, Drunken Master III features little in common with either this or its predecessor, and is not considered a sequel. In 2005, Drunken Master II was named one of the top 100 best films of all time by Time magazine.