Despite only having a short stint as a kung fu movie star, Bruce Lee had a tremendous impact on the genre, one that steered the direction of so many Hong Kong movie studios for years. For filmmakers, there was obviously a lot to learn from Bruce Lee's martial arts movies, but some did more than just take inspiration from the fighting in his films; a sizable number copied them directly through a strategy now commonly known as Bruceploitation.
Movies associated with the Bruceploitation era typically starred actors with stage names similar to Bruce Lee's, so much that the difference sometimes only came down to the spelling. This approach also extended to the stars' physical appearances, as several of these actors were cast based on their resemblances to Lee. Unsurprisingly, this unapologetic effort to capitalize on Bruce Lee's popularity certainly received its share of scrutiny. However, that's not to say that Bruceploitation movies weren't entertaining.
10 New Fist Of Fury
Starring Jackie Chan
Interestingly, Jackie Chan was once of the many actors eyed to become the next Bruce Lee. To this end, he was cast in New Fist of Fury, a movie that retreads the same Chinese vs. Japanese plot from Fist of Fury. Because the film came before Chan developed his own unique image, New Fist of Fury features none of the actor's trademark comedy, it does carry the feel of a true Jackie Chan movie. However, its fight sequences are early evidence of his capabilities as a martial arts actor.
9 Bruce Lee's Secret
Starring Bruce Li
Arguably the most prolific Bruceploitation star, Bruce Li starred in Bruce Lee's Secret, a movie that served as an unofficial, dramatized version of Bruce Lee's story. Its spectacular fight scenes, aided by the presence of kung fu movie veterans Carter Wong and Hwang Jang-lee, help Bruce Lee's Secret stand out as an exciting martial arts adventure.
8 Enter The Invincible Hero
Starring Dragon Lee
During his career, Dragon Lee headlined a multitude of Bruceploitation films, one of which being Enter the Invincible Hero. Traditionally less serious than most Bruce Lee "clones," Dragon Lee embraces the campiness of the Bruceploitation era in Enter the Invincible Hero, a movie that pits him against South Korean martial arts star Casanova Wong. Enter the Invincible Hero features commendable choreography thoroughout, but what makes it especially memorable is its thrilling ending.
7 Fist of Fury II
Starring Bruce Li
Bruce Lee's Fist of Fury received an unofficial sequel in 1977 with Bruce Li in the lead role. Fist of Fury II picked up after the first movie, which notably ended in the death of Bruce Lee's Chen Zhen. In the 1977 movie, it's discovered that Chen Zhen had a brother named Shan (Bruce Li), who is now determined to avenge his fallen relative and carry on his fight against the Japanese forces occupying Shanghai. The fun, revenge-driven classic ends in a showdown between Bruce Li and kung fu legend Lo Lieh, whose talent for playing martial arts movie villains lends itself well to the film's charm.
6 Bruce's Deadly Fingers
Starring Bruce Le
Released in 1976, Bruce's Deadly Fingers starred Bruce Le, one of the faces of the Bruceploitation movement. The film put Le in the role of a man who has to save the ex-girlfriend of the late Bruce Lee after she's kidnapped by criminals. Perhaps intentionally, the actress cast for the part of Lee's ex-girlfriend was Nora Miao, who had acted opposite Lee twice. Further boosting its star power is the inclusion of villain icons Lo Lieh and Bolo Yeung, who previously appeared in Enter the Dragon with the real Bruce Lee.
5 The Dragon's Snake Fist
Starring Dragon Lee
The Bruceploitation movement was starting to lose steam by 1981, but the decade wasn't without at least noteworthy entries into the genre. Among them was South Korean martial arts movie The Dragon's Snake Fist. Starring Dragon Lee, the film was a standard revenge film about a rivalry between two different kung fu schools. But while this is a story that's been told countless times in 1980s kung fu movies, including Bruce Lee's own Fist of Fury, The Dragon's Snake Fist still succeeds in entertaining with its fight scenes, which are both brutal and plentiful in the film.
4 Challenge Of The Tiger
Starring Bruce Le
Bruce Le added to his list of Bruceploitation epics in 1980 when he made Challenge of the Tiger, a modern-day, buddy cop kung fu movie. Teaming Le with Richard Harrison, Challenge of the Tiger is a story about two CIA agents going up against a spy ring. The film has plenty of wild, unorthodox moments, not the least of which being an action sequence with a bull, but it still holds some degree of popularity with kung fu movie fans.
3 Clones of Bruce Lee
Starring Bruce Li, Bruce Lai, & Dragon Lee
Clones of Bruce Lee is essentially "The Avengers" of the Bruceploitation era. True to its title, it features a handful of Bruce Lee "clones." In the 1980 film, Dragon Lee, Bruce Le, Bruce Lai come together for an action-packed adventure that sees them play literal clones of the Dragon. The story makes little narrative sense and is over-the-top with its use of science fiction elements, but the team-up of Bruceploitation actors and the martial arts choreography make it worth watching, even if it can't be taken seriously.
2 Golden Dragon, Silver Snake
Starring Dragon Lee
Another standout Dragon Lee film is Golden Dragon, Silver Snake, a kung fu revenge film. Also known as Idling Fist, the film is an interesting addition to the Bruceploitation catalog, simply because of its titular characters. Not only is Golden Dragon portrayed by a Bruce Lee clone, but Silver Snake is played by Wang Dae-wi, an actor who had a history of playing Jackie Chan-esque characters. A proper Jackie Chan-Bruce Lee team-up movie never happened, but Golden Dragon, Silver Snake, provides a fun, albeit low-budget, look at what could have been.
1 The Three Avengers
Starring Bruce Li
Also known as The Lama Avenger, The Three Avengers is less explicit in its Bruce Lee connections than most Bruceploitation films, but still leans heavily on the actor's likeness. Bruce Li stars in the 1979 film, which revolves around two acrobats who open up a kung fu school and get embroiled in a fight with a group of thugs. It features an abundance of action, including an intense, three-on-one slugfest at the end.
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