The martial arts movie genre has changed a lot over the years, and many classics still hold up today. Those older films can feel like time capsules, and fans can find something to appreciate in them even if they lack the stylish, snappy choreography of their more modern counterparts.
Martial arts go hand in hand with the action genre, and audiences of all ages can appreciate stylish brawls that are far more intense and personal than any gunfight. Naturally, the people throwing those punches and kicks are the stars of the show, as making those fights believable is a physical and technical feat.
Few actors in the genre are as famous as Jackie Chan. He's a pioneer in modern martial arts cinema, adding humor and intricate stunt choreography to his films. It's a unique combination, especially compared to other classic fighting movies that are notably more grounded and violent.
Donnie Yen is another legendary actor in the space. He's a phenomenal martial artist and also choreographed many of his own fight scenes. Yen doesn't just know how to throw punches and kicks; he makes them look impactful. He's also starred in numerous classic martial arts movies, including the Ip Man movies.
Several notable American martial artists have also left their mark on martial arts cinema. The actors on this list are all beloved for their roles in a range of movies. They also have genuine martial arts training, and some still practice today.
10 Mark Dacascos
Mark Dacascos has an expansive filmography with a career spanning decades. Many action movie fans will recognize him as Zero in John Wick: Chapter 3 - Parabellum, but he was also particularly prominent during the 90s and early 2000s.
Dacascos starred as Louis Stevens in Only the Strong in 1993. He's a former special forces officer and attempts to teach troubled students' capoeira. It's a remarkable movie because it was so unusual to see the fighting style in the spotlight at the time. He also starred in Drive and Double Dragon.
Martial arts are especially important to Dacascos because his father, Al Dacascos, founded Wun Hop Kuen Do. He's a lifelong martial artist who has reportedly trained in Muay Thai, Capoeira, and Wushu alongside his father's style.
9 Jeff Speakman
Jeff Speakman boasts an extensive martial arts background and teaches Kenpo 5.0, which he founded. Speakman also reportedly has a black belt in Goju-Ryu Karate and a 10th-degree Kenpo black belt.
His filmography is less expansive than some other martial artists on this list, though that doesn't take away from his accomplishments in the genre. The Perfect Weapon is arguably his best movie and his breakout role. Speakman stars as Jeff Sanders in a one-man-army revenge story, serving as the ideal platform to showcase his Kenpo skills.
Fans of classic martial arts movies will enjoy The Perfect Weapon because Speakman's style is unique and full of stylish combinations. He also starred in several other 90s movies, including Street Knight and Deadly Outbreak.
8 Jim Kelly
Fans of martial arts movies will likely know Jim Kelly best as Williams in Enter the Dragon. His fights in the tournament and with Han are highlights of the movie, and he was a prominent actor in the genre in the 70s.
Away from the silver screen, Kelly won the middleweight title at the Long Beach International Karate Championships in 1971. He's stylish and agile, and his fights look authentic because he really does know how to throw punches and kicks.
Kelly also starred in several movies after Enter the Dragon, including Black Belt Jones in 1974. He also reprised the role in Hot Potato.
7 Phillip Rhee
Philip Rhee is best known as Tommy Lee in the martial arts drama, Best of the Best. The US Taekwondo team is set to compete against the Korean team. They are the underdogs, but Tommy Lee emerges as their star fighter despite his history with Dae Han (Simon Rhee), a Korean fighter. The original Best of the Best is arguably one of the best American martial arts movies of the 20th century, and James Earl Jones even plays the US coach.
Rhee co-wrote Best of the Best, produced Best of the Best II, and made his directorial debut with Best of the Best 3: No Turning Back. He also starred as Tommy Lee in each movie.
Interestingly, Rhee is also a proven martial artist outside the movies. He began studying at an early age and holds black belts in multiple disciplines, including Taekwondo, Hapkido, and Kendo.
6 Cynthia Rothrock
Cynthia Rothrock has an extraordinary martial arts record. She was a five-time world champion in forms and weapons between 1981 and 1985. She also holds multiple black belts in styles including Taekwondo and Tang Soo Do.
That extensive training translates beautifully onto the silver screen. Yes, Madam! is arguably one of her most important movies, starring Rothrock alongside Michelle Yeoh. Rothrock also led China O'Brien, a martial arts action movie where she plays a police officer forced to rely on her skills when she moves back to her quiet town in Utah.
Cynthia Rothrock is so influential in the genre that some fans call her the Queen of Martial Arts Movies. She has appeared in dozens of films, including more recent projects such as 2024's The Last Kumite.
5 Wesley Snipes
Wesley Snipes is a beloved action star, best known for his portrayal of Blade, who's part human, part vampire. In the original Blade movie, he attempts to stop a vampire called Deacon Frost (Stephen Dorff) from completing an ancient ritual.
Blade is a flashy, stylish fighter, and quite convincing, as Snipes has martial arts training. In fact, he reportedly started at 12 years old and studied Goju-Ryu and Shotokan Karate. Snipes has also allegedly studied other styles, including Capoeira.
While Wesley Snipes certainly has real-world martial arts experience, his films are more action-focused than strictly fighting movies. One exception is Undisputed, which is more of a prison drama, but Snipes looks so authentic in his fight scenes thanks to his training.
4 Don 'The Dragon' Wilson
Don 'The Dragon' Wilson is widely considered a kickboxing legend. He's an 11-time world kickboxing champion with multiple Hall of Fame entries for his achievements in the ring. His nickname isn't unfounded either, as he studied Pai Lum White Dragon Kung Fu.
Wilson is a kickboxing icon, and while he's less known among casual moviegoers, many martial arts fans will know him from the long-running Bloodfist franchise. He also starred in Ring of Fire as Johnny Woo, which started a trilogy.
Wilson's competition fighting experience translates well into his movie action scenes. He remains a respected name in kickboxing, even if his films are less well-known among general audiences.
3 Michael Jai White
Michael Jai White is arguably an underrated modern action star. He's starred in multiple martial arts movies, though Blood and Bone is a fan favorite. He stars as Isaiah Bone in the 2009 movie, an ex-convict who enters an underground fight circuit and quickly makes a name for himself.
The fights in Blood and Bone are stylish and brutal, and White has also earned impressive accolades outside the movies. He started training in martial arts at a young age and holds black belts in several Karate styles. White even demonstrates some of his techniques on his official YouTube channel.
Michael Jai White's moves look incredible in his films. The choreography is exceptional, and brawls feel intense and grounded.
2 Chuck Norris
Chuck Norris became an action movie star and a household name throughout his career. He has well-documented martial arts roots and a proven track record in contact sports.
Norris was also an important part of pop culture, with memes and even books telling grandiose tales about his strength. His real-world performances were just as impressive, as he held the World Professional Middleweight Karate Championship title for six consecutive years. Norris also trained alongside Bruce Lee and played Colt in The Way of the Dragon.
Chuck Norris has an expansive filmography and was one of the biggest action stars of the 80s. He also founded a martial arts system called Chun Kuk Do.
1 Bruce Lee
Bruce Lee was born in California in 1940 and is widely regarded as one of the most influential martial arts movie stars of all time. His contribution to the genre cannot be overstated, and his influence on fight choreography and action cinema can still be felt decades later. He also founded his own combat system called Jeet Kune Do.
Lee starred in several movies, though Enter the Dragon is his most popular. He enters a tournament on Mr. Han's (Shih Kien) island as a competitor. However, he's also there to gather evidence, as British authorities suspect Han is running a drug operation there.
Bruce Lee's fight scenes are incredible. His speed is utterly jaw-dropping, particularly during his encounter with Han's bodyguard, Oharra (Robert Wall). His bout with Chuck Norris in The Way of the Dragon is another classic scene and is among the most famous martial arts movie showdowns of all time.
English (US) ·