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It’s astounding how many great modern martial arts movies have received near-universal praise on Rotten Tomatoes. While it’s well known that iconic classics of years gone by, like Seven Samurai and Yojimbo, have long been favored by movie critics, these films' legendary status can sometimes overshadow the merits of more recent martial arts triumphs in the 21st century. That’s why it’s important to take the time to praise modern martial arts movies that have pushed the genre into brave new territory in recent years and continued to enthrall viewers with spectacular fight sequences.
Some of the all-time great martial performances occurred in the 21st century, and acclaimed directors like Zhang Yimou and Ang Lee have kept the quality of martial arts cinema high. These excellent films boasted spectacular performances from modern martial arts stars like Tony Jaa, Jet Li, and Michelle Yeoh. While martial arts cinema has a long and fruitful history of beloved classics, there’s no shortage of critically acclaimed modern movies for fighting film fanatics to check out.
15 Kung Fu Hustle (2005)
Rotten Tomatoes Score: 91%
Director Stephen Chow showcased why he’s the king of blending martial arts and comedy with the hilarious Hong Kong and China co-production Kung Fu Hustle. Set in Shanghai during the 1940s, this story of a wannabe gangster attempting to join a notorious gang mixed a solid narrative with Looney Tunes-esque comedy to produce something that stands alongside Chow’s best work, such as Shaolin Soccer. Kung Fu Hustle received widespread acclaim, with film critic Roger Ebert even describing it as “like Jackie Chan and Buster Keaton meet Quentin Tarantino and Bugs Bunny.”
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Kung Fu Hustle is a 2004 action-comedy film directed by Stephen Chow. Set in 1940s Shanghai, the film follows a hapless gangster aspiring to join the notorious Axe Gang. The plot intensifies when a humble neighborhood discovers its own unlikely heroes with exceptional martial arts skills. Renowned for its unique blend of slapstick humor and kung fu choreography, the film stars Stephen Chow and features Yuen Wah, Leung Siu-lung, and Eva Huang.
Director Stephen Chow
Release Date February 10, 2004
Studio(s) Star Overseas , China Film Co-Production Corporation , Huayi Brothers Pictures , Beijing Film Studio , China Film Group Corporation , Columbia Pictures , Sony Pictures Classics , Columbia Pictures Film Production Asia
Writers Stephen Chow , Tsang Kan-Cheong , Man Keung Chan , Xin Huo
Cast Stephen Chow , Yuen Wah , Yuen Qiu , Lam Tze-chung , Bruce Leung
Runtime 99 Minutes
Budget 20000000.0
14 Polite Society (2021)
Rotten Tomatoes Score: 91%
The British martial arts comedy Polite Society followed the story of British-Pakistani teenage sisters and one sibling struggling to save the other after she gave up her dream of being a stunt woman to get married. By mixing Bollywood stylings, Eastern martial arts, and a British sense of humor, Polite Society was truly unlike anything else, as it showcased that genre conventions could be ignored if there was a strong story and great performances to back the movie up. An impressive directional debut from its writer, Nida Manzoor, it will be exciting to see what she does next.
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Polite Society (2023) is a British action-comedy film directed by Nida Manzoor. The film follows aspiring stuntwoman Ria Khan, played by Priya Kansara, as she plans to save her older sister Lena from an impending marriage. Navigating a blend of martial arts and sisterly bonds, Ria enlists the help of her friends to execute an elaborate and bold rescue mission.
Director Nida Manzoor
Release Date January 21, 2023
Writers Nida Manzoor
Runtime 103 minutes
13 Kickboxer: Retaliation (2018)
Rotten Tomatoes Score: 93%
The Kickboxer franchise started with the original cult classic Jean-Claude Van Damme movie in 1989 but has since had plenty of sequels of varying quality. However, none were more acclaimed than the seventh entry, Kickboxer: Retaliation, a satisfying throwback movie that delivered the very best of what this franchise has to offer while showcasing astounding fight sequences. With Alain Moussi as Kurt Sloane and Jean-Claude Van Damme as the Muay Thai Master Durand, Kickboxer: Retaliation may not have yet achieved the same iconic status as the original, but it was certainly a major hit with critics.
Kickboxer Retaliation
Director Dimitri Logothetis
Release Date January 26, 2018
Writers Dimitri Logothetis
Runtime 110 minutes
12 Everything Everywhere All At Once (2022)
Rotten Tomatoes Score: 93%
As the only martial arts movie to ever win the Oscar for Best Picture, it’s no surprise that Everything Everywhere All at Once has fared well with critics on Rotten Tomatoes. With an astounding blend of Kung Fu, comedy, fantasy, and even dimension-bending sci-fi, this absurd story appealed to mainstream viewers who would be less familiar with martial arts cinema. Taking home an astounding seven Academy Awards, the sheer volume of accolades Everything Everywhere All At Once has received was truly unprecedented.
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In Everything Everywhere All at Once, a middle-aged laundromat owner (Michelle Yeoh) is distracted from her financial and family issues by a multiversal crisis. With just her husband (Ke Huy Quan) to support her through the confusion, she must contend with her overbearing traditional father (James Hong), a pencil-pushing auditor (Jamie Lee Curtis), and her emotionally-distant daughter (Stephanie Hsu).
Director Daniel Kwan , Daniel Scheinert
Release Date March 25, 2022
Writers Daniel Scheinert , Daniel Kwan
Runtime 132 minutes
Budget 14.3–25 million
11 Hero (2002)
Rotten Tomatoes Score: 94%
Hero was an epic Wuxia triumph that brought together some of the biggest modern martial arts stars, including Jet Li, Tony Leung, Maggie Cheung, Zhang Ziyi, and Donnie Yen. An epic tale of the Warring States Period in China, 227–221 BC, Hero was an astounding showcase of many martial arts styles combined with poetic visuals of warriors in impressively choreographed battles. As a stylized meditation of heroism, Hero was a powerful showcase of what can be achieved in martial arts cinema.
Hero (2002)
Director
Release Date
Cast
Rating
Runtime 99 Mins
10 John Wick: Chapter 4 (2024)
Rotten Tomatoes Score: 94%
The John Wick franchise started strong as an engrossing mix of action movies and martial arts stylings, but through rich worldbuilding and strong characterization, it has gotten more exciting with each subsequent installment. John Wick: Chapter 4 kept the action coming as Keanu Reeves faced off against Donnie Yen as the blind assassin Caine in yet another extraordinary adventure. As a bigger and bolder installment than anything that came before it, it’s no surprise that John Wick: Chapter 4 received universal critical acclaim.
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Following the events of Chapter 3 - Parabellum, John Wick Chapter 4 will see the titular character battle against some of his most dangerous foes yet. With a bounty on his head that continues to skyrocket, John decides to take the fight to the High Table on a global scale and battles across areas like Osaka and Paris to wipe out some of the strongest players in the underworld.
Director Chad Stahelski
Release Date March 24, 2023
Studio(s) Lionsgate
Writers Shay Hatten , Michael Finch
Runtime 169 minutes
9 Journey To The West: Conquering The Demons (2013)
Rotten Tomatoes Score: 94%
Director Stephen Chow added to his extraordinary resume of martial arts classics, which included Shaolin Soccer and Kung Fu Hustle, with Journey to the West: Conquering the Demons. A lighthearted adaptation of the classic Chinese novel of the same name, Journey to the West has always been a prime source of inspiration for martial arts media, as its story has been repeated in everything from Dragon Ball to The Monkey King. This latest action-packed adaptation maintained the spirit of its source material while updating it with dazzling action sequences.
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Journey to the West: Conquering the Demons is a Chinese fantasy comedy film directed by Stephen Chow. Set in ancient China, the story follows a young demon hunter named Tang Sanzang, who treads a treacherous path to seek enlightenment while capturing demons. This film, infused with humor and action, presents a unique take on the classic Chinese novel Journey to the West.
Director Stephen Chow , Chi-kin Kwok
Release Date February 7, 2013
Writers Stephen Chow , Chi-kin Kwok , Xin Huo , Yun Wang , Chi Keung Fung , Zhengyu Lu
Cast Qi Shu , Zhang Wen , Bo Huang , Show Luo , Shing-Cheung Lee , Bingqiang Chen
Runtime 110 minutes
Main Genre Adventure
8 Furie (2019)
Rotten Tomatoes Score: 95%
The Vietnamese martial arts movie Furie tells the story of a former gang leader who battles human traffickers to save her kidnapped daughter. As a violently compelling showcase of action movie excitement starring Veronica Ngo as Hai Phượng, a Vovinam-skilled ex-gangster, Furie captured the same non-stop fighting excitement that made movies like The Raid series such cult favorites. Furie was even selected as the Vietnamese entry for the Best International Feature Film at the Academy Awards, although it was not nominated.
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Furie is a 2019 Vietnamese action thriller directed by Le-Van Kiet. The film follows a former gang leader, played by Veronica Ngo, as she embarks on a relentless pursuit to rescue her kidnapped daughter from a dangerous trafficking ring.
Director Le Van Kiet
Release Date February 22, 2019
Cast Veronica Ngo , Phan Thanh Nhien , Phạm Anh Khoa , Thanh Hoa , Mai Cat Vi , Le Trang
7 Ip Man 2 (2011)
Rotten Tomatoes Score: 97%
One of the martial arts icon Donnie Yen’s greatest roles was as the Wing Chun grandmaster Ip Man in the franchise that bore his name. While the entire series has received critical acclaim, Ip Man 2 was the most revered on Rotten Tomatoes, with an astounding 97% critics score. This sequel carried on from the first Ip Man to follow the grandmaster's early life in British Hong Kong and the challenges he faced from other practitioners as he tried to propagate his discipline of Wing Chun while facing off against local masters and a British boxer.
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Ip Man 2, directed by Wilson Yip, follows kung fu master Ip Man as he relocates to post-war Hong Kong. Seeking to establish his Wing Chun school, he faces challenges from local martial arts masters, including Hung Gar master Hung Quan, as he tries to teach the troubled youth.
Director Wilson Yip
Release Date April 29, 2010
Writers Tai-Lee Chan , Hiu-Yan Choi , David Tadman , Edmond Wong
Runtime 108 Minutes
6 The Paper Tigers (2021)
Rotten Tomatoes Score: 98%
The American martial arts action comedy The Paper Tigers has received widespread acclaim for its hilarious depiction of childhood kung fu prodigies who have grown into washed-up, middle-aged men. As Bao Tran's directional debut, The Paper Tigers also featured Yuji Okumoto, best known as Chozen Toguchi in The Karate Kid franchise, as an actor and producer. With a hilarious premise, great fight scenes, and a lot of heart, The Paper Tigers was a breath of fresh air among American martial arts movies that were bursting with creativity.
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Director Quoc Bao Tran
Release Date August 30, 2020
Cast Ron Yuan , Alain Uy , Mykel Shannon Jenkins , Yuji Okumoto , Yoshi Sudarso , Jae Suh Park , Peter Sudarso , Roger Yuan , Matthew Page , Gui DaSilva-Greene , Annette Toutonghi , Ray Hopper , Joziah Lagonoy , Andy Le , Ken Quitugua , Brian Le , Phillip Dang
Character(s) Hing , Danny , Jim , Wing , Teen Danny , Caryn , Teen Hing , Sifu Cheung , Carter , Teen Jim , Minnie , Tommy , Ed , Fu , Zhen Fan , Boi , Chief Punk
Runtime 108 minutes
Rotten Tomatoes Score: 98%
Ang Lee’s Crouching Tiger, Hidden Dragon was an astounding multinational endeavor that became the first foreign film to gross over $100 million at the US box office. As a Wuxia story about a Chinese warrior escaping into a fantastical romantic adventure, the stunning cinematography, engaging performances, and thrilling martial arts sequences helped ensure this ambitious feature became a hit with critics and audiences alike. As a defining film in introducing mainstream audiences to martial arts cinema, Crouching Tiger, Hidden Dragon boosted the popularity of Chinese Wuxia films in the Western world.
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Crouching Tiger, Hidden Dragon is a martial arts film directed by Ang Lee. Released in 2000, the story revolves around warriors Li Mu Bai and Yu Shu Lien, played by Chow Yun-Fat and Michelle Yeoh, as they pursue a stolen sword and encounter a mysterious young aristocrat. The film is renowned for its lush visuals and choreographed fight scenes, blending romance and adventure against a historical Chinese backdrop.
Director Ang Lee
Release Date December 8, 2000
Studio(s) Columbia Pictures Film Production Asia , Good Machine International , Edko Films , Zoom Hunt Productions
Distributor(s) Sony Pictures Classics
Writers Wang Hui-ling , James Schamus , Tsai Kuo-jung
Runtime 120 Minutes
Budget $17 Million
4 The Twilight Samurai (2002)
Rotten Tomatoes Score: 99%
The historical drama The Twilight Samurai followed the life of Seibei Iguchi, a low-ranking samurai who led a happy, impoverished life with his wife, daughters, and dementia-suffering mother. Set in the mid-19th century, this quietly beautiful film took the martial arts-centered life of samurai and showcased the everyday struggles behind this noble warrior's existence. As a beautifully told story by director Yoji Yamada, The Twilight Samurai has received universal critical acclaim for its poignant sentimentality and incredible cinematic power.
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The Twilight Samurai is a Japanese historical drama directed by Yoji Yamada. Set in mid-19th century Japan, it follows Seibei Iguchi, a low-ranking samurai and widower, as he struggles to balance his duties and care for his young daughters and aging mother. Stars Hiroyuki Sanada and Rie Miyazawa. The film captures the complexities of samurai life during the twilight of the Edo period.
Director Yoji Yamada
Release Date November 2, 2002
Studio(s) Shochiku , Sumitomo Corporation , Hakuhodo , Nippan Group Holdings , Eisei Gekijo , Nippon Television Network Corporation
Writers Yoshitaka Asama , Yoji Yamada , Shûhei Fujisawa
Cast Hiroyuki Sanada , Rie Miyazawa , Nenji Kobayashi , Mitsuru Fukikoshi , Min Tanaka
Runtime 129 Minutes
Budget 5000000.0
3 The Man From Nowhere (2010)
Rotten Tomatoes Score: 100%
The South Korean neo-noir hit The Man from Nowhere blended martial arts stylings with non-stop violence to produce an action movie that kept audiences on the edge of their seats from start to finish. As K-Drama heartthrob Won Bin proved his own as an action hero, The Man from Nowhere was the most recent entry in the highly selective actors' limited filmography. The Man from Nowhere proved popular enough to receive the Indian remake Rocky Handsome, although it could not repeat its source material success and bombed at the box office.
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The Man from Nowhere (2010) is a South Korean action-thriller that follows a reclusive pawnshop owner with a dark past as he embarks on a relentless mission to rescue a kidnapped child. The film captures intense emotions and gripping action sequences, presenting a gripping narrative of redemption and vengeance.
Director Lee Jeong-beom
Release Date August 4, 2010
Writers Lee Jeong-beom
Cast Won Bin , Kim Sae-ron , Kim Tae-hun , Kim Hee-won , Kim Sung-oh , Lee Jong-pil , Thanayong Wongtrakul , Kim Hyo-seo , Song Young-chang , Baek Su-ryeon , Nam Kyung-eup , Jeong Do-won , Kwak Do-won , Jo Hyun-wu , Son Sang-kyung , Lee Jae-won , Hwang Min-Ho , Han Chul-woo , Kwon Seong-deok , Jo Jae-yun , Jeong Min-sung , Sun Ho-jin , Kim Hyo-min
Character(s) Cha Tae-sik , Jeong So-mi , Kim Chi-gon , Man-seok , Jong-seok , Detective No , Ramrowan , Hyo-jeong , Oh Myung-gyu , Bookstore Lady , Section Chief , Detective Park , Detective Kim , Moon Dal-seo , Bear , Kim Do-chi , Nam Seong-sik , Private Loan Worker , Old Man at Convenience Store , Jang Doo-sik , Jeong Bo-gwa , Jae-moon , Joong-ho
Runtime 119 Minutes
2 The Monkey King 2 (2016)
Rotten Tomatoes Score: 100%
The Monkey King 2 was a 3D sequel to The Monkey King starring Donnie Yen. While Yen’s role as Sun Wukong, the Monkey King, was recast with Aaron Kwok, this continuation was no less exciting and boasts an astounding 100% critics score on Rotten Tomatoes and has even been praised as superior to the original movie. The Monkey King 2 even led to a third installment, as this series has quickly turned into a franchise. Based on the sprawling epic classic novel Journey to the West by Wu Cheng'en, there’s no shortage of source material to continue this adventurous tale.
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Director Soi Cheang
Release Date January 22, 2016
Writers Ran Ping
Cast Aaron Kwok , Gong Li , William Feng , Xiao Shenyang , Him Law , Kelly Chen , Kris Phillips , Wei Lu , Giselle Chia , Miya , Miya Muqi , Ngawang Rinchen , John Ching Tung
Character(s) The Monkey King , Lady White , Little Monk , Zhu Bajie , Sha Wujing , Goddess of Mercy Guanyin , Cloud Hercynian King , Basilisk , Bat Demon , Porcupine Demon , Evil Spirit Pig , Witch Doctor , Uncredited
Runtime 120 minutes
1 Kill Zone 2 (2016)
Rotten Tomatoes Score: 100%
Kill Zone 2, also known as SPL II: A Time for Consequences and Sha Po Lang 2, was a universally praised Hong Kong action movie by director Soi Cheang and starring Tony Jaa. As a spiritual successor to SPL: Sha Po Lang with Donnie Yen, this highly stylish sequel kept the action coming as its violent martial arts noir melodrama featured plenty of epic fight scenes. With chaotic energy and impressive choreography, it was incredible to watch this story of an undercover cop and a sinister trafficking ring.
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Kill Zone 2 is a 2015 Hong Kong action film directed by Cheang Pou-soi. The film stars Tony Jaa, Zhang Jin, and Louis Koo, centering on the intertwined lives of a prison guard whose daughter needs a bone marrow transplant and an undercover cop seeking to dismantle a crime syndicate. As their paths converge, they must navigate a web of deception and danger to achieve their respective goals.
Director Soi Cheang
Release Date June 14, 2015
Writers Lai-yin Leung , Ying Wong
Cast tony jaa , Jing Wu , Simon Yam , Jin Zhang , Louis Koo , Ken Lo , Jun Kung , Dominic Lam
Character(s) Chatchai , Chan Chi-Kit , Chan Kwok-Wah , Ko Hung , Hung Mun-Gong , Wong Kwong , Hung Mun-Biu , Cheung Chun-Tung
Runtime 120 Minutes
Source: Roger Ebert
English (US) ·