Alexander Fu Sheng's 10 Best Kung Fu Movies

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Alexander Fu Sheng's characters from Heroes Two and Shaolin Temple are edited onto an image from a kung fu movie.

Though his acting career was cut short following his untimely death, Alexander Fu Sheng is still remembered for the memorable kung fu films he appeared in. As a teenager, Fu Sheng applied to the Shaw Brothers Drama School and signed a 3-5 year contract with the production studio, soon becoming one of the many reoccurring actors to appear in Shaw Brothers films. Frequent collaborators throughout Fu Sheng's career include director Chang Cheh, the Shaw Brothers, and martial arts choreographer Lau Kar-leung.

Each person helped Fu Sheng foster his skills as an actor and a martial artist. The best of Fu Sheng's kung fu films demonstrate the quality of his skill and the potential he had to build a career comparable to someone like Jackie Chan. Fu Sheng was never able to reach the career heights of movie martial artists like Bruce Lee. Still, film critics and directors have made comparisons between the two after Fu Sheng's death — noting that his youthful star power will continue to inspire audiences discovering his work for the first time.

Shaw Brothers' 15 Best Martial Arts Movies, Ranked

The Shaw Brothers are renowned for their classic kung fu movies, having crafted some of the finest martial arts films that endure through the years.

10 Cat Vs. Rat (1982)

As Baak Juktong

Alexander Fu Sheng looks to the side as a man speaks to him behind his back.

Based on the wuxia novel, The Seven Heroes and Five Gallants, Cat Vs. Rat is an exciting film that blends comedy and martial arts. The film gets its name from the given nicknames of its main characters — Zin Ciu, a.k.a. "Royal Cat" (Adam Cheng), and Baak Juktong, a.k.a. "Brocade-Coated Rat" (Fu Sheng). Given the nicknames by the emperor, Fu Sheng's character grows increasingly jealous of his longtime rival and plans to embarrass him in front of the emperor.

Admittedly, the beginning of Cat Vs. Rat is repetitive as Cheng and Fu Sheng's characters are seen constantly going after one another. However, the film is still fun and has some impressive bits of martial arts choreography spread throughout. Fu Sheng is playful on screen and his competitive relationship with Cheng's character is nearly impossible not to become invested in.

9 Life Gamble (1979)

As Yun Xiang

Alexander Fu Sheng holds up two knife blades in Life Gamble.

Fu Sheng stars in Life Gamble alongside fellow Shaw Brothers regulars like Wang Lung-wei, Kara Wai Ying-hung, and Kuo Chui. The latter appears in the film as Qiu Zi Yu, a blacksmith who recently retired from making various weapons for kung fu experts. However, Zi Yu is put back to work when a variety of characters are after a stolen jade heirloom. One of these characters is Fu Sheng's Yun Xiang, a knife-throwing expert.

Life Gamble is full of fascinating characters who aren't fully trustworthy as they hold ulterior motives and are willing to put their lives on the line for the heirloom. As a result, it's easy to get lost in Life Gamble's action at times, but attentive viewers are rewarded with a well-choreographed, brisk showdown that puts Zi Yu's crafted weapons to use in inventive ways.

8 Disciples Of Shaolin (1975)

As Guan Feng Yi

Alexander Fu Sheng holds his hand out in front of himself.

Famed martial arts choreographer Lau Kar-leung often collaborated with director Chang Cheh, with one of their last collaborations being Disciples of Shaolin, starring Fu Sheng. Disciples of Shaolin is a tragic rags-to-riches story about Fu Sheng's Guan Feng Yi. Starting as an average textile factory worker, Guan Feng Yi quickly rises to the ranks by defeating workers of rival factories. However, Guan Feng Yi's newfound success is not what it seems.

Fu Sheng is great in Disciples of Shaolin. Both his acting and martial arts skills are highlighted in the film, showing a promising future for the actor. Fu Sheng is the driving force of much of the film and has audiences' eyes glued to the screen in a bloody confrontation at the end. Much of Disciples of Shaolin's remaining action is subtle, which pairs well with the film's clever commentary on the treatment of the working class.

7 Shaolin Martial Arts (1974)

As Li Yao

Alexander Fu Sheng is in the middle of a conversation.

Directed by Cheh Chang, Shaolin Martial Arts sees a group of students working to defend their martial arts school against those who wish to destroy it. Fu Sheng stars in the film as Li Yao, one of the students, alongside Gordon Liu and Chi Kuan-chun. Though Shaolin Martial Arts has a runtime of nearly two hours, the film builds momentum in a way that keeps audiences' attention. The students are sent to train with a martial arts master to perfect their skills, so they can effectively defeat their enemies.

The training sequences are creative and engaging, as audiences can see the student's progress throughout the film. When it comes time to show off their skills during the film's anticipated confrontation, Shaolin Martial Arts turns into an entertaining, violent showcase that highlights the actors' skills as martial artists. Fu Sheng's performance in the film doesn't stand out much from the rest of his filmography, but it's easily on par with his best.

6 Return Of The Sentimental Swordsman (1981)

As Jing Wuming

Acting as the sequel to the 1977 film The Sentimental Swordsman, Return of the Sentimental Swordsman became one of the Shaw Brothers' highest-growing films and exceeded the original's numbers. Return of the Sentimental Swordsman sees Ti Lung and Fu Sheng reuniting after films like Ten Tigers from Kwangtung and The Avenging Eagle. This time, the actors are on-screen enemies, with Fu Sheng's Jing Wuming interested in defeating Ti Lung's Li Xunhuan, an acclaimed fighter.

Fu Sheng shows he has range as an actor in Return of the Sentimental Swordsman. Typically a charismatic, heroic lead, Fu Sheng is wonderfully villainous in the wuxia film. Additionally, Return of the Sentimental Swordsman is packed with convincing performances, one of which is Ku Feng as Shangguan Jinhong, the on-screen adoptive father of Fu Sheng's character, and the leader of the ruthless Money Clan who wishes to dethrone Li Xunhuan.

5 Heroes Two (1973)

As Fang Shi-yu

Alexander Fu Sheng smiles while looking over a ledge.

At the start of his kung fu film career, Fu Sheng made his first on-screen appearance as Fang Shi-yu in the film Heroes Two. The actor put his recent kung fu training with Lau Kar-leung to good use and made a big impact in the film. Heroes Two begins with Fang Shi-yu and Hung Si-kuan (Chen Kuan Tai) being pitted against one another after the former is tricked into believing Hung Si-kuan is a bandit.

The misguided betrayal by Fang Shi-yu acts as a strong emotional force that compels audiences to become invested in the film's narrative and motivates the film's characters to redirect their focus on defeating the Manchurian army. Fu Sheng excels in the action scenes within Heroes Two but has also earned critical praise for his portrayal of Fang Shi-yu. Fu Sheng's allure in Heroes Two helped the film grow into a critical and commercial success.

4 Shaolin Temple (1976)

As Fang Shih-Yu

Kuan-Chun Chi, Sheng Fu, and Hung Wei stand outside with desperate expressions on their faces.

Shaolin Temple isn't a perfect martial arts film, but its few flaws don't minimize its overall excitement. The film is centered on a Shaolin Temple that is preparing to face members of the Qing dynasty. Fu Sheng stars in the film as Fang Shih-Yu, a semi-fictional Chinese folk hero. In the film, Fang is accepted into the temple and begins training. Much of the film is spent on training sequences, but like Shaolin Martial Arts, these sequences are set up in a way that effectively builds on the excitement leading to the ultimate showdown.

Many critical and audience reviews of the film state Shaolin Temple could benefit from a slightly shorter runtime and a more focused narrative that doesn't alternate as frequently between supporting characters. Still, Fu Sheng gives a great performance in the film as a frustrated student who gradually transforms into a skilled fighter.

3 Chinatown Kid (1977)

As Tan Tung

Alexander Fu Sheng looks serious with a cigarette in his mouth.

In Chinatown Kid, Fu Sheng joins the famous Venom Mob, a group of actors who found fame after starring in Five Deadly Venoms, in a story about rival gangs. In the film, Fu Sheng plays Tan Tung, a martial arts street fighter who finds himself joining a powerful gang in San Francisco, led by the White Dragon boss (Philip Kwok). Like Disciples of Shaolin a few years earlier, Fu Sheng's role in Chinatown Kid is mature, and at times, dark.

As a result, Fu Sheng got to prove his skills as a performer beyond his physicality and martial arts skills — which are still on full display in Chinatown Kid. Having already gained some international attention for previous films, Fu Sheng earned more recognition in other parts of the world, including the United States, following his work in Chinatown Kid. The film became a cult classic within the country, and many felt it made subtle commentary on Chinese American works and the illusion of the American Dream.

2 The Avenging Eagle (1978)

As Cheuk Yi-fan

Alexander Fu Sheng and Ti Lung stand in fighting positions.

The Avenging Eagle is among the best films produced by the Shaw Brothers Studio and sees Ti Lung and Fu Sheng teaming up to take down a common enemy. Ti Lung stars in the film as an ex-member of a powerful group of bandits known as the Iron Boat Clan. Following his departure from the clan, Ti Lung's character is hunted by the group's leader and comes across a family member of one of their victims, Fu Sheng's Cheuk Yi-fan.

The story in The Avenging Eagle is one of the more compelling and well-written examples of Fu Sheng's filmography, as audiences are likely to be invested in how the two men will overcome their complicated history. Much of the intrigue is helped by Fu Sheng's chemistry with Ti Lung. The two actors are well-matched both in the chaos of the film's action scenes and in the quieter moments as the two open up to one another about their troubled pasts.

1 The Eight Diagram Pole Fighter (1984)

As Yeung Chiu

Alexander Fu Sheng holds up a decorated stick.

Based on The Generals of the Yang Family, a collection of stories about the historical Song dynasty, The Eight Diagram Pole Fighter tells the story of a family's downfall at the hands of their enemies. The film's Yang family is made up of seven sons; the sixth is Yeung Chiu, played by Fu Sheng. The martial arts actor is supported by a range of talented performers, including Kara Hui, Hsiao Ho, and Gordon Liu, who delivers an especially powerful performance.

Unfortunately, Fu Sheng died in a car accident before the filming of The Eight Diagram Pole Fighter was complete, and he is missing from the film's intense final showdown. Still, Fu Sheng makes an impact within the film, showcasing the emotional effects of the ambush on his family. The film rarely slows down and is full of captivating, relentless action and violence, brought together by the collaborative effort of the actors and the direction and fight choreography by Lau Kar-leung.

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