Watch 12 of the Best Martial Arts Movies

Martial Arts Movies To Add To Your List

Martial arts movies have never been more easily accessible than they are now. Streaming services like Netflix and Amazon Prime have an extensive library filled with movies on demand.

There are thousands of martial arts films to choose from and most are action-packed... but which ones are worth watching?

*(This article may contain spoilers. If you haven't seen the film you're reading about, proceed with caution.)

Use our list here to help narrow down your search with a few of our favorite recommendations:

The Way of the Dragon (1972)
Ip Man 3 (2015)
Karate Kid, Part III (1989)
The Forbidden Kingdom (2008)
House of Flying Daggers (2004)
Kung Fu Hustle (2004)
Fist of Fury (1972)
The Grandmaster (2013)
IP Man 2 (2010)
Ong-Bak: The Thai Warrior (2003)
Hero (2002)
Crouching Tiger, Hidden Dragon (2000)

**1. The Way of the Dragon (aka Return of the Dragon) (1972)**

This was Bruce Lee's last film before his untimely death at age 32. The movie follows a Chinese martial artist who becomes involved in a conflict between a local crime syndicate and their rivals, two rival Chinese clans called the triads. It features some truly incredible fight scenes and choreography from one of cinema's greatest action stars.

2. Ip Man 3 (2015)

Ip Man 3 is set in 1930s China and follows Ip Man, a martial arts master who teaches the Wing Chun style of kung fu. The film features Donnie Yen as Ip Man and Mike Tyson as himself. It was directed by Wilson Yip, who also directed the first two films in the series.

The movie begins with Ip Man living peacefully in Hong Kong when he learns his wife has passed away at home in Foshan. Deciding to return home to pay his last respects and fulfill his promise to her, he soon finds himself caught up in political turmoil that could threaten not only him but also everyone he cares about.

3. Karate Kid, Part III (1989)

The third installment of the Karate Kid film series isn't as well-known as its predecessors, but it still has a lot to offer. Set in Okinawa, Japan, (the birthplace of karate) this film follows Daniel LaRusso and Johnny Lawrence as they go through their training in order to compete against each other in the world karate championship.

Their journey is interrupted when a ruthless businessman tries to take over their school and turn it into an amusement park.

4. The Forbidden Kingdom (2008)

The Forbidden Kingdom is a 2008 martial arts fantasy film co-written and directed by Rob Minkoff. The film stars Jackie Chan, Jet Li, Collin Chou and Michelle Yeoh who star as a forbidden warrior, an immortal swordsman, an enlightened monk and a young man on a mission to fulfill his destiny respectively.

The film's story is loosely based on the legend of The Monkey King from Chinese mythology. A young man named Jason Tripitikas (Michael Angarano) arrives in China with hopes of finding his missing father who was last known to be in pursuit of the legendary Monkey King (Jackie Chan).

Upon arriving at the Great Wall he meets Lu Yan (Collin Chou) who takes him under his wing as they embark on their quest for immortality.

5. House of Flying Daggers (2004)

House of Flying Daggers is an action-packed martial arts movie set in the Tang Dynasty. It's a love story, but it's also a martial arts movie. This 2004 film was nominated for Best Foreign Language Film at the 2004 Academy Awards, so if you're looking for something new and different from your usual action flick, this is a great choice!

6. Kung Fu Hustle (2004)

Kung Fu Hustle is the story of a small-time conman in Shanghai who takes on the most feared gang in China. Directed by Stephen Chow, this 2004 martial arts comedy features his trademark brand of humor.

It's full of quotable lines, as well as amazing fight scenes and stunts that will have you rewinding the action scenes again and again to catch every detail. If you're looking for something lighthearted, Kung Fu Hustle is filled with plenty of laughs—plus some heartwarming moments too!

7. Fist of Fury (1972)

It’s a little bit of a cheat to put this on the list, because it isn’t technically a martial arts movie in the traditional sense. Bruce Lee plays Chen Zhen, an apprentice of the White Lotus Clan who returns to China to protect his countrymen from Japanese rule during World War II. But while this movie is more historical drama than kung fu flick, it is still one of the best action films ever made—and Bruce Lee's first starring role in Hollywood.

Fist of Fury has been called "one of the most influential martial arts movies ever made" by both The New York Times and Roger Ebert (who also gave a four-star review). It was nominated for an Oscar for Best Foreign Language Film at the 1973 Academy Awards and remains one of only three foreign language films so honored by Hollywood since its inception as an award category (along with 1956's Forbidden City).

It also marks Bruce Lee's first starring role in Hollywood after several years spent honing his craft as an actor and stuntman back home in Hong Kong; he went on to make another five movies before his untimely death at age 32 from cerebral edema following complications from filming Game Of Death II.

8. The Grandmaster (2013)

The film's protagonist, Ip Man (Tony Leung), is a kung fu master who was taught by the famed martial arts legend, Yim Wing Chun. The two had a falling out after Ting Chi (Zhang Ziyi), an opera singer, caught the eye of both men.

Ip Man and his father are forced to flee their home after he loses a fight against a rival and gets accused of cheating his opponent. This prompts him to travel around China where he meets other martial artists and learns about their fighting styles before returning home for one final confrontation with his former teacher in which he must prove himself worthy as an opponent by defeating him using only Wing Chun techniques.

9. IP Man 2 (2010)

IP Man 2: Legend of the Grandmaster is a loosely-based-on-a-true-story martial arts film directed by Wilson Yip and starring Donnie Yen as Ip Man, a grandmaster of the martial art Wing Chun. It is based on the life of Yip Man, who taught a young Bruce Lee in Hong Kong and went on to become one of China's most famous martial artists.

10. Ong-Bak: The Thai Warrior (2003)

A martial arts movie starring Tony Jaa, this movie is directed by Prachya Pinkaew who is also known for directing other martial arts movies such as Tom-Yum-Goong and The Protector. It's a genre that has been brought to life through the imagination of Hollywood filmmakers since the early 1900s.

Ong-Bak takes place in Thailand, where a young villager named Ting (Tony Jaa) seeks revenge against those who murdered his parents and kidnapped his sister. After being captured by soldiers while attempting to save her from slavery, Ting must escape captivity before he can stop his enemies once and for all.

If you're not already a fan of the Muay Thai style, Ong-Bak will give you a reason to be!

11. Hero (2002)

This movie is about a nameless warrior who helps a prince take back his kingdom from an evil warlord. The warrior, played by Jet Li, teams up with a number of other martial artists and eventually defeats the evil warlord.

The movie is directed by Yimou Zhang and was nominated for Best Foreign Language Film at the 2003 Academy Awards.

12. Crouching Tiger, Hidden Dragon (2000)

The 2000 film Crouching Tiger, Hidden Dragon (directed by Ang Lee) is a story about two young warriors who fall in love with the same woman and must fight for her hand. The movie was nominated for Best Foreign Language Film at the 74th Academy Awards, but lost to Chocolat.

However, it did win Best Foreign Language Film at the 73rd Golden Globe Awards and 6th BAFTA Awards. It also won an Oscar for Best Cinematography (Peter Pau).

This gem of martial arts cinema stars Chow Yun-Fat as Li Mu Bai—a skilled warrior who travels through China searching for his stolen sword while falling in love with Yu Shu Lien (Michelle Yeoh)—a woman dedicated to protecting a village from bandits.

When Li Mu Bai meets Jen Yu (Zhang Ziyi), he discovers that she too has been looking out after people in need while training under Master Tie Guai Tingh (Pei-pei Cheng). Jen Yu is ultimately chosen by Tie Guai Tingh as her successor, but Li Mu Bai claims his right as well because of his superior skillset and respect for tradition.