While many of the most well-knownmartial arts moviescame out decades ago, there have been so many modern masterpieces in the 21st century. With major stars like Jet Li, Donnie Yen, Tony Leung, and Michelle Yeoh starring in outstanding films, there’s no shortage of spellbinding visuals,jaw-dropping stunt work, and intense fight sequences in the modern movie landscape.
Martial arts cinema has continued to grow and evolve throughout the 21st century, and filmmakers have endeavored to push the boundaries of what can be accomplished on screen. Although many casual fans will only be familiar withclassics starring Bruce Leeor Jackie Chan, there are so many more modernkung fu classicsto check out.
10The Protector (2005)
The Protector,also known asTom-Yum-Goong, reunited Tony Jaa with theOng-Bakdirector Prachya Pinkaew for yet another high-octane action movie. As another extraordinary showcase of Jaa’s talents as a Muay Thai expert, the intense choreography of this modern classic featured some of the best fight scenes in cinema history.
Featuring Jaa as the last in line of the family of guards protecting the King of Thailand’s war elephants, things kick into hyperdrive when he encounters the men who stole the sacred animals. From an intense staircase showdown to its iconic helicopter stunt scene,The Protectorstands as one of the greatest Thai martial arts movies of all time.
9Flash Point (2007)
One year beforeIp Man, director Wilson Yip and martial arts star Donnie Yen got together for the incredible, underratedFlash Point. As a fantastic martial arts cop movie, Yen played a hot-headed inspector taking on a ruthless Vietnamese criminal gang through a mix of jiu-jitsu, judo, karate, boxing, kickboxing, and wrestling.
Flash Pointwon the Best Action Choreography awards at the 27th Hong Kong Film Awardsand the 2008 Golden Horse Film Awards. Following up on Yen and Yip’s first film together,SPL: Sha Po Lang, it wasFlash Pointthat solidified their status as one of the most acclaimed creative partnerships in modern kung fu.
8Kung Fu Hustle (2004)
Few modern martial arts directors can blend comedy and action better than Stephen Chow, butKung Fu Hustlestands as his crowning achievement. With an impressive 90% score on Rotten Tomatoes, this exceptional story of wannabe gangsters and a turf war during the 1940s was insanely entertaining from start to finish.
With high-dramatic stakes and incredible fight sequences,Kung Fu Hustlepaired its gangster story withLooney Tunes-esque comedyto produce something that was totally original. The famed film criticRoger Ebertpowerfully summed up the appeal of the film when he described it as “like Jackie Chan and Buster Keaton meet Quentin Tarantino and Bugs Bunny.”
7Hero (2002)
As the first Chinese film to top the box office in the United States,Herowas a rare kind of martial arts film that appealed to viewers globally. Taking audiences on a journey into the Warring States Period in Ancient China, this Zhang Yimou modern classic even earned an Academy Award nomination for Best Foreign Film.
Telling the story of a warrior named Nameless,Heroexplored various plots regarding the planned assassination of Ying Zheng. With excellent performances from Jet Li, Tony Leung, and Donnie Yen, some of the biggest names in martial arts were involved. Featuring groundbreaking visuals and stunning choreography, everything aboutHeroproved its status as a modern martial arts masterpiece.
6House of Flying Daggers (2004)
With a blend of action, romance, and kung fu,House of Flying Daggerswas an extraordinary modern wuxia movie that’s a must-watch for any fans ofCrouching Tiger, Hidden Dragon. With beautiful, vibrant colors, eye-catching visuals, and great fight scenes, directorZhang Yimou powerfully captured the elegance of the Tang Dynasty.
Following on from Yimou’s previous success with Hero,House of Flying Daggersfeatured even more awe-inspiring visuals and represented the power of cinema being taken to its absolute extreme. As an unforgettable visual experience, viewers just have to see the beauty of this film to believe it.
5Kill Bill (2003/2004)
Quentin Tarantino introduced a whole new generation of cinema lovers to kung fu withKill Bill. As a pivotal release in introducing martial arts cinema to Western audiences, this 21st-century love letter to kung fu classics paired self-referential action with a thrilling revenge story in a way that kept viewers on the edge of their seats throughout this epic, two-part viewing experience.
Uma Thurman’s lead performance as The Bride was a highlight, but Tarantino also included plenty of martial arts legends among the cast. Taking influence from movies likeFive Fingers of DeathandLady Snowblood,Kill Billtook everything that was great about old kung fu movies and repackaged them in a way modern viewers could enjoy.
4Ong-Bak: Muay Thai Warrior (2003)
Ong-Bakwas Muay Thai legendTony Jaa’s breakthrough successand represents the moment when Thai cinema proved it could go head-to-head against Hong Kong classics in the realm of martial arts. Jaa immediately revealed himself as a major new star, and his incredible stuntwork showcased him as a natural successor to legends like Jackie Chan.
As the story of a stolen ancient Buddha statue,Ong-Baksaw Jaa leave his small Thai village to track down the thieves and recover it. With thrilling chase scenes, spectacular hand-to-hand combat, and over-the-top displays of acrobatics, it’s no surpriseOng-Bakturned Jaa into an immediate star.
3The Raid: Redemption (2011)
The Raid: Redemptionwas an outstanding Indonesian martial arts thriller that took the fast-paced action to a whole other level. With Iko Uwais as Rama, a rookie cop fighting his way through an apartment complex in his quest to take down a criminal drug ring, the non-stop fight sequences and exhaustive choreography of this modern classic were truly jaw-dropping.
As an ultra-violent adventure that leaned into the brutality of bloodshed,The Raidhas received some criticism for its lack of character depth, but it more than made up for this through sheer intensity. While there were plenty of lone-man action movies before this,The Raidpushed things further than ever before.
2Crouching Tiger, Hidden Dragon (2000)
Ang Lee introduced a global audience to the wuxia genre withCrouching Tiger, Hidden Dragon, a modern masterpiece that told the story of Michelle Yeoh as a Chinese warrior going on a sweeping magical adventure. Filled with beautiful visuals and epic sword fighting, viewers all over the world connected with its powerful story, impressive cinematography, and unique aesthetic.
By embracing the more fantastical aspects of martial arts movie history,Crouching Tiger, Hidden Dragondelved into Chinese philosophy and mythology. This was the first non-English language film to cross over $100 million in the United States, and it earned a whopping ten Academy Award nominations.
1Ip Man (2008)
Wilson Yip and Donnie Yen’s incredible collaboration reached its peak withIp Man, the powerfully biographical story of Bruce Lee’s future mentor. As the first movie in a major franchise,Ip Mantold the story of the Wing Chun masterby the same name and his early life struggles during the Sino-Japanese War in Foshan.
With intense and well-choreographed fight sequences,Ip Manfeatured both impressive choreography and an engaging story as Yen proved he was the perfect actor to play this notablemartial artsfigure. Through a powerful message of perseverance in the harshest of circumstances,Ip Manwas a fantastic tribute to the real-life figure.
