15 Kung Fu Movies Every High Aristocratic Reader Should See At Least Once (2023)

Kung Fu has become an integral part of American cinema. Modern action movies likematrix matrixykill an accountthey are based on many of the same martial arts styles and principles that many Americans first saw in the movies of Bruce Lee and Jackie Chan.

Although kung fu movies seem so familiar to modern audiences, it wasn't until the 1970's that kung fu movies really made it to America and Americans fell in love with Chinese martial arts movies. The late Bruce Lee, in particular, captured America's imagination when his intense and powerful skill captivated audiences after his untimely death at age 32.

Of course, if you want to know more about the great Chinese kung fu stars, Lee, Jackie Chan and Jet Li, these movies will give you the chance to introduce yourself. But an in-depth look at Hong Kong martial arts films will also lead to a deeper understanding of Chinese culture, Asian history and the development of action films. Perhaps most importantly, these movies feature some of the most complex and impressive combat sequences ever filmed. It wouldn't be wrong to call these movies violent, but when kung fu movies are at their best, the violence escalates to a level of physical beauty unlike anything ever captured on the big screen.

Interest in the genre has only grown among the street culture crowd and famous celebrities in recent years.Kendrick Lamar embraced onkung fu personalitiesand brands likeSupreme has worked with the industry's leading breeders..

Keep scrolling to see our picks of the best kung fu movies by year.

King Boxer aka Five Fingers of Death

Also:1972Principal:Chang-hwa JeongRotten Tomatoes:80 percentEditor's Note:It is impossible to underestimate the historical importance of theBoxeador König, the first Chinese kung fu film to gain wide distribution in the United States. It's also important to note that this martial arts film perfectly embodies the violent, action-packed cinematic formula of the Shaw brothers, China's leading kung fu producers. 1967one-armed swordsmanmarked his transition to more visceral martial arts films, howeverBoxeador Königelevated the form to a place that would later influence decades of Chinese kung fu cinema.

the plot ofBoxeador Königis all too familiar: a disciple (Chao Chih-Hao) is sent by his former master to learn better skills in order to defeat villains and win his daughter's hand in marriage. But as for the executionBoxeador Königset the standard for subsequent films in the kung fu genre. There's a smooth grindhouse technical style that contrasts a more melodramatic classic narrative with a great cast. The fights are constant, linear and cinematic and give a wild dynamic to the action.

DuringBoxeador KönigIt's not the perfect martial arts movie, it might be the classic kung fu movie, and it's certainly the movie most responsible for entering "kung fu" into the American lexicon.

Fist of Rage (1972)

Also:1972Principal:Lo WeiRotten Tomatoes:92 percentEditor's Note:Bruce Lee's trademark intensity is contrasted with the need to maintain honor, resulting in a technically impressive and surprisingly comic effect.fist of rage🇧🇷 Of the first wave of Chinese kung fu movies to hit American shores, this is one of the funniest.

Lee plays a martial arts student who must avenge his former teacher while preserving his school's integrity and honor (and, by extension, his teacher's memory). The results are alternately dramatic and comic;fist of rageit contains some of Lee's best fight scenes, but it also delivers one of his best performances. Additional depth is added to the film as it explores Chinese identity against the backdrop of 1930s Japanese occupation, finding moments of pain and emotion beneath the laughs.

enter the dragon

Also:1973Principal:Roberto ClouseRotten Tomatoes:93 percentEditor's Note:Bruce Lee is the titan of the kung fu genre, loved the world over for his unrivaled martial arts skills.enter the dragonis the best demonstration of Lee's unique talent. Some critics even say that this, Lee's last film, was the only one that gave him "the star treatment he deserved" before his untimely death.

enter the dragonhe's clear in his morals and sincere almost to the point of camp, but that makes the movie all the more charming. The villainous Shih Kien is the most cunning villain you can imagine, dealing in opium and slaves. Our hero must not only investigate the man's crimes, but also win a massive martial arts competition held at his palatial island estate. Oh, and didn't you know it, Lee must face the big bad who killed his sister.

When material sounds familiar or even dated, Lee and Clouse take it to master level. Bruce Lee directed all of the action sequences and his emotional connection to them is unrivaled in his career. Clouse was known as a genre director who could elevate his material, and he does so with impressive grace, making the most of Gilbert Hubbs' gorgeous cinematography and James Wong Sun's lush art direction.

It's a shame that Bruce Lee died at just 32 years old, but it's a gift that, before his untimely death, it was possible to unite his unique talents and a film to showcase them.

The 36th Shaolin Chamber

Also:1978Principal:Liu Chia-LiangRotten Tomatoes:89 percentEditor's Note:Thanks most of all to the Wu-Tang Clan,The 36th Shaolin ChamberIt became perhaps the most well-known kung fu film in the West. Lucky for us, the movie deserves that reputation.

For a DVD version of36. Chamber of ShaolinHitting American shores in 2007, thanks to the now disgraced Weinstein Company, the massive US audience once again confirmed what fans had long believed to be true:camera 36is one of the best kung fu movies of all time.

Also known asmaster assassinyShaolin-Meister,36. Chamber of Shaolinfeatures some of the finest martial arts ever captured on film in a story that exemplifies the kung fu genre. San Te (Liu Chia-Hui/Gordon Liu) barely escapes the invading Manchu soldiers with his life. His thoughts turn to revenge and he joins Shaolin monks who undergo rigorous physical and mental training. Chamber 36 of the same name refers to the final level of training that San Te must complete before returning to face the man who ruined his idyllic past life.

While the movie's fight scenes are amazing, the philosophical depth isThe 36th Shaolin Chamberthat distinguishes it from others in this genre. Each challenge our hero faces offers not just a physical lesson, but intellectual and emotional growth as well.

the lost son

Also:1983Principal:sammo hangingRotten Tomatoes:91 percentEditor's Note:Some Americans only know Sammo Hung from his stints on American TV shows likemartial lawyWalker, Ranger do Texas🇧🇷 But lovers of kung fu cinema know that he ranks alongside Jackie Chan as one of the greatest martial arts film directors of all time.

the lost sonis basically a critique of nepotism. Yuen Biao plays a wealthy son who thinks he's a kung fu prodigy, only to discover his father has paid his opponents to dip. The shame of this revelation motivates him to become a true martial arts champion.

Our selfish hero finds two new teachers, one who is an amusing Peking Opera star (Lam Ching-ying) and his goofy brother (played by Hung). The results are equally hilarious and impressive, and Hung animates the action with the vividly directed camera movement that established him as a kung fu legend.

police story

Also:1985Principal:Jackie ChanRotten Tomatoes:90 percentEditor's Note:One of the best kung fu movies of all time, as well as one of the best action movies of the 80's.police storyshows the legendary Jackie Chan at the height of his powers.

The film follows Chan's character, Kevin Chan, as he tries to protect a witness who is preparing to testify against an untouchable crime boss. To do this, he not only has to deal with the criminal underworld, but also with his own corrupt, disinterested, and narrow-minded superiors. That's right, a lone cop forced to play by his own rules. Like I said: very 80s.

Jackie Chan differs from other kung fu movie stars in many ways. Therein lies their meticulous attention to detail. They have their outrageous but incredibly complex choreography. And, perhaps most importantly, there's his wicked sense of humor. This film is influenced by Charlie Chaplin and Buster Keaton, as well as Chen's kung fu ancestors. All this and much more is on display atpolice story, and the result is one of the greatest cinematic performances by martial arts virtuosos of all time.

The fight, which involves the total destruction of a department store, is one of the best fight scenes ever captured on film. This brilliant 10-minute scene sums up what makes this Chinese kung fu masterpiece so great: this careful balance of dark violence and infectious physical comedy.

Once upon a time in China

Also:1991Principal:hear tsuiRotten Tomatoes:88 percentEditor's Note: Once upon a time in ChinaIt was rarely seen in the US when it was released in 1991 (that would come a decade later), but it was the film that established Jet Li as a bona fide star of Chinese kung fu cinema.

The villain here is not the Japanese - or the competing schools - but colonialism. In particular, Li's character, the 19th-century physician and martial artist Wong Fei-hung (the same character who played Jackie Chan inLegend of the Drunken Master), involves advancing US and UK forces.

Tsui and Li bring a more melodramatic and serious tone to the story than Chan.drunk teacher, youOnce upon a time in Chinayou might get stuck in your serious tone. But there's no denying that these two together produce some of the best kung fu action scenes of Li's martial arts film career.

Iron Monkey (1993)

Also:1993Principal:Woo-ping YuenRotten Tomatoes:90 percentEditor's Note:The consequences ofHidden Dragon Crouching Tigerallowed kung fu movies to gain an unprecedented foothold in America. One of the gems rediscovered in this renaissance was Woo-ping Yuensiron monkey.

iron monkeytells the story of Wong Fei-hong, a 19th-century folk hero who is often the subject of kung fu stories (an earlier version of the character is explored in Jackie Chan's filmThe Legend of the Drunk Teacher🇧🇷 Contrasting the Robin Hood-esque righteousness of wandering warriors with the corruption of court intrigue, the story is familiar but provides a great canvas for an action-packed narrative.

Principally,iron monkeydoesn't try to reinvent the wheel; The aim here is to introduce some retro kung fu, and the film delivers. Only one fight in particular is worth the price of admission, with combatants swinging from tall wooden poles that lead to certain death in a huge pit of fire, then devolve into a duel with flaming rams.

The Legend of the Drunk Teacher

Also:1994Directors:Lau Kar-Leung, Chia-Liang Liu, Liu Chia-LiangRotten Tomatoes:83 percentEditor's Note:A sequel to the 1978 Chinese kung fu film,The Drunk Master,The Legend of the Drunk Teacherallowed Jackie Chan to show the world the true extent of his comedic skills.

roger ebertI wrote, “The Legend of the Drunk TeacherIt's just incredible. It's some of the most intricate, difficult and fun action sequences I've ever seen." the film the crowd His performance in this film is perhaps the funniest in a martial arts film.

The film's premise (if any) is that Chan's character used the ability to get drunk (or pretend to be drunk) to improve his fighting ability. The result is equal parts thrilling action and screwball comedy, culminating in a 20-minute fight sequence that is widely considered one of the best ever filmed.

fist of legend

Also:1994Principal:gordon chanRotten Tomatoes:100%Editor's Note: fist of legend, a remake of the Bruce Lee classicfist of rage, made Jet Li an icon of international cinema. Watching the film, it's easy to understand why.

I likefist of rageand a bunch of other kung fu movies,fist of legenduses the occupation of Japan in the 1930s as a canvas for its harrowing action sequences. The action is, of course, secondary to the fight choreography. The partnership between fight choreographer Yuen Woo-Ping and Li resulted in some of the best kung fu action sequences in recent memory and launched their careers internationally. Yuen Woo-Ping would later work with the Wachowski sisters, Ang Lee and Quentin Tarantino, as Li would become a household name around the world.

Hidden Dragon Crouching Tiger

Also:2000Principal:die readRotten Tomatoes:97 percentEditor's Note:If the kung fu movies of the 1970s brought Chinese martial arts to America's attention, this has happened.Hidden Dragon Crouching Tigershowed the western world that martial arts films can be high art. Ang Lee's film was a critical and financial success, captivating American audiences and taking home four Oscars for a total of nine nominations.

If you've seen the movie, the fight scenes, courtesy of Lee and acclaimed fight choreographer Yuen Wo-Ping, are unforgettable. State-of-the-art "Wire Fu" technology is elevated to the level of absolute mastery in rooftop battle scenes and swaying trees. There was nothing like it before in martial arts movies, and fight choreography has heavily influenced many kung fu movies since then.

Like the stunning graphics, the acting and storytelling are on a different level than standard kung fu. Themes of honor, revenge and enduring love are as moving as the fight scenes and create one of the great masterpieces of martial arts cinema.

kill an account

Also:2003 e 2004Principal:Quentin TarantinoRotten Tomatoes:84 percentEditor's Note:Tarantino is a master of postmodern satire. Blending genres with passion and skill, he transitions from Westerns to dark crime and kung fu with ease.kill an account, is, of course, Tarantino's homage to kung fu movies, although, as usual, he dabbles in a few other genres on the side. The result is one of the most compelling American films in recent memory, and a film that pays deep respect to the martial arts films that influenced Tarantino throughout his long and storied career.

On a technical level, both volumes arekill an accountthey offer incredibly exciting combat sequences. The bride (Uma Thurman) wakes up after years in a coma thinking only of revenge. She sets out to exact revenge on a group of assassins who have broken up, meaning that each confrontation with the bride offers a different scenario and a new fight. Above all, she looms the specter of a final showdown with Bill (David Carradine), the man who left her for dead.

Yes, all of Tarantino's movies are full of pastiches and homages, but when does that combination of influences produce something like this?kill an account, the result is something completely unique that, like its cinematic martial arts influences, will stand the test of time.

Sustained

Also:2004Principal:Zhang YimouRotten Tomatoes:95 percentEditor's Note:Dislike of so-called "wire-fu" effects, so popular in the early 21st century, dampened enthusiasm for films at the time.Hidden Dragon Crouching Tigere Zhang YimousSustained.Sustainedshould be remembered not just as a well-regarded relic of the Wire-Fu era, but as a masterpiece of unrivaled visual beauty.

heroesThe opulent visual palette doesn't just stand out among martial arts films: Christopher Doyle's cinematography is among the best of the 21st century. the sections ofSustainedclearly differentiated by bold, clear color palettes that indicate who is telling the story - a stylish update on the Japanese masterpiece modelRashomon.

While the martial arts sequences are excellent, anchored by the great Jet Li, it's the accompanying visual style, carefully selected and beautifully photographed, that makes Hero an unforgettable masterpiece that transcends the Chinese kung fu genre and tackles it in a unique way. front. International masterpieces land at the Pantheon.

kung fu feats

Also:2005Principal:Stephen ChowRotten Tomatoes:90 percentEditor's Note:The series is set in 1940s Shanghai in Pigsty Alley, a slum filled with thugs and thugs.kung fu featsis one of the most gritty and meticulously choreographed kung fu movies ever made.

find somethingkung fu featsvery lighthearted and unrealistic, with axe-wielding gangsters and elderly landlady who smokes nonstop even when she's kicking ass. But most moviegoers will be willing to stifle their disbelief long enough to appreciate some of the craziest and most ridiculous stunts you'll ever see in a martial arts movie.

ip man

Also:2008Principal:wilson yipRotten Tomatoes:89 percentEditor's Note:More political than the typical Chinese kung fu movie,ip manit's actually a biopic of the main character, who was not just a kung fu master, but a Chinese national hero.

When many in the West thinkWWIIThey don't think of the conflict between China and Japan that lasted from 1937 to 1945 and involved the brutal occupation of China.ip mantells this story that has been somewhat ignored in the West. Despiteip manwas criticized for its one-dimensional portrayal of the Japanese, this is a martial arts film that spans a backdrop less familiar to American audiences.

The wide and melodramatic range ofip manprovides a great stage for wing chun style kung fu performancesip manAnd modern filmmaking techniques allow some of the most impressive action sequences to appear in a kung fu movie, a true showcase of star Donnie Yen's martial arts talents.