The best part of any martial arts film is the extraordinaryactionsequences, andthere are plenty of movies in the genre that aim to entertain audiences with non-stop actionuntil the very end. Sometimes, audiences just want to indulge in a minimum of 90 minutes worth of endless action. Though many of these films feature outlandish displays of martial arts and their stories are often indistinguishable to those of other movies in the genre, that’s not always the case.
Action-packed martial arts movies likeFist of LegendandThe Night Comes for Uscombine a compelling, well-written story with action set pieces that are impossible to look away from. Movies with a substantial amount of action present a range ofmartial arts stylesand techniques, including silat, Muay Thai, and kung fu —as well as traditional hand-to-hand combat and wirework. Choreographed by some of the most notable martial arts choreographers, these films are packed with thrilling action that’s guaranteed to entertain.
10Headshot (2016)
Directed by The Mo Brothers
Iko Uwais broke out as a martial arts actor in his first film,Merantau, and gained greater levels of recognition a few years later inThe Raid. The Indonesian actor has continued to lead brutal, action-packed martial arts movies in the years that followed, includingHeadshot. Uwais playsan amnesiac, dubbed Ishmael, who works to uncover the truth about his pastwhile doing everything he can to protect those who saved his life.
Headshot
Cast
Headshot is an action film directed by Kimo Stamboel and Timo Tjahjanto. Iko Uwais stars as an amnesiac man who is nursed back to health by a young doctor, played by Chelsea Islan. As he recovers, violent episodes of his past resurface, dragging him back into a brutal world of criminal underworld conflicts. The film is noted for its intense fight sequences and gritty narrative.
The film is grounded by the emotional aspects of Ishmael’s journey of self-discovery but still contains plenty of thrilling action that brings audiences to the edge of their seats. While its story may not be entirely original,Headshotis redeemed with its intense action sequences. The continuous stretches of conflict may be too repetitive and bold for some, but for audiences who prefer their martial arts films to not let up on the action,Headshotis an ideal watch.
9Blood And Bone (2009)
Directed by Ben Ramsey
Michael Jai White is amartial arts movie star known for his brutal fighting, with 2009’sBlood and Bonebeing a prime example of this.The street fighting martial arts moviefollows White’s character,Isaiah Bone, as he further immerses himself in the underground fighting scenein Los Angeles. Isaiah rises through the ranks fairly quickly and defeats those once considered invincible, but it’s his encounter with a local mob leader that puts him in the most danger.
Blood and Bone
Blood and Bone follows an ex-convict in Los Angeles who enters the underground fighting scene to honor a promise to a deceased friend. Released in 2009, the film showcases intense action as the protagonist navigates the dangerous world of illegal combat.
Isaiah is generous towards those around him, particularly the other residents in his apartment building. However, his involvement with sketchy individuals puts others' lives at risk, adding higher stakes within the film. White is tough and quick on his feet, resulting in gritty action sequences that keep up the momentum of the film. Though White doesn’t utilize flashy wirework or death-defying stunts,Blood and Bone’s fight scenes are nothing short of impressive.
Working as a filmmaker from the 1960s through the early ’90s, Chang Cheh became known for his wuxia and kung fu films, which were full of violence and engrossing action.Five Elements Ninjas, while missing the emotional depth of Chang’s other work, is one of these films.
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The film’s action kicks off following the murder of several martial arts students. The sole survivor of the attack finds a teacher and other students, all considered ninjutsu experts, and together they seek revenge. Like many other martial arts films,Five Elements Ninjas' narrative deals with revenge and features common martial arts tropes.
However,the film is greatly elevated thanks to its extreme and over-the-top action scenes. Similar to Chang’s other films,Five Elements Ninjasdoesn’t hold back with its death count and depiction of violence, though the cartoonish effects in such scenes prevent the film from being impossible to stomach.
7Shaolin Temple (1982)
Directed by Chang Hsin Yen
Severalmartial arts movies center around the Shaolin Temple, and it’s 1982’sShaolin Templethat’s often credited as initiating the trend. The film revolves aroundJue Yuan (Jet Li) as he learns kung fu in preparation for his revenge missionagainst the person who killed his father.
The fight choreography throughout the film is brisk and inventive, with Jue Yuan’s participation creating an intriguing moral dilemma.
Li made his acting debut in the film and began carving a space for himself alongside other legendary martial artists with his impressive athleticism. The fight choreography throughout the film is brisk and inventive, with Jue Yuan’s participation creating an intriguing moral dilemma.
Shaolin Temple
Shaolin Temple follows the journey of a young man who, after escaping the clutches of a usurping general in the East Capital, seeks refuge and trains in martial arts at the Shaolin Temple. The film, released in 1982, showcases his quest for vengeance against the traitor responsible for his father’s death.
Shaolin Templewas followed by two sequel filmswith Li and a remake,Shaolin, featuring an appearance by Jackie Chan. Following the film’s popularity, the Shaolin Monastery became a busy tourist site, and filmmakers throughout China and Hong Kong saw the potential in Shaolin-based stories.
6Riki-Oh: The Story Of Ricky (1991)
Directed by Lam Nai-choi
Entertaining audiences with its bloody confrontations and captivating super-human protagonist,Riki-Oh: The Story of Rickyis filled to the brim with shockingly violent action scenes. The film sees the titular character (Fan Siu-wong) being sent to prison after killing someone. Once he’s in prison, it doesn’t take long for Ricky to start causing trouble. Ricky’s exceptional super-human abilities make him a powerful threat against wardens and other prisoners, and he soon begins accumulating a high body count.
Riki-Oh: The Story of Ricky
Riki-Oh, possessing superhuman strength, uses his martial arts to overthrow corrupt officials in a brutal private prison where inmates are treated as slaves in the future 2021.
Riki-Ohis deemed a cult film, for its brutal violence has long enthralled audiences. The film has earned its fair share of critical acclaim for its over-the-top and unrealistic violence. Ricky is faced with multiple opponents, all equipped with varying fighting skills, yet he proves to be indestructible. The martial arts movie is gory but entertaining, nevertheless, and there’s barely a dull moment within its 90-minute runtime.
5The Night Comes For Us (2018)
Directed by Timo Tjahjanto
Timo Tjahjanto is celebrated for his horror and action films, andThe Night Comes for Usis an excellent blend of the two genres. It follows a former member of the Six Seas Triad,Ito (Joe Taslim), as he’s on the run after refusing to kill a young villager, Reina. Ito teams up with members of his old gang, and they find themselves up against ruthless opponents who are keen on seeing them dead.
The Night Comes For Us
The Night Comes For Us is a 2018 Indonesian action thriller film that follows Ito, a former triad enforcer, who must protect a young girl from a gang of assassins while on the run in Jakarta. Directed by Timo Tjahjanto, the film features a high-octane mix of martial arts and gunfights as Ito faces off against his former allies.
The Night Comes for Usis full of action, andits bloody violence is uncompromising. Though it’s not categorized as a horror film, Tjahjanto’s movie is nearly as terrifying as one. Still, the film has a surprisingly emotional center thanks to Ito and Reina’s sweet father-daughter dynamic. Their heartfelt connection cuts through all the film’s unrelenting chaos without diminishing its violent thrills.
4The Raid (2011)
Directed by Gareth Evans
Following its 2011 release,The Raidwas seen as an incredibly rare and refreshing action film, with its fight choreography being unlike anything audiences had seen in a while. The story ofThe Raid, also known asThe Raid: Redemptionin the United States, is pretty simple.
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The film followsan Indonesian police squad as they raid an apartment building inhabited by drug lord Tamaand various other criminals, and rookie officer Rama (Iko Uwais) and other squad members end up being trapped.
The Raid
The Raid, released in 2012, follows an elite SWAT team as they attempt to infiltrate a fortified apartment block in Jakarta to apprehend a notorious drug lord. Led by martial arts star Iko Uwais, the team faces relentless adversaries in a battle for survival after their cover is blown.
Rama and the other squad members are then forced to fight off the aggressive criminals as they hope to make it out of the building alive. The contained setting and simple story allow forThe Raid’s stunning action choreography to truly shine. The action in the film rarely lets up and is brutally realistic.
3Iron Monkey (1993)
Directed by Yuen Woo-ping
Regarded as one of the bestmartial arts films of the ’90s,Iron Monkeytells a fictionalized story about Chinese folk hero Wong Fei-hung and his dad, Wong Kei-ying. The father-son duo are portrayed by Angie Tsang and Donnie Yen, respectively, and the film sees the latter being given the responsibility of capturing the titular masked vigilante.The Iron Monkey is known for taking from the rich to help the poor, which upsets the governor and other wealthy residents.
Iron Monkey
Iron Monkey is a Hong Kong martial arts film set in a corrupt Chinese village, where a masked bandit known as Iron Monkey robs the rich to aid the poor. The story unfolds as a traveling physician is coerced by the local governor into capturing the elusive bandit.
A handful of martial arts films, while entertaining, tend to prioritize flashy fight sequences over substance, butIron Monkeymanages to balance both. The film is considerate with its characters' journeys and isfull of exhilarating action. Yen’s prowess as a martial artist allows him to bring the energy and precision required forIron Monkey’s combination of traditional martial arts and wirework.
2Ong-Bak: Muay Thai Warrior (2003)
Directed by Prachya Pinkaew
After working as a stuntman for over a decade, Tony Jaa finally earned his breakout role inOng-Bak: Muay Thai Warrior. Jaa leads the film as Ting,a Muay Thai expert tasked with retrieving the stolen head of an ancient Buddha statue. The film isn’t heavily concerned with its characters or plot, and its story is kept relatively simple, allowing for its stunning action sequences to be its greatest appeal.
Ong-Bak: Muay Thai Warrior
Ong Bak: The Thai Warrior follows a young martial artist from a rural Thai village as he embarks on a perilous journey to retrieve the stolen head of their sacred Buddha statue, facing dangerous adversaries and showcasing remarkable Muay Thai skills.
Jaa’s mentor Panna Rittikrai choreographed the film’s action and created some ofOng-Bak’s craziest stunts. Mirroring the likes of martial arts legends, such as Jackie Chan, Jaa’s physicality is awe-inspiring inOng-Bakand its prequel films, which saw him knocking down opponents and making his way through various chase scenes.Ong-Bak’s action earned it a positive critical response, and it has continued to be viewed as an incredible martial arts film years later.
1Fist Of Legend (1994)
Directed by Gordon Chan
One ofJet Li’s best fight scenesof his career comes from the ’90s remake ofFist of Furystarring Bruce Lee. InFist of Legend, Li plays the same character, Chen Zhen, who returns to Shanghai upon hearing that his master, Huo Yuanjia, has died. As Chen Zhen investigates his death, he finds himself entangled in a political conflict involving individuals at a Japanese dojo. The film’s subtext regarding historical and social issues adds an appreciated amount of depth to its story.
Fist Of Legend
Fist of Legend follows Chen Zhen, a Chinese engineering student in 1937, who navigates tensions between Chinese and Japanese factions upon returning to Shanghai after the death of his kung-fu master, challenging the socio-political dynamics of Japanese-occupied China.
Still,Fist of Legendis widely enjoyed for its action scenesabove all else. Legendary martial arts choreographer Yuen Woo-ping was in charge of the film’s fight sequences and proved to have a symbiotic relationship with Li. The actor’s moves throughout the film are inspiring, as they are both precise and powerful, and are wildly entertaining without ever being unrealistic and over-the-top.
