Top 10 Best Chinese Martial Arts Films

Fearless, released in 2006, directed by Ronny Yu, and starring Jet Li, portrays the legendary martial artist Huo Yuanjia, who became the most famous martial artist in China in the early 20th century.

Confronted with personal tragedy but ultimately fighting his way out of the darkness, he enters history, defining the true spirit of martial arts. His self-discovery and choices inspired his nation. As the son of a great martial artist, who reluctantly wanted his son to follow in his footsteps, Huo Yuanjia was bullied but determined to teach himself how to fight - and win.

Years of training enabled him to win match after match in his hometown of Tianjin. But as his fame as a martial arts master grew, so did his pride. After an ill-advised fight leading to the death of another master, members of the Huo family were killed for revenge. Grieving and ashamed, Huo wandered across the country in shock.

Near death, he was rescued by women in a humble village, provided with kindness and simple generosity, helping him heal and regain balance over the course of several years. Huo realized that the future of martial arts lay in the sports spirit rather than brutality, and he joined society to apply what he had learned.

Returning to Tianjin, Huo took steps to confront his past and restore his family's name. The Mizong martial arts evolved, and his grace brought new success to Huo, leading to the establishment of the progressive Jingwu Sports Federation. It's noteworthy that members of the Foreign Chamber of Commerce mimicked a tournament in Shanghai, pitting Huo against four fighters, each representing major foreign powers in China. Huo participated in the match, facing off against a British boxer, a Spanish swordsman, a Belgian soldier, and a Japanese martial artist.

Once Upon a Time in China is a classic film series by the Hong Kong-Vietnamese director Tsui Hark. With 6 films produced from 1991 to 1997, Wong Fei-hung vividly portrays the national hero of China, the 'Cantonese Hero' Wong Fei-hung.

Set in Guangzhou at the end of the 19th century, this martial arts film depicts the legendary martial arts hero Wong Fei-hung (1847-1924) taking a stand against foreign forces (Britain, France, and the United States) plundering China. When Aunt Yee returns from the United States completely Westernized, Wong Fei-hung takes on the role of her protector. This proves challenging as his martial arts school and the local militia engage in fierce battles against foreign and local authorities. As violence escalates, Aunt Yee questions her newfound Western ideals, but can Kung Fu stand up to gunfire?

Iron Monkey is a Hong Kong martial arts film from 1993, written and produced by Tsui Hark and directed by Yuen Woo-ping. It features Jet Li, Yu Rongguang, Jean Wang, Angie Tsang, and Yuen Shun-yi.

A Hong Kong take on Robin Hood. Corrupt officials of a Chinese village are continuously robbed by a masked thief known as 'Iron Monkey,' named after a legendary folk hero. When all else fails, the Governor forces a traveling physician (Jet Li) to uncover the identity of the thief. The appearance of an evil Shaolin monk brings the physician and Iron Monkey together to resist the corrupt government.

Ip Man is a Hong Kong martial arts biographical film released in 2008. The movie depicts a chapter in the life of Ip Man, one of the masters of the Wing Chun martial art.

In 1935 in Phat Son, southern China, every street corner has a martial arts school. Ip Man is an undisputed martial arts champion, but he lacks enthusiasm for teaching. However, it seems like all kung fu masters in the city want to challenge him to enhance their reputation.

One day, troublemaker Sa Dam Nguyen, while attempting to retrieve a stuck kite from the tree at Ip's house, accidentally witnesses Ip Man defeating Master Lieu in a martial arts exchange. Dam Nguyen spreads the news throughout Phat Son. Dam Nguyen's older brother, Lam, a disciple of Master Lieu, publicly humiliates his younger brother right in the crowd. Ashamed, Dam Nguyen runs away into the crowd. Kim Son Rao, a crude but formidable Northern Chinese martial artist, challenges all the martial artists in Phat Son except Ip Man and easily wins.

Defeating Kim Son Rao, Ip Man's fame grows as he boosts the pride of Southern kung fu practitioners and the people of Phat Son. Youngsters from Phat Son come one by one to seek Ip Man as their master, but he refuses them all. In the Second Sino-Japanese War, the Imperial Japanese Army seizes the Ip family's home and turns it into a military headquarters in Phat Son. Ip Man and his family lose everything, forced to move to a dilapidated apartment. Desperate to support his family, he finds work at a coal mine alongside Lam. Lam, regretting his humiliation of Dam Nguyen, wants to find and give his younger brother a tin box as a gift but fails.

The Legend is a Hong Kong action and comedy film from 1993 directed by Stephen Chow, with Jet Li as the legendary Chinese folk hero, Fong Sai-Yuk. The film won Hong Kong Film Awards and a Golden Horse Award for Best Action Choreography.

This Hong Kong martial arts extravaganza tells the tale of an oppressive emperor and true love. The Red Lotus Society secretly vows to overthrow the cruel Emperor Manchu and his henchman. One of his governors is sent on a mission to uncover the members of that secret society. Meanwhile, kung fu student Canton Fong Sai-Yuk falls for the beautiful daughter of a wealthy merchant. In an effort to gain influence in the region and thereby improve his business, her father proposes marrying his daughter to the winner of a kung-fu competition. Some amusing gender role reversals take place along the way.

Martial Arts is a 2011 Hong Kong-Chinese martial arts crime thriller film directed by Andrew Lau, starring Donnie Yen, Takeshi Kaneshiro, and Tang Wei. It premiered on May 13, 2011, at the 2011 Cannes Film Festival.

In 1917 during the Republic of China era, Liu Jinxi and his wife Yu are a normal couple with two sons, Fangzheng and Xiaotian, living together in Liu Village, Yunnan. One day, two bandits enter the village, intending to rob the general store. Liu happens to be in the store and fights off and kills the bandits when they become violent. During the examination of the bodies, Detective Xu Baijiu, assigned to investigate the case, discovers that one of the dead bandits is Yan Dongsheng, one of the ten most wanted fugitives by the government. The local magistrate is satisfied, and the villagers see Liu as a hero.

However, Xu becomes suspicious, as he finds it unbelievable that Liu could accidentally defeat such a notorious bandit. Xu notes signs of cerebral hemorrhage from Yan Dongsheng's nerve trauma. From this evidence and others, Xu concludes that Liu is actually a highly skilled martial artist who has concealed his talents through misdirection.

Further investigation leads Xu to discover Liu's true identity: Tang Long, second-in-command of the 72 Demons, a group of ruthless and bloodthirsty warriors. Liu admits to his past but claims he has reformed. Xu, a staunch lawman, refuses to believe that people can change, but he is puzzled when Liu does not kill him when they are alone. Xu immediately returns to the county office to obtain an arrest warrant for Tang Long.

The judge delays issuing the warrant, citing lack of evidence while secretly bribing Xu. Xu eventually receives the bribe money from his estranged wife, who blames him for her father's suicide. After issuing the order, the prosecutor informs the Master of the 72 Demons about Tang Long's whereabouts, hoping to receive a reward. Insulted, the Master reveals that Liu is his son, and he kills the magistrate. The Master sends his minions to Liu's village to capture Liu and level the village.

Hero is a Chinese martial arts film released in 2002, directed by Zhang Yimou. The film stars Jet Li as an unnamed assassin. The story draws inspiration from the attempt to assassinate Qin Shi Huang by Jing Ke in 227 BC.

Ancient China and the Qin Empire are in the process of conquering six kingdoms. This makes its king a target for assassination. However, someone has single-handedly ensured the king's safety by killing three notorious assassins in the region. Treated as a hero, he is summoned to an audience with the king.

In ancient China during the Warring States period, Nameless, a county prefect of Qin, arrives at the Qin capital to meet King Qin, who has survived numerous assassination attempts by the notorious assassins Long Sky, Flying Snow, and Broken Sword. As a result, the king has implemented extreme security measures: no one is allowed within 100 paces of the king. Nameless claims to have killed the three assassins, and their weapons are displayed in front of the king, who allows the former assailant to approach within ten paces and tell his story.

The Legend of the Martial Arts is a Hong Kong martial arts film released in 1994, directed and produced by Yuen Woo-ping. The film features performances by Michelle Yeoh, Donnie Yen, Waise Lee, and Cheng Pei-pei. It was released on March 24, 1994.

Wing-Chun, a young girl, manages a tofu shop for a family in a mountain village along with her father, sister, and aunt. After local bullies attempt to force her into marriage in her youth, she is trained to become a skilled kung fu practitioner to fend off the lecherous men who desire her beauty. However, her newfound strength eventually instills fear in any suitor before the mocking gaze of her father.

She is the only one in the entire village willing to stand up against the local bandits, led by two rogue brothers nicknamed 'Flying Squirrel' and 'Monkey Squirrel.' One day, a young and beautiful widow named Charmy comes to town, encountering the flying squirrels on a hunting spree. Wing-Chun rescues the unsuspecting widow and offers her a job in the family store.

Tai Chi Zhang Sanfeng is a Hong Kong martial arts film released in 1993, directed by Yuen Woo-ping and produced by Jet Li, who also stars in the film. The film was released in Hong Kong on November 18, 1993.

Quan Bao (Jet Li) is a monk who grew up in a Shaolin temple along with his friend Tien Bao. Their friendly competitions to see who is stronger often get them into trouble. In a competition to rise to a higher position in Shaolin, Tien Bao almost kills another student for cheating and using a hidden weapon.

After a disagreement with a master who does not believe Tien Bao, a fight breaks out, leading Quan Bao and Tien Bao to be expelled from the temple. Living in a temple for the rest of their lives, they struggle to adapt to the outside world and eventually get involved with local rebels who regularly steal from a corrupt governor and redistribute the money to the poor. Tien Bao, always ambitious and competitive, feeling tired and disillusioned with their new lifestyle, accepts an offer to join the governor's army.

Clash of the Dragon and Tiger is a 1973 martial arts action film directed by Robert Clouse. The film stars Bruce Lee, John Saxon, and Jim Kelly. It is Lee's final completed film before his death on July 20, 1973, at the age of 32.

Clash of the Dragon and Tiger revolves around three main characters; Lee, a man recruited to investigate a tournament organized by Han, as they believe he is trafficking opium there. Roper and Williams are former comrades from Vietnam, and they enter the tournament due to various issues they face. It's a deadly tournament they will participate in on an island. Lee's job is to get the other two out of there alive.