The Greatest Kung Fu Movies, Ranked

Though they have their roots in Chinese cinema, kung fu movies have become iconic and beloved the world over. From gravity-defying stunts to high-flying kicks, these films have captivated audiences for decades with their mesmerizing style. Some of the best kung fu movies were also responsible for turning now well-known screen legends into household names.

The kung fu film genre gained prominence in the early ’70s following the waning popularity of the Wuxia films, characterized by their supernatural tropes of Chinese myths and legends. As more hard-hitting kung fu action reached the international shores, the martial arts subgenre brought a cultural revolution in cinematic history. Several of these films came to be adored across the globe, but only the best kung fu movies truly withstood the test of time.

Updated by Robert Vaux and Timothy Blake Donohoo on May 7, 2024: Chopsocky kicks and karate chops helped make the kung fu movie genre a hit in the 1970s. Since then, several kung fu movies have taken the genre even further, thanks to incredible action and unique twists on familiar tropes. Even though kung fu isn’t as prominent on the big screen as it once was, various movies have kept names such as Jackie Chan, Jet Li, and Bruce Lee relevant for generations. The list has been updated with five new entries — including a pair of prominent wuxia films that cross over with more straightforward kung fu movies — and updated to match CBR’s current guidelines.

15 Crippled Avengers (1978) is a Bloody Tale of Revenge and Honor

At the height of their rivalry with Golden Harvest, the Shaw Brothers employed six actors in lead roles (famously called the Venom Mob in the English-speaking world). Crippled Avengers was their third movie together in a year, and their chemistry showed up in the elaborate fight scenes.

When four men get maimed at the hands of a tyrant and his clan, they band together to get revenge or die trying. Director Chang Cheh, often regarded as the “Grandfather of Hong Kong Cinema,” used the unusual premise to craft a straight-to-the-chase revenge tale. Crippled Avengers isn’t without its faults, but it’s everything that makes the kung fu genre great.

14 The Legend of the Drunken Master (1994) Gives Jackie Chan More Stunts and a Bigger Budget

By the ’90s, Jackie Chan had become a bona fide action movie star. But it was over a decade since he last tried his hand at traditional Chinese martial arts movies. With Legend of the Drunken Master, Chan returned to the basics from Drunken Master, albeit with a bigger budget and over-the-top action set pieces.

Reprising his role as the famed folk hero Wong Fei-hung from his 1978 classic Drunken Master, Chan upped the ante with his incredible stunt work. The movie’s blistering climax depicting the fight scene between Fei-Hong and Ken Lo’s John took four months to shoot, highlighting the actors’ dedication to their craft.

13 The Grandmaster (2013) is a Visually Sumptuous Kung Fu Masterpiece

Celebrated director Wong Kar-wai is known for his visual poetry. Each scene may seem frozen in time, yet they say a lot. On paper, a kung fu movie may not seem suitable for such a venture, especially with the tendency to devolve into weightless action. Nevertheless, The Grandmaster delivers on all levels thanks to its excellent cinematography, acting, and soundtrack.

Starring a stellar lineup of actors that includes Tony Leung, Zhang Ziyi, and Zhang Jin, The Grandmaster presents a slice of Ip Man’s life, better known as Bruce Lee’s instructor. The choreography seems almost balletic, with powerful performances in front of the camera, wiping away any memory of the movie being in development hell for years. The Grandmaster was worth the wait, becoming one of the top kung fu movies ever.

12 Five Deadly Venoms (1978) is an Action-Packed Spectacle

Five Deadly Venoms was the first Chang Cheh and Venom Mob collaboration that still stands the test of time. It also brought a unique visual style to the cinematic world of kung fu. Interestingly, the martial arts depicted in the film borrowed its aesthetics from the most toxic animals found in nature: snakes, scorpions, toads, lizards, and centipedes.

Five Deadly Venoms spins a web of murder, conspiracy, and betrayal. One of the most underrated movies of the genre, its top-notch action choreography remains an exemplary example of a bygone era. Five Deadly Venoms became a cult classic with its North American release, leaving a wide cultural footprint still found in outside media and music.

11 Police Story (1985) Is Jackie Chan’s Breakout Hit

Jackie Chan established a distinct onscreen identity early in his career, with the likes of Fearless Hyena and the first Drunken Master embracing the comic potential of kung fu. Police Story — and its long string of sequels — helped elevate his profile outside of Asia and paved the way for eventual success in America. The actor himself considers it his best film, playing a policeman falsely accused of murder who must clear his name while arresting the drug lord responsible.

As with most Chan movies, the details are less important than the actor’s signature comedic persona—-drawing as much inspiration from Buster Keaton as Bruce Lee—and the jaw-dropping stunts he and his team execute on camera. The topper is an opening car chase that sees both Chan and a vehicle careening downhill through a shantytown. It still needs to be seen to be believed.

10 Iron Monkey (1993) Is a Showcase for Yuen Woo-Ping

Yuen Woo-ping is best known as a fight choreographer, having created some of the most imaginative and memorable combat scenes in movie history. American audiences know his work best from the first three Matrix movies and the two parts of Quentin Tarantino’s Kill Bill. Multiple films on this list feature Yuen’s fight scenes, and he has also directed dozens of movies in the genre.

The best of them is doubtless Iron Monkey, based on legendary stories of a vigilante kung-fu master who steals from the rich and gives to the poor like Robin Hood. The story is simplistic, and the characters are one-note, but once the fists start flying, Yuen is in his element, and the results are truly breathtaking.

9 The Raid: Redemption (2011) Is Superior Action from Indonesia

Wags have referred to The Raid as Fight: The Movie, and the description isn’t entirely inaccurate. It follows an Indonesian police officer on a raid into a low-rent apartment building that serves as the fortress for a wanted crime kingpin. Character and plot are kept to an absolute minimum. The protagonist is a good man with a pregnant wife that he loves. The crime lord is a callous but clever monster. That’s all the film needs, and to ask for more is missing the point.

From there, writer/director Gareth Edwards unleashes a never-ending barrage of some of the most innovative fight scenes ever put on film. Much of it involves gunplay and martial arts, but it’s never less than riveting for over 90 minutes. It constitutes a high point of Indonesia’s strong tradition in the genre.

8 Once Upon a Time in China (1991) is an Epic Worthy of Its Star

Many actors have portrayed Wong Fei-hung on the silver screen, but only a few are as iconic as Jet Li in that role. Once Upon a Time in China turned Li into a bankable star overnight and launched a successful franchise. The film was more than just a kung fu movie. It stood the test of time and became a historical classic.

Director Tsui Hark served as producer, director, and writer for the film, whose political premise was deeply rooted in the history of late 19th-century China. Once Upon a Time in China is end-to-end action as a fearless Jet Li shows off his stunts in acrobatic style while beset with enemies on all sides. Singer George Lam provided the theme music, which remains as memorable and inspiring as Li’s kicks.

7 Ip Man (2008) is Just the Beginning of an Action-Packed Franchise

Before future John Wick: Chapter 4 actor Donnie Yen became the go-to martial arts movie star for Hollywood, the actor struggled in the Hong Kong film industry despite his movies getting critical acclaim. Ip Man‘s runaway success changed Yen’s career trajectory for the better, registering his biggest hit ever from a box office point of view.

Ip Man is a rare treat of a kung fu movie, especially on this side of the century. A semi-biographical story, the focus remains on Ip Man’s life and his Wing Chun style, as he uses his fists to survive the harsh life under Japanese occupation. It wouldn’t be a lie to say that Ip Man‘s popularity directly influenced the Wing Chun craze worldwide. Likewise, it pushed international awareness of Ip Man’s legacy.

6 The Way of the Dragon (1972) Pits Bruce Lee Against Chuck Norris

Legendary martial artist Bruce Lee made his directorial debut in 1972’s Way of the Dragon. He co-produced the movie with Golden Harvest while acting, writing, and dubbing for almost all English-speaking parts. A marked departure from the grittier tone of his last two escapades, Lee had more fun crafting the screenplay with various humorous aspects. The result was one of Lee’s most iconic kung fu movies.

Way of the Dragon tells the story of Tang Lung as he visits his compatriots in Rome, who are trying to run a restaurant but face trouble from the local syndicate. In an aptly named title, Lee flaunts his self-developed kung fu style. However, the breathtaking final fight between Bruce Lee and the ineffable Chuck Norris takes the cake, pitting the two notable fighters against each other.

5 Hero Exemplifies 21st Century Wuxia

The success of Crouching Tiger, Hidden Dragon granted wuxia and kung fu movies new artistic respectability on the global stage. Hero takes full advantage of the opportunity with one of the most visibly striking movies of the last 25 years. Jet Li plays a legendary warrior in Ancient China who approaches a powerful king with evidence that he has saved the ruler from a trio of deadly assassins.

As he recounts the story, director Zhang Yimou evokes a deliberately mythic landscape of striking colors and compositions. The combat scenes are elegant and imaginative, with martial artists capable of superhuman feats during their clashes. While it lacks the emotional resonance of Crouching Tiger, Hidden Dragon, the cinematic poetry on display elevates the genre like few films before or since.

4 Kung Fu Hustle (2004) is a Genre-Bending Comedy with Heart

Stephen Chow’s first real claim to fame came in the early 2000s when Western audiences got a taste of Chow’s off-brand slapstick humor in Shaolin Soccer. His next movie — 2004’s Kung Fu Hustle — was unlike anything the world had experienced in a long time. It prompted comedian Bill Murray to say, “There should have been a day of mourning for American comedy the day that movie came out.” Uniting kung fu action with hilarious jokes involving angry landlords and a dim-witted bum, the movie told the tale of a walking disaster who becomes a kung fu master.

Kung Fu Hustle follows Sing, a wannabe gangster who becomes entangled in the hidden world of kung fu masters. Filled to the brim with pop culture references and movie Easter eggs, Kung Fu Hustle won the masses with its relatable depiction of life’s struggles and left them entertained with its cartoonish fistfights. Its comedy helped it transcend genres and find fans beyond kung fu movie aficionados. Likewise, it was a major influence on the Kung Fu Panda series.

3 The 36th Chamber of Shaolin (1978) Has Some of the Greatest Fight Sequences

It is no exaggeration to call The 36th Chamber of Shaolin the quintessential Shaolin kung fu movie in cinema history. More impressive is the way the film blends period drama, a revenge story, and training montages to plot the course of the hero’s journey from a hapless rebel to a lethal weapon.

Starring Gordon Liu in the role of his life, The 36th Chamber of Shaolin is a heavily fictionalized life story of a Shaolin monk named San Te. Liu’s acting, coupled with the character’s struggles as he masters different forms of martial arts, makes this film a legendary saga that will make anyone join San Te’s fight.

2 Crouching Tiger, Hidden Dragon (2000) Redefined What Kung Fu Was

Kung fu has never been a particularly respected genre. The bulk of it—even the masterpieces—was made on low budgets with profit clearly in mind. For decades, it was limited to grindhouses and drive-in theaters, and even during the VHS boom in the 1980s and 90s, fans had to seek it out in the shabbier corners of the video store. Aside from an occasional Bruce Lee movie, few people outside of the genre faithful had actually seen one.

Crouching Tiger, Hidden Dragon changed all of that in one fell swoop. Director Ang Lee draws huge inspiration from the wuxia of his youth in the story of a magic sword, two pairs of lovers, and the ultimately tragic conflict between them. The movie was a smash international hit — sweeping up awards and critical accolades in the process — and brought millions of new fans into the genre who might have always regarded kung fu as cut-rate. Needless to say, it’s aging like fine wine.

1 Enter the Dragon (1973) is a Stone Cold Classic Kung Fu Flick

​​​​​​​The first Chinese kung fu movie produced by Hollywood, and possibly the greatest of all time, Enter the Dragon immortalized Bruce Lee as an international phenomenon. The film boasts a multicultural, diverse cast that gives it a festival feel, celebrating the world of martial arts. Likewise, Enter the Dragon incorporates elements of espionage movies such as the James Bond series. This broadened scope further cemented its status as a classic.

Enter the Dragon isn’t just Bruce Lee breaking skulls open with his nunchucks skills or high-kicking enemies to oblivion. It also has profound philosophical adages applicable to one’s own life. From famed composer Lalo Schifrin’s outstanding soundtrack to the sleek fight scenes that can rival today’s action, Enter the Dragon has left behind a mammoth legacy that influences martial arts movies to this day. As a result, it’s almost always listed at the top of the best kung fu movies of all time.