The martial arts genre seems to be one that will stay with us forever. It may not be as popular as it once was, but it never fades away to the point where people lose interest. Martial arts movies often feature fight scenes, stunts, amazing action choreography, and often a strong focus on the martial arts, so there's no denying the brashness and spectacle of them all.
A director and a fight choreographer are obviously essential, but a great star is just as important.Because martial arts movies need to thrive on action, and actors play a big role in making the fight scenes believable. The actors below have the charisma, incredible physique, and a certain believability when it comes to action (often because they perform their own stunts). From great actors to the best, here are some of the best actors to have been involved in this genre, especially when it comes to leading roles.
Ten Iko Uwais
Film appearance: The Raid (2011), The Raid II (2014), The Night Comes for Us (2018)
It wasn't until 2011 that he made his breakthrough. Raid, Iko Uwais He has already established himself as one of the greatest martial arts movie stars of all time. Raid was An incredibly pure, brutal and nauseatingly compelling action/thriller film.And in 2014 The Raid 2 Things escalate further, turning the film into both an action movie and a surprisingly epic gangster film.
These two films are arguably Uwais' most iconic work to date, and as the lead in both, he is integral to many of the iconic action scenes scattered throughout them. Hollywood has so far underutilized him in films such as: Star Wars: The Force Awakens And the fourth consumables It's a movie, but anyone who's seen it Raid If you want to see more, check out Iko Uwais (also brutal) night is comingwhere he once again shines in a key role.
9 Shinichi Chiba
Film appearance: Kill Bill Vol. 1 (2003), Street Fighter (1974), Wolf Guy (1975)
Shinichi Chiba He plays a memorable supporting role in the first volume. Kill Billis a great martial arts movie, but Chiba himself doesn't show any martial arts skills. Anyone hoping to see Sonny Chiba actually do some action in an action movie may need to go back a few decades. When he was a big star in Japan, especially in the 1970s.
He was in a typical action movie. Street Fighter series, Wolf Guyand Dragon Princess This work is one of his best from that era. Quentin Tarantino I was a big fan of Chiba. Kill Bill The film pays homage to the martial arts films in which he starred and stars him in the key role of swordsmith Hattori Hanzo.
8 Donnie Yen
Filmography: HERO (2002), Ip Man (2008), John Wick: Chapter 4 (2023)
He's doing a little better than Iko Uwais in Hollywood., Donnie Yen For Western audiences, Rogue One: A Star Wars Story and John Wick: Chapter 4Interestingly, in both films he plays a blind character, but in both cases, his lack of sight does not diminish his fighting ability in any significant way (especially in John Wick).
He has also had a number of notable roles in films outside the United States, including starring in a long-running biopic. Ip Man series, Also, Once Upon a Time in China II In 1992, New Dragon Gate Inn From the same yearHe always delivers great performances whenever he is asked to appear in action scenes, and in his latest John Wick Yen turned 60 the year the film was released, suggesting he has no plans to slow down anytime soon.
7 Chow Yun Fat
Film appearance: Crouching Tiger, Hidden Dragon (2000), Golden Flower (2006), The Killer (1989)
Anyone who played a significant role in the creation of Crouching Tiger, Hidden Dragon is a well-deserved icon of the wuxia genre, bringing something new to the wuxia genre as a whole, paying homage to classic wuxia cinema while making the whole thing more accessible than ever before. Chow Yun Fat Before 2000, he gained fame as an action movie star. Crouching Tiger, Hidden Dragon It made him even more of a legend.
His other films have focused more on gunfights than fist or sword fighting, but roles like “The Killer” and “The King of Fighters” have a physical element to them. hard boiled Those films almost feel like martial arts films, at least in some scenes. And other real/more traditional martial arts films he has starred in include 2006's Curse of the Golden Flower, Scratching the same itch Crouching Tiger, Hidden Dragon Beautiful, visually bold and dramatic impact.
6 Jet Li
Film appearance: “Hero” (2002), “Fearless” (2006), “Once Upon a Time in China” (1991)
Jet Li Born in the same year as Donnie Yen, the two have worked together many times. Hero and Once Upon a Time in China IIIn at least these two instances, Li plays the central character; Once upon a time in ChinaHe starred in the first trilogy of films in the series, three epic tales that were released in 1991 and 1992.
Jet Li's other memorable martial arts films include: Tai Chi Master (1993), The Fist of Legend (1994), and Fearless (2006)He became quite well-known in Hollywood after starring in the first three films. consumables Movies and Mulan (2020)… Sure, they're not as good as the classic Chinese films he starred in, but it's still worth mentioning that he's a martial arts star who has truly achieved international recognition.
Five Sammo Hung
Film appearance: Project A (1986), Ip Man 2 (2010), Millionaire Express (1986)
It's nearly impossible to count the number of iconic action scenes.Sammo Hung's It was part of He began working as a martial arts actor at a young age, appearing in uncredited background roles for a time.He slowly rose through the ranks, eventually becoming a surprise leading man and also an accomplished director of a range of action films.
Han brings a unique physicality to character fight scenes, as he is larger in stature and can move faster than anyone else. He stands out among other martial arts movie actors and has been at the forefront of many classic action movies. Millionaire's Express and Project Aas well as more recent films like the second installment in the series starring Donnie Yen. Ip Man series.
Four Michelle Yeoh
Filmography: Everything Everywhere All at Once (2022), Crouching Tiger, Hidden Dragon (2000), Wing Chun (1994)
Martial arts films of the past few decades have tended to be male dominated; Michelle Yeoh She is as iconic as the great male leads of the genre, and yet she proves that it's unfair that actresses in general are given so little opportunity. She's worked in all fields for decades, and her early work Yes, ma'am! and Great Warriors Still, the majority remain in very good condition.
She never slows down when it comes to choosing action movie roles. Crouching Tiger, Hidden Dragon Co-starring with Chow Yun-Fat As of 2022, she may be playing the best role of her career. Everything, everywhere, all at onceThe Best Picture winner shows she can do a lot more than just action, but when it comes to fight scenes, few stars, male or female, are as consistently skilled as Yeoh.
3 Gordon Liu
Filmography: Kill Bill Vol. 1 (2003), Kill Bill Vol. 2 (2004), The 36th Chamber of Shaolin (1978), The Eight Trigrams Club (1984)
It seems a little unfair to single out just one actor who is so closely associated with Shaw Brothers Studios. Gordon Liu He is without a doubt the studio's greatest star to have had great success. It's like a unique martial arts movie. Shaolin Temple Room 36 or, 8 Diagram Pole FighterLiu continually demonstrated that he understood the challenges at all times.
Like Sonny Chiba, Quentin Tarantino was clearly a fan, giving Gordon Liu not one but two roles in Kill Bill, one as the leader of the Crazy 88 in Vol. 4.1, and appeared as Pai Mei, who has more meaningful lines. Volume 2While these films are probably what most people in the West know Liu for, his dozens of performances in classic martial arts films (often in leading roles) are must-sees for anyone who loves old-school martial arts action.
2 Bruce Lee
Film appearance: Enter the Dragon (1973), Fist of Fury (1972), Way of the Dragon (1972)
Bruce Lee Despite only appearing in four martial arts films in his tragically short career, he remains an iconic action star who is basically unstoppable. Death Gamewas hastily made after he passed away, and the fight scenes he filmed are arguably the best part… well, actually, the only part to be seen in the film, because I found the non-Bruce Lee parts of that film to be pretty lackluster.
But the other four movies are all masterpieces. Given that he could have gone on to make even better films, each one felt a little better or more ambitious than the last. Big Boss, Fist of Fury, Way of the DragonAnd the last movie he completed was Dragon Appearsare all classic martial arts action films of the 1970s and must-sees for any action movie lover. These films forever immortalized Bruce Lee as an icon, and while it will always be painful to think that he didn't get to star in more films, his legacy continues to entertain audiences more than half a century after his death.
1 Jackie Chan
Film appearance: Drunken Master 2 (1994), Police Story (1985), Who Am I? (1998)
With the untimely death of Bruce Lee, Jackie Chan When it comes to identifying an actor as the king of the martial arts genre, Jackie Chan might just beat Lee. Chan has nearly died many times performing spectacular stunts, because at the height of his powers, he seemed like an actor who could do anything. Apart from stunts, he's also a perfectionist when it comes to action choreography, and his dedication almost always pays off.
Before coming to Hollywood, Jackie Chan worked tirelessly in the Hong Kong film industry, starring (and sometimes directing) dozens of great action movies. He continues to fascinate and entertain as he ages, making even his (generally) tame Hollywood appearances a joy to watch. He's a legend, perhaps the most courageous of all time when it comes to stunts, and he always delivers in the action department. No one has done it better in the martial arts genre. Considering both the quality and quantity of his filmography, it's no exaggeration to say that no one can surpass Jackie Chan..
