2010s It was an action-packed decade for movies. From superhero blockbusters to his mesmerizing sci-fi spectacles, this decade dazzled audiences with epic cinematic universes and technological advancements of a kind never seen before.
The Marvel Cinematic Universe really took off, and while blockbuster series movies were all the rage, there were still some good old-fashioned martial arts movies that packed a punch and entertained fans.
The heart-pounding adrenaline rush you get when you see an impressive move is something only a proper martial arts movie can provide. Asian cinema in particular experienced something of a renaissance in his 2010s. This is because directors have always pushed the boundaries of action scenes and stunt work to give us new and exciting movies.
This is what the Hong Kong legend looks like donnie yen He added authenticity and weight to his roles and achieved success in both domestic and western films. Hollywood has also gained a foothold in the genre, with major releases such as: The Raid. We look back over the past decade and present you the top 10 martial arts movies of the 2010s.
Ten Triple Threat (2019)
in triple time, a tentative allegiance between a do-gooder billionaire and a shadowy criminal organization leads to a heart-pounding climax. The main plot revolves around a criminal organization targeting a billionaire's daughter and a group of good people who take great risks to protect her. As tensions rise, bloody events increase and countless civilian lives are at risk.
Incredible cast suffers from an average script
Ultimately, it was a box office disaster due to its complicated storyline and common tropes of good guys fighting bad guys. Under the direction of Jesse V. Johnson, triple time Still, it manages to create some nice frictional interactions between the characters, where they display their martial arts skills in well-choreographed fights.
Thanks to a great cast consisting of actors such as Tony Jaa, Iko Uwais, and Tiger Chen, this movie avoids being a disaster, which is why this action thriller earns its place on this list. That's why I'm here.
Stream Triple Threat on Tubi TV
9 Once Upon a Time in Shanghai (2014)
Remake of 1972 movie Boxer from Shandong, Once Upon a Time in Shanghai It's a great Chinese martial arts movie. The story centers on Ma Yongzhen, a man with unparalleled strength and martial arts skills who moves to Shanghai in search of livelihood and wealth.
But after an unusual encounter with upstart gang boss Long Chi and his reluctant involvement in illicit dealings, Ma finds himself caught up in a deceptive game. He is forced to use his fighting skills to survive.
elegant makeover
After appearing in a series of supporting roles, Philip Ng got the chance to showcase his immense talent in this film. Director Wong Chin Chin adds just enough elegant and artistic touches to bring this fascinating period of history to life.
The production design and delicate details immerse the audience in Shanghai's exotic culture and overall atmosphere. It goes without saying that the stunt work and fights will also be in the spotlight. In particular, the scene where Ma challenges Long Chi to a duel and ultimately wins the battle.
Stream Once Upon a Time in Shanghai on Hoopla
8 True Legend (2010)
The year is 1861, and the Emperor rules the Qing Dynasty to the best of his wits and power. Su Kang is a general who often leads his army on dangerous missions, but his final mission is to save the prince from his enemies.
After retiring to start a martial arts school, Sue started a family and had a child. Five years later, his brother-in-law Yuan, who had always been jealous of Su, returns as governor and decides to take revenge on Su for his father's murder of Yuan.
A sophisticated counter-attack exchange
because true legend Yuen Woo-Ping is his first solo directorial project in several years, and is quite ambitious. He crafts outstanding stories featuring boundary-pushing fight scenes and flawless choreography.
Whether it's a simple interaction between characters or an artistic battle, every inch of every frame is filled with grace. The movie also has great performances from top actors such as Vincent Chao, Zhou Xun, and Michelle Yeoh, which further enhances the quality of the movie.
Stream true legends on The Roku Channel
7 Shadow (2018)
In a critical battle a few years ago, the Pei Kingdom was unable to defend Jingzhou City, and the Yang Kingdom reigned supreme. Among the soldiers who fought hard was a highly praised and capable commander, Jiyu, who did not take losses well.
Severely injured, while recuperating in a hidden cave, he trains civilians as “shadows” to impersonate commanders in an unauthorized duel with Yang Cang as part of a rival plan to retake Jingzhou City. There is.
A movie that deserves more recognition
Another Mandarin martial arts movie, Shadow This skill is depicted as a skillful and progressive tool for governing the kingdom. The film is a gorgeous martial arts epic directed by Zhang Yimou, known for his ability to wow audiences with his visuals and choreography.
He did the same thing in a famous movie 12 years ago. golden flower curse. Breaking the mold of previous films in this genre, director Zhang utilizes the talents of Deng Chao, Fu Jun, Sun Li, and Zhen Kai to express hidden character depths with grace and precision. I am.
Stream Shadow on Fubo TV
6 Night is coming (2018)
Despite the simple premise that the night comes to us It's an outstanding, extremely bloody romp from start to finish. The film follows Ito, a former Triad enforcer who is given one mission after another but is given no freedom.
Realizing that Ito's bosses are too selfish, Ito decides to go rogue and rescue a girl from a criminal organization. This triggers a new arrival, Ariane, to rebel and wage all-out war, with the entire gang searching for Ito and the girl.
Brutal, bloody, and breathtaking
The director is the fiercely talented Timo Jajanto, known for disturbing and violent films such as: head shot and spooky, the night comes to us A brutal martial arts mayhem effortlessly transforms into a masterpiece.
From amazing long takes to the most creative ways to inflict pain on your enemies, this movie has a lot to offer. Stars Iko Uwais, Joe Taslim and Julie Esther command the screen with their chemistry and anguish, set against the backdrop of Jakarta.
Stream The Night Comes for Us on Netflix
Five Rise of the Legend (2014)
Revenge stories always have an undeniable appeal. It's hard not to root for the hero as he goes to great lengths to seek justice for those he's lost.
Rise of a legend “'' has a similar setting, in which 21-year-old Wong Fei-hong becomes involved in a gang, but ends up being taken in by the Black Tiger's terrifying boss, Lei Gong. Feihun dedicates himself to learning martial arts and grows into a formidable man. But what we don't foresee is his ulterior motive for Lei Gong's escape.
A combination of dramatic revenge and sophisticated martial arts
In the 19th century, when Chinese warlords and gang leaders were prominent in the country, few were as legendary as Wong Feihong.
and in between Rise of a legend The film is just one in a long list of semi-autobiographical films paying homage to its protagonist, but director Roy Chow Hing Yong's epic vision stands as the most glorious tale of the famous civil war-era martial art. We achieved victory. The film boasts dramatic fight scenes, training montages, and top-notch action.
Stream Rise of the Legends on Prime Video
Four Ip Man 2 (2010)
ip man 2
- release date
- April 29, 2010
- director
- Wilson Yip
This sequel to one of the funniest martial arts movies of all time was a neat conclusion to the story.in ip man 2tells the story of martial arts master Ip Man, who narrowly escapes from Japanese-occupied Foshan and takes his family to British-occupied Hong Kong.
There, Yip struggles with his new life and tries to train himself to become a Wing Chun instructor. This attracts the attention of many ruthless rivals, such as local martial arts master Hung Chun-nam.
Arguably the best movie in the world of Ip Man
Fans were so excited about the situation that ip man After all, expectations were high that the sequel would be just as great. And their dream came true. ip man 2 It was just breathtaking.
Donnie Yen and Sammo Hung give career-defining performances, and their snappy reactions during fights and counterattacks are fun to watch, but it's Darren Shalavi who really stands out as the twisted villain.
Stream Ip Man 2 on Fubo TV
3 Dragon (2011)
dragon, also known as Wuxia in Chinese, is a martial arts film set in the Republic of China in 1917. In this work, we introduce Liu He Jinshi, an ordinary man who lives a peaceful and prosperous life with his wife and his two children.
One day, two thieves invaded his village, and when Ryu happened to be present when they were going on a rampage, he fought and killed them. While the police are happy that Liu has captured the most wanted criminal, detective Xu Baijiu has doubts about Liu's abilities and begins to take shape on his past.
masterpiece of choreography
Starring Donnie Yen, Takeshi Kaneshiro, and Tang Wei. dragon is a unique martial arts movie that features a lot of action and emotion. Set in a turbulent time, the film's minimalist aesthetic only amplifies the toll crime and violence take on the village.
Peter Chan is a great director, and his subtle rendering of fatal moments and solemnity makes this film poetic and captivating. Finally, it's Donnie Yen who deserves a big round of applause for not missing the mark once again.
Stream Dragon on The Roku Channel
2 The Raid 2 (2014)
This Indonesian action thriller is much more complex than previous hits. The Raid: Retaliationis set immediately after the events of . The Raid.
We follow Rama as he goes undercover as a ruthless prisoner to infiltrate a criminal organization and learn about its extensive network. The disguise brings him deeper into the organization, and he works diligently to gather evidence that corrupt police officers are behind the city's deterioration.
An unstoppable martial arts avalanche
Director Gareth Evans once confessed: The Raid 2 that's what he expected The Raid to look like. And it's safe to say, on behalf of all the fans around the world, that we're happy that this movie surpasses the original in terms of insane stunt work and epic martial arts sequences.
The film plucks Iko Uwais' beloved hero from his humble home and into the seedy streets and underworld of Jakarta, making his story more surprising than ever.
Stream The Raid 2 on Freevee
1 Grandmaster (2013)
Another movie based on the life of a Wing Chun grandmaster ip man, Grand Master It is considered director Wong Kar-wai's best work in this genre.
The film, which took an astonishing 10 years to make, portrays Tony Leung as the iconic protagonist as he looks back on his introduction to Wing Chun. Meanwhile, another martial artist from northern China, Kong Yutian, arrives in peaceful Foshan and disrupts Ip's life as he attempts to find his successor.
Wong Kar-wai's sophisticated action saga
In the Western world, many of Wong Kar-wai's films are: Chongqing Express and In a mood of love, It has won love and recognition. Grand Master “'' is one of those movies that doesn't stand out.
But that doesn't take away from the fact that it's the director's best work and a nominee for the Oscar for Best Foreign Language Film. That said, the film is visually stunning, and seeing the intangible elements of Ip's life, such as his heritage and romance, is what makes it special.
Stream Grandmaster on Criterion Channel