The best part of any martial arts film is the extraordinary action sequences, and there are plenty of movies in the genre that aim to entertain audiences with non-stop action until 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 like Fist of Legend and The Night Comes for Us combine 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 of martial arts styles and 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.

10

HeadsH๏τ (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 in The Raid. The Indonesian actor has continued to lead brutal, action-packed martial arts movies in the years that followed, including HeadsH๏τ. Uwais plays an amnesiac, dubbed Ishmael, who works to uncover the truth about his past while doing everything he can to protect those who saved his life.

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, HeadsH๏τ is redeemed with its intense action sequences. The continuous stretches of conflict may be too repeтιтive and bold for some, but for audiences who prefer their martial arts films to not let up on the action, HeadsH๏τ is an ideal watch.

9

Blood And Bone (2009)

Directed by Ben Ramsey

Michael Jai White is a martial arts movie star known for his brutal fighting, with 2009’s Blood and Bone being a prime example of this. The street fighting martial arts movie follows White’s character, Isaiah Bone, as he further immerses himself in the underground fighting scene in 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.

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.

8

Five Elements Ninjas (1982)

Directed by Chang Cheh

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. 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 Ninjas doesn’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.

7

Shaolin Temple (1982)

Directed by Chang Hsin Yen

Several martial arts movies center around the Shaolin Temple, and it’s 1982’s Shaolin Temple that’s often credited as initiating the trend. The film revolves around Jue Yuan (Jet Li) as he learns kung fu in preparation for his revenge mission against the person who killed his father. 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 was followed by two sequel films with 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.

6

Riki-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 Ricky is filled to the brim with shockingly violent action scenes. The film sees the тιтular 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 is 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.

5

The Night Comes For Us (2018)

Directed by Timo Tjahjanto

Timo Tjahjanto is celebrated for his horror and action films, and The Night Comes for Us is 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 ᴅᴇᴀᴅ.

The Night Comes for Us is full of action, and its 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.

4

The Raid (2011)

Directed by Gareth Evans

Following its 2011 release, The Raid was seen as an incredibly rare and refreshing action film, with its fight choreography being unlike anything audiences had seen in a while. The story of The Raid, also known as The Raid: Redemption in the United States, is pretty simple. The film follows an Indonesian police squad as they raid an apartment building inhabited by drug lord Tama and various other criminals, and rookie officer Rama (Iko Uwais) and other squad members end up being trapped.

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 for The Raid‘s stunning action choreography to truly shine. The action in the film rarely lets up and is brutally realistic.

3

Iron Monkey (1993)

Directed by Yuen Woo-ping

Regarded as one of the best martial arts films of the ’90s, Iron Monkey tells 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 тιтular masked vigilante. The Iron Monkey is known for taking from the rich to help the poor, which upsets the governor and other wealthy residents.

A handful of martial arts films, while entertaining, tend to prioritize flashy fight sequences over substance, but Iron Monkey manages to balance both. The film is considerate with its characters’ journeys and is full of exhilarating action. Yen’s prowess as a martial artist allows him to bring the energy and precision required for Iron Monkey‘s combination of traditional martial arts and wirework.

2

Ong-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 in Ong-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.

Jaa’s mentor Panna Rittikrai choreographed the film’s action and created some of Ong-Bak‘s craziest stunts. Mirroring the likes of martial arts legends, such as Jackie Chan, Jaa’s physicality is awe-inspiring in Ong-Bak and 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.

1

Fist Of Legend (1994)

Directed by Gordon Chan

One of Jet Li’s best fight scenes of his career comes from the ’90s remake of Fist of Fury starring Bruce Lee. In Fist 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.

Still, Fist of Legend is widely enjoyed for its action scenes above 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.