The martial arts icon Donnie Yen stands as one of the most acclaimed performers in Hong Kong, and kung fu fans can stream several of his movies right now. As a star who’s been punching his way through the Hong Kong film industry for the past four decades, Yen has been at the forefront of martial arts cinema as he’s starred in action, crime, comedy, and even historical fighting films. From incredible old-school kung fu movies to highly underrated releases, Yen has carved out a career for himself as one of the most acclaimed martial arts stars of modern times.

Many of the best Yen movies are currently available on streaming platforms, with Prime Video boasting a particularly impressive back catalog of must-watch martial arts films. Whether it’s Donnie Yen franchises like the Ip Man series or lesser-known releases, even die-hard kung fu fans will likely discover something new when they delve into Yen’s body of work on streaming platforms. As a star who has always kept the quality of his work high, usually Yen’s presence alone is enough reason to check out a martial arts movie.

10

Dragon Tiger Gate (2006)

Available On Prime Video

Donnie Yen reunited with his Kill Zone director and frequent collaborator Wilson Yip for the martial arts fantasy Dragon Tiger Gate. This story of three martial artists emerging from the backdrop of Hong Kong to push back against injustices and fight for the powerless starred Yen, who also acted as the fight choreographer. With some impressive visuals, Dragon Tiger Gate even earned a place in film history as a giant punching bag constructed for the film earned the Guinness World Record (via Chinese Broadcast) for being the biggest such item ever.

With a cartoonish sensibility and some over-the-top fight sequences, Dragon Tiger Gate may not have been a hit with critics, but it certainly made for entertaining viewing. As a popcorn movie that didn’t take itself too seriously, kung fu fans should sit back and enjoy yet another acclaimed collaboration between Yip and Yen. With later works including Flash Point and the Ip Man series, Yip always knew how to bring the best out of Yen.

9

Legend Of The Fist: The Return Of Chen Zhen (2010)

Available On Netflix

For kung fu lovers, Legend of the Fist: The Return of Chen Zhen came with a lot of history and had a lot to live up to. As a sequel to the Jet Li movie Fist of Legend, which itself was a reimagining of Fist of Fury starring Bruce Lee, plenty of iconic performers had already tackled the role of Chen Zhen when Donnie Yen took up the тιтle role for this release. While the film may not have lived up to those lofty expectations, it was clear that Yen was a natural successor to those acclaimed stars.

Legend of the Fist: The Return of Chen Zhen featured plenty of awe-inspiring choreography as it told its story of Zhen revealing he was alive after all and pushing back against the Japanese mob. While the plot may have been convoluted at times and the movie felt uneven in moments, Legend of the Fist was also an enjoyable successor that had enough thrills and excitement to keep viewers engaged throughout.

8

Wing Chun (1994)

Available On Prime Video

Wing Chun starred Michelle Yeoh in a fictionalized depiction of the legendary martial artist who had an entire discipline named after her. By showcasing how a young woman who ran a tofu shop used her fighting skills to protect her village from invading bandits, Wing Chun was a powerful kung fu story of female empowerment. With Donnie Yen as Leung Pok-to, Wing-chun’s childhood friend and later fiancé, he delivered a great performance that highlighted his skill in a secondary role.

Through an impressive exploration of Sєxual politics that embraced a violent sensibility, what Wing Chun lacked in authenticity, it more than made up for with dazzling fight sequences. While it was enjoyable to watch Yen deliver some spectacular fight sequences, it was Yeoh who was really the star of the show in this underrated release. This was also not the only collaboration between Yen and Yeoh, who also appeared together in Crouching Tiger, Hidden Dragon: Sword of Destiny.

7

Drunken Tai Chi (1984)

Available On Prime Video

Donnie Yen made his first true acting debut in Drunken Tai Chi, although he had previously worked as a stuntman in the Hong Kong martial arts industry. Telling the story of a young man on the run from a ruthless killer, Yen found refuge with a Tai Chi expert and his heavy-set wife, who taught him the skills he needed to save his life. As the dawning of a brand new star, Yen’s role had echoes of Jackie Chan in Drunken Master, as this fascinating story blended comedy and kung fu in a classic tale of a young protégé learning the wisdom of their drunk master.

Yen’s acting debut showcased his skills both as a martial artist and as a dramatic performer, as Drunken Tai Chi’s unconventional blend of classic kung fu and Americanized crazes like skateboarding made the film feel totally unique. While Yen would go on to lead much more impressive martial arts films than this, Drunken Tai Chi was a solid debut that will appeal to fans of Chan’s earlier, more slapstick-centric work.

6

Tiger Cage (1988)

Available On Prime Video

The earlier career of Donnie Yen was full of modern kung fu classics that blended fast-paced action with intense fight sequences. A great example of this was Tiger Cage, a Hong Kong action movie that explored a young police official uncovering a mᴀssive conspiracy involving crooked cops and a drug trafficking operation in America. By exploring shady cops and underhanded tactics, Tiger Cage felt like Hong Kong’s answer to Serpico, with Simon Yam in the Al Pacino role.

As one of the best kung fu movies of the 1980s, Tiger Cage helped establish Yen as a major star, and he even returned as a new character for Tiger Cage II just two years later. While Yen was only a supporting character in the original film, by the time the sequel came along, he had been bumped up to the lead performer. While a third Tiger Cage movie was also produced, Yen was not involved in the lackluster final installment.

5

In The Line Of Duty IV: Witness (1989)

Available On Prime Video

It’s a testament to just how long Donnie Yen has been involved in martial arts movies that he’s even shown up in the In the Line of Duty series. This girls-with-guns series gained popularity through Michelle Yeoh’s role in Yes, Madam! and has continued with various installments over the years, featuring the likes of Cynthia Rothrock and Cynthia Khan. Yen appeared in In The Line Of Duty IV: Witness, which stands as the very best sequel in this long-running series.

With plenty of high-intensity thrillers, In the Line of Duty IV focused on Hong Kong officers investigating drug trafficking in Seattle and was packed with incredible fight choreography from start to finish. Although the absence of some of the franchise’s most notable stars was felt, Yen more than made up for this with his portrayal of Officer Donny Yan.

4

Once Upon A Time In China II (1992)

Available On Prime Video

Donnie Yen has appeared in martial arts movies alongside some of the greatest kung fu stars of all time, and it was incredibly exciting to watch him star in Once Upon a Time in China II opposite Jet Li. With Yen as Admiral Nap-Lan Yun-Seut, the real highlight of this sequel was the epic staff fighting sequence between the two acclaimed stars. Li returned to reprise his role as the Hung Ga expert Wong Fei-hung in this critically acclaimed kung fu film that boasts an impressive 93% on Rotten Tomatoes.

Taking place in Guangzhou in 1895, Once Upon a Time in China II continued the franchise’s themes of imperialism as Wong faced off against the White Lotus Sect. This xenophobic sect wished to attack all Westerners and destroy anything that wasn’t Chinese, further highlighting this series’ themes of discrimination and entrenched prejudices. With Yen being given the rare opportunity to show off his more villainous side, Once Upon a Time in China II was a must-watch release.

3

Kill Zone (2005)

Available On Prime Video

Kill Zone, also known as SPL: Sha Po Lang, is a Hong Kong action film directed by Wilson Yip starring Donnie Yen as Inspector Ma. In a thrilling crime story, Ma teams up with a retiring detective played by Simon Yam to bring down a crime lord played by Sammo Hung. As a tense martial arts movie exploring topics of justice and revenge, the intricate fight choreography of this modern classic lives up to the immense talents of its all-star cast.

While Kill Zone was popular enough to garner a sequel, Yen did not reprise his role as Inspector Ma and was instead replaced with Tony Jaa. A third installment in the series, тιтled Paradox, was also released without Yen’s involvement in 2017. As one of the best Hong Kong action movies of the 2000s, the original Kill Zone was yet another extraordinary showcase of Yen’s status as a modern martial arts icon.

2

Iron Monkey (1993)

Available On Prime Video]

Iron Monkey is a defining movie of Donnie Yen’s early career and a major contributor to turning him into a genuine martial arts movie legend. Following on from his breakout success in Once Upon a Time in China II the year before, Yen brought real intensity to this story of the real Chinese folk hero Wong Fei-hung and his father, Wong Kei-ying. With Yen facing off against a masked martial artist called the Iron Monkey, the blend of historical fiction, Chinese legend, and epic fight choreography made for intense viewing.

As perhaps Yen’s greatest success during the 1990s, Iron Monkey laid the groundwork for all that was to follow in his martial arts career and acted as a precursor to his role as the Wing Chun legend Ip Man in subsequent years. With powerful imagery, a unique sense of style, and an enjoyable father-son narrative, Iron Monkey was an incredible showcase of Yen’s star power that even helped him gain notoriety in the United States following its backing by director Quentin Tarantino (via LA Times.)

1

Ip Man (2008)

Available On Prime Video

Any martial arts fans who have yet to see Donnie Yen in Ip Man should do themselves a favor and check out this modern classic on Prime Video now. Telling the story of the Wing Chun grandmaster who went on to train Bruce Lee, Ip Man told a semi-fictionalized account of Ip’s life and struggles in the city of Foshan during the Sino-Japanese War. With incredible fight choreography and a genuinely emotional story, Ip Man represented the best of Yen’s talents and was just the beginning of a franchise that continues to this day.

Ip Man was a highly stylized depiction of the acclaimed real-life grandmaster’s early years before he had become the renowned and respected figure he was later known as. Through money struggles, the hardships of war, and plenty of villainous antagonists, Ip always kept his cool and remained calm and respectful in the face of dire hardships. With the perfect blend of incredible fight sequences and genuine emotional stakes, Ip Man stands as a high point of Yen’s entire career.

Source: Chinese Broadcast, LA Times