Martial arts movies have been having a true renaissance as of late, with many recent kung fu movies evoking the great ’70s classics. It’s easy to think of the Hong Kong Shaw Brothers movies of the ’70s when it comes to all-time best martial arts movies. The last ten years have been kind to the genre, however, with some modern movies giving them a run for their money.

The last decade has seen the rise of some incredible modern martial arts movies from the 2020s and beyond. The hallmarks of the ’70s greats, such as practical stunts, humorous elements, and intense, stylized choreography, can all be found in certain recent martial arts movies, calling back to a more prestigious era for the genre.

10

Sword Master

A Remake Of An Underrated Classic

Sometimes, the inspiration from the past for modern kung fu masterpieces is more straightforward. 2016’s Sword Master is a martial arts remake of the Shaw Brothers film Death Duel, telling the classic tale of a simple janitor trying to escape his past who is forced to take up arms once again against his will.

Sword Master is one of the most visually stunning martial arts films of the 2010s, with Derek Yee’s penchant for flowing unarmed combat shining through every sH๏τ. The eccentric fighting styles on display and exaggerated vision of the past certainly bring Death Duel and other old-school period pieces to mind.

9

The Paper Tigers

Heartfelt, Funny, And Action-Packed

One underrated genre fusion is the martial arts comedy. Old-school martial arts movies often have a greater sense of humor than most fans remember, bringing in a great deal of their appeal via physical comedy and funny, everyman characters. The Paper Tigers combines these sensibilities with a heartfelt story of reconnected friends.

The film centers on a group of old martial arts classmates who come back together after years when their master is murdered, taking their collective revenge. Somewhere between an indie dramedy and a high-flying kung fu movie, The Paper Tigers is rightfully renowned for having more heart that most martial arts movies made in the last 30 years.

8

Raging Fire

Donnie Yen’s Latest Take On A Super Cop Caper

When it comes to martial arts movies centering on cops, it’s easy to think of the Police Story series and other classics of the ’80s and ’90s featuring cops that go above and beyond. Donnie Yen has kept this genre alive and well in the present day thanks to Raging Fire, where he takes on a new criminal organization formed out of the echoes of his past.

Yen truly hasn’t lost a step when it comes to his kung fu movie performances, doing films like The Protector and In The Line of Duty proud. The heavily stylized fight sequences and intensity of the stakes and drama recreate the imagery of such iconic martial arts films in the modern day.

7

Paradox

A Gritty Hong Kong Thriller With A Clear Directorial Lineage

Though the heyday of the Hong Kong-produced martial arts film may be long gone, it’s still an industry that rages forward into the future with primally exciting films like Paradox. Another crime movie that deals in fists and kicks, Paradox stars Louis Koo as a police inspector on the hunt for his missing daughter who stumbles into an international organ smuggling ring.

Paradox lives up to its тιтle by combining the panache and energy of a Shaw Brothers’ movie with the gritty carnage of a modern action slugfest. Sammo Hung’s action direction hasn’t lost a step since his earliest work, echoes of which can be seen in the kinetic impacts of one of his greatest recent hits.

6

Sakra

Yet Another Strong Showing From Yen

Donnie Yen is almost single-handedly keeping the style of the classic martial arts film alive with his efforts, with Sakra being yet another ᴅᴇᴀᴅ ringer for a fantastic old-school kung fu movie both written and directed by him. Yen plays a swordsman who is forced to defend himself and find a way to clear his name after being falsely accused of murdering his own foster parents.

The mystery and revenge elements of Sakra evoke not only the great wuxia epics of old, but also features light notes of Kurosawa’s classic samurai movies, albeit in a different cultural setting. Sakra proves that sword fights are still very much in the conversation in recent years, exemplifying the use of martial arts via bladed weaponry.

5

The Night Comes For Us

’70s Shock Value With Modern Resources

It’s easy to think of older martial arts films as more colorful, almost kid-friendly affairs, but just because they could have comedy doesn’t mean they couldn’t also get really dark when they needed to. The Night Comes for Us is a modern reminder of how incredible it can be when a martial arts movie embraces the grisly side of combat.

The set-up to The Night Comes for Us is as simple and lean as some of the earliest films to do it, centering on a former mob enforcer who sets out to protect a girl from a dangerous criminal organization. This Indonesian effort is slick with both its efforts and bloodshed, bringing to mind outrageously gory oldies like Riki-Oh: The Story of Ricky with modern special effects.

4

Ip Man 4: The Finale

The Epic Conclusion To A Legendary Franchise

The final main feather in Donnie Yen’s cap, the Ip Man series has always been a boon to the modern martial arts movie industry. In 2019, Ip Man 4: The Finale drew a grand conclusion to the story of the eponymous wing chun master, seeing him go up against prejudice and fearsome opponents in the United States, including an overzealous Marine Corps sergeant.

Continuing the story of a classic folk hero from Chinese culture is par for the course for an old-school martial arts flick of the past, but Donnie Yen continues to balance the act with modern spectacle excellently right up to the very end. The fact that Bruce Lee himself appears as a cameo in the film also calls to mind the iconic actors’ five “canonical” films.

3

The Swordsman

Marries Samurai Sensibilities With An Underrepresented Culture

While Korea has gradually taken hold of modern-day global culture, from K-pop to K-dramas and fantastic films like Parasite, historically the peninsula has lagged behind China and Japan in the martial arts movie world. 2020’s The Swordsman is yet another fantastic blade-centered martial arts film taking place in the relatively under-represented nation.

The story centers on a retired warrior who is blinded in a duel, only to be forced into action again years later when his daughter is kidnapped. This pays homage to a long-standing martial arts movie trope, the Zatoichi, while putting forth own unique modern sensibilities and breathtaking cinematography. The Swordsman is sure to be remembered alongside many blade-wielding staples.

2

Shadow

A Wuxia Icon For The Modern Day

Crouching Tiger, Hidden Dragon was once the modern тιтan making space for the wuxia genre in pop culture relevancy, but has since aged into a veritable classic all its own. Luckily, recent films like 2018’s Shadow are there to prove that kung fu period pieces are still only scratching the surface of the subgenre.

Shadow doesn’t shy away from emulating the less accessible ᴀssets of its forebears, plunging its viewers into a dizzying political mastermind’s plan complete with romance, look-alikes, and two kings. The gorgeous art direction and sweeping, almost orchestral combat calls to mind the greatness of wuxia films past while still paving the way forwards.

1

Officer Black Belt

Takes Up The Long-Contested Mantle Of Martial Arts Comedy

Though Jackie Chan will always be the undisputed icon of martial arts slapstick comedy, his age has left something of a power vacuum lingering at the corners of the market for a few years now. Enter Officer Black Belt to pick up the slack, a hilarious procedural film following a skilled fighter and police officer specializing in keeping tabs on parolees and ankle-monitored convicts.

Officer Black Belt gets quite dark at times, but it never allows the comedy to lag too far behind the action or tension, with Kim Woo-bin displaying boundless charisma and skill as Officer Lee Jung-do. With some amazing action and just the right amount of low-brow humor to keep things interesting, Officer Black Belt carries on the legacy of a very specific martial arts movie style.