Creative, unconventional kung fu movies are some of the genre’s best. After enjoying the classic kung fu movies everyone should watch, there’s no better place to go than the surreal world of trippy kung fu. As a whole different type of wild, most of these тιтles dive deep into supernatural realms, blending martial arts with mind-bending scenes that’ll leave anyone in awe. From glowing energy blasts to gravity-defying stunts, the visuals are out of this world in the most literal sense, making them some of the weirdest martial arts movies ever made.
Still, even though trippy martial arts films are more than fun to watch, they won’t necessarily offer kung fu movie techniques that really work in real life like some of their genre peers. As their focus is more on the spectacle than realism, kung fu is, more often than not, transformed into a visual feast of divine blows, and it’s an experience martial arts fans shouldn’t shy away from.
10
Drunken Tai Chi (1984)
Directed by Yuen Woo-ping
Brought to life by the legendary Yuen Woo-ping, Drunken Tai Chi stands out as one of Donnie Yen’s best old-school kung fu movies. Yuen is best known as the choreographer behind The Matrix and the brilliant director of Crouching Tiger, Hidden Dragon, making it no surprise that Drunken Tai Chi is a visual masterpiece worth devouring.
The story is as wild as the тιтle sounds, following Chan Yuan-lung (Yen), a spoiled rich kid who gets into trouble when he inadvertently offends a killer-for-hire. He then takes shelter with an eccentric puppeteer, who teaches him the elusive art of Tai Chi. While the movie mostly plays the fighting style for laughs, it still delivers some serious moves anyone can appreciate. The puppet fight alone deserves special mention just for how weird and oddly captivating it was. Overall, Drunken Tai Chi feels like a fever dream, but in the best way possible.
9
Shaolin Vs. Evil ᴅᴇᴀᴅ (2004)
Directed by Douglas Kung Cheung-Tak
When talking about iconic martial arts movies about Shaolin monks, Shaolin vs. Evil ᴅᴇᴀᴅ is likely not the тιтle that comes to mind. However, the slick kung fu choreography combined with supernatural effects is what gives this 2004 тιтle a serious edge. Imagine taking a Shaolin monk, tossing him into a blender with hopping vampires (jiangshi), creepy zombies, and a splash of mystic spells. That’s exactly what Shaolin vs. Evil ᴅᴇᴀᴅ is.
The movie stars Gordon Liu, the iconic kung fu legend who is perhaps better known for The 36th Chamber of Shaolin and Kill Bill. His graceful moves are paired with glowing amulets, enchanted powders, and a mix of practical effects and cheesy CGI that create a dreamlike feeling as the story unfolds. The tonal shifts, from eerie horror to slapstick kung fu comedy, are dizzying but entertaining, delivering a visual punch that’s as weird as it is unforgettable.
8
The Heroic Trio (1993)
Directed by Johnnie To
Michelle Yeoh is one of the ultimate icons of martial arts movie performances, which is why it’s shocking The Heroic Trio isn’t a more popular тιтle. Also starring Anita Mui and Maggie Cheung, who, together with Yeoh, make up the trio, the film is insanely stylish, wild, and a blast of superhero action. It throws realism out the window in favor of pure cinematic spectacle, and it’s all for the better.
The Heroic Trio’s sequel, Executioners, also came out in 1993.
With each of the women rocking their unique style of fighting, The Heroic Trio is not only an aesthetic masterpiece, but it also nails down the gravity-defying wire-fu stunts that make the brawls feel like something out of a dream. Other than that, it stands out as one of the rare female-led movies in a genre dominated by men, and this lavishly cool trinity is not something one sees on the screen that often.
7
The Ghost Snatchers (1986)
Directed by Ngai Choi Lam
Ngai Choi Lam is known for birthing over-the-top martial arts movies that are a blast, and The Ghost Snatchers is no exception. It’s an underrated movie that mixes martial arts, horror, and comedy into one weirdly entertaining package, perfect for kung fu fans who love a bit of supernatural chaos with their roundhouse kicks. Here, solid martial arts action meets a spooky, haunted-house storyline, delivering a unique twist on the genre.
|
тιтle |
Letterboxd score |
|---|---|
|
The Ghost Snatchers |
3.4 / 5 |
Visually, The Ghost Snatchers is packed with eerie, extravagant special effects and surreal set pieces. There’s a chaotic charm to the movie’s use of practical effects and old-school wirework that gives it a quirky feel. We’re talking exploding heads, ghostly possessions, and absurd stunts that turn the movie into a spectacle of colorful, grotesque fun. The out-of-the-box fight sequences are another great addition, making the whole experience feel like a martial arts version of a haunted carnival.
6
Child Of Peach (1987)
Directed by Chung-Hsing Chao and Chun-Liang Chen
While Child of Peach is nowhere near being among the best martial arts fantasy movies of all time, it’s still an insanely fun watch that will surprise anybody who’s seeing it for the first time. It’s a movie that’s so outlandish and so wildly imaginative that it feels like stepping into a sugar-fueled fairy tale.
Inspired by the Japanese folktale of Momotarō, a boy born from a peach, Child of Peach features mythical creatures, enchanted weapons, and over-the-top magic. It embraces pure fantasy chaos without holding back, mixing slapstick humor, intense kung fu battles, and downright weird visuals. The characters are all decked out in vividly colorful outfits that would look at home in a cartoon (or a nightmare). The bold costumes, the frenetic energy, and the wild moves all make Child of Peach equal parts theatrical and fantastical, creating a world that’s as charming as it is bizarre.
5
Buddha’s Palm (1982)
Directed by Taylor Wong
For those in the mood for a comic book come to life on the screen, look no further than Buddha’s Palm. This wuxia fantasy classic is packed with trippy visuals and exaggerated moves and is one of the wildest martial arts spectacles of the 1980s. The movie leans into fantasy kung fu madness, featuring giant energy blasts, mythical creatures, and flamboyant martial arts techniques that break the laws of physics.
The plot centers around the mysterious Buddha’s Palm technique, which only Flame Cloud Devil (Alex Man Chi-Leung), a blind recluse, has mastered. When Long Jian-fei (Derek Yee) is left for ᴅᴇᴀᴅ, the master rescues him and shares the secret of Buddha’s Palm. While it’s not necessarily the best story ever, this 1982 flick is outrageous and visually stunning, with kung fu turned up to eleven.
4
Holy Flame Of The Martial World (1983)
Directed by Chun-Ku Lu
Another knockout martial arts movie from the Shaw Brothers Studio, Holy Flame of the Martial World is pure, unfiltered madness. From the very first scene, the movie makes it clear that realism is not on the menu. It tells the tale of a brother and sister whose parents were killed over the Holy Flame, a mystical weapon everybody wants. As adults, the pair embark on a fantastical quest for revenge and justice.
|
тιтle |
Letterboxd score |
|---|---|
|
Holy Flame of the Martial World |
3.8 / 5 |
Holy Flame of the Martial World is pure cinematic chaos in the best way. It’s wild, it’s weird, and it’s wonderful, cranking up the kung fu insanity to jaw-dropping levels. The design choices are unapologetically bold, with every scene dripping in saturated colors, surreal lighting, and fantastical props. While the fantasy elements definitely take center stage, the martial arts choreography, with its theatrical flair, is also impressive, making each fight feel larger than life.
3
Demon Of The Lute (1983)
Directed by Tak-Cheung Tang
Demon of the Lute is proof that fight sequences don’t have to fit a mold to be great. This trippy picture offers a visually stunning mix of dark fantasy, horror, and kung fu that’s truly a feast for fans of unusual martial arts adventures. Essentially, Demon of the Lute is a martial arts ghost story, but one tends to forget that amid all the cool moves and even cooler costumes.
The movie abounds with rich contrast and vivacious shades of deep reds, ominous greens, and glowing golds, creating a dreamlike atmosphere that’s easy to get lost in. The haunting lighting also plays a crucial role in giving you the creeps, particularly in the lute scenes. Demon of the Lute is, at its core, a film that pushes the boundaries of visual storytelling. Each frame almost feels like a painting, with every possible detail contributing to its grandness.
2
The Cat (1992)
Directed by Ngai Choi Lam
Even though the 1990s were a great decade for even greater kung fu movies, the era also gave us The Cat, a criminally overlooked gem that blends the supernatural with hard-hitting moves. Yes, it’s about an alien cat that joins forces with a teenage girl to fight a villainous extraterrestrial that likes to possess people, but it has all the makings of a cult classic.
It took six months of filming to finish the scene where the lead cat fights a dog, and seven trained cats were used for the sequence.
The combination of The Cat’s vibrant cinematography, unique storytelling, and quirky fight choreography turns it into something really special. The movie is drenched in contrasting colors and creative lighting that give each scene an uncanny feel, while the kung fu sequences are just as dynamic and fluid as the visuals. However, the best part is that the тιтular cat is the ultimate master of martial arts, making this horror flick truly one of a kind you shouldn’t miss.
1
The Boxer’s Omen (1983)
Directed by Chih-Hung Kuei
If there was a compeтιтion for the trippiest kung fu movie out there, The Boxer’s Omen would definitely take the cake. It brought to life some of the most grotesque and bizarre imagery ever featured on the screen, leaving us both confused and amazed. In reality, words do no justice to The Boxer’s Omen’s visuals, which are as brilliant as they are terrifying.
|
тιтle |
Letterboxd score |
|---|---|
|
The Boxer’s Omen |
3.8 / 5 |
The movie takes full advantage of its visual elements, utilizing the lighting, colors, and creepy backdrops to build a disturbingly unsettling mood. The Boxer’s Omen also uses some of the most creative practical effects we’ve seen in a 1980s movie, which give it a raw, almost physical feel. Notably, it’s all very surreal, but the action is equally intense. While the characters tap into mystical forces that allow them to disintegrate their enemies, they do throw some quality punches. For a truly unforgettable experience, The Boxer’s Omen is a must-see.
