Martial arts movies feature some of the most memorable moments in cinema history, yet there are many great franchises the average viewer has never even heard of, let alone seen. While American classics like The Karate Kid and Hong Kong favorites such as Ip Man have broken through with mainstream viewers, so many classic series have slipped through the cracks.

For those looking to go beyond the classics and delve a bit deeper, there’s a whole world of underrated kung fu movies, forgotten hidden martial arts gems, and lesser-known releases from major stars to check out. Whether it’s wuxia period stories, journeys of B-movie ninjas, or underground prison fighting tournaments, there’s a wealth of underseen franchises out there.

While none of these series will be immediately familiar to the average viewer, the truth is they were popular enough to gain several sequels, and most boast devoted cult followings. So if you’re ready to go beyond the usual suspects, these under-the-radar franchises will be a great place to start and broaden your martial arts movie horizons.

7

The Sentimental Swordsman (1977 – 1982)

3 Movies

The Sentimental Swordsman was a Hong Kong wuxia franchise that, although not as well-known today, started with one of the highest-grossing movies in the Shaw Brothers Studio’s catalog. With Ti Lung as Little Flying Dagger Li, the original movie followed a righteous swordsmaster who has lost everything, being thrown into a conspiracy to paint him as a treacherous masked ᴀssᴀssin.

Based on Gu Long’s Xiaoli Feidao series of novels, the 1977 film was followed by the even more successful Return of the Sentimental Swordsman before a third, in-name-only sequel, Perils of the Sentimental Swordsman, was released. With plenty of fast-paced action, period-accurate costumes, and a whole lot of style, this wuxia franchise deserves more attention from modern viewers.

6

American Ninja (1985 – 1993)

5 Movies

The B-movie martial arts classic American Ninja hasn’t maintained the same kind of enduring cultural relevance as other 1980s releases like The Karate Kid. However, this story of a young man named Joe Armstrong (Michael Dudikoff), a quiet drifter-turned-soldier who discovers his hidden mastery of ninjutsu, remains a cult favorite for its over-the-top action and campy spectacle.

Dudikoff returned for the sequels American Ninja 2: The Confrontation and American Ninja 4: The Annihilation. American Ninja 3: Blood Hunt introduced a new protagonist (David Bradley) and leaned into sci-fi territory involving a virus and genetically enhanced cloned ninjas, while American Ninja 5 was a direct-to-video release with a loose connection to the rest of the franchise.

5

Undisputed (2002 – 2017)

3 Mainline Movies & 1 Spin-Off

Undisputed is a rare example of a series that got better as it went on. While the first film with Wesley Snipes as a prison boxing champion fighting the convicted heavyweight champion was enjoyable, this series really kicked into gear when Scott Adkins joined the cast as the psycH๏τic Russian boxer Yuri Boyka in Undisputed II: Last Man Standing.

Whether it was facing off against Michael Jai White playing the framed boxer George “The Iceman” Chambers or battling his way through a prison tournament in Undisputed III: Redemption, Boyka quickly became a fan-favorite antihero. This led to the spin-off Boyka: Undisputed, which explored this character’s redemption outside of his prison cell.

4

Kickboxer (1989 – 2018)

5 Mainline Movies & 2 Rebooted Installments

While much of the legacy around Jean-Claude Van Damme’s early career often focuses on his role as Frank Dux in Bloodsport, we should not forget just how great he was in Kickboxer. With Van Damme as Kurt Sloane, a man seeking revenge against the kickboxing champion who killed his brother, this was an excellent showcase of his genuine fighting skills.

Kickboxer was a hit at the time and was one of the first mainstream films to introduce Muay Thai to a global audience, and it kickstarted a franchise with four sequels and even a remake in 2016. However, despite the incredible legacy of this franchise, the sequels rarely get the credit they deserve for expanding on the Sloane family history.

3

Best Of The Best (1989 – 1998)

4 Movies

Best of the Best received almost universally negative reviews when it was released back in 1989, with critics dismissing it as yet another Rocky clone that borrowed heavily from The Karate Kid. However, this story of an American team facing off against South Korean fighters explored the importance of athletes working together in a way those other films didn’t.

This negative reception meant Best of the Best isn’t as well-known as other similar franchises, but it still gained three sequels, all featuring Phillip Rhee portraying Tommy Lee. As the series progressed, it shifted away from tournaments towards stories of personal revenge that blended melodrama with action-thriller elements. Though never critically successful, Best of the Best boasts a loyal fan base.

2

The Street Fighter (1974)

3 Mainline Movies & 2 Spin-Offs

While video game enthusiasts will be familiar with the arcade game Street Fighter, not many will know The Street Fighter. This 1974 martial arts film released several sequels and spin-offs in quick succession, with Return of the Street Fighter, The Street Fighter’s Last Revenge, and the Sister Street Fighter spin-off series all also released in 1974.

The Street Fighter series featured plenty of fast-paced action, brutal hand-to-hand combat, and a grindhouse aesthetic. Despite being a cult classic franchise, many modern martial arts fans have not watched this foundational series and are unaware of the incredible back catalog of kung fu films during the 1970s that extend well beyond the works of Bruce Lee.

1

Iron Angels (1987 – 1989)

3 Movies

The Iron Angels series is a little-known franchise within the Hong Kong girls-with-guns action movie subgenre. Telling the story of a crimefighter organization hired to topple a dangerous drug-smuggling ring of ruthless female martial artists, this franchise was co-written and directed by Teresa Woo and was packed with high-octane action sequences and plenty of violence.

Also known simply as Angels or the Tin si hang dung series, Iron Angels received two sequels that got increasingly outrageous as the girls came to Malaysia and Thailand and got involved with more ᴅᴇᴀᴅly plots. With great action throughout, it’s a shame that the Iron Angels franchise isn’t as well known as other girls-with-guns series like Yes, Madam or the works of Cynthia Rothrock.