We often wonder what makes the greatest Chinese action movies so fabulous to watch. Their larger-than-life martial arts and kung fu style do wonder on screen. Thus, if you’re familiar with legendary martial arts artists like Jackie Chan, Bruce Lee, and Jet Li, then you’ve never been so far away from feeling the ultimate Chinese flair in western cinema.
Our hearts beat race when we encounter stunt performers flying high in the air and kicking their enemies and that’s what makes Chinese movies stand out. The army of men fighting against each other in Chinese action films highlighting historical facts makes it more enjoyable to watch and bear ancient history.
Here are the top 21 Chinese films famous for their action-packed sequences and everything flavorful that comes with them.
21 Greatest Chinese Action Movies:
1. Fist of Legend
- Director: Gordon Chan
- Writer: Gordon Chan, Kwong-Kim Yip, Lam Kay Toa
- Cast: Jet Li, Billy Chow, Ada Choi, Shinobu Nakayama, Yasuaki Kurata, Chin Siu-ho, Yuen Cheung-yan
- IMDb Rating: 7.5/10
- Rotten Tomatoes rating: 100%
- Platforms available: Amazon Prime Video
About Fist of Legend:
Released in 1994, Fist of Legend, a martial arts-based film, is a retreat for kung-fu fans. The seven-minute climax in the dojo’s interiors will drop your jaw. However, if you’re someone who loves action-packed sequences, Fist of Legend is the perfect catch. Its exceptionally energetic cinematography and fight choreography are to die for.
One of the greatest Chinese action films, this movie happens to be a tribute to Fists of Fury (1972), starring the legendary Bruce Lee. Set in the Second World War era, Fist of Legend follows the story of a martial arts aspirant who goes back to his roots and avenges his teacher’s murderers.
2. Enter the Dragon
- Director: Robert Clouse
- Writer: Michael Allin
- Cast: Bruce Lee, Jim Kelly, John Saxon, Bolo Yeung, Chuck Norris, Shih Kien, Ahna Capri, Robert Wall
- IMDb Rating: 7.6/10
- Rotten Tomatoes rating: 95%
- Platforms available: Amazon Prime Video
About Enter the Dragon:
The first martial arts film, Enter the Dragon, released in 1973, is one of the best Chinese films featuring Bruce Lee. What catches your eye are the action shots in the halls of the mirror. The widespread consensus is that several renowned filmmakers took cues from Entering the Dragon to reincarnate legendary Bruce Lee scenes. Lee choreographed some spectacular action sequences in that film.
Bruce Lee grew to prominence after appearing in Enter the Dragon. You wouldn’t mind binge-watching cheesy dialogues, sidekicks, fly-high action sequences, and Lee’s impressive acting skills. Enter the Dragon was the first kung fu movie that piqued westerners’ interest. Bruce Lee’s signature style was the highlight of this film.
3. Hero
- Director: Zhang Yimou
- Writer: Feng Li, Bin Wang, Yimou Zhang
- Cast: Jet Li, Donnie Yen, Maggie Cheung, Zhang Ziyi, Tony Leung Chiu-wai, Chen Daoming, James Hong
- IMDb Rating: 7.9/10
- Rotten Tomatoes rating: 94%
- Platforms available: Amazon Prime Video
About Hero:
The Hero (2002) is one of the most iconic Chinese action films on the list. The epic core of this action movie are the sequences of the army scuffling in a royal battle. Along with this, the fighting in the water scenes is sore to your eyes! However, the most addictive part of this Chinese movie is the magnificent special effects.
Brilliant actor Jet Li took the lead and even appeared as the most adored nameless protagonist. However, few know that Hero is carved from Jing Ke’s assassination attempt.
4. Shaolin
- Director: Benny Chan
- Writer: Charcoal Tan, Cheung Chi-Kwong, Chan Kam-Cheong, Wang Qiuyu
- Cast: Jackie Chan, Andy Lau, Wu Jing, Xing Yu, Nicholas Tse, Yu Shaoqun, Hai Yu, Chen Zhihui, Yu Shaoqun
- IMDb Rating: 6.8/10
- Rotten Tomatoes rating: 74%
- Platforms available: Amazon Prime Video
About Shaolin:
Shaolin is another of the greatest Chinese action films highlighting kung fu action. The story revolves around the Shaolin temple redemption and is based in Republican China but in earlier times. People who enjoy watching Jackie Chan can relish his role as a monk who cooks. The film gained momentum at the box office after its release.
They become passionate about Buddhist ideologies that remain at the core of their hearts and mend people’s grievances. Shaolin is one of the best movies you can watch to treat yourself on the weekends. You will notice how the background score escalates the tightness of action sequences.
5. IP Man
- Director: Wilson Yip
- Writer: Edmond Wong
- Cast: Donnie Yen, Lynn Hung, Mike Tyson, Louis Fan, Jackie Chan, Dave Bautista, Lo Mang, Grace Englert
- IMDb Rating: 8/10
- Rotten Tomatoes rating: 86%
- Platforms available: Netflix
About IP Man:
IP Man is a culturally rich biographical film, released in 1937 while the Japanese were securing China. A martial artist has to do low-grade labor to be a breadwinner for his family. The movie will definitely put you on a map of reality due to its cold-blooded narrative.
It highlights the self-defense powers of martial arts like Wing Chun. Fans all over the world love this style of kung fu. IP Man features an ensemble cast of Zhi Hui Chen, Dave Bautista, Jackie Chan, Mike Tyson, and others.
It is one of the best action movies of all time. The story of IP Man revolving around the Japanese invasion is one of a kind.
6. Police Story Lockdown
- Director: Ding Sheng
- Writer: Ding Sheng
- Cast: Jackie Chan, Liu Ye, Jing Tian, Guli Nazha, Na eiI, Liu Yiwei
- IMDb Rating: 5.9/10
- Rotten Tomatoes rating: 25%
- Platforms available: Amazon Prime Video
About Police Story Lockdown:
One of the iconic Chinese action films, Police Story Lockdown, is a rare gem, penned and directed by none other than martial arts lord Jackie Chan. Over the years, the film has been hailed as the best Asian action movie.
Jackie Chan uses his physical strength to make every scene visually appealing and knows how to pull audiences towards him. By flying their feet up in the air and delivering the right amount of kicks, only Chan can do the best of both worlds.
7. Crouching Tiger, Hidden Dragon
- Director: Ang Lee
- Writer: Wang Hui-ling, James Schamus, Kuo Jung Tsai.
- Cast: Michelle Yeoh, Zhang Ziyi, Chow Yun-fat, Chang Chen, Cheng Pei-Pei, Xian Gao, Sihung Lung
- IMDb Rating: 7.9/10
- Rotten Tomatoes rating: 97%
- Platforms available: Amazon Prime Video
About Crouching Tiger, Hidden Dragon:
Crouching Tiger, Hidden Dragon is the finest action film directed by Ang Lee. Though the narrative seems slow-paced initially, it still plays on its poetic feeling, good enough to keep you alive until the end. Many hail this movie as Chow Yun’s extraordinary performance.
The film alone captured more than $213 million at the box office. Hidden Dragon’s love story escalates emotional impacts which seem too good to be true. However, it is teamed with action sequences, ever-lasting romance, and thrilling martial arts, which make up the best Chinese action film.
8. Kung Fu Hustle
- Director: Stephen Chow
- Writer: Stephen Chow, Huo Xin, Chan Man-keung, Tsang Kan-cheung
- Cast: Stephen Chow, Yuen Qiu, Yuen Wah, Bruce LEUNG, Danny Chan Kwok-Kwan, Huang Shengyi,
- IMDb Rating: 7.7/10
- Rotten Tomatoes rating: 90%
- Platforms available: Amazon Prime Video
If you ask whether Kung Fu Hustle is worth watching, you must know it is anything but ordinary.
About Kung Fu Hustle:
It has everything ranging from gore and violence to a gritting plot. Stephen Chow churned out a well-rounded blend of comedy mixed with fierce martial arts to pop your sore eyes. This is the reason it makes it to the list of the greatest Chinese action films ever!
It seems like Mr. Chow took advantage of unearthly VFX back then, but it’s worth binge-watching Kung Fu Hustle. This light entertainment featuring a mixture is all you need to kill a sombre weekend. The story legit makes you believe how small we are when submission takes control over us.
9. Iron Monkey
- Director: Woo-Ping Yuen
- Writer: Tan Cheung, Elsa Tang, Tsui Hark, Tai-Mok Lau
- Cast: Donnie Yen, Yu Rongguang, Jean Wang, Yuen Shun-yi, Angie Tsang, Shi-Kwan Yen
- IMDb Rating: 7.5/10
- Rotten Tomatoes rating: 91%
- Platforms available: Amazon Prime Video
About Iron Monkey:
Iron Monkey is a 1993 action movie packed with hard-core patriotism. One sole, single man challenges the system and fights back like a lion. Wong Kei-Ying becomes the Iron Monkey. The backdrop of this action film is unlike anything in Chinese culture.
This Quentin Tarantino-produced movie is packed with excellent martial arts and action too hard to swallow. It will leave you anticipating more until your appetite is full! If you watch, you will wonder why this action film is the most exhilarating experience.
10. House of Flying Daggers
- Director: Yi-Mou Zhang
- Writer: Feng Li, Bin Wang, Yimou Zhang
- Cast: Andy Lau, Zhang Ziyi and Takeshi Kaneshiro
- IMDb Rating: 7.5/10
- Rotten Tomatoes rating: 87%
- Platforms available: Amazon Prime Video
Another martial arts film to add to your bucket list is House of Flying Daggers.
House of Flying Daggers Plot:
The story revolves around the Tang Dynasty, which struggles to rule the roost of China. They have to get through the rebellious troops of the House of Flying Daggers.
You will love the vibrant costumes, loud makeup, and action sequences of female lead Zhang Ziyi. Although the twists and turns of the plot will keep you on your toes, the hero makes little effort to keep the heat alive. Just like in any Chinese action film, visually rich gore and violence are at the heart of House of Flying Daggers.
However, if you’re into action heroes & heroines kicking high in the air, Flying Daggers offers more swords at play.
11. The Grandmaster
- Director: Wong Kar-wai
- Writer: Wong Kar-wai, Zou Jingzhi, Xu Haofeng
- Cast: Tony Leung Chiu-wai, Zhang Ziyi, Zhang Jin, Chang Chen, Elvis Tsui, Woo-Ping Yuen
- IMDb Rating: 6.5/10
- Rotten Tomatoes rating: 78%
- Platforms available: Amazon Prime Video
One of the greatest Chinese action movies, The Grandmaster, was helmed by director Wong Kar Wai.
About The Grandmaster:
Etched from a real story, it chronicles the life of martial arts master Wing Chun. You will be surprised to hear that he literally built Bruce Lee’s successful career. Though the film is unmistakably exuberant, fight scenes and the tight timing of characters are something to relish.
The technical feel of the film reaches beyond the clouds. Moviegoers who enjoy history will automatically be drawn to Wong Kar Wai’s The Grandmaster. After the release of the action film, it was initially cut for western moviegoers. The full version is available on Netflix movies.
12. Drunken Master
- Director: Woo-Ping Yuen
- Writer: Ng See-yuen, Lung Siu, Woo-Ping Yuen
- Cast: Jackie Chan, Yuen Siu-Tien, Yuen Woo Ping, Hwang Jang-lee, Hsia Hsu, Ti Lung, Casanova Wong
- IMDb Rating: 7.4/10
- Rotten Tomatoes rating: 80%
- Platforms available: Amazon Prime Video
About Drunken Master:
In the Chinese action film Drunken Master, Jackie Chan’s epic drunken boxing got applauded by a global audience. The actor essays the role of Wong Fei Hung. The story is headed by Yuen Woo Ping and revolves around a young boy who aspires to become a martial arts expert.
Chan and Ping designed the drunken kung fu master themselves. The style doesn’t call for alcohol consumption in the movie, and the idea itself was not modernized in the 90s.
13. Battle Royale
- Director: Kinji Fukasaku
- Writer: Kenta Fukasaku
- Cast: Tatsuya Fujiwara, Aki Maeda, Chiaki Kuriyama, Kō Shibasaki, Masanobu Ando, Taro Yamamoto
- IMDb Rating: 7.6/10
- Rotten Tomatoes rating: 88%
- Platforms available: Amazon Prime Video
About Battle Royale:
The pandemic was something that hit human lives at the surface. This Chinese action film will resonate with COVID-19 survivors as the plot runs through fingers on how to brush our basic survival instincts.
Look closely to get the feel of dystopian Japan in the action film Battle Royale where the government indoctrinates young high schoolers and rushes them to a quaint island. The students are forced to battle against one another.
14. Red Cliff
- Director: John Woo
- Writer: John Woo, Khan Chan, Heyu Cheng, Cheng Kou
- Cast: Tony Leung, Takeshi Kaneshiro, Zhao Wei, Chang Chen, Zhang Fengyi, Hu Jun, Li Chi-ling, Shido Nakamura
- IMDb Rating: 7.3/10
- Rotten Tomatoes rating: 91%
- Platforms available: Amazon Prime Video
About Red Cliff:
Based on the winding-up of China’s Han Dynasty, Red Cliff highlights the epic war that took place between the winters of 208 and 209 AD. The Chinese action film Red Cliff is shot wonderfully and highlights Chinese history in exuberant action sequences.
When a minor clan of army wins the battle against the enormous army, the rest becomes history. Many film critics hail the movie as a masterpiece of its kind. While history never dies, remarkable history immediately makes us feel numb. Watching the first and second parts will pique your curiosity.
The resurrection of three kingdoms is something you should not miss until the movie’s end. So, true to its historical facts but politically out-of-order, Red Cliff was said to have caused an uproar in China, leading to its ban.
15. Shaolin Soccer
- Director: Stephen Chow
- Writer: Stephen Chow, Tsang Kan-cheung
- Cast: Stephen Chow, Zhao Wei, Ng Man-tat, Patrick Tse, Danny Chan Kwok-Kwan, Tin Kai Man, Min Hun Fung
- IMDb Rating: 7.3/10
- Rotten Tomatoes rating: 90%
- Platforms available: Amazon Prime Video
About Shaolin Soccer:
Unlike other Chinese action films, Shaolin Soccer doesn’t keep martial arts as its central subject. Can you imagine a clan of monks from Shaolin Temple playing soccer and gathering their team? Well, the vivid notions highlighting soccer are picked from western movies. But Stephen Chow seemed to do justice to the film.
Shaolin Soccer offers a perfect balance that very few films can achieve, from martial arts misfits nailing every fight scene to the raw sense of humor and absurdity that makes us laugh until our stomachs hurt.
16. The Young Master
- Director: Jackie Chan
- Writer: Jackie Chan, King-Sang Tang, Tin-Chi Lau, Tung Lo
- Cast: Jackie Chan, Yuen Biao, Wei Pai, Fung Fung, Tien Feng, Hwang In-shik, Ke Ming Lin, Cheng Kang Yeh
- IMDb rating: 7.1/10
- Platforms available: Amazon Prime Video
The Young Master Review:
One of the classics of Chinese cinema, The Young Master, starring Jackie Chan, accentuates Kung Fu with a quick-witted nature. This film had to make it to the list of greatest Chinese action films. When Chan performs martial arts, he has an intriguing style. Unlike other artists, Jackie stresses his fight scenes in fits and starts.
You’ve missed a martial arts legacy if you’ve not watched The Young Master. For someone who’s got the flair for kung fu movies, it’s Jackie Chan who made martial arts iconic on the big screen.
17. Peking Opera
- Director: Tsui Hark
- Writer: Raymond To
- Cast: Brigitte Lin, Cherie Chung, Sally Yeh, Paul Chun, Wu Ma, Kenneth Tsang
- IMDb Rating: 7.3/10
- Rotten Tomatoes Rating: 100
- Platforms Available: Amazon Prime Video
About Peking Opera:
In the Peking Opera that hit the theatres in the year 1986, Chinese culture is widely highlighted. Director Quentin Tarantino deems it the most excellent movie ever made. The film’s director, Tsui Hark, referred to the movie as the “Chinese ignorance of democracy” on the grounds of irony.
Lam Ching-Ying carried his role like butter, whereas Hung became the most desired kung fu master. The direction is one-of-a-kind with extraordinary acrobats, unlike other Chinese action films. It’s a retreat for martial arts film fans since the style is inspired by Jackie Chan and overloaded by creativity.
18. Fearless
- Director: Ronny Yu
- Writer: Chris Chow, Christine To, Wang Bin, Li Feng
- Cast: Jet Li, Sun Li, Dong Yong, Shido Nakamura, Nathan Jones, Collin Chou, Chen Zhihui, Binghua Wei, and others
- IMDb Rating: 7.6/10
- Rotten Tomatoes rating: 73%
- Platforms available: Netflix
About Fearless:
Fearless is one of the greatest Chinese action films featuring Jet Li. It is loosely gleaned from Huo Yuanjia’s life. When China struggled to gain freedom, it was Huo who fought against the army with his skilled martial arts techniques.
During the days of the Qing Dynasty, he was known as the Cascade of Change for shifting the bar high in times when nationalism fell. Since controversies are part of the film industry, historical facts were deemed incorrect by extremists, and the heir of Huo criticized the filmmakers for depicting their family in a bad light.
The fight scene between Jet Li and the boxer was eliminated after its initial release. Many locations were added and removed in the film’s alternative version. In the Chinese language, Fearless title is changed to Huo Yuanjia, while in Japan, it is called Spirit and Jet Li’s Fearless in AMC theatres, TV, and gigs.
19. Heroes of the East
- Director: Lau Kar-leung
- Writer: Ni Kuang
- Cast: Gordon Liu, Lau Kar-leung, Yasuaki Kurata, Yuka Mizuno, Cheng Kang Yeh, Yuen Siu-tien, Norman Chui, Yuen Shun-yi
- IMDb Rating: 7.6/10
- Platforms available: Amazon Prime Video
About Heroes of the East:
Heroes of the East‘s storyline seems to be an ideal destination for Lau Kar-Leung’s approach, considered before being used to depict a string of kung fu and armaments in his action films. It seems like an ode to martial arts, without any doubt.
The movie legit defines two different worlds of disputes between Japan and China. From the exceptional background score to alluring action sequences, Heroes of the East does justice. Amidst being a marketing ploy, Heroes of the East doesn’t seem like one.
The director kept it low-key in terms of gore and violence, and you will love the raw feel of the action sequences. In addition, Lau seemed to have designed the whole thing straightforwardly, which the audience resonated with.
20. A Touch of Zen
- Director: King Hu
- Writer: Sung-ling Pu, King Hu
- Cast: HSU Feng, Chun Shih, Ying Bai, Roy Chiao, Ping-Yu Chang, Han Ying-Chieh, Peng Tien, Miao Tien
- IMDb Rating: 7.5/10
- Rotten Tomatoes rating: 97%
- Platforms available: Amazon Prime Video
About A Touch of Zen:
Many people will assume that because it’s called “A Touch of Zen,” it’s all about Buddhism, but fret not because it isn’t! The title’s initials were etched in the English language as an appealing aspect for Westerners who have a grip on Zen. While it is one of the few Chinese movies that brought a different dimension of feminism to the surface, the film’s five major aesthetic themes bring much-needed magic.
Though the movie is crammed into 3 hours and 20 minutes, it was proudly displayed at Cannes. Hu Jinquan, famously called King Hu, directed numerous Wuxia films, including A Touch of Zen. It is also hailed as one of the best Chinese action movies ever produced.
The technical aspects are to die for! Various techniques like jump cuts, eye-line matches, classic montages, and shot-reverse-shots were utilized in A Touch of Zen. In addition, the director has used glimpsing effects in a few sequences, which is very rare in Chinese cinema.
21. IP Man 3
- Director: Wilson Yip
- Writer: Chan Tai-lee, Edmond Wong, Jil Leung
- Cast: Wenwen Han, Donnie Yen, Zhang Jin, Patrick Tam, Kent Cheng, Louis Cheung, Karena Ng, Danny Chan, Bryan Leung, Mike Tyson
- IMDb Rating: 7/10
- Rotten Tomatoes rating: 76%
- Platforms available: Amazon Prime Video, YouTube
About IP Man 3:
This Wilson Yip directed biographical martial arts movie is the third movie of the IP Man series. The plot revolves around IP Man trying to defend his title. He has to save his son’s school from property developers with the help of police and he also has to take care of his terminally ill wife.
This movie received positive response and bagged many awards and nominations for its performance. This film earned $7.8 million in Hong Kong and $3 million in the US. Internationally the movie earned a total of $157 million worldwide.
Some days you would feel like curling on the couch with a romcom or spending a rainy night as a horror fest. But other days when you feel like taking the world by its throat and flexing those muscles, this list featuring some of the greatest Chinese action films will come to your rescue!
