Kung fumovies might not be as popular as other genres like Western or sci-fi, but they still have a loving and dedicated fanbase and a decades-long tradition behind them. From their birthplace, Hong Kong, kung fu movies have moved throughout the world both when it comes to garnering fans and also when it comes to production—since modern kung fu movies aren’t necessarily alwaysmade in Hong Kong.
The one element that makes a kung fu movie what it is are, of course, thefight sequences. Without these carefully choreographed scenes, the movie in question would simply be a noir, a crime thriller, or a period piece. The fight scenes are the true pillar of this cinematic genre, andmodern kung fu moviesperfectly slot into this tradition by offering plenty of them for fans everywhere.
Twilight of the Warriors: Walled In
Cast
Set in the 1980s, Twilight of the Warriors: Walled In centers on troubled youth Chan Lok-kwun, who discovers order within the chaos of Kowloon Walled City. Guided by new friends, Chan learns vital life lessons and joins forces to protect their haven from the villainous Mr. Big’s invasion.
Based on the novelCity of Darknessby Hong Kong author Yuyi,Twilight of the Warriors: Walled Inwas an incredible successupon its release in the first half of 2024. It soon became a critical and box office darling, being both selected to be screened at the Cannes Film Festival and also one of the highest-grossing domestic movies of all time in its native Hong Kong.
Twilight of the Warriors: Walled Inwas selected as Hong Kong’s official entry for Best International Feature Film at the 97th Academy Awards, even though it ultimately did not receive a nomination.
Part of what makesTwilight of the Warriors: Walled Inso attractive to audiences is undoubtedly its careful fight choreography, which shines ina series of scenes that are both incredibly entertaining to watch while also furthering the plot along—exactly what all good fight scenes should be. The story ofTwilight of the Warriors: Walled Infollows a troubled young man in 1980s Hong Kong, who begins to truly find himself once he enters the infamous Kowloon Walled City and encounters the criminal gangs that essentially run the enclave.
9The Brink (2017)
Directed By Lee Chun-fai
There are few narrative premises that warrant a movie full of masterful fight scenes like a reckless police officer stubbornly stopping at nothing to chase and arrest the object of his latest investigation. In the case ofThe Brink, said officer, Sai Gau, is willing to go after his prey, smuggler Shing, even if it means commandeering a ship and sailing after him.
The clashes Sai Gau and Shing have throughout the film are all brutal, brilliantly choreographed, and gritty fight scenes where the two characters really get to know each other, like all lifelong nemeses are bound to do, through their flurry of fists, kicks, and spins.The Brink’s fight choreography shines so much throughout the movie’s runtime that it wasnominated in the Best Action Choreography category at the 37th Hong Kong Film Awards.
8Bursting Point (2023)
Directed By Dante Lam
Bursting Pointincorporates some elements that are typical of noir movies into its plotabout a duo of officers, anti-narcotics inspector Bond Sir and policeman Jiang Ming, who put together a plan to hunt and take down a ring of drug traffickers. As the operation progresses, and they dive deeper into their covers, the clear lines between right and wrong begin to blur.
Bond Sir and Jiang Ming are allies, then rivals, then allies again. Their fight scenes shift with where their characters are at that given point in the story. First they fight side by side together and then against one another, always surrounded by explosions, gun fights, or car chases.Breaking Point’s fight choreography wasn’t just nominated at the latest Hong Kong Film Awards—the 42nd edition, which took place in 2024—but also won for Best Action Choreography.
Raging Fire
Raging Fire is an action thriller directed by Benny Chan, focusing on Cheung Sung-bong, a respected cop who faces a personal and professional challenge when a former protégé returns, intent on seeking revenge. The film explores themes of justice and retribution against a backdrop of intense action sequences.
Another Best Action Choreography winner, this time from the 40th edition of the Hong Kong Film Awards,Raging Fireis the last movie of legendary kung fu director Benny Chan.Raging Fire, which was released posthumously, was Chan’s final work before his death in 2021 and the last of a long filmography of successes, including a number of movies starring Jackie Chan.
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The story ofRaging Firefollows inspector Cheung Sung-bong as he sets on the trail of former inspector Yau Kong-ngo, who has a long-standing grudge against Cheung and would like nothing more than to get his revenge on him. The various clashes between the two are deeply rooted in reality, perfectly blending the phenomenal physical feats that audiences are used to seeing in kung fu movies with a sense of realism that does wonders for everyone’s suspension of disbelief.
Ip Man 4: The Finale
Ip Man 4: The Finale is the concluding installment of the Ip Man series, directed by Wilson Yip and starring Donnie Yen as the legendary martial artist. The film follows Ip Man as he travels to the United States to secure a future for his son, confronting racial tensions and clashing martial arts ideologies along the way. His journey highlights themes of cultural respect and personal integrity.
Ip Man 4: The Finale, as the title suggests, is the fourth and currently last movie in theIp Manseries, a long-standing and much-beloved franchise in modern kung fu cinema history.The whole series is loosely based on the life of Ip Man, a grandmaster of the Wing Chun form of kung fuwho operated mostly in the first half of the 20th century—and who was famously Bruce Lee’s master.
Despite this fourth installment of the Ip Man series being namedThe Finale, there is already a fifth Ip Man movie in development.
The movie is set in the United States, unlike most kung fu movies which take place in Hong Kong, where Ip Man moves in the Sixties. While the setting might be different than the norm when it comes to this particular genre of movies,Ip Manstill has plenty of fight scenes to make anyone’s watch entertaining. Its biographical undertones also make it quite unique when considering the usual sub-genres that are used throughout most of the canon of kung fu cinema.
5The Swordsman (2020)
Directed By Choi Jae-hoon
While Hong Kong is the undisputed home of the genre,modern kung fu movies are produced in a variety of other countriesand can be just as good as those produced in Hong Kong.The Swordsmanis a perfect example of this. Set in Korea during the Joseon era, the story follows Tae-yul, one of the King’s bodyguards and the best swordsman in his service—until his sword shatters during a duel and the King releases him from his service.
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From there begins a tale of redemption and revenge as an older Tae-yul tears through Joseon to look for his kidnapped daughter and regains his honor along the way. The fight scenes inThe Swordsmanare all engaging and spectacular, playing out on a big scale. They’re ultimately perfect for anyone who enjoys a good fight scene but would like to see a sword thrown in every once in a while.
Monkey Man
Monkey Man is a 2024 action-thriller film directed by and starring Dev Patel. Following his release from prison, a man known as “Kid” makes a living by engaging in anonymous underground fights in a mask where he is beaten down each night. However, after witnessing greed and corruption consuming his city, Kid breaks into the upper echelon of society to find those who destroyed his life and take them down.
Dev Patel’s directorial debut—which wassaved from studio interference by director Jordan Peele—Monkey Mantakes all the tropes that make kung fu movies what they are and sets them against the backdrop of modern-day India, where protagonist Kid works as a night waiter and dreams of exacting terrible revenge on the corrupt police chief who murdered his mother when Kid was a child. In the meantime, he fights in an underground rink wearing the monkey mask of the deity Hanuman.
Monkey Manis filled with brutal, thrilling fight scenes that are perfectly choreographed but do not shy away from just how raw hand-to-hand fighting actually is. All have something that makes them unique, from particular neon lightning to a fight that takes place in a kitchen and so uses everything that could be found in one.Monkey Manalso hits another staple of kung fu movies by having its leading man tirelessly train in the second act, so that he is truly ready for the final showdown the third act will bring.
Paradox
Paradox is a 2017 Hong Kong-Chinese action film directed by Wilson Yip and stars Louis Koo as Hong Kong police negotiator Lee Chung-chi. During a mission to find his missing daughter in Thailand, Lee collaborates with local detectives and uncovers a complex conspiracy. The film also features action choreography by Sammo Hung and supporting roles by Wu Yue, Tony Jaa, and Gordon Lam.
Paradox, the third installment of theSPLanthological film series, gained praise left and right upon its release and also swept the nominations at that year’s Hong Kong Film Awards, winning the Best Actor, Best Sound Design, and especially Best Action Choreography awards. The story follows police inspector Lee Chung-chi, who travels from Hong Kong to Pattaya, in Thailand, to search for his teenage daughter after she is reported missing during a school trip.
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2015
Wilson Yip
2017
Paradoxhas plenty of fight scenes to go around that happen as Lee tears through Pattaya with the help of two local police officers. They grow more brutal as Lee grows more desperate about the fate of his daughter and crosses almost every line possible in seeking his revenge. As it should always happen in a good kung fu movie,everything culminates in Lee’s final duel with his nemesis, American gangster Sacha.
The Night Comes For Us
The Night Comes For Us is a 2018 Indonesian action thriller film that follows Ito, a former triad enforcer, who must protect a young girl from a gang of assassins while on the run in Jakarta. Directed by Timo Tjahjanto, the film features a high-octane mix of martial arts and gunfights as Ito faces off against his former allies.
Produced in Indonesia,The Night Comes For Usis probably one of the goriest kung fu movies produced in recent years. While blood and violence are a quintessential part of this genre,The Night Comes For Ustakes it one step further and doesn’t shy away from any consequence of the terrible violence taking place during its runtime.
It makes for a harrowing and yet incredibly compelling story that is about violence on its surface, of course, but also about its consequences and the desperate struggle to survive. The movie reflects on all this by following main character Ito, a member of the South East Asian Triad crime syndicate, who decides to save a young girl from a village that he and his fellow gang members have massacred. This choice sets his entire former organization after him and his young charge, Reina.
Sakra
Sakra, directed by Donnie Yen and Ka-Wai Kam, follows a renowned martial artist accused of murder. As he seeks to uncover the truth about his mysterious origins, he confronts unknown adversaries intent on his destruction.
Based on the novelDemi-Gods and Semi-Devilsby author Jin Yong,Sakrais a wuxia-flavored kung fu movie set in the time of the Song and Liao empires, which were powers in China from the 10th to around the 13th century. It follows orphan Qiao Feng as he grows to become a martial arts master and attempts to clear his name after being accused of the murder of his adopted parents.
Wuxia literally translates to “martial arts and chivalry” and it’s one of the most popular genres in Chinese fiction and it could broadly be described as historical fantasy.
Sakra’s director Donnie Yen also stars as main characterQiao Feng, whose quest for redemption is filled with obstacles and enemies at every corner. This makes the fight scenes frequent and thrilling, since they’re all a matter of life, death, and honor.The fact that the movie is a period piece also adds some stunning visual elements to its fight sets, from swishing costumes to unique locations for Qiao Feng to defeat his enemies in.
