Good martial arts action movies are all about the choreography. The great ones offer more artistically, thematically, and in terms of performance. A kick can look good in any movie, but give it the right actor, a capable stunt team, and a solid enough reason for violence, and it becomes more; it becomes part of the character growth and plot development. More importantly, the entertainment value increases.
So far, the 2020s have marked a major renaissance for the martial arts genre. After years of standard fighting, filmmakers appear to have rediscovered the thrill of violence. The genre isn’t just standing on its own anymore. It has frequently been blended with comedy, superhero, crime, sci-fi, and many others, to great effect. So whether you’re a lifelong martial arts devotee or someone who just wants to watch fighters showcasing their skills, you’re likely to enjoy the 2020s selections. Here’s how the 10 best ones rank against each other.
‘The Swordsman’ (2020)
Jang Hyuk Makes a Case for Himself as the World’s Best Action Star
Why It’s Great: The Swordsman sees Jang Hyuk giving a stoic, physically dominant performance as a blind former royal swordsman eager to protect his daughter from mercenaries. Heavy on swordplay, the movie relies on steady and economical action structured to ensure each technique is properly seen. The period action thriller also leans into the protagonist’s disability, using sound to signal incoming threats. Bold on the themes of family and parenthood, the martial arts thriller will be relatable to anyone who adores their children.
Why It’s Ranked #10: The Swordsman is the most conventional martial arts movie among the 10 on this list. It is propelled by outstanding action and a strong lead performance, but the plot has played out before in movies like Taken and Man on Fire. Besides that, most of the people the protagonist interacts with are thinly characterized. However, its ranking is not a dismissal. The South Korean hit is still better than much of what’s out there.
‘Life After Fighting’ (2024)
A Rare Australian Martial Arts Gem That Ignores the Outback for Indoor Chaos
Why It’s Great: Packed with commentary on mentorship and human rights abuses, Life After Fighting is equally insightful and moving. Bren Foster, best known for The Last Ship, did the heavy lifting. He wrote, directed, and starred in the movie about a martial arts school owner who springs into action when two of his students are taken by a child-trafficking ring. All scenes are powerful, but the extended finale is the calling card, stretching to roughly 40 minutes of fighting time.
Why It’s Ranked #9: You’ll have a hard time finding something that tops that finale. But as jaw-dropping as the fight sequences are, they eclipse most of the movie’s other elements. The dramatic subplots don’t quite land as they should, and the dialogue is basic. Still, it outranks The Swordsman because the fight sequences are more sustained and technically superior. Regarding action, the movie delivers what it promises. Only those looking for sharper storytelling will be a little disappointed.
‘Sakra’ (2023)
Yen’s Imperfect Adaptation Still Hits Many Great Notes
Why It’s Great: Donnie Yen’s first feature directorial effort since Protégé de la Rose Noire (which came out in 2004) brilliantly captures classic wuxia elements through tragedy, sweeping landscapes, and unique martial techniques like the Dragon Subduing Palms. Yen is once again excellent, playing the heroic leader of the Beggar Clan who is forced to go on the run after being accused of a number of crimes. The choreography stands out, and Yen’s screen presence lends more weight to the protagonist’s frustration and pain.
Why It’s Ranked #8: Sakra adapts Demi-Gods and Semi-Devils, the wuxia novel written by Jin Yong, but it leaves out many key moments of the sprawling tale. If you’ve read the book, you’ll quickly realize that Yen’s ambition exceeds his execution. The movie’s compressed plot, uneven pacing, and heavy CGI use keep it below the entries above it. However, it beats the last two entries because of its grand scale, assured performance from an experienced and highly talented lead actor, and cultural significance within the genre.
‘Twilight of the Warriors: Walled In’ (2024)
A Visually Stunning Flick That Earned Numerous Award Nominations
Why It’s Great: Director Soi Cheang’s love letter to classic Hong Kong martial arts cinema first impresses via its production design. Set in the vast and lawless Kowloon Walled City, it journeys so deep into a maze of neon-colored rooftops and alleys that the location becomes a character, too. Beneath its fun plot about the hunt for a Chinese-Vietnamese refugee who stole a bag of drugs, the movie seamlessly blends melodrama and gangland intrigue. It also addresses weighty topics such as overpopulation and economic decay. It’s no wonder it was nominated for 14 awards at the 43rd Hong Kong Film Awards.
Why It’s Ranked #7: Twilight of the Warriors: Walled In sits in seventh place because its strengths are mainly visual and atmospheric, and the story covers familiar territory. While the action is magnificently staged and the setting unforgettable, the conventional plot prevents it from becoming a timeless classic. Still, its production design makes it worthy of outranking Sakra and the list’s lower entries.
‘Polite Society’ (2023)
Proof That Martial Arts Can Be Useful in Any Scenario
Why It’s Great: Nida Manzoor’s Polite Society is a fun cocktail, plucking the best elements of wuxia, heist, and comedy, then merging them into one fun outing. In the tale of a British Pakistani teen and aspiring stuntwoman who fights to save her sister from a bad marriage, topics such as immigration, women’s empowerment, and racism are addressed. Great performances elevate the movie to new heights, and so does the excellent cinematography. Even former President Barack Obama recommends it.
Why It’s Ranked #6: The critically acclaimed action comedy ranks a little higher on the list because of its unique approach to martial arts. Everyone is likely to enjoy how Bollywood-style spectacle is fused with martial arts. Regrettably, its slightly uneven execution derails at times. On many occasions, director Nida Manzoor appears torn between making a rom-com and making an action movie. Thankfully, the ambition never overwhelms the plotting.
‘Shang-Chi and the Legend of the Ten Rings’ (2021)
One of the Strongest Pillars in the MCU’s Memorable Phase Four
Why It’s Great: The entry of wuxia-inspired mayhem into superhero cinema was inevitable, given the comic stories, but it turned out better than expected. This Marvel Phase Four movie brings out the best in actor Simu Liu, with Awkwafina and Michelle Yeoh adding much-needed warmth and humor. Most action sequences are extraordinary, too, drawing on Jackie Chan-style, prop-based choreography. A particular bus fight is impossible to forget, and so is a chase scene later in the movie. More pleasing is how the superhero action fantasy thriller treats Chinese customs with great respect.
Why It’s Ranked #5: Shang-Chi deservedly earns the fifth spot for making Kung Fu cinema’s physical and visual language accessible to a wider global audience without sacrificing any of the brilliance. Unfortunately, the final act drifts into the usual CGI-heavy Marvel spectacle that heavily dilutes the strong martial arts identity established earlier in the movie. Comparatively, the movies above it maintain a greater commitment to the art of fighting.
‘Monkey Man’ (2024)
Dev Patel Is Off to a Flying Start
Why It’s Great: Dev Patel has the flair of a veteran in his directorial debut. A primeval, politically fueled revenge tale rooted in Indian myth, class division, marginalization, and social injustice, Monkey Man’s power stretches beyond its action. Patel plays a fighter who morphs from underground expert to avenger. And as we are taken through the journey, the action stays raw, with the camera staying close to the damage and the pain.
Why It’s Ranked #4: The action thriller strikes as hard as the punches, but it could have been an even better movie if it were a little stylish like the entries above it. The brutal and character-focused fight choreography is unique, a major reason the movie became popular. However, various editing choices make the action sequences harder to follow, a likely reason some award organizers snubbed Monkey Man. Still, the cultural sense of identity, level of ambition, and emotional resonance are commendable for a first-time director.
‘Everything Everywhere All at Once’ (2022)
A Masterclass on How to Blend Sci-Fi With Martial Arts
Why It’s Great: In Everything Everywhere All at Once, the directing duo known as The Daniels combine innovative fight scenes with a sci-fi concept to tell a touching story anchored in generational trauma and the power of fate and choice. Michelle Yeoh plays a Chinese-American immigrant who juggles her IRS problems with saving the multiverse. Fights are comical sometimes, but the wild premise justifies everything we see.
Why It’s Ranked #3: Everything Everywhere All at Once’s fight scenes serve the plot and themes rather than being the movie’s driving force. While that’s a good thing, the movie often appears more committed to its social commentary and the creative side of science fiction than to action choreography. It’s a welcome flaw, one that’s unlikely to dissuade anyone from watching. Still, a ranking of martial arts cinema must favor the discipline more, hence why the movie is close to the top but doesn’t sit on the crown.
‘John Wick: Chapter 4’ (2023)
Wick’s Journey Reaches a Major, Satisfactory Climax
Why It’s Great: Chad Stahelski’s John Wick changed the Hollywood action space forever by expertly showcasing close-quarters combat and popularizing Gun Fu. However, the fourth chapter is a new, higher watermark for 2020s action choreography. Here, the franchise gets a major boost via Donnie Yen’s blind swordsman, Caine, whose energetic performance adds verve to the film about Wick challenging the High Table for the final time. Blending swordplay, nunchaku, and vehicle stunts, the fourth installment has no dull moments.
Why It’s Ranked #2: Chapter 4 is arguably the most ambitious movie on the list, but it’s plagued by the same problems of the previous installments. Plot armor is maintained until the final minutes, and realism is often thrown out the window. The movie thus loses the top spot simply because it prioritizes spectacle over human moments and reliability. We are way past the days of grief that propelled early entries. It’s all fight after fight.
‘The Paper Tigers’ (2020)
A Gag-Filled Flick That Forces Us to Laugh at the Characters’ Pain
Why It’s Great: Quoc Bao Tran also demonstrates meticulous craft in his directorial debut, stitching comedic elements into a sincere story about fitness, skill acquisition, and aging. Here, three former prodigies who are now struggling with health issues reunite to avenge their dead master. The fun lies in watching them overcome their physical weaknesses and maintain their code of honor. In a genre full of killing machines, the approach in The Paper Tigers brings a revitalizing feeling.
Why It’s Ranked #1: The Paper Tigers takes the top spot because it pays attention to both human elements and the joys of martial arts. Bigger productions might beat it on stunts and props, but no other same-genre movie matches its balance of comedy and technique. The characters achieve much with limited resources, and the dialogue carries a lot of philosophical significance. Additionally, themes of mentorship and redemption are expertly delivered through an Asian American angle. One would need to look really hard to find a single flaw.
This story originally appeared on Movieweb
