Action/Adventure, Best Movies, Classics, Crime/Mystery, Foreign-Language

The Best Kung Fu Movies Of All-Time

“What are the best Kung Fu movies ever made?” We looked at 146 of the top Kung Fu films and ranked them so we could answer that very question!

The top 19 films, all appearing on 3 or more “Best Kung Fu” movie lists, are ranked below by how many times they appear. The remaining 125+ movies, as well as the sources we used, are in alphabetical order on the bottom of the page.

Happy Scrolling!



Top 19 Best Kung Fu Movies



19 .) 36th Chamber of Shaolin (1978)

36th Chamber of Shaolin (1978)

Lists It Appears On:

  • Filmzone
  • Screen Kicker Movies
  • The Cinemaholic

The anti-Ching patriots, under the guidance of Ho Kuang-han, have secretly set up their base in Canton, disguised as school masters. During a brutal Manchu attack, Lui manages to escape, and devotes himself to learning the martial arts in order to seek revenge.




18 .) Black Mask

Black Mask

Lists It Appears On:

  • Rate Your Music
  • Today
  • Today

Chui Chik tries to lead a quiet life as a librarian. However, he is really a former test subject for a highly secretive supersoldier project and the instructor of a special commando unit dubbed “701.” The 701 squad is used for many government missions, but after one of the agents kills a team of policemen in an uncontrollable rage, the government decides to abort the project and eliminate all the subjects. Chui Chik helped the surviving 701 agents flee the extermination attempt. Having escaped, Chui Chik went separate ways from his team. Later, he discovers that the rest of the team were responsible for a violent crime spree that was beyond the capability of the local police. He sets out to stop them, donning a disguise and using the superhero alias of “Black Mask”. Having lost the ability to feel pain due to the surgery performed on the super-soldiers by the military, Black Mask is almost invulnerable.




17 .) Dirty Ho (1979)

Dirty Ho (1979)

Lists It Appears On:

  • BFI
  • Grindhouse Database
  • Martial Arts Action Movies

A prince enlists a thief to serve as his bodyguard to protect him from assassins.




16 .) Drunken Master 2 (aka The Legend of Drunken Master, 1994)

Drunken Master 2 (aka The Legend of Drunken Master, 1994)

Lists It Appears On:

  • BFI
  • Rate Your Music
  • Today

Returning home with his father after a shopping expedition, Wong Fei-Hong is unwittingly caught up in the battle between foreigners who wish to export ancient Chinese artifacts and loyalists who don’t want the pieces to leave the country. Fei-Hong must fight against the foreigners using his Drunken Boxing style, and overcome his father’s antagonism as well.




15 .) Police Story (1985)

Police Story (1985)

Lists It Appears On:

  • Martial Tribes
  • The Culture Trip
  • Top 10 Films

A virtuous Hong Kong police officer must clear his name after he is framed for murder.




14 .) Tai-Chi Master (1993)

Tai-Chi Master (1993)

Lists It Appears On:

  • IMDB
  • Rate Your Music
  • Screen Kicker Movies

Falsely accused for cheating in a martial arts competition, two boyhood friends are banished from their Shaolin Temple and go their separate ways. As adults, they join opposing sides in a civil war. When one betrays the other, they settle their differences mano-a-mano.




13 .) The 8 Diagram Pole Fighter (1984)

The 8 Diagram Pole Fighter (1984)

Lists It Appears On:

  • Filmzone
  • Rate Your Music
  • The Cinemaholic

The Yangs are betrayed by a government official conspiring with the Mongols. All of the Yang family males except the 5th and 6th brother are killed. Fu Sheng loses his mind after the death of his family, while the other brother takes refuge in a Buddhist temple.




12 .) Crouching Tiger, Hidden Dragon (2000)

Crouching Tiger, Hidden Dragon (2000)

Lists It Appears On:

  • Filmzone
  • IMDB
  • The Cinemaholic
  • The Culture Trip

Two warriors in pursuit of a stolen sword and a notorious fugitive are led to an impetuous, physically-skilled, teenage nobleman’s daughter, who is at a crossroads in her life.




11 .) Five Element Ninjas (1982)

Five Element Ninjas (1982)

Lists It Appears On:

  • Geek
  • Inverse
  • Rate Your Music
  • Screen Kicker Movies

A young martial artist seeks revenge on the ninja who kills his martial arts brothers and teacher.




10 .) Iron Monkey (1993)

Iron Monkey (1993)

Lists It Appears On:

  • BFI
  • Inverse
  • Rate Your Music
  • TV Over Mind

Iron Monkey is a Hong Kong variation of Robin Hood. Corrupt officials of a Chinese village are robbed by a masked bandit known as “Iron Monkey”, named after a benevolent deity. When all else fails, the Governor forces a traveling physician into finding the bandit. The arrival of an evil Shaolin monk, brings the physician and Iron Monkey together to battle the corrupt government.




9 .) The Prodigal Son (1981)

The Prodigal Son (1981)

Lists It Appears On:

  • BFI
  • Filmzone
  • Geek
  • The Cinemaholic

A rich man’s son (Yuen Biao) believes himself to be the best kung fu fighter in Canton. Unfortunately, his father, anxious for his son’s safety, bribes all his opponents to lose. After a humiliating defeat at the hands of an actor in a traveling theatre company, the son resolves to find a better teacher. Furious kung fu battles and slapstick comedy.




8 .) The Way of the Dragon (1972)

The Way of the Dragon (1972)

Lists It Appears On:

  • Filmzone
  • Martial Arts Action Movies
  • Martial Tribes
  • The Cinemaholic

Tang Lung arrives in Rome to help his cousins in the restaurant business. They are being pressured to sell their property to the syndicate, who will stop at nothing to get what they want. When Tang arrives he poses a new threat to the syndicate, and they are unable to defeat him. The syndicate boss hires the best Japanese and European martial artists to fight Tang, but he easily finishes them off.




7 .) Kung Fu Hustle (2004)

Kung Fu Hustle (2004)

Lists It Appears On:

  • Goliath
  • Martial Tribes
  • Rate Your Music
  • Showbox
  • The Culture Trip

Set in Canton, China in the 1940s, the story revolves in a town ruled by the Axe Gang, Sing who desperately wants to become a member. He stumbles into a slum ruled by eccentric landlords who turns out to be the greatest kung-fu masters in disguise. Sing’s actions eventually cause the Axe Gang and the slumlords to engage in an explosive kung-fu battle. Only one side will win and only one hero will emerge as the greatest kung-fu master of all.




6 .) The 36th Chamber of Shaolin (1978)

The 36th Chamber of Shaolin (1978)

Lists It Appears On:

  • BFI
  • IMDB
  • Inverse
  • Rate Your Music
  • Showbox

The anti-Ching patriots, under the guidance of Ho Kuang-han, have secretly set up their base in Canton, disguised as school masters. During a brutal Manchu attack, Lui manages to escape, and devotes himself to learning the martial arts in order to seek revenge.




5 .) Drunken Master (1978)

Drunken Master (1978)

Lists It Appears On:

  • Filmzone
  • Grindhouse Database
  • Rate Your Music
  • Showbox
  • The Cinemaholic
  • Today

A mischievous young man is sent to hone his martial arts skills with an older, alcoholic kung fu master.




4 .) Fist of Fury (1972)

Fist of Fury (1972)

Lists It Appears On:

  • BFI
  • Inverse
  • Martial Tribes
  • Rate Your Music
  • Today
  • Today

Chen Zhen returns to the international compound of China only to learn of his beloved teacher’s death. This is compounded by the continual racist harassment by the Japanese population in the area. Unlike his friends, he confronts it head on with his mastery of martial arts while investigating his teacher’s murder.




3 .) Fist of Legend (1994)

Fist of Legend (1994)

Lists It Appears On:

  • BFI
  • Filmzone
  • Inverse
  • Martial Tribes
  • Rate Your Music
  • Showbox
  • The Cinemaholic
  • Today

Chen Zhen, a Chinese engineering student in Kyoto, who braves the insults and abuse of his Japanse fellow students for his local love Mitsuko Yamada, daughter of the director, returns in 1937 to his native Shangai, under Japanse protectorate -in fact military occupation- after reading about the death of his kung-fu master Hou Ting-An in a fight against the Japanese champion Ryuichi Akutagawa.




2 .) Ip Man (2008)

Ip Man (2008)

Lists It Appears On:

  • BFI
  • Filmzone
  • Inverse
  • Martial Tribes
  • Rate Your Music
  • Screen Kicker Movies
  • The Cinemaholic
  • The Culture Trip

A semi-biographical account of Yip Man, the first martial arts master to teach the Chinese martial art of Wing Chun. The film focuses on events surrounding Ip that took place in the city of Foshan between the 1930s to 1940s during the Second Sino-Japanese War. Directed by Wilson Yip, the film stars Donnie Yen in the lead role, and features fight choreography by Sammo Hung.




1 .) Enter the Dragon (1973)

Enter the Dragon (1973)

Lists It Appears On:

  • Grindhouse Database
  • IMDB
  • Inverse
  • Martial Tribes
  • Rate Your Music
  • Screen Kicker Movies
  • Showbox
  • The Culture Trip
  • Today

A martial artist agrees to spy on a reclusive crime lord using his invitation to a tournament there as cover.




 


The 125+ Additional Best Kung Fu Movies Ever Made



 

# Movies Directors Lists
20 A Touch Of Zen   Geek
The Culture Trip
21 Fearless (2006)  
The Cinemaholic
Filmzone
22 Five Deadly Venoms (1978)  
Grindhouse Database
Today
23
Heroes of the East/Shaolin Challenges Ninja (1978)
 
The Cinemaholic
Filmzone
24 Kill Bill Vol. 1  
Martial Tribes
The Culture Trip
25
Legend of the Drunken Master (1994)
  Today
Inverse
26
Legend of the Red Dragon (1994)
  Goliath
Today
27
Master of The Flying Guillotine (1976)
 
Rate Your Music
Grindhouse Database
28 Once Upon a Time in China  
Rate Your Music
TV Over Mind
29
Once Upon a Time in China 2 (1992)
  Inverse
Rate Your Music
30 Ong-Bak: The Thai Warrior (2003) Prachya Pinkaew Today
IMDB
31 Rumble in the Bronx (1995)  
TV Over Mind
Inverse
32 Shaolin Soccer (2001)  
The Culture Trip
Martial Tribes
33 Shaolin Temple  
Martial Arts Action Movies
Top 10 Films
34
The Legend of the Drunken Master (1994)
 
TV Over Mind
Martial Tribes
35 A Fist Full of Talons (1983)  
Grindhouse Database
36
American Commando Ninja (1987)
 
Den Of Geek
37 Armour of God 2: Operation Condor (1991) Jackie Chan IMDB
38 Azumi (2003) Ryûhei Kitamura IMDB
39 Bastard Swordsman  
Martial Arts Action Movies
40 Beverly Hills Ninja (1997)   Goliath
41 Black Belt Jones (1974)  
Grindhouse Database
42 Blind Fist of Bruce  
Rate Your Music
43 Born Invincible (1978)  
Grindhouse Database
44 Broken Oath (1977)  
Grindhouse Database
45 Burning Paradise   Geek
46 Chinese Connection   Today
47 Chinese Super Ninjas (1982)  
Grindhouse Database
48 Circle of Iron (1978)  
Rate Your Music
49 Crippled Avengers  
Rate Your Music
50 Drunken Tai Chi (1984) Woo-Ping Yuen IMDB
51 Drunken Wu Tang (1984)  
Den Of Geek
52 Duel For Gold  
Martial Arts Action Movies
53 Encounters Of The Spooky Kind  
Top 10 Films
54 Firecracker   Today
55 Fist of Fury II (1977)  
Grindhouse Database
56 Fists of the White Lotus (1981)  
Grindhouse Database
57 Five Fingers of Death (1972)  
Grindhouse Database
58
Five Venoms vs. Wu Tang (1978)
  Goliath
59 Flying Dragon, Leaping Tiger (2002 Video) Allen Hai-Han Lan IMDB
60 Gymkata (1986)  
Den Of Geek
61 Heart of a Dragon (1985)   Goliath
62 Hoero tekken (1982) Norifumi Suzuki IMDB
63 House Of Traps   Geek
64 Invincible Armour  
Rate Your Music
65 Invincible Shaolin  
Rate Your Music
66 Jade Dagger Ninja (1982)  
Den Of Geek
67 Kill Bill Vol. 2  
Martial Tribes
68 Killer   Today
69 King Boxer (1972)   BFI
70 Kung Fu Excorsist   Today
71 Kung Fu Panda (2008) Mark Osborne IMDB
72 Kung Fu Wing Chun (2010) Tung Cho ‘Joe’ Cheung IMDB
73 Kung Fu Zombie  
Top 10 Films
74 Lady Iron Monkey (1979)  
Den Of Geek
75 Lady Whirlwind   Geek
76 Legendary Weapons of China”   Today
77 Mad Monkey Kung Fu (1979)   BFI
78 Magic Of Spell   Geek
79 Magnificent Butcher  
Rate Your Music
80 Martial Club  
Top 10 Films
81 Master Killer (1978)  
Grindhouse Database
82 Matching Escort (1983)  
Den Of Geek
83 Miami Connection  
Top 10 Films
84 Millionaires Express   Geek
85 Mystery Of Chess Boxing  
Top 10 Films
86 Mystery of Chess Boxing”   Today
87 Ninja Assassin (2009) James McTeigue IMDB
88 Ninja Hunter (1987)   Goliath
89
Ninja III : The Domination (1984)
 
Den Of Geek
90 No Retreat, No Surrender (1986) Corey Yuen IMDB
91
Opium And The Kung Fu Master
 
Top 10 Films
92 Pedicab Driver  
Martial Arts Action Movies
93 Project A  
Rate Your Music
94 Project A 2  
Martial Arts Action Movies
95 Return of the Dragon”   Today
96 Romeo Must Die”   Today
97 Rush Hour  
TV Over Mind
98 Seven Blows of The Dragon”   Today
99 Seven Samurai!!!”   Today
100 Shadowless Sword (2005) Young-jun Kim IMDB
101 Shanghai Express  
Martial Arts Action Movies
102 Shaolin Intruders   Geek
103 Shaolin Martial Arts”   Today
104 Shaolin Youth Posse (1984)  
Den Of Geek
105 Shogun’s Assassin   Today
106 Sister Streetfighter (1974)  
Grindhouse Database
107 Snake in the Eagle’s Shadow (1978) Woo-Ping Yuen IMDB
108 Snake in The Monkey’s Shadow (1979)  
Grindhouse Database
109 Spooky Encounters  
Rate Your Music
110 Story of Ricky  
Rate Your Music
111
Swordsman with an Umbrella (1970)
  Goliath
112 Taoism Drunkard   Geek
113 Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles (1990) Steve Barron IMDB
114 The 18 Bronzemen  
Martial Arts Action Movies
115 The 5 Deadly Venoms  
Rate Your Music
116 The Bastard Swordsman   Geek
117 The Big Boss  
Rate Your Music
118 The Bodyguard from Beijing (1994) Corey Yuen IMDB
119 The Chinese Connection (1972)  
Grindhouse Database
120 The Crippled Masters (1979)   Goliath
121 The Drunken Master   Today
122 The Eight Diagram Pole Fighter  
Top 10 Films
123 The Fabulous Trio”   Today
124 The Fearless Hyena  
Rate Your Music
125 The Five Fingers of Death   Today
126 The Flying Guillotine.”   Today
127 The Hammer of God (1970)  
Grindhouse Database
128 The Iron Monkey.”   Today
129 The Karate Kid (2010) Harald Zwart IMDB
130 The Killer  
The Culture Trip
131 The Magnificent Butcher (1979)  
Grindhouse Database
132 The Matrix  
The Culture Trip
133 The Octagon”   Today
134
The Return of the 5 Deadly Venoms”
  Today
135 The Story of Ricky (1991)   Goliath
136 The Streetfighter (1974)  
Grindhouse Database
137 The Valiant Ones  
Martial Arts Action Movies
138 The White Dragon   Today
139 The Young Master  
Rate Your Music
140
They Call Me Phat Dragon (1979)
  Goliath
141 True Game Of Death (1979)  
Den Of Geek
142
Vampire Raiders Vs Ninja Queen (1988)
 
Den Of Geek
143 Warriors Two  
Rate Your Music
144 Wing Chun (1994) Woo-Ping Yuen IMDB
145 Winners & Sinners (1983) Sammo Kam-Bo Hung IMDB
146
Zu Warriors From The Magic Mountain
 
Top 10 Films

 


18 Best Kung Fu Film Sources/Lists



Source Article
BFI 10 great kung fu films
Den Of Geek 10 of the Weirdest Kung Fu Movies Ever
Filmzone Top 10 Best Kung Fu Movies of All Time
Geek 11 Obscure Kung Fu Movies You Need To See
Goliath The 10 Craziest Kung Fu Movies
Grindhouse Database Dirty Basterds and Master Killers: 20 Classic Grindhouse Kung Fu Films
IMDB All time best Kungfu Movies (A Must Watch)
Inverse The 10 Coolest Kung Fu Movies to Watch Before ‘Iron Fist’
Martial Arts Action Movies Ten Great Kung Fu Movies You Probably Haven’t Seen
Martial Tribes 10 of the Best Kung Fu Films of All Time!
Rate Your Music The Best Kung Fu Movies – Rate Your Music
Screen Kicker Movies Screenkicker Top 5 Kung Fu Movies Ever
Showbox 5 Best Kung Fu movies of All Times
The Cinemaholic Best Kung Fu Movies | 12 Top Chinese Kungfu Films of All Time
The Culture Trip The 10 Best Kung-Fu Films of All Time
Today Your favorite kung fu films
Top 10 Films Top 10 1980s Kung Fu Films
TV Over Mind The Five Best Kung Fu Movies of the 90s