It’s astounding how many great modernmartial arts movieshave received near-universal praise on Rotten Tomatoes. While it’s well known that iconic classics of years gone by, likeSeven SamuraiandYojimbo, have long been favored by movie critics, these films' legendary status can sometimes overshadow the merits of more recent martial arts triumphs in the 21st century. That’s why it’s important to take the time to praise modern martial arts movies that have pushed the genre into brave new territory in recent years and continued to enthrall viewers with spectacular fight sequences.
Some of theall-time great martial performancesoccurred in the 21st century, and acclaimed directors like Zhang Yimou and Ang Lee have kept the quality of martial arts cinema high. These excellent films boasted spectacular performances from modernmartial arts starslike Tony Jaa, Jet Li, and Michelle Yeoh. While martial arts cinema has a long and fruitful history of beloved classics,there’s no shortage of critically acclaimed modern movies for fighting film fanatics to check out.
15Kung Fu Hustle (2005)
Rotten Tomatoes Score: 91%
Director Stephen Chow showcased why he’s the king of blending martial arts and comedy with the hilarious Hong Kong and China co-productionKung Fu Hustle. Set in Shanghai during the 1940s, this story of a wannabe gangster attempting to join a notorious gang mixed a solid narrative withLooney Tunes-esque comedy to produce something that stands alongside Chow’s best work, such asShaolin Soccer.Kung Fu Hustlereceived widespread acclaim, with film criticRoger Eberteven describing it as “likeJackie Chan and Buster Keaton meet Quentin Tarantino and Bugs Bunny.”
Kung Fu Hustle
Cast
Kung Fu Hustle is a 2004 martial arts comedy directed by Stephen Chow, set in 1940s Shanghai. It follows small-time criminals Sing and Bone, who aspire to join the infamous Axe Gang but inadvertently provoke powerful kung fu masters, leading to a conflict that reveals hidden talents and unlikely heroes.
14Polite Society (2021)
The British martial arts comedyPolite Societyfollowed the story of British-Pakistani teenage sistersand one sibling struggling to save the other after she gave up her dream of being a stunt woman to get married. By mixing Bollywood stylings, Eastern martial arts, and a British sense of humor,Polite Societywas truly unlike anything else, as it showcased that genre conventions could be ignored if there was a strong story and great performances to back the movie up. An impressive directional debut from its writer, Nida Manzoor, it will be exciting to see what she does next.
Polite Society
Polite Society (2023) is a British action-comedy film directed by Nida Manzoor. The film follows aspiring stuntwoman Ria Khan, played by Priya Kansara, as she plans to save her older sister Lena from an impending marriage. Navigating a blend of martial arts and sisterly bonds, Ria enlists the help of her friends to execute an elaborate and bold rescue mission.
13Kickboxer: Retaliation (2018)
Rotten Tomatoes Score: 93%
TheKickboxerfranchisestarted with the original cult classic Jean-Claude Van Damme movie in 1989 but has since had plenty of sequels of varying quality. However, none were more acclaimed than the seventh entry,Kickboxer: Retaliation, a satisfying throwback movie that delivered the very best of what this franchise has to offer while showcasing astounding fight sequences. With Alain Moussi as Kurt Sloane and Jean-Claude Van Damme as the Muay Thai Master Durand,Kickboxer:Retaliationmay not have yet achieved the same iconic status as the original, but it was certainly a major hit with critics.
12Everything Everywhere All At Once (2022)
As the only martial arts movie to ever win the Oscar for Best Picture, it’s no surprise thatEverything Everywhere All at Oncehas fared well with critics on Rotten Tomatoes. With an astounding blend of Kung Fu, comedy, fantasy, and even dimension-bending sci-fi, this absurd story appealed to mainstream viewers who would be less familiar with martial arts cinema. Taking home an astounding seven Academy Awards, the sheer volume of accoladesEverything Everywhere All At Oncehas received was truly unprecedented.
Everything Everywhere All at Once
In Everything Everywhere All at Once, a middle-aged laundromat owner (Michelle Yeoh) is distracted from her financial and family issues by a multiversal crisis. With just her husband (Ke Huy Quan) to support her through the confusion, she must contend with her overbearing traditional father (James Hong), a pencil-pushing auditor (Jamie Lee Curtis), and her emotionally-distant daughter (Stephanie Hsu).
11Hero (2002)
Rotten Tomatoes Score: 94%
Herowas an epic Wuxia triumph that brought together some of the biggest modern martial arts stars, including Jet Li, Tony Leung, Maggie Cheung, Zhang Ziyi, and Donnie Yen. An epic tale of the Warring States Period in China, 227–221 BC,Herowas an astounding showcase of many martial arts styles combined with poetic visuals of warriors in impressively choreographed battles. As a stylized meditation of heroism,Herowas a powerful showcase of what can be achieved in martial arts cinema.
10John Wick: Chapter 4 (2024)
TheJohn Wickfranchise started strong as an engrossing mix of action movies and martial arts stylings, but through rich worldbuilding and strong characterization, it has gotten more exciting with each subsequent installment.John Wick: Chapter 4kept the action coming asKeanu Reeves faced off against Donnie Yenas the blind assassin Caine in yet another extraordinary adventure. As a bigger and bolder installment than anything that came before it, it’s no surprise thatJohn Wick: Chapter 4received universal critical acclaim.
John Wick: Chapter 4
Following the events of Chapter 3 - Parabellum, John Wick Chapter 4 will see the titular character battle against some of his most dangerous foes yet. With a bounty on his head that continues to skyrocket, John decides to take the fight to the High Table on a global scale and battles across areas like Osaka and Paris to wipe out some of the strongest players in the underworld.
9Journey To The West: Conquering The Demons (2013)
Director Stephen Chow added to his extraordinary resume of martial arts classics, which includedShaolin SoccerandKung Fu Hustle, withJourney to the West: Conquering the Demons. A lighthearted adaptation of the classic Chinese novel of the same name,Journey to the Westhas always been a prime source of inspiration for martial arts media, as its story has been repeated in everything fromDragon BalltoThe Monkey King. This latest action-packed adaptation maintained the spirit of its source material while updating it with dazzling action sequences.
Journey to the West: Conquering the Demons
Journey to the West: Conquering the Demons is a Chinese fantasy comedy film directed by Stephen Chow. Set in ancient China, the story follows a young demon hunter named Tang Sanzang, who treads a treacherous path to seek enlightenment while capturing demons. This film, infused with humor and action, presents a unique take on the classic Chinese novel Journey to the West.
8Furie (2019)
Rotten Tomatoes Score: 95%
The Vietnamese martial arts movieFurietells the story of a former gang leader who battles human traffickers to save her kidnapped daughter. As a violently compelling showcase of action movie excitement starring Veronica Ngo as Hai Phượng, a Vovinam-skilled ex-gangster,Furiecaptured the same non-stop fighting excitement that made movies likeThe Raidseries such cult favorites.Furiewas even selected as the Vietnamese entry for the Best International Feature Film at the Academy Awards, although it was not nominated.
Furie
Furie is a 2019 Vietnamese action thriller directed by Le-Van Kiet. The film follows a former gang leader, played by Veronica Ngo, as she embarks on a relentless pursuit to rescue her kidnapped daughter from a dangerous trafficking ring.
7Ip Man 2 (2011)
Rotten Tomatoes Score: 97%
One of the martial arts icon Donnie Yen’s greatest roles was as the Wing Chun grandmaster Ip Man in the franchise that bore his name. While the entire series has received critical acclaim,Ip Man 2was the most revered on Rotten Tomatoes, with an astounding 97% critics score. This sequel carried on from the firstIp Manto follow the grandmaster’s early life in British Hong Kong and the challenges he faced from other practitioners as he tried to propagate his discipline of Wing Chun while facing off against local masters and a British boxer.
Ip Man 2
Ip Man 2, directed by Wilson Yip, follows kung fu master Ip Man as he relocates to post-war Hong Kong. Seeking to establish his Wing Chun school, he faces challenges from local martial arts masters, including Hung Gar master Hung Quan, as he tries to teach the troubled youth.
6The Paper Tigers (2021)
Rotten Tomatoes Score: 98%
The American martial arts action comedyThe Paper Tigershas received widespread acclaim for its hilarious depiction of childhood kung fu prodigies who have grown into washed-up, middle-aged men. As Bao Tran’s directional debut,The Paper Tigersalso featured Yuji Okumoto, best known asChozen Toguchi inThe Karate Kidfranchise, as an actor and producer. With a hilarious premise, great fight scenes, and a lot of heart,The Paper Tigerswas a breath of fresh air among American martial arts movies that were bursting with creativity.
