Which Kung Fu Movie Reigns Supreme? The Best of All Time, Ranked

Kung Fu movies are loved for their amazing fight scenes, comedic stunt performances, and entertaining plot twists. Some of the best Kung Fu movies of all time are


Matrix, Seven Samurai,


and


Hero.


Besides entertainment, these movies teach important skills such as self-protection.

Key takeaways

• Kung Fu movies are celebrated for their remarkable displays of martial arts.
• 
  
  Matrix
  
  
  (1999) is one of the best Kung Fu movies with an
  
  IMDb ranking of 8.7/10
  
  .
• These films often provide a glimpse into Asian culture and traditions using the medium of martial arts.
• Beyond the action, Kung Fu movies are also known for their engaging storylines and character development.

Best Kung Fu movies

We considered several key factors to determine the best Kung Fu movies, including audience popularity and critical acclaim. We also considered IMDb ratings to help us narrow down the top picks. The list below is a mix of both classic and modern films, all featuring fantastic storylines that truly showcase the spirit of Kung Fu.

Movie name	IMDb rating	Genre
Matrix	8.7/10	Science fiction
Seven Samurai	8.6/10	Action
Hero	7.9/10	Wuxia Martial Arts
Enter the Dragon	7.6/10	Action
The 36th Chamber of Shaolin	7.6/10	Adventure
Iron monkey	7.5/10	Crime
13 Assassin	7.5/10	Thriller
Ip Man	7.5/10	Drama
Drunken Master	7.4/10	Action and comedy
The Prodigal Son	7.3/10	Thriller
Shaolin Soccer	7.3/10	Action Comedy
Five Fingers of Death	7.1/10	Drama
Kill Zone	6.9/10	Action thriller
Bodyguard and Assassins	6.8/10	Action
Karate kids	6.2/10	Drama

1. Matrix (1999)

• 
  IMDb ratings:
  
  8.7/10
• 
  Genre:
  
  Science fiction

The

Matrix

Is the greatest Kung Fu film ever made. The story centers on Thomas A. Anderson’s split identity. By day, he is employed as a software developer, yet under cover at night, he adopts the alias Neo to become a cyberpunk hacker.

As the narrative progresses, Neo learns that the authorities are after him. Playing as Neo, he must confront government agents along with their sophisticated computer systems, resulting in an action-packed sequence of developments.

2. Seven Samurai (1954)

• 
  IMDb ratings:
  
  8.6/10
• 
  Genre
  
  : Action

Seven Samurai

centers around a seasoned samurai with numerous battles under his belt. Despite encountering setbacks along the way, he decides to assist a village facing threats from marauding bandits.

He realizes he cannot manage it single-handedly, so he enlists six additional samurai to assist him. As compensation—receiving daily meals—they teach the villagers self-defense techniques. However, chaos ensues when raiders assault the settlement.

3. Hero (2002)

• 
  IMDb ratings:
  
  7.9/10
• 
  Genre:
  
  Wuxia Martial Arts

Hero

takes place in China during the rule of the Qin Empire. The empire is trying to take over six other kingdoms, which makes their king a target for assassination. One person from the empire bravely confronts and defeats three famous assassins. Because of his bravery, the king wants to meet him.

4. Enter the Dragon (1973)

• 
  IMDb ratings:
  
  7.6/10
• 
  Genre:
  
  Action

Enter the Dragon

is a bona fide martial arts classic, regarded by many as one of the best martial arts movies of all time. In the movie, Lee plays a Shaolin master recruited by British intelligence to enter an undercover martial arts tournament.

The event is organized by Han, who is allegedly connected to drug-related activities. It’s down to Lee to utilize his martial arts skills to thwart Han’s sinister schemes.

5. The 36th Chamber of Shaolin (1978)

• 
  IMDb ratings:
  
  7.6/10
• 
  Genre:
  
  Adventure

The 36th Chamber of Shaolin

It is the most renowned Shaolin film. The story revolves around anti-Qing loyalists posing as educators. When they face a brutal assault from the Manchu forces, Liu flees and dedicates his life to honing his combat skills for vengeance. Once proficient in battle, he sets out to annihilate the Manchus.

6. Iron Monkey

• 
  IMDb ratings:
  
  7.5/10
• 
  Genre:
  
  Crime film

A martial artist operates as a masked thief to rob corrupt officials and distribute their wealth among those suffering from poverty, while another martial artist is compelled to apprehend him. However, they must put aside their differences when a treacherous Shaolin monk seizes control of the authorities with overwhelming power.

7. 13 Assassin (2010)

• 
  IMDb ratings:
  
  7.5/10
• 
  Genre:
  
  Thriller

13 Assassins

is one of the top karate films worth watching. This film revolves around contemporary martial arts practices. It tells the story of Shinzaemon Shimada, who heads a team of killers tasked with taking down Lord Naritsugu Matsudaira, an oppressive Japanese ruler. Shimada gathers the most skilled samurais across Japan and plans to ambush the loyalist guards protecting the ruthless lord.

8. Ip Man (2010)

• 
  IMDb ratings:
  
  7.5/10
• 
  Genre:
  
  Drama

Ip Man

It ranks among the top Kung Fu films ever made. The movie is inspired by the life story of Grandmaster Ip Man.

Ip Man

He wishes to propagate the principles of Wing Chun. However, this ambition turns challenging as adversaries keep an eye out for him. Among his chief competitors are Hung Chun-nam and Taylor “The Twister” Miller.

9. Drunken Master (1978)

• 
  IMDb ratings:
  
  7.4/10
• 
  Genre:
  
  Action and comedy

Drunken Master

One of the finest Chinese action films features Wong Fei-Hung as a playful but virtuous youth whose antics annoy his father. In an attempt to instill discipline, his father arranges for him to learn from a renowned expert in Drunken Fist Kung Fu. Thus, he dispatches Wong Fei-Hung to stay with his uncle, who happens to be this skilled master.

The Master is harsh and unforgiving, yet Wong must push forward despite everything. In time, he goes back home to protect his father from an assailant.

10. The Lost Boy Returns (1981)

• 
  IMDb ratings:
  
  7.3/10
• 
  Genre:
  
  Thriller

The Prodigal Son

Is inspired by the story of Leung Chang, a rich martial artist whose father arranges for opponents to lose intentionally. When Leung discovers this deception from his father, he becomes more dedicated to mastering martial arts and manages to persuade an accomplished kung fu master to become his teacher.

11. Shaolin Soccer (2001)

• 
  IMDb ratings:
  
  7.3/10
• 
  Genre:
  
  Action Comedy

Stephen Chow stars as a struggling monk aiming to spread Shaolin principles. He joins forces with Ng Man-tat’s former football player, and together they assemble an improbable squad of athletic heroes to compete in the China Super Cup soccer championship.

Shaolin Soccer

It ranks among the top Asian action films worth viewing.

12. The Five Deadly Fists of Death (1972)

• 
  IMDb ratings:
  
  7.1/10
• 
  Genre:
  
  Drama

Five Fingers

Follows two martial arts schools gearing up for a significant tournament. The master of one corrupt school aims to have his son emerge victorious. To achieve this, he employs three Japanese samurai, whose mission is to take out the top contenders from the opposing school.

13. Kill Zone (2005)

• 
  IMDb ratings:
  
  6.9/10
• 
  Genre:
  
  Action thriller

Kill Zone

centers on an almost-retired police inspector who, alongside his team, aims to bring down a vicious criminal mastermind. Their efforts face multiple obstacles as they get closer to success, particularly when a problematic newcomer joins them and appears to obstruct their progress.

To everyone’s astonishment, the crime boss counters by dispatching his chief enforcers to sabotage the police team’s operations.

14. The Bodyguard and Assassins (2009)

• 
  IMDb ratings:
  
  6.8/10
• 
  Genre:
  
  Action

In 1905, revolution leader Sun Yat-sen went to Hong Kong to meet with members of the Tongmenghui and strategize about toppling the Qing dynasty. However, upon learning that assassins were dispatched to eliminate him, he gathered a team of guards to thwart any attempts against his life.

15. Karate kids (2010)

• 
  IMDb ratings:
  
  6.2/10
• 
  Genre:
  
  Drama

Work causes a single mom to move to China with her son. In his new home, the 12-year-old boy embraces Kung Fu, taught by a master, which he uses to defend himself from bullies

Final word

Here are some top-notch Kung Fu films we suggest checking out. These have been recognized for their exceptional acting and enduring charm. We selected these not just due to their entertainment value, but also because they are steeped in culture and history, ensuring enjoyment for years to come.

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