Cyberpunk and martial arts are two facets of movie genres that might not have a lot in common on the surface. However, they make for an incredible combination. Juxtaposing the technological and virtual realities of cyberpunk with the physical discipline and technique of martial arts is always engaging. Many of the best cyberpunk sci-fi movies are from the 1980s and 1990s, as this was when the internet was taking hold, and both filmmakers and audiences were beginning to fear what this meant for society. However, there are just as many memorable modern additions to the genre.
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These action films within the cyberpunk genre range from campy martial arts movies to serious explorations of fighting techniques with deep social and cultural messages. Many of these projects blur the line between action, sci-fi, cyberpunk, and martial arts, using the features of each of these topics interchangeably. The futuristic worlds the characters belong to have seen a breakdown of cultural barriers and differences since cyberspace has connected everyone. This makes learning ways of defending oneself a critical part of the story since, so often, the seemingly equal worlds are a veneer hiding a dystopian government.
10 Jiu Jitsu (2020)
Directed by Dimitri Logothetis
Jiu Jitsu Sci-FiActionAdventure
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*Availability in US Director Dimitri Logothetis Release Date November 20, 2020 Writers Dimitri Logothetis , Jim McGrath Cast Alain Moussi , Nicolas Cage , Tony Jaa , JuJu Chan , Eddie Steeples , Marie Avgeropoulos , Frank Grillo , June Sasitorn , Marrese Crump , Rick Yune , Tommy Walker , Mary Makariou , Raymond Pinharry , Ryan Tarran , Dan Rizzuto , Jack Kingsley , Rigan Machado , John D. Hickman , Philip Kkalas , Eleonora Vasileiou , Marianna Neophytou Runtime 127 minutes Expand
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Nicolas Cage stars in the 2020 movie Jiu Jitsu, a film named after a classification of martial arts. However, the warriors in the film who study the fighting style don’t just have to prove themselves to other masters but must hone their skills in order to stave off alien invasion. Though aliens don’t typically make an appearance in cyberpunk narratives, with technology playing the role of antagonist more often than not, Jiu Jitsu manages to make the science fiction element blend seamlessly into the plot.
Jiu Jitsu
is well aware that it will never be remembered as the best of the genre and never intends to compete with the serious movies that inspire it.
Though Jiu Jitsu wasn’t a smash hit with critics and audiences, it’s an ambitious project that prioritizes fast-paced action and spectacle above all else. Jiu Jitsu is well aware that it will never be remembered as the best of the genre and never intends to compete with the serious movies that inspire it. Instead, Jiu Jitsu willingly pokes fun at itself with a genial sense of humor. Unfortunately, it was overlooked due to its 2020 release.
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|
Title |
Rotten Tomatoes Critic Score |
See more : Grand Admiral Thrawn: 10 Key Differences Between Star Wars’ Next Big Villain In Canon & Legends Rotten Tomatoes Audience Score |
|
Jiu Jitsu (2020) |
27% |
64% |
9 Ready Player One (2018)
Directed by Steven Spielberg
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4.6/10 Ready Player One PG-13 Sci-FiThrillerAction
Adapted from Ernest Cline’s novel of the same name, Ready Player One follows Wade Watts, an orphan who desperately wants to win a seemingly-impossible video game competition that would see him win ownership of the OASIS, a sophisticated virtual reality game that had revolutionized modern life. Helped by his friends and racing against time to find the hidden clues before the OASIS is claimed by an evil conglomerate, Wade’s love of the game is put to the test.
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*Availability in US Director Steven Spielberg Release Date March 29, 2018 Writers Eric Eason , Zak Penn , Ernest Cline Cast T.J. Miller , Hannah John-Kamen , Lena Waithe , Mark Rylance , Mckenna Grace , Letitia Wright , Ben Mendelsohn , Ralph Ineson , Simon Pegg , Olivia Cooke , Tye Sheridan Runtime 2h 20m Studio(s) Warner Bros. Pictures Budget 155–175 million Expand
Steven Spielberg’s adaptation of Ready Player One by Ernest Cline isn’t his best-received film in recent years, but it did help usher in a new age of bringing video games to the forefront of media. The prevalence of video games in movies and TV shows has only become more popular in recent years, and Cline skillfully incorporated virtual reality and pop culture references into his book, which Spielberg takes advantage of. One of the best parts of Ready Player One is how well the nostalgia for the past bleeds into the virtual landscape of the future.
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Related 20 Movies Like Ready Player One Everyone Should See
Ready Player One became a fan favorite for gamers, sci-fi lovers, and YA readers, and these similar movies should also tickle their fancy.
Most of the martial arts and action sequences take place within the virtual reality of the game the protagonist, Wade (Tye Sheridan), is wrapped up in. Attempting to find a legendary treasure and rescue his family from their difficult circumstances, Wade delves into the game and enters many competitions of strength and skill to beat it. Unlike other cyberpunk narratives, Ready Player One has a hopeful message and gives its audience something positive to engage with.
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|
Title |
Rotten Tomatoes Critic Score |
See more : Grand Admiral Thrawn: 10 Key Differences Between Star Wars’ Next Big Villain In Canon & Legends Rotten Tomatoes Audience Score |
|
Ready Player One (2018) |
72% |
77% |
8 Ultraviolet (2006)
Directed by Kurt Wimmer
UltraViolet PG-13ActionSci-FiThriller
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*Availability in US Director Kurt Wimmer Release Date March 3, 2006 Writers Kurt Wimmer Cast Milla Jovovich , Cameron Bright , Nick Chinlund , Sebastien Andrieu , Ida Martin , William Fichtner Runtime 87 minutes
After being genetically modified by a secret government organization into a vampire-like creature, Violet (Milla Jovovich) fights against the corrupt and violent government using her incredible skills. Though the virus has separated her from humanity and made her hunted, it also gives Violet unprecedented strength, speed, and agility, making her the perfect weapon. However, this is why she and others like her are so feared by humanity, who are working to eradicate her kind forever.
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Visually, Ultraviolet is very of its time, as its special effects are dated, and the aesthetics are simultaneously futuristic while looking straight out of the early 2000s. Its poor critical reception has led Ultraviolet to be overwhelmingly forgotten, despite its promising premise and Jovovich’s great work as a fighter and emotional anchor. Though Ultraviolet isn’t the most original project, it’s still fun thanks to the performances and the unique martial arts style that the director, Kurt Wimmer, is known for.
|
Title |
Rotten Tomatoes Critic Score |
See more : Grand Admiral Thrawn: 10 Key Differences Between Star Wars’ Next Big Villain In Canon & Legends Rotten Tomatoes Audience Score |
|
Ultraviolet (2006) |
9% |
30% |
7 Shin Kamen Rider (2023)
Directed by Hideaki Anno
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Also referred to as Shin Masked Rider in English, the recent movie iteration of the Kamen Rider TV series and its franchise is a great mix of superhero and cyberpunk. Using fun costuming to bring a nostalgic aesthetic to the characters and atmosphere,Shin Kamen Rider is appreciative of the story’s 1970s roots and imbues this vintage feel into the narrative. Using classic martial arts techniques and using the camera and fight choreography to work in harmony, Shin Kamen Rider is a lot of fun.
The director, Hideaki Anno, also worked on
Shin Godzilla
and
Shin Ultraman
, and the influence of these two films is evident throughout
Shin Kamen Rider
.
The director, Hideaki Anno, also worked on Shin Godzilla and Shin Ultraman, and the influence of these two films is evident throughout Shin Kamen Rider. Though there are plenty of campy moments in Shin Kamen Rider, all of these scenes are self-aware, as this humor and referential style is essential to the Kamen Rider franchise. Shin Kamen Rider isn’t as high-tech as other cyberpunk projects, but this grounds the otherworldly story and makes the audience care about the characters.
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|
Title |
Rotten Tomatoes Critic Score |
See more : Grand Admiral Thrawn: 10 Key Differences Between Star Wars’ Next Big Villain In Canon & Legends Rotten Tomatoes Audience Score |
|
Shin Kamen Rider (2023) |
89% |
84% |
6 Æon Flux (2005)
Directed by Karyn Kusama
Aeon Flux
Aeon Flux is set in a fictional future where a skilled assassin teams up with a group of rebels to overthrow the government, but things get complicated when she starts to question her mission. The 2005 sci-fi movie, starring Charlize Theron as the titular hero, is based on the MTV animated show of the same name.
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Starring Charlize Theron as the titular character, Æon Flux explores a dystopian society of the last humans on Earth and the rebel group that seeks to overthrow the government. Æon Flux is one of the rebels, and on her journey to uncover the conspiracy, the audience takes in her incredible fighting skills, as Æon Flux has trained her body into a weapon. However, some of the evils done by the people in power can’t simply be fought by physical combat, forcing Æon Flux to build a group to fight back.
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The director, Karyn Kusama, has directed other underrated campy cult films like Jennifer’s Body, though Æon Flux lacked the vision of its source material. Based on the animated series from the early 1990s, Æon Flux should have leaned further into its cyberpunk roots and heavy stylization. However, this doesn’t change the fact that Æon Flux is an interesting and overlooked part of cyberpunk and martial arts history, with Theron giving her all to the fight choreography.
|
Title |
Rotten Tomatoes Critic Score |
See more : Grand Admiral Thrawn: 10 Key Differences Between Star Wars’ Next Big Villain In Canon & Legends Rotten Tomatoes Audience Score |
|
Æon Flux (2005) |
10% |
39% |
5 Cowboy Bebop: The Movie (2001)
Directed by Shinichirō Watanabe
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10/10 Cowboy Bebop: The Movie
Cowboy Bebop: The Movie is an anime film directed by Shinichirō Watanabe. Set between episodes 22 and 23 of the Cowboy Bebop series, the crew of the spaceship Bebop hunts a terrorist planning to use a biological weapon on Mars. Featuring the voices of Beau Billingslea, Wendee Lee, and Melissa Fahn, the film blends science fiction with noir and western elements.
Director Shinichirô Watanabe Release Date September 1, 2001 Cast Steve Blum , Wendee Lee , Beau Billingslea , Melissa Fahn , Jennifer Hale , Daran Norris , Dave Wittenberg , Nicholas Guest Runtime 115 Minutes
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Though not as well received as the smash hit TV show it’s based on, Cowboy Bebop: The Movie is an excellent addition to a wide variety of genres, not just cyberpunk or martial arts. The Cowboy Bebop franchise is also well-known for its roots in the Western and Noir genres, creating a unique blend that makes Cowboy Bebop unlike anything else. The protagonist, the bounty hunter Spike, is a formidable opponent thanks to his resourcefulness and fighting skills, which are on full display in Cowboy Bebop: The Movie.
Cowboy Bebop: The Movie
features some of the best fight scenes between Spike and the many antagonists he chases across the galaxy.
It’s universally accepted that the Cowboy Bebop live-action show was a mistake since the anime doesn’t have a look or feel that can be easily translated from animation. The gorgeous character design, far-flung worlds, and easy balance between retro and futuristic make Cowboy Bebop impossible to replicate but heavily influential. Cowboy Bebop: The Movie features some of the best fight scenes between Spike and the many antagonists he chases across the galaxy.
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|
Title |
Rotten Tomatoes Critic Score |
See more : Grand Admiral Thrawn: 10 Key Differences Between Star Wars’ Next Big Villain In Canon & Legends Rotten Tomatoes Audience Score |
|
Cowboy Bebop: The Movie (2001) |
68% |
90% |
4 Ghost In The Shell (1995)
Directed by Mamoru Oshii
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10/10 Ghost in the Shell TV-MAAnimationActionCrime
Ghost in the Shell explores the story of Major Motoko Kusanagi, a cyborg public-security agent in 2029 Japan, assigned to track down a mysterious hacker known as the Puppet Master. As she delves deeper into the case, she confronts questions of identity, consciousness, and what it means to be human. The film is directed by Mamoru Oshii and is based on the manga by Masamune Shirow.
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*Availability in US Director Mizuho Nishikubo , Mamoru Oshii Release Date December 8, 1995 Writers Shirow Masamune , Kazunori Itô Cast Atsuko Tanaka , Akio Otsuka , Iemasa Kayumi , Koichi Yamadera , Yutaka Nakano , Tamio Ôki , Tesshô Genda , Masato Yamanouchi Runtime 83 Minutes
Though Ghost in the Shell references older works of cyberpunk, the 1995 anime has inspired many iconic works of cinema, such as The Matrix movies and Ex Machina. Frequently compared to Blade Runner, one of the prototypical examples of the aesthetics and themes that cyberpunk uses today, Ghost in the Shell is considered a must-watch addition to the sci-fi and action genres. Not only because it’s one of the most beautifully animated movies of the 1990s but also because it asks such pressing questions about the nature of what it means to be human.
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Related 10 Best Anime Like Ghost in the Shell
Ghost in the Shell is an award-winning cyberpunk film that spawned a beloved anime series. Here are 10 other anime with similar themes.
The protagonist, Motoko Kusanagi, is a cyborg who grapples with her identity and place in the world as she searches for the Puppet Master, a mysterious hacker who takes control of cybernetic bodies. Not all the action in Ghost in the Shell is strictly martial arts, as guns and other weaponry play a crucial part in the conflicts, as well as mental confrontations. However, it’s clear that Kusanagi’s character design and abilities were influenced by the aesthetics of martial arts and that her fighting techniques are in conversation with this.
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|
Title |
Rotten Tomatoes Critic Score |
See more : Grand Admiral Thrawn: 10 Key Differences Between Star Wars’ Next Big Villain In Canon & Legends Rotten Tomatoes Audience Score |
|
Ghost in the Shell (1995) |
95% |
89% |
3 Alita: Battle Angel (2019)
Directed by Robert Rodriguez
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10/10 Alita: Battle Angel pg-13ActionAdventureSci-Fi
Produced by James Cameron and Robert Rodriguez, Alita: Battle Angel adapts the manga Gunnm to live-action, featuring Rosa Salazar as the titular cyborg who quests to rebuild her identity as she faces the dark forces that plague Iron City. With the help of Christoph Waltz’s Dr. Ido and Keean Johnson’s Hugo, Alita learns to play the futuristic game of Motorball, which could be her ticket to enter the floating city of Zalem. Unfortunately, not everything is as it seems in the year 2563.
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*Availability in US Director Robert Rodriguez Release Date February 14, 2019 Studio(s) 20th Century Writers Yukito Kishiro , James Cameron , Laeta Kalogridis Cast Rosa Salazar , Christoph Waltz , Lana Condor , Jackie Earle Haley , Eiza Gonzalez , Mahershala Ali , Jennifer Connelly Runtime 122 Minutes Budget $170 million Expand
Based on the manga series Battle Angel Alita, Alita: Battle Angel uses motion capture technology to bring its cyborg protagonist to life. Blending harsh technology advancements and upgrades with the soft and vulnerable parts of the human body makes for gory but compelling moments in Alita, which revolves around the titular character’s attempts to find out who she is and how to escape her circumstances. Featuring an all-star cast who fully commit to the dystopian world, Alita: Battle Angel is a fun and wild ride.
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The fighting style that Alita uses, Panzer-Kunst, is unique to cyborgs and is part of her deeply recessed memories, mixing different martial arts techniques as well as a variety of other styles. Using her physical prowess and the advantages her mechanical body gives her, Alita is virtually unstoppable in battle. However, this doesn’t mean that she can save everyone. Though Alita: Battle Angel received mixed reviews, its distinctive look, and Alita’s emotional journey make it more complex than it gets credit for.
|
Title |
Rotten Tomatoes Critic Score |
See more : Grand Admiral Thrawn: 10 Key Differences Between Star Wars’ Next Big Villain In Canon & Legends Rotten Tomatoes Audience Score |
|
Alita: Battle Angel (2019) |
61% |
91% |
2 Upgrade (2018)
Directed by Leigh Whannell
Upgrade RHorror Sci-FiAction
Written and directed by Leigh Whannell, Upgrade is a Sci-Fi, Action, and Cyberpunk film starring Betty Gabriel, Logan Marshall-Green, and Harrison Gilbertson. The plot sees a man suffering a tragic accident and becoming paralyzed as a result. He soon accepts a STEM implant that gives him back his body and much more.
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*Availability in US Director Leigh Whannell Release Date June 1, 2018 Studio(s) Blumhouse Productions , Goalpost Pictures , Nervous Tick Productions , Film Victoria , Automatik Writers Leigh Whannell Cast Betty Gabriel , Logan Marshall-Green , Harrison Gilbertson Runtime 100 minutes Expand
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Audiences familiar with the 1994 movie The Crow will recognize the initial premise of Upgrade, which sees the protagonist, Grey, witness his wife’s murder. However, Grey isn’t brought back to life but is implanted with an artificial intelligence system that connects to his brain and nervous system. Of course, it’s clear to the audience from the beginning that STEM, the AI, is suspicious, but Grey’s circumstances make it all too tempting to receive the amazing fighting skills and intelligence from STEM.
Like many films within the cyberpunk genre,
Upgrade
has a rather bleak ending and serves as a warning about the dangers of revenge and AI in equal measure.
Like many films within the cyberpunk genre, Upgrade has a rather bleak ending and serves as a warning about the dangers of revenge and AI in equal measure. Since Upgrade takes place in the near future, it retains some of the look and feel of the present day but with small tweaks that ensure the viewer remembers how much technology has evolved. Though it’s eerie to watch STEM take control of Grey’s body, there’s no denying that his fighting abilities become incredible to witness.
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|
Title |
Rotten Tomatoes Critic Score |
See more : Grand Admiral Thrawn: 10 Key Differences Between Star Wars’ Next Big Villain In Canon & Legends Rotten Tomatoes Audience Score |
|
Upgrade (2018) |
88% |
88% |
1 The Matrix (1999)
Directed by Lana & Lilly Wachowski
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9.7/10 The Matrix ActionAdventureSci-Fi
The Matrix, directed by the Wachowskis, stars Keanu Reeves as Neo, a hacker who discovers that reality is a simulated construct controlled by intelligent machines. Laurence Fishburne and Carrie-Anne Moss co-star as Morpheus and Trinity, who help Neo navigate and ultimately challenge the artificial world. The film blends action, philosophy, and groundbreaking visual effects, establishing itself as a pivotal entry in the science fiction genre.
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*Availability in US Director Lana Wachowski , Lilly Wachowski Release Date March 31, 1999 Writers Lilly Wachowski , Lana Wachowski Cast Keanu Reeves , Laurence Fishburne , Carrie-Anne Moss , Hugo Weaving , Gloria Foster , Joe Pantoliano Runtime 136 minutes
Over twenty years later, The Matrix has not been forgotten or become less popular within the sci-fi genre. There are many reasons to love the original Matrix, as well as its sequels, as it was the film that kickstarted Keanu Reeves’ career in the action genre. Additionally, it has inspired countless contemporary movies that grapple with the emergence of artificial intelligence. The Matrix has such a cohesive and immersive visual aesthetic that it’s easy for the viewer to forget what world they’re in alongside the characters.
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Though there are parts of The Matrix movies that don’t make sense, this hasn’t stopped the film franchise from becoming an enduring action-sci-fi classic. From watching Neo first learning to control the Matrix and use it to help him fight to the incredible action sequences when he battles Agent Smith, there’s no moment when The Matrix doesn’t take advantage of its format and style. Both a paragon of cyberpunk and modern martial arts, The Matrix is beloved for a reason.
|
Title |
Rotten Tomatoes Critic Score |
See more : Grand Admiral Thrawn: 10 Key Differences Between Star Wars’ Next Big Villain In Canon & Legends Rotten Tomatoes Audience Score |
|
The Matrix (1999) |
83% |
85% |
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