Martial arts movies are easy to think of as a dying art form, but the 2020s have managed unleash quite a few impressive films in the genre that will surely be enduring classics. For the most part, decades in which the martial arts genre was in its heyday are thought to have already come and gone, from the Shaw brothers’ supremacy of the late 70s and early 80s to the Kung Fu classics of the 90s. However, the halfway point of the 2020s has already resulted in some incredible stories all about hand-to-hand combat.
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With movies seemingly having larger budgets than ever before, a few martial arts movies that only technically qualify have slipped through the cracks of the industry as parts of a larger cinematic franchise. Of course, the more traditional martial arts films of Asian cinema have still continued to endure well into the modern day, and will continue to do so as long as film exists. Whatever the case, the 2020s have already produced some all-time great martial arts movies.
You are watching: 10 Best Martial Arts Movies Of The 2020s, So Far
10
Everything Everywhere All At Once
Released In 2021
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Everything Everywhere All at Once
R
Adventure
Comedy
Action
8/10
27
8.7/10
Release Date
March 25, 2022
Runtime
132 minutes
Director
Daniel Kwan, Daniel Scheinert
Writers
Daniel Scheinert, Daniel Kwan
Cast
See All
-
Jenny Slate
-
Ke Huy Quan
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).
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One of the rare Oscar-winning martial arts films, Everything Everywhere All at Once is a triumph of the 2020s. The film posits Michelle Yeoh of Crouching Tiger, Hidden Dragon fame as Evelyn, a struggling mother, wife, and business owner whose menial existence seems on the brink of collapse. Her world is turned upside-down when an alternate version of her husband from another dimension recruits her into a multiversal war waged by a version of her daughter, leading a nihilistic cult intent on ending existence itself.
Related
20 Best Everything Everywhere All At Once Quotes
Everything Everywhere All At Once is at its core a very emotional film with deep themes of acceptance and understanding, as quoted by its characters.
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Despite the heavy themes and plot, Everything Everywhere All at Once can easily be misidentified as a screwball comedy, full of ridiculous gags resulting from the plethora of different dimensions the film explores. However, the movie is a true martial arts feast for the eyes at its core, weaving creative fight sequences with makeshift weapons like fanny packs or odd martial arts techniques like super-strong pinky fingers. At once incredibly silly and deeply emotional, Everything Everywhere All at Once is sure to be an enduring classic.
9
Fist Of The Condor
Released In 2023
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Fist of the Condor
Not Rated
Action
Adventure
Martial Arts
Release Date
April 4, 2023
Runtime
85 Minutes
Director
Ernesto Diaz Espinoza
Writers
Ernesto Diaz Espinoza
Cast
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Marko Zaror
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Gina Aguad
-
Eyal Meyer
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Man Soo Yoon
Fist of the Condor is a martial arts film from writer-director Ernesto Diaz Espinoza and stars martial artist Marko Zaror as the lead. The film follows the legacy of an ancient manuscript that contains the details of a powerful and deadly martial arts guide limited to a select few worthy enough to wield it. Now, a group of new martial artists is searching for this book to become the best martial artists the world has ever seen.
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It’s not every day that a Latin martial arts film makes its way into the annals of Kung Fu movie greatness, but that’s exactly what happened in 2023 with Fist of the Condor. Taking place in Chile in the 16th century, the plot examines the few remaining tribes who didn’t submit to Spanish rule, using the devastating techniques of the titular Fist of the Condor to counter the Spaniard’s guns. When the manual behind the martial art is stolen, it’s up to the lone Guerrero to steal it back by any means necessary.
Fist of the Condor earns its rare 100% fresh rating on Rotten Tomatoes for a good reason. The unique setting and untold cultural story is meritorious enough for so much praise, but the actual drama the film is able to cultivate through its hand-to-hand battles is truly a sight to behold. Unafraid to roll up its sleeves and indulge in violent brawls that result in more than one different kind of bodily fluid being spilled, Fist of the Condor is a one-of-a-kind action flick that deserves more recognition.
8
Polite Society
Released In 2023
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Polite Society
Not Yet Rated
Action
Comedy
8/10
Release Date
January 21, 2023
Runtime
103 minutes
Director
Nida Manzoor
Writers
Nida Manzoor
Cast
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Ritu Arya
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Priya Kansara
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.
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British cinema may not exactly be known for its martial arts prowess, but 2023’s Polite Society proves that a great movie featuring loads of unarmed combat can come from anywhere. The story concerns a young girl named British-Pakistani girl named Ria who fancies herself a martial artist, hoping to become a successful stunt performer one day. When her older sister Lena suddenly agrees to a marriage proposal after only a few weeks of dating, Ria recruits her friends to help stop the wedding and restore Lena’s independence.
Exciting, heartfelt, and kinetic, Polite Society explores some valuable themes on the burden of womanhood in various cultures through an exciting action-packed lens.
Polite Society thrives first and foremost on the believable chemistry between its sibling leads, with Ria and Lena truly feeling like sisters brimming with love and bickering. But make no mistake, the actual combat sequences of the film are the true star of the show, shaping up into something that’s half traditional martial arts and half heist movie. Exciting, heartfelt, and kinetic, Polite Society explores some valuable themes on the burden of womanhood in various cultures through an exciting action-packed lens.
7
The Paper Tigers
Released In 2020
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The Paper Tigers
PG-13
Action
Comedy
Release Date
August 30, 2020
Runtime
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108 minutes
Director
Quoc Bao Tran
Producers
Yuji Okumoto, Al’n Duong, Kevin Woo, Jennifer Wang, Collin Manaois, Gildas Cheung, Derek Xu, Andrew Jiang, Arsenio Valdez Jr., Hieu Tran, Dan Gildark, Andrew Nevils, Jp Zarate, Nick Risinger, Ann Yu, Mark Tran, Eliza Flug, Michael Velasquez, Todd Brown
Cast
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Ron Yuan
Hing
-
Alain Uy
Danny
-
Mykel Shannon Jenkins
Jim
-
Yuji Okumoto
Wing
The Paper Tigers follows three middle-aged men reigniting their martial arts prowess to avenge their deceased master. Released in 2020, the film explores themes of camaraderie and redemption, set against a backdrop of nostalgia and martial arts culture.
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In stark opposition to most of its big-budget peers, The Paper Tigers is a completely independent passion project martial arts movie, funded completely by backers on Kickstarter. The plot follows a group of comrades who once trained under the same dojo, but drifted apart as they grew into middle age and became busy with their own lives. When their former master is murdered, the trio are prompted to form once again in order to enact their collective revenge.
Stories featuring a group of found family figures who come together again after years of absence are always great fun, and The Paper Tigers manages to use this to put a unique spin on the tired marital arts revenge formula. A true martial arts comedy, the film manages to leverage both humor and intense, even intimate fight scenes to their full extent, equal parts hilarious and tense. Bringing American indie heart to the often sterile world of martial arts movies, The Paper Tigers is a uniquely great Kung Fu movie.
6
Shang-Chi And The Legend Of The Ten Rings
Released In 2021
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Shang-Chi and the Legend of the Ten Rings
PG-13
Action
Adventure
Fantasy
8/10
32
8.1/10
Release Date
September 3, 2021
Runtime
132 minutes
Director
Destin Daniel Cretton
Writers
Dave Callaham
Producers
Charles Newirth, Kevin Feige, Louis D’Esposito, Victoria Alonso
Cast
See All
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Simu Liu
Shaun / Shang-Chi
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Tony Leung Chiu-wai
Xu Wenwu
Shang-Chi and the Legend of the Ten Rings: This film introduces Simu Liu as Shang-Chi, part of the Marvel Cinematic Universe. Confronted by his past, he becomes entangled with the mysterious Ten Rings organization, which challenges his identity and abilities. Released in 2021, the movie explores themes of family and legacy.
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With the expansive Marvel Cinematic Universe having already dipped their toes into so many different subgenres going into the 2020s, from period pieces to spy movies, it was only a matter of time before the historic franchise breached into martial arts territory. Enter Shang-Chi and the Legend of the Ten Rings, which introduces one of the newer heroes to the MCU. Raised by an immortal warlord, Shang-Chi must return to China when the fate of the mystical city of Ta Lo is threatened by his father Wenwu’s obsessions.
Shang-Chi and the Legend of the Ten Rings is truly special for how it is able to realize truly phenomenal choreography through a weighty MCU budget, coming up with some of the best action sequences of the entire franchise.
Admittedly, the second half of the film devolves into a traditional CGI fantasy battle the series is infamous for, but Simu Liu provides a steadfast and charismatic presence as the MCU’s premiere martial artist. It’s shocking just how well Shang-Chi and the Legend of the Ten Rings is able to pull double-duty as a martial arts film and an MCU installment.
5
The Swordsman
Released In 2020
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The Swordsman
PG-13
Action
Drama
History
8/10
Release Date
September 23, 2020
Runtime
101 minutes
Director
Choi Jae-hoon
Writers
Choi Jae-hoon
Producers
Lee Tae-hun, Park A-hyoung
Cast
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Jang Hyuk
Tae-yeul
-
Kim Hyun-soo
Tae-ok
The Swordsman, released in 2020, follows the story of Joseon’s finest swordsman who, after losing his sight in a royal coup, retreats from society. His quiet life is disrupted when his daughter is kidnapped by traffickers, compelling him to take up his sword again to rescue her.
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Even if they aren’t technically about unarmed combat, movies about sword duels can very much carry the spirit of martial arts through their dazzling stuntwork, and the aptly-named 2020 film The Swordsman certainly proves this. The South Korean picture takes place in a time when the country was still considered a part of the old Kingdom of Joseon, taking the perspective of the king’s distinguished bodyguard Tae-yul. However, his livliehood and reputation are ruined when a sword duel leaves his eyes wounded, forcing him into retirement.
When Tae-yul’s daughter is kidnapped years later, he must pick up his blade once more to carve a bloody path to rescue. Putting a Korean spin on the classic samurai movie concept of the Zatoichi, or blind swordsman, The Swordsman presents a kinetic whirlwind of blades that whistle through the air and violently clang together. The bladework featured in the film is second-to-none so far in the decade, and deserves to persist well into the future as a South Korean classic that can compete with the best of Chinese or Japanese martial arts films.
4
Sakra
Released In 2023
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Sakra
R
Action
Adventure
7/10
Release Date
January 19, 2023
Runtime
130 Minutes
Director
Donnie Yen, Ka-Wai Kam
Writers
He Ben, Louis Cha, Chen Li
Cast
See All
-
Donnie Yen
Kiu Fung
-
Yuqi Chen
A Zhu
Sakra, directed by Donnie Yen and Ka-Wai Kam, follows a renowned martial artist accused of murder. As he seeks to uncover the truth about his mysterious origins, he confronts unknown adversaries intent on his destruction.
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Though Michelle Yeoh has already made her way into two of the 2020s’ best martial arts films thus far, fellow Kung Fu legend Donnie Yen isn’t far behind. In Sakra, Yen stars as martial arts master Qiao Feng, who is forced on the lam after being falsely accused of murdering his foster parents. As Feng continues to investigate the murder and attempt to clear his name, he meets obstacle after obstacle, forcing him to utilize his skills to the best of his ability.
Donnie Yen is excellent as always as the befuddled yet skilled Qiao Feng, engaging in frenetic fight scenes that make the most out of his stuntwork and choreography skills.
Based on the book Demi-Gods and Semi-Devils, Sakra succeeds as a faithful adaptations that does its source material justice. Donnie Yen is excellent as always as the befuddled yet skilled Qiao Feng, engaging in frenetic fight scenes that make the most out of his stuntwork and choreography skills. Sakra paints an exciting picture for Donnie Yen’s upcoming martial arts movies yet to be released, but is so far one of the best of the decade.
3
Raging Fire
Released In 2021
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Raging Fire
NR
Action
Crime
Thriller
Release Date
July 28, 2021
Runtime
125 minutes
Director
Benny Chan
Writers
Tim Tong Yiu-Leung
Producers
Donnie Yen
Cast
See All
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Donnie Yen
Cheung Sung-bong
-
Nicholas Tse
Yau Kong-ngo
-
Qin Lan
Anna Lam
-
Ray Lui
Superintendent Yiu Yeuk-sing
Raging Fire is an action thriller directed by Benny Chan, focusing on Cheung Sung-bong, a respected cop who faces a personal and professional challenge when a former protégé returns, intent on seeking revenge. The film explores themes of justice and retribution against a backdrop of intense action sequences.
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Yet another film to utilize Donnie Yen’s talents in the 2020s, Raging Fire is the final film of the late great Benny Chan, a frequently collaborator with the more famous Jackie. This time, Donnie Yen is placed into the modern day as Bong, a hard-boiled supercop with a knack for taking on dangerous cases. His abilities are put to the test when a new secretive criminal organization led by ghosts of Bong’s past comes to haunt him, forcing him into direct conflict with his former protégé.
Raging Fire handily lives up to the expectation of being the last of Benny Chan’s legacy. The brutally swift old-school action, jaw-dropping spectacle in the streets, and emotional tension of nearly every fight scene allows Raging Fire to live up to its evocative name. Even better, the writing is actually good enough to keep up with the visual stimulation, making the movie a rare crime thriller whose script can live up to its visuals.
2
Mortal Kombat
Released In 2021
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Mortal Kombat
R
Action
Fantasy
Adventure
7/10
9.3/10
Release Date
April 23, 2021
Runtime
110 minutes
Director
Simon McQuoid
Writers
Dave Callaham, Greg Russo
Sequel(s)
Mortal Kombat 2
Cast
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Jessica McNamee
-
Matilda Kimber
In this 2021 adaptation of the classic video game franchise, Mortal Kombat follows MMA fighter Cole Young, who finds himself targeted by Outworld’s Emperor Shang Tsung, who has sent his best warrior, Sub-Zero, an otherworldly Cryomancer, to hunt him down. Learning of his heritage, he finds himself joining the likes of special forces members Sonya Blade, Jackson “Jax” Briggs, and others as they discover they may be Earth’s last line of defense from a hellish invasion from another realm.
Franchise(s)
Mortal Kombat
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After allowing the franchise to cool down cinematically for several decades, Warner Brothers took another stab at adapting the infamously gory Mortal Kombat video game series for film. Only this time around, the franchise is able to live up to the blood and gore that made the games famous with an unabashed R-rating. Original character Cole Young is thrust into the titular tournament, which settles disputes between various realms, coming into contact with all sorts of depraved fighters like Sub-Zero, Scorpion, Mileena, and more.
Mortal Kombat is easily the best of the Mortal Kombat films for its commitment to fantastically nasty visuals alone, living up to the brutality of the source material. Even if the entry isn’t without faults, it’s an unabashedly good time that fulfills the need for a fantasy-oriented martial arts film rarely introduced by modern moviemaking. Story aside, Mortal Kombat is a deliciously bloody thrill ride that manages to eke its way into the best martial arts films of the 2020s for its impressive choreography and special effects.
1
Monkey Man
Released In 2024
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Monkey Man
R
Action
Thriller
8/10
7.2/10
Release Date
April 5, 2024
Runtime
121 Minutes
Director
Dev Patel
Writers
Dev Patel, Paul Angunawela, John Collee
Cast
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-
Dev Patel
-
Sharlto Copely
Monkey Man is a 2024 action-thriller film directed by and starring Dev Patel. Following his release from prison, a man known as “Kid” makes a living by engaging in anonymous underground fights in a mask where he is beaten down each night. However, after witnessing greed and corruption consuming his city, Kid breaks into the upper echelon of society to find those who destroyed his life and take them down.
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The John Wick franchise has been utterly transformative for action movies, introducing a whole new style of beat-em-up to the big screen. While Keanu Reeves’ star series might be more focused on gunshots over punches, inspired iterations of the theme like Monkey Man kick the hand-to-hand fight scenes up a notch. Another simple revenge story, Dev Patel stars as the aptly-named Kid, who seeks to avenge his mother’s death by slowly sharpening his skills on the flesh of those who murdered her.
Despite being best known for premiere indie drama in A24’s The Green Knight previously, Dev Patel is excellent as a remorseless killer with nothing to lose. It’s extremely gratifying to watch him gradually grow in power as his crusade continues, cutting down swaths of bad guys as easily as a monkey swings from tree to tree. Monkey Man is also a martial arts movie with a real message, shining a light on the societal issues plaguing certain subsections of India’s population as Kid learns more about himself.
Source: https://dinhtienhoang.edu.vn
Category: Entertainment