10 Martial Arts Movies To Watch If You Love Enter The Dragon

Few martial arts movies were as iconic as Bruce Lee’s extraordinary swansong Enter the Dragon, a kung fu classic that will leave plenty of viewers craving more of the same. Filled with incredibly choreographed fight sequences, infused with elements of the spy and exploitation genre, and mixing Eastern and Western sensibilities in a way that appealed to a global audience, this release was essential in ensuring Lee’s legacy as perhaps the greatest martial arts movie star who ever lived.

Enter the Dragon has earned its spot among the best kung fu films of the 1970s, although there are plenty more to choose from when audiences are seeking out something similar. Whether that’s more movies starring Lee, of which there are tragically few, considering his untimely death at just 32, or more modern films that pay tribute to its legacy, Enter the Dragon has had an undeniable influence on martial arts cinema. Although more than 50 years have passed since the release of Enter the Dragon, interest in this classic movie has not waned one bit.

10

Heroes Of The East (1978)

Directed by Lau Kar Leung

Gordon Liu in Heroes of the East pic-1

Without Enter the Dragon, there would be no Heroes of the East, a Shaw Brothers production that borrowed heavily from the story and action elements of that classic kung fu film. Heroes of the East starts with Ho Tao (Gordon Liu) arriving in Japan for an arranged marriage he’d rather not pursue and getting involved in a misunderstanding that sees him take part in a martial arts competition to fight the best fighters in the country. With plenty of martial arts shenanigans, it’s hard not to notice that much of Ho Tao’s story is reminiscent of the best aspects of Enter the Dragon.

This Underrated 1978 Kung Fu Film Is The Perfect Movie To Watch After Enter The Dragon

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This Underrated 1978 Kung Fu Film Is The Perfect Movie To Watch After Enter The Dragon

Although it’s hard to find anything that can match The Enter the Dragon, a 1978 kung fu film starring Gordon Liu is a great movie to watch next.

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One special aspect of Heroes of the East was how its tournament narrative allowed for many different kinds of fight styles and techniques to be showcased. Like in Enter the Dragon, Ho Tao faces off against a litany of fighters, and just as Bruce Lee emerged victorious, this kung fu master wipes out his competition in a series of extraordinarily choreographed fight sequences. As one of the best kung fu movies of the 1970s, Heroes of the East would make an excellent double feature alongside Enter the Dragon.

9

Ong-Bak: Muay Thai Warrior (2003)

Directed by Prachya Pinkaew

Ong Bak_ The Thai Warrior (2003) - Poster - Tony JAA

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10/10

Ong Bak: The Thai Warrior

R
ActionAdventureThrillerCrime

Ong Bak: The Thai Warrior follows a young martial artist from a rural Thai village as he embarks on a perilous journey to retrieve the stolen head of their sacred Buddha statue, facing dangerous adversaries and showcasing remarkable Muay Thai skills.

Release Date

October 17, 2004

Runtime

106 minutes

Main Genre

Action

Cast

Petchtai Wongkamlao
, Tony Jaa
, Patrarin Punyanutatam
, Suchao Pongwilai
, Choomporn Theppitak
, Cheathavuth Watcharakhun
, Wannakit Sirioput
, Rungrawee Barijindakul
, Chatthapong Phantana-Angkul
, Nudhapol Asavabhakhin
, Pornpimol Chookanthong
, Udom Songsaeng
, Boonsri Yindee
, Arirat Ratanakaitkosol
, Woravit Tangchitsirikul
, Chalongsak Sirimahasal
, Sawang Rodnuch
, Sutin Rodnuch
, Voranart Tantipidok
, Somjai Chanmoontree
, Somchai Moonma
, Taworn Tonapan
, Chupong Changprung
, Chaiyaporn Junmoontree
, Don Ferguson

Character(s)

George / Humlae
, Ting
, Muay Lek
, Komtuan
, Uncle Mao
, Peng
, Don
, Ngek
, Saming
, Toshiro
, Waan
, Meun
, Hom
, Tang-on
, Pao
, Lao
, Noi
, Jamnean
, Abbot
, Bodyguard 1
, Bodyguard 2
, Bodyguard 3
, Bodyguard 4
, Bodyguard 5
, Bodyguard 6

Director

Prachya Pinkaew

Writers

Panna Rittikrai
, Suphachai Sittiaumponpan

Sequel(s)

Ong Bak 2: The Beginning
, Ong Bak 3

Distributor(s)

EuropaCorp

Expand

Bruce Lee helped revolutionize martial arts cinema and introduced kung fu movies to Western audiences who wouldn’t have otherwise seen them. While the earliest crossover success mostly came from Hong Kong, the 21st century saw martial arts lovers discover the rich cinematic history of fighting films across cultures. This was certainly the case for Ong-Bak: Muay Thai Warrior, perhaps the greatest martial arts movie to come out of Thailand.

Ong-Bak: Muay Thai Warrior starred kung fu star Tony Jaa, channeling the superstar appeal of Lee in this iconic movie. As the story of a young warrior attempting to retrieve the stolen head of a sacred statue taken from his village, Ong-Bak was Jaa’s breakout performance that led to several sequels and other acclaimed Thai martial arts movies like The Protector. As the dawning of a brand new martial arts icon, Ong-Bak was as essential to Thai martial arts movies as Enter the Dragon was to the genre as a whole.

8

Game Of Death (1978)

Directed by Bruce Lee

01143728_poster_w780.jpg

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Game of Death

R
DramaActionThriller

Game of Death is a martial arts action film starring Bruce Lee as a movie star who fakes his death to uncover those plotting against him. Originally released in 1978, the film is notable for incorporating footage of Lee filmed before his untimely death.

Release Date

March 23, 1978

Runtime

101 minutes

Cast

Bruce Lee
, Gig Young
, Dean Jagger
, Hugh O’Brian
, Colleen Camp
, Robert Wall
, Mel Novak
, Kareem Abdul-Jabbar
, Chuck Norris
, Dan Inosanto
, Billy McGill
, Sammo Hung
, Roy Chiao
, Kim Tae-Jeong
, James Tien Chuen
, Bolo Yeung
, Yuen Biao
, Jim James
, Austin Wai Tin-Chi
, Wang Ho
, Stephen Chang
, Warwick Paul Evans
, Lam Ching-Ying
, Mars
, Robert Clouse

Character(s)

Billy Lo
, Jim Marshall
, Dr. Land
, Steiner
, Ann Morris
, Carl Miller
, Stick
, Hakim
, Colt
, Pasqual
, John
, Lo Chen
, Henry Lo
, Charlie Wang
, Uncredited
, Surgeon
, Lau Yea-chun (archive footage)
, Ming Tao (uncredited)
, Ringside Commentator (uncredited)
, Macau Fighter (uncredited)
, Carl’s Second #1 (uncredited)

Director

Robert Clouse

Producers

Bruce Lee

Expand

One of the heartbreaking things about Bruce Lee’s tragically young death at just age 32 was that he only starred in four fully completed movies. This meant that works in progress like Game of Death, which was written, directed, and produced by Lee himself, were never fully finished. However, those martial arts fans who can’t get enough of the style and feel of Enter the Dragon can go back and watch the released version.

Director Robert Clouse finished Game of Death for Lee using two stand-ins.

Game of Death was released in several versions, including the first premiered edition released in 1978, the anniversary edition Game of Death Redux from 2019, and The Final Game of Death in 2023, which also included a documentary about its production. As the story of a martial arts star faking his own death to bring down a criminal syndicate exploiting him and other celebrities for money, while the haphazard way the movie was put together may not have been Lee’s original vision, it was still an insightful look at what was due to be his next film.

7

The 36th Chamber Of Shaolin (1978)

Directed by Lau Kar-leung

01375700_poster_w780.jpg

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The 36th Chamber of Shaolin

R
ActionAdventure

The 36th Chamber of Shaolin follows Lui, a young man who escapes a Manchu attack and seeks martial arts training to avenge his fallen comrades. Set against the backdrop of anti-Ching resistance, Lui’s journey leads him to the Shaolin Monastery, where he undergoes rigorous training.

Release Date

February 2, 1978

Runtime

115 minutes

Cast

Gordon Liu Chia-hui
, Lo Lieh
, John Cheung Ng-Long
, Wilson Tong
, Wa Lun
, Hon Kwok-Choi
, Lau Kar-Wing
, Wai Wang
, Chen Szu-Chia
, Wong Ching-Ho
, Woo Wang-Daat
, Lee Hoi-Sang
, Keung Hon
, Hao Li-Jen
, Shum Lo
, Lui Tat
, Chan Shen
, Chiang Nan
, Aai Dung-Gwa
, Yuen Siu-Tien
, Wang Han-Chen
, Peter Chan Lung
, Henry Yu Yang
, Ng Hong-Sang
, Norman Chui Siu-Keung

Character(s)

Liu Yu-de / Monk San Ta
, General Tien Ta
, Lord Cheng
, Lord Tang San-yao
, Liu Yu-de’s Classmate
, Lin Zhen
, General Yin
, Teacher Ho
, Yien Pin, Teacher Ho’s Assistant
, Liu Yu-de’s Father
, Shaolin Abbot
, Shaolin Justice Officer
, Abbot in Charge of Cleanliness
, Abbot in Charge of Top Chamber
, Abbot in Charge of Dining Hall
, Abbot in Charge of Arm Chamber
, Abbot in Charge of Wrist Chamber
, Abbot in Charge of Eye Chamber
, Abbot in Charge of Head Chamber
, Abbot in Charge of Boxing Chamber
, Abbot in Charge of Leg Chamber
, Abbot in Charge of Staff Chamber / Soldier
, Hung Hsi-kuan, San Ta’s Student
, Tung Qian-jin, San Ta’s Student
, Lu Ah-cai, San Ta’s Student

Director

Lau Kar-leung

Producers

Run Run Shaw

Writers

Ni Kuang

Expand

Those who can’t get enough of Enter the Dragon should take the time to check out other iconic kung fu releases from the 1970s, like The 36th Chamber of Shaolin. As the greatest film ever dealing with Shaolin monks, The 36th Chamber of Shaolin acted as the inception point for an incredible trilogy led by Gordon Liu. This film turned Liu into a major star and one of the few martial legends whose legacy could stand up to that of Bruce Lee.

Telling the story of a legendary Shaolin monk named San Te, who trained to fight back against the oppressive Manchu government during the early 18th century, The 36th Chamber of Shaolin was followed by two sequels, Return to the 36th Chamber and Disciples of the 36th Chamber. As the other movie alongside Enter the Dragon that inspired the hip-hop group Wu-Tang Clan’s debut, Enter the Wu-Tang (36 Chambers), any self-respecting kung fu fan needs to watch this film.

6

Kill Bill (2003/2004)

Directed by Quentin Tarantino

Kill Bill Movie Poster

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22

9.1/10

Kill Bill

R
ThrillerCrimeAction

Quentin Tarantino’s Kill Bill is a classic tale of betrayal and revenge. When the Bride (Uma Thurman) awakens from a four-year coma, she sets out to settle the score with the team of assassins that betrayed her at the behest of her former boss, Bill (David Carradine). Tracking and killing the world-class assassins isn’t easy, but the Bride uses all the tools at her disposal in her relentless pursuit of revenge.

Release Date

October 10, 2003

Runtime

111 minutes

Franchise(s)

Kill Bill

Cast

David Carradine
, Michael Madsen
, Uma Thurman
, Daryl Hannah
, Lucy Liu
, Vivica A. Fox

Director

Quentin Tarantino

Writers

Quentin Tarantino

Sequel(s)

Kill Bill Vol. 2

Budget

$30 million

Expand

Although movies like Enter the Dragon helped bring martial arts cinema to Western viewers, there were still plenty of audience members who never truly encountered a kung fu movie until they saw Quentin Tarantino’s love letter to the genre, Kill Bill. This two-part revenge story featured plenty of nods to classic kung fu cinema, and the legacy of Bruce Lee was a major influence on Tarantino’s stylistic presentation of the film.

Starring Uma Thurman as the Bride, a woman who swears revenge on a group of assassins and their leader, Bill, who tried to have her and their daughter killed, Kill Bill would never have existed if not for kung fu classics of the 1970s like Enter the Dragon. With appearances from icons like Gordon Liu, one can only imagine that had Lee lived into the 21st century, he would have been at the very top of Tarantino’s call sheet to be in this movie.

5

Five Deadly Venoms (1978)

Directed by Chang Cheh

Five Deadly Venoms (1978)

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10/10

Five Deadly Venoms

R
ActionAdventureMartial Arts

Five Deadly Venoms is a Chang Cheh-directed martial arts classic that follows a dying master who sends his final pupil to check on five former students, each trained in a unique animal-inspired martial arts style. The young protégé must navigate a web of alliances and rivalries to uncover a hidden treasure. Known for its intricate plot and distinctive fighting styles, the film has become iconic within the genre.

Release Date

August 12, 1978

Runtime

97 Minutes

Main Genre

Action

Cast

Sheng Chiang
, Chien Sun
, Phillip Chung-Fung Kwok
, Meng Lo
, Pai Wei
, Feng Lu
, Lung-Wei Wang
, Feng Ku
, Dick Wei
, Shu-Pei Sun
, Huang-Hsi Liu
, Hui-Huang Lin
, Ching-Ho Wang
, Lao Shen
, Han-Chen Wang
, Yu-Lung Hsiao
, Chih-Lu Chen
, Chen-Tu Tan
, You-Hsing Lai
, Hung Chen
, Mai-Li Chou
, Kwok Wing Ha
, Szu-Ying Chien
, Tien-Chu Chin
, Kin-Ping Chow
, Ju Fang
, Ming Fung
, Ping Ko
, Tsun Liu
, Hung Lu
, Tung Ting
, Yung-Liang Tu
, Ai-Ti Wan
, Hsiung Yang
, Tai-Ping Yu
, Chris Hilton

Director

Cheh Chang

Writers

Kuang Ni
, Cheh Chang

Studio(s)

Shaw Brothers

Distributor(s)

Shaw Brothers

Expand

Five Deadly Venoms was a kung fu cult classic that represented one of the best movies from the Shaw Brothers Studio during the 1970s. With a powerful blend of martial arts and mystery, the core concept of Five Deadly Venoms is related to a pupil carrying out his dying master’s wish and eliminating his five previous students who had been overtaken by evil. As this noble student encounters the wayward fighters, who were based on the Five Poisonous Creatures of Chinese folklore, plenty of intense fight sequences take place.

With impressive stylistic flair and interesting characters that linked to Chinese mythology, Five Deadly Venoms, like Enter the Dragon before it, was one of the most popular kung fu films of its era. Five Deadly Venoms also had a notable influence on director Quentin Tarantino, who included allusions to the film through the Deadly Viper Assassination Squad in Kill Bill.

4

Ip Man (2008)

Directed by Wilson Yip

Ip Man 2008 Film Poster

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Ip Man

R
ActionDramaBiography

Directed by Wilson Yip, Ip Man is a biographical martial arts film starring Donnie Yen as Ip Man, the legendary Wing Chun grandmaster and mentor to Bruce Lee. Set during the Second Sino-Japanese War, the film depicts Ip Man’s efforts to protect his community and preserve his martial arts traditions despite the atrocities of war.

Release Date

December 12, 2008

Runtime

106 Minutes

Main Genre

Action

Cast

Donnie Yen
, Simon Yam
, Siu-Wong Fan
, Hiroyuki Ikeuchi

Director

Wilson Yip

Writers

Edmond Wong

IMDb ID

tt21028848

TMDB User Rating

6
.856

Expand

Those with a fascination for Bruce Lee and Enter the Dragon will be well aware of the legacy of Ip Man, the Wing Chun master whom Lee trained under. While the grandmaster story told in Ip Man did not yet feature Lee, a fictionalized portrayal of his character does show up in subsequent entries of this martial arts franchise, like Ip Man 3 and Ip Man 4: The Finale. As an intense and well-choreographed biopic that explored Ip’s troubles in the city of Foshan during the Sino-Japanese War, Ip Man gave great insight into the man who taught Lee.

With Donnie Yen in the title role, Ip Man was truly one of the greatest martial arts movies of the 21st century, whose historical connection to Lee’s legacy made it a must-watch. While Ip Man blurred the lines between fact and fiction, the core message of perseverance and commitment to martial arts remained true to the real man.

3

The Big Boss (1971)

Directed by Lo Wei & Wu Chia-hsiang

The Big Boss - Poster

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The Big Boss

R
Action

The Big Boss is a 1971 Hong Kong martial arts film directed by Lo Wei. Bruce Lee stars as Cheng Chao-an, a Chinese immigrant who moves to Thailand and takes a job in an ice factory. When his co-workers mysteriously disappear, Cheng uncovers a criminal operation hidden within the factory and must confront the powerful forces behind it. This film marks Lee’s first major role, propelling him to international stardom.

Release Date

October 5, 1972

Main Genre

Action

Cast

Bruce Lee
, Maria Yi
, James Tien Chuen
, Marilyn Bautista
, Han Ying-chieh
, Tony Liu
, Li Kun
, Nora Miao
, Kam Shan
, Chan Chue
, Li Hua-Sze

Character(s)

Cheng Chiu On
, Chiao Mei
, Hsiu Chien
, Miss Wuman
, Boss Mi
, Boss Mi’s son
, Ah Kun
, Lemonade girl
, Ah Shan
, Factory manager

Director

Lo Wei

Writers

Lo Wei

Expand

While Enter the Dragon will always remain Bruce Lee’s defining movie, it’s important to look back on his earlier releases and appreciate the power of every film he starred in. The Big Boss was Lee’s first major leading role and represented his breakthrough from Hong Kong martial arts performer to one of the most important kung fu performers who ever lived. The Big Boss was initially a hit at the box office in Asia before Lee’s success spread across the entire globe.

In The Big Boss, Lee starred as Cheng Chao-an, a martial artist living with his cousins in Thailand who works at an ice factory and soon finds his promise to his mother not to fight tested when he encounters a local gang. Predictably, Cheng Chao-an broke his oath, and kung fu viewers were introduced to the intense martial arts skill of Lee for the first time. While The Big Boss may not have been as compelling as Lee’s later releases, it laid the groundwork for him becoming one of the best kung fu stars there ever was.

2

Fist Of Fury (1972)

Directed by Lo Wei

Fist of Fury - Poster

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Fist of Fury

R
ActionDramaMartial ArtsRomance

Fist of Fury is a 1972 martial arts film directed by Lo Wei and starring Bruce Lee as Chen Zhen. Set in 20th-century Shanghai, the film follows Zhen as he seeks to avenge his master’s death and defend the honor of the Chinese people against foreign oppression. The movie showcases Lee’s martial arts prowess and explores themes of nationalism and resistance.

Release Date

September 9, 1972

Runtime

102 Minutes

Main Genre

Action

Cast

Bruce Lee
, Nora Miao
, Riki Hashimoto
, Robert Baker
, Tien Feng
, Paul Wei

Director

Lo Wei

Writers

Lo Wei

Budget

$100,000

Studio(s)

Golden Harvest

Distributor(s)

Golden Harvest

Expand

Bruce Lee quickly followed up his breakout success on The Big Boss with yet another all-time classic in Fist of Fury. As a film built around themes of Chinese nationalism, Lee played Chen Zhen, a student of Huo Yuanjia, who defends the honor of the Chinese in the face of aggressive forces. With battling factions taking one another on, Chen’s motivations become even stronger after his master is murdered, and he swears vengeance for Huo’s death.

Much like Enter the Dragon, Fist of Fury is an essential aspect of Lee’s legacy and even had several sequels and remakes. While follow-up films such as The New Fist of Fury with Jackie Chan or the Donnie Yen television series were a lot of fun, none of them could hold a candle to the original. As an action-packed tale of revenge where the student defends the honor of their late master, Fist of Fury may not have had the most original premise, but it was among the most memorable of this genre of martial arts movie.

1

The Way Of The Dragon (1972)

Directed by Bruce Lee

The Way of the Dragon - Poster - Bruce Lee

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The Way of the Dragon

ActionAdventureComedyMartial Arts

The Way of the Dragon is a martial arts film from 1972 starring Bruce Lee, who also directed and wrote the script. The story centers on Tang Lung (Lee), who travels to Rome to help friends being threatened by a crime syndicate. Featuring notable fight scenes, including a climactic battle with Chuck Norris, it showcases Lee’s martial arts prowess and his distinctive approach to action cinema.

Release Date

August 14, 1972

Main Genre

Action

Cast

Bruce Lee
, Chuck Norris
, Nora Miao
, Tony Liu

Director

Bruce Lee

Writers

Bruce Lee

As the first movie directed by Bruce Lee himself, The Way of the Dragon showcased this kung fu star as not just a talented fighter but as a creative powerhouse capable of doing it all. As a movie written, directed, produced, and starring Lee, this kung fu classic told the story of Tang Lung, a man who travels to Rome to help his relatives deal with a vicious gang. With a mix of action and humor, The Way of the Dragon blended genres in a way that appealed to Eastern and Western movie lovers alike.

As an exhilarating showcase of martial arts prowess from start to finish, The Way of the Dragon culminated with an epic showdown between Lee and a karate expert named Colt, played by Chuck Norris. While Enter the Dragon may have been Lee’s most successful film, The Way of the Dragon is a real contender for his magnum opus. This was the movie where everything fully came together for Lee as he started to take complete control of his own films, a fact that made his untimely death the following year all the more tragic.

enter the dragon poster

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15

9.6/10

Enter the Dragon

R
ActionCrimeDramaMartial Arts

Enter the Dragon is a popular martial artist movie starring Bruce Lee. The 1973 film focuses on a Shaolin martial artist who infiltrates an opium lord’s fortress by pretending to be interested in a fighting tournament. Robert Clouse directed the film, which co-starred John Saxon, Jim Kelly, and Ahna Capri.

Release Date

August 19, 1973

Runtime

102 Minutes

Main Genre

Action

Cast

Bruce Lee
, John Saxon
, Ahna Capri
, Bob Wall
, Shih Kien
, Jim Kelly

Director

Robert Clouse

Writers

Michael Allin

Budget

$850,000

Studio(s)

Concord Productions
, Warner Bros.

Distributor(s)

Warner Bros.

Expand