The Best Kung Fu Movies Of All-Time
“What are the best Kung Fu movies ever made?” We looked at 146 of the top Kung Fu films and ranked them so we could answer that very question!
The top 19 films, all appearing on 3 or more “Best Kung Fu” movie lists, are ranked below by how many times they appear. The remaining 125+ movies, as well as the sources we used, are in alphabetical order on the bottom of the page.
Happy Scrolling!
Top 19 Best Kung Fu Movies
19 .) 36th Chamber of Shaolin (1978)
Lists It Appears On:
- Filmzone
- Screen Kicker Movies
- The Cinemaholic
The anti-Ching patriots, under the guidance of Ho Kuang-han, have secretly set up their base in Canton, disguised as school masters. During a brutal Manchu attack, Lui manages to escape, and devotes himself to learning the martial arts in order to seek revenge.
18 .) Black Mask
Lists It Appears On:
- Rate Your Music
- Today
- Today
Chui Chik tries to lead a quiet life as a librarian. However, he is really a former test subject for a highly secretive supersoldier project and the instructor of a special commando unit dubbed “701.” The 701 squad is used for many government missions, but after one of the agents kills a team of policemen in an uncontrollable rage, the government decides to abort the project and eliminate all the subjects. Chui Chik helped the surviving 701 agents flee the extermination attempt. Having escaped, Chui Chik went separate ways from his team. Later, he discovers that the rest of the team were responsible for a violent crime spree that was beyond the capability of the local police. He sets out to stop them, donning a disguise and using the superhero alias of “Black Mask”. Having lost the ability to feel pain due to the surgery performed on the super-soldiers by the military, Black Mask is almost invulnerable.
17 .) Dirty Ho (1979)
Lists It Appears On:
- BFI
- Grindhouse Database
- Martial Arts Action Movies
A prince enlists a thief to serve as his bodyguard to protect him from assassins.
16 .) Drunken Master 2 (aka The Legend of Drunken Master, 1994)
Lists It Appears On:
- BFI
- Rate Your Music
- Today
Returning home with his father after a shopping expedition, Wong Fei-Hong is unwittingly caught up in the battle between foreigners who wish to export ancient Chinese artifacts and loyalists who don’t want the pieces to leave the country. Fei-Hong must fight against the foreigners using his Drunken Boxing style, and overcome his father’s antagonism as well.
15 .) Police Story (1985)
Lists It Appears On:
- Martial Tribes
- The Culture Trip
- Top 10 Films
A virtuous Hong Kong police officer must clear his name after he is framed for murder.
14 .) Tai-Chi Master (1993)
Lists It Appears On:
- IMDB
- Rate Your Music
- Screen Kicker Movies
Falsely accused for cheating in a martial arts competition, two boyhood friends are banished from their Shaolin Temple and go their separate ways. As adults, they join opposing sides in a civil war. When one betrays the other, they settle their differences mano-a-mano.
13 .) The 8 Diagram Pole Fighter (1984)
Lists It Appears On:
- Filmzone
- Rate Your Music
- The Cinemaholic
The Yangs are betrayed by a government official conspiring with the Mongols. All of the Yang family males except the 5th and 6th brother are killed. Fu Sheng loses his mind after the death of his family, while the other brother takes refuge in a Buddhist temple.
12 .) Crouching Tiger, Hidden Dragon (2000)
Lists It Appears On:
- Filmzone
- IMDB
- The Cinemaholic
- The Culture Trip
Two warriors in pursuit of a stolen sword and a notorious fugitive are led to an impetuous, physically-skilled, teenage nobleman’s daughter, who is at a crossroads in her life.
11 .) Five Element Ninjas (1982)
Lists It Appears On:
- Geek
- Inverse
- Rate Your Music
- Screen Kicker Movies
A young martial artist seeks revenge on the ninja who kills his martial arts brothers and teacher.
10 .) Iron Monkey (1993)
Lists It Appears On:
- BFI
- Inverse
- Rate Your Music
- TV Over Mind
Iron Monkey is a Hong Kong variation of Robin Hood. Corrupt officials of a Chinese village are robbed by a masked bandit known as “Iron Monkey”, named after a benevolent deity. When all else fails, the Governor forces a traveling physician into finding the bandit. The arrival of an evil Shaolin monk, brings the physician and Iron Monkey together to battle the corrupt government.
9 .) The Prodigal Son (1981)
Lists It Appears On:
- BFI
- Filmzone
- Geek
- The Cinemaholic
A rich man’s son (Yuen Biao) believes himself to be the best kung fu fighter in Canton. Unfortunately, his father, anxious for his son’s safety, bribes all his opponents to lose. After a humiliating defeat at the hands of an actor in a traveling theatre company, the son resolves to find a better teacher. Furious kung fu battles and slapstick comedy.
8 .) The Way of the Dragon (1972)
Lists It Appears On:
- Filmzone
- Martial Arts Action Movies
- Martial Tribes
- The Cinemaholic
Tang Lung arrives in Rome to help his cousins in the restaurant business. They are being pressured to sell their property to the syndicate, who will stop at nothing to get what they want. When Tang arrives he poses a new threat to the syndicate, and they are unable to defeat him. The syndicate boss hires the best Japanese and European martial artists to fight Tang, but he easily finishes them off.
7 .) Kung Fu Hustle (2004)
Lists It Appears On:
- Goliath
- Martial Tribes
- Rate Your Music
- Showbox
- The Culture Trip
Set in Canton, China in the 1940s, the story revolves in a town ruled by the Axe Gang, Sing who desperately wants to become a member. He stumbles into a slum ruled by eccentric landlords who turns out to be the greatest kung-fu masters in disguise. Sing’s actions eventually cause the Axe Gang and the slumlords to engage in an explosive kung-fu battle. Only one side will win and only one hero will emerge as the greatest kung-fu master of all.
6 .) The 36th Chamber of Shaolin (1978)
Lists It Appears On:
- BFI
- IMDB
- Inverse
- Rate Your Music
- Showbox
The anti-Ching patriots, under the guidance of Ho Kuang-han, have secretly set up their base in Canton, disguised as school masters. During a brutal Manchu attack, Lui manages to escape, and devotes himself to learning the martial arts in order to seek revenge.
5 .) Drunken Master (1978)
Lists It Appears On:
- Filmzone
- Grindhouse Database
- Rate Your Music
- Showbox
- The Cinemaholic
- Today
A mischievous young man is sent to hone his martial arts skills with an older, alcoholic kung fu master.
4 .) Fist of Fury (1972)
Lists It Appears On:
- BFI
- Inverse
- Martial Tribes
- Rate Your Music
- Today
- Today
Chen Zhen returns to the international compound of China only to learn of his beloved teacher’s death. This is compounded by the continual racist harassment by the Japanese population in the area. Unlike his friends, he confronts it head on with his mastery of martial arts while investigating his teacher’s murder.
3 .) Fist of Legend (1994)
Lists It Appears On:
- BFI
- Filmzone
- Inverse
- Martial Tribes
- Rate Your Music
- Showbox
- The Cinemaholic
- Today
Chen Zhen, a Chinese engineering student in Kyoto, who braves the insults and abuse of his Japanse fellow students for his local love Mitsuko Yamada, daughter of the director, returns in 1937 to his native Shangai, under Japanse protectorate -in fact military occupation- after reading about the death of his kung-fu master Hou Ting-An in a fight against the Japanese champion Ryuichi Akutagawa.
2 .) Ip Man (2008)
Lists It Appears On:
- BFI
- Filmzone
- Inverse
- Martial Tribes
- Rate Your Music
- Screen Kicker Movies
- The Cinemaholic
- The Culture Trip
A semi-biographical account of Yip Man, the first martial arts master to teach the Chinese martial art of Wing Chun. The film focuses on events surrounding Ip that took place in the city of Foshan between the 1930s to 1940s during the Second Sino-Japanese War. Directed by Wilson Yip, the film stars Donnie Yen in the lead role, and features fight choreography by Sammo Hung.
1 .) Enter the Dragon (1973)
Lists It Appears On:
- Grindhouse Database
- IMDB
- Inverse
- Martial Tribes
- Rate Your Music
- Screen Kicker Movies
- Showbox
- The Culture Trip
- Today
A martial artist agrees to spy on a reclusive crime lord using his invitation to a tournament there as cover.
The 125+ Additional Best Kung Fu Movies Ever Made
| # | Movies | Directors | Lists |
| 20 | A Touch Of Zen | Geek | |
| – | – | – |
The Culture Trip
|
| 21 | Fearless (2006) |
The Cinemaholic
|
|
| – | – | – | Filmzone |
| 22 | Five Deadly Venoms (1978) |
Grindhouse Database
|
|
| – | – | – | Today |
| 23 |
Heroes of the East/Shaolin Challenges Ninja (1978)
|
The Cinemaholic
|
|
| – | – | – | Filmzone |
| 24 | Kill Bill Vol. 1 |
Martial Tribes
|
|
| – | – | – |
The Culture Trip
|
| 25 |
Legend of the Drunken Master (1994)
|
Today | |
| – | – | – | Inverse |
| 26 |
Legend of the Red Dragon (1994)
|
Goliath | |
| – | – | – | Today |
| 27 |
Master of The Flying Guillotine (1976)
|
Rate Your Music
|
|
| – | – | – |
Grindhouse Database
|
| 28 | Once Upon a Time in China |
Rate Your Music
|
|
| – | – | – |
TV Over Mind
|
| 29 |
Once Upon a Time in China 2 (1992)
|
Inverse | |
| – | – | – |
Rate Your Music
|
| 30 | Ong-Bak: The Thai Warrior (2003) | Prachya Pinkaew | Today |
| – | – | – | IMDB |
| 31 | Rumble in the Bronx (1995) |
TV Over Mind
|
|
| – | – | – | Inverse |
| 32 | Shaolin Soccer (2001) |
The Culture Trip
|
|
| – | – | – |
Martial Tribes
|
| 33 | Shaolin Temple |
Martial Arts Action Movies
|
|
| – | – | – |
Top 10 Films
|
| 34 |
The Legend of the Drunken Master (1994)
|
TV Over Mind
|
|
| – | – | – |
Martial Tribes
|
| 35 | A Fist Full of Talons (1983) |
Grindhouse Database
|
|
| 36 |
American Commando Ninja (1987)
|
Den Of Geek
|
|
| 37 | Armour of God 2: Operation Condor (1991) | Jackie Chan | IMDB |
| 38 | Azumi (2003) | Ryûhei Kitamura | IMDB |
| 39 | Bastard Swordsman |
Martial Arts Action Movies
|
|
| 40 | Beverly Hills Ninja (1997) | Goliath | |
| 41 | Black Belt Jones (1974) |
Grindhouse Database
|
|
| 42 | Blind Fist of Bruce |
Rate Your Music
|
|
| 43 | Born Invincible (1978) |
Grindhouse Database
|
|
| 44 | Broken Oath (1977) |
Grindhouse Database
|
|
| 45 | Burning Paradise | Geek | |
| 46 | Chinese Connection | Today | |
| 47 | Chinese Super Ninjas (1982) |
Grindhouse Database
|
|
| 48 | Circle of Iron (1978) |
Rate Your Music
|
|
| 49 | Crippled Avengers |
Rate Your Music
|
|
| 50 | Drunken Tai Chi (1984) | Woo-Ping Yuen | IMDB |
| 51 | Drunken Wu Tang (1984) |
Den Of Geek
|
|
| 52 | Duel For Gold |
Martial Arts Action Movies
|
|
| 53 | Encounters Of The Spooky Kind |
Top 10 Films
|
|
| 54 | Firecracker | Today | |
| 55 | Fist of Fury II (1977) |
Grindhouse Database
|
|
| 56 | Fists of the White Lotus (1981) |
Grindhouse Database
|
|
| 57 | Five Fingers of Death (1972) |
Grindhouse Database
|
|
| 58 |
Five Venoms vs. Wu Tang (1978)
|
Goliath | |
| 59 | Flying Dragon, Leaping Tiger (2002 Video) | Allen Hai-Han Lan | IMDB |
| 60 | Gymkata (1986) |
Den Of Geek
|
|
| 61 | Heart of a Dragon (1985) | Goliath | |
| 62 | Hoero tekken (1982) | Norifumi Suzuki | IMDB |
| 63 | House Of Traps | Geek | |
| 64 | Invincible Armour |
Rate Your Music
|
|
| 65 | Invincible Shaolin |
Rate Your Music
|
|
| 66 | Jade Dagger Ninja (1982) |
Den Of Geek
|
|
| 67 | Kill Bill Vol. 2 |
Martial Tribes
|
|
| 68 | Killer | Today | |
| 69 | King Boxer (1972) | BFI | |
| 70 | Kung Fu Excorsist | Today | |
| 71 | Kung Fu Panda (2008) | Mark Osborne | IMDB |
| 72 | Kung Fu Wing Chun (2010) | Tung Cho ‘Joe’ Cheung | IMDB |
| 73 | Kung Fu Zombie |
Top 10 Films
|
|
| 74 | Lady Iron Monkey (1979) |
Den Of Geek
|
|
| 75 | Lady Whirlwind | Geek | |
| 76 | Legendary Weapons of China” | Today | |
| 77 | Mad Monkey Kung Fu (1979) | BFI | |
| 78 | Magic Of Spell | Geek | |
| 79 | Magnificent Butcher |
Rate Your Music
|
|
| 80 | Martial Club |
Top 10 Films
|
|
| 81 | Master Killer (1978) |
Grindhouse Database
|
|
| 82 | Matching Escort (1983) |
Den Of Geek
|
|
| 83 | Miami Connection |
Top 10 Films
|
|
| 84 | Millionaires Express | Geek | |
| 85 | Mystery Of Chess Boxing |
Top 10 Films
|
|
| 86 | Mystery of Chess Boxing” | Today | |
| 87 | Ninja Assassin (2009) | James McTeigue | IMDB |
| 88 | Ninja Hunter (1987) | Goliath | |
| 89 |
Ninja III : The Domination (1984)
|
Den Of Geek
|
|
| 90 | No Retreat, No Surrender (1986) | Corey Yuen | IMDB |
| 91 |
Opium And The Kung Fu Master
|
Top 10 Films
|
|
| 92 | Pedicab Driver |
Martial Arts Action Movies
|
|
| 93 | Project A |
Rate Your Music
|
|
| 94 | Project A 2 |
Martial Arts Action Movies
|
|
| 95 | Return of the Dragon” | Today | |
| 96 | Romeo Must Die” | Today | |
| 97 | Rush Hour |
TV Over Mind
|
|
| 98 | Seven Blows of The Dragon” | Today | |
| 99 | Seven Samurai!!!” | Today | |
| 100 | Shadowless Sword (2005) | Young-jun Kim | IMDB |
| 101 | Shanghai Express |
Martial Arts Action Movies
|
|
| 102 | Shaolin Intruders | Geek | |
| 103 | Shaolin Martial Arts” | Today | |
| 104 | Shaolin Youth Posse (1984) |
Den Of Geek
|
|
| 105 | Shogun’s Assassin | Today | |
| 106 | Sister Streetfighter (1974) |
Grindhouse Database
|
|
| 107 | Snake in the Eagle’s Shadow (1978) | Woo-Ping Yuen | IMDB |
| 108 | Snake in The Monkey’s Shadow (1979) |
Grindhouse Database
|
|
| 109 | Spooky Encounters |
Rate Your Music
|
|
| 110 | Story of Ricky |
Rate Your Music
|
|
| 111 |
Swordsman with an Umbrella (1970)
|
Goliath | |
| 112 | Taoism Drunkard | Geek | |
| 113 | Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles (1990) | Steve Barron | IMDB |
| 114 | The 18 Bronzemen |
Martial Arts Action Movies
|
|
| 115 | The 5 Deadly Venoms |
Rate Your Music
|
|
| 116 | The Bastard Swordsman | Geek | |
| 117 | The Big Boss |
Rate Your Music
|
|
| 118 | The Bodyguard from Beijing (1994) | Corey Yuen | IMDB |
| 119 | The Chinese Connection (1972) |
Grindhouse Database
|
|
| 120 | The Crippled Masters (1979) | Goliath | |
| 121 | The Drunken Master | Today | |
| 122 | The Eight Diagram Pole Fighter |
Top 10 Films
|
|
| 123 | The Fabulous Trio” | Today | |
| 124 | The Fearless Hyena |
Rate Your Music
|
|
| 125 | The Five Fingers of Death | Today | |
| 126 | The Flying Guillotine.” | Today | |
| 127 | The Hammer of God (1970) |
Grindhouse Database
|
|
| 128 | The Iron Monkey.” | Today | |
| 129 | The Karate Kid (2010) | Harald Zwart | IMDB |
| 130 | The Killer |
The Culture Trip
|
|
| 131 | The Magnificent Butcher (1979) |
Grindhouse Database
|
|
| 132 | The Matrix |
The Culture Trip
|
|
| 133 | The Octagon” | Today | |
| 134 |
The Return of the 5 Deadly Venoms”
|
Today | |
| 135 | The Story of Ricky (1991) | Goliath | |
| 136 | The Streetfighter (1974) |
Grindhouse Database
|
|
| 137 | The Valiant Ones |
Martial Arts Action Movies
|
|
| 138 | The White Dragon | Today | |
| 139 | The Young Master |
Rate Your Music
|
|
| 140 |
They Call Me Phat Dragon (1979)
|
Goliath | |
| 141 | True Game Of Death (1979) |
Den Of Geek
|
|
| 142 |
Vampire Raiders Vs Ninja Queen (1988)
|
Den Of Geek
|
|
| 143 | Warriors Two |
Rate Your Music
|
|
| 144 | Wing Chun (1994) | Woo-Ping Yuen | IMDB |
| 145 | Winners & Sinners (1983) | Sammo Kam-Bo Hung | IMDB |
| 146 |
Zu Warriors From The Magic Mountain
|
Top 10 Films
|
18 Best Kung Fu Film Sources/Lists
| Source | Article |
| BFI | 10 great kung fu films |
| Den Of Geek | 10 of the Weirdest Kung Fu Movies Ever |
| Filmzone | Top 10 Best Kung Fu Movies of All Time |
| Geek | 11 Obscure Kung Fu Movies You Need To See |
| Goliath | The 10 Craziest Kung Fu Movies |
| Grindhouse Database | Dirty Basterds and Master Killers: 20 Classic Grindhouse Kung Fu Films |
| IMDB | All time best Kungfu Movies (A Must Watch) |
| Inverse | The 10 Coolest Kung Fu Movies to Watch Before ‘Iron Fist’ |
| Martial Arts Action Movies | Ten Great Kung Fu Movies You Probably Haven’t Seen |
| Martial Tribes | 10 of the Best Kung Fu Films of All Time! |
| Rate Your Music | The Best Kung Fu Movies – Rate Your Music |
| Screen Kicker Movies | Screenkicker Top 5 Kung Fu Movies Ever |
| Showbox | 5 Best Kung Fu movies of All Times |
| The Cinemaholic | Best Kung Fu Movies | 12 Top Chinese Kungfu Films of All Time |
| The Culture Trip | The 10 Best Kung-Fu Films of All Time |
| Today | Your favorite kung fu films |
| Top 10 Films | Top 10 1980s Kung Fu Films |
| TV Over Mind | The Five Best Kung Fu Movies of the 90s |
