The 8 Greatest Martial Arts War Movies, Ranked
Martial arts mayhem makes for one of the most majestic and admired niches in world cinema. It is a defining pillar of action cinema on the global stage, a feat of performance, choreography, and kinetic, attention-grabbing filmmaking that inspires fist-pumping bravado and enthusiasm. It also has far more subgenres than many initially recognize, with its forays into war cinema making for some of the most absorbing and awe-inspiring action flicks international cinema has ever seen.
To make things clear, each of these nine films has stories or characters that are directly impacted by war throughout the movie, whether they’re a soldier enlisted in an army during active combat or a lone warrior representing their culture amid times of occupation and oppression. It means that such iconic martial arts movies like Crouching Tiger, Hidden Dragon and Enter the Dragon haven’t been considered for this list. Still, the films that do make the cut represent the martial arts subgenre in all its stylistic might and narrative heft.
8
‘Beach of the War Gods’ (1973)
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Image via Golden Harvest Company</figure>
An underrated gem of the early days of martial arts cinema, Beach of the War Gods combines the narrative outline of Akira Kurosawa‘s samurai classic Seven Samurai with director Jimmy Wang Yu‘s appetite for rich style and epic-scale action. Nearly half of the film’s 100-minute runtime is dedicated to a single battle, with the story set during the collapse of the Ming Dynasty as an expert swordsman gathers a handful of fighters and rallies the courage of a fishing village to stand against Japanese invaders.
Its ambition is astonishing, with the climactic fight depicting hundreds of combatants, crossing between individual duels and large-scale battle, and presenting a vast range of martial arts styles and weapon specialties across its main characters. Its storytelling and dialogue are intended only to serve the action, but the carnage is so breathtaking it’s hard to be critical. The result is a bold and brazen indulgence in martial arts and nationalistic pride compounded by the multi-tiered and marvelous combat that emphasizes Wang Yu’s keen eye for organized chaos and storytelling through action.
7
‘Eastern Condors’ (1987)
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Image via Fortune Star / Golden Harvest</figure>
Running a little like The Dirty Dozen, imbued with a devastating dose of martial arts ferocity, Eastern Condors breaks the mold of kung-fu comedy that director and star Sammo Hung specialized in, opting for a more intense marriage of relentless action and gritty war drama. Set in the aftermath of the Vietnam War, it follows a mixed conglomerate of Asian prisoners who are offered a full pardon from the U.S. on the condition that they destroy artillery left behind during America’s withdrawal from the conflict.
Buoyed by an ensemble cast of martial arts maestros including Yuen Biao, Yeun Wah, Corey Yeun, and Lam Ching-ying, the film is a procession of action brilliance defined by astonishing stunt work and exceptional fight choreography. It presents bone-crunching brutality, with the guerrilla warfare style depicted being complemented by the actors’ commitment to their craft and the immersive, imposing visuals of the Philippine jungles.
6
‘The Eight Diagram Pole Fighter’ (1984)
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Image via Shaw Brothers Studio</figure>
While its runtime is just 98 minutes, The Eight Diagram Pole Fighter captures the air of a sweeping historical epic, one firmly grounded in ideas of all-out war, faith, and revenge. Betrayed by a jealous ally, the Yang family is captured and killed by soldiers of the opposing Liao dynasty, with only two sons escaping. While one returns home, the other seeks refuge in a monastery where he develops skills with the unique eight-diagram pole. When the Liao dynasty captures his sister, he is forced to revoke his sworn oath to the monks to save her.
Much of the movie moves at a meditative pace, emphasizing the protagonist’s internal journey as he comes to terms with his family’s demise and struggles with his festering desire for vengeance. However, the final fight scene alone cements The Eight Diagram Pole Fighter‘s claim as one of the great martial arts war films. The explosive 10-minute sequence is a stunning feat of choreography, physicality, and storytelling depth, a combination of raw tragedy and astounding pole fighting that makes for one of the finest combat scenes in the history of martial arts cinema.
5
‘War of the Arrows’ (2011)
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Image via Lotte Entertainment</figure>
There is a striking feeling of films like Die Hard and Apocalypto to Kim Han-min‘s Korean action movie. War of the Arrows offers an absorbing viewing experience as it mixes a riveting, high-stakes story with a gorgeous illustration of the craft of archery. Set during the second Manchurian invasion of Korea, it follows Choi Nam-yi (Park Hae-il), a skilled hunter who takes up arms against the invading Mongol forces when they abduct his sister on the eve of her wedding day.
After a swift and biting opening act that establishes the stakes, War of the Arrows pivots to a pulsating spectacle of all-out action, a relentless fight for survival loaded with thrilling chases, stunning acrobatics, and brilliant arrow duels. The tactics the characters employ to coax their enemies into revealing themselves are as invigorating as the astounding action cinematography. The production used Phantom Flex cameras capable of shooting at 2,400 frames per second to convey the delicacy and destructive power of archery.
4
‘Fist of Legend’ (1994)
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Image via Golden Harvest</figure>
Fist of Legend is interesting as a martial arts war movie because it actually follows a traditional journey of a student avenging his master. However, the circumstances make it a compelling exploration of clashing cultures during wartime as well as a sublime spectacle of hand-to-hand combat. Set in 1914, as WWI erupts and the friction between China and Japan reaches its fierce peak, it follows Chen Zhen (Jet Li), a Chinese martial artist who returns to Shanghai when he learns his mentor has died after losing a match to a Japanese rival.
His efforts to find redemption and justice become more than just a personal rivalry, but a reflection of hostility between people during times of occupation and war. However, Fist of Legend doesn’t seek to simplify its story’s antagonism to a one-note idea of a rival nation. Chen is torn between duty, pride, war, and his love for Mitsuko (Shinobu Yamada), a Japanese woman he meets while studying in Kyoto. Complimented by Li’s incredible physicality and director Gordon Chan‘s ability to combine rich, character-driven storytelling with staggering action sequences, Fist of Legend soars as one of the most thematically-charged and thoughtful martial arts movies ever made.
3
‘Fist of Fury’ (1972)
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Image via Golden Harvest</figure>
Interestingly, the aforementioned Fist of Legend is a remake of 1972’s Bruce Lee classic, Fist of Fury. Both are great films headed by truly wonderful exponents of martial arts majesty on the screen, but it’s difficult to look beyond the conviction and revolutionary fight choreography of the original. Set in 1910s Shanghai, it follows Lee’s martial arts warrior as he returns home to attend the funeral of his master, only to grow suspicious of a Japanese dojo’s possible involvement in his master’s demise.
The film is famous for Bruce Lee’s iconic performance, a rich mixture of stunning athleticism and precision and raw emotional intensity. As action choreographer, it also saw him pivot away from the fantastical combat other martial arts movies of the era were displaying in favor of fast, brutal movements, including his first-ever use of the nunchaku. More than just an action spectacle, however, Fist of Fury also serves as a piercing exploration of national pride and anti-imperialist views. It endures as one of the most iconic martial arts movies ever made and a quintessential classic of international action cinema.
2
‘Hero’ (2002)
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Image via Miramax</figure>
Epic in stature and unveiling a brilliant narrative structure that takes inspiration from Akira Kurosawa’s Rashomon, Hero combines its enchanting period setting with an exceptional ensemble cast of martial artists headlined by Jet Li. He stars as a nameless warrior who stands before King Qin (Chen Daoming) to tell him he has thwarted three assassins sent to end his aspirations of becoming China’s first emperor. As the warrior recounts his efforts against each of the rivals, the king begins to question the truth of his stories.
With Li brilliantly supported by the likes of Donnie Yen, Tony Leung, and Maggie Cheung, Hero presents a ravishing treat of fight choreography defined by both precision and daring. However, the film also soars with its sharp, non-linear plotting and Christopher Doyle‘s gorgeous cinematography, which imbues each of the warrior’s tales with a different color palette while making the entire film a procession of stunning, painterly beauty. The result is one of the best martial arts movies of the 21st century so far and a modern pillar of Asian action cinema at large.
1
‘Ip Man’ (2008)
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Image via Mandarin Films</figure>
Along with movies like The Raid and Crouching Tiger, Hidden Dragon, 2008’s Ip Man has had an impact that has sprawled far beyond the cult following of martial arts action to infiltrate mainstream pop-culture circles in the 21st century. Set in Foshan, the hub of martial arts in Southern China, during the Second Sino-Japanese War, the loose biographical picture follows Ip Man (Donnie Yen), the pioneering grand master of Wing Chun and eventual teacher of Bruce Lee, as he is offered to train Japanese soldiers after being forced to move into a decrepit apartment by the Imperial Japanese Army.
Yen’s performance personifies the vision of martial artistry, the control, composure, and precision of his combat complemented by the restrained, respectful humility of his quiet demeanor. The gravitas of the hostile historical setting only makes his personality all the more compelling, but it is undeniably the film’s action sequences that define it. Directed by Wilson Yip and choreographed by Sammo Hung, Ip Man realizes the calculated, close-quarters practicality of Wing Chun as a fast, physical, and visually fluid spectacle.
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