Genre · ranked
The best martial arts films of all time
25 ranked · updated October 2026
The best martial arts films span classic Japanese jidaigeki, stylized modern revenge odysseys, and intense kinetic animation. Across historic samurai conflicts and lethal modern brawls, these works define the genre through remarkable fight choreography, honor-bound warriors, and unforgettable struggles for vengeance.
How this ranking works
Ranked by a Bayesian-weighted score (rating average + rating count) across films classified as Martial Arts.
Seven Samurai
Akira Kurosawa
Akira Kurosawa's Sengoku-period masterpiece grounds its thrilling combat in themes of honor and sacrifice, forever shaping world cinema with its unforgettable ensemble of masterless samurai.
Explores: Protection, Honor, Sacrifice.
Kill Bill: Vol. 1
Quentin Tarantino
Quentin Tarantino delivers a stylized revenge spectacle that brilliantly honors vintage martial arts and samurai cinema with electrifying action and an inventive anime sequence.
Explores: Revenge, Female Empowerment, Betrayal.
Mulan
Tony Bancroft
This animated classic celebrates family honor and female empowerment through Fa Mulan's courageous hero's journey, brought to life with dynamic storytelling and Annie Award-winning craft.
Explores: Female Empowerment, Sacrifice, Family Honor.
Yojimbo
Akira Kurosawa
Akira Kurosawa crafts a cynical, razor-sharp chanbara classic anchored by Toshiro Mifune's magnetic portrayal of a lone rōnin manipulating two corrupt rival gangs.
Explores: moral ambiguity, lone wolf, cynicism.
Kill Bill: Vol. 2
Quentin Tarantino
Quentin Tarantino balances brutal physical grit and neo-Western tension as the Bride pursues her unrelenting quest for vengeance and closure against her former master.
Explores: Revenge, Female Empowerment, Redemption.
Mortal Kombat Legends: Scorpion's Revenge
This R-rated animated martial arts feature delivers brutal dark fantasy and visceral tournament action fueled by Hanzo Hasashi's tragic journey of resurrection and bloody vengeance.
Explores: Revenge, Resurrection, Redemption.
Dragon Ball Super: Broly
Tatsuya Nagamine
Tatsuya Nagamine elevates shonen action to cosmic scales, pairing breathtaking martial arts spectacle with a resonant exploration of Broly's turbulent Saiyan past.
Explores: Saiyan Heritage, Power Scaling, Overcoming Trauma.
Dragon Ball Super: Super Hero
Tetsuro Kodama
Tetsuro Kodama refreshes the franchise's kinetic combat with vibrant 3D CGI animation while spotlighting Piccolo and Gohan defending Earth from the Red Ribbon Army.
Explores: Good vs Evil, Legacy, Technological Superiority.
Warrior
Gavin O'Connor
Gavin O'Connor's gripping sports drama grounds visceral mixed martial arts bouts in a raw, emotionally devastating portrait of estranged brothers fighting for family redemption.
Explores: Estranged Brothers, Redemption, Father-Son Relationship.
The Furious
Kenji Tanigaki
Directed by Kenji Tanigaki, this relentless revenge thriller pairs fierce vigilante choreography with an exceptional ensemble of pan-Asian martial arts screen talent.
Explores: corrupt institutions, unlikely partnership, vengeance.
Ip Man
Wilson Yip
Donnie Yen's authoritative performance and Sammo Hung's intricate Wing Chun fight choreography turn this historical martial arts drama into a stirring showcase of cultural pride.
Explores: Nationalism, Self-Defense, Cultural Pride.
John Wick: Chapter 4
Chad Stahelski
Chad Stahelski pushes modern gun fu to operatic heights with sprawling, meticulously choreographed martial arts sequences set across stunning global underworld battlegrounds.
Explores: Assassins, Organized Crime, Redemption.
Kill Bill: The Whole Bloody Affair
Quentin Tarantino's definitive continuous cut enriches the Bride's bloody revenge odyssey with seamless narrative flow and an expanded, masterfully crafted anime sequence.
Explores: Revenge, Redemption, Betrayal.
The Last Samurai
Edward Zwick
Edward Zwick's historical epic captures the tragic clash between modernity and tradition through sweeping battle scenes and Ken Watanabe's commanding, Oscar-nominated performance.
Explores: Clash of Cultures, Eastern Philosophy vs. Western Pragmatism, Redemption.
Sanjuro
Akira Kurosawa
Akira Kurosawa's witty companion piece to Yojimbo highlights masterless swordcraft and political satire as Toshiro Mifune cunningly outmaneuvers corrupt officials.
Explores: Masterless Samurai, Political Intrigue, Satire.
The Raid 2
Gareth Evans
A standout of martial arts films.
Explores: Undercover Cop, Crime Syndicate, Corruption.
The Hidden Fortress
Akira Kurosawa
A standout of martial arts films.
Explores: Loyalty, Honor, Class disparity.
Shang-Chi and the Legend of the Ten Rings
Destin Daniel Cretton
A standout of martial arts films.
Explores: Family Legacy, Redemption, Confronting the Past.
New Gods: Nezha Reborn
A standout of martial arts films.
Explores: Reincarnation, Destiny, Legacy.
Kung Fu Hustle
Stephen Chow
A standout of martial arts films.
Explores: Underdog Story, Hidden Power, Good vs Evil.
John Wick
Chad Stahelski
A standout of martial arts films.
Explores: Revenge, Underworld, Professional Killer.
Hero
Zhang Yimou
A standout of martial arts films.
Explores: Honor, Sacrifice, Political Intrigue.
Ip Man 2
Wilson Yip
A standout of martial arts films.
Explores: Cultural Pride, Overcoming Adversity, East vs West.
Bullet Train
A standout of martial arts films.
Explores: Fate vs. Free Will, Karma, Professional Rivalry.
John Wick: Chapter 3 - Parabellum
Chad Stahelski
A standout of martial arts films.
Explores: Assassins, Honor Among Thieves, Redemption.
Common questions
Who directed the classic samurai films Seven Samurai and Yojimbo?
Both Seven Samurai and Yojimbo were directed by legendary Japanese filmmaker Akira Kurosawa, who also directed the sequel Sanjuro. Both films prominently star actor Toshiro Mifune as masterless samurai warriors in feudal Japan.
Which real martial arts master is the movie Ip Man based on?
Ip Man is a semi-biographical film based on the life of master Yip Man, the first person to openly teach the Chinese martial art of Wing Chun during the 1930s and 1940s in Foshan, China.
What is Kill Bill: The Whole Bloody Affair?
Kill Bill: The Whole Bloody Affair is a single, continuous film directed by Quentin Tarantino that unites Kill Bill: Vol. 1 and Vol. 2. It also incorporates an extended anime sequence created by Production I.G.