WARNING: The following contains spoilers for Shang-Chi and the Legend of the Ten Rings, now in theaters.
Shang-Chi and the Legend of the Ten Rings offers some amazing fight choreography and wire stunts that call back to classic martial arts films. Thanks to its contributions to the genre and the impressive fight choreography of Andy Cheng and the late Brad Allan supervising, the film brings in some new ideas to the traditional combat tropes of the genre. But after leaving the theater, fans may want more films to explore that will scratch the fighting itch Shang-Chi will surely create. Here are eight great martial arts films worldwide that capture the same essence seen in Shang-Chi.
Mortal Kombat
Released earlier this year, Mortal Kombat is based on the hit fighting game franchise. While it's praised for its hyper-violence and iconic characters like Sub-Zero and Scorpion, the film also boasts top-notch choreography. Featuring martial artists like Max Huang and Joe Taslim and a diverse cast of characters, the movie has both culture and style that melds wonderfully with the vibe of Shang-Chi. The implementation of magic in the martial arts is also a major part of Mortal Kombat, but it's used more for violence rather than mysticism like in Shang-Chi. Nevertheless, Mortal Kombat is a great follow-up to the stylized action of the Marvel film.
The Ip Man Franchise
The Ip Man franchise is a tentpole example of a masterclass in modern martial arts films. The series is a stylish retelling of the real-life Ip Man and is played by Chinese action star Donnie Yen. The movie brings the speed and flow of the Wing Chun style to life in a fantastic fashion. Much like Shang-Chi, its fight choreography is also used to tell a story. Not only is the franchise a great example of action, but its drama can tug at the heartstrings of even the toughest moviegoers. New fans to the Ip Man series will be in for a treat with every punch thrown.
Kung Fu Hustle
Kung Fu Hustle is an action-comedy film that is both directed by and stars Stephen Chow. The film follows a man who joins the ruthless axe gang, but when he tries to strongarm a small apartment complex, he finds the entire building is filled with kung fu masters. The movie also focuses heavily on stylized martial arts and fantastical stunts that no normal person can replicate. Kung Fu Hustle has its serious moments but is mostly played for laughs and has a lot of heart, making even its sleaziest characters likable. A Kung Fu Hustle poster can also be seen in Shang-Chi's apartment early in the film.
The Raid
Gareth Evans' The Raid is an Indonesian action film that sees an elite task force sent to stop a drug lord trapped in a slum filled with criminals. Among this team is the rookie member, Rama (Iko Uwais), who must fight his way through the building to save his partners and stop the slum lords. The movie is fast-paced and hits hard as it brings to light the little-known martial arts known as Pencak Silat. The film is a testament to how hard stunt workers train to make these amazing fights look effortless, and that same dedication, speed and ferocity can also be seen in Shang-Chi.
Crouching Tiger, Hidden Dragon
Wuxia films translate to "martial heroes" and are Chinese films that focus on these heroes and their adventures. Ang Lee's Crouching Tiger, Hidden Dragon is one of the best examples of this. Not only does it feature amazing wire-fighting scenes, but it also has a powerful story about two women with separate dreams, destined to battle. The movie is a classic in its genre and features amazing and vibrant fight sequences that blur the line between what is real and what's fantasy. Even Shang-Chi can't help but nod to its contributions with its own beautifully choreographed wire fight sequence and also includes one of the film's leads, Michelle Yeoh.
Drunken Master II
Drunken Master II is the sequel to the original Jackie Chan-led film. However, this movie takes everything about the original and improves it. Following an older and relatively wiser Wong Fei-hung, the protagonist finds himself in yet another series of misadventures. Using his drunken style, he and his friends attempt to thwart a smuggling operation and reignite the legend of the drunken master. Jackie Chan is the master of physical comedy through martial arts and even worked with the aforementioned Brad Allan and Andy Cheng. Thanks to what they learned from Chan, Shang-Chi channels that same style into their film, making Drunken Master II a spiritual predecessor to Shang-Chi.
Enter the Dragon
Like Jackie Chan, another major influence on martial arts in film was Bruce Lee. Through Lee, viewers were able to see how much fun realistic martial arts can be and because Lee was so skilled, he could bring his blinding speed to the masses. Enter the Dragon was his first and only appearance in an American film, and it follows a hero who must use his skills to survive a deadly situation, similar to Shang-Chi. The film is Lee at his best and is a great way to get all of the pent-up energy out after Shang-Chi's credits roll.
Man of Tai Chi
Man of Tai Chi is a Keanu Reeves film that stars Tiger Chen as a student of tai chi who uses his skill, against his master's wishes, for violence. Joining a tournament, Chen fights his way to the top but does his best to avoid killing. However, the real fight is within Chen as he struggles with whether to use tai chi traditionally or violently. The film is a great way to further explore the fighting style that Shang-Chi's mother uses and understand the flow of energy in the movements.
Directed and co-written by Destin Daniel Cretton, Shang-Chi and the Legend of the Ten Rings is in theaters now.