Since Bruce Lee brought his brand of bad guy-bashing to Tinseltown in the late '60s, martial arts movies have been a mainstay in North American cinema. Outside of the U.S., the genre has continued to thrive, reinventing the formula multiple times over and creating new action movie stars in the process.
With so many kung fu classics to choose from, many martial arts movies have been lost in the shuffle over the years. From the cheesy, one-liner-filled butt-kickers of the 1990s to the brutal, bone-breaking thrillers of recent times, these are 10 of the best martial arts movies you haven't seen.
10 "SPL II: A Time For Consequences" Is Another Martial Arts Masterpiece Featuring Tony Jaa
Given the wide array of excellent Hong Kong-Chinese action movies out there, it's understandable that many fans missed SPL II: A Time for Consequences. With Muay Thai master Tony Jaa (Ong Bak) and Chinese box office sensation Wu Jing strutting their astounding stuff, it's little surprise that some viewers consider this film superior to its Donnie Yen-starring predecessor.
Sha po long 2's unmatched stunt work and fight choreography are truly top-tier. A prison fight sequence even remarkably manages to conjure up memories of The Protector's innovative VIP hallway scene.
9 "Showdown" Is A Classic '90s Movie From The Tae Bo Titan Billy Blanks
As Billy Blanks is most famous for his invention of the late '90s fitness program Tae Bo, many fans are familiar with him without having seen the martial artist in action on the big screen. Showdown is arguably his finest cinematic outing. The 1993 martial arts flick has Blanks playing a school janitor that teaches a young student how to defend himself against a bully.
Blanks was never going to have an Oscar-worthy career in the movies, yet his style, though sometimes criticized as wooden, comes off as incredibly charming in Showdown. Up against the villainy of Patrick Kilpatrick, Blanks shows off all the moves that would make Tae Bo such a roaring success a few years later.
8 Stars Of "The Raid" Put Their Skills On Display Again In "The Night Comes For Us"
Even though 2018's The Night Comes for Us features the exceptional talents of Joe Taslim and Iko Uwais of The Raid and is a film available on Netflix, it has still been overlooked by many fans of the fight film genre.
A thriller with a brutal level of violence similar to the more famous action thrillers of Indonesia, The Night Comes for Us blends the mob movie with martial arts and puts Joe Taslim's Ito on a collision course with a vicious gang as he attempts to rescue a young girl.
7 "The Foreigner" Is Proof That Jackie Chan Can Still Kick It With The Best Of Them
While he's easily one of the cinema's greatest martial artists, Jackie Chan's heyday has long since passed. That doesn't mean he's done making action-packed, exciting films though. 2017's The Foreigner is undeniable proof of this fact.
With Martin Campbell (Goldeneye, Casino Royale) at the helm and a delightfully detestable Pierce Brosnan as the movie's villain, The Foreigner is a gripping thriller with all the jaw-dropping fight scenes and stuntwork audiences expect from Jackie Chan. Though the plot sticks to familiar beats, Chan and Brosnan both put in powerhouse performances that make this a must-watch for martial arts fans.
6 "King Of The Kickboxers" Is The King Of The "Kickboxer" Knock-Offs
Martial arts movies are rarely applauded for their originality where plot and story are concerned. 1990's King of the Kickboxers treads a familiar path as it sees an American cop go undercover in Thailand with the motive of avenging his brother's death.
It may sound like a rip-off of the Jean-Claude Van Damme starring classic Kickboxer, and that's because to a certain extent it is. King of the Kickboxers takes the right cues from the greats that came before, going as far as to acknowledge them on screen but still delivering enough jaw-rattling blows to keep martial arts fans on the edges of their seats.
5 "Under Siege 2: Dark Territory" Is An Underrated Sequel To A Classic '90s Action Movie
Thanks to Steven Seagal's recent repertoire of straight-to-DVD duds that are only rivaled in quantity by Bruce Willis' current catalog, the Aikido specialist's screen hits are often overlooked. None are perhaps more underrated than the sequel to what is arguably Seagal's best movie in Under Siege.
Under Siege 2: Dark Territory puts the iconic Casey Ryback on a train rather than the open sea. While Morris Chestnut and Katherine Heigl are admittedly downgrades from Tommy Lee Jones and Gary Busey, this sequel features similarly awesome action scenes, off-kilter humor, and those signature Seagal steely-eyed staredowns that made him a Hollywood star in the first place.
4 "Only The Strong" Puts The Art Of Capoeira In The Spotlight
Though it's one of the most aesthetically pleasing martial arts, capoeira rarely receives much time to shine in cinema. Only the Strong changes this by highlighting the awe-inspiring Brazilian fighting style in a conflict between a high school teacher and local gangs.
With all the cheesiness you'd expect to find in a mid-90s martial arts romp, Only the Strong puts Mark Dascasos' incredible athleticism on display. His acting talents may leave a little to be desired as a leading man, but he more than makes up for it with his committed performance in the movie's fight sequences.
3 "The City Of Violence" Is A South Korean Showcase Of Big Screen Brutality
Subtitles may, unfortunately, be the barrier that has kept many fans within the North American audience away from The City of Violence. This South Korean action film focuses on two friends on the warpath looking for their buddy's murderer.
In keeping with its title, The City of Violence hits hard. Inventive action sequences and showdowns help the film stand out from the admittedly congested crowd. The City of Violence earned multiple awards in South Korea, including multiple nods for Leo Beom-soo.
2 Jean-Claude Van Damme Did It Again With "Pound Of Flesh"
Another action legend with a long list of hits, Jean-Claude Van Damme is one of cinema's most beloved martial artists. JCVD's peak may have come 30 years ago, yet he is still making admirable additions to his filmography. Unlike some of the other action men of old, Van Damme appears to put huge helpings of heart and effort into his recent pictures.
Pound of Flesh is an example of the Muscles from Brussels and his continued attempts to make thrilling movies. As Deacon Lyle, a victim of organ theft, Van Damme navigates the criminal underworld and pulls off some of the most amazing stunts of his career in the process.
1 "Best Of The Best 4: Without Warning" Is A Satisfying Send-Off For A Beloved Franchise
While 1999's Best of the Best is considered a classic amongst martial arts fans, many of them had given up on the franchise by the fourth installment. Fight film series often spawn a number of uninspired sequels, and though Best of the Best 4: Without Warning doesn't exactly reinvent the wheel when it comes to action movies, it's still incredibly fun to watch Philip Rhee return once again as the spin-kicking sensation Tommy Lee.
The fourth film in the series is also made more enjoyable by the presence of stars Ernie Hudson, Jessica Collins, Art LaFleur, and Tobin Bell.