10 Best Martial Arts Movies Of The 2020s, So Far

Martial arts movies are easy to think of as a dying art form, but the 2020s have managed unleash quite a few impressive films in the genre that will surely be enduring classics. For the most part, decades in which the martial arts genre was in its heyday are thought to have already come and gone, from the Shaw brothers’ supremacy of the late 70s and early 80s to the Kung Fu classics of the 90s. However, the halfway point of the 2020s has already resulted in some incredible stories all about hand-to-hand combat.

With movies seemingly having larger budgets than ever before, a few martial arts movies that only technically qualify have slipped through the cracks of the industry as parts of a larger cinematic franchise. Of course, the more traditional martial arts films of Asian cinema have still continued to endure well into the modern day, and will continue to do so as long as film exists. Whatever the case, the 2020s have already produced some all-time great martial arts movies.

10

Everything Everywhere All At Once

Released In 2021

One of the rare Oscar-winning martial arts films, Everything Everywhere All at Once is a triumph of the 2020s. The film posits Michelle Yeoh of Crouching Tiger, Hidden Dragon fame as Evelyn, a struggling mother, wife, and business owner whose menial existence seems on the brink of collapse. Her world is turned upside-down when an alternate version of her husband from another dimension recruits her into a multiversal war waged by a version of her daughter, leading a nihilistic cult intent on ending existence itself.

Despite the heavy themes and plot, Everything Everywhere All at Once can easily be misidentified as a screwball comedy, full of ridiculous gags resulting from the plethora of different dimensions the film explores. However, the movie is a true martial arts feast for the eyes at its core, weaving creative fight sequences with makeshift weapons like fanny packs or odd martial arts techniques like super-strong pinky fingers. At once incredibly silly and deeply emotional, Everything Everywhere All at Once is sure to be an enduring classic.

9

Fist Of The Condor

Released In 2023

It’s not every day that a Latin martial arts film makes its way into the annals of Kung Fu movie greatness, but that’s exactly what happened in 2023 with Fist of the Condor. Taking place in Chile in the 16th century, the plot examines the few remaining tribes who didn’t submit to Spanish rule, using the devastating techniques of the titular Fist of the Condor to counter the Spaniard’s guns. When the manual behind the martial art is stolen, it’s up to the lone Guerrero to steal it back by any means necessary.

Fist of the Condor earns its rare 100% fresh rating on Rotten Tomatoes for a good reason. The unique setting and untold cultural story is meritorious enough for so much praise, but the actual drama the film is able to cultivate through its hand-to-hand battles is truly a sight to behold. Unafraid to roll up its sleeves and indulge in violent brawls that result in more than one different kind of bodily fluid being spilled, Fist of the Condor is a one-of-a-kind action flick that deserves more recognition.

8

Polite Society

Released In 2023

British cinema may not exactly be known for its martial arts prowess, but 2023’s Polite Society proves that a great movie featuring loads of unarmed combat can come from anywhere. The story concerns a young girl named British-Pakistani girl named Ria who fancies herself a martial artist, hoping to become a successful stunt performer one day. When her older sister Lena suddenly agrees to a marriage proposal after only a few weeks of dating, Ria recruits her friends to help stop the wedding and restore Lena’s independence.

Polite Society thrives first and foremost on the believable chemistry between its sibling leads, with Ria and Lena truly feeling like sisters brimming with love and bickering. But make no mistake, the actual combat sequences of the film are the true star of the show, shaping up into something that’s half traditional martial arts and half heist movie. Exciting, heartfelt, and kinetic, Polite Society explores some valuable themes on the burden of womanhood in various cultures through an exciting action-packed lens.

7

The Paper Tigers

Released In 2020

In stark opposition to most of its big-budget peers, The Paper Tigers is a completely independent passion project martial arts movie, funded completely by backers on Kickstarter. The plot follows a group of comrades who once trained under the same dojo, but drifted apart as they grew into middle age and became busy with their own lives. When their former master is murdered, the trio are prompted to form once again in order to enact their collective revenge.

Stories featuring a group of found family figures who come together again after years of absence are always great fun, and The Paper Tigers manages to use this to put a unique spin on the tired marital arts revenge formula. A true martial arts comedy, the film manages to leverage both humor and intense, even intimate fight scenes to their full extent, equal parts hilarious and tense. Bringing American indie heart to the often sterile world of martial arts movies, The Paper Tigers is a uniquely great Kung Fu movie.

6

Shang-Chi And The Legend Of The Ten Rings

Released In 2021

With the expansive Marvel Cinematic Universe having already dipped their toes into so many different subgenres going into the 2020s, from period pieces to spy movies, it was only a matter of time before the historic franchise breached into martial arts territory. Enter Shang-Chi and the Legend of the Ten Rings, which introduces one of the newer heroes to the MCU. Raised by an immortal warlord, Shang-Chi must return to China when the fate of the mystical city of Ta Lo is threatened by his father Wenwu’s obsessions.

Admittedly, the second half of the film devolves into a traditional CGI fantasy battle the series is infamous for, but Simu Liu provides a steadfast and charismatic presence as the MCU’s premiere martial artist. It’s shocking just how well Shang-Chi and the Legend of the Ten Rings is able to pull double-duty as a martial arts film and an MCU installment.

5

The Swordsman

Released In 2020

Even if they aren’t technically about unarmed combat, movies about sword duels can very much carry the spirit of martial arts through their dazzling stuntwork, and the aptly-named 2020 film The Swordsman certainly proves this. The South Korean picture takes place in a time when the country was still considered a part of the old Kingdom of Joseon, taking the perspective of the king’s distinguished bodyguard Tae-yul. However, his livliehood and reputation are ruined when a sword duel leaves his eyes wounded, forcing him into retirement.

When Tae-yul’s daughter is kidnapped years later, he must pick up his blade once more to carve a bloody path to rescue. Putting a Korean spin on the classic samurai movie concept of the Zatoichi, or blind swordsman, The Swordsman presents a kinetic whirlwind of blades that whistle through the air and violently clang together. The bladework featured in the film is second-to-none so far in the decade, and deserves to persist well into the future as a South Korean classic that can compete with the best of Chinese or Japanese martial arts films.

4

Sakra

Released In 2023

Though Michelle Yeoh has already made her way into two of the 2020s’ best martial arts films thus far, fellow Kung Fu legend Donnie Yen isn’t far behind. In Sakra, Yen stars as martial arts master Qiao Feng, who is forced on the lam after being falsely accused of murdering his foster parents. As Feng continues to investigate the murder and attempt to clear his name, he meets obstacle after obstacle, forcing him to utilize his skills to the best of his ability.

Based on the book Demi-Gods and Semi-Devils, Sakra succeeds as a faithful adaptations that does its source material justice. Donnie Yen is excellent as always as the befuddled yet skilled Qiao Feng, engaging in frenetic fight scenes that make the most out of his stuntwork and choreography skills. Sakra paints an exciting picture for Donnie Yen’s upcoming martial arts movies yet to be released, but is so far one of the best of the decade.

3

Raging Fire

Released In 2021

Yet another film to utilize Donnie Yen’s talents in the 2020s, Raging Fire is the final film of the late great Benny Chan, a frequently collaborator with the more famous Jackie. This time, Donnie Yen is placed into the modern day as Bong, a hard-boiled supercop with a knack for taking on dangerous cases. His abilities are put to the test when a new secretive criminal organization led by ghosts of Bong’s past comes to haunt him, forcing him into direct conflict with his former protégé.

Raging Fire handily lives up to the expectation of being the last of Benny Chan’s legacy. The brutally swift old-school action, jaw-dropping spectacle in the streets, and emotional tension of nearly every fight scene allows Raging Fire to live up to its evocative name. Even better, the writing is actually good enough to keep up with the visual stimulation, making the movie a rare crime thriller whose script can live up to its visuals.

2

Mortal Kombat

Released In 2021

After allowing the franchise to cool down cinematically for several decades, Warner Brothers took another stab at adapting the infamously gory Mortal Kombat video game series for film. Only this time around, the franchise is able to live up to the blood and gore that made the games famous with an unabashed R-rating. Original character Cole Young is thrust into the titular tournament, which settles disputes between various realms, coming into contact with all sorts of depraved fighters like Sub-Zero, Scorpion, Mileena, and more.

Mortal Kombat is easily the best of the Mortal Kombat films for its commitment to fantastically nasty visuals alone, living up to the brutality of the source material. Even if the entry isn’t without faults, it’s an unabashedly good time that fulfills the need for a fantasy-oriented martial arts film rarely introduced by modern moviemaking. Story aside, Mortal Kombat is a deliciously bloody thrill ride that manages to eke its way into the best martial arts films of the 2020s for its impressive choreography and special effects.

1

Monkey Man

Released In 2024

The John Wick franchise has been utterly transformative for action movies, introducing a whole new style of beat-em-up to the big screen. While Keanu Reeves’ star series might be more focused on gunshots over punches, inspired iterations of the theme like Monkey Man kick the hand-to-hand fight scenes up a notch. Another simple revenge story, Dev Patel stars as the aptly-named Kid, who seeks to avenge his mother’s death by slowly sharpening his skills on the flesh of those who murdered her.

Despite being best known for premiere indie drama in A24’s The Green Knight previously, Dev Patel is excellent as a remorseless killer with nothing to lose. It’s extremely gratifying to watch him gradually grow in power as his crusade continues, cutting down swaths of bad guys as easily as a monkey swings from tree to tree. Monkey Man is also a martial arts movie with a real message, shining a light on the societal issues plaguing certain subsections of India’s population as Kid learns more about himself.