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Though they have their roots in Chinese cinema, kung fu movies have become iconic and beloved the world over. From gravity-defying stunts to high-flying kicks, these films have captivated audiences for decades with their mesmerizing style. Some of the best kung fu movies were also responsible for turning now well-known screen legends into household names, such as Jackie Chan and Bruce Lee.

The kung fu film genre gained prominence in the early '70s following the waning popularity of the wuxia films, characterized by their supernatural tropes of Chinese myths and legends. As more hard-hitting kung fu action reached the international shores, the martial arts subgenre brought a cultural revolution to cinematic history. Several of these films came to be adored across the globe, but only the best kung fu movies, like Enter the Dragon, have truly withstood the test of time.

Updated on March 4, 2025, by Christopher Raley: Kung fu...

The 1990s was a peak time for martial arts movies, with a distinctive '90s' fusion of old-school kung fu choreography, hyper-dynamic action sequences, and different martial arts styles that thrilled global audiences. Martial arts cinema was making a distinct change at this time as more classic Hollywood elements were being used throughout films as their popularity grew. The best films of this era used those elements while remaining true to Eastern martial arts traditions that focused on stories of honor and redemption to make films that were both exciting and emotionally satisfying.

The 1990s weaving of acrobatic fight sequences with larger-than-life characters made the decade a golden age for performances in martial arts films. Jet Li’s Chen Zhen in Fist of Legend (1996) and Jackie Chan’s Wong Fei-hung in Drunken Master II (1994) both had incredible charisma and depth in their onscreen roles, making the martial arts more than mere action and combat.

Multiple controversies related to the wuxia subgenre of martial arts cinema led to the emergence of the kung fu subgenre, which offered audiences a more realistic depiction of martial arts when compared to wuxia movies. The kung fu subgenre of martial arts cinema experienced its first explosion in popularity during the late 1940s and early 1950s through a series of films based on the life of Chinese folk hero Wong Fei-hung. Kwan Tak-Hing starred as Wong Fei-hung in approximately 80 movies between 1949 and the early 1980s.

Kung fu cinema entered its Golden Age during the early 1970s. Stars such as Jimmy Wang Yu, Lo Lieh, and Bruce Lee elevated the kung fu genre to unprecedented international acclaim and box office success. The 1990s saw kung fu actors like Jackie Chan, Donnie Yen, Jet Li, and Michelle Yeoh continue to make iconic works within the genre. Drunken Master II, Once Upon a Time in China,...

Martial arts movie protagonists are usually well-equipped when it comes to combat, but it can be quite entertaining to watch them learn to fight for the first time over the course of a story. For the most part, the characters of martial arts movie legends like Bruce Lee and Jackie Chan start their stories already well-versed in kung fu or other fighting styles. But some films take the opposite approach, taking the time to describe how their heroes learned to defend themselves before facing off against some impressive foe.

The training montage is a classic trope commonly relied upon for the genre, which sometimes makes entire stories out of the concept. It can be quite compelling to watch a given protagonist go from completely useless in a fight to an adept martial artist, inspiring legions of viewers to do the same. Some of the best martial arts movies ever made...

Stuntmen detail how Ong Bak 2: The Beginning pays homage to Drunken Master II. A direct sequel to 1978's Drunken Master, the 1994 Kung fu comedy film follows Jackie Chan as a mischievous, yet righteous man who is a master of drunken martial arts. Ong Bak 2, on the other hand, is the 2008 prequel to 2003's Ong-Bak: Muay Thai Warrior, starring Tony Jaa as a man who masters martial arts, transforms into a deadly warrior, and embarks on a mission to avenge his parents' death in 15th century Thailand.

On the latest episode of Corridor Crew's "Stuntmen React" series, Niko Pueringer was joined by stunt performers Gui DaSilva-Greene and Anis Cheurfa to break down action scenes in movies, including how Ong Bak 2: The Beginning pays homage to Drunken Master II. The stuntmen and host compared Jackie Chan and Tony Jaa's forms of drunken fighting in two scenes and detailed...

Jackie Chan is the kind of guy who crosses generations and is still recognized by everyone today. But it’s crazy to think about how he got to where he is, especially since it’s pretty rare for a martial arts star to blow up worldwide like he did. The truth is, from the very beginning, he knew exactly what he wanted, and he never backed down for anyone.

Jackie Chan in Shanghai Noon (Credits: Touchstone Pictures)

He had the chance to work with the biggest and best Kung Fu studio, but the terms just didn’t line up with what he wanted. It’s surprising he turned it down, especially since he didn’t have much of a name for himself back then. But looking at how far he’s come, it’s a move that deserves respect.

Jackie Chan Always Aimed For International Fame Jackie Chan in Ride On...

Drunken Master had a great sequel long before Jackie Chan's return to the lead role of Wong Fei-hung in 1994. Released in 1978, the Golden Harvest martial arts classic has received a lot of credit for Jackie Chan's rise to stardom. After starring in both Drunken Master and Snake in the Eagle's Shadow in 1978, the actor quickly turned into Hong Kong's most prominent kung fu movie star at the time. Some of Jackie Chan's movies were successful enough to justify becoming franchises, with Drunken Master being among them.

In 1994, Chan famously returned to the character that helped make him a martial arts icon. Alongside former Shaw Brothers star Ti Lung and fellow martial arts legend Lau Kar-leung, Jackie Chan reprised his role as Wong Fei-hung in Drunken Master II, which went on to become a martial arts gem in its own right. But while it took 20 years for Chan to finally play Wong Fei-hung again,...

Martial arts movies often rely on predictable tropes for plots, leading to similar stories across the genre. Training montages and origin stories are common themes in martial arts films, focusing more on preparation than final fights. Recurring tropes like cursed swords, rival schools, and mysterious tournaments inject drama and action into martial arts narratives.

Martial arts movies have a certain unique core of tropes that are fell on again and again for their plots, creating a horde of movies in the genre with similar stories. Even the best martial arts movies can be surprisingly light on narrative engagement, mostly relying on the action to speak for itself. But there's only so many ways characters can be compelled to face one another in hand-to-hand combat, and the same handful of excuses are reliably brought out for many films of the genre.

Even outside of narrative excuses for the characters to get to the action,...

For many around the world, there’s one name at the top of the action totem pole: Jackie Chan, and today marks his 70th birthday.

If you only know him as a goofy martial arts comedian from the Rush Hour and Shanghai Noon series, then consider this a wake up call. Because when Jackie did things His way on his home turf, he churned out some of the best action movies you’ll ever see.

Many would point to Drunken Master II as Jackie’s magnum opus. Fair enough, that is an all-timer, but for an example of his best modern day martial arts action, mixed in with some crime drama and his signature comedy, one of his absolute best outings is 1985’s Police Story.

In the 1970s, Jackie Chan soared to fame internationally once he was finally able to break out of the shadow of Bruce Lee. When Chan...

Chan's daring stunts defy limits and embody his commitment to authentic action cinema, inspiring future stars. From hot coal crawls to bus jumps, Chan's willingness to perform risky stunts sets him apart in martial arts. Whether sliding down poles or hanging from helicopters, Chan's unmatched physicality leaves audiences in awe.

Jackie Chan is renowned for his impressive stunt work, crafting some of the most incredible feats in the martial arts genre. From his early days as a stuntman and extra in the 1970s to his rise as an international superstar, Chan has consistently pushed the boundaries of what is possible in action cinema. Jackie Chan’s movie franchises, such as Police Story and Drunken Master, showcase his unparalleled ability to perform death-defying stunts while infusing them with his signature touch. Chan's willingness to put his body on the line has earned him a reputation in the world of martial arts.

Martial arts movies incorporate real stunts to enhance action, showcasing actors' genuine physical skills. Iconic actors like Jackie Chan and Donnie Yen perform gravity-defying moves without special effects. Tony Jaa popularizes Muay Thai with impressive flying knee strikes in The Protector, showcasing raw skill.

Being the star of a martial arts movie requires more physicality than most other genres, with many actors presenting some truly impressive moves on-screen over the years with no special effects to speak of. Many martial arts films have incorporated special effects to enhance the action to some degree or another, from the high-flying wire work of films like Crouching Tiger, Hidden Dragon to the CGI-laden fight scenes of franchises like The Matrix movie series. Whatever the case, practical stunts always added a new layer of appreciation to fight scenes for audiences to enjoy.

Many famous names in the martial arts movie space began as fighters first and actors second,...

Somebody stop me! Alamo Drafthouse is taking a trip back 30 years to the Clinton-era and the year 1994 for a two-month long repertory slate of classic film screenings. And IndieWire can exclusively reveal the full lineup of films as part of the Alamo Time Capsules 1994 series.

Beginning the week of March 1 and running through the end of April, Alamo Drafthouse locations across the country will screen 29 different films all released in 1994.

Among them are some blockbusters and fan favorites, including “Pulp Fiction,” “Dumb and Dumber,” “The Mask,” “Interview With a Vampire,” “Forrest Gump,” “Little Women,” “The Shawshank Redemption,” and the live-action “The Flintstones.” There’s some cult classics like “Clerks,” “Drunken Master II,” “Reality Bites,” and “The Crow,” some art house darlings like “Chungking Express” and the “Three Colors” trilogy, and there are even some obscure deep cuts such as the bizarre Martin Short film “Clifford” or a special “Gore Cut...

Several martial arts movies have villains who are clearly better fighters than the heroes. Ivan Drago in Rocky IV, Tony in Flashpoint, and Wah Sing Ku in Lethal Weapon 4 are notable examples of this trend. The Raid: Redemption, Drunken Master II, and The Matrix also have villains who are formidable opponents.

Martial arts movies often feature skilled pugilist protagonists, but some of the most respected entries in the genre have also featured villains who were more adept at martial arts than the heroes. Martial arts movies are very influential and beloved, and that's largely due to the genre's well-choreographed fight scenes, heart-stopping stunts, and over-the-top villains. One of the tropes commonly associated with martial arts movies is that of the protagonist eventually surpassing their sensei before challenging the villain to a duel to the death, often for honor or revenge.

While many of the best martial arts movie directors have retired,...

Bruce Lee's influence on martial arts films made them a global phenomenon and led to the rise of other big-screen martial artists. There are numerous other martial arts stars from the '70s and '80s whose work would be highly cherished by Bruce Lee fans. From David Chiang to Angela Mao, these martial arts stars have had extensive careers and continue to be recognized as legends in the industry.

Bruce Lee might be the most well-known martial arts star, but there are also many other kung fu stars that his fans would love. Instrumental in popularizing martial arts films around the globe, Bruce Lee's greatest movies like Fist of Fury and Enter the Dragon are staples in the kung fu genre that remain influential to actors, directors, and filmmakers in the action genre. Despite only making five kung fu movies before unexpectedly and heartbreakingly passing away in 1973, Bruce...

Before he became one of Shaw Brothers’ foremost fight choreographers, Lau Kar Leung used to work as an extra besides choreographing the old black and white Wong Fei Hung series. Together with fellow choreographer Tang Chia, he would spend many years working for director Chang Cheh until they had a fallout while doing “Marco Polo”. So it was only natural that he would eventually evolve into a director during the early 70s when the martial arts films were in full swing. Furthermore, after Shaw Brothers Studio stopped making films, he would continue to choreograph, direct and even act in films like “Drunken Master II” with Jackie Chan and Tsui Hark’s “Seven Swords” in 2005.

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Filmed during the time when Chang Cheh was in Taiwan making films under his own Long Bow studio, “The Spiritual Boxer”, a comedy with kung...

The year 1978 would be important in the career of Jackie Chan. Snake in the Eagle’s Shadow and Drunken Master were big hits for him. The success from these films helped turn Chan into the superstar the world knows and loves. In fact, Jackie Chan has made many films and many can be thought of as his most exceptional, especially in the 1990s. Some might think Supercop, in which he stars with Michelle Yeoh, is his best work. However, in 1994, 16 years after the original, Chan gave us Drunken Master II, also known as The Legend of Drunken Master. Drunken Master II is his best work, putting a new spin on the action-comedy style he crafted in the years between the original and the sequel. There are plenty of stunts, but the martial arts choreography is where the true power lies.

Jackie Chan is about to get a major new collection from Criterion, with the prestige label announcing a new set called Jackie Chan: Emergence of a Superstar. The set will contain a few of Chan’s early classics, including Fearless Hyena (and its sequel) and The Young Master, as well as a later film, My Lucky Stars, and a pair of his earliest vehicles, Half a Loaf of Kung Fu and Spiritual Kung Fu. Fans of Chan’s may be scratching their heads at a few of the titles, as outside of Young Master and Fearless Hyena, none of the films included in the set are considered his best work.

It seems like rights issues are keeping legit early classics like Drunken Master off the set, with the most puzzling choice being to include Fearless Hyena 2, which is really little more than a curiosity for fans. Chan notoriously quit...

In the wrong hands, action movies have the potential to be one of the most generic and repetitive genres. Cardboard cutout characters, clichéd narratives, indulgent editing, and poor-quality special effects all contribute to substandard action cinema.

However, when led by certain auteurs, the action genre has proven to offer audiences pure entertainment in its highest form. The world's greatest action directors insist on groundbreaking special effects, revolutionary editing, and first-rate action choreography to create unique visual experiences. Filmmakers such as Christopher Nolan and Sergio Leone elevated the status of action moviemaking by pushing its boundaries to unprecedented heights.

Related: 10 Best Non-American Action Films, Ranked

Lau Kar-leung

Lau Kar-leung was a Chinese actor, action choreographer, and filmmaker who was one of the most prominent figures of Hong Kong cinema during the 1970s, 1980s, and 1990s. During the 1960s, Lau emerged as a leading action choreographer for Shaw Brothers Studios before rising...

Tubi boasts a vast collection of martial arts films, including obscure gems and cult classics you won't find elsewhere. "The Paper Tigers" is a Kickstarter success with a unique premise, offering a fun-filled martial arts experience that stands out from the crowd. Tony Jaa's "The Protector" showcases breathtaking action sequences and serves as a great introduction to his outstanding martial arts skills.

Everyone loves a good martial arts movie every once in a while. There's something inherently appealing about them. Maybe it's the physicality and choreography on display, or maybe it's the hidden storytelling that goes on in every fight. Either way, they're a staple of the action genre, and they're still going strong after hundreds of separate titles.

Tubi just so happens to have every martial arts movie under the sun, even including some of the most obscure and legally-dubious productions in all of their grainy glory. If...

Scott Waugh had the opportunity to make use of two phenomenal talents in his new movie Hidden Strike, but he couldn’t really achieve the impact he would have liked. It’s an odd pairing—Jackie Chan with John Cena. Both have the same initials, and for a while, it looked like they might go against each other, but the writing ensured that the story remained predictable. Written by Arash Amel, Hidden Strike neither invested much in complex character arcs nor any dilemmas that the characters would really have to struggle with. The movie is carried from one action sequence to the next, and Jackie and John try to salvage the one-note movie on their shoulders through their charm and goofy performances.

Jackie Chan has legendary status when it comes to action cinema. Having done films like The Legend of the Drunken Master and Rush Hour, he has nothing more to prove.

Whenever you think about martial arts, whose name springs to mind? For me, it’s Jackie Chan, followed by the others.

Jackie Chan, a legend in the world of martial arts, created his patented style of fighting. This style involves executing audacious stunts and employing clever maneuvers.

He actively utilizes his surroundings and props. With this unique approach, he swiftly defeats his enemies. Jackie Chan consistently emerges victorious despite the number of adversaries he faces.

Related: 10 Best 80s Movies from Childhood, Ranked by Viewers

Growing up, I had an enjoyable time watching numerous Jackie Chan movies.

From “The Legend of Drunken Master” to “Rush Hour,” it was impossible to be bored with Jackie’s movies.

The sheer mastery exhibited by Jackie Chan has solidified his position as an iconic figure in the world of martial arts.

However, while Jackie excels at martial arts, I am particularly captivated by the comedic elements in his movies.

The long-in-development, at least from a post-production point-of-view, action comedy “Hidden Strike” has its first trailer, which you can watch above. That means the Jackie Chan/John Cena team-up flick, which was shot back in 2018, may finally reach cinemas or at least VOD. The film, initially titled “Snafu,” became a consistent victim of changing circumstances but external and internal.

The film was green-lit and shot amid a resurgence specifically in China for Jackie Chan-fronted actioners like “Kung Fu Yoga” and “Skiptrace.” The latter was also a (partially) English-language romp starring Johnny Knoxville in a clear attempt to recapture some of that “Rush Hour” or “Shanghai Knights” magic from the late 1990s and early 2000s.

“Skiptrace” earned $131 million in 2016 while the former globe-trotting adventure film “Kung Fu Yoga” earned $256 million in 2017. “Since then, “The Climbers” earned $174 million in 2019, but Covid obviously put a damper on such robust earnings for a moment.

Drunken Master II is the most defining movie of Jackie Chan's career. 1978's Drunken Master was one of Chan's break-out movies in his early career, with Chan playing a comedic take on the Chinese folk hero Wong Fei-hung and showcasing the martial art Zui Quan, or Drunken Fist. 16 years later, Chan returned to the role of Wong in the sequel Drunken Master II, which was later released in the U.S. in 2000 under the title of The Legend of Drunken Master.

While Chan has been a part of many highly acclaimed action-comedies, Drunken Master II is often regarded as one of, if not, the best Jackie Chan movie ever made. Indeed, Drunken Master II has some of Chan's most unbelievable action scenes, but the key to its popularity is the combination of numerous elements that elevate it to the upper echelon of all Jackie Chan movies. Here are the...

There are numerous reasons why "John Wick" has become one of the most surprisingly successful action franchises of the last 20 years. From the very start, a high premium was placed on world-building, which lends depth and purpose to the hyperkinetic action. Casting was also key. Keanu Reeves had already proved himself in the fields of kung and gun-fu, but surrounding him with top-notch character actors like Ian McShane, Willem Dafoe, John Leguizamo, and the late, great Lance Reddick gave the first film a knowing, dignified air. When actors of this caliber are game for an independently produced action flick, you figure it's got a bit more on the ball than a dashed-off, Dtv affair.

The films have grown more ambitious with each chapter, culminating in the nearly three-hour-long "John Wick: Chapter 4." This installment is almost certainly Reeves' final go-round as Wick, so it goes hard. How hard? It's the...

In spite of the Drunken Master movies being some of Jackie Chan’s most beloved films, the actor never made a third installment. Drunken Master III does exist, but it has no connection to the actor. To this day, Chan has yet to revisit the series.

The Drunken Master movies hold a special place in Chan’s legacy as a martial arts star. After headlining his first box office hit, Snake in the Eagle’s Shadow, Chan followed it up with Drunken Master, which solidified his status as a star in the Hong Kong movie industry. Additionally, Drunken Master acted as a stepping stone to more roles and did its part to help Chan build the image he has today. Thanks to its continued popularity, Chan returned to play his Drunken Master character in a direct sequel. Also known as Drunken Master II, Legend of the Drunken Master paired Chan with...

The London Action Fest’s weekend events kicked off on Saturday at Picturehouse Central with a screening of Chia-Liang Liu’s phenomenal The Legend of Drunken Master (Aka Drunken Master 2), a highly sought action classic that’s overdue a remastered Blu ray release.

Following this was the first panel event: The World in Action- Celebrating Asian Action Cinema with Joey Ansah, Mike Fury (journalist and author) and Jude Poyer.

The guests talked about what drew them to Asian cinema, citing early exposure to ninja films on VHS, a martial artist Pe teacher, and sneaking into late night screenings of Hong Kong films, in Soho.

A sequence from Sammo Hung’s Dragons Forever, starring Jackie Chan, was then presented, and the panel discussed why the film is so special, citing hand-to-hand combat and frenetic editing. They also talked about how Hong Kong cinema was better than American action films of the time,...

With this production, a smash hit all over the world, Asian superstar Jackie Chan at long last went mainstream in the United States after cracking their movie market, after his previous starring attempts like “Battle Creek Brawl” (1980) and “The Protector” (1986) got him nowhere. Moreover, it went on to win the Best Action Choreography Award at the 15th Hong Kong Film Awards in 1996. “And just like that, I was a big star in America after fifteen years of trying.” Chan later wrote in his autobiography “Never Grow Old”.

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Hong Kong policeman and kung fu expert, Ma Hon Keung (Jackie Chan) arrives in New York to attend the wedding of his Uncle Bill (Bill Tung Biu) who is also in the process of selling his supermarket in the Bronx. Almost overnight, Keung gets himself involved with a biker gang, a syndicate, stolen diamonds and the police. Soon...

Following his major breakthrough in “Snake in the Eagle’s Shadow” and the success of “Drunken Master”, Jackie Chan seized the opportunity to finally be able to take over directing duties for a project. Apart from his experience as an actor, his collaboration with director Yuen Woo-ping had given him complete freedom over his stunts, resulting in the blend of martial arts and comedy which would become his trademark as a performer to this day. Thus, in a year which also saw him star in such features like “Dragon Fist” and “Master with Cracked Fingers”, Jackie Chan directed “The Fearless Hyena”, which he also wrote, continuing his ongoing journey of becoming one of the most beloved martial arts stars of his generation.

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The story takes place during the Qing dynasty, when a young fighter names Ching Hing-lung (Jackie Chan) lives with his grandfather (James Tien) in...

The second “Drunken Master” may share a title, a protagonist in Jackie Chan, a main character in Wong Fei-hung, and the concept of Drunken Boxing, but in reality, is a completely different animal than the original, on a number of levels, with Lau Kar-leung aiming intensely in a number of sociopolitical comments, in contrast to Yuen Woo-ping’s work, which focused mostly on entertainment. This approach has led the former to be named one of the top 100 best films of all time by Time magazine in 2005, while the British Film Institute (BFI) selected it as one among the ten best action movies of all time.

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The story is set in early 20th century China, when Wong Fei-hung, along with his father Wong Kei-ying and servant Tso, return to Canton after a trip to the Northeast. The troubles start from the train already, as Fei-hung ends...

The extraordinary Jonathan Ross discusses his favorite movies with hosts Josh Olson and Joe Dante.

Show Notes: Movies Referenced In This Episode

Kick-Ass (2010)

Kingsman: The Secret Service (2015) – Dennis Cozzalio’s 2015 year-end list

The Woman in Black (2012)

Stardust (2007)

The Green Knight (2021) – Our podcast interview with director David Lowery, Dennis Cozzalio’s best-of-2021-so-far list

Slumdog Millionaire (2008)

The Astro-Zombies (1968) – Dennis Cozzalio’s drive-in director list

The Corpse Grinders (1971) – Dennis Cozzalio’s drive-in director list

Incredibly Strange Creatures Who Stopped Living And Became Zombies (1964) – Dennis Cozzalio’s drive-in director list

Blood Feast (1963) – Charlie Largent’s Blu-ray review

The Wizard of Gore (1970)

Police Story (1985) – Glenn Erickson’s Criterion Blu-ray review

Honey, I Shrunk The Kids (1989)

Re-Animator (1985) – Charlie Largent’s Blu-ray review

Society (1989)

Eraserhead (1977) – Karyn Kusama’s Blu-ray review

Faster Pussycat Kill Kill (1965) – Randy Fuller’s wine pairing

Beyond The Valley Of The Dolls (1970) – Michael Lehmann’s trailer commentary, Glenn Erickson’s Blu-ray review, Randy...

Six years after his breakthrough success at Cannes with Ilo Ilo, Anthony Chen returns with a film which again features Yeo Yann-yann and Koh Jia-ler as lonely people who form an unexpected and troubling bond. The roles were not written with them in mind and they took them up only after a lengthy casting process, but the awkwardness stemming from their previous onscreen relationship - very meaningful to Koh at the time because he was a child - adds something extra here, even as they submerge themselves in very different roles.

This is not the plump-faced, cute little Koh of 2013. He's 17 here, and a keen martial artist. His sport finds a way into the story, in inter-school competitions and a bedroom full of posters for the likes of Kung Fu Panda and Drunken Master. Here, he is student Wei-lun, neglected at home, behind at school,...

“Drinking gives Herculean strength!”

Jackie Chan in Drunken Master II will be available on Blu-ray May 18th from Warner Archive

The film that cemented Jackie Chan’s iconic status as an action hero unlike any other pack a punch and brings a belly laugh in this eye-popping presentation taken from the original negatives! In turbulent China before World War I, the collapse of the Manchu Dynasty fuels violent uprisings and political chaos–the perfect setting for a grand-scale smuggling ring led by an unscrupulous British consul. When the ring plots to steal China’s crown jewels only one man, legendary “Drunken Fist” master Huang Fei-hung (Chan), possesses the courage and ferocity to stop the ruthless gang. Contains three different audio tracks, the original Cantonese language track, Mandarin and English. *Note* This new high definition master taken from the original camera negative offers the option of the original English subtitles that...

Jackie Chan's 1994 action hit Legend Of The Drunken Master (or Drunken Master II in China) remains one of the coolest and most exciting martial arts movies ever caught on film, featuring Chan at his absolute peak. The fight sequences are creative, bombastic, and comical, and Chan's stunts are magnificent. It could very well be the perfect kung fu flick.

Related: Wu-Tang Clan & The RZA: 10 Kung-Fu Movies That Inspired Their Hip-Hop

It has some stiff competition, however, from Jet Li's phenomenal Fist Of Legend, released the same year. Both films are high-energy, high-impact kung fu movies that remain at the very top of their class. So, which one is better? Let's put these two films head to head and see who emerges victorious!

It’s oft-repeated movie wisdom that sequels are always inferior to their originals. Of course, people who watch enough films and take the time to think about them instead of reiterating the same trite axioms as everyone else know this to be far from accurate. Apropos of nothing, Guardians of the Galaxy director James Gunn took to Twitter to put forward a litany of sequels he considers to outstrip their predecessors in quality.

Wrath of Kahn

Superman II

Batman Returns

Gremlins 2

Blade II

Legend of the Drunken Master

Desperado

Blade Runner 2049

Magnum Force

Final Destination 2

Captain America Winter Soldier

Swordsman II

Add others below.

Ps It’s an unarguable fact Alien & Aliens are equal.

— James Gunn (@JamesGunn) April 12, 2020

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James Gunn is always up for sharing his opinions (for better or for worse) as well as interacting with fans on Twitter. Just the other day, in fact, he shared a list of 27 sequels better than the original and before that, he recommended 10 movies to watch during quarantine. But now, The Suicide Squad and Guardians of the Galaxy director has revealed a new list of films to watch during self-isolation and has come up with 54 action movies that he believes are an A+.

Studios have been releasing some of their new efforts on digital early like Bloodshot and The Hunt in an attempt to capitalize on any extra revenue they can in these difficult times. But forget about new movies for a second. Gunn’s list below begins a proper action film education and all of his suggestions are well worth checking out.

Mission: Impossible – Fallout (2018)

Bullitt (1868)

North by Northwest...

James Gunn has reignited the debate over sequels that are better than their predecessors with his list of 27 second films that outdo the first. The “Guardians of the Galaxy” filmmaker published his list on social media, noting James Cameron’s “Aliens” is not included because “it’s an unarguable fact that ‘Alien’ and ‘Aliens’ are equal.” So which sequels are superior? Gunn declares Denis Villeneuve’s “Blade Runner 2049” is better than Ridley Scott’s landmark 1982 original, a controversial opinion that is sure to have its detractors. No-brainers on the list include Nolan’s “The Dark Knight” beating “Batman Begins” and “Empire Strikes Back” outdoing the original “Star Wars.”

Gunn’s list includes several superhero movies, including “Captain America: The Winter Soldier,” “Superman II,” and Guillermo del Toro’s “Blade II.” As the director noted in a follow-up post, “You’ll notice a disproportionate amount of superhero movies on this list.

With everyone being stuck at home for the time being thanks to the ongoing global circumstances, people are watching and talking about movies more than ever before. This includes Guardians of the Galaxy director James Gunn, who has taken to social media to list 27 sequels he thinks are better than the originals.

Sequels (2nd movie only) better than the originals&#8226 Toy Story 2&#8226&#160Godfather II&#8226 Spider-Man 2&#8226 Bad Lieutenant: Port of Call New Orleans&#8226&#160Evil Dead 2&#8226&#160Shrek 2&#8226&#160The Dark Knight&#8226&#160Bride of Frankenstein&#8226&#160Hellboy II&#8226&#160Road Warrior&#8226 For a Few Dollars More&#8226&#160Paddington 2&#8226 X2&#8226&#160Empire Strikes Back&#8226&#160Wrath of Kahn&#8226&#160Superman II&#8226&#160Batman Returns&#8226&#160Gremlins 2&#8226&#160Blade II&#8226 Legend of the Drunken Master&#8226&#160Desperado&#8226&#160Blade Runner 2049&#8226&#160Magnum Force&#8226&#160Final Destination 2&#8226&#160Captain America Winter Soldier&#8226&#160Swordsman II&#8226&#160Add others below.&#8226&#160Ps It's an unarguable fact Alien & Aliens are equal.

The moviemaker has been participating with fans quite frequently on social media during self-isolation,...

Every week, IndieWire asks a select handful of film and TV critics two questions and publishes the results on Monday. (The answer to the second, “What is the best film in theaters right now?”, can be found at the end of this post.)

This week’s question: In honor of the bone-crunching “Atomic Blonde,” what is the greatest movie fight scene?

Read More‘Atomic Blonde’: How They Turned One Amazing Action Scene Into a Seven-Minute Long Take Erin Oliver Whitney (@cinemabite), ScreenCrush

I’ve got a soft spot for wuxia so the “best fight scene” immediately evokes Zhang Yimou in my mind. I could list every fight in “Hero,” sequences so spellbindingly beautiful and graceful you forget you’re watching violence. The bamboo forest battle from “House of Flying Daggers” is another all-timer, a mesmerizing fight that almost entirely takes place in the air. And the bone-crunching, table-smashing...

  By David Kozlowski   |   7 July 2017

Welcome to Issue #3 of The Lrm Weekend, a weekly column highlighting cool and unique videos about film, TV, comics, Star Wars, Marvel, DC, animation, and anime. We also want to hear from you, our awesome Lrm community! Share your favorite videos to: @LRM_Weekend and we'll post your Tweets below!

Last Issue: 6.30.17

Why do we love superheroes, martial arts, fantasy, and sci-fi? The big fight scenes, of course. Every week we'll bring you an epic brawl from the recent or distant past -- we want to hear from you, share your favorite fights with us!

Jackie Chan's The Legend of Drunken Master (1994) Bonus: Jackie Chan Talks About Bringing Film To America

The original Chinese language movie poster from 1978!

What Is It?

Drunken Master II is a 1994 Hong Kong kung fu film directed by Lau Kar-leung and Jackie Chan, who stars as Chinese folk hero, Wong Fei-hung.

Subscription streaming services require digging to discover their full value. For example, while I’ve been prepping for IndieWire’s Best Action Films of the 21st Century (coming later this week), I was pleasantly surprised to find how many quality action films were available on Netflix — including works by a number of non-American auteurs. From martial arts to gangster shoot ’em ups to comedy-action films, here are eight highly original, well crafted, director-driven pieces of entertainment that could serve as a welcome alternative this summer when your local cineplex feels like a boring rerun.

“Shaolin Soccer” (2001)

Stephen Chow’s films (“Kung Fu Hustle”) are a wonderful and loony mix of comedy and action that have an infectious spirit. For this film the actor/writer/director adds a sports movie to the mix, which might sound bizarre, but once seeing it you’ll wonder why no one has made a martial arts soccer film before.

Director: Renny Harlin Cast: Jackie Chan, Johnny Knoxville, Bingbing Fan, Eric Tsang, Eve Torres, Winston Chao Skiptrace stars Bennie Chan (Jackie Chan; Rush Hour trilogy) a detective from Hong Kong is investigating the murder of his friend Yung (Eric Tsang; The Legend of Drunken Master) from 9 years ago that leads to the elusive crime boss named The […]

The post Skiptrace Movie Review: Don’t miss the blooper reel appeared first on Shockya.com.

Reel-Important People is a monthly column that highlights those individuals in or related to the movies that have left us in recent weeks. Below you'll find names big and small and from all areas of the industry, though each was significant to the movies in his or her own way. Max Alexander (1953-2016) - Comedian, Actor. He appears in Trainwreck, Forgetting Sarah Marshall, Man on the Moon, The Legend of Drunken Master, Roxanne, Paul Blart: Mall Cop 2 and Punchline. He died of throat cancer on November 2. (NY Daily News) Al Brodax (1926-2016) - Producer, Screenwriter. He co-wrote and produced The Yellow Submarine in addition to the animated Beatles series. He died on November 24. (Animation Scoop) Fidel Castro...

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One of the most awaited foreign films of the year, Kung Fu Yoga, will hit Chinese movie theaters on January 28, 2017. Legendary comedian, martial artist and cultural icon Jackie Chan leads this Sino-Indian film. With him are Bollywoood superstars Sonu Sood (Arundhati (2010) and Julayi (2012)) and Amyra Dastur (Anegan (2015) and Mr. X (2015)). The film is directed by frequent Jackie Chan collaborator, Stanley Tong.

With a reported budget of $65 million, Kung Fu Yoga promises to be a hilarious and action packed extravaganza. The film follows celebrated Chinese archeology professor, Jack (played by Jackie Chan) as he searches for ancient treasures scattered all around the world.

Kung Fu Yoga

Kung Fu Yoga is part of the three-film agreement signed between the two nations during the visit of the Chinese President Xi Jinping to India last 2015. CatchNews adds that the Sino-Indian film boasts hair-raising action sequences, plus as much hilarity and fun one can expect from Jackie Chan.

The Board of Governors from AMPAS have finally announced their selections for this year's Honorary Oscars. This year they're not giving out the Thalberg (for Producing) or the Hersholt (for Huminatarian efforts) but just the regular ol' Honorary Oscars. If such a thing can be deemed "regular" since they're so hard to come by. Consider that James Ivory still doesn't have one despite being a masterful oft imitated but never duplicated director behind three major Best Picture contenders (and many other beautiful films) and never having won an an Oscar and being 88 years old. Nathaniel wept. Oscar remains remarkably stingy with the gays but at least they've noticed the need for diversity in other ways.

Congratulations to this year's esteemed recipients! 

Jackie Chan's starmaking hit The Legend of Drunken Master (1978)

Superstar Jackie Chan

He's a famous actor, producer, and director and his filmography is just enormous with well over 100 films under his belt.

When you are binge watching movies you want to be entertained the whole time. What better way to keep you entertained than non-stop kick-ass action? Like a fist to the face, this collection of films will get your blood racing even if you’re just sitting there.

Each month the Cinelinx staff will write a handful of articles covering a specified film-related topic. These articles will be notified by the Movielinx banner. Movielinx is an exploration and discussion of our personal connections with film. This month, we're picking our favorite films for binge watching. We'll suggest a theme and the four movies we think would be most enjoyable to watch back-to-back while being related to this theme.

Binge watching TV shows is fun way to spend an afternoon, and it can work equally well for movies. While it may be fun to watch all the films in a trilogy or franchise,...

When you're in the mood for an action movie, Netflix has plenty to stream. Great, except that so many of their action titles are no-name, forgettable schlock. So we've done some of the heavy lifting by highlighting the best of the best currently available in the genre. Who do you want to see duke it out? Take your pick, from gangsters to gladiators, robots to ninjas, schoolkids to superheroes.

Cue that suiting-up pre-battle montage and start streaming, because here are some of the best action movies Netflix has to offer. (Availability subject to change.)

1. "13 Assassins" (2010) R

From director Takashi Miike ("Audition," "Ichi the Killer") comes this action-packed, samurai spectacular about 13 assassins on a suicide mission. Dig that 45-minute battle scene!

2. "48 Hrs."(1982) R

A cop (Nick Nolte) and a criminal (Eddie Murphy) have 48 hours to round up two cop-killers in this fast-paced action comedy classic.

3. "Assault on Precinct 13" (1976) R

Before...

The Legend of Drunken Master (aka Drunken Master II)

Written by Eric Tsang, Edward Tang and Barbie Tung

Directed by Lau Kar-leung

Hong Kong, 1994

Unofficially a sequel to the 1978 hit Drunken Master, The Legend of Drunken Master (the original Cantonese title being Drunken Master II even though the film does not follow up on the storyline of the first one) opens in mainland China at the turn of the 20th century. Wong Fei Hung (Jackie Chan), one of the great proponents of the misunderstood drunken boxing, returns home via train with his renowned doctor father Wong Kei Ying (Ti Lung) and family servant (Cheung Chi-Gwong). Whilst trying to smuggle himself into the first-class compartment, Fei Hung notices a man, a former army colonel named Master Fu Wen-Chi (director Lau Kar-leung), stealing a precious box, prompting Fei Hung to give chase. When his skirmish with the elder man concludes and Fei...

Coming-of-age drama is the first feature to come out of Brunei in several years.

Brunei’s Origin Films has launched sales on coming-of-age martial arts film Yasmine, the first feature to come out of the country in years.

Siti Kamaluddin, who has a background as an Ad for films and a director for commercials, is making her feature directorial debut with this story about a girl who goes into competitive silat fighting against her father’s wishes.

Featuring Kuntau, the Brunei form of the Southeast Asian martial art of silat, the action was directed by Chan Man Ching, whose credits include Hellboy 2 and Jackie Chan’s The Legend Of Drunken Master 2 and Rush Hour.

“This is the first time you see Silat in a sports angle for competition. Sometimes you go into something for all the wrong reasons and find something else. The film is about a journey of self-discovery and a reminder that some dreams are worth...

This weekend, as you search for a movie to watch, you can either go out to see The World's End or Drinking Buddies, or stay home and pick one of approximately 14 billion options available on streaming over a variety of services, be it Netflix, Hulu, Amazon, On Demand, or other sites. Every Friday, Vulture tries to make life easier by narrowing it down to a handful of heartily recommended options. This week, we take shots of a martial-arts classic, a history buff's perfect cocktail, and the BFI's 29th greatest movie of all time.The Legend of Drunken MasterIf you're wondering why there's still reverence for Jackie Chan after three Rush Hour movies and The Tuxedo, see Drunken Master II, a.k.a. The Legend of Drunken Master, which has little to do with Drunken Master and everything to do with breathtaking fight choreography. The conceit that massive amounts of booze...

Okay, Toronto based Jackie Chan fans ... here's your chance to catch a trio of the icon's most iconic films with the man himself on hand to personally introduce the screenings, and to do it for free.Chan's Drunken Master, The Legend Of Drunken Master (aka Drunken Master 2) and Police Story screen this week as part of the Twitch presented Swordsmen, Gangsters And Ghosts program at the Tiff Bell Lightbox and we've got two pairs of tickets to give away to each screening. The Drunken Master pictures play back to back Wednesday night while Police Story follows on Thursday. You want your chance to win? Email me here and name a film in which Chan stars opposite Donnie Yen. Winners will be drawn at random....

[Read the whole post on twitchfilm.com...]...