9 Of The Best Martial Arts Films Of All Time Which Will Give You A New Respect For The Sport

We all have had our kung-fu moments in childhood with our siblings and friends. Fighting for the smallest of things, and letting a kick fly - we have all been down that nostalgic trip before.

If we look at our lives, there is a certain kung-fu in us, but it takes much more than that to make a great martial arts movies. Great martial arts flicks combine awesome combat with a story that actually makes it worth the down time between roundhouse kicks.

There have been countless martial arts, but only a few have achieved the cult status. Let's have a look at the best martial arts movies ever produced.

Enter The Dragon

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There should be no debate here - Enter The Dragon is the most iconic martial arts movie, ever. You simply don't produce something like this anymore.

The sight of great Bruce Lee, in all his glory, ripped body, those gleaming eyes, destroying the evil-doers, there's nothing more compelling than that. This 1973 flick simply shattered box office records, and gained unrivalled popularity across the world.

It is a shame, we coudn't watch more of the legend as he passed away at the ripe age of 32. But he lives through his work and contribution to martial arts.

Enter The Dragon is a movie you can feel, it is a emotion that gets to you, and takes you on a trip. It was the special case of Bruce Lee being in it.

More than just a movie, Enter The Dragon brought martial arts as a genre on the map.

36th Chamber Of Shaolin

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The 36th Chamber Of Shaolin is one of Lau Kar-leung¡¯s finest Kung Fu genre explosions. It is often regarded as the greatest martial arts movie.

It is debatable, but there can be no doubt about the standard of direction and action in the movie. This 1978 release has quite a daring narrative in that at least an hour of the film is devoted to training sequences, but it¡¯s never dull.

The film became critically acclaimed and is often seen as a best of its kind. It might not be as popular as some of the other martial arts movies, but it sure can hold its own.

Once Upon A Time In China

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The movie that really was the great introduction of Jet Li to the world, Once Upon A Time In China combined incredible fight scenes with a large-scale story that will keep you glued.

The movie is based on the real life of Wong Fei-hung: a turn-of-the-century martial arts master and healer who's become something of a folk hero.

Once Upon A Time In China, which released in 1991, established Jet Li as the bonafide star of Chinese kung-fu movies.

Ong-Bak

One of the modern martial arts movies, Ong-Bak has some insane action and adventure. You can just feel the bones crackling, and it will leave you checking your own jaw to see if it got shattered to pieces from some sort of weird osmosis.

The film, which mostly showcases Muay Thai, is the standout project from the incredible Tony Jaa, and definitetly worth a watch.

Drunken Master

There martial arts movies are action laden, but Jackie Chan's Drunken Master had a unique blend - comedy.

We don't normally associate comedy with the unstoppable kung-fu action in the genre, but Drunken Master brought a different feel abpout it, and was also very successful at the box office.

It is an early example of the comedic kung fu genre for which Jackie Chan became famous. The film was ranked number 3 on GamesRadar's list of 50 greatest kung fu movies of all time.

Bloodsport

Bloodsport was surprisingly an American martial arts movie that was received well by the audience. The film is partly based on unverified claims made by martial artist Frank Dux.

In 1988, when the film release, it became one of the big hits. Although, not in the league of Enter The Dragon or 36th Chamber Of Shaolin, but Bloodsport is a well crafted American action movie.

If you didn't happen to watch it, give it a try.

Karate Kid

Another of the American adventure at martial arts, Karate Kid is a franchisee. The first movie with the same name was released in 1984, with the latest coming out in 2014.

The success of the first two films spawned an animated television series that aired in 1989, while a remake film centered on kung fu was released in 2010, set outside of the main story and featuring a similar plot to the original film.

While the first film garnered critical acclaim, critics were less enthusiastic about its sequels.

Take our bait, and watch the first movie of the franchisee.

Kickboxer

Kickboxer is an American action film franchise that totals seven films to date, with first releasing in 1989. The latest movie came in 2016, which didn't really make an impression at all.

The first few movies of the franchisee are much more interesting and commendable. The latest of the movies have been less catchy and more substandard.

No Retreat No Surrender

If you were a kid in the 1980s and you liked action movies, chances are you rented No Retreat No Surrender at some point. It was like a more violent, high-octane and full on action.

It is little bit edgy, but still simple and wholesome enough for the young to totally get it. The film was a massive hit on video and, as a result, generated a stream of sequels over the next few years. Although none were directly related in story.

If you haven't watched it, you are missing some real adrenaline ride.