Some of the most beloved martial arts films are those that tell stories with everything. Over-the-top martial arts films feature an exaggerated display of comedy, violence, or martial arts skills – or all three at the same time. However, When done well, these heightened elements don’t make the film feel like it’s trying too hard. Over-the-top antics are often grounded in the strong performances of a film’s cast and innovative approaches to combat choreography.
Jackie Chan is a familiar face in many campy martial arts films, as his career is largely defined by those with risky and extravagant stunts, regularly combined with slapstick humor. However, as mentioned earlier, Humor and death-defying stunts aren’t the only ways films can be considered campy. Riki-Oh and Shaolin Football are two films that feature absurd amounts of violence and superhuman martial arts skills, respectively, providing a fun display of action for audiences to enjoy.
10
Shaolin Temple (1982)
Directed by Chang Hsin Yen
Jet Li made his acting debut in Shaolin Templethe first martial arts film made in mainland China. The film established Li as a star and became a fan favorite for its use of exaggerated fight scenes. Through the use of comedy and recognizable martial arts moves the action in Shaolin Temple It’s highly entertaining. Upon its release, the film achieved great success in China, becoming one of the highest-grossing films in the region and attracting large numbers of tourists to the Shaolin Monastery.
9
Shaolin Football (2001)
Directed byStephen Chow
Jackie Chan has directed several humorous action films over the years, but there are some great martial arts comedies that don’t star Chan, one of which is Shaolin Football. The film revolves around a football team full of super-powered players. Team Shaolin’s journey leads them to an intense final match against Team Evil, where both teams utilize their powers on the field. Shaolin FootballThe final showdown is unlike any other sports movie, as footballs catch fire and athletes exaggeratedly leap into the air..
8
Last Hero in China (1993)
Directed by Wong Jing
Inspired by Once Upon a Time in China films, Last hero in China is a comical version of famous martial artist Wong Fei-hung. Jet Li reprises his role as Wong and the film shows the character unknowingly opening his kung fu school next to a brothel. The film is often absurd and never takes itself too seriouslybut there is still enough room for Li to shine as an artist. One of the film’s most memorable moments is the fight between Li’s character and Gordon Liu’s.
7
Iron Monkey (1993)
Directed by Yuen Woo-ping
Iron Monkey is yet another film inspired by Wong Fei-hung, and this time, the Donnie Yen-led film features a fictionalized portrayal of his father, Wong Kei-ying. The film sees the father and son duo confront the masked martial artist of the same name. Iron Monkey is one of the most famous wire fu filmsin which wires are used to give the illusion that performers can fly. The elaborate fight scenes in Iron Monkey includes your characters launching themselves from one side of the room to the other to defeat their enemies.
6
Ong-Bak: Muay Thai warrior (2003)
Directed by Prachya Pinkaew
Martial artist and actor Tony Jaa had his breakout moment with the film Ong-Bak: Muay Thai warrior. The riveting martial arts film follows a rural villager facing off against multiple opponents to recover a stolen statue. Jaa has a commitment to martial arts reminiscent of the icons who came before him, choosing to perform his own stunts rather than relying on other people or technology. With that in mind, Ong BakThe flashy action of becomes even more impressive. One of the craziest stunts ever Ong Bak sees Jaa kick his on-screen opponent while his leg is on fire.
5
Kung Fu Rampage (2004)
Directed byStephen Chow
A few years after the Shaolin Football was released, director Stephen Chow moved on to an even crazier film. This time, Kung Fu Rampage follows a protagonist with aspirations of joining an infamous gang. The film moves along at a consistently lively pace and features a variety of eccentric supporting characters. In Kung Fu RampageThere’s a balanced mix of masterful martial arts choreography and cartoonish special effects that come together surprisingly well.
4
Riki-Oh: Ricky’s Story (1991)
Directed by Lam Nai-choi
Riki-Oh: Ricky’s Story is easily Siu-Wong Fan’s best kung fu film. The brutal action film stars Fan as the titular character, a superhuman inmate who attacks others in prison. Throughout the film, Ricky proves to be an unstoppable force, surviving the most violent blows. Riki-Oh has become a cult film because the action is immensely exaggerated and unapologetically bloody. However, it all manages to be grounded by the film’s compelling narrative and Fan’s committed performance as a martial artist.
3
Police story (1985)
Directed byJackie Chan
Jackie Chan Police story the films have some of the most intense action scenes in his filmography. The first film in the series, Police storyset the tone for the kind of death-defying, heart-pounding stunts audiences could expect from the martial artist. One of Chan’s coolest stunts in the film is during the famous bus chase, which epitomizes the best of the actor’s abilities. Chan’s comedic timing, innovation, and of course, physical agility are all on display in the film’s over-the-top action.
2
Everything Everywhere at Once (2021)
Directed by Daniel Kwan and Daniel Scheinert
A refreshing take on a story from the multiverse, the Oscar-winning film Everything everywhere at the same time is a deliciously chaotic mix of several genres, including martial arts. The film follows Michelle Yeoh’s character as she travels through parallel universes to save the multiverse. In each universe, Wacky antics ensue in the form of martial arts sequences and absurd jokes. Still, there’s a lot of depth Everything everywhere at the same time to balance its exaggerated elements – nihilism and family dynamics are just a few themes explored.
1
Drunk Master (1978)
Directed by Yuen Woo-ping
One of Yuen Woo-ping’s best films is Drunk Masterstarring Jackie Chan, Yuen Siu-tien and Hwang Jang-lee. The film tells a fictional story of martial arts legends Wong Fei-hung and Beggar So and is full of humorous bits and impressive martial arts sequences. Drunk Master It’s fast-paced and exaggerated, featuring the drunken boxing style of martial arts that seems exaggerated and impractical. After its release, Drunk Master it made a huge impact on the careers of its stars and directors, as well as the martial arts subgenre as a whole.