10 Martial Arts Masterpieces Ranked by Pure Entertainment Value

Provided a martial arts film clears the bar for average quality, viewers can generally expect an entertaining experience. In fact, even mediocre entries often offer enough entertainment value through sheer silliness, adrenaline, or over-the-top spectacle to carry them, regardless of weak writing, lackluster acting, or uninspired fight choreography.

Martial arts cinema is inherently enjoyable, barring the rare genuinely bad outlier. For those looking for the genre’s most fun entries that they may have missed, the following picks are essential viewing. They are defined primarily by their exceptional action quality and the consistent density of set pieces packed into each runtime.

10

‘Kung Fu Hustle’ (2004)

Image via Columbia TriStar Film Distributors International

Serving as both a broad comedy and a martial arts film, Kung Fu Hustle is inherently enjoyable. It operates largely on cartoon logic, with characters performing feats that remain over-the-top even by the standards of other fantastical, spectacle-heavy entries. Beyond merely parodying the genre, the film demonstrates significant effort behind the choreography, filming, and editing of its action, even when the scenes themselves are silly. It balances conventions with sincerity, ensuring nearly everything on screen proves a blast to watch.

9

‘Last Hurrah for Chivalry’ (1979)

Image via Golden Harvest

Last Hurrah for Chivalry is somewhat somber narratively, functioning as a melodrama driven by betrayals, sacrifices, and death—the hallmarks of later John Woo films like The Killer and Bullet in the Head. Released before those iconic heroic bloodshed movies, it serves as a precursor where hand-to-hand combat replaces gunfire. Once viewers navigate its convoluted plot, they are left with relentless, well-executed fight sequences. The non-stop battle after battle delivers a constant sense of excitement that defines its entertainment value.

8

‘John Wick: Chapter 4’ (2023)

Image via Lionsgate

Continuing the thread of shootouts found in much of John Woo’s work, John Wick: Chapter 4 blends modern action with classic hand-to-hand combat. It stands as proof that martial arts cinema need not be limited to the genre alone. The plot is secondary, as the series evolves from a personal revenge story into a saga of escalating enemies. Outmatched and outgunned throughout, the film achieves a grand, over-the-top scale, reinforced by a runtime approaching three hours.

7

‘The Super Inframan’ (1975)

Image via Shaw Brothers Studio

Blending monster movie and martial arts tropes, The Super Inframan feels like a child’s dream realized on a proper budget. Rather than action figures being smashed together, viewers see genuine stunt work, yet the performers are clad in ridiculous costumes, resembling living action figures. While the choreography is limited and the plot simplistic, the film’s heart is in the right place. Its pure, wonderfully goofy tone secures its status among the most broadly enjoyable B-grade sci-fi and martial arts productions ever made.

6

‘Everything Everywhere All at Once’ (2022)

Image via A24

Another example of science fiction intersecting with martial arts action, Everything Everywhere All at Once is primarily a family drama at its core. It explores a multiversal battle where characters must rely on their alternate selves across different dimensions. The tone begins quirky and escalates into increasing strangeness, yet the chaos never overwhelms the narrative. The controlled madness is impressive; for over two hours, the sheer volume of creative concepts never allows the film to feel even remotely boring.

5

‘Enter the Dragon’ (1973)

Image via Golden Harvest

The final film completed during Bruce Lee‘s lifetime, though it was a posthumous release, Enter the Dragon is widely considered his best performance, though his other genre work remains worth exploring. An English-language international co-production, it functions as a martial arts, sports, and spy film simultaneously. The premise involves Lee’s character infiltrating an island tournament hosted by a shady figure, posing as a participant while spying on them. It remains a fast-paced and fun classic, arguably the easiest martial arts film over half a century old to recommend.

4

‘The Matrix’ (1999)

Image via Warner Bros. Pictures

The Matrix is another standout English-language martial arts film, also a genre-defining science fiction piece. It features iconic shootouts alongside hand-to-hand combat, often combining both types of action within single sequences. While it launched a significant series, the original 1999 film remains the most groundbreaking and polished entry. It is difficult to fault, ultimately serving as an excellent gateway into the martial arts genre or a love letter to Hong Kong action cinema, reflecting the Wachowskis’ evident admiration.

3

‘The Raid 2’ (2014)

Image via Sony Pictures Classics

While The Raid 2 is tense, it is also immensely entertaining. It moves at a ferocious pace and offers greater variety in fight scenes and locations than its 2011 predecessor, which was confined to a single apartment complex. The first film may have had a purer, more distinctive bare-bones feel, but The Raid 2 offers more to enjoy. Both entries rank among the most phenomenal martial arts movies of the century so far, worth watching together barring any squeamishness.

2

‘Kill Bill: The Whole Bloody Affair’ (2003–2004)

Much like the Wachowskis with The Matrix, Quentin Tarantino’s affection for martial arts cinema is evident throughout Kill Bill. As a combined feature, the film is packed with references to the genre and specific titles. The second half draws heavily on spaghetti Westerns, while the first spans samurai and yakuza influences beyond simple martial arts conventions. It is maximalist, but in the best sense, balancing action-heavy pacing with a character-driven second half. Regardless of which volume is discussed, the craftsmanship is seriously impressive.

1

‘Police Story’ (1985)

Image via Golden Harvest

While only one Jackie Chan entry makes the list, if only one can be selected, it is naturally Police Story. Technically, Chan also appeared in Enter the Dragon, though uncredited as an unnamed fighter. Police Story is the definitive Chan experience. He starred throughout, directed, co-wrote, and was credited on the stunt team, while also contributing songs. It is an all-out Jackie Chan showcase, featuring some of his best action work and serving as the perfect display of his appeal as an actor, filmmaker, and legend.

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