Films
Feature films in which the martial arts play a part. 75 works · page 1/2.
1943Sanshiro SugataAkira Kurosawa's directorial debut (1943), based on Tsuneo Tomita's novel: young Sanshiro Sugata learns judo in the eighteen-eighties, as it rivals jujutsu.JudoJujutsu1954Samurai I: Musashi MiyamotoFirst film of Hiroshi Inagaki's samurai trilogy (Toho, 1954), based on Yoshikawa's novel Musashi; Toshiro Mifune plays the young Miyamoto Musashi.Koryu BujutsuNiten Ichi-ryu1954Seven SamuraiAkira Kurosawa's 1954 Japanese jidaigeki about ronin defending a village from bandits; Yoshio Sugino of Katori Shinto-ryu trained the actors in swordsmanship.Tenshin Shoden Katori Shinto-ryu1961YojimboAkira Kurosawa's 1961 Japanese jidaigeki film: a masterless swordsman sets two gangs against each other. Swordplay was led by Yoshio Sugino of Tenshin Shoden Katori Shinto-ryu.Tenshin Shoden Katori Shinto-ryu1962HarakiriMasaki Kobayashi's 1962 Japanese film from the early Edo period: the ronin Hanshiro Tsugumo asks a clan estate for a place to commit seppuku.Koryu Bujutsu1966The Sword of Doom1966 Japanese jidaigeki film by Kihachi Okamoto about the amoral swordsman Ryunosuke Tsukue, based on the novel by Kaizan Nakazato.Koryu Bujutsu1972Fist of FuryLo Wei's 1972 Hong Kong film: Bruce Lee plays Chen Zhen, a student of Shanghai's Jingwu school who, after his master's death, confronts a Japanese dojo.Jeet Kune DoWing Chun1972Lone Wolf and Cub: Sword of VengeanceKenji Misumi's Japanese samurai film from 1972 based on Kazuo Koike's manga: the hired assassin Ogami Itto wanders Japan with his small son Daigoro.Suio-ryu Iai Kenpo1972The Way of the DragonHong Kong action film from 1972 that Bruce Lee wrote, directed and choreographed himself. In Rome it pits his hero against karate fighters, including Chuck Norris.Karate1973Enter the DragonBruce Lee's last completed film from 1973, a Hong Kong-American co-production about a tournament on an island; according to sources, Lee himself assembled the fight scenes.Jeet Kune DoKarate1976RockyAmerican sports drama by John G. Avildsen from 1976 about a Philadelphia boxer who gets a chance to fight for the world heavyweight title.Boxing1978Drunken MasterYuen Woo-ping's 1978 Hong Kong martial arts comedy: the young Wong Fei-hung (Jackie Chan) trains in drunken fist under the hermit Beggar So.Zui QuanTaekwondoHung Gar1978Game of DeathHong Kong action film from 1978, completed by Robert Clouse from footage Bruce Lee shot in 1972; fights against eskrima and hapkido.EskrimaHapkidoJeet Kune Do+11978The 36th Chamber of ShaolinHong Kong film by Lau Kar-leung from Shaw Brothers (1978) with Gordon Liu: a young rebel, after a crushed uprising, trains in the chambers of the Shaolin temple.Shaolin QuanHung Gar1980Raging BullMartin Scorsese's 1980 biographical film about middleweight boxer Jake LaMotta, based on his autobiography Raging Bull: My Story.Boxing1981Enter the NinjaAmerican action film from 1981 about a mercenary trained in ninjutsu. The ninja Hasegawa is played by Sho Kosugi, who, according to the English Wikipedia, really did practise ninjutsu.NinjutsuKarate1982Shaolin TempleHong Kong-Chinese film from 1982 about a young man who becomes a monk at the Shaolin monastery and trains in kung-fu; Jet Li's acting debut.Shaolin Quan1984The Karate KidThe 1984 American film by John G. Avildsen about a teenager who learns karate from Mr. Miyagi. The fights were choreographed by Pat E. Johnson, a Tang Soo Do black belt.Goju-ryuTang Soo Do1985American NinjaAmerican action film by Sam Firstenberg from 1985: soldier Joe Armstrong faces the Black Star ninja order in the Philippines and uncovers corruption around an arms trade.Ninjutsu1986The Karate Kid Part IIAmerican 1986 film by John G. Avildsen, the second in The Karate Kid series: Mr. Miyagi travels with Daniel to Okinawa, and the film presents Okinawan Goju-ryu karate.Goju-ryuKarate1988Above the LawAmerican action thriller by Andrew Davis from 1988, Steven Seagal's acting debut, in which he shows aikido as a Chicago detective.Aikido1988Bloodsport1988 American action film starring Jean-Claude Van Damme about the secret Kumite tournament in Hong Kong, based on the account of Frank Dux.NinjutsuVale Tudo1989Best of the BestAn American action film by Robert Radler from 1989 about a US team preparing for an international tournament against South Korea. Taekwondo practitioner Phillip Rhee stars.Taekwondo1989KickboxerAmerican action film from 1989 starring Jean-Claude Van Damme: Kurt Sloane looks for a Muay Thai teacher in Thailand to face the Thai champion Tong Po.Muay ThaiKickboxing1991Once Upon a Time in ChinaA 1991 Hong Kong film by Tsui Hark in which Jet Li plays Wong Fei-hung, a Hung Ga master and doctor with a clinic in Foshan in the late Qing dynasty.Hung Gar1991Pushing HandsAng Lee's 1991 drama: an old taijiquan master moves in with his son in New York. Tuishou, a two-person exercise, gave the film its title and central motif.Tai Chi1992Sumo Do, Sumo Don'tJapanese comedy by Masayuki Suo from 1992 about a student who joins a university sumo team of unmotivated wrestlers in order to graduate on time.Sumo1992Under Siege1992 American action thriller by Andrew Davis in which Steven Seagal, as ship's cook Casey Ryback, defends the battleship USS Missouri from mercenaries.Aikido1993Dragon: The Bruce Lee StoryAmerican 1993 biographical film by Rob Cohen about Bruce Lee, based on the book by Linda Lee Cadwell; the lead actors prepared for their roles by learning Jeet Kune Do.Jeet Kune Do1993Iron MonkeyHong Kong film by Yuen Woo-ping from 1993 about a fictional meeting of the ten-year-old Wong Fei-hung and his father Wong Kei-ying with the character Iron Monkey.Kung Fu1993Only the StrongAmerican action film by Sheldon Lettich from 1993, in which a former Green Beret teaches capoeira to at-risk high school students in Miami.Capoeira1993Tai Chi MasterA 1993 Hong Kong film by Yuen Woo-ping starring Jet Li: an exiled Shaolin monk becomes Zhang Sanfeng, by legend the creator of taijiquan.Shaolin QuanTai Chi1994Drunken Master IILau Kar-leung's 1994 Hong Kong action comedy, in which Jackie Chan as Wong Fei-hung performs zuiquan drunken boxing, facing taekwondo in the finale.Zui QuanTaekwondo2000Crouching Tiger, Hidden DragonWuxia film from 2000 by Ang Lee, based on Wang Dulu's novel about the theft of the sword Green Destiny; the jian sword fights were choreographed by Yuen Woo-ping.Wudang Sword2002HeroZhang Yimou's 2002 Chinese wuxia film, loosely based on Jing Ke's plot to kill the King of Qin. Jet Li's sword against Donnie Yen's spear, choreography by Ching Siu-tung.Kung Fu2002The Bourne IdentityAmerican action thriller by Doug Liman from 2002, based on Robert Ludlum's novel. The fight scenes with Matt Damon rest on Filipino eskrima, choreographed by Nick Powell.Eskrima2002The Twilight SamuraiA 2002 Japanese film by Yoji Yamada about an impoverished lower-ranking samurai who conceals his swordsmanship training, including fighting with the short sword kodachi.Koryu Bujutsu2003Beautiful BoxerThai biographical film from 2003 about the Muay Thai boxer Parinya Charoenphol (Nong Toom). The lead role is played by Asanee Suwan, himself a former Thai boxing competitor.Muay Thai2003Kill Bill: Volume 1Quentin Tarantino's 2003 American film about the revenge of a woman called the Bride, with Yuen Woo-ping's sword fight choreography and tributes to Chinese and Japanese martial arts films.Koryu BujutsuKung Fu2003Ong-Bak: Muay Thai WarriorThai action film by Prachya Pinkaew from 2003, in which Tony Jaa demonstrates Muay Boran, an old style of Thai fighting with punches, shins, elbows and knees.Muay BoranMuay Thai2003The Last SamuraiEdward Zwick's 2003 American historical drama: veteran Nathan Algren is to train the Japanese imperial army and comes to know samurai culture and kenjutsu swordsmanship.Koryu BujutsuKyudoIaido2003ZatoichiTakeshi Kitano's 2003 jidaigeki: the blind masseur and swordsman Zatoichi, with his sword hidden in a cane, gets caught up in a war between yakuza gangs in a small town.Koryu Bujutsu2004Fighter in the WindSouth Korean 2004 film by Yang Yun-ho, loosely based on the youth of Masutatsu Oyama, founder of Kyokushin; its source was a Korean comic.Kyokushin2004Kung Fu HustleStephen Chow's 2004 action comedy about a Shanghai slum where hidden masters fight in the Hung Gar style, with Tan Tui kicks and an exaggerated Lion's Roar.Kung FuHung GarTai Chi2004Million Dollar BabyClint Eastwood's 2004 American sports drama about a thirty-three-year-old waitress who wants to box and persuades an old trainer to start coaching her.Boxing2004Throw DownA 2004 Hong Kong film by Johnnie To about a former judo champion drawn back to the tatami by the challenges of two opponents. The director dedicated it to Akira Kurosawa.Judo2005Tom-Yum-GoongThai action film by Prachya Pinkaew from 2005 starring Tony Jaa, for which Jaa and Panna Rittikrai created muay kodchasaan, a style built on grips and grappling.Muay ThaiCapoeiraKung Fu+12006FearlessA 2006 film by Ronny Yu starring Jet Li, loosely inspired by the life of Huo Yuanjia, a Chinese fighter of the late Qing empire and co-founder of the Jingwu association.Kung FuLa Verdadera DestrezaMizongyi2006Undisputed II: Last Man StandingAmerican action film by Isaac Florentine from 2006. The boxer George Chambers must fight the undefeated fighter Yuri Boyka in a Russian prison.KickboxingBoxingTaekwondo2007Black BeltJapanese 2007 film by Shunichi Nagasaki about three karate pupils in 1932; the leads are real karateka from three different schools.KarateKyokushinMeibukan Goju-ryu+12008ChocolateThai action film from 2008 directed by Prachya Pinkaew. The lead role went to Yanin Vismitananda, a 4th dan holder in taekwondo who specialises in Muay Thai.Muay ThaiCapoeira2008Ip ManHong Kong biographical film by Wilson Yip from 2008 about the Wing Chun master Ip Man in Foshan; Sammo Hung led the action, Donnie Yen plays the lead.Wing ChunKarate2008Never Back DownAmerican 2008 sports drama about a high school student who, after moving to Orlando, gets into underground fights and starts training in MMA.MMA2008Ong Bak 2Thai action film by Tony Jaa from 2008, set in Siam in 1431. A standalone prequel to the film Ong-Bak, in whose fights Muay Boran meets Silat or Kalaripayattu.KalaripayattuKoryu BujutsuKrabi-Krabong+42008RedbeltAmerican 2008 film by David Mamet about the owner of a Brazilian jiu-jitsu studio, shot under the supervision of Mamet's BJJ instructor Renato Magno.Brazilian Jiu-JitsuMMA2009BesouroA 2009 Brazilian film about the capoeirista Besouro Mangangá from Bahia in the nineteen-twenties, which adds a legend of invulnerability to his biography.Capoeira2009MerantauIndonesian action film by Gareth Evans from 2009 about a young Minangkabau silat master; its fights rest on silek harimau, the tiger style.Pencak Silat Harimau Minangkabau201013 AssassinsA 2010 Japanese film by Takashi Miike about a group of men who plot in 1844 to assassinate a cruel lord. A remake of Eiichi Kudo's 1963 film.Koryu Bujutsu2010Ip Man 2Second Ip Man film (2010): Ip Man founds a Wing Chun school in Hong Kong; Sammo Hung led the action and also plays the Hung Gar master.Wing ChunBoxingHung Gar2010The Karate KidThe American 2010 remake of the 1984 film The Karate Kid, shot in Beijing with Jackie Chan and Jaden Smith. Despite its title, it shows kung-fu, not karate.Kung Fu
