If you call yourself a martial arts fan (or you want to), these are the foundation stones. This list is for cinephiles who don’t just want “good fights,” but want to understand where the language of martial arts cinema came from: the training arcs, the tournament structure, the honor codes, the comedy-meets-combat rhythm, and the choreography that modern films still borrow from.
It also solves a classic cinephile problem: you watch a new martial arts movie and feel like you’re missing the references. These titles are the reference points.
Last Updated: 2025-12-28
Best for: Building a true martial arts classics watchlist (kung fu, wuxia roots, and genre-defining milestones)
Common cinephile pain points this list solves: “Too many classics—where do I start?” / Want historical context without boredom / Want clear, watchable essentials not deep-cut homework
Related Lists: Martial Arts Movies for Beginners: The Best First Watches / Your Next Step: Martial Arts Movies with Better Story and Better Fights / Underrated Martial Arts Gems with Insane Choreography / For Pros: Martial Arts Films with Elite Staging, Rhythm, and Camera Work
Quick viewing tip for classics
For older kung fu films, try to find restored versions when possible—clearer image and better subtitles make choreography easier to read. If a dub feels awkward, switch to original audio + subtitles for a smoother first watch.
10 martial arts classics every cinephile should know
1. The 36th Chamber of Shaolin (1978) 🇭🇰
Director/Creator: Lau Kar-leung
Plot: A young man trains at Shaolin to gain the skills to fight oppression, facing a legendary sequence of chambers that test technique, patience, and discipline.
IMDb Rating: 7.6/10
Where to Watch: Prime Video (Rent/Buy) / Apple TV (Rent/Buy) (Availability varies by region)
Why it built the genre: This is the blueprint for the training arc. You can trace modern “level up” montages back to how clearly this film shows progress, struggle, and payoff.
2. Enter the Dragon (1973) 🇭🇰
Director/Creator: Robert Clouse
Plot: A martial artist enters a tournament on a criminal’s island to expose a trafficking operation and confront old enemies.
IMDb Rating: 7.6/10
Where to Watch: Max (Availability varies) / Prime Video (Rent/Buy)
Why it built the genre: It globalized kung fu cinema. Bruce Lee’s presence, speed, and clarity changed what audiences expected from screen combat—and pop culture never recovered.
3. Five Deadly Venoms (1978) 🇭🇰
Director/Creator: Chang Cheh
Plot: A student is sent to uncover which of his fellow disciples—masters of deadly styles—have turned corrupt, leading to paranoia, deception, and violent showdowns.
IMDb Rating: 7.0/10
Where to Watch: Prime Video (Rent/Buy) / Apple TV (Rent/Buy) (Availability varies by region)
Why it built the genre: It popularized the “distinct styles” concept—fighters who move and attack differently—making choreography feel like character design.
4. Drunken Master (1978) 🇭🇰
Director/Creator: Yuen Woo-ping
Plot: A mischievous young fighter trains under an eccentric master, learning an unpredictable style that turns clumsiness into a weapon.
IMDb Rating: 7.4/10
Where to Watch: Prime Video (Rent/Buy) / Apple TV (Rent/Buy) (Availability varies by region)
Why it built the genre: It proved kung fu could be hilarious without losing skill. Comedy didn’t replace technique—it became part of the fight language.
5. Once Upon a Time in China (1991) 🇭🇰
Director/Creator: Tsui Hark
Plot: Folk hero Wong Fei-hung protects his community during social turmoil, facing foreign pressure, corruption, and rival fighters.
IMDb Rating: 7.3/10
Where to Watch: Prime Video (Rent/Buy) / Apple TV (Rent/Buy) (Availability varies by region)
Why it built the genre: It turned kung fu into historical myth with blockbuster scale—patriotism, identity, and choreography woven into the same fabric.
6. Fist of Fury (1972) 🇭🇰
Director/Creator: Lo Wei
Plot: After his master dies under suspicious circumstances, a student seeks justice and confronts oppression, igniting a revenge story that escalates fast.
IMDb Rating: 7.2/10
Where to Watch: Prime Video (Rent/Buy) / Apple TV (Rent/Buy) (Availability varies by region)
Why it built the genre: It cemented revenge as a powerful engine for martial arts storytelling—personal grief turned into kinetic purpose.
7. A Touch of Zen (1971) 🇹🇼
Director/Creator: King Hu
Plot: A scholar becomes involved with a mysterious woman fleeing powerful enemies, leading into a sweeping wuxia journey of strategy, combat, and spiritual weight.
IMDb Rating: 7.6/10
Where to Watch: Criterion Channel (Availability varies) / Prime Video (Rent/Buy)
Why it built the genre: It elevated wuxia into art cinema—graceful movement, careful staging, and atmosphere that made action feel like legend unfolding.
8. The Legend of Drunken Master (1994) 🇭🇰
Director/Creator: Lau Kar-leung
Plot: A fighter clashes with smugglers and corrupt forces while struggling to keep his life together, leading to escalating fights that showcase peak Jackie Chan-era choreography.
IMDb Rating: 7.5/10
Where to Watch: Prime Video (Rent/Buy) / Apple TV (Rent/Buy)
Why it built the genre: It’s one of the clearest examples of martial arts filmmaking at its most entertaining—precision, rhythm, humor, danger, and endurance all in one package.
9. The Chinese Boxer (1970) 🇭🇰
Director/Creator: Jimmy Wang Yu
Plot: A fighter’s school is destroyed, and his path to revenge pushes him toward harsh training and furious retaliation against rivals.
IMDb Rating: 6.9/10
Where to Watch: Prime Video (Rent/Buy) (Availability varies by region)
Why it built the genre: It helped kick off the modern kung fu boom—stripping down the story to training, rage, and catharsis in a way later films kept refining.
10. The 8 Diagram Pole Fighter (1984) 🇭🇰
Director/Creator: Lau Kar-leung
Plot: After a family is ambushed, a survivor retreats, trains, and returns—using a staff technique that turns grief into focused power.
IMDb Rating: 7.4/10
Where to Watch: Prime Video (Rent/Buy) / Apple TV (Rent/Buy) (Availability varies by region)
Why it built the genre: It shows how weapon choreography can be as emotional as hand-to-hand combat. The staff work is precise, powerful, and filmed so you can actually appreciate it.
What to watch next
If you want lesser-known titles with insane choreography, go to: Underrated Martial Arts Gems with Insane Choreography. If you want the most technical staging and camera work, go to: For Pros: Martial Arts Films with Elite Staging, Rhythm, and Camera Work.