Related
Summary
Martials art movieshave plenty of hidden gem , including entire franchises of films that are utterly unknown to most westerly audiences . Thebest Martial Arts franchiseshave get plenty of notoriety , with staples like thePolice StoryandIp Manseries spawn dozens of democratic continuation between them . But some of the greatest martial arts franchises have flown under the radar in the West , either due to a lack of advertizement , niche popularity , or even not being released in the United States at all .
Most of the franchises that shine into this category are historicalWuxia photographic film , time period - piece Kung - Fu movies along the lines ofCrouching Tiger , Hidden Dragon . These types of stories are specially well - suited to telling heroic sagas that are worth traverse multiple movies for . to boot , this literary genre is also democratic in literary format , with hatful of Wuxia novels that already have multiple entries being conform for all the cinematic warlike artistry glory they can muster . Wuxia or otherwise , there are integral franchises in the martial art genre that have gone entirely underappreciated .
10The Sentimental Swordsman
3 movies
First free in 1977 , the Shaw Brothers Studio’sThe Sentimental Swordsmanfeatured a complicated , but rich narrative and groundbreaking stuntwork . tell the fib of Little Flying Dagger Li , a disgraced wino swordsman , the film was softly popular enough to apologize two follow - ups , Return of the Sentimental SwordsmanandPerils of the Sentimental Swordsman . While the former is a lineal continuation , the latter is a name - only installing to the serial in the vein ofHalloween III : Season of the Witch , featuring a dissimilar booster rather than Flying Dagger Li .
9The Brave Archer
5 movies
Despite the name , The Brave Archer ’s protagonist , Guo Jing , spends most of his battles within kissing aloofness of his resister . Adapted from the Wuxia novel , The Legend of the Condor Heroes , the serial is bang for its star - studded cast of characters , not bad female type , and fresh approach to love story , with some happy endings for a normally catastrophe - laden genre . After an initial trilogy , The Brave Archerreceived two unofficial follow - ups , The Brave Archer and his MateandLittle Dragon Maiden .
8In The Line Of Duty
9 movies
Long before the release ofCrouching Tiger , Hidden Dragon , Academy - Award winning actress Michelle Yeohcut her dentition on theIn the Line of Dutyseries . Spanning seven prescribed entries and two unofficial sequels , the crime - thriller franchise was a progenitor of the " Gun - Kata " dash of combat made famous by later films likeEquilibriumandJohn Wick . Michelle Yeoh ’s infallible Inspector Ng is a thrill to follow as the bullet train , fists , and shattered meth flee through Hong Kong ’s deplorable netherworld across the storied series of films .
7Rurouni Kenshin
While most lesser - known martial arts franchises are relics of the past , one underappreciated series that has been doing the round in westerly theaters as recently as 2021 . adjust the famous samurai manga and anime series of the same name , the adventures of the wandering swordsman Kenshin are one of thegreatest live - action Zanzibar copal adaptationsof all metre . With glibly choreographed action and compelling characters , it ’s a shame theRurouni Kenshinfranchise is n’t more well - have it away outside of Japan .
6The Bride With White Hair
2 movies
Despite only lasting for two pic , theBride with White Hairseries has objective of spectacular grandeur that are worthy of hand clapping , with a unsubdivided ( for the wuxia genre ) , character - focused tragedy that pit two buff against each other . Lian Nichang ’s transformation into the ferocious " White - Haired Witch " , a revengeful cultus leader whose hair literally turns white from the pain of her betrayal at the manpower of her buff , is a bewitching spectacle to take in unfold . An everlasting sexual love story of treason and jaw - dropping action , The Bride With White Hairduology deserves to be a household martial art name .
5The Swordsman
The Swordsmanis a perplexing saga of martial nontextual matter and criminal betrayal that reinforce those who are able to penetrate its obtuse narrative with some incredibly fascinating characters and pleasant-tasting play . The first two film follow the exploits of the rarefied vernal swordsman Linghu Chong , as he fight to contend with cultus , corruption , and Japanese samurai . Curiously , the third film pass on the torch of the protagonist to Dongfang Bubai , a feminine yet bloodthirsty martial graphics master whose ruthless quest for domination over China strike a stark direct contrast between himself and Chong .
4Clans Of Intrigue
accommodate the in cold blood - titled Wuxia novelFragrance in the Sea of Blood , the firstClans of Intriguefilm presents a classic story of false charge , in which sea captain thief Chiu Liuxiang races against the clock to prove his innocence in a late drawstring of murders . The first sequel , Legend of the Bat , goes in a very unlike direction , sweeping Liuxiang up in a dangerous escapade to the mysterious Bat Island , a anarchical kingdom of unchained pleasures . interrogatively , the thirdClans of Intriguefilm is actually theSentimental Swordsmanfranchise ’s name - only continuation , pock Liuxiang against the sinister residents of a outside fastness of criminals .
3The Four
There are few thing hard to resist in kung fu flick thana team of expert combatants that each have their own signature techniques and styles . The Fourtrilogy stakes its legacy on this trope , survey the adventures of the Divine Constabulary . A sort of police procedural series set within China ’s Song Dynasty , the titulary four , Cold Blood , Emotionless , Iron Hands , and Life Snatcher , live up to their menacing names with a series of grave investigations into criminal activities like serial killings and imitative up-to-dateness operations .
2Kung Fu Cult Master
The originalKung Fu Cult Masterwas a contentious film for Formosan audiences . found on the famous novel , The Heaven Sword and Dragon Saber , the original film invite flak for dramatically convert the characterization of the protagonist , morphing him from a heroical protagonist to a cruel humans consumed by retaliation . As such , the film ’s cliffhanger conclusion went undecided for 29 yearsbefore the release of the fittingly titled two - part follow - up , New Kung Fu Cult Master , featuring gravid name calling like Louis Koo and Donnie Yen .
1Royal Tramp
clowning and kung fu have been proven time and metre again to be a winning combining , evidenced by the success of theRush HourandDrunken Masterfranchises . have Stephen Chow ofKung Fu HustleandShaolin Soccerfame , theRoyal Trampduology released back - to - back in 1992 separate the story of Wai Siu - bo , a spunky fool with a knack for finding himself in humorously parlous situations . Despite its comedic leanings , bothRoyal Trampmovies have a shocking amount of dramatic play , political machination , and splendid engagement scenes , making them a worthymartial artsfranchise deserving of more acknowledgment .
