Martial arts movies have consistently delivered entertainment to audiences through their incredible choreography, jaw-dropping stunts, and feats of physical prowess. Coupling these with incredible storytelling gives you a great movie, but when you throw in some of the best performances in movie history, they truly become something special. The best performances in martial arts movies don’t just come from those who can throw the best kicks or fight off the most bad guys, but come from those who turn their combat into true art, weaving this with the emotional complexity of their character.
These martial arts movie performances transcend typical stunt work, creating a movie that can truly be called unforgettable cinema. Each of these actors have left an indelible legacy on the genre, each for their own unique reasons. From fearless pioneers of on-screen combat, to modern-day blockbuster stars, these are some of the best performances, not just in martial arts movie history, but in the entirety of cinema.
10 Hugo Weaving
The Matrix (1999)
While Hugo Weaving starred as the villainous Agent Smith in all three movies of the original Matrix trilogy, it is his performance in the 1999 original that has truly resonated with fans of martial arts movies over the years. The Matrix blends a respect for traditional martial arts, such as kung fu, with a sci-fi premise like no other, and Weaving’s performance here is truly one of the highlights. It is incredibly chilling to see Weaving take on the role of Smith, a near-indestructible agent of the Matrix, tasked with keeping order among the humans.
Smith is able to synthesize some truly incredible stuntwork with the surrealism that audiences have come to expect from the
Matrix
, with his gravity-defying fighting style and emotionless demeanor giving Weaving’s performance incredible gravitas.
Cold, calculated, and constantly menacing, Smith is one of the most iconic movie villains of all time, a status buttressed by his incredible fight scenes in The Matrix. In particular, the final climactic fight in the subway between Smith and Neo (Keanu Reeves) has cemented its place as one of the greatest fight scenes in cinema history. Smith is able to synthesize some truly incredible stuntwork with the surrealism that audiences have come to expect from the Matrix, with his gravity-defying fighting style and emotionless demeanor giving Weaving’s performance incredible gravitas.
9 Keanu Reeves
John Wick (2014)
The John Wick franchise would be nothing if not for its titular protagonist, the legendary assassin hell-bent on revenge after some men broke into his house and killed his dog. Every movie in the franchise is full of nail-bitingly choreographed fight scenes, with Keanu Reeves (Wick) delivering an incredibly stoic and gritty performance. What makes Reeves’ performance, particularly in the first installment, so impressive, was the preparation and realism that he brought to the role.
Overall, Reeves underwent over four months of martial arts training to keep up with the fight scenes, including lessons in judo, Brazilian jiu-jitsu, and tactical gun training. His intense regimen means that Reeves performs the majority of his own stunts in the John Wick franchise, bringing a refreshing authenticity to the martial arts scenes. Reeves’ performance as Wick is such an iconic staple of martial arts movies that it has been credited with popularizing the style of “gun-fu” fighting style, an exciting blend of on-screen firearm combat with more traditional hand-to-hand methods (via Slash Film).
8 Cheng Pei-pei
Come Drink With Me (1966)
Cheng Pei-pei’s performance as “Golden Swallow” Zheng in the 1966 wuxia movie, Come Drink With Me, has become as iconic as it was groundbreaking. Not only did it launch the career of Cheng as an icon of future wuxia movies, but also redefined the expectations of what roles women could play in martial arts movies. Golden Swallow is a skilled martial artist, sent to rescue her brother from the evil bandit, the Jade-Faced Tiger (Chan Hung-lit), and her action scenes paved the way for future strong female leads in martial arts movies.
Cheng brings a graceful, fluid, yet lethal fighting style to Come Drink With Me, balancing calculated strikes with a unique blend of swordplay. This fighting style perfectly complements the beauty of the movie itself, particularly the tavern fight scene, where Golden Swallow is able to dispatch multiple enemies with ease. While her choreography is not as fast-paced and intense as more modern martial arts movies, Cheng’s performance nevertheless remains a watershed moment in the genre, for women especially.
7 Jackie Chan
Rush Hour (1998)
While the iconic Jackie Chan had been acting in martial arts movies for almost 20 years, the 1998 release of the buddy-comedy martial arts movie Rush Hour was what truly launched him to A-List status in the Western world. Chan portrayed Chief Inspector Lee, a Hong Kong police officer with incredible martial arts skills, who reluctantly works alongside Detective James Carter (Chris Tucker) to locate the kidnapped child of a diplomat’s daughter. Rush Hour was the culmination of everything that made Chan such an incredible martial arts actor – slapstick comedy, exciting stunts, and acrobatic fighting style.
Rush Hour
was the culmination of everything that made Chan such an incredible martial arts actor – slapstick comedy, exciting stunts, and acrobatic fighting style.
As Lee, Chan set himself apart from other martial arts movie performances by using the environment to the character’s advantages, such as the use of pool cues as weapons in one of Rush Hour‘s most iconic scenes. Lee is also a character who is unafraid of mistakes, with Chan’s character often getting hurt but always managing to come out on top. Chan’s acrobatic prowess and acting maturity is on full display in Rush Hour, making it one of his funniest and most iconic roles of all time.
6 Jet Li
Hero (2002)
A true legend of the martial arts world, Jet Li is an actor with an incredible filmography and a variety of diverse roles, but it is his Nameless role in the 2002 wuxia movie Hero that truly stands out as one of his best. Hero tells the story of Nameless as he fights to overcome three major rivals, with Li’s character fighting with strength and grace to defeat them all. The movie itself is a visual feast, with each fight scene meticulously choreographed to suit Li’s signature fighting style.
Nameless is a unique character, able to produce some of the greatest fight scenes in movie history while still delivering the emotional complexity audiences have come to expect from any Jet Li character.
Nameless, aside from being one of the coolest characters in the genre, is able to reflect emotional intensity alongside this incredible choreography. One of the best examples of this is the iconic courtyard fight scene against Donnie Yen’s character, Long Sky, where Li’s Nameless is able to utilize the surreal lack of gravity of the situation to his advantage as he engages in an intense sword fight. Nameless is a unique character, able to produce some of the greatest fight scenes in movie history while still delivering the emotional complexity audiences have come to expect from any Jet Li character.
5 Donnie Yen
Ip Man (2008)
Donnie Yen’s portrayal of the real life Wing Chun martial artist master, Ip Man, in the movies of the same name has been lauded as one of the most impressive depictions in martial arts movie history. In Ip Man, Yen’s titular character is defined by having a quiet, dignified temperament coupled with an unwavering resolve. This combination makes Yen’s portrayal of Ip Man one of the most inspiring in martial arts cinema, particularly when this is shown alongside the movie’s flawless fighting choreography.
Yen’s fight scenes are a true masterclass in intricacy and precision, emphasizing Ip Man’s mastery of Wing Chun, a discipline of martial arts that prioritizes close-quarters combat and quick strikes. Beyond the sheer physicality of the role, Yen is able to imbue Ip Man’s fighting with a gritty and true sense of humanity. He doesn’t fight for personal glory, but to protect his family, community, and students, making each strike feel like a reaffirmation of Ip Man’s unwavering moral compass.
4 Uma Thurman
Kill Bill: Volume 1 (2003)
Quentin Tarantino’s Kill Bill movie series is a true homage to the greatness of the martial arts genre, and Uma Thurman’s portrayal of The Bride is what makes it so special. It is a tour de force performance that brings together fierce physicality, emotional intensity, and a true sense of vengeance as the Bride hunts down the group of assassins that massacred her wedding rehearsal. The depth that Thurman brings to the role is astounding, and blows the expectations away of those expecting a typical action movie.
One of the movie’s most memorable scenes comes when The Bride has to battle the Crazy 88 at the House of Blue Leaves. The Crazy 88 are a group of 88 Yakuza assassins, yet The Bride, armed with a katana, is able to take them all down with relative ease. Thurman’s stunts, combined with the choreography of this scene, has made it one of the most iconic fights in martial arts movie history, and solidifies her performance as The Bride as a true staple of the genre.
3 Bruce Lee
Enter The Dragon (1973)
Bruce Lee is a martial artist who needs no introduction. Potentially the most iconic and influential martial arts movie star of all time, Lee has inspired generation after generation of actors to try and follow in his footsteps, and has set the bar incredibly high for those who try and match him. The pinnacle of his martial arts acting career came with the 1973 release of Enter The Dragon, a movie released one month after Lee’s tragic death, and is one of the most commercially and critically successful martial arts movies ever made (via The Guardian).
Lee’s performance in
Enter The Dragon
is far more than just what viewers see on screen, but the manifestation of his entire career.
Lee plays a Shaolin master who is recruited by British intelligence to conduct an espionage mission at a martial arts tournament run by a suspected drugs’ smuggler. Lee’s performance in the film is far more than just what viewers see, but the manifestation of his entire career. Physics-defying choreography and seamless combat transitions blend in with Lee’s signature intensity and speed to craft a martial arts movie performance like nothing else before or since. Enter The Dragon is Bruce Lee’s legacy, and includes a performance from the actor that continues to inspire the genre to this day.
2 Michelle Yeoh
Crouching Tiger, Hidden Dragon (2000)
Michelle Yeoh is potentially the most famous martial artist of the 21st century so far, with a career that shot into the spotlight following the release of Crouching Tiger, Hidden Dragon. In the movie, Yeoh plays Yu Shu Lien, a warrior who gives chase to the thief of her lover’s sword, the Green Destiny. Yeoh manages to navigate the emotional complexity of Yu Shu Lien with the demanding physicality of the role, making her performance one of the most memorable and iconic in the history of the genre.
Yeoh manages to navigate the emotional complexity of Yu Shu Lien with the demanding physicality of the role, making her performance one of the most memorable and iconic in the history of the genre.
Crouching Tiger, Hidden Dragon‘s fight scenes are legendary, with Yeoh’s intricate choreography contributing greatly to this. In particular, the swordfight between Yu Shu Lien and Jen Yu (Zhang Ziyi) was a watershed moment for martial arts movies, with Yeoh’s ability to execute the intense stunt work with ease earning much praise from critics and audiences. Yeoh plays a character who isn’t just battling with her opponent physically, but mentally as well, with the scene acting as a conversation between two characters with conflicting values and desires. Yeoh’s performance in this movie is evidently a masterclass in martial artistry and emotional depth.
1 Pat Morita
The Karate Kid (1984)
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It is difficult to try and imagine a martial arts movie role more iconic than Mr. Miyagi in The Karate Kid. Pat Morita’s legendary portrayal of Daniel LaRusso’s (Ralph Macchio) karate master transcends the boundaries of orthodox martial arts cinema. Morita’s performance is not just one that teaches Daniel the Okinawan way of karate, but is a life lesson in humility, balance, discipline, and life itself.
From his “wax on, wax off” lesson to various other legendary quotes, Mr. Miyagi’s wisdom has become the stuff of cinematic legend, and Morita’s depiction of the karate master is the definitive, and greatest, martial arts movie performance of all time.
What makes this performance all the more special is that, unlike other legends of the genre such as Bruce Lee and Michelle Yeoh, Morita was not a martial artist by nature. Mr. Miyagi is not defined by his physical strength and fighting intensity, but by his teaching methods, his wisdom, and his occasional lighthearted jokes. From his “wax on, wax off” lesson to various other legendary quotes, Mr. Miyagi’s wisdom has become the stuff of cinematic legend, and Morita’s depiction of the karate master is the definitive, and greatest, martial arts movie performance of all time.
Sources: Slash Film, The Guardian.