Some of the most beloved martial arts movies are those that go all out in their storytelling. Over-the-top martial arts movies have an over-the-top display of comedy, violence, or martial arts skills, or all three at the same time. However, when done right, these heightened elements don’t make a film feel like it’s trying too hard. Over-the-top antics often rely on strong performances from a film’s cast and innovative approaches to fight choreography.
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Jackie Chan is a familiar face in many over-the-top martial arts films, as his career is largely defined by those featuring risky and outlandish stunts that are regularly combined with slapstick humor. However, as mentioned above, humor and death-defying stunts are not the only ways films are considered over-the-top. riki oh and Shaolin Football are two films that feature absurd amounts of violence and superhuman martial arts skills, respectively, offering an entertaining display of action for audiences to enjoy.
10 Shaolin Temple (1982)
Directed by Chang Hsin Yen
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Jet Li made his acting debut in Shaolin Templethe first martial arts film made in mainland China. The film established Li as a star and has become a fan favorite for its use of over-the-top fight scenes. Through the use of comedy and recognizable martial arts moves, the action in Shaolin Temple It’s very entertaining. Upon its release, the film was a great success in China, becoming one of the highest-grossing films in the region and attracting large numbers of tourists to the Shaolin Monastery.
9 Shaolin Football (2001)
Directed by Stephen Chow
Jackie Chan has directed a handful of humorous action films over the years, but there are some great martial arts comedies that don’t star Chan, one of which is Shaolin Football. The film revolves around a football team full of players with superpowers. Team Shaolin’s journey leads them into an intense final match with Team Evil, where both teams use their powers on the field. Shaolin FootballThe showdown is unlike any other sports movie, as soccer balls catch fire and athletes jump exaggeratedly into the air.
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8 The Last Hero in China (1993)
Directed by Wong Jing
Inspired by him once upon a time in china movies, The last hero in China is a comic version of the famous martial artist Wong Fei-hung. Jet Li reprises his role as Wong and in the film the character unknowingly opens his kung fu school next to a brothel. The film is often absurd and never takes itself too seriously, but there is still enough room for Li to shine as a performer. One of the most memorable moments in the film is a fight between Li’s character and Gordon Liu’s.
7 Iron Monkey (1993)
Directed by Yuen Woo-ping
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iron monkey is yet another film inspired by Wong Fei-hung, and this time, the Donnie Yen-directed film features a fictional representation of his father, Wong Kei-ying. The film sees the father and son duo take on the masked martial artist of the same name. iron monkey is one of the most famous wire fu films, in which wires are used to give the illusion that the performers can fly. The elaborate fight scenes in iron monkey It includes your characters darting from one side of the room to the other to defeat their enemies.
6 Ong-Bak: Muay Thai Warrior (2003)
Directed by Prachya Pinkaew
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Martial artist and actor Tony Jaa had his breakthrough moment with the film. Ong-Bak: Muay Thai warrior. The riveting martial arts film follows a rural villager who faces off against several opponents to recover a stolen statue. Jaa has a commitment to martial arts reminiscent of the icons who came before him, choosing to perform his own stunts rather than rely on other people or technology. With this in mind, Ong BakThe eye-catching action becomes even more impressive. One of the craziest stunts Ong Bak Watch Jaa kick his opponent on screen while his leg is on fire.
5 The Kung Fu Scam (2004)
Directed by Stephen Chow
A few years after what was achieved Shaolin Football was released, director Stephen Chow moved on to an even crazier movie. This time, Kung Fu Hustle It follows a protagonist with aspirations to join an infamous gang. The film moves at a consistently lively pace and features a variety of eccentric supporting characters. In Kung Fu Hustlethere’s a balanced mix of masterful martial arts choreography and cartoonish special effects that work together surprisingly well.
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4 Riki-Oh: Ricky’s Story (1991)
Directed by Lam Nai-choi
Riki-Oh: Ricky’s Story is easily Siu-Wong Fan’s best kung fu film. The brutal action film stars Fan as the title character, an imprisoned superhuman who attacks others in prison. Throughout the film, Ricky proves to be an unstoppable force, surviving the most violent blows. riki oh It has become a cult film because the action is immensely over the top and absolutely bloody. Yet it all manages to be somehow grounded in the film’s compelling narrative and Fan’s committed performance as a martial artist.
3 Police story (1985)
Directed by Jackie Chan
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Jackie Chan Police history The films have some of the most intense action scenes in his filmography. The first film in the series, Police historyset the tone for the type of death-defying, heart-racing stunts audiences could expect from the martial artist. One of Chan’s coolest stunts in the film is during the famous bus chase, which sums up the best of the actor’s abilities. Chan’s comedic timing, innovation, and, of course, physical agility are showcased in the film’s over-the-top action.
2 Everything Everywhere, at Once (2022)
Directed by Daniel Kwan and Daniel Scheinert.
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A refreshing take on a multiverse story, the Academy Award winner Everything everywhere and at the same time is a deliciously chaotic mix of several genres, including martial arts. The film follows Michelle Yeoh’s character as she travels through parallel universes to save the multiverse. In each universe, wacky hijinks take place in the form of martial arts sequences and absurd jokes. Still, there is a lot of depth in Everything everywhere and at the same time To balance its over-the-top elements: nihilism and family dynamics are just some of the themes explored.
1 Drunk Master (1978)
Directed by Yuen Woo-ping
One of Yuen Woo-ping’s best films is drunk teacherstarring Jackie Chan, Yuen Siu-tien and Hwang Jang-lee. The film tells a fictional story of martial arts legends Wong Fei-hung and Beggar So and is filled with humorous bits and impressive martial arts sequences. drunk teacher It is fast-paced and over-the-top, featuring the martial arts style of drunken boxing that seems over-the-top and impractical. After its launch, drunk teacher It had a major impact on the careers of its stars and directors, as well as the martial arts subgenre as a whole.
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