With Karate Kid reboot Cobra Kai set to hit the big screen, here are the top 10 martial arts films you must watch

With the release of Cobra Kai just around the corner, these are the some martial arts movies to get you in the mood!
UPDATED JAN 14, 2020
Cobra Kai (Getty Images)
Cobra Kai (Getty Images)

The release of the reboot of the movie Karate Kid into a TV series called Cobra Kai is just around the corner. The TV series is going to take place after 34 years of the original film. These are Top 10 martial arts movies to help get you in the mood for Cobra Kai. 

#10 Once Upon a time in China 


It is a 1991 martial arts film which stars Jet Li as Chinese folk hero Wong Fei-hung. Wong Fei-hung's well-known and prominent Chinese martial arts school joins forces with the nationalistic militia in order to overthrow the colonialist powers which want to take over China. 

#9 House of Flying Daggers



A romantic police captain decides to breakout an attractive member of a rebel group out of prison to help her re-join the other members. He is able to gain her trust only to end up using her for his own motives. 

#8 The Raid

The Raid is a 2011 martial arts film which is written, directed, and edited by Welsh filmmaker Gareth Huw Evans. The movie is about a S.W.A.T team that gets trapped in a tenement run by a ruthless gang. 

#7 Police Story


A righteous Hong Kong police officer is determined to clear his name after he is framed by the drug lords he is after for a murder of a bad cop. He is forced to find a solution before it is too late. The movie has been directed by Jackie Chan. 

#6 Fist of Fury



Fist of Fury is a Hong Kong martial arts film from the year 1972 and has been directed by Lo Wei and stars Bruce Lee in his second major role. The story is about a young martial arts student who returns home because of the death of his martial arts teacher who dies under mysterious circumstances. 

#5 Enter the Dragon



A Shaolin martial artist helps the British intelligence in an undercover mission to bust a drug trafficker and a sex trade ring. The film was directed by Robert Clouse and initially released in the year 1973. 

#4 Crouching Tiger, Hidden Dragon



It is a story of lost love, young love, a legendary sword and the last chance at redemption. A warrior, Master Li gives his jade sword to his lover Yu Shu Lien from whom it gets stolen. It is up to Li to recover his stolen treasure. 

#3 Ip man



Ip man also known as Yip man was a Chinese martial artist and a teacher of Wing Chun. During the Japanese invasion of 1937, he is forced to leave his home and work to support his family. He also teaches Wing Chun to others who want to learn self-defense. 

#2 A Touch of Zen



A lady fugitive is on the run from corrupt government officials and is joined by an unambitious painter and some skilled Buddhist monks. The film initially released in the year 1971. 

#1 Yojimbo


A nameless ronin or samurai with no master comes to a town divided by two criminal gangs and decides to play them against each other in order to free the town from their grip. The film was directed by the brilliant Akira Kurosawa.

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