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!
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.

GET THE BIGGEST ENTERTAINMENT STORIES
STRAIGHT TO YOUR INBOX.

MORE STORIES

Kevin Costner’s seven-time Academy Award-winning film 'Dances With Wolves' returns with a 4K restored director’s cut set to launch at Locarno.
7 hours ago
Tom Holland reveals he thought Christopher Nolan was unhappy with his 'Odyssey' performance after repeated cuts during filming.
9 hours ago
The fan-favorite ‘Fast and Furious’ franchise is set to release its final installment in March 2028
13 hours ago
Ryan Gosling’s mission succeeds in ‘Project Hail Mary’, but the ending takes an unexpected turn that leaves him making one life-changing decision.
2 days ago
‘Wicked: For Good’ is finally heading to Netflix, but one surprising streaming twist would have fans subscribing to another platform.
2 days ago
Chris Evans’ Captain America will play a part in ‘Avengers: Doomsday’ that he has never played before, despite appearing in every ‘Avengers’ movie.
2 days ago
A ‘Game of Thrones’ star is returning in a role unlike anything fans expect, and he’s joining two talented stars for Celyn Jones’ new film.
2 days ago
Christian Bale and Leonardo DiCaprio are reportedly circling Michael Mann’s long-awaited sequel, ‘Heat 2’, marking their first movie together
3 days ago
The upcoming action-thriller is expected to premiere in April 2027 with an exciting storyline
3 days ago
Dwayne Johnson will play Maui in the live-action version of ‘Moana,’ which arrives in theaters on July 10
3 days ago