There’s nothing more entertaining in cinema than watching people punch and kick each other, followed by exaggerated sounds. Even better, no assault charges get filed. These kinds of films typically prioritize hand-to-hand combat over other kinds of action, such as chases, explosions, and gunfights. And there are plenty of subgenres. Among the numerous subdivisions of martial arts films are wuxia, kung fu, karate, martial arts action comedy films, jidaigeki, gun-fu, and samurai films.
If you love martial arts movies, you can find several of them on the streaming giant, Prime Video. The films range from the good to the excellent, but the ones below are more recommendable because they are high on action — the genre’s primary appeal. You’ll enjoy every minute of it, whether the foes only exchange a few words before kicking each other or have proper motivations.
‘Martial Law’ (1990)
Sean Thompson (Chad McQueen) from Martial Law is a badass Los Angeles lawman who prefers to hit miscreants with the left and the right before cuffing them. He gets even greater motivation to do so when a ruthless crime boss indoctrinates his younger brother. To get the job done properly, he enlists the help of his partner, Billie Blake (Cynthia Rothrock). The stage is thus set for buddy cop awesomeness.
Don’t Mess with Family
Martial Law might be as basic as movies in the genre come, but it has plenty of heart. The utterly glorious action flick was a sensation both in America and Asia, where it charmed audiences’ socks off. McQueen’s memorable, spirited turn as the LA cop put him in the conversation for the best action stars of the era, and Cynthia Rothrock’s tour de force performance as the protagonist’s buddy had the usual fiery bite.
‘Rage of a Ninja’ (1988)
Everyone wants to be the best at what they do, but so go overboard while attempting to do so. We see such a scenario in Rage of a Ninja, where an evil ninja tries to acquire a manual that will turn him into the “Ultimate Ninja.” Easier said than done.
Fighting for Greatness
Director Godfrey Ho triumphs with this breezy, heartfelt action flick where characters seem to defy gravity. Superman would be proud, and martial arts fans would be buoyed even more. Don’t expect much, just the standard good old-fashioned fighting, coupled with a few threats and a plot that flows rather smoothly. You’ll wish the running time was longer.
‘The Protector’ (1985)
Jackie Chan stars in The Protector as New York City cop Billy Wong, who heads to Hong Kong to rescue a kidnapped heiress from a drug lord. Unlike Chan’s movies, this particular one cruises on grittier waters, with bloody shootouts and fight sequences.
Chan’s First Attempt at Breaking into the American Market
This light satire of crime and moral decay transcends law enforcement boundaries to good effect. You are unlikely to find a New York lawman in Hong Kong, but things change when Jackie Chan is in the picture. You might miss the tone-perfect humor, but the more you watch, the more you realize that this world of chainsaw-wielding henchmen works better when everyone is serious and the stakes are high.
‘Ip Man 2’ (2010)
Wing Chun master Ip Man (Donnie Yen) continues his martial arts journey in Ip Man 2 where he faces resistance while setting up a school. His greatest challenge comes in the form of British colonial authorities and their golden boy, Twister (Darren Shahlavi), who think of Chinese martial arts as inferior. Enter a fight for culture.
Much Better Than the First Film
The Ip film series convinced the world that Donnie Yen was something special, and we cannot wait to see more of him in the John Wick franchise. Here, he manages to be cajoling, vengeful, and compassionate all at once. Wing Chun has never been so captivating, and it’s all thanks to the expert choreography by Sammo Hung. The rest of the cast is also excellent; you’ll swear that they’ve been together forever.
‘Lone Wolf McQuade’ (1983)
Lone Wolf McQuade follows J.J. McQuade (Chuck Norris), a tough Texas Ranger who everyone views with a mixture of dread and respect. We thus know what’s coming to the arms dealer, Rawley Wilkes (David Carradine), when he decides to kidnap McQuade’s daughter.
McQuade Texas Ranger
This ‘80s action flick features one of the best Chuck Norris fights and is generally a joyous tough-guy affair. It scores as both an evocative law enforcement story and a gripping martial arts action film. Obviously, Chuck’s character is given most of the spotlight, and his aggressive, affecting performance left fans sure of his status as one of the decade’s Hollywood heavyweights, but the rest of the cast impresses too.
‘The Assassin’ (2015)
Set in 9th-century China during the Tang Dynasty, The Assassin is about Nie Yinniang (Shu Qi), an expert killer trained to rid the world of corrupt officials. After messing up a mission, she is tasked with killing her former lover, Tian Ji’an (Chang Chen), an influential military governor, as a test of loyalty. Will she do it?
Giant Dilemmas
This send-off for director Hou Hsiao-hsien is both a loving tribute to the art of filmmaking and a tender examination of the lines that separate work and pleasure. Hou won Best Director at Cannes and retired after that, but he left us with a film that is both visually striking and choreographically mind-blowing. Search hard, but you won’t find anything to criticize. The film is inventive, briskly paced, and packed with odd surprises.
‘Triple Threat’ (2019)
In Triple Threat, an elite assassin squad is tasked with killing Chinese billionaire heiress Xiao Xian (Celina Jade). Just as they are about to complete the assignment, an unexpected wrinkle arises. A group of professional mercenaries (Tony Jaa, Iko Uwais, and Tiger Hu Chen) have shown up to protect her.
Expendables Lite?
Director Jesse V Johnson felt it was a good idea to stuff most of the world’s most underrated action stars in one movie. It was indeed a good idea. For the record, Scott Adkins and Michael Jai White are here too, so the fun never stops. Gunfights alternate with hand-to-hand combat every few minutes, so brace yourself. Triple Threat will hit you.
‘Kickboxer: Retaliation’ (2016)
After playing the fighter Kurt Sloane in the first role, Jean-Claude Van Damme switches roles in Kickboxer: Retaliation, playing the trainer, Master Durand. And that’s because this isn’t a legacy sequel. Events pick up right where the original left off, with Sloane getting imprisoned and then forced to fight a 6’8″ 400-lb. fighter.
Van Damme’s Still Got It
Many legendary action stars have been forced to bear with poor scripts for most of their careers, and so has Van Damme. Thankfully, he is granted great material here by Dimitri Logothetis. The film also impresses with its choreography and cinematography. And the supporting cast is also guaranteed to get you jumping up and down. Who thought Mike Tyson had anything to offer beyond Hangover?
‘Life After Fighting’ (2024)
Alex Faulkner (played by real-life MMA star Bren Foster) has retired from fighting and now tries to run a gym that teaches adults and kids the discipline involved with the sport. However, when he falls for a student’s mother, this puts him in the scope of some very dangerous men. Confrontations at his gym are only the start of his problems, as he soon becomes the only man who can stop a child abduction ring.
A Movie Forged Through Years of Experience
Written, directed, and starring Bren Foster, what could have faltered as a passion project makes way for one of the most sincere love letters to MMA ever committed to film. While Life After Fighting emphasizes story over action, the fight scenes, particularly near the end, are masterfully executed, with Bren relying on his years of experience to deliver some explosive action sequences. Life After Fighting is highly cathartic, as it draws a very clear line between good and evil; no moral ambiguity here, just despicable criminals getting beaten up.
‘Ninja III: The Domination’ (1984)
A deadly ninja assassin massacres affluent men at a golf course, only to be hunted down by the police. During his escape, the ninja encounters a line repair woman and aerobics instructor, Christie Ryder (Lucinda Dickey), and transfers his spirit to her. Now Christie finds herself losing moments of time, unaware that she is being possessed, and the ninja is seeking revenge on the police who killed him.
Ninja Madness
A delightfully absurd mash-up of genres, Ninja III: The Domination at its core is martial arts madness at its most indulgent. The opening sequence, which features a ninja killing numerous cops and performing otherworldly feats using ‘ninja magic,’ will have any action fan giddy with excitement. While the movie ventures into supernatural and romance territory, it consistently pulls back to these incredible action sequences to keep it grounded in the genre. Yes, it is the third film in a franchise, but you don’t need to see the others to enjoy it.
