Are you a fan of martial arts movies; combat fighting and agile moves? Then action movies are the best picks for you! We’ve curated a list of movies and film series which are available on OTT platforms like Netflix, Amazon Prime Video, Hotstar and MX Player. These movies are filled with mind-blowing action scenes and amazing cinematography. Ranging from romance-action to comedy-action, here are the 20 best Chinese Action Movies of all times to keep you entertained!
List of top 20 best chinese movies of all time –
1. The 36th Chamber of Shaolin (1978)
Director: Chia-Yung Liu
Actors: Chia-Hui Liu, Lieh Lo, Yue Wong and Chia-Yung Liu
IMDB Rating: 7.7
Genre: Action/Adventure
Famously known as “The Master Killer”, the movie is about a man who studies kung fu at the Shaolin Temple to fight back against the oppressive Manchu government. It is available on MX Player.
2. Fist of Fury (1972)
Director: Wei Lo
Actors: Bruce Lee, Nora Miao, James Tien and Maria Yi
IMDB Rating: 7.2
Genre: Action/Adventure
Also known as the “Chinese Connection”, Fist Fury is based on a young martial arts student who returns home for the funeral of his martial arts teacher who died under mysterious circumstances. A rival Japanese academy is suspected but there is no proof. It is available to watch on MX Player.
3. Kung Fu Hustle (2004)
Director: Stephen Chow
Actors: Bruce Stephen Chow, Wah Yuen, Qiu Yuen and Siu-Lung Leung
IMDB Rating: 7.7
Genre: Action/Fantasy
2004 movie, Kung Fu Hustle is about an aspiring gangster who pretends to be part of a notorious gang and tries to terrorise a neighbourhood. However, unknown to him, three martial arts experts live there and are ready to take him down. The movie is available on Amazon Prime Video.
4. Five Fingers of Death (1972)
Director: Chang-hwa Jeong
Actors: Lieh Lo, Ping Wang, Hsiung Chao, Chin-Feng Wang
IMDB Rating: 7.1
Genre: Action/Drama
Known as “King Boxer”, this 1972 movie is about a traditional story of one man’s struggle to honor his two martial arts masters in a time of crisis within the martial arts world, while remaining true to his first love. It is available on MX Player.
5. Ip Man (2008)
Director: Wilson Yip
Actors: Donnie Yen, Simon Yam, Siu-Wong Fan, Ka-Tung Lam
IMDB Rating: 8
Genre: Action/Biography
Ip Man is a film series based on the life of Ip Man, a grandmaster of the martial art Wing Chun and teacher of Bruce Lee. The progenitor of the series was Ip Man, which was followed by two sequels – Ip Man 2, Ip Man 3, the spin-off Master Z: Ip Man Legacy and the final installment Ip Man 4: The Finale. The film series is available on Amazon Prime Video.
6. Crouching Tiger, Hidden Dragon: Sword of Destiny (2016)
Director: Woo-Ping Yeun
Actors: Donnie Yen, Michelle Yeoh, Harry Shum JrNatasha Liu Bordizzo
IMDB Rating: 6.1
Genre: Action/Drama
2016 action/drama Crouching Tiger is a story of lost love, a legendary sword and one last opportunity at redemption. Shu Lien visits Peking to retrieve her late lover’s legendary sword, the Green Destiny. However, she must fight Hades Dai, a ruthless warlord who wishes to get his hands on the sword. The movie is available on Netflix.
7. Shaolin Temple (1982)
Director: Hsin-Yen Chang
Actors: Jet Li, Hai Yu, Chenghui Yu, Lan Ding
IMDB Rating: 6.8
Genre: Action/Drama
Shaolin Temple is about Chieh Yuan, a young man, joins the prestigious Shaolin Temple as a novice monk to learn the art of kung fu and seeks to avenge his father’s death, by killing the evil emperor Wang Shichong. ShaolinTemple is available to watch on MX Player.
8. Last Hurrah for Chivalry (1979)
Director: John Woo
Actors: Pai Wei, Damian Lau, Kong Lau, Chau-Wah Yim
IMDB Rating: 7
Genre: Action/Drama
Last Hurrah for Chivalry features a son, who embarks on a journey to avenge his father’s death. Cynical about his fighting skills, he seeks help from two valiant sword fighters. Will the three together triumph? The movie is available on MX Player.
9. 14 Blades (2010)
Director: Daniel Lee
Actors: Donnie Yen, Wei Zhao, Chun Wu, Sammo Kam-Bo Hung
IMDB Rating: 6.3
Genre: Action/Thriller
14 Blades is about Commander Qinglong, who is the loyal leader of the assassin group that serves the emperor. But when his allies plan a rebellion against the ruler, he finds himself in danger. The movie is available on Amazon Prime Video.
10. The Assassin (2015)
Director: Hsiao-Hsien
Actors: Shu Qi, Chang Chen, Yun Zhou, Satoshi Tsumabuki
IMDB Rating: 6.3
Genre: Action/Romance
After a failed mission, a female assassin is sent back by her master to her hometown to kill the man she falls in love with. The Assassin is available on MX Player.
11. Detective Dee: The Mystery of the Phantom Flame (2010)
Director: Hark Tsui
Actors: Tony Ka Fai Leung, Chao Deng, Carina Lau, Bingbing Li
IMDB Rating: 6.6
Genre: Action/Adventure
When the future empress Wu Zetian’s two courtiers die in a mysterious fire, she gets Di Renjie, a former detective and rebel, released from prison to solve the mystery of the fire. The film is available on Amazon Prime Video.
12. Wheels on Meals (1984)
Director: Sammo Kam-Bo Hung
Actors: Jackie Chan, Sammo Hung, Yuen Biao, Lola Forner, Herb Edelman and Benny Urquidez
IMDB Rating: 7.1
Genre: Action/Comedy
An action packed comedy is a classic Jackie Chan adventure film. Two Chinese friends, who operate a food truck in Barcelona, Spain, use their martial arts expertise to help their private investigator friend protect the pickpocket Sylvia, who’s been targeted by a ruthless gang. Wheels on Meals is available on MX Player.
13. A Chinese Odyssey: Part One – Pandora’s Box (1995)
Director: Jeffrey Lau
Actors: Stephen Chow, Man-Tat Ng, Kar-Ying Law, Kit Ying Lam
IMDB Rating: 7.6
Genre: Action/Fantasy
A Chinese Odyssey is a two-part film series. A Monkey King is reincarnated in the un-human form as Joker, a highwayman oblivious to his original identity and the fact that 500 years earlier, he and his master, the Longevity Monk, were punished and made to stay human. The film series is available on Netflix.
14. Born Invincible (1978)
Director: Joseph Kuo
Actors: Carter Wong, Lieh Lo, Kuan-Wu Lung, Jack Long
IMDB Rating: 7
Genre: Action/Adventure
Action packed 1978 film, Born Invincible is about Master Lui Ping’s daughter, Yin Yin, who trains for three years to avenge her father’s death. It is available to watch on MX Player.
15. Police Story 2 (1988)
Director: Jackie Chan
Actors: Jackie Chan, Maggie Cheung, Kwok-Hung Lam, Bill Tung
IMDB Rating: 7.1
Genre: Action/Comedy
Police Story 2 is a franchise of 7 action/comedy films variously directed by Jackie Chan, Stanley Tong, Benny Chan, and Ding Sheng. In part 2; inspector Chan Ka-kui gets demoted to a highway patrol because of his previous case handling methods. He gets a chance to redeem himself when a terminally ill criminal, Chu-Tao, causes trouble. The film franchise is available on Hotstar.
16. Tai Ji 1: Cong ling kai shi (2012)
Director: Stephen Fung
Actors: Hark-On Fung, Xiaochao Yuan, Stephen Fung, Eddie Peng
IMDB Rating: 6
Genre: Action/Drama
Tai Ji 1 is a 2012 action/drama about a gifted martial artist who protects his adopted village from a villain who wants to build a railroad through the center of the community. The movie is available on MX Player.
17. Swordsman II (1992)
Director: Sui-Tung Ching
Actors: Jet Li, Brigitte Lin, Michelle Reis and Waise Lee
IMDB Rating: 7.1
Genre: Action/Fantasy
Swordsman II is a film based on the book, The Smiling, Proud Wanderer; it is about a traveling martial artist and his companion face an evil sorcerer who possesses magic scrolls. The film is available on MX Player.
18. Kung Fu Jungle (2014)
Director: Teddy Chan
Actors: Donnie Yen, Baoqiang Wang, Charlie Yeung and Bing Bai
IMDB Rating: 6.4
Genre: Action/Crime/Thriller
Kung Fu Jungle is a 2014 action film about martial arts instructor Hahou Mo who is jailed for killing a man during a fight. When a few kung fu experts are murdered, Hahou Mo offers to help the police in exchange for his freedom. The movie is available on Amazon Prime Video.
19. The Yin-Yang Master (2020)
Director: Guo Jingming
Actors: Deng Lung, Mark Chao, Xu Kaicheng, Wang Ziweng and Duo Wang
IMDB Rating: 6.6
Genre: Action/Fantasy
When a demonic serpent reawakens, the Yin-Yang Masters must solve a murder mystery and protect their realms from a dark conspiracy at the royal court. It is available on Netflix.
20. Mojin: Mysterious Treasure (2020)
Director: Le Luo
Actors: Hu Xue Er, Ken Chang, He Qiwei, Li Dianzun and Kailin Wang
IMDB Rating: 6.1
Genre: Action/Fantasy
The movie takes partridge and Chen Yulous exploration of Pingshan as the background of western Hunan half a century later. The movie is streaming on Amazon Prime.
Which ones are you adding to your watchlist? Comment down below!
FAQs
1. Where can I watch Chinese action movies?
Chinese action movies are available on OTT Platforms like Netflix, Amazon Prime Video, Hotstar and MX Player.
2. What is China Hollywood called?
Cantonwood is the Hong Kong cinema for cantonese language films. Hengdian World Studios – the largest film studio in China is also called Chinawood.
