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Summary
- Martial arts movies are often enhanced by the inclusion of a tournament, raising the stakes and adding to the viewing experience.
- The quality of martial arts movies can vary greatly, but many of the better ones benefit from the tournament factor.
- The inclusion of a tournament in martial arts movies is a frequent and popular trope that continues to captivate audiences.
One thing that makes nearly any martial arts movie better is the inclusion of a tournament. With competitive achievement on the line, the stakes are raised, and the hope that a protagonist can emerge victorious further contributes to the viewing experience. That idea applies whether it’s karate, kickboxing, Thai boxing, mixed martial arts, or an event that allows any style.
Martial arts movies can also vary wildly in terms of quality. They can range from cheesy train wrecks with lousy acting and little or no plot to inspiring, atmospheric masterpieces with excellent performances. One thing’s for sure: many of the better ones have the tournament factor going in their favor. Forcing its protagonist to advance through several rounds of fighting is a frequently-used trope in the martial arts movie genre, but perhaps one that never gets old.
10 American Fighter (2019)
American Fighter is the sequel to the 2016 biographical sports drama American Wrestler: The Wizard, about an Iranian student’s exploits in the world of American high school wrestling. In this one, which is essentially a B-movie, George Kosturos reprises his role as wrestler Ali Jahani, only this time he enters the underground world of mixed martial arts. At heart, it’s a movie about family, as Ali enters underground competitions to earn money to help his ailing mother, ultimately defeating the champion. This film has racial weight in its story, but what really sets it apart from others is a highly likable protagonist and wince-inducing realism in its fight scenes.
9 Bloodsport (1988)
Jean-Claude Van Damme’s movies are mainly cheesy martial arts flicks, and Bloodsport is no different in that regard. It is, however, one of the few to have an actual martial arts competition in it (Kickboxer, for example, was just Kurt Sloane training to fight one man to get revenge for his brother). Bloodsport also stands out due to it being based on a supposed true story about Frank Dux’s unsubstantiated claims about winning an underground fighting tournament in Hong Kong called the Kumite. It features a versatile range of eccentric fighters and brilliantly showcases Van Damme’s skills, launching his career as a Hollywood star.
8 Best Of The Best (1989)
Best of the Best received almost universal criticism upon its release, but it’s hugely popular with martial arts movie fans for a reason. It’s about a martial arts tournament between an American team and a South Korean team, with various subplots concerning personal vendettas, ethical issues, and overcoming adversities, making things even more enjoyable. It also boasts an excellent cast, including Eric Roberts, James Earl Jones, Sally Kirkland, and Chris Penn. Best of the Best has some rousing 1980s training montages, convincing and well-choreographed fights, and a genuinely emotional ending that might even bring a tear to some viewers’ eyes.
7 Unbeatable (2013)
Chinese sports drama Unbeatable follows a struggling former boxing champion as he moves to Macau to escape the loan sharks he owes money to. There, he encounters a young boxer with plans to enter a mixed martial arts tournament called the Golden Rumble. The former boxer trains the young man, who wins the tournament, resulting in the veteran fighter regaining his passion for life and the fighting game. It’s a slickly made film packed with humor, sad moments, a surprising amount of gore, brilliant action, and, most notably, an inspirational story that’s thoroughly entertaining. Nick Cheung performs brilliantly as former boxer Ching Fai.
6 Mortal Kombat (2021)
The third Mortal Kombat movie and a reboot of the franchise based on the popular video game of the same name, 2021’s Mortal Kombat, is the best one yet. It has excellent special effects and epic showdowns between iconic characters. While the eponymous doesn’t actually take place in this movie, the whole thing revolves around it, as Shang Tsung defies the rules by having his Outworld warriors attack Earthrealm’s champions before the tournament begins. The fightback from Earth’s fighters is pretty epic, and Lewis Tan does a great job as the new character, Cole Young. Jessica McNamee, Josh Lawson, Tadanobu Asano, and Hiroyuki Sanada are among the talented supporting cast.
5 Fists of Legend (2013)
Fists of Legend is a South Korean sports drama based on a popular webtoon of the same name. It’s about three friends and former rivals who, having been talented fighters, found themselves in jail. After their release, they get invited to participate in a televised mixed martial arts tournament for middle-aged ex-fighters past their prime, in which the winner stands to receive ₩200 million (almost $200,000). It’s a long movie, but the time flies with rapid combat scenes that positively contrast the usual bloated fight sequences in such films. It’s witty, hugely entertaining, and an intelligent social commentary on corporate corruption in Korea.
4 Ong-Bak: Muay Thai Warrior (2003)
Thai martial arts movie Ong-Bak: Muay Thai Warrior follows a young martial artist to a big city after thieves desecrate a Buddha statue in his village and take its head. There, he finds himself taking on the scum of the underworld to retrieve it, including participating in a tournament in which he knocks the vicious champion out. It stars Tony Jaa as Ting, and he’s terrific, displaying remarkable athleticism in his breakout role and gaining favorable comparisons to the likes of Bruce Lee and Jackie Chan. Ong-Bak is exhilarating, and its focus on fantastic chase and fight scenes more than makes up for its lack of focus on substance.
3 Warrior (2011)
Sports action movie Warrior tells the story of estranged brothers, brilliantly played by Tom Hardy and Joel Edgerton, who enter a mixed martial arts tournament, face each other in the final, and ultimately reconcile. Its star-studded supporting cast includes Jennifer Morrison, Frank Grillo, Nick Nolte, Noah Emmerich, Maximiliano Hernández, and Kurt Angle. This film has powerful performances, superb action, and teems with heart – in addition to a few physical ones, it packs a heavy emotional punch. Hardy and Edgerton’s characters’ relationship is so convincing. Warrior has the rare trait of having two protagonists nobody wants to see lose.
2 The Karate Kid (1984)
The Karate Kid franchise has spawned five movies, an animated television series, and a live-action television series, but the original film remains its finest product. It follows an Italian-American teenager from New Jersey to Los Angeles, where he moves with his mother. After enduring the harassment of local bullies, he learns karate from a war veteran and handyman and uses his newfound skills to win the prestigious All-Valley Karate Championship. Ralph Macchio and Pat Morita’s incredible chemistry is the key ingredient to this movie’s success, with Morita giving an Academy Award-nominated performance. The Karate Kid has tons of heart and excitement and a most satisfying climax.
1 Enter The Dragon (1973)
Arguably the best martial arts movie ever and one of the outright best movies of the 1970s, Enter the Dragon is the final film Bruce Lee completed before his death. Released posthumously, it’s by far the most successful film of Bruce Lee’s acting career. It follows a martial artist to a private island, where he participates in a tournament as a ruse to prove the owner’s involvement in various criminal practices. As a bonus, he gets the opportunity to gain revenge on his sister’s killer, the island owner’s bodyguard. It’s a superb film with excellent characters and a career-defining Lee performance. Making it even better is the decision to include other fighters in the form of John Saxon and Jim Kelly’s characters, who also compete in the tournament and utilize their own martial arts styles.
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