Martial Arts is considered the sub-genre of action films, so you can imagine there will be fight sequences, action, and thrills. The Martial Arts pave the way for the movies with Akira Kurosawa’s 1943 directorial debut, Sugata Sanshiro. The film acted as the genre’s pioneer and opened the floodgates for many more martial arts movies worldwide.
Thanks to the streaming channels, you can find those movies online on several platforms to watch in the comfort of your home. And you know what? We’ve made your work even easier! Scroll down to find the list of the top 10 best Martial Arts movies on HBO Max.
Image Courtesy: IMDb
Mortal Kombat
Director: Simon McQuoid
Writer: Greg Russo, Dave Callaham, Oren Uziel
Cast: Lewis Tan, Jessica McNamee, Josh Lawson
IMDb Rating: 6.1
Runtime: 1 hr.50 mins
The 2021 martial arts fiction movie Mortal Kombat is modeled on the same-named video game series. The film received both favorable and unfavorable reviews from the audience and grossed over $84 million globally.
In a high-stakes fight for the cosmos, an M.M.A. fighter searches for Earth’s best fighters to oppose Outworld’s adversaries.
Image Courtesy: Media Obscura
Rush Hour
Director: Brett Ratner
Writer: Ross LaManna, Jim Kouf
Cast: Jackie Chan, Chris Tucker, Ken Leung
IMDb Rating: 7.0
Runtime: 1 hr.38 mins
Rush Hour premiered on September 18, 1998. It’s an American action comedy movie that has earned over $244 million internationally. Due to the movie’s success, two sequels were produced later – Rush Hour 2 (2001) and Rush Hour 3. (2007).
A devoted and obedient Hong Kong Investigator partners up with a rash and big-mouthed L.A.P.D. investigator. He was trying to apprehend a violent crime lord to recover the Chinese Consul’s abducted daughter.
Image Courtesy: Discussing Film
Warrior
Director: Gavin O’Connor
Writer: Gavin O’Connor, Anthony Tambakis, Cliff Dorfman
Cast: Tom Hardy, Nick Nolte, Joel Edgerton
IMDb Rating: 8.2
Runtime: 2 hr.20 mins
The American sports action movie Warrior premiered in theatres on September 9, 2011, in the U.S. Despite not being commercially strong, reviewers gave the movie high remarks.
The alcoholic younger son of a former boxer is coached by his father to compete in a mixed martial arts match. But unfortunately, the fighter is in direct conflict with his distant older brother.
Image Courtesy: Odessa-journal
Transporter 3
Director: Olivier Megaton
Writer: Luc Besson, Robert Mark Kamen
Cast: Jason Statham, Robert Knepper, Natalya Rudakova
IMDb Rating: 6.0
Runtime: 1 hr.44 mins
French action-thriller Transporter 3 (French: Le Transporteur 3) was released in 2008 in English. It is the last film in the Transporter film series trilogy. Being the trilogy’s highest-grossing movie, it brought in over $109 million at the box office.
Valentina, the abducted daughter of a Ukrainian government figure, is transported from Marseilles to Odesa by Frank Martin. He must fight off thugs on the way who try to stop Valentina from arriving safely.
Image Courtesy: Moria Reviews
The One
Director: James Wong
Writer: Glen Morgan, James Wong
Cast: Jet Li, Carla Gugino, Delroy Lindo
IMDb Rating: 5.9
Runtime: 1 hr.27 mins
On November 2, 2001, Columbia Pictures premiered the science fiction action movie The One in the U.S. Despite receiving unfavorable reviews from critics. The film made $78,5 million globally.
A malicious Multiverse agent gains strength with each victim as he searches for himself in different lives. But, before he transforms into “The One,” his mission can only be ended by his last iteration, an L.A.S.D. officer.
Image Courtesy: Bomb Report
Equilibrium
Director: Kurt Wimmer
Writer: Kurt Wimmer
Cast: Christian Bale, Sean Bean, Emily Watson
IMDb Rating: 7,3
Runtime: 1 hr.47 mins
An American dystopian sci-fi movie, Equilibrium, was released in 2002. The film earned a nomination for American Choreography Award for Outstanding Achievement in Fight Choreography.
A guy in charge of upholding the law rises to topple the structure and the state in a grim future—the kind of future where all expressions of emotion are forbidden.
Image Courtesy: BBC Culture
Seven Samurai
Director: Akira Kurosawa
Writer: Akira Kurosawa, Shinobu Hashimoto, Hideo Oguni
Cast: Toshirô Mifune, Takashi Shimura, Keiko Tsushima
IMDb Rating: 8.6
Runtime: 3 hrs.27 mins
Originally titled The Magnificent Seven when it was first broadcast in the U.S., Seven Samurai is an iconic samurai drama from Japan from 1954. It scored Japan’s second-highest domestic box office performance.
An experienced samurai is hired by farmers from a community victimized by outlaws for security. He recruits six other samurai to accompany him. But they must face the bandit army attack while the samurai are busy teaching the villagers self-defense.
Image Courtesy: American Cinematheque
Police Story
Director: Jackie Chan, Chi-Hwa Chen
Writer: Jackie Chan, Edward Tang
Cast: Jackie Chan, Maggie Cheung, Brigitte Lin
IMDb Rating: 7.5
Runtime: 1 hr.40 mins
The first entry in the Police Story series was produced in Hong Kong in 1985. In addition, at the 1986 Hong Kong Film Awards, the movie won the Best Film Award for its commercial success.
The narrative follows a police officer who was set up to kill a corrupt officer by a mob lord. He needs to clear his identity and deliver the mafia boss to the prison, where he belongs.
Image Courtesy: HBO
Street Fighter: The Legend of Chun-Li
Director: Andrzej Bartkowiak
Writer: Justin Marks, Takashi Nishiyama, Hiroshi Matsumoto
Cast: Kristin Kreuk, Neal McDonough, Michael Clarke Duncan
IMDb Rating: 3.7
Runtime: 1 hr.36 mins
American action movie Street Fighter: The Legend of Chun-Li premiered on February 27, 2009. The movie garnered mixed reviews from the audience.
Chun-Li, while a teenager, sees billionaire mob boss M. Bison abduct her father. She embarks on a quest for revenge as an adult. However, she rises to fame as the world’s most renowned criminal fighter in Street Fighter world.
Image Courtesy: Parade
The Matrix
Director: Lana Wachowski, Lilly Wachowski
Writer: Lilly Wachowski, Lana Wachowski
Cast: Keanu Reeves, Laurence Fishburne, Carrie-Anne Moss
IMDb Rating: 8.7
Runtime: 2 hr.16 mins
It is a sci-fi action film that ruled the box office in 1999. As the highest-grossing movie ever, it earned approximately $460 million compared to a $63 million budget. Due to the film’s popularity, two full-length prequels, The Matrix Reloaded and The Matrix Revolutions, were later released in 2003.
It shows a bleak future in which artificial intelligence has created a lifelike simulation known as the Matrix. They manipulate individuals while obtaining power from their bodies. People have unintentionally become caught inside of them. Thomas Anderson, a computer genius who goes by the alias “Neo,” the hacker, discovers the truth. He quickly teams up with Matrix’s escaped prisoners in a revolt against the machines.
