10 New Kung Fu Movies You Can't Miss!
Originally, "kung fu" described anyone with great skill, like a chef or a master craftsman. But, when the legendary Bruce Lee showed off his martial arts in movies, the term took on a whole new meaning. Bruce Lee's legacy still sparks new kung fu-themed movies today.
Showpoiler is here to help you stay current with the latest and greatest in kung fu cinema. And guess what? These action-packed films aren't just from mainland China anymore!
1. Ride On
| Year | 2023 |
| Genre | Action, Comedy, Drama |
| Director | Larry Yang |
| Cast | Jackie Chan Liu Hao Cun Guo Qi Lin |
Featuring the famous actor Jackie Chan in the main role, this film also stars well-known actors like Wu Jin, Guo Qilin, Joey Yung, Liu Haocun, and Yu Rongguang. Directed and written by the talented Larry Yang, the movie offers a mix of excitement, intrigue, and humor.
The film revolves around Lao Luo, a once-famous stuntman, and his cherished horse, Red Hare. Now out of work, Lao Luo struggles to make ends meet and can't pay off his debts. His daughter Xiao Bao (Liu Haocun) suggests auctioning the horse to clear the debts.
Meanwhile, debt collectors show up, leading to a brawl. By chance, this fight is recorded and becomes a hit on social media. This unexpected turn of events gives Lao Luo a new opportunity to revive his career as a stuntman.
2. Kung Fu Leeuw
| Year | 2023 |
| Genre | Family |
| Director | Froukje Tan |
| Cast | Tyrell Williams Haye Lee Kar-Yung Lau |
"Kung Fu Leeuw," or "Kung Fu Lion," is a movie set in Rotterdam, Netherlands. It's about a teenager named Jimmy (Tyrell Williams) who is learning kung fu.
The movie shows how Jimmy, who has been practicing kung fu since he was little, deals with challenges. He really wants to be part of the lion dance team, and his dream is to be the lion's head.
Then a new student, Li Jié, joins. Li Jié is great at kung fu, doing high jumps and smooth moves. This makes Jimmy feel jealous. Things get tougher for Jimmy when their shifu (teacher) picks Li Jié for the lion's head position, and Jimmy is put at the tail.
Jimmy accepts the shifu's decision, even though he's disappointed. He wants to know if he can handle his jealousy. Can Jimmy still perform well, even if he's not in the position he wanted?
3. Sakra
| Year | 2023 |
| Genre | Action, Adventure |
| Director | Donnie Yen |
| Cast | Donnie Yen Chen Yuqi Cya Liu Kara Wai Wu Yue |
"Sakra" is a thrilling movie based on Jin Yong's Wuxia novel "Demi Gods and Semi Devils." It stars the famous action star Donnie Yen, who also directs the film.
This movie is set in the Song Dynasty when it's under attack by the Khitan or Liao Dynasty. The story begins with Qiao Feng (Donnie Yen). He's a big deal in the martial arts world and the leader of the Beggar Gang. But trouble starts when he's wrongly called a traitor.
Qiao Feng is also falsely blamed for the death of key people in his life – his mentor at Shaolin Temple, the second-in-command of the Beggar Gang, and even his adoptive parents. With these rumors spread all over the country, he really wants to know the real story.
During his journey, Qiao Feng meets and falls for Azhu (Chen Yuqi), a servant with the unique skill of changing her appearance. Sadly, their love story takes a heartbreaking turn. Can Qiao Feng find out the truth and clear his name?
4. Furies
| Year | 2023 |
| Genre | Action, Crime, Thriller |
| Director | Veronica Ngo |
| Cast | Dong Anh Quynh Toc Tien Veronica Ngo Rima Thanh Vy Song Luan |
"Thanh Soi," also known as the prequel to the 2019 hit "Furie," is directed by Veronica Ngo, who also stars in it. This movie focuses on avenging the wrongs done to women. In "Furies," women are often treated terribly.
The story focuses on three strong women skilled in combat. They train to take down the leader of a crime syndicate. Their mission is all about fighting for justice.
Set in Saigon in 1990, these women plan to get back at the head of the crime group. They go undercover in the syndicate to do this. The big question is whether they will be able to defeat the syndicate. And are they doing this just for justice, or is there more to their story?
The movie "Furies" (2023), also known as "Thanh Soi," is a prequel to the 2019 film "Furie." It reveals the backstory of the villains from "Furie."
5. Kung Fu Ghost
| Year | 2022 |
| Genre | Action, Comedy |
| Director | Jennifer N. Linch |
| Cast | Noah Sargent Jennifer N. Linch David S. Dawson |
Daisy (Jennifer N. Linch) finds out she's inherited an old house from her late grandfather, whom she's never met. Interestingly, her grandfather was a martial arts expert.
When Daisy visits the house, she's surprised by a mysterious ghost who guards the place. Daisy joins forces with this ghost to keep her grandfather's valuable relics safe from thieves. Along the way, Daisy meets a bunch of quirky and humorous characters.
This movie, directed by Jennifer N. Linch, is a mix of action and comedy. Even though it's mainly funny, it doesn't skimp on action scenes and kung fu fights. "Kung Fu Ghost" is a great pick for fans of kung fu movies.
6. Everything Everywhere All At Once
| Year | 2022 |
| Genre | Adventure, Comedy, Fantasy, Sci-Fi |
| Director | Dan Kwan, Daniel Scheinert |
| Cast | Michelle Yeoh Stephanie Hsu Jamie Lee Curtis Ke Huy Quan James Hong Anthony Molinari |
Initially, they thought Jackie Chan might lead the film because of its action scenes, but Michelle Yeoh got the role. She did such a great job that she became the first Asian actress to win an Oscar for Best Actress.
"Everything Everywhere All At Once" is about the Wang family going on an adventure across different worlds. Evelyn Quan Wang is a Chinese immigrant living in America with her husband, Waymond Wang, and their daughter, Joy Wang.
Their journey starts when Alpha Waymond, from another universe called the Alphaverse, shows up and tells Evelyn about other dimensions. He warns her about a danger named Jobu Tupaki threatening the universe.
Evelyn decides to travel through different universes to save everyone. Along the way, she faces all kinds of challenges and discoveries.
7. New Kung Fu Cult Master 1
| Year | 2022 |
| Genre | Action, Fantasy |
| Director | Jing Wong |
| Cast | Donnie Yen Louis Koo Janice Man |
Adapted from Louis Cha's famous novel "The Story of the Heavenly Sword and the Dragon Slaying Machete," this title has been remade as a drama series and a movie. One well-known movie adaptation is Jet Li's "Kung Fu Cult Master" from 1993.
In this 1 hour and 54 minute movie, the story focuses on Zhang Cuishan (Louis Koo) and his family, who live on the Shangri-La Island of Ice and Fire. One tragic day, their peaceful life is shattered when attackers strike, leaving young Zhang Wuji alone.
As Zhang Wuji grows up, he wants to know the truth behind his parents' tragic fate. Along the way, he becomes entangled in martial arts conflicts and encounters opponents such as Xie Xun (Raymond Lam) and Chiu Manyun (Janice Man).
The film is packed with thrilling kung fu fights and a story that twists and turns. It's not just about fights; it also touches on love, friendship, and betrayal. Want to know more about the Zhang family's adventurous tale? Make sure to watch the movie!
8. Ip Man: The Awakening
| Year | 2021 |
| Genre | Action |
| Director | Li Xi Jie, Zhang Zhu Lin |
| Cast | Miao Xie Guan-Ying Chen |
"Ip Man: The Awakening" features Tse Miu, a famous Chinese actor known for his action roles. Tse Miu previously appeared with Jet Li in the movie "The New Legend of Shaolin" in 1994.
In this movie, Tse Miu plays Master Ip, who travels to Hong Kong and unexpectedly encounters a disturbing problem: a ruthless kidnapping carried out by a notorious human trafficking network. Master Ip bravely intervenes to confront the syndicate.
Impressed by Master Ip's martial arts prowess, the criminals step back but plot revenge. They kidnap Master Ip's friend and force him to come to their designated place. Can Master Ip face the criminals by himself?
9. A Writer's Odyssey
| Year | 2021 |
| Genre | Action, Fantasy, Mystery, Thriller |
| Director | Lu Yang |
| Cast | Lei Jia Yin Yang Mi Dong Zi Jian |
"A Writer's Odyssey" is a thrilling movie based on a book by Shuang Xuetao. It and its follow-up, "Godslayer," got noticed at big award shows like the 34th Golden Rooster Awards and the 15th Asian Film Awards in 2021.
The story kicks off with Guan Ning (Lei Jiayin) in a frantic search for her daughter, who's been taken by a human trafficking group. Then, out of the blue, she gets a lifeline from a major company. They promise to help her find her daughter if she can kill Lu Kongwen (Dong Zijian), a writer of fantasy novels.
Lu Kongwen's book is about a young hero standing up to Redmane, a powerful and evil ruler in a fantasy land. Weirdly, the fictional world he created starts to bleed into reality.
The head of the company, who believes he's cursed because of Lu Kongwen's story, is desperate to stop the writer. This leads Guan Ning into a daring mission to confront Lu Kongwen.
10. The Yin Yang Master
| Year | 2021 |
| Genre | Drama, Fantasy, Romance |
| Director | Li Wei Ran |
| Cast | Chen Kun Shaw Qu Zhou Xun |
Four Yinyang Masters have the important job of defending their kingdom from enemies. There's a legend about a powerful snake demon that shows up every hundred years, and the Masters need to defeat it.
The team includes Qing Ming (Mark Chao), who's related to the demon; Boya (Allen Deng Lun), Bai Ni (Zhou Xun), and Ci Mu (William Chan). When the magic spell that protects their kingdom goes missing, Qing Ming and Boya team up to stop the snake demon from attacking.
Their mission gets even more complicated when they must confront the kingdom's Princess, who wants the immortality that the snake demon has.