Martial Arts
Note: Films should not be listed here unless the sporting aspects of martial arts play a major part in the plot.
| Title | Year | Genre | Style | Notes |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Sanshiro Sugata | 1943 | Action | Jujutsu Judo |
|
| Sanshiro Sugata Part II | 1943 | Action | Judo | |
| Enter the Dragon | 1973 | Action | Jeet Kune Do Kung Fu |
Bruce Lee's final screen appearance before his death. |
| Cordão de Ouro | 1977 | Action | Capoeira | |
| The Karate Kid | 1984 | Family | Karate | Retired karate master Mr. Miyagi (Pat Morita) takes a newcomer (Ralph Macchio) under his wing. |
| The Karate Kid, Part II | 1986 | Family | Karate | Sequel to the 1984 hit. |
| No Retreat, No Surrender | 1986 | Action drama | MMA | A Seattle boy ends up fighting a Russian martial-arts star (Jean Claude Van Damme). |
| Bloodsport | 1988 | Action | MMA | Frank Dux (played by Van Damme), a Canadian, enters a competition in Hong Kong. |
| The Karate Kid, Part III | 1989 | Family | Karate | Second sequel to the 1984 film. |
| Best of the Best | 1989 | Action | Tae Kwon Do | Americans take on Koreans in a tae kwon do tournament. Eric Roberts stars. |
| Kickboxer | 1989 | Action | Kickboxing & Muay Thai | An American and his brother end up in a life-or-death competition in Asia. |
| Sidekicks | 1992 | Action | Karate | A boy with asthma fantasizes about being taught by Chuck Norris, and gets to compete alongside him in a tournament. |
| 3 Ninjas | 1992 | Family | Karate | Three boys learn Ninjutsu from their Japanese grandfather. |
| Only the Strong | 1993 | Action | Capoeira | An ex-Green Beret uses martial arts against Miami drug dealers. |
| The Next Karate Kid | 1994 | Family | Karate | Another sequel, this time with a girl (Hilary Swank) as Mr. Miyagi's apt pupil. |
| Street Fighter II: The Animated Movie | 1994 | Action | Various | |
| Mortal Kombat | 1995 | Action | Various | Based on the video game. |
| The Quest | 1996 | Action | MMA | In 1925, a pickpocket flees America, ends up fighting for his life near Siam. |
| A Fighter's Blues | 2000 | Drama | Muay Thai | |
| Undisputed | 2002 | Action | Boxing | Television film about a boxing match inside a prison. |
| Ong-Bak: Muay Thai Warrior | 2003 | Action | Muay Thai | |
| Undisputed II: Last Man Standing | 2006 | Action | MMA | Sequel to 2002 prison fight film, with a different cast. |
| DOA: Dead or Alive | 2006 | Action | Various | Four females enter a tournament. |
| Redbelt | 2007 | Drama | MMA | An instructor reluctantly enters a tournament. Written and directed by David Mamet. |
| Never Back Down | 2008 | Action drama | MMA | An Orlando, Florida high school boy discovers martial arts. |
| Champions | 2008 | Action | Wushu | |
| Ip Man | 2008 | Action | Wing Chun | |
| Besouro | 2009 | Action | Capoeira | |
| Blood and Bone | 2009 | Action | MMA | |
| Fighting | 2009 | Action drama | MMA | A New York street hustler (Channing Tatum) reneges on a guarantee to lose a big fight. |
| Tekken | 2009 | Action | MMA | |
| Ip Man 2 | 2010 | Action | Wing Chun | |
| The Karate Kid | 2010 | Family | Karate | Remake of the 1984 film, with Jackie Chan as Mr. Han (this film's version of Mr. Miyagi) and Jaden Smith in the Ralph Macchio role. |
| The King of Fighters | 2010 | Action | Various | |
| Knucklehead | 2010 | Comedy | MMA | An amateur wrestler (Big Show) enters a $100,000 tournament in New Orleans. |
| Ong Bak 3 | 2010 | Action | Muay Thai | |
| Undisputed III: Redemption | 2010 | Action | MMA | In second sequel, convict is taken to Russia for a fight behind bars. |
| Warrior | 2011 | Action drama | MMA | Brothers fight for an MMA championship, one trained by their dad (Nick Nolte). |
| Never Back Down 2 | 2011 | Action | MMA | Sequel to 2008 film. |
| Here Comes the Boom | 2012 | Comedy | MMA | Kevin James as a teacher who moonlights as a UFC competitor. |
Read more about this topic: List Of Sports Films
Famous quotes containing the words martial and/or arts:
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The World is past its Infant Age:
Arms and Honour,
Arms and Honour,
Set the Martial Mind on Fire,
And kindle Manly Rage.”
—John Dryden (16311700)
“I too have arts and sorceries;
Illusion dwells forever with the wave.”
—Ralph Waldo Emerson (18031882)