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The 25 best Asian martial arts movies of the 21st century ranked, from Ip Man to Crouching Tiger, Hidden Dragon and Kung Fu Hustle
- Action films from China, Hong Kong, Japan, Korea, India, Indonesia and Thailand showcase many martial arts styles, from kung fu to Muay Thai to sword fighting
- Their stars include Jet Li, Donnie Yen, Michelle Yeoh, Tony Jaa and Zhang Ziyi, and among their directors are Johnnie To, Ang Lee and Zhang Yimou
Reading Time:5 minutes
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Asian cinema is synonymous with the action genre, thanks to its rich legacy of kung fu, wuxia and samurai dramas.
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Recently, Asian martial arts have enjoyed a high profile in Hollywood, thanks to franchises including The Matrix and John Wick. At the same time, not much new martial arts talent has emerged.
Nevertheless, markets like Thailand and Indonesia have ensured the region remains a hotbed for innovative and exhilarating action.
In the spirit of the genre’s fiercely competitive nature, we have ranked the 25 best Asian martial arts films of the 21st century, from snivelling weakling to undisputed grandmaster.
25. Duelist (2005)
Prioritising rich visuals over a propulsive narrative, Lee Myung-se’s elegant drama set in the era of the Joseon dynasty in Korea stars Ha Ji-won as an undercover detective who falls in love with her target’s handsome henchman (Gang Dong-won). Swordplay and romance intertwine in poetic, dreamlike fashion in this truly one-of-a-kind experience.
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