Martial arts films make up several different genres and represent some of the most popular and beloved characters and films of all time. Their international appeal is obvious and include hundreds of stars across the world. This compilation assesses the ten greatest and most influential martial arts superstars of the category in an effort to recognize their impact on film and pop culture.
Note: Animation was not considered during the selection process.
10. Jean-Claude Van Damme
The greatest western martial arts actor (with apologies to Chuck Norris, Steven Seagal, Mark Dacascos, and Michael Jai White), Jean-Claude Van Damme became one of the biggest action stars in the world in the late 1980s and early 1990s. For a short time, he rivaled even Arnold Schwarzenegger in that category. That he faded into direct-to-DVD obscurity (with the noteable exception of JCVD) should not tarnish the early success of his career, including films such as Bloodsport, Kickboxer, Lionheart, and several others.
Van Damme’s greatest film — if you ignore the acting — is the cult hit Bloodsport. It depicts the real life Frank Dux, who claimed to have been the first westerner to win the Kumite, a Chinese martial arts tournament. In terms of fight choreography, Bloodsport excelled at creating novel one-on-one fights. In particular, the final battle between Dux and his antagonist (Bolo Yeung) lives on as a triumph of ’80s martial arts camp.
9. Michelle Yeoh
Perhaps better known for her beauty and acting prowess, Michelle Yeoh is a trained dancer who lacks formal training in martial arts. Despite this, Yeoh became the greatest female martial arts star in modern times when she solidified her international fame with Ang Lee’s Crouching Tiger, Hidden Dragon.
In the film, she portrays a security expert-for-hire, conflicted over love and loyalty, who ends up the mentor of a young fighter (Zhang Ziyi). Her own struggle over career and family choices mirrors that of her protege, resulting in a complex, believable character that viewers can relate to and sympathize with. And who also happens to have awesome fight sequences.
8. Shintarô Katsu
Along with his brother, Tomisaburo Wakayama of the Lone Wolf series, Shintarô Katsu is the most renowned sword fighting star in film history. Portraying the blind swordsman Zatôichi in a total of 27 films, Katsu created astonishing action sequences that accompanied great stories. A testament to the continued excellence of these films (I certainly have not seen them all) is that the 17th installment was remade for American audiences.
7. Cheng Pei-Pei
The first and greatest female superstar of martial arts film, Cheng Pei-Pei may be best known to western audiences for her villainous role in Crouching Tiger, Hidden Dragon as the murdering Jade Fox. That film, with its stellar female cast and characters, could be seen largely as an homage to Cheng Pei-Pei’s filmography as a kung fu hero.
However, the film that thrust her into the spotlight was Come Drink With Me. It marked the first time a female martial arts star carried a film on her own and the accomplishment changed martial arts cinema forever.
6. Sonny Chiba
Sonny Chiba, the greatest Japanese martial arts star and a contemporary of Bruce Lee, was more rugged and less graceful in his fighting style than his counterpart. In The Street Fighter series, for example, Chiba uses brute force and violence to defeat his opponents. His role in Street Fighter was so famous that Tarantino honored him True Romance, though you may remember him better in his cameo as the sword-smith Hatori Hanzo in Kill Bill Vol. 1.
5. Stephen Chow
Arguably the greatest martial arts star-turned director, Stephen Chow’s résumé speaks volumes to his skill and dedication to film. Chow created the mo lei tau sub-genre as well as two of the most internationally successful martial arts films (Shaolin Soccer and Kung Fu Hustle). More than just action sequences, these films incorporate great stories and comedy; both won awards.
4. Gordon Liu
Gordon Liu made his fame portraying the ways of Shaolin monks on screen throughout his career. He catapulted to fame with the success of The 36th Chamber of Shaolin, in which he follows the complete training and eventual mastery of a real-life Shaolin monk. The formula for such films set the stage for a long career illustrating Shaolin techniques and ideas. Liu also had two roles in Quentin Tarantino’s recent Kill Bill saga: first as Johnny Mo, the frontman of the Crazy 88’s, and second as the cruel tutor Pai Mei.
3. Jet Li
Over the last 25 years, Jet Li has established himself as one of the fastest, most graceful fighters in film. His unique fighting style creates the illusion of weightlessness and his skill and precision led to immense popularity in the 1980s. His legendary roles in the Once Upon a Time in China series involve not only the historic battles of imperialistic forces invading China, but also the threat of a cult and an assassination plot. The richness and detail of these films set the standard for the genre and the popular success of this trilogy turned Jet Li into an international star.
2. Jackie Chan
Jackie Chan and his stunt crew have created some of the most tantalizing, exciting and funny action/fight sequences over a period spanning more than 30 years (and counting). His proficiency in creating successful films and inventiveness in using props during fights helped him practically create the martial arts/comedy sub-genre.
The Legend of Drunken Master, not released in theaters in the west until several years after its original release, contained an unbelievable amount of stunt and fight choreography (including the mind-bending drunken boxing) which perfectly balanced comedy with and a compelling story. My personal favorite scene was the tea-house brawl with the bamboo — now a common location and weapon of choice in martial arts cinema — but used to perfection in this film.
1. Bruce Lee
Bruce Lee is an uncontroversial pick as the greatest martial arts movie star of all time. This consensus is largely based on Lee’s impact on the film world which introduced western audiences to kung fu films for the first time. Beyond merely starring in films, he created an entirely new form of martial arts called jeet kun do. His untimely death at the young age of 32 only adds to his legendary status.
His breakout role in The Chinese Connection was instrumental in elevating fight choreography in film but it was his portrayal as Kato in The Green Hornet television that cemented his onscreen talent and charisma. He actually overshadowed the star of the show, becoming perhaps the most popular sidekick ever. His prowess, reputation and impact on martial arts and kung fu films can’t be overestimated, so Mr. Lee takes the top spot.
Stars to watch out for: Tony Jaa, Michael Jai White, Zhang Ziyi