105 Recommended HK Action Films
A list of Hong Kong action films that are must-see films for fans of martial arts and action cinema. I have also chosen to include some swordplay films and heroic bloodshed/gunplay films. This list is not really in any specific order, I just wrote them down as they came to mind.
List activity
1.2K views
• 20 this weekCreate a new list
List your movie, TV & celebrity picks.
105 titles
- DirectorSammo Kam-Bo HungStarsBiao YuenChing-Ying LamSammo Kam-Bo HungA young man discovers that his reputation as a fearsome martial artist is manufactured by his rich father, after meeting a real martial arts master, who's also a master thespian, and is determined to apprentice under him to learn kung fu.My all time favorite film, the definitive Wing Chun movie that is a career highlight for all involved.
- DirectorSammo Kam-Bo HungStarsSammo Kam-Bo HungSiu Chung MokHoi MangLo Tung and his friend Malted Candy, pedicab drivers working the streets of Macao, have both fallen in love. The problem is that both their objects of affection--one a baker, the other a prostitute--are working under cruel and lecherous bosses. Somehow, the pair must find a way to win the ladies' hearts and free them from their unpleasant jobs.Another one of Sammo's masterpieces. A brilliant mix of genres with two of the greatest fight scenes ever: The pole fight vs Lau Kar Leung and the finale with Sammo vs Billy Chow.
- DirectorSammo Kam-Bo HungStarsKa-Yan LeungChia-Yung LiuBiao YuenTwo brothers and small time crooks Yipao and Taipao convince a martial arts expert to take them on as students, completely oblivious to his sordid past.The second best among Yuen Biao and Sammo Hung collaborations features incredible acrobatics and very creatuive choreography. A true classic.
- DirectorWoo-Ping YuenStarsJackie ChanSiu-Tin YuenJeong-lee HwangWong Fei-Hung is a mischievous yet righteous young man, but after a series of incidents his frustrated father has him disciplined by a master of drunken martial arts.One of the most iconic martial arts films ever to come out of HK. The definitive drunken boxing film
- DirectorChia-Liang LiuJackie ChanStarsJackie ChanHo-Sung PakLung TiA young martial artist is caught between respecting his pacifist father's wishes or stopping a group of disrespectful foreigners from stealing precious artifacts.Worthy sequel to a genre classic. Features a great mix between modern JC style choreography and classic kung fu.
- DirectorWoo-Ping YuenStarsSiu-Tin YuenJeong-lee HwangLinda LinDrunken Boxing master Beggar So must train his bumbling son in order to take on a rival Drunken Boxing master and his student.Another drunken master sequel that features some very inventive choreography.
- DirectorWoo-Ping YuenStarsJackie ChanSiu-Tin YuenJeong-lee HwangAn orphan who has been raised at a kung fu school, where he is treated as little more than a dogsbody and practice target for the students, has a life-changing experience after helping an old peripatetic beggar.Another Yuen Woo Ping classic that put Jackie Chan on the map.
- DirectorSum CheungStarsJohn CheungYao Lin ChenPomson ShiThe master of a drunken fist is killed by a deadly snake fist duo in a major battle, so his only student flees and becomes a covert, expert fighter.A great monkey fist movie that is something of a cult classic
- DirectorSum CheungWilson TongStarsYuen-Man MengLily LiWilson TongChy Chi Chong (Man Yuen Men) is determined to become a Kung Fu Expert, yet each time he begins to train, his master is mysteriously killed. Killer bah (WIlson Tong) is a professional assassin whose use of the secret daggers makes him an unbeatable killing machine. Chu Swears to avenge all his masters deaths and prepares by developing his skills to perfection.Very underrated film that shows off the skills of both Meng Yuen Man and the very talented actor/director/choreographer Wilson Tong.
- DirectorLieh LoStarsChia-Hui LiuLieh LoLung-Wei WangThe monk Hung Wen-Ting fights against the evil priest White Lotus.Directed by and co-starring Lo Lieh this is one of the finest Shaw Bros kung fu films out there.
- DirectorChia-Liang LiuStarsChia-Liang LiuChia-Yung LiuKara WaiA band of killers from an ailing kung fu and magic society are sent on a manhunt for a former member of the society, whose bad mouthing threatens its existence.The greatest weapons film of all time.
- DirectorChia-Liang LiuStarsChia-Liang LiuKara WaiHou HsiaoCheng Tai-Nan (Kara Hui) is an honest and faithful servant of a dying patriarch who wants nothing more than to protect his vast wealth from his selfish, conniving nephew, Yung-Sheng. Tai-Nan is young enough to be his granddaughter, but still agrees to marry her master so that all of his wealth will be lawfully safe with her so she can then transfer it to Ching-Chuen (Lau Kar-Leung), her new husband/master's favorite nephew. This angers the hateful Yung-Sheng greatly, who sends multiple thugs after Tai-Nan, but she is a highly skilled martial artist who is not easily defeated. Amazingly, things become even more complicated when Ching-Chuen's son, Yu Tao (Hou Hsiao), arrives home from a university in Hong Kong and discovers a mysterious women in his house and attacks her, not realizing she is actually his new great aunt, Tai-Nan. Complicating things even more is the uncomfortable sexual tension between Yu Tao and Tai-Nan. Next Yung-Sheng finally manages to steal all the paperwork, titles, and deeds to Ching-Chuen's wealth. Left with no choice but to lead an all-out attack against Yung-Sheng at his booby-trapped mansion, Tai-Nan decides to get Ching-Chuen and his older brothers back into fighting shape.My favorite Shaw Bros film. Kara Hui is wonderful and the finale is excellent.
- DirectorChia-Liang LiuStarsChia-Hui LiuLung-Wei WangHou HsiaoWhen thugs prey upon innocent factory workers, a small-time scammer trains for revenge by studying the moves of Shaolin temple monks.Scaffolding kung fu rules!
- DirectorCheh ChangStarsFeng LuSheng ChiangChien SunCritically acclaimed director Chang Cheh has The Five Venoms turn Shaolin fighters as they challenge the authority of the evil Chings in Invincible Shaolin. Per usual, the fights will knock your socks off.One of the greatest of The Venoms films
- DirectorCheh ChangStarsKuan Tai ChenFeng LuPhillip Chung-Fung KwokThree men who have been physically disabled by an evil warlord and his physically-disabled son become friends and learn kung fu so that they can seek revenge with help from an elderly martial-arts teacher and his mentally-disabled pupil.My favorite Venoms film
- DirectorCheh ChangStarsPhillip Chung-Fung KwokMeng LoSheng ChiangThree refugees become sworn brothers during a war. One (Kuo Chui/Philip Kwok) works in a whore house, one (Chiang Sheng) in a gambling house, and the other (Lo Mang) in a martial arts school. They become embroiled in the war and are betrayed by one's mentor.Wonderful Venoms flick
- DirectorCheh ChangStarsPhillip Chung-Fung KwokSiu-Ho ChinSheng ChiangThe masked gang have created a menace, killing many people, now it is up to Philp who once worked for the masked gang to destroy them.The ultimate film for trident action. Phillip Kwok is the man.
- DirectorSammo Kam-Bo HungStarsJackie ChanBiao YuenSammo Kam-Bo HungTwo Chinese friends, who operate a food truck in Barcelona, Spain, use their martial arts expertise to help their private investigator friend protect the pickpocket Sylvia, who's been targeted by a ruthless gang.Three Brothers classic. Jackie VS Benny is one of the greatest fights of the 80's
- DirectorSammo Kam-Bo HungCorey YuenStarsJackie ChanSammo Kam-Bo HungBiao YuenThree successful Hong Kong lawyers are hired by a chemical company of questionable ethics and must eventually make a difficult decision when their employer's motives become clear.My fave Three Brothers film. The finale is legendary.
- DirectorJackie ChanSammo Kam-Bo HungStarsJackie ChanSammo Kam-Bo HungBiao YuenFighting against pirates at the turn of the 20th century, the Hong Kong navy are failing miserably. It's up to Sergeant Lung (Jackie Chan) to take matters into his own hands.The sheer talent and creativity in this film is a joy to behold.
- DirectorSammo Kam-Bo HungStarsSammo Kam-Bo HungCharlie ChinStanley Sui-Fan FungMuscles, cop from Hong Kong, is in Japan chasing a bad HK cop. His cop partner gets taken by the ninja gang. Muscles gets his 5 old no-good friends from the orphanage to help find the bad cop. Lots of comedy and kung-fu fighting follows.A nostalgic classic for me that features the lucky stars gang. Great exchange between Dick Wei and Jackie Chan in this one.
- DirectorSammo Kam-Bo HungFruit ChanStarsJackie ChanSammo Kam-Bo HungEmily ChuTat, ex SWAT turned CID cop in HK, has a 29 y.o. Disabled brother, behaving like the small boys, he plays with, always getting into trouble. Tat struggles to care for him - at the expense of his cute girlfriend and dreams.The finale between Jackie and Dick Wei is one of my favorites. The film also manages to be a very engaging drama that has one of Sammo's best performances.
- DirectorSammo Kam-Bo HungStarsSammo Kam-Bo HungRichard NgEric Tsang5 HK cops (4 horny males) on vacation in Pattaya, Thailand, are told to contact an informant there but he gets murdered. They return to Hong Kong to contact his girlfriend and protect her. 3 other colleagues are busy fighting criminals.The battle in the Pepsi factory is so good. Features a infamous and impressive kick from Yuen Biao that has to be seen to be believed.
- DirectorSammo Kam-Bo HungStarsKa-Yan LeungHo WangSammo Kam-Bo HungA bank cashier discovers a plot to kill the mayor. His attempt to warn the mayor is foiled, and he almost gets killed, but a mumbling Shaolin disciple rescues him and takes him to his master to teach him a formidable form of kung fu.Sammo is the king of Wing Chun and this film is another example of his genius.
- DirectorSammo Kam-Bo HungStarsSammo Kam-Bo HungSing ChenHoi-Pang LoA lowly restaurant worker aims to take revenge on the Manchurian thugs who killed his boss by joining a Shaolin temple under the advise from a monk who rescued him from certain death.Classic martial arts film that is a must for Sammo fans like myself. Shows the beginnings of Sammo as a director, very interesting to behold. Great finale!