Let’s be realistic—the 2000s were a halcyon age for martial arts films. This was the decade when East and West finally came crashing together, mixing old-style wire-fu with hard-edged, bone-snapping realism. Icons such as Jet Li, Donnie Yen, Michelle Yeoh, and Tony Jaa weren’t merely ruling over box offices in Asia but also global icons. Whether you needed sweeping wuxia epics, no-holds-barred street combat, or cool Hollywood homages, the 2000s offered it all. Here’s a countdown of the decade’s best martial arts movies, each one a game-changer in itself.
10. The Transporting (2002)
Jason Statham entered the mainstream with this smooth blend of martial arts and high-speed car chases. Portraying Frank Martin, the former special forces messenger with an unbreakable code, Statham established the template for a new generation of Western action stars. With fight choreographer Corey Yuen at the helm, the film’s inventive set pieces remain some of the most fun of the decade.
9. Fearless (2006)
Jet Li’s powerful farewell to the wuxia genre tells the story of martial arts master Huo Yuanjia. Directed by Ronny Yu, the film balances themes of honor, redemption, and cultural pride with breathtaking fight sequences. With choreography from Yuen Woo-ping, Li delivers some of his most elegant and emotionally charged battles on screen.
8. Kung Fu Hustle (2004)
Stephen Chow’s absurd kung fu comedy is half Looney Tunes, half martial arts spectacular, and all sentiment. Merging slapstick with dumbfounding fight choreography, Kung Fu Hustle satirizes the genre even as it revels in it. The Axe Gang vs. secret masters battle remains the decade’s most gloriously over-the-top sequence.
7. The Protector (2005)
Tony Jaa burst onto the scene with The Protector (or Tom-Yum-Goong), solidifying himself as the Muay Thai face of cinema. Known for its jaw-dropping single-take stairway fight, the film is filled with raw stunts and full-contact violence. Jaa’s athleticism and authenticity turned him into a legend overnight.
6. Kill Bill: Volume 1 (2003)
Quentin Tarantino’s elegant homage to the classics of old kung fu movies is soaked in blood, neon, and attitude. Uma Thurman’s Bride slices her way through assassins in balletic but deadly sequences, led by the indelible House of Blue Leaves fight. Choreographed by Yuen Woo-ping, Kill Bill is as much a work of art as an action film.
5. Ong-Bak: The Thai Warrior (2003)
Before The Protector, there was Ong-Bak. Tony Jaa’s debut film stunned fans with uncompromising brutality, parkour-style run-ins, and raw stunt work, devoid of wires, CGI—just pure skill and punishment. It was an eye-opener to Hollywood that martial arts movies still had some ways to go in the pursuit of realism.
4. Ip Man (2008)
Donnie Yen’s acting as Wing Chun master Ip Man made him a legend. The movie, set during the Japanese occupation of China, brings national pride and scorching fight choreography into one thrilling picture. Thanks to Sammo Hung and Tony Leung Siu-hung, the action comes fast, pointy, and endlessly enjoyable—particularly the most memorable fighting scene in which Ip battles ten foes simultaneously.
3. House of Flying Daggers (2004)
Zhang Yimou followed Hero with this grand romantic wuxia epic. With its lushly photographed set pieces, poetic sword fights, and tragic love tale, House of Flying Daggers is a visual masterpiece and an exhibition of martial arts beauty. Each scene is like a painting come to life, combining passion and violence into something memorable.
2. Hero (2002)
Jet Li leads Zhang Yimou’s visually breathtaking story of sacrifice and narration. The film employs changing views and vibrant color schemes to stitch together its martial arts fights, each more beautiful than the previous. Jet Li and Donnie Yen’s duel is still among the most elegant and entrancing fights ever captured on film.
1. Crouching Tiger, Hidden Dragon (2000)
Ang Lee’s masterpiece is just as much a martial arts movie—it’s a milestone in international cinema. Starring Michelle Yeoh, Chow Yun-fat, and Zhang Ziyi, the film blended stunning wire-fu action choreography with a profoundly emotional tale of love, betrayal, and fate. It charmed Western audiences, collected numerous awards, and set the path for wuxia to gain mainstream acceptance globally.
The 2000s weren’t just another chapter in martial arts cinema—they were a turning point. From Tony Jaa’s bone-crunching realism to Zhang Yimou’s balletic epics, the decade gave us films that pushed boundaries, honored traditions, and inspired a new wave of action storytelling. If you’re looking to revisit the era, these 10 films are the perfect place to start.