Theactiongenre is an integral part of cinema, filling audiences up with exhilarating car chases, over-the-top explosions, and explosive shoot-outs. Yet, perhaps the best action movies come in the form of the utterly impressive martial arts sub-genre. The genre is full of brilliantly crafted fight scenes that are completely elevated by the incredible action stars we see beating up waves and waves of enemies.
The best and most impressive action stars in the genre have an intricate history with martial arts in its many forms, from either competing professionally or just plainly because they have trained in the arts ever since they were young. Their vast history with martial arts allows for some undeniably exceptional action scenes that made us fall in love with these stars. So with that in mind, here are the best movie martial artists.
10Iko Uwais
The Raidis by farone of the best martial arts moviesof all time, which has made Eastern martial arts movies far more mainstream.The action is phenomenal, and its stars, likeIko Uwais, that helped garnerThe Raidits success. The Indonesian martial artist not only performs his own stunts and action, but Uwais, much like most of the stars on this list, also choreographs each one of his fight scenes, making them feel far more authentic and fluid.
Uwais first appeared inMerendau,which led the film’s director, Gareth Evans, to cast him as the lead in both Raid movies due to his charisma, on-screen presence, and of course, his rapid martial arts style. Since, Uwais has appeared in movies likeBeyond Skyline,Headshot,The Night Comes For Us, andMile 22.
Related:The Best Modern Day Action Stars, Ranked
9Scott Adkins
Scott Adkinsis without a doubt one of themost underrated martial arts starsin cinema, whose impressive physicality and brutal choreography deserves much more praise. Best known for his role as Yuri Boyka in theUndisputedfranchise, Adkins has an impressive martial arts background, where he is fully trained in the arts of Judo, Taekwondo, Capoeira, Ninjitsu, Karate, and Jujitsu, among many more.
Mostly featuring in straight-to-DVD action extravaganzas, Adkins has starred in a total of four movies with fellow martial arts expert, Jean-Claude Van Damme. Likewise, Adkins played the protagonist in bothNinjamovies, and was featured in a handful of superhero movies, with the likes ofDoctor StrangeandX-Men Origins: Wolverine, being his most recognizable. Adkins is set to appear in the upcomingJohn Wick: Chapter 4, which promises the best action scenes in the franchise.
Tony Jaaburst onto the screen with his brutal choreography and stunt work in movies such asThe Protectorand most famously,Ong-Bak: Muay Thai Warrior. His martial arts style is unique and incredibly entertaining, as Jaa never holds back on his fellow stunt performers, kicking them straight in the face, as well as dropping elbows at full speed onto their skulls. We are just glad we aren’t on the receiving end. Jaa hasn’t had as much reach with casual audiences, yet his work in Eastern cinema is legendary, and his martial arts movies are among the best in the genre. Appearing in movies likeFurious 7,Monster Hunter, andSPL II: A Time For Consequences.
7Chuck Norris
Chuck Norrisis the epitome of awesome. With his number of black belts in martial arts, including Karate, Tang Soo Doo, and Taekwondo, Norris has beaten his foes to a pulp in the most Chuck Norris way possible. Norris has fly-kicked a bad guy through the windshield of a moving car, shot someone with a bazooka at point-blank range, and has broken a goon’s nose, fixed it, and broke it again. First appearing opposite Bruce Lee inThe Way of The Dragon, Norris more than proved himself as a movie martial artist, which led the star to become one of the biggest names in action. His roles have includedWalker: Texas Ranger,Lone Wolf McQuade,Missing in Action, andThe Expendables 2.
6Jean-Claude Van Damme
Jean-Claude Van Damme in Bloodsport (1988)
As the most flexible man in Hollywood,Jean-Claude Van Dammehas consistently shown audiences why he is the best of the best. Kicking countless foes, while always showing off his jaw-dropping splits, and on occasion, busting out some awesome dance moves. Most famous for his roles inUniversal Soldier,Timecop,Double Impact, and of course,Bloodsport, Van Damme earned his black belt in Karate by the age of 18, where he later mastered Taekwondo and Muay Thai. Also known as “The Muscles from Brussels”, JCVD also trained in ballet, claiming that ballet “is an art, but it’s also one of the most difficult sports. If you’re able to survive a ballet workout, you can survive a workout in any other sport.”
Jet Liwas one of the biggest action stars of the ’90s and the early 2000s, appearing in classic martial arts movies, includingHero,Fearless,The One,and the thirdMummymovie. As a retired Wushu champion, Jet Li has more than earned his place among the best in the industry, whose stardom led him to eventually joinThe Expendables, alongside some of action’s most iconic stars. Li has more than showcased his impeccable skills as a martial artist, following in the footsteps of Bruce Lee and Jackie Chan. Throughout his career, Li has gone up against great martial artists like Jackie Chan and Donnie Yen on more than one occasion.
4Michelle Yeoh
Michelle Yeohis without a doubt one ofthe most beloved martial arts starsof all time, and her brilliant filmography only proves why. A now-Oscar nominee for her performance in the recentEverything Everywhere All At Once, Michelle Yeoh became a fan favorite overseas with her role as the awesome Yu Shu Lien in the martial arts classicCrouching Tiger Hidden Dragon, and returned to her iconic role 16 years later for the sequel,Sword of Destiny. Since then, Yeoh has shown off her impressive martial arts in Hollywood classics. She’s appeared inTomorrow Never Dies,The Mummy: Tomb of The Emperor, and more recently, in the martial arts extravaganzaShang-Chi and The Legend of The Ten Rings, all without mentioning her spectacular role in themultiverse epic,Everything Everywhere All at Once.
3Donnie Yen
Donnie Yenis a martial arts star that has been around for many years, with audiences everywhere surely recognizing him from a plethora of martial arts classics. Donnie Yen’s no-holds-barred and incredibly fast choreography ranks him among the best in the business. Most famously known for his role as the Ip Man in theIp Manfranchise, Donnie Yen has made appearances inA Rogue One: A Star Wars Story,Shanghai Knights,alongside Jackie Chan, andBlade 2. Yen’s work as a stuntman at the start of his career quickly allowed the star into many lead roles, showcasing his many proficient styles of martial arts that make Yen such a memorable martial artist.
Related:Best Martial Arts Movies of the 2000s, Ranked
2Jackie Chan
Jackie Chan’s legend is quite incomparable. Not only being an incredibly talented martial artist, Chan is mostly known for his incredibly damaging stunt work, breaking almost every bone in his body, burning himself numerous times, and almost killing himself way too many times.
Jackie Chan’s turns inThe Drunken Master,Police Story, andRumble in The Bronx, cemented his action star prowess. However, unlike usual martial arts stars known for their sheer brutality and ruthlessness, Jackie Chan is a genuinely fun guy. Often fillinghis action with fun and creative choreography, swinging through ladders, fighting with an umbrella, and poking many bad guys in the eyes. Chan is a hilarious martial artist whose most delightful work can be found in movies likeThe Rush Hourtrilogy, theShanghaiduology, andThe Forbidden Kingdom,alongside close friend Jet Li.
1Bruce Lee
Who else but “The Dragon'' himself?Bruce Leecould top this list of incredibly talented martial artists. Everything we know and love about the martial arts sub-genre is all thanks to Bruce Lee. Gifting the world with some of the best martial arts movies of all time, withEnter The Dragon,Way of The Dragon, andFist of Fury. Lee’s fast-paced and immeasurable martial arts helped make his movies more than iconic. Lee is by far one of the most accomplished martial artists on the planet. He mastered Kung Fu, created numerous martial arts styles (including Jun Fan, Gung Fu, and Jeet Kune Do), wrote a handful of books, and trained westerners in the arts of Chinese martial arts, which at the time, were frowned upon. Bruce Lee is a legend, whose life was tragically cut short at the age of 32, yet his spirit and impact on the industry will live on forever
