Many martialarts filmsseek to entertain audiences with more than just their flashy action sequences by incorporating humorous plots, eccentric characters, and over-the-top displays of martial arts. The funniest martial arts movies don’t take their stories or action too seriously, but that isn’t to say audiences aren’t in for a treat in terms of impressive choreography.
While delightfully comedic,these films also include well-orchestrated fight choreography throughout, amazing audiences with their innovation and scale. The stunts and martial arts sequences are performed by some of the action subgenre’s biggest stars, like Jackie Chan. The actor’s filmography is packed with memorable martial arts comedies, many of which have had an influence on the similar types of films that followed. For audiences looking to be entertained by silly martial arts antics, these movies are essential viewing.
Mr. Vampire
Cast
Mr. Vampire, released in 1985, is a Hong Kong comedy horror film centered around a Taoist priest and his two disciples as they attempt to stop a resurrected vampire. The film features supernatural elements and martial arts, blending humor with traditional Chinese folklore involving hopping vampires.
Comedy, horror, and martial arts come together in wonderful ways in the Sammo Hung-producedMr. Vampire.The film draws inspiration from the Chinese folklore creature, the jiangshi, who is a mixed creature comparable to what global audiences know to be zombies and vampires. The horror comedy sees Taoist priest Master Kau (Lam Ching-ying) team up with his disciples to face a threatening jiangshi intent on wreaking havoc on those around them.
While Master Kau has supernatural abilities that aid him in this fight, the supporting figures in his life are less skilled and serve as the film’s comedic relief.Mr. Vampireis a seminal film in the jiangshi genre, as it popularized such movies with audiences around the world and established many of the clichés seen throughout the genre in the following years.The success and cult classic status ofMr. Vampirealso resulted in sequel films that are unrelated narratively, but connected through their themes.
The Last Dragon
The Last Dragon follows a young martial artist seeking to attain the ultimate mastery level known as “the glow.” During his quest, he faces an evil martial arts adversary and attempts to save a singer from a relentless music promoter. Released in 1985, the film blends action and storytelling.
Earning a mixed response from critics after its mid-’80s release,The Last Dragonis now considered a cult classic, and it’s easy to see why. The film ties together components of action films, comedies, music videos, and romance movies to mostly successful results.The Last Dragonrevolves around a young martial artist living in New York City, Leroy Green (Taimak), with aspirations of becoming as seasoned as his idol Bruce Lee.
ThroughoutThe Last Dragon, audiences witness Leroy fight for love and discover a bit about himself along the way.The absurdity of the movie certainly doesn’t work for everyone, but it’s the film’s quirky tone that’s allowed it to garner such a strong following over the years. In the action sequences and characterization of Leroy, it’s clear just how knowledgeable and appreciative those involved withThe Last Dragonare of martial arts films.
The Magnificent Butcher
The Magnificent Butcher is a martial arts film featuring Lam Sai-Wing, a student of Wong Fei Hung, who becomes entangled with the rival Five Dragons kung-fu school. Accused of grave misdeeds, including assault and murder, Lam must navigate the ensuing conflict led by the vengeful Ko, head of Five Dragons.
Inspired by the success ofDrunken Masterfrom the year before,The Magnificent Butcherfeatures the same legendary Chinese folk heroes, Wong Fei-hung (Kwan Tak-hing) and Beggar So (Fan Mei-sheng).The film sees Sammo Hung’s Lam Sai-wing learn from the two martial artists in an attempt to perfect his kung fu skills. Hung’s physicality is impressive, and his comedic timing makesThe Magnificent Butchera necessary watch for audiences looking to laugh.
WhileDrunken Master’s inspired and replicated elements are apparent in Hung’s film, the latter didn’t earn as immediate a positive response.However,The Magnificent Butcheris now viewed positively by audiences and fans of Sammo Hung, and rightfully so.The martial arts comedy has a lot going for it, including thrilling action sequences, a memorable performance from Hung, and, of course, an abundance of comedic moments.
Shaolin Soccer
Shaolin Soccer: Released in 2001, this film follows a once-promising follower of Shaolin martial arts who convenes with his estranged brothers to create a soccer team. They harness their martial arts prowess on the field, merging their skills with the game in pursuit of victory.
While he’s often the actor mostly heavily tied to the entertaining mix of genres, there have been quite a few successfulmartial arts comedies that don’t star Jackie Chan, includingShaolin Soccer.The early 2000s martial arts film sees a kung fu expert and former monk,Sing (Stephen Chow), reunite a group of friends for an intense soccer game in an attempt to introduce Shaolin kung fu to a large audience.
Sing and his teammates are all equipped with superhuman abilities, which elevates the stakes of the final soccer game and produces an exciting and over-the-top display of martial arts.The boldness of the film’s action sequences is balanced out with the heartfelt romance subplot and the charm of the movie’s characters.Throughout the years, the fun mix of sports movie tropes and martial arts has transformed Stephen Chow’sShaolin Soccerinto a beloved cult film.
Big Trouble in Little China
Big Trouble in Little China is a 1986 action comedy directed by John Carpenter. Kurt Russell stars as Jack Burton, a truck driver who attempts to rescue his friend Wang Chi’s fiancée from the clutches of an evil sorcerer named David Lo Pan.
John Carpenter and Kurt Russellhave teamed up a few times over the years, with their best film together arguably beingThe Thing.While Carpenter is celebrated and beloved for his work in the horror genre,Big Trouble in Little Chinais the director’s genuine attempt at making a martial arts movie, and the results are pleasantly amusing. The film follows Russell’s truck driver, Jack Burton, after he gets caught up in a supernatural battle against the villainous sorcerer Lo Pan (James Hong).
Big Trouble in Little China’s somewhat confusing mix of martial arts, fantasy, and comedy didn’t translate to commercial success at the time of its release, but the film has since gone on to become a cult classic.The film is undeniably funny and can also be appreciated for its unique traits that set it apart from other movies in Carpenter’s filmography.
The trio of Jackie Chan, Yuen Biao, and Sammo Hung have starred in a handful of films together throughout the years.Though opinions will differ about which of their on-screen collaborations is the best, the martial arts comedyWheels on Mealsis certainly beloved by the actors' fans, and for good reason. Though it isn’t often considered one ofChan’s best martial arts comedies, it is still a hilarious action film that provides audiences with a good time.
Wheels on Mealscenters around restaurant owners and cousins Thomas (Chan) and David (Yuen Biao), and the adventure they embark on with their friend Moby (Sammo Hung) in an attempt to save a young woman (Lola Forner). The trio of actors' friendship in real-life plays well within the comedic tone of the movie, thoughWheels on Mealsis not without its impressive action.The finalfight between Chan and Benny Urquidezis considered one of the best fight scenes of the former’s career.
Kung Fu Hustle
Kung Fu Hustle is a 2004 martial arts comedy directed by Stephen Chow, set in 1940s Shanghai. It follows small-time criminals Sing and Bone, who aspire to join the infamous Axe Gang but inadvertently provoke powerful kung fu masters, leading to a conflict that reveals hidden talents and unlikely heroes.
FollowingShaolin Soccerfrom a few years prior, Stephen Chow co-wrote, directed, and starred inKung Fu Hustle.An even wackier film thanShaolin Soccer, the 2004 follow-up by Chow is completely ridiculous in all the best ways.The film follows an aspiring gangster (Chow) who hopes to join the infamous Axe Gang, and is full of references to other films, and over-the-top, borderline cartoonish, fight choreography supervised by the legendary Yuen Woo-ping.
Kung Fu Hustle’s pacing and action are energetic and non-stop, but audiences will rarely grow tired of the constant excitement within the movie. This is partly due to the film being incredibly well-balanced with a charming protagonist in Chow’s character, oddball side characters, and a surprising amount of heart. One ofthe best martial arts films of the 2000s,Kung Fu Hustlehas a strong and captivating story and is unabashedly funny at the same time.
Drunken Master
Drunken Master is a martial arts film featuring Jackie Chan as a mischievous young man who is sent to train under a rigorously unorthodox old beggar. Released in 1978, it follows his journey to mastering the Drunken Fist fighting style amidst comedic and action-packed encounters.
One ofYuen Woo-ping’s best filmsand an important entry in Jackie Chan’s filmography,Drunken Masteris a highly influential martial arts comedy that helped establish the actor as a promising star.Throughout his career,Chan has portrayed martial artist and folk hero Wong Fei-hungnumerous times, most notably asDrunken Master’s fictionalized version of the iconic figure. In the film, Wong learns the ways of drunken boxing from Beggar So (Yuen Siu-Tin).
Drunken Master’s influence is not only apparent in the martial arts comedies that followed, but in the action subgenre as a whole. Regarded as one ofthe best martial arts movies of the ’70s, the film’s effortless blend of slapstick comedy and precise martial arts choreography has resulted in a positive response from critics and audiences alike. Chan, whose filmography consists of films with a similar tone, is a wildly entertaining protagonist who keeps audiences laughing.
