10 Best Funny Martial Arts Movies, Ranked

There are certainly some action movies that benefit from having a serious story. After all, if viewers can get emotionally involved in a story with lots of fighting and bombastic action, they're more likely to find it exciting and engaging. And the filmmakers behind action movies want action fans to believe what they see on screen and get wrapped up in the spectacle of what they're watching.

It's only natural that even the most serious action movies have some comic relief here and there, but there are some notable movies that go way beyond that. Each of these films qualifies as a classic martial arts film, with fun and memorable action, while accomplishing the task of combining that action with fantastic comedy.. For martial arts fans who want to experience fun fight scenes while having a good laugh, these movies are easy to recommend.

10 “Project A” (1983)

Directed by Jackie Chan

Few martial arts stars also mix comedy and action Jackie Chan tin. Not all of his classic action films are comedies either (and some, like Police historymay not be “real” martial arts movies either), but many offer fight comedies and goofballs in equal measure, with Project A being one of the best among them.

It's one of his sillier films, featuring a story that pits Chan's character against pirates and the British forces who ruled Hong Kong in the late 1800s, and as a result, it's surprisingly wide-ranging. . It's highly entertaining from start to finish and offers everything a Jackie Chan fan could want from one of his films..

Rent on Apple TV

9 'Big Trouble in Little China' (1986)

Directed by John Carpenter

It's unfair to label John Carpenter only as a horror director, which is what happens sometimes, thanks to his two best-known films being the original Halloween and 1982 The thing. However, he has done much more besides these two iconic horror films with the cult classic Big problems in little China being perhaps his film with more genres.

It's a wild and entertaining mix of fantasy, martial arts and comedy, centered on a hapless truck driver who finds himself embroiled in a supernatural conflict that most of the outside world seems completely unaware of. It may have been too weird for audiences at the time of its release, but it has since found an audience that admires it for the unique and highly enjoyable mix of action and slapstick comedy it delivers.

8 'Miracles' (1989)

Directed by Jackie Chan

miracles is one of Jackie Chan's most underrated films, and also one of his most unique, standing out within his body of work. It combines a gangster story with the kind of action and comedy you'd expect from a Jackie Chan filmit's just that they're a little more muted than usual, and their story has some more serious moments than you might expect.

It is about a young man who accidentally becomes the head of a criminal gang and various consequences arising from the strange turn of events. It's very ambitious, and while it may not be for every Jackie Chan fan, you have to admire what it goes for. And, in any case, when a well-choreographed action is staged, it does.

Look at Max

7 'Kung Fury' (2015)

Directed by David Sandberg

Like the name somewhat similar Kung Pow, Kung Fury It also exists as a parody of the martial arts genre, though it offers more satisfying action than that 2002 film that some might compare it to. That said, the story is still absolutely ridiculous, and it involves a man named Kung Fury who travels back in time to pull off the movie version of this. Adolf Hitlera kung fu master also known as “Kung Führer”.

If it sounds like the stupidest thing ever, that's because it is, but this short film is naturally more than aware of that.. Kung FuryThe sprawling sci-fi comedy may not be to everyone's taste just yet, but given that it's only half an hour long, viewers don't have too much to lose to give it a shot.

6 “The Seventh Curse” (1986)

Directed by Lam Ngai Kai

The Seventh Curse coincidentally it came out the same year as Big problems in little China, and it feels somewhat relatable, thanks to its supernatural story and genre-blending. However, it arguably veers even further into genre-blending territory than Carpenter's film, being an over-the-top, unpredictable spectacle that seems to morph into a new kind of movie every scene or two.

There are shootouts, martial arts fights, adventure, horror, fantasy and comedy., all in a film that is only 78 minutes long. It's admirable that a film can do so much and still feel somewhat coherent… well, coherent enough to keep track of as it gleefully bounces from genre to genre, challenging you to keep up the rhythm

Look at Tubi

5 “Kung Pow: Enter the Fist” (2002)

Directed by Steve Oedekerk

A spoof of old martial arts movies that is funny because of the random combination of everything, Kung Pow: Enter the fist it may not be for everyone. The writer, director and star of the film was digitally inserted into an old 1976 martial arts film called Tiger Fists and Cranewith the characters of this film also redoubled with humor.

The result is one of the most gleefully stupid movies of the 21st century so far, but parts of it are ridiculously funny.. Much of the comedy undermines the pre-existing martial arts action scenes, with the new “action scenes” (like the one where the hero fights a cow) being too silly to be exciting as action scenes. 'legit action… but at the end of the day, it's still technically a martial arts movie.

Rent on Apple TV

4 “Everything Everywhere Everything At Once” (2022)

Directed by Daniel Kwan and Daniel Scheinert

It has become one of the best movies of 2022, Everywhere Everything at once lives up to its title by offering viewers the entire genre, all at once. This is a film that uses the ever-popular idea of ​​multi-verse fiction better than anything that came before it, with the multiple dimensions allowing for endless opportunities for creative action and humor.

That it also finds time to be a heartfelt and emotional story about family and finding a place in the world makes it even better. Over-the-top action and ridiculous humor can be the most entertaining of the momentbut it's the characters and the emotional plot of the film that will hook you the most once it's over.

3 “Riki-Oh: The Story of Ricky” (1991)

Directed by Lam Ngai Kai

while Riki-Oh: Ricky's Story it certainly wouldn't be to everyone's taste, it's easy to see why it's become a cult classic. The film centers on Ricky (naturally), a man who finds himself in a brutal prison that he tries to fight his way out of, enduring and inflicting a great deal of pain on others in the process.

This might be one of the bloodiest martial arts movies of all time, feeling a bit like a B-grade horror movie, with all the blood and gore thrown around. Luckily, it's tonally very comedic, which can make all the ultraviolence easier to handle. Still, those who are curious would probably want to stream a movie like this, because words can't convey how ridiculously violent it is.

Look at Criterion

2 'Kung Fu Hustle' (2004)

Directed by Stephen Chow

Kung Fu Hustle is one of the clearest and best examples of a simple martial arts movie that's also a lot of fun. It wouldn't be right to call it a parody of martial arts movies; more that it goes so far that becomes almost like a live-action cartoon and maintains a frenetic pace and energy throughout its running time.

The plot involves a large series of fights that take place in a slum in China during the 1940s, with eccentric and outlandish characters on both sides. Numerous fighters basically have superpowers, and it's impressive how many ways the film finds to surprise its viewers and keep them on their toes.

1 'The Legend of the Drunken Master' (1994)

Directed by Lau Kar-leung

It's not only that The legend of the drunken masterJackie Chan's best action comedy, but it might as well be his best movie, period. It's kind of a sequel to 1978 drunk teacherand centers on a young martial artist who practices Drunken Boxing against a group of villains trying to steal Chinese artifacts for international markets.

It has action that has to be seen to be believed, with all the important fight scenes better than the last one. A memorable sequence about halfway through features Chan fighting what looks like a small army while armed with nothing but bamboo, and then the more personal one-on-one fights in the climax are also spectacular. It has great action and comedy throughout, condensing all that is great about Jackie Chan into one satisfying film.

Rent on Apple TV

NEXT: The Best Martial Arts Movies of All Time, Ranked by IMDb