Summary

• Mixing fantasy elements in martial arts films creates an immersive world and adds excitement to the story.
• Technological advancements have improved the execution of fantasy in martial arts films.
• Martial arts films that incorporate fantasy elements can still receive critical acclaim and recognition for their unique concepts.

Mixing fantasy elements into a martial arts film creates an exciting opportunity for world-building and heightened stakes for the film's characters. These fantastical elements, such as magic, monsters, and fictional settings, can sometimes be pulled from legends and mythology originating in Asia. Examples of this include well-known ghosts and demons in Journey to the West and the popular story of Mulan.

Fantasy within East Asian cinema is not new, as the genre of wuxia has roots going as far back as 300-200 BC. Though it's not a required element in modern wuxia cinema, films in the genre tend to include fantasy elements in their stories, such as supernatural creatures and magical powers. In more recent years, the addition of fantasy to martial arts films has been executed better than ever, due to technological advancements. This has led to films in this genre receiving acclaim, such as Everything Everywhere All At Once, despite how absurd the concepts may seem on the surface.

10 Double World (2020)

Directed by Teddy Chan

Double World follows the competition between the eight clans of Southern Zhao fighting for a Field Marshal position. The film includes well-executed action sequences as of each clan compete in challenges such as retrieving an egg from the lair of a snake-like beast. This creature is named the Beast King and is just one of the many fantastical elements present in Double World. In addition to its fantasy lore, the film as a whole is a visual delight, immersing audiences in the fictional setting with its costume design and set pieces.

9 Reign Of Assassins (2010)

Directed by Su Chao-pin and John Woo

As one of the many action films starring Michelle Yeoh, Reign of Assassins follows Yeoh's character, Drizzle, as she attempts to turn her life around and go undetected by the Dark Stone gang she was previously part of. Drizzle has a dead monk's remains and Dark Stone gang are sent after her to retrieve them. The remains are said to be magical, allowing whoever possesses them to be in control of the martial arts realm. Combined with fantasy elements, Reign of Assassins also utilizes impressive sword-fighting sequences.

8 Everything Everywhere All At Once (2022)

Directed by Daniel Kwan and Daniel Scheinert

Everything Everywhere All at Once blends a variety of genres, including comedy, drama, fantasy, and martial arts. The film follows Evelyn Wang through multiple dimensions to save the multiverse from being destroyed by Jobu Tupaki. The film wonderfully integrates the concept of the multiverse within a heartfelt story. Never leaning too far into one concept over the others, Everything Everywhere All at Once provides audiences with engaging, action-packed fight sequences, whilst confronting concepts such as family, nihilism, and human connection. Highly praised by audiences and critics, the film took home the Academy Award for Best Picture in 2023.

7 Shaolin Soccer (2001)

Directed by Stephen Chow

Shaolin Soccer is a comedy film about soccer players with superhuman martial arts skills. Two teams, Team Shaolin and Team Evil, consist of players with superhuman powers that ultimately lead to an entertaining match that's both hilarious and impressive due to its martial arts choreography. Shaolin Soccer includes practices of Tai chi and kung fu during the soccer games, providing audiences with an impressive showdown.

6 Mulan: Rise Of A Warrior (2009)

Directed by Jingle Ma

As with most popular folk legends, a variety of adaptions can be found, and the 2009 film Mulan: Rise of a Warrior, takes a different approach compared to Disney's animated version. Pulled from a Chinese legend, the story of Mulan is one of a girl who takes her elderly father's place in the war by disguising herself and concealing her female identity. Mulan: Rise of a Warrior has a darker, more emotional approach to the story and the film spends more time with Mulan, taking a closer look at her feelings during her time in the war.

5 Hero (2002)

Directed by Zhang Yimou

In Hero, Nameless, played by iconic martial arts actor Jet Li, meets with the king to discuss how he killed three assassins who were after the king. Nameless recounts each of the fights against the assassins, including one against the assassin named Long Sky, but the king is skeptical. The fight between Nameless and Long Sky is unpredictable, but it's one of the many compelling martial arts sequences employed throughout the film. The film has minor elements of fantasy, such as when an assassin named Flying Snow can control the fallen leaves around her as an advantage during a fight.

4 Zu Warriors From The Magic Mountain (1983)

Directed by Tsui Hark

Zu Warriors from the Magic Mountain brings the genres of fantasy and martial arts together to create an entertaining film. The film involves fights against creatures such as vampires, demons, and ghosts, to save the world from evil. Due to the year of its release, the film's special effects aren't the best, as wires can be seen throughout. Still, Zu Warriors is recognized as being a prominent film during the era of utilizing modern technology. While it's not too concerned with coherent plot details, the humor, action, and characters provide audiences with an exciting time.

3 Journey To The West: Conquering The Demons (2013)

Directed by Stephen Chow and Derek Kwok

Journey to the West: Conquering the Demons is a comedic adaption, loosely based on a classic novel in Chinese literature. The film follows Tang Sanzang as he fights against demons trying to attack a village. Sanzang comes across three demon creatures: a giant fish that eats the village people, a vicious pig that can shapeshift into a human, and a merciless monkey. Critics praised the film for its set pieces, action sequences, and comedy, all reminiscent of Stephen Chow's previous work.

2 Mortal Kombat (2021)

Directed by Simon McQuoid

Mortal Kombat is based on a video game series of the same name and acts as a new take on the 1995 film of the same name. Much like the video game series, Mortal Kombat includes heavy use of fighting sequences, though the fighting was a letdown for fans of the franchise who had high hopes of finally getting an impressive fight scene in a live-action film. While the film contained many disappointments for longtime fans, it's a staple within the genre and the errors leave room for improvements, such as the introduction of Johnny Cage in Mortal Kombat 2.

1 The Forbidden Kingdom (2008)

Directed by Rob Minkoff

The Forbidden Kingdom follows Jason, a teenager, who's obsessed with kung fu cinema and happens to discover a weapon of the Monkey King, transporting him back to ancient China for an adventure of his own. The film pairs two celebrated martial arts stars together for the first time, Jackie Chan and Jet Li, as they partake in exciting fight sequences. The Forbidden Kingdom is another loose adaptation of the novel Journey to the West, featuring an assortment of fantasy characters, ideally intertwining fantasy with martial arts choreography.