Like popular movies in any genre, martial arts films are likely to spawn sequels out of successful films, though they often go entirely unnoticed by all but the most die-hard fans. It's a well-recognized trope at this point that sequels usually aren't as good as the original films that inspired them, with the quality more likely to deteriorate the further down the line of cinematic succession they are. In the case of martial arts films, it's often difficult to even recognize that popular movies actually got turned into entire series in the first place.

Martial arts sequels tend to fall prey to a few strange characteristics that make it obvious in hindsight as to why they're so obscure. In many cases, the leading stars that spearhead the popularity of a given martial arts franchise don't return for follow-up films as early as the first sequel, and many martial arts sequels have nothing to do with the originals plot-wise. It's these bizarre habits that keep so many martial arts movie series that started with classic films from being recognizable as a franchise.

10 Kickboxer

Spawned A Series Of Seven Films

One of the earliest movies to introduce the amazing moves of Jean-Claude Van Damme to the world, Kickboxer holds a special place in the hearts of many martial arts movie fans. Van Damme stars as Kurt Sloane, the titular kickboxer seeking revenge on the legendary fighter Tong Po after he paralyzes his brother in a high-intensity match. Kickboxing might be a bit of an oversimplification of the featured martial art of the film, as Kickboxer was one of the earliest martial arts movies to center on Muay Thai.

Few realize that Kickboxer is actually a fully-fledged action movie series spanning a whopping seven films, including the original. The sequels aren't anywhere near as well-known due to the fact that Jean Claude Van Damme didn't return for a single one of them, though Michel Qissi did return as Tong Po in Kickboxer 2: The Road Back. Instead, the successor films introduce yet another Sloane sibling, Sasha Mitchell's David Sloane.

9 Shaolin Temple

Is Actually A Trilogy

Jet Li is another name that has rightfully become synonymous with thrilling hand-to-hand action on the silver screen, propelled in popularity thanks in part to the efforts of 1982's Shaolin Temple. Here, Li plays a newly-inducted Shaolin Monk who struggles with his vows of pacifism because of his burning desire for revenge against a tyrannical warlord who killed his father. The plot is a familiar one echoed in many other iconic martial arts movies like The 36th Chamber of Shaolin, but still rendered entertainingly.

However, Shaolin Temple was actually the beginning of a loose trilogy of name-only sequels, continued with Shaolin Temple 2: Kids from Shaolin, which put the spotlight on the pint-sized child warriors of a different Shaolin temple. Jet Li did return, thought confusingly enough, as a new character. The trilogy completed with Martial Arts of Shoalin in 1986, starring Li as yet another new Shaolin monk. Finally, the Jackie Chan-led Shaolin in 2011 is actually a remake of Shaolin Temple.

8 Tai Chi Master

Had A Little-Known Sequel

Shaolin Temple isn't the only hit film from Jet Li's filmography that got an obscure sequel. Enter Tai Chi Master, a slightly more underappreciated star vehicle from Li that tells the story of two brothers-in-arms that start as best friends, but go down radically different life paths, boiling over into a conflict that leaves them as bitter enemies. Li shows off the elusive power of Tai Chi in the film, with heavy-hitting stars like Michelle Yeoh also in attendance.

Three years later, the story spiritually continued with Tai Chi Boxer, though unlike the Shaolin Temple sequels, Jet Li wouldn't return. More of a lighthearted romantic comedy, Tai Chi Boxer does at least include reappearances from actors Lau Shun and Yu Hai, though they play different characters. Considering how different it is from the original, it's no wonder Tai Chi Boxer is such an unheard of follow-up

7 Crouching Tiger, Hidden Dragon

Nearly Had Its Legacy Ruined

Crouching Tiger, Hidden Dragon is one of the most influential martial arts movies of all time, a household name even for those unfamiliar with the genre. The 2000 wuxia epic centers on the theft of the magical Green Destiny Blade at the hands of mysterious theif Jen Yu. Both a critical masterpiece and a daring display of choreography, breathtaking cinematography, and intricate wirework, the haughty reputation of Crouching Tiger, Hidden Dragon is more than earned.

It's no wonder the seldom-seen sequel released 16 years later, Crouching Tiger, HIdden Dragon: Sword of Destiny, is so totally eclipsed by the original's mastery. Featuring Donnie Yen and a returning Michelle Yeoh, the film truly had the chance to succeed as a direct sequel centering on a new powerful sword. Sadly, critics cited awkward English-language performances, dull pacing, and action that couldn't match the brilliance of the original as reasons to nearly besmirch the franchise's legacy.

6 Drunken Master

Was Actually The Sequel To An Equally-Great Original

Drunken Master is an interesting case of mistaken identity in the confusing cross-cultural translation that is localized martial arts movie titles. The film many will as Drunken Master is easily one of Jackie Chan's best films, starring him as the lovably oafish but enigmatically skilled Wong Fei-hung as he goes up against Imperial British rulers attempting to pilfer priceless Chinese cultural artifacts in the early 20th century. Unbeknownst to many casual audiences, this film is actually a sequel in and of itself.

Because the original Drunken Master wasn't released in the United States, the film natively called Drunken Master II was marketed as simply Drunken Master in the Western world, leading to endless confusion and the realization that there already existed a whole earlier film starring Jackie Chan as Wong Fei-hung. The real first Drunken Master is an equally amazing origin story for the character's skill in the unique style of inebriated martial arts, tragically buried beneath localization confusion.

5 The 36th Chamber Of Shaolin

Inspired A Confusing Trilogy

As previously stated, Shaolin Temple was far from the only kung fu movie revolving around a Shaolin monastery that featured a new monk's struggle to rectify his old struggles with a tyrannical regime against his newfound religious vows. Arguably the most famous take on this niche subgenre of martial arts revenge film is The 36th Chamber of Shaolin, making a star out of lead Gordon Liu. The film is one big grueling training montage that culminates in Liu's character teaching Shaolin martial arts to the ordinary masses.

The 36th Chamber of Shaolin was succeeded by Return to the 36th Chamber, which saw Gordon Liu confusingly return as a new character despite a different actor taking over his previous role as San Te. To make matters even more mind-boggling, Liu actually plays an impostor monk pretending to be San Te in the second film, only to return once again to play San Te in earnest in the third movie, Disciples of the 36th Chamber. Perhaps this seemingly intentionally confusing series of casting choices is what keeps the 36th Chamber sequels so relatively unknown.

4 Ong-Bak

Is Solid Enough As A Series

Kickboxer might have been the movie that brought Muay Thai as a combat style to national attention, but it wouldn't be until 2003's Ong-Bak that an actual Thai film could unleash the true heights of Muay Thai mastery on unwitting audiences. The breakout hit film of Tony Jaa's filmography, Ong Bak has a simple, yet effective plot. Tony Jaa stars as Ting, a rural villager and Muay Thai savant who tracks down the stolen head of the village's prized Ong-Bak Buddha statue, stolen by vicious criminals.

Ong-Bak 2 changes gears quite dramatically, actually a prequel taking place in 15th-century Thailand starring Jaa as Tien, a new fighter. This film sees Jaa's Tien train himself in Muay Thai to avenge his parents' murder. Ong-Bak 3 continues Tien's story, meaning that the "trilogy" is more of a prequel duology loosely stapled to the original martial arts epic.

3 The Protector

Birthed A Seldom-Seen Sequel

Ong-Bak isn't the only Tony Jaa film to see a sequel be spun from its ideas, although The Protector duology isn't nearly as successful. Also known by its native title Tom-Yum-Goong, The Protector is yet another martial arts film making use of Tony Jaa's Muay Thai skills to retrieve a beloved symbol of Thai culture. This time around, the prized pilfered possession isn't the head of a statue, but the prized war elephants of the King of Thailand, watched over by Jaa's fearsome Kham.

The Protector 2 hardly deviates from this original set-up, seeing one of Kham's prized elephants kidnapped once again. However, this time Kham himself ends up being the real target, as the villains only use the elephant as leverage to force Kham into carrying out a dangerous political assassination. Still delivering plenty of Jaa's trademark fast action without much room for iteration, The Protector 2 is a solid enough sequel not many are aware of.

2 Fist Of Fury

Had Six Children Between Sequels And Remakes

Bruce Lee is well-known for the massive influence he had on the martial arts genre and cinema as a whole, despite only releasing a handful of completed films before his tragic ing. One of his more beloved movies, it may surprise many to know that Fist of Fury actually had six sequels, both in the form of spin-offs, reboots, and direct continuations of the original story. Speaking of, Fist of Fury's plot sees Lee's famous character Chen Zhen rise up to do battle with Imperial Japanese forces.

The first of these spin-off was released only a few years after Bruce Lee's death, with original director Lo Wei tapping into the original's legacy with a similar hero and actress Nora Miao returning as the main romantic lead. Many subsequent films went on to build upon Chen Zhen's legacy, including Donnie Yen's Fist of Legend remake. It might be hard to connect all these films together, but they all share DNA with the original Bruce Lee classic.

1 Bloodsport

Created A Legacy Of New Kumite Tournaments

Jean-Claude Van Damme may have impressed audiences with Kickboxer, but it was truly Bloodsport that marked his first breakout success as a martial arts movie lead. In Bloodsport, Vam Damme plays Frank Dux, a former U.S. Army Captain and expert in ninjutsu who gets sucked into the world of a deadly life-or-death underground martial arts tournament, the Kumite. The film still holds up as one of Van Damme's best despite being so early in his career.

Like Kickboxer, Bloodsport also sports an obscure collection of sequels that Van Damme didn't return for. Instead, the follow-up films continue to build upon the lore of the Kumite with a variety of new protagonists, even introducing a female version of the bloody underground combat ring in Lady Bloodfight. A reboot of the first film has also been in development hell for some time, meaning the initial martial arts movie might finally get more recognition for actually being a series.