However, the halfway point of the 2020s has already resulted in some incredible stories all about hand-to-hand combat.
Whatever the case, the 2020s have already produced some all-time great martial arts movies.
At once incredibly silly and deeply emotional,Everything Everywhere All at Onceis sure to be an enduring classic.
8Polite Society
Polite Society (2023) is a British action-comedy film directed by Nida Manzoor.
Released in 2021, the movie explores themes of family and legacy.
The film explores themes of justice and retribution against a backdrop of intense action sequences.
Custom Image by Ana Nieves
In Everything Everywhere All at Once, a middle-aged laundromat owner (Michelle Yeoh) is distracted from her financial and family issues by a multiversal crisis. With just her husband (Ke Huy Quan) to support her through the confusion, she must contend with her overbearing traditional father (James Hong), a pencil-pushing auditor (Jamie Lee Curtis), and her emotionally-distant daughter (Stephanie Hsu).
Fist of the Condor is a martial arts film from writer-director Ernesto Diaz Espinoza and stars martial artist Marko Zaror as the lead. The film follows the legacy of an ancient manuscript that contains the details of a powerful and deadly martial arts guide limited to a select few worthy enough to wield it. Now, a group of new martial artists is searching for this book to become the best martial artists the world has ever seen.
The Paper Tigers follows three middle-aged men reigniting their martial arts prowess to avenge their deceased master. Released in 2020, the film explores themes of camaraderie and redemption, set against a backdrop of nostalgia and martial arts culture.
Shang-Chi and the Legend of the Ten Rings: This film introduces Simu Liu as Shang-Chi, part of the Marvel Cinematic Universe. Confronted by his past, he becomes entangled with the mysterious Ten Rings organization, which challenges his identity and abilities. Released in 2021, the movie explores themes of family and legacy.
The Swordsman, released in 2020, follows the story of Joseon’s finest swordsman who, after losing his sight in a royal coup, retreats from society. His quiet life is disrupted when his daughter is kidnapped by traffickers, compelling him to take up his sword again to rescue her.
Sakra, directed by Donnie Yen and Ka-Wai Kam, follows a renowned martial artist accused of murder. As he seeks to uncover the truth about his mysterious origins, he confronts unknown adversaries intent on his destruction.
Raging Fire is an action thriller directed by Benny Chan, focusing on Cheung Sung-bong, a respected cop who faces a personal and professional challenge when a former protégé returns, intent on seeking revenge. The film explores themes of justice and retribution against a backdrop of intense action sequences.
In this 2021 adaptation of the classic video game franchise, Mortal Kombat follows MMA fighter Cole Young, who finds himself targeted by Outworld’s Emperor Shang Tsung, who has sent his best warrior, Sub-Zero, an otherworldly Cryomancer, to hunt him down. Learning of his heritage, he finds himself joining the likes of special forces members Sonya Blade, Jackson “Jax” Briggs, and others as they discover they may be Earth’s last line of defense from a hellish invasion from another realm.
Monkey Man is a 2024 action-thriller film directed by and starring Dev Patel. Following his release from prison, a man known as “Kid” makes a living by engaging in anonymous underground fights in a mask where he is beaten down each night. However, after witnessing greed and corruption consuming his city, Kid breaks into the upper echelon of society to find those who destroyed his life and take them down.
