The only thing more entertaining than singing about fighting is seeing it. However, there is a wide range of other fighting movies available. There are fighting movies with whatever you want in them, such as Kung Fu movies, MMA movies, boxer movies, or simply comedy or action movies with fantastic fight sequences.
Everyone was fighting Kung Fu! Huh! Those kicks were lightning quick! Ha! Kung Fu Fighting, performed by Carl Douglas, is one of the most catchy songs ever. You can’t help but jump up, sing along, and maybe execute a couple of your own karate techniques while dancing every time it comes on.
I’ve developed a list of the 15 finest fighting movies of all time with a range of these genres in mind. I’ve included movies with more serious fighting as well as movies with a more comical perspective on fighting. Whatever your interests are, you should be able to find something you appreciate in the list below.
Top 15 Best Fighting Movies Updated In 2022
Here is the list of the top 15 best fighting movies updated in 2022
1. Rocky Franchise
If you were to ask the Family Feud question, “Describe your favourite fighting Movies,” I’m sure Rocky would be near the top of the list. It’s a timeless classic. We’ve all heard about it or know someone who has.
You’re picturing Rocky Balboa sprinting up those steps and pumping his fist, aren’t you? Rocky has spawned seven sequels, with the incredible Sylvester Stallone portraying Rocky in all eight films, writing seven of them, and directing four of them.
Everything is in the fighting movies! They contain incredible bouts between Rocky and his numerous opponents, as well as between Donnie Creed and his opponents in the later films. To fight wonderfully, they must train amazingly, hence there are numerous training sequences, including the aforementioned renowned ones.
There are legendary and endearing villains, such as Russian Ivan Drago, who invented the phrase “If he dies, he dies.” And, of course, Rocky, like every good combat film, has a fantastic soundtrack.
2. The Karate Kid Franchise
You can’t discuss combat movies without including The Karate Kid. It has become such a cult object that it is frequently cited in various films and television series, such as How I Met Your Mother. The Karate Kid series consists of five films: The Karate Kid (1984), The Karate Kid Part II (1986), The Karate Kid Part III (1989), The Next Karate Kid (1994), and The Karate Kid Part IV (1996). (2010).
The Karate Kid (1984) features Daniel LaRusso, who develops a romance with Ali after being forced to relocate to Los Angeles. This irritates her ex-boyfriend, Johnny. Unfortunately for Daniel, Johnny has a black belt in karate and beats him up. Mr. Miyagi saves Daniel by agreeing to train him in karate so that he may beat Johnny in a karate tournament, in the hopes that this will prevent Johnny from beating Daniel up in the future.
Stars and cult figures were born with Ralph Macchio as Daniel, Pat Morita as Mr. Miyagi, and William Zabka as Johnny. The combat in each film is fantastic, and if you haven’t already seen it, you should.
3. Drunken Master
You got me there. I like comedy. But what could be more amusing than drunken brawls? That isn’t the only funny thing in Drunken Master, but it’s certainly towards the top of the list.
In Drunken Master, we get to watch Jackie Chan’s legendary “drunken boxing.” The term “drunken boxing,” also known as “drunken fist” or “Zui Quan,” refers to any Chinese martial arts system that “imitates the actions of a drunk person.”
This film was so well-received that it spawned a sequel, Drunken Master II, as well as other spin-offs. Any martial arts film starring Jackie Chan is certain to be stunning, but in Drunken Master, Jackie Chan was joined by legendary martial arts film performers Yuen Siu-tien and Hwang Jang-lee.
4. Kill Bill
You won’t find greater action than Quentin Tarentino, and his martial arts movies Kill Bill: Volume 1 and Kill Bill: Volume 2 demonstrate this more than ever.
The Kill Bill films, starring the stunning and strong Uma Thurman, depict a woman seeking vengeance. Beatrice “The Bride” Kiddo has vowed vengeance on the Deadly Viper Assassination Squad and its commander, Bill, for attempting to kill her and her unborn child.
Bill shot her in the head after she told him she was pregnant with his kid. Four years later, she is still doing all she can to track down and murder these individuals. The bride, Uma Thurman, is genuinely unstoppable.
While the action is fantastic, the cast is equally spectacular. The assassins are played by Lucy Liu, Michael Madesen, Daryl Hannah, and Vivica A. Fox.
5. Ip Man: Kung Fu Master
If you like Kung Fu movies, you’ve probably heard of the Ip Man franchise. The movies, which follow the life of Ip Man, a Wing Chun Grandmaster and Bruce Lee’s real-life Kung Fu teacher, are packed with great Kung Fu bouts as well as other stunning clashes against diverse combat techniques, such as Kung Fu vs. Boxing and Kung Fu vs. Karate.
Ip Man (2008), Ip Man 2 (2010), Ip Man 3 (2015), Ip Man 4 (2019), The Legend is Born: Ip Man (2010), Ip Man: The Final Fight (2013), and Ip Man: Kung Fu Master (2019) are all part of the Ip Man series, as is an Ip Man TV programme. However, not all films are created in partnership with one another.
The Ip Man films 1–4 are all connected, with Donnie Yen playing Ip Man in all of them. For many fans of the franchise, Donnie Yen is the one and only Ip Man, as he is the best at playing the part.
The following three films are completely separate from the previous four films, as well as from one another, and focus on different aspects of Ip Man’s life. Ip Man is also played by a variety of performers, including Kung Fu World Champion Dennis To and Anthony Wong.
6. Warrior
Warrior, another family drama, follows the fictitious storey of brothers Tommy and Brendan Conlon, who both fight MMA but with very different approaches. When their paths collide in the finals of an MMA event, the climax happens. Both brothers deal with their history of troubles with their alcoholic and formerly abusive father throughout the film.
Tommy, a former Marine, returns home after his deployment. On his first day at the gym, he knocks out a professional fighter, giving him an “entry” to an upcoming MMA event. He strikes an agreement with his father to train him in exchange for his father’s pledge not to try to reunite with him.
At the same time, Brendon is struggling to make ends meet. He attends MMA contests to pay for his daughter’s heart surgery, which eventually leads him to the same tournament his brother is in.
The excellent performances of Tom Hardy as Tommy, Joel Edgerton as Brendan, and Nick Nolte as their father, Paddy, also contribute to the success of this film. Plus, the combat is incredible, with Edgerton employing a Jiu-Jitsu-based fighting technique and Hardy battling with pure muscle, knocking out opponents left and right.
7. The Fighter
The Fighter is based on the real-life experiences of professional boxer Micky Ward and his half-brother, Dicky Eklund, who is his trainer after being a successful boxer himself but becoming addicted to crack.
Micky wants to quit the world of boxing after suffering a crushing defeat in a battle staged by his mother. His family, however, is opposed to this because they all rely on him for money. Dicky is arrested and condemned to jail for fraud in which he claims his fiancée is a prostitute but steals the clients’ money instead. Micky’s hand is shattered.
This causes a schism between the brothers. Then they both strive to reassemble their lives, which brings them together. Finally, they were able to get Micky ready to compete for the welterweight crown.
While the fights are still great, what really makes this movie thrive is the family drama that develops throughout the film, as well as the absolutely incredible cast of Mark Wahlberg as Micky Ward, Christian Bale as Dicky Eklund, Amy Adams as Mickey’s girlfriend, Charlene Fleming, and Melissa Leo as Micky and Dicky’s mother.
8. Southpaw
Looking for a boxing movie featuring exciting bouts, intense training sessions, incredible music, and a lot of ups and downs? You needn’t seek it any farther since you’ve discovered it.
Southpaw is the storey of fictitious professional boxer Billy “The Great” Hope, played by the great Jake Gyllenhaal. He is unbeaten in his professional career, although he is often injured. He is at risk of losing his sight as a result of his most recent battle. Despite this danger and his wife Maureen’s (Rachel McAdams) vehement opposition, he accepts a three-fight deal with his management, Jordan Mains (50 Cent).
Unfortunately, his wife is inadvertently shot during a scuffle with a rival boxer shortly after this occurs. This drives him to go into a downward spiral of alcoholism, causing him to lose all of his money, his job, and even custody of his daughter. The film then follows him on his path back to sobriety, as well as one final effort to redeem himself and reclaim his daughter.
Southpaw has it all: outstanding actors like Jake Gyllenhaal, 50 Cent, Rachel McAdams, Forest Whitaker, and many more; a terrific soundtrack with hits by EMINEM, 50 Cent, and Slaughterhouse; and, of course, entertaining bouts.
9. Real Steel
Do you enjoy action movies but have had your fill of bloodied and battered faces? Then give Real Steel a go! This science-fiction boxing film is centred on the premise that human fighters are replaced by robots that are then commanded by one or more people.
Former boxer Charlie Kenton and his estranged teenage son Max discover an ancient, but functional, sparring robot in the garbage after his boxing robot is damaged. While it is neither the strongest nor the quickest robot, it is incredibly durable and has the uncommon technology of mirroring the controller’s actions.
This technology enables Charlie to train the robot and so teach it additional manoeuvres that even professional fighting robots do not have, giving them a unique edge and fueling their incredible triumph in a robot boxing championship.
By using robots instead of people, this film adds a humorous twist to the traditional boxing film.However, the human performers are still crucial and perform admirably, particularly Hugh Jackman as Charlie, Dakota Goyo as Max, and Evangeline Lilly as Charlie’s flame, Bailey Tallet.
10. The Matrix
It appears that the Matrix films are on practically every “greatest (insert genre here) movie” list. They are, without a doubt, on my list. This is due to the fact that they are classics, provide something altogether new, and are just amazing. The greatest part is that we’ll get even more Matrix with The Matrix 4, which is set to be released in 2021.
But, since we’re here, let’s speak about the fighting. So far, the Matrix trilogy has provided us with something fresh and interesting. Beginning with us being exposed to battling in the Matrix, followed by extensive training, and culminating with Neo in command of the Matrix, effectively becoming a God within it.
Every duel against Agent Smith is entertaining to watch and is complemented by catchy music. At some point, Neo will have to deal with an onslaught of Agent Smiths.
Keanu Reeves as Neo is fantastic in each film, but Laurence Fishburne as Morpheus, Carrie-Anne Moss as Trinity, and Hugo Weaving as Agent Smith are all excellent. So I believe it is time for another Matrix marathon!
11. Never Back Down
You’ve probably seen movies or television shows about high schools where the members of the football team, the Glee club, or the dance club are the most popular students. The youngsters who practise mixed martial arts (MMA) and fight are the most popular in Never Back Down.
A New Student at School When Jake Tyler (Sean Faris) tries to pursue classmate Baja Miller (Amber Heard) at a party, he is challenged to a battle by Baja’s possessive and arrogant boyfriend and the school’s MMA champion, MYan McCartny (Cam Gigandet). After a humiliating defeat, he meets MMA expert Jean Roqua (Djimon Housou), who decides to train him in MMA so that he may both redeem himself and please his infatuation with Baja.
Never Back Down is a wonderful film to see, with fantastic MMA fights. But it also features amazing training sequences with terrific music that will get you revved up and eager to hit the gym (and perhaps a punching bag) to practise your MMA abilities.
12. Star Wars
Of course, everyone is familiar with Star Wars films, and many people regard them as their favourite or finest films from their youth. But do you think they’re among the top combat movies of all time? Yes, I do!
All of the Star Wars films have legendary action scenes using lightsabers and the use of the Force, as well as spacecraft skirmishes and epic confrontations. While the original trilogy is often slower than the recent films, that doesn’t make the battles any less entertaining.
Who doesn’t enjoy an Ewok war on Endor’s moon? And the battles between Luke and Darth Vader are exciting no matter how many times you watch them.
The prequel trilogy is often speedier than the original trilogy, as seen by the faster-paced lightsaber battles. Consider Obi-Duel Wan’s battle with Anakin on Mustafar or Yoda’s battle with Palpatine in the Senate in Episode III. You also get wonderful music, which adds a lot to the action sequences.
13. Kung Fu Hustle
Stephen Chow is a fantastic martial artist, director, and actor. He has worked as a director, writer, producer, and actor – sometimes all at once. Stephen Chow, for example, directed, wrote, produced, and starred in Kung Fu Hustle.
Kung Fu Hustle is an action-comedy film from China. Yes, you will need to view this movie with subtitles or dubbed. I understand that some people dislike doing this, but trust me when I say that it is well worth it. This film is amusing, and the action is fantastic.
The Kung Fu Hustle is about two small robbers named Sing and Bone who want to join the Axe Group, a legendary gang. They travel to a slum and try to extort the residents while mimicking the Axemen. Unfortunately for them, the slum’s landlady is a formidable foe.
Unfortunately for the landlady and the residents of this slum, Sing inadvertently involves the Axe Gang, putting everyone in danger. Fortunately, some of the residents, who are the most unlikely heroes, know martial arts and are attempting to preserve their house. The battle sequences in Kung Fu Hustle are spectacular and unique.
Stephen Chow also directed, produced, and starred in Shaolin Soccer, a film that demonstrated how martial arts can be employed in everyday life, including sports. Shaolin Soccer is also a humorous narrative about a former Shaolin monk, portrayed by Chow, who reunites with his brothers to use martial arts to play soccer in order to spread Kung Fu to everyone.
14. Kung Pow! Enter the Fist
If you like parodies, you’ll appreciate Kung Pow! The First Steps Forward Steve Oedekerk, who portrays The Chosen One, also directs this satire of Hong Kong action movie heroes.
In Kung Pow! Enter the First, we follow The Chosen One, who is on the hunt for the man who murdered his parents and attempted to murder him when he was a kid. He goes from town to town until he encounters a sick, weird instructor who, after viewing his mark, which indicates he is The Chosen One, lets him learn at his dojo.
Kung Pow! Enter the Fist combines material from the 1976 Hong Kong martial arts film Tiger & Crane Fists, aka Savage Killers, with new footage taken by Steve Oedekerk.
This merged footage generates a new film with an entirely unique and unconnected narrative. Kung Pow! has a bizarre array of characters and crazy feats of strength and battle sequences.
Enter the Fist is a hilarious martial arts film. It’s not meant to be taken seriously, but it’s a lot of fun.
15. Captain Marvel
If you like superheroes and battling, you should watch Captain Marvel. Captain Marvel, based on the Marvel comics heroine Carol Danvers, nicknamed Captain Marvel, is set in 1995 and relates the narrative of how Carol Danvers became Captain Marvel.
We also get to see Earth trapped in the thick of a cosmic conflict between two extraterrestrial races.
This film is entertaining, hilarious, and full of exciting battle sequences. To name a few, Brie Larson as Captain Marvel, Samuel L. Jackson as Nick Fury, Ben Mendelsohn as Talos/Keller, Jude Law as Yon-Rogg, Annette Bening as Dr. Wendy Lawson, Djimon Hounsou as Korath, and Lee Pace as Ronan.
This picture attracted so much attention that it is now the twenty-sixth highest-grossing film of all time.
If you prefer the DC Cinematic Universe to the Marvel Cinematic Universe, you might be interested in Aquaman, Wonder Woman, or Justice League, all of which feature some amazing battle sequences. However, if you haven’t already, you should absolutely check out Captain Marvel.