Tony Leung Chiu-wai in a still from The Grandmaster, one of our 25 best martial arts films of the 21st century.Asian cinema is synonymous with the action genre, thanks to its rich legacy of kung fu, wuxia and samurai dramas.
Recently, Asian martial arts have enjoyed a high profile in Hollywood, thanks to franchises including The Matrix and John Wick . At the same time, not much new martial arts talent has emerged. Nevertheless, markets like Thailand and Indonesia have ensured the region remains a hotbed for innovative and exhilarating action.
In the spirit of the genre’s fiercely competitive nature, we have ranked the 25 best Asian martial arts films of the 21st century, from snivelling weakling to undisputed grandmaster.Prioritising rich visuals over a propulsive narrative, Lee Myung-se’s elegant drama set in the era of the Joseon dynasty in Korea stars Ha Ji-won as an undercover detective who falls in love with her target’s handsome henchman .