Whether new or old, the best Donnie Yen movies showcase the actor's incredible fighting prowess and his equally captivating qualities as a dramatic performer. With over 35 years of experience in the martial arts movie genre and proficiency in multiple martial arts styles, Yen is already a legend. The martial arts actor's career only continues to grow, especially after his introduction to a certain iconic Hollywood franchise with John Wick: Chapter 4. As Yen's fans excitedly await his appearance in the highly anticipated film, they can also look back at some of the best films in his career so far.
Proficient in a number of different martial art styles, and inspired by the movies of Bruce Lee, Donnie Yen started his career in 1983 and has become one of the most accomplished martial arts actors in movie history. As fans will see with John Wick: Chapter 4, on top of his acting skills, and amazing fight choreography, he has worked as a fight coordinator on several of his movies for all the actors in the stories. Thanks to this, he has won several awards for his fight choreography, while fans have taken notice of his charismatic personality and high-energy fighting skills.
20 Legend Of The Fist: The Return Of Chen Zhen (2010)
- Streaming now on Netflix, Prime Video & Peacock
Most Chinese martial arts actors want to play the legendary role of Chen Zhen. Bruce Lee, Jet Li, and Donnie Yen all had the opportunity to portray Chen Zhen. In one of the best Donnie Yen movies, he played the iconic martial arts hero in the 2010 movie Legend Of The Fist: Return Of Chen Zhen. The latter of these proved to be a mixed bag, with some of the iconic features of the character and story resonating with fans, whereas others felt it was merely a mishmash of martial arts moments with little in terms of story or character development.
19 In The Line Of Duty IV: Witness (1989)
- Streaming now on Fubo
A loose sequel set within the In the Line of Duty series of films, this 1989 action film follows an alliance between cops from both America and Hong Kong as they seek to take down two dirty cops in Seattle, Washington. One of the best Donnie Yen movies, this sees him portray the aptly named Captain Donnie Yan, who spearheads the operation to root out the corrupt cops in the system. As one of Yen's earlier films, it brilliantly portrayed his martial arts skills, leading him to more and more roles in the future that would continue his world-class career.
18 Dragon Inn (1992)
- Not currently available to stream
Dragon Inn is a remake of the 1967 Wuxia classic Dragon Gate Inn. The movie is set in the desert during the Ming dynasty, wherein Donnie Yen plays a vicious prefect. When some of the members of his cabinet plotted against him, he executes them and sent their children into exile in order to lure the others out. One of the best Donnie Yen movies, it is highly praised among Yen's other projects, showing a much more callous side of the actor than his fans are used to seeing. This will undoubtedly be a role that he looks back to as he portrays Caine in the upcoming John Wick film.
17 Tiger Cage II (1990)
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Long before Donnie Yen found himself at the heart of the Star Wars franchise, he was starring in the 1990 Hong Kong martial arts flick, Tiger Cage II, directed by Yuen Woo-ping. One of the best Donnie Yen movies, it's a fiery action spectacle that centers around Yen playing an ex-cop who finds himself caught up in a robbery gone wrong. This film paired Yen up with fellow martial arts alum Robin Shou five years before he was cast as Liu Kang in the 1995 Mortal Kombat live-action film. The two played off one another quite well, marking one of the martial arts genre's best behind-the-scenes team-ups of all time.
16 Chasing The Dragon (2017)
- Streaming now on Fubo
One of the best Donnie Yen movies, Chasing the Dragon sees Yen portray Crippled Ho, a fictionalized version of a real-life Hong Kong gangster. Although Yen is best known for his heroic roles, it is also interesting to see the beloved actor take on a more villainous personality, as he does in Chasing the Dragon. The film itself had its issues, but Yen certainly disappoint in his portrayal of a complicated man on the verge of living a life of crime. The movie won awards for its cinematography and editing at the Hong Kong Film Awards.
15 Dragon (2011)
- Streaming now on Roku
Dragon is one of the actor's best films in the wuxia genre, with a healthy dose of detective film-noir elements to weave a complex and riveting storyline. Donnie Yen stars as a reluctant craftsman who saves two shopkeepers from a pair of criminal gangsters, which ends up attracting all kinds of unwanted attention. Soon, a detective starts investigating and sets his sights on Yen's character Liu Jinxi, believing he may have a far more sinister history. The fight scenes and cinematography are top-notch, and the combination of story elements makes it an enjoyable romp. The movie won awards for cinematography and original score at the Hong Kong Film Awards.
14 Shanghai Knights (2003)
- Streaming now on Hulu
Shanghai Knights was the sequel to the popular comedy-action movie Shanghai Noon, starring Owen Wilson and Jackie Chan. Much like the first movie, which paid homage to classic westerns, this one had a lot of callbacks to classic European tropes, including its own versions of Sherlock Holmes and Jack the Ripper. Donnie Yen starred as Wu Chow, a villain who is hired to kill the British Royal Family and frame Chon Lin to ensure that she does not capture the throne. Unlike many of the best Donnie Yen movies, this one plays as a broad comedy, although he plays it straight throughout.
13 Blade II (2002)
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Blade II is the sequel to the hit 1998 film starring Wesley Snipes as the titular Vampire Hunter. Donnie Yen portrayed the relatively minor character Snowman, a member of Dieter Rienhardt's Bloodpack. Though Blade II is far from a perfect film, it and its predecessor are largely responsible for kicking off the superhero films' rise in the early 2000s and beyond. The 2002 sequel would have been improved by an expanded role for Donnie Yen, though his work on the film primarily consisted of the fight choreography. This movie also served as one of Yen's first Hollywood projects, opening up the door to his work in several acclaimed American films.
12 Bodyguards And Assassins (2009)
- Streaming now on Roku
One of the best Donnie Yen movies, Bodyguards and Assassins depicts the beginnings of Hong Kong's revolution against Qing Empire China in a bid to become their very own independent nation. In addition to Donnie Yen, the film also stars several big-name actors, including Tony Leung Ka-fai, Nicholas Tse, Fan Bingbing, as well as many others. In this 2009 historical action film, Yen portrays the protagonist, Shen Chongyang, a destitute gambler who must find redemption among the revolutionaries. The film won numerous awards in Hong Kong, though Yen himself was not a recipient of these. Nevertheless, he does manage to leave an impact on the audience.
11 SPL: Kill Zone (2005)
- Streaming now on Tubi
Donnie Yen and Sammo Hung teamed up in 2010's Ip Man 2, but it wasn't their first outing together. Their first pairing came in the 2005 action film, SPL: Kill Zone, which stars Yen as Ma Kwun, a Hong Kong police officer with a dark past who gets caught up in a deadly game of revenge between a vicious gangster and the cop who failed to put him away. SPL: Kill Zone is a dark story with a tragic ending that sings the truth about the evil nature of revenge, and how it can cost a man everything. Donnie Yen won for Best Action Cinematography at the Hong Kong Film Awards.
10 Mulan (2020)
- Streaming now on Disney+
Donnie Yen starred in the live-action Mulan remake as Commander Tung. It is among the best Donnie Yen movies in terms of being one of the more successful, based on a popular Disney property and beloved animated film. Yen played a unique character in the live-action Disney movie, a high-ranking leader of the Imperial Army who mentored Mulan. His character and that of Chen were based on Li Shang, the love interest from the animated movie. The movie was supposed to be a theatrical release but was pushed onto Disney+ during the pandemic. Critics praised the visuals and the movie picked up two Oscar nominations.
9 Ip Man 4: The Finale (2019)
- Streaming now on Netflix
Donnie Yen wrapped up his iconic martial arts biopic series about the life of famed Wing Chun practitioner and teacher Ip Man with the final installment in 2019. The series went off on a high note with a change of locale to the United States during the 1960s. The film not only tackled Ip Man's struggle to bond with his son following his wife's tragic passing but also his own mortality after being diagnosed with cancer. Ip Man bravely battles both the disease and the inherent anti-Asian racism of the era in a stunning pitch to unite people regardless of their ethnic background. The movie made over $170 million worldwide (via Box Office Mojo).
8 Flash Point (2007)
- Streaming now on Prime Video & Peacock
In the 2007 film Flash Point, Donnie Yen plays police sergeant Ma Jun, who serves in Hong Kong before the island was returned to China's custody. He and his partner battle a Vietnamese gang wreaking havoc throughout their territory. Yen not only stars in this film but also worked on its fight scene choreography, adding an extra sense of realism to its action sequences. Flash Point may not measure up to some of the best Donnie Yen movies, but it is difficult to deny the visceral realism of its fight scenes. Flash Point won the award for its action at the Hong Kong, Golden Horse, and Taurus World Stunt Awards.
7 Ip Man 3 (2015)
- Streaming now on Netflix, Prime Video & Peacock
The third Ip Man continues the story of Donnie Yen's eponymous martial arts legend as he begins to train Bruce Lee. Ip Man also contends with a rival martial artist, who wants to dethrone him as the reigning champion of the Wing Chun fighting style. Ip Man 3 remains among the best Donnie Yen movies in history. He once again proves why he was the perfect martial artist to portray this legendary figure, while simultaneously retaining his own place as one of the world's leading action stars. It won Best Action Choreography, Best Director, and Best Picture at the 2016 Shanghai International Film Festival.
6 Iron Monkey (1993)
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One of Yuen Woo Ping’s master classes in martial arts cinema, Iron Monkey features Donnie Yen as Wong Kei Ying, the Chinese folk hero who acts as the "Chinese Robin Hood," stealing from the government and giving to the poor. Iron Monkey was popular in Hong Kong and America, foreshadowing Donnie Yen's future in major films from both regions. It remains one of the best Donnie Yen movies of his early career, establishing him as a talent on the rise. At the time, it was the 11th highest-grossing foreign language film in the United States.
5 Rogue One: A Star War Story (2016)
- Streaming now on Disney+
In Rogue One: A Star Wars Story, Donnie Yen plays Chirrut Imwe, a martial arts master and monk who trusts in the Force. Imwe and his companion Baze Malbus become embroiled in the Rebels' fight to steal the Death Star plans, though they ultimately die with the rest of their crew in Rogue One's tragic ending. Rogue One is undoubtedly the most successful of the best Donnie Yen movies, grossing over $1 billion worldwide (via Box Office Mojo). Though Yen is not typically involved in major franchises, his appearance as Chirrut gave the film a sense of prestige. The movie also resulted in a spinoff on Disney+ called Andor.
4 Ip Man (2008)
- Streaming now on Netflix, Prime Video & Peacock
Donnie Yen returned to the limelight with the Ip Man franchise. The first installment brought the famous Wing Chun master Ip Man onscreen for the very first time. Amidst his long and storied career, Donnie Yen finds his greatest success as Ip Man. The franchise itself has been his most celebrated ongoing performance yet, as he brings both skill and charisma to the role. He would go on to play the martial arts icon for three more films, crafting a character that might very well define his entire career. Yen picked up the Best Actor nomination at the Hong Kong Film Awards and the movie won Best Film.
3 Once Upon A Time In China II (1992)
- Streaming now on Prime Video
Once Upon A Time In China 2 sees Yen play Lam, a Chinese general whose mission is to eliminate all revolutionaries. He plays opposite Jet Li, who portrays Chinese martial arts folk hero, Wong Fei-hung. In a story set in the era when some men wanted to liberate China from imperial rule, the movie includes fight scenes between Li and Yen, which is worth the watch itself. The onscreen union between these two martial arts icons is enough reason for any fan of the genre to view this, one of the best Donnie Yen movies. Yen was nominated for Best Supporting Actor at the Hong Kong Film Awards.
2 Ip Man 2 (2010)
- Streaming now on Netflix, Prime Video & Peacock
Ip Man 2 expands Donnie Yen's character, portraying the mannerisms of the iconic martial artist. The film also featured the late Darren Shahlavi, an exceptional martial artist, who plays a British boxer harassing Chinese martial artists. At the time of the film's events, Ip Man and the Chinese martial arts association weren’t on the same page, leading to a conflict between the two parties' various fighting styles. Donnie Yen, vastly skilled in various different fighting styles, learned to box for the role, increasing his versatility as an action star. Critics praised it as one of the best Donnie Yen movies, with a 97% Rotten Tomatoes score compared to the original's 86%.
1 Hero (2002)
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Zhang Yimou’s not only crafted a cunning and creative film in 2002's Hero but also choreographed Donnie Yen and Jet Li performing one of the most electric fight scenes in the history of martial arts movies. The idea of Jet Li's nameless warrior challenging Donnie Yen to a fight excited fans everywhere, but especially in the Asian markets, where it broke many records upon its release. One of the best Donnie Yen movies ever, it became the first Chinese-language movie to top the American box office and picked up the Oscar nomination for Best Foreign Language Film.