Everyone has a short-list of their favorite martial arts films that stand the test of time, but some have been woefully cast by the wayside over the years. Many received bad critical response (sometimes rightfully so), but that's no reason to send them to the dust-bin of action movie history.
In fact, some martial arts movies are so underrated that they deserve a little special attention, no matter what the critics say. Here's 10 of them, in no particular order. Some might be cheesy, while others were victims of unfortunate timing, but all of them are guaranteed to entertain.
The Miami Connection (1987)
Y.K. Kim bet the farm on this outrageously bad martial arts flick about a synthwave band named Dragon Sound who get mixed up with a ninja drug cartel in Miami. Kim reportedly blew his entire savings and mortgaged his Taekwondo school to finance the film, only to see it torn to shreds by critics upon release.
In 2009, the fate of the film shifted dramatically when Drafthouse Films got permission to re-release the film. It has since become a cult fan favorite, due in part to the "so bad it's good" element, as well as nostalgic feel-good 1980s themes of friendship and camaraderie. Plus, nothing beats the soundtrack, including that timeless synthwave hit "Friends Forever," which would later see a revival during the end credits of the video game Far Cry 3: Blood Dragon.
The Transporter (2002)
The Transporter films have largely been viewed as a fringe action franchise, and thus somewhat forgotten over the years. The first is for certain the best, putting the excellent Jason Statham in the shoes of Frank Martin, a guy who breaks his own files and ends up squaring off against a human trafficker.
The film's inventive martial arts sequences are a major highlight of the film, especially when Frank utilizes a little ingenuity (and a lot of motor oil) to lay waste to a group of thugs. It's a fun, upbeat action movie that deserves major respect.
Fire Down Below (1997)
Previous Steven Seagal movies were all about one-upping each other when it came to gore and kill factor, but Fire Down Below was much different. Seagal played Federal Agent Jack Taggert in one of his most human and likable roles. Hatcher is sent to a Kentucky town to investigate reports of illegal toxic waste dumping, only to find himself bonding with the townsfolk.
It didn't score high with critics, earning just 11% on Rotten Tomatoes, but that hardly seems fair. Fire Down Below is more about relationships than beating people to a bloody pulp, and Seagal still manages to deliver the goods without going overboard. It's the most accessible of his films for those who aren't big on ultra-violence.
The Hunted (1995)
Christopher Lambert starred in this dark tale of a man marked for death after glimpsing the face of a shadowy ninja assassin named Kinjo who slays his lover in Nagoya, Japan. He is put under the protection of a man named Ijuro Takeda, a descendant of an ancient line of samurai who have been embroiled in a blood food with Kinjo's ninja clan for years.
Many thought Lambert would reprise a Highlander-esque role for The Hunted, but it's only in the final act that we see him square off with his newfound samurai training. Despite this, the film is loaded with a dazzling array of bloody martial arts fights, including a standout sequence featuring a ninja attack on a Japanese bullet train.
Jackie Chan's First Strike (1996)
American audiences fell in love with Jackie Chan when Rumble In The Bronx came out in 1995, but they may have forgotten about his excellent follow-up, First Strike. The American release is actually the fourth in a line of Chan's Police Story franchise, but thankfully audiences didn't need to see the previous films to get on board with this one.
Chan plays a super cop who gets caught up in a nuclear arms smuggling ring involving a corrupt Russian Colonel and a CIA triple-agent. While the story is a bit hard to follow, none of it matters once Jackie engages in a number of incredibly imaginative martial arts sequences that perfectly blend laughter with excitement! This is a gem not to be missed.
Lionheart (1990)
Lionheart is essentially a retelling of Bloodsport through a different camera lens. Jean-Claude Van Damme plays Lyon, a man who abandons his French Foreign Legion post in order to escape to America following news that his brother was viciously burnt to death in a drug deal gone wrong. To support his brother's widow and young child, he enters an illegal underground street fighting ring orchestrated by a rich socialite named Cynthia.
As Lyon continues to make a name for himself, his betting odds go way up, giving Cynthia a chance to cash in by bringing in a fearsome fighter to take him on. The fight sequences are quite different from those found in Bloodsport, but Lionheart still deserves a win for that end fight scene, alone!
The Karate Kid II (1986)
The original Karate Kid was a one-two punch in the face against bullying, and a heartwarming tale of an underdog who realizes the true importance of patience and balance in life. The sequel would drastically shift the locale to Japan, focusing on a story involving a bitter feud between Mr. Miyagi and his childhood friend Sato, both of whom were trained by Miyagi's father in karate.
Daniel acts as a secondary character in the film, earning the ire of Sato's pupil Chozen. Critics were split down the middle, but The Karate Kid II is just as adventurous and charming as the original, thanks in large part to the bonding Daniel and Miyagi share throughout the course of the film.
Hard Target (1993)
John Woo's first American directorial job was the action vehicle Hard Target, featuring Jean-Claude Van-Damme as a down-on-his luck Cajun who is hired by a woman to locate her father, who has since gone missing. He soon finds himself going up against a rich sportsman and a gang of hunters who pay homeless combat vets to participate in a life-or-death game for the enjoyment of rich international clientele.
The film got mixed reviews from critics, which was exacerbated by the release of Harrison Ford's The Fugitive, released on the same weekend. Revenue continued to get sliced through the following weeks, leaving Hard Target in a difficult spot. Although it did end up grossing $74 million against a $20 million budget, it wasn't enough to establish itself as a full-blown hit. That's a sin, because Hard Target features exceptional action sequences, thanks largely to John Woo's unparalleled cinematic eye.
Only The Strong (1993)
Before Mark Dacascos made a household name for himself as host of Iron Chef America, he cut his teeth on several martial arts films including Only The Strong. Critics abhorred the film's premise of an ex-Green Beret using martial arts to turn a group of delinquent kids around, but action movie fans still hold it in high regard.
Only The Strong showcases some impressive fight sequences centering around the Brazilian legs-only martial art Capoeira. The second half of the film sees Dacascos' character gunning it alone in a high-energy battle against a local crime lord and his henchmen, where he showcases his spectacular skills.
Bloodsport II (1996)
Jean-Claude Van Damme's martial arts masterpiece got a few sequels following the release of the original, but only the first one truly stands out as something special. Critics didn't care much for the character of Alex Cardo (played by The Matrix: Reloaded's Daniel Bernhardt), a thief who lands himself in a brutal Thai prison where he learns a fighting style called "Iron Hand" from an elder prisoner, but it's far less awful than some might think.
In fact, it could be argued that Bloodsport II's fighting sequences were far more complex and well-choreographed than those of the original. The Kumite tournament features a vast assortment of martial arts styles that are exciting and entertaining to watch, just by themselves. The story might be silly, but that's easily overlooked in comparison to the stunning action.