Best Asian Action Films Since 2000

Description: Directed by Stephen Chow, this Hong Kong comedy blends martial arts with soccer in an absurdly entertaining way. It's not just about the laughs; the film also showcases impressive CGI-enhanced martial arts moves.

Fact: The film was a box office hit in Asia and helped popularize the use of CGI in action comedies.

Description: Directed by Park Chan-wook, this South Korean film is a revenge thriller with a twist. It features one of the most iconic one-take fight scenes in cinema history, where the protagonist battles his way through a hallway full of enemies.

Fact: The film was remade in Hollywood in 2013, but the original remains the gold standard for its storytelling and execution.

Description: Directed by Wilson Yip, this Hong Kong film stars Donnie Yen as a cop who uses his martial arts skills to take down a criminal gang. The film is known for its realistic and brutal fight choreography.

Fact: The final fight scene was choreographed by Donnie Yen himself, showcasing his expertise in both acting and martial arts.

Description: Directed by Prachya Pinkaew, this Thai film tells the story of an autistic girl who learns martial arts by mimicking what she sees on TV. Her journey to collect debts owed to her dying mother leads to some of the most unique and heartfelt action scenes.

Fact: The film's star, JeeJa Yanin, had no prior martial arts experience before the movie, making her performance all the more impressive.

Description: This Hong Kong biographical martial arts film stars Donnie Yen as the legendary Wing Chun master Ip Man. The film not only showcases his life but also his fight against Japanese occupation in Foshan, making it both a historical drama and a martial arts spectacle.

Fact: The film was so successful that it spawned three sequels, each exploring different aspects of Ip Man's life.

Description: This South Korean action thriller stars Won Bin as a mysterious pawnshop owner who becomes embroiled in a dangerous underworld to save a young girl. The film blends intense action with emotional depth, making it a standout in the genre.

Fact: It became the highest-grossing Korean film of 2010 and was remade in Hollywood as "The Stranger."

Description: This South Korean film is a gritty tale of revenge and loyalty, featuring some of the most intense and well-choreographed fight scenes in Korean cinema. It's a dark, violent journey through the underworld of a small town.

Fact: The film's director, Ryoo Seung-wan, is known for his action-packed films that often explore themes of justice and retribution.

Description: This Indonesian action film directed by Gareth Evans has become a benchmark for modern action cinema. It follows a SWAT team trapped in a high-rise controlled by a ruthless drug lord, leading to an intense, floor-by-floor battle for survival. Its raw, visceral approach to action has earned it a cult following worldwide.

Fact: The film was shot in a real apartment building in Jakarta, and many of the actors were actual martial artists or stuntmen.

Description: Tony Jaa's breakout film, "Ong-Bak," introduced the world to the raw power of Muay Thai. The story follows a young man's quest to retrieve a stolen Buddha statue, leading to spectacular fight scenes that showcase Jaa's incredible martial arts skills.

Fact: Tony Jaa performed all his stunts without the use of wires or CGI, making the action sequences genuinely breathtaking.

Description: Another Tony Jaa masterpiece, "The Protector" follows a young man's journey to rescue his stolen elephants, leading to some of the most innovative and jaw-dropping action sequences ever filmed.

Fact: The film features a scene where Jaa jumps from an elephant to a truck, a stunt that was performed without any safety harness.