10 Movies Like The Forbidden Kingdom

Description: A historical martial arts film that blends action with a narrative about cultural identity and resistance to foreign influence. The fight scenes are grand and meticulously choreographed.

Fact: The film launched a successful franchise with multiple sequels. It was one of the highest-grossing films in Hong Kong at the time of its release.

Description: A fast-paced martial arts film featuring a Robin Hood-like hero who fights corruption. The action sequences are dynamic and inventive, with a strong emphasis on justice and heroism.

Fact: The film was originally released with a different ending in some regions. It gained a cult following in the West after its re-release in the early 2000s.

Description: A high-energy martial arts comedy that showcases incredible fight sequences with a unique drunken boxing style. The film balances humor with intense action, set in a historical context.

Fact: The final fight scene is considered one of the best in martial arts cinema. The lead actor performed all his own stunts, despite the high risk of injury.

Description: A martial arts epic that blends breathtaking action sequences with a deep, emotional narrative, set against a backdrop of ancient China. The film explores themes of honor, love, and the struggle between duty and desire.

Fact: It was the first foreign-language film to gross over $100 million in the U.S. The bamboo forest fight scene took weeks to film and required precise choreography.

Description: This visually stunning film combines martial arts with a poetic storytelling style, focusing on themes of sacrifice, loyalty, and the greater good. The use of color to differentiate narrative threads is particularly striking.

Fact: The film was nominated for an Academy Award for Best Foreign Language Film. It features some of the most elaborate and beautifully shot battle scenes in cinema history.

Description: A romantic martial arts drama that emphasizes lush visuals and intricate fight choreography. The story revolves around love, betrayal, and rebellion, with a strong emphasis on emotional depth.

Fact: The film's peony fight scene involved thousands of real flowers, each hand-placed. It was shot in Ukraine due to its similar landscape to ancient China.

Description: A biographical martial arts film that delves into the philosophy and discipline behind the art. The action is elegant and precise, with a focus on the personal journey of the protagonist.

Fact: The film was edited into multiple versions for different markets. The rain fight scene took over a month to shoot.

Description: A fantasy martial arts adventure that blends mythology with spectacular action. The story follows a rebellious hero on a quest for redemption, featuring magical elements and epic battles.

Fact: The film is based on one of the Four Great Classical Novels of Chinese literature. It utilized extensive CGI to bring its fantastical elements to life.

Description: A visually poetic martial arts film that focuses on a female assassin's internal conflict. The cinematography is breathtaking, and the story is more contemplative than action-heavy.

Fact: The film won the Best Director award at Cannes. It took nearly a decade to complete due to its meticulous production design.

Description: A martial arts drama with a unique monochromatic color palette, emphasizing duality and deception. The fight scenes are stylized and symbolic, with a strong narrative about power and identity.

Fact: The film uses only shades of black, white, and gray to create its visual style. The umbrella weapons were custom-designed for the movie.