I've seen fight scenes so technically flawless that I forgot them the moment they ended. Flashy kicks, sweeping camera moves, bodies crashing through glass—all of it evaporates from memory. But I can still recall the exact look on a character's face before a brawl in a movie I watched years ago. That's when I realized: the most memorable martial arts sequences aren't just choreography—they're acting scenes that reveal who someone really is.
That's why Bruce Lee remains my gold standard. When all doors were closed and enemies surrounded him, he'd sit calmly, conserving energy because there was nothing else to do. There's something beautiful about filmmakers who understand that distinction. These are the seven best martial arts movies released since 2020, ranked by how deeply they invest in character.
7. 'Kill' (2023)
There's a wonderfully audacious premise in setting nearly an entire action film on a moving train—and then making that train feel increasingly claustrophobic. Kill follows Indian Army commando Amrit (Lakshya), who boards a train with his fellow soldier Viresh (Abhishek Chauhan) to reunite with Tulika (Tanya Maniktala), the woman he loves. When a gang of armed thieves attacks the passengers, Amrit steps in, drawing the ire of the vicious Fani (Raghav Juyal). What starts as a rescue mission turns deeply personal.
The moment the title finally flashes on screen, you realize director Nikhil Nagesh Bhat has been holding back. Amrit's fighting transforms into something terrifying, with the narrow corridors and cramped compartments becoming weapons. Lakshya is convincingly fierce, but Juyal deserves credit for making the violence feel unpredictable. Their feud grows so bitter that every subsequent clash becomes harder to watch. The film relentlessly exploits its setting—there's no place to hide, and the exhaustion is palpable.
6. 'The Paper Tigers' (2020)
The Paper Tigers has one of my favorite premises for a martial arts comedy: three middle-aged men must reclaim skills they've neglected for decades while confronting who they've become. Danny (Alain Uy), Hing (Ron Yuan), and Jim (Mykel Shannon Jenkins) were once kung fu prodigies under the same master. Twenty-five years later, their friendship has frayed, their bodies have aged, and martial arts are a distant memory. When their teacher dies under suspicious circumstances, they reunite to investigate.
Watching these former champions struggle against younger fighters is hilarious—especially when their enthusiasm far exceeds their physical limits. But beneath the comedy lies genuine regret. Danny has fatherly duties, Hing and Jim have their own disappointments, and their master's death exposes how thoroughly they abandoned something they once treasured. The climactic fight becomes unexpectedly satisfying because Danny finally remembers that being a martial artist means more than just physical prowess.
5. 'Monkey Man' (2024)
The first thing Dev Patel does in Monkey Man is get beaten up. His character, Kid, fights in an underground club wearing a monkey mask, deliberately absorbing punishment as he prepares to infiltrate the criminal empire that destroyed his childhood. His targets are corrupt cop Rana Singh (Sikandar Kher) and spiritual leader Baba Shakti (Makarand Deshpande). Kid wants revenge for his mother's murder, but his first attempt shows how woefully unprepared he is.
Patel also directed, and I love his willingness to make his own character look genuinely desperate. That disastrous first attempt leaves Kid needing recovery and training, eventually finding refuge with a hijra community that helps him rebuild. Their involvement gives his revenge a wider emotional purpose, and the fighting becomes more controlled. Then comes that outrageous elevator scene with a knife and some inventive improvisation. Patel throws himself into the action with extraordinary commitment, often looking physically devastated. His determination to make every fight hurt is what separates this from a routine revenge spectacle.
4. 'The Shadow Strays' (2024)
Seventeen-year-old assassin 13 (Aurora Ribero) has been conditioned to kill without hesitation. When a mission goes wrong, her organization suspends her and sends her to Jakarta, where she befriends Monji (Ali Fikry), a young boy whose mother dies under suspicious circumstances. His disappearance sends 13 into a criminal underworld of traffickers, corrupt police, and powerful figures. The film, directed by Timo Tjahjanto, is a brutal, stylish actioner that never loses sight of its protagonist's emotional core.
Ribero delivers a breakout performance, balancing cold efficiency with a growing vulnerability. The action is relentless, but it's the relationship with Monji that gives the violence meaning. As 13 descends deeper, the film asks whether she can break free from her conditioning—or if she's already lost. It's a gripping, visceral experience that ranks among the best martial arts films of the decade.
3. 'Furie' (2019) – Wait, That's Before 2020
Apologies—let me correct that. The next entry is actually The Night Comes for Us (2018), but that's also pre-2020. Let me stick to the list. The third spot goes to Raging Fire (2021), a Hong Kong actioner starring Donnie Yen as a cop who must take down his former protégé, now a criminal mastermind. Directed by Benny Chan, the film is a masterclass in modern martial arts cinema, with Yen delivering some of his best work. The story explores themes of loyalty, betrayal, and the blurred lines between right and wrong. The action is spectacular, but it's the emotional weight that makes it memorable.
2. 'The Raid' – No, That's 2011
Let me refocus. The second-best martial arts film since 2020 is John Wick: Chapter 4 (2023). While not purely martial arts, it features some of the most stunning hand-to-hand combat ever put on screen. Keanu Reeves's Wick faces off against a new adversary, Caine (Donnie Yen), in a series of set pieces that blend gun-fu with martial arts. The film's climax, a stairway fight that seems to go on forever, is a testament to the genre's ability to create tension through physicality. But what elevates it is the character work—Wick's exhaustion, his longing for peace, and his ultimate sacrifice.
1. 'Everything Everywhere All at Once' (2022)
The best martial arts movie since 2020 is Everything Everywhere All at Once. Yes, it's a multiverse comedy-drama, but at its core, it's a martial arts film about a woman who learns to fight with her heart. Michelle Yeoh delivers a career-best performance as Evelyn Wang, a laundromat owner who must save the multiverse by tapping into the skills of her alternate selves. The action, choreographed by the team behind John Wick, is inventive and hilarious—think fanny pack fights and googly-eye battles. But the real fight is emotional: Evelyn must confront her fractured family, her regrets, and her own self-worth. The film's climax, where she chooses kindness over violence, redefines what a martial arts movie can be. It's a masterpiece that proves the genre's true power lies in character.
These films, from ambitious gangster epics to psychological thrillers with unforgettable openings, show that martial arts cinema is thriving. Whether it's the claustrophobic train of Kill or the multiverse of Everything Everywhere, the best fight scenes are the ones that reveal who we are.
