20 Best Fighting Movies You Can’t Miss

Fighting, as gory as it is, is something humans love. It can almost be proven that it is part of human nature to feel pumped when they witness a fighting scene.

Filmmakers understand this, which accounts for the number of fighting movies already made. If you love the adrenaline that passes through your veins when you watch a fighting film, here is a list of the 20 best fighting movies you should watch.

House of Flying Daggers (2004)

Chinese 1h 59m IMDb
Best Fighting Movies You Can't Miss House of Flying Daggers (2004)

Director: Yimou Zhang

Stars: Ziyi Zhang, Takeshi Kaneshiro, Andy Lau

In this movie filled with enough twists to leave your mouth open, combat meets love. At the fall of the Tang Dynasty, rebel groups arose to challenge the corrupt government. The police and authorities have their eyes on the leader of a notorious rebel group, the House of Flying Daggers.

What should be an infiltration leads to a bloody love triangle and heartbreak. Critics have called the movie a beautiful story with a lot of violence and visual splendor. To get started with the thrill of this movie, watch the official trailer.


Romeo Must Die (2000)

English 1h 55m IMDb
Best Fighting Movies You Can't Miss Romeo Must Die (2000)

Director: Andrzej Bartkowiak

Stars: Jet Li, Aaliyah, Isaiah Washington

Watch the official trailer of this movie to see Jet LI in action. Filled with bloodshed and betrayal, this movie follows a man out for revenge. Where there is a motive for revenge, there would surely be violence and fighting.

Han Shin escapes from prison and comes to the estate to avenge whoever killed his younger brother. He soon learns that none can be trusted in a world of crimes. According to viewers, while the movie was a great hit, other scenes seemed sluggish and dull compared to the scenes Jet LI appeared in.


Black Widow (2021)

English 2h 14m IMDb
Best Fighting Movies You Can't Miss Black Widow (2021)

Director: Cate Shortland

Stars: Scarlett Johansson, Florence Pugh, David Harbour

Marvel fans would surely love this movie like the Black Widow of The Avengers, Natasha Romanoff, who has to fight demons from her past as they strive to pull her down.

Romanoff, who was trained as a Black Widow but broke out of the system, has to revisit her past when her former boss Dreykov, a man she thought she had killed, comes back to kill her. If you are well-grounded in The Avengers franchise, you most likely wouldn’t see the post-credit scene coming.

Critics say that although Black Widow has some well-thought-out themes, they are drowned in all the combat and actions. The movie’s official trailer will show you the number of combats in the movie.


Atomic Blonde (2017)

English 1h 55m IMDb
Best Fighting Movies You Can't Miss Atomic Blonde (2017)

Director: David Leitch

Stars: Charlize Theron, James McAvoy, John Goodman

Being a spy is never easy, especially when infiltrating a dangerous enemy’s territory. For a mission in Berlin during the Cold War, Lorraine is the perfect M16 agent.

She is of top lethal skill and very dangerous, and she has to figure out what happened to a fellow agent while trying to keep her head. Get a view of the kickass action critics to say this movie has from its official trailer.


Oldboy (2003)

Korean 2h IMDb
Best Fighting Movies You Can't Miss Oldboy (2003)

Director: Park Chan-wook

Stars: Choi Min-sik, Yoo Ji-Tae, Kang Hye-jeong

According to critics, this Korean movie is not for the faint-hearted as it is filled with violence. Dae-Su, a drunk just recently released on bail, is kidnapped and held captive for 15 years with no human contact whatsoever, having only a television to keep him company.

In captivity, he is repeatedly drugged till he is left unconscious. When he is suddenly released, he has to find his kidnapper, and he has to do so before time runs out. When you watch only the official trailer of Old Boy, you’d be asking for a sequel already.


Mad Max Fury Road (2015)

English 2h IMDb
Best Fighting Movies You Can't Miss Mad Max Fury Road (2015)

Director: George Miller

Stars: Tom Hardy, Charlize Theron, Nicholas Hoult

If you are a fan of movies set in post-apocalyptic worlds, you should watch this movie. After civilization fails, the only survivors are ruled and held captive by a tyrant. A warrior who decides to rebel against the tyrant enlists the help of some female prisoners and a loner called Max.

As a fan of Tom Hardy, this is one movie you wouldn’t want to miss. With only its official trailer, it is no wonder why this movie got so much audience. It has received a lot of praise from those who have watched it as both the plot and performances by actors were top-notch.


The Protector (2005)

Thai 1h 51m IMDb
Best Fighting Movies You Can't Miss The Protector (2005)

Director: Prachya Pinkaew

Stars: Tony Jaa, Nathan Jones, Xing Jin

This Thai movie is also known as Tom Yum Goong. Kham, a fighter from Thai, travels to Australia to retrieve stolen elephants. He becomes acquainted with an Australian Detective born in Thai when he gets to Australia. Together with his excellent fighting skill, they combat anyone in their way of reaching their goal.

This includes a crazy woman and her two bodyguards. If you are looking for a martial art movie with a fresh plot and fresh protagonist, a critic would easily recommend this movie to you. Watch the official trailer on YouTube for a quick preview of the real action in the film.


The Raid: Redemption (2011)

Indonesian 1h 41m IMDb
Best Fighting Movies You Can't Miss he Raid Redemption (2011)

Director: Gareth Evans

Stars: Iko Uwais, Ananda George, Ray Sahetapy

If there is anything a critic would tell you about this movie, it would be that it is perfect. From the plot to the cast, and the thrill, this movie is the height of entertainment, and you can confirm that with the official trailer.

Rama must lead half of his team to save the other half when their cover is blown, and a mob boss is out for their heads.

While the S.W.A.T team is undercover at the tenement of Tama, a vicious mobster, their cover is blown, and Tama is ready to give security to any criminal who brings the head of a cop. Rama has to stand up to the task and lead his team to safety.


Fight Club (1999)

English 2h 19m IMDb
Best Fighting Movies You Can't Miss Fight Club (1999)

Director: David Fincher

Stars: Brad Pitt, Edward Norton, Meat Loaf

Starring Brad Pitt as a weird soap salesman, Fight Club, according to many who have watched it, is made up of everything good, including great acting, perfect directing, and a great plot.

When a depressed and insomniac man meets with Tyler, a soap salesman, they start an underground fight club, ultimately leading to something they never expected or planned for. The official trailer on YouTube would inspire you to watch the film itself.


BloodSport (1988)

English 1h 32m IMDb
Best Fighting Movies You Can't Miss BloodSport (1988)

Director: Newt Arnold

Stars: Jean-Claude Van Damme, Donald Gibb, Leah Ayres

Watch the official trailer to get a glimpse of one of the movies that Van Damme brought to light. Frank Dux, the protagonist who is a soldier, leaves the army to grow in martial arts and gets accepted to a secret violent martial art competition called the Kumite.

He goes to Hong Kong, where the underground competition is located. As he strives to grow in the art, he must avoid military officers. According to viewers, although BloodSport is quite a cliche, watching Van Damme do his thing and bring the movie to life is worth watching.


Wonder Woman (2017)

English 2h 21m IMDb
Best Fighting Movies You Can't Miss Wonder Woman (2017)

Director: Patty Jenkins

Stars: Gal Gadot, Chris Pine, Robin Wright

This one is for DC lovers. When a plane crashes on an island that serves as Diana’s home, she receives news of danger. The Amazon princess, sheltered and has never seen the outside, decided to leave home and fight with trained men to bring the world to peace.

In the process, she discovers herself and her talent, becoming Wonder Woman. Wonder Woman doesn’t fail for a superhero movie as it keeps you entranced all the time. You can watch the official trailer on YouTube to capture what this movie is about.


Mission Impossible: Fall Out (2018)

English 2h 27m IMDb

Best Fighting Movies You Can't Miss Mission Impossible Fall Out (2018)

Director: Christopher McQuarrie

Stars: Tom Cruise, Henry Cavill, Ving Rhames

The fast-paced official trailer doesn’t do enough justice to the movie itself. After a mission goes wrong, Ethan Hunt, played by Tom Cruise, and the IMF team enlist the help of a CIA agent to stop a disaster from erupting and causing unrest in the world.

Watch Tom Cruise race against time to save his colleagues and the world in this movie. According to critics, this movie is one of the best that raises the bar for action movies.


The Dark Knight (2008)

English 2h 32m IMDb
Best Fighting Movies You Can't Miss The Dark Knight (2008)

Director: Christopher Nolan

Stars: Christian Bale, Heath Ledger, Aaron Eckhart

Another movie for DC lovers on this list is the dark knight, a movie representing Batman. When The Joker, a clown-faced villain, causes a series of harmful mischiefs in Gotham, Batman must rise to the task and stop the villain before he ruins the city.

The Dark Knight is undoubtedly unforgettable, and critics have praised the movie for standing out from other comic book films. Watch the thrilling official trailer on YouTube to get in the mood for the movie.


300 (2006)

English 1h 57m IMDb
Best Fighting Movies You Can't Miss 300 (2006)

Director: Zack Snyder

Stars: Gerard Butler, Lena Headey, David Wenham

“What is your profession? I am Spartan.” If you do not know this phrase, you should watch this movie. In 480 BC, the king of Sparta leads a 300-man army to war against the Persians.

This epic movie revolves around war, and as simple as this movie is, critics confirm that it would blow your mind. It is full of gore, blood, and violence for those who find it fascinating. You’d feel the goosebumps on your body as you watch the official trailer.


Gladiator (2000)

English 2h 35m IMDb
Best Fighting Movies You Can't Miss Gladiator (2000)

Director: Ridley Scott

Stars: Russell Crowe, Joaquin Phoenix, Connie Nielsen

The gladiator is full of thrill, and you can confirm that with the official trailer. Also set in the BC, the movie is filled with a lot of violence and blood to thrill your violence meter for a while.

A former Roman general stripped of his position and sold to slavery to fight as a gladiator comes back to seek revenge on the corrupt leader who killed his family and left him with nothing.

Revenge truly can get very bloody. A critic consensus says that the authenticity of the movie in portraying a historical concept is what elevates it the more.


Rocky Balboa (2006)

English 1h 42m IMDb
Best Fighting Movies You Can't Miss Rocky Balboa (2006)

Director: Sylvester Stallone

Stars: Sylvester Stallone, Antonio Tarver, Milo Ventimiglia

The sixth of the Rocky Franchise, this movie is a sports drama that would have you asking for more. We see an entertaining and thrill-filled movie in one of Sylvester Stallone’s best works.

After losing a virtual match to retired Rocky Balboa, infuriated Mason Dixon, aka the Line, challenges the former star to an actual sport. Rocky Balboa, who had intentions of returning to the fighting scene even though low-key, accepts the challenge.

If you are a fan of Sylvester Stallone and fighting, you should set a date to watch this movie. Before setting out the date, check out the official trailer on YouTube.


The Fighter (2010)

English 1h 56m IMDb
Best Fighting Movies You Can't Miss The Fighter (2010)

Director: David O. Russell

Stars: Mark Wahlberg, Christian Bale, Amy Adams

Based on the true story of boxer Mickey Ward, The fighter goes into the world of family and boxing. With boxing running in his family, Mickey tried to get a name for himself in the boxing world. He looks for many opportunities to bring him out of his brother’s shadow.

He eventually gets a chance to prove that he is not just the younger brother of a great yet troubled boxer. The official trailer is enough to hit home before you watch the movie. Critics have said that although the film was entirely predictable, it still was phenomenal, especially with the cast’s performance.


John Wick (2014)

English 1h 41m IMDb
films like 500 Days Of Summer John Wick (2014)

Director: Chad Stahelski, David Leitch(uncredited)

Stars: Keanu Reeves, Michael Nyqvist, Alfie Allen

Pets are a particular part of our lives; when we get them, we become attached. This was more than that for John Wick, as his puppy was a gift from his late wife. When his puppy is killed, he comes out of retirement, becomes a killing machine, and goes hunting for the unlucky person who killed his dog.

Let the killing machine win you over with only the official trailer. To critics, Keanu Reeves’s performance as a man in a suit and a total badass in the movie is a plus to the stylish and action-packed film.


Blood and Bone (2009)

English 1h 33m IMDb
film like 500 Days Of Summer Blood and Bone (2009)

Director: Ben Ramsey

Stars: Michael Jai White, Julian Sands, Eamonn Walker

Before you delve into the movie, watch the official trailer to get in the mood. Michael White stars in this movie as an ex-convict who wishes to fulfill the promise to his friend before his death. This promise is not safe as fulfilling it would mean fighting in the Los Angeles underground fighting world.

He, however, can take the world by storm with his zeal and fighting skills. Critics observe that White’s performance in this movie is one of great essence, which could readily bring him to an acting world dominated by Vin Diesel and Sylvester Stallone.


Warrior (2011)

English 2h 20m IMDb
500 Days Of Summer like films Warrior (2011)

Director: Gavin O’Connor

Stars: Tom Hardy, Nick Nolte, Joel Edgerton

Get into the world of MMA with this great movie. Watch the official trailer on YouTube right now before starting with the film. This cliche movie, according to critics, is still strong enough to hold its audience in place and blow their minds.

A drunk ex-fighter begins to train his ex-Marine son in the art of Mixed martial art fighting. Tommy, the ex-Marine, picks this up quickly and takes the MMA by storm. However, his good times halt when he has to fight his estranged brother. A family of fighters who don’t see eye to eye get the chance to patch things up with MMA.

 

Summary

Most fighting movies are cliche, but it doesn’t stop audiences from loving them, especially when they are not dull and seem unreal. What matters is getting movies with enough plot twists and thrills to keep you in suspense. From the archives of all fighting movies ever released, the 20 best movies above are what you should start with.

Fighting Movie You Can't Miss

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