8 Best Modern Martial Arts Movies to Watch After 'The Furious', Ranked by IMDb

Martial arts action movies, starting with the films of Bruce Lee, have enjoyed enduring popularity with fans worldwide. Their plots are usually straightforward and serve primarily as a pretext for numerous fight scenes – yet therein lies their magic.

Over the past few decades, the genre has evolved to offer viewers spectacular fight sequences, profound drama, impressive cinematography, and incredible choreography.

8. 'Fistful of Vengeance', 2022

IMDb Score: 4.5/10

Kai Jin is a professional assassin who travels to Bangkok to avenge a friend's death. However, the enemy proves to be far more dangerous than he could have imagined.

Fistful of Vengeance was directed by Roel Reiné for Netflix as a martial arts fantasy movie. It serves as a feature-length sequel to the series Wu Assassins, which was canceled after its first season.

Although the screenplay by Cameron Litvack and Yalun Tu is lacking, Reiné's skilled direction allows viewers to overlook significant narrative flaws and enjoy the thrilling fight sequences.

7. 'Prisoner of War', 2025

IMDb Score: 5.7/10

This action movie is set during World War II. After his plane is shot down over the Philippines, British Army officer James Wright survives the crash but is taken prisoner by the Japanese.

The camp commander, Colonel Ito, is an avid martial arts enthusiast who organizes underground tournaments within the compound. Upon learning that Wright trained under Japanese martial arts masters, Ito forces the prisoner of war to compete in no-holds-barred fights.

While some of the fight scenes lack realism, the narrative gradually evolves into a drama about two honorable men of inner strength who find themselves on opposing sides due to the war.

6. 'Beast', 2026

IMDb Score: 5.8/10

Former MMA fighter James Patton must return to the ring to face the reigning champion, Xavier Grau. The only person who can help him defeat this formidable opponent is Sammy, James' former trainer with whom he had his greatest victories.

The movie is notable for its solid dramatic storytelling and the involvement of Russell Crowe, who co-wrote the screenplay, more than for its fight sequences.

Crowe and Tyler Atkins focused on the psychological aspects of the story: the complex relationship between James and Sammy, the theme of overcoming personal flaws, and the will to win.

5. 'Mortal Kombat', 2021

IMDb Score: 6.1/10

The second adaptation of the popular video game was produced under the supervision of horror maestro James Wan. Cole Young and other fighters must triumph in a mystical tournament to prevent the conquest of Earthrealm by beings from Outworld.

Instead of creating a shot-for-shot remake of Paul W.S. Anderson's canonical version the reboot's creators opted to tweak the storyline. The resulting flick failed to satisfy the franchise's legions of fans. Yet it comfortably recouped its production budget.

If one overlooks the plot inconsistencies and narrative contrivances, the movie succeeds in its primary goal of entertaining the audience with thrilling combat sequences.

4. 'Road House', 2024

IMDb Score: 6.2/10

It's a rough-and-tumble movie that doesn't shy away from blunt tactics or absurdities. A buffed-up Jake Gyllenhaal plays a tough bouncer who throws punches in a roadside bar. Then, Conor McGregor shows up and does the same.

Road House is a throwback to old-school action flicks of the 80s, offering a mix of testosterone, fun, and a generally laid-back vibe. Overall, there's nothing new here, just men turning the screen into an electrified ring while settling criminal scores.

3. 'Monkey Man', 2024

IMDb Score: 6.8/10

For his directorial debut, Dev Patel drew inspiration from John Wick, but set the story in the criminal underworld of Mumbai. The main character seeks revenge against Indian gangsters who killed his mother and other locals.

Monkey Man makes little effort to transcend genre conventions – it is a formulaic action flick with fight scenes set in nightclubs, opulent interiors, and gritty streets. The movie occasionally slows down to give the viewers a breather with meditative pauses.

However, one thing truly sets the film apart: it is a passion project for Patel. He managed to pull together and shoot this raucous action movie on a budget of just $10 million.

2. 'The Night Comes for Us', 2018

IMDb Score: 6.9/10

Hitman Ito suddenly decides to save the girl he was supposed to kill. This act of nobility drags him into a war with the mafia and draws in old friends, new enemies, and a couple of butchers with personal grudges.

The director prioritizes the choreography of the carnage over narrative originality. Each scene is staged so inventively that even The Raid looks like a gym workout by comparison.

This is precisely why The Night Comes for Us warrants repeat viewings, not for cinematic catharsis but for raw, authentic action that evokes the aesthetic of Asian martial arts movies from the VHS era.

1. 'Kill', 2023

IMDb Score: 7.4/10

Essentially, Kill is David Leitch's Bullet Train, only the express train has been swapped for a cramped, stifling open-plan carriage. A young commando contorts his body in every conceivable way as he mows down bandits who decided to rob the train.

Nikhil Nagesh Bhat's movie features absurd exaggerations, a romantic subplot crafted according to classic Indian cinematic tenets, and extreme violence involving every conceivable sharp object – and even a flamethrower.

It's a brazen, unrestrained bloodbath that occasionally lacks any sense of composition. Like the train itself, the movie hurtles toward oblivion at breakneck speed without giving a thought to balancing quantity and quality.