My Favorite Action Flicks (Strictly sans guns)
by subratjain1 | created - 11 Aug 2014 | updated - 25 Apr 2021 | PublicA list of movies with best hand to hand combat scenes predominantly
- Instant Watch Options
- Genres
- Movies or TV
- IMDb Rating
- In Theaters
- Release Year
- Keywords
1. The Raid 2 (2014)
R | 150 min | Action, Crime, Thriller
Only a short time after the first raid, Rama goes undercover with the thugs of Jakarta and plans to bring down the syndicate and uncover the corruption within his police force.
Director: Gareth Evans | Stars: Iko Uwais, Yayan Ruhian, Arifin Putra, Oka Antara
Votes: 131,337 | Gross: $2.63M
2. The Raid: Redemption (2011)
R | 101 min | Action, Crime, Thriller
A S.W.A.T. team becomes trapped in a tenement run by a ruthless mobster and his army of killers and thugs.
Director: Gareth Evans | Stars: Iko Uwais, Ananda George, Ray Sahetapy, Donny Alamsyah
Votes: 217,189 | Gross: $4.11M
3. Merantau (2009)
R | 134 min | Action, Drama, Thriller
A young man from the countryside uses his skills in silat martial arts to survive the slave trade.
Director: Gareth Evans | Stars: Iko Uwais, Sisca Jessica, Christine Hakim, Mads Koudal
Votes: 11,462
4. Chocolate (2008)
R | 110 min | Action, Drama
An autistic girl with powerful martial art skills looks to settle her ailing mother's debts by seeking out the ruthless gangs that owe her family money.
Director: Prachya Pinkaew | Stars: JeeJa Yanin, Hiroshi Abe, Pongpat Wachirabunjong, Taphon Phopwandee
Votes: 18,866 | Gross: $0.01M
5. The Man from Nowhere (2010)
R | 119 min | Action, Crime, Drama
A quiet pawnshop keeper with a violent past takes on a drug-and-organ trafficking ring in hope of saving the child who is his only friend.
Director: Lee Jeong-beom | Stars: Won Bin, Kim Sae-ron, Kim Tae-hoon, Kim Hee-won
Votes: 74,895 | Gross: $0.01M
6. Flash Point (2007)
R | 88 min | Action, Crime, Thriller
A hot-headed inspector takes on a small but powerful Vietnamese-Chinese gang, after a series of crimes and murder attempts committed and putting an undercover cop and his girlfriend in great danger.
Director: Wilson Yip | Stars: Donnie Yen, Louis Koo, Ray Lui, Collin Chou
Votes: 13,823 | Gross: $0.00M
7. Undisputed 3: Redemption (2010 Video)
R | 96 min | Action, Crime, Drama
Boyka is back. This time he is fighting in the first ever inter-prison tournament with one knee.
Director: Isaac Florentine | Stars: Scott Adkins, Mykel Shannon Jenkins, Mark Ivanir, Hristo Shopov
Votes: 44,592
8. War of the Arrows (2011)
R | 122 min | Action, Adventure
A skilled Korean archer goes up against the mighty force of Manchus with the sole purpose of rescuing his kidnapped sister.
Director: Han-min Kim | Stars: Park Hae-il, Ryu Seung-ryong, Kim Mu-yeol, Moon Chae-won
Votes: 12,807 | Gross: $0.25M
9. Warrior (2011)
PG-13 | 140 min | Action, Drama, Sport
The youngest son of an alcoholic former boxer returns home, where he's trained by his father for competition in a mixed martial arts tournament - a path that puts the fighter on a collision course with his estranged, older brother.
Director: Gavin O'Connor | Stars: Tom Hardy, Nick Nolte, Joel Edgerton, Jennifer Morrison
Votes: 498,181 | Gross: $13.66M
10. Ip Man (2008)
R | 106 min | Action, Biography, Drama
During the Japanese invasion of China, a wealthy martial artist is forced to leave his home when his city is occupied. With little means of providing for themselves, Ip Man and the remaining members of the city must find a way to survive.
Director: Wilson Yip | Stars: Donnie Yen, Simon Yam, Siu-Wong Fan, Ka-Tung Lam
Votes: 233,675
11. Drunken Master II (1994)
R | 102 min | Action, Comedy
A young martial artist is caught between respecting his pacifist father's wishes or stopping a group of disrespectful foreigners from stealing precious artifacts.
Directors: Chia-Liang Liu, Jackie Chan | Stars: Jackie Chan, Ho-Sung Pak, Lung Ti, Anita Mui
Votes: 48,947 | Gross: $11.55M
12. Ong-Bak: The Thai Warrior (2003)
R | 105 min | Action, Crime, Thriller
When the head of a statue sacred to a village is stolen, a young martial artist goes to the big city and finds himself taking on the underworld to retrieve it.
Director: Prachya Pinkaew | Stars: Tony Jaa, Phetthai Vongkumlao, Pumwaree Yodkamol, Suchao Pongwilai
Votes: 78,212 | Gross: $4.56M
13. Unleashed (2005)
R | 103 min | Action, Crime, Thriller
A man enslaved by the mob since childhood and raised into behaving like a human attack dog escapes his captors and attempts to start a new life.
Director: Louis Leterrier | Stars: Jet Li, Bob Hoskins, Morgan Freeman, Kerry Condon
Votes: 108,121 | Gross: $24.52M
14. Never Back Down (2008)
PG-13 | 113 min | Action, Drama, Sport
A frustrated and conflicted teenager arrives at a new high school to discover an underground fight club, and meets a classmate who begins to coerce him into fighting.
Director: Jeff Wadlow | Stars: Sean Faris, Djimon Hounsou, Amber Heard, Cam Gigandet
Votes: 106,476 | Gross: $24.85M
15. The Berlin File (2013)
PG-13 | 120 min | Action, Thriller
Jong-seong, a North Korean ghost agent, interrupts an illegal arms sale in Berlin. A notorious North Korean agent tests the loyalties of everyone involved as Jong-Seong prepares to make the ultimate sacrifice.
Director: Ryu Seung-wan | Stars: Ha Jung-woo, Han Suk-kyu, Ryu Seung-beom, Jun Ji-hyun
Votes: 7,634 | Gross: $0.67M
16. Enter the Dragon (1973)
R | 102 min | Action, Crime, Thriller
A Shaolin martial artist travels to an island fortress to spy on an opium lord - who is also a former monk from his temple - under the guise of attending a fighting tournament.
Director: Robert Clouse | Stars: Bruce Lee, John Saxon, Jim Kelly, Ahna Capri
Votes: 113,050 | Gross: $25.00M
17. The Rebel (2007)
R | 103 min | Action, Drama, Romance
France employs local secret agents in Vietnam 1922 to eliminate resistance. The rebel leader's pretty daughter gets captured. Later an agent seems to have fallen in love with her and helps her escape. He flees, too. Lots of martial arts.
Director: Charlie Nguyen | Stars: Johnny Tri Nguyen, Veronica Ngo, Dustin Nguyen, Thang Nguyen
Votes: 2,370
18. Fists of Legend (2013)
Not Rated | 154 min | Action
Three old friends and rivals get set to face off on a TV program billed as "The Greatest Fight Show on Earth".
Director: Kang Woo-suk | Stars: Yoo Joon-sang, Hwang Jung-min, Yun Je-mun, Lee Yo-won
Votes: 1,255
19. Kill Zone (2005)
Not Rated | 93 min | Action, Crime, Thriller
A near retired inspector and his unit are willing to put down a crime boss at all costs while dealing with his replacement, who is getting in their way. Meanwhile, the crime boss sends his top henchmen to put an end to their dirty schemes.
Director: Wilson Yip | Stars: Donnie Yen, Simon Yam, Sammo Kam-Bo Hung, Jing Wu
Votes: 13,206
20. Raging Phoenix (2009)
R | 112 min | Action, Romance
A violent gang is abducting and killing women around Thailand. Sanim and his friends, having had loved ones abducted, have joined together to break the gang of kidnappers. In a botched ... See full summary »
Director: Rashane Limtrakul | Stars: JeeJa Yanin, Kazu Patrick Tang, Nui Saendaeng, Sompong Leartvimolkasame
Votes: 2,414
21. The Stool Pigeon (2010)
R | 113 min | Action, Crime, Thriller
Policeman Don Lee often works with informants but numerous too-close calls and failed missions cause him to see the world as one betrayal after another - then he meets Guy, and is given a new chance to change his views.
Director: Dante Lam | Stars: Nick Cheung, Nicholas Tse, Gwei Lun-Mei, Kai-Chi Liu
Votes: 2,181
22. Man of Tai Chi (2013)
R | 105 min | Action, Drama
A young martial artist's unparalleled Tai Chi skills land him in a highly lucrative underworld fight club.
Director: Keanu Reeves | Stars: Tiger Hu Chen, Keanu Reeves, Karen Mok, Hai Yu
Votes: 40,980 | Gross: $0.10M
23. District B13 (2004)
R | 84 min | Action, Crime, Sci-Fi
In the ghettos of Paris in 2010, an undercover cop and an ex-thug try to infiltrate a gang in order to defuse a neutron bomb.
Director: Pierre Morel | Stars: Cyril Raffaelli, David Belle, Tony D'Amario, Bibi Naceri
Votes: 73,911 | Gross: $1.20M
24. A Bittersweet Life (2005)
Not Rated | 119 min | Action, Crime, Drama
Things go wrong for a high ranking mobster when he doesn't follow his boss's orders.
Directors: Jung Doo Hong, Jee-woon Kim | Stars: Lee Byung-hun, Shin Min-a, Kim Yeong-cheol, Hwang Jung-min
Votes: 42,939
25. Ip Man 2 (2010)
R | 108 min | Action, Biography, Drama
Centering on Ip Man's migration to Hong Kong in 1949 as he attempts to propagate his discipline of Wing Chun martial arts.
Director: Wilson Yip | Stars: Donnie Yen, Xiaoming Huang, Sammo Kam-Bo Hung, Lynn Xiong
Votes: 111,073 | Gross: $0.21M
26. Clash (2009)
R | 90 min | Action, Crime, Thriller
Two mercenaries have the same goal but different motives. When Trinh's daughter is kidnapped, she's forced to recover a stolen hard drive with codes to Vietnam's first satellite in order to save her.
Director: Thanh Son Le | Stars: Johnny Tri Nguyen, Veronica Ngo, Hoang Phuc Nguyen, Lam Minh Thang
Votes: 1,206
27. Once Upon a Time in Shanghai (2014)
Not Rated | 96 min | Action, Crime
A laborer moves to Shanghai in the hope of becoming rich. But ends up using his kung fu skills to survive.
Director: Ching-Po Wong | Stars: Sammo Kam-Bo Hung, Andy On, Philip Ng, Luxia Jiang
Votes: 2,088
28. Special ID (2013)
R | 99 min | Action, Crime
A cop goes undercover in a ruthless underworld organization to stop a gang leader, only to put himself in great danger after being exposed by his former protégé and best friend.
Director: Clarence Fok | Stars: Donnie Yen, Tian Jing, Andy On, Ronald Cheng
Votes: 4,506
29. Kung Fu Jungle (2014)
Not Rated | 100 min | Action, Crime, Thriller
A martial arts instructor from the police force gets imprisoned after killing a man by accident. But when a vicious killer starts targeting martial arts masters, the instructor offers to help the police in return for his freedom.
Director: Teddy Chan | Stars: Donnie Yen, Baoqiang Wang, Charlie Yeung, Bing Bai
Votes: 11,969 | Gross: $0.13M
30. Vengeance of an Assassin (2014)
Not Rated | 90 min | Action
The Assassins' Code - Stick to the mission. Never take your eyes off the target. Show no mercy. Natee (Dan Chupong) became a killer for one reason- to discover who killed his parents. As he... See full summary »
Director: Panna Rittikrai | Stars: Nantawooti Boonrapsap, Dan Chupong, Kessarin Ektawatkul, Chatchapol Kulsiriwuthichai
Votes: 490
31. Skin Trade (2014)
R | 96 min | Action, Crime, Thriller
After his family is killed by a Serbian gangster with international interests, NYC detective Nick goes to S.E. Asia and teams up with a Thai detective to get revenge and destroy the syndicates human trafficking network.
Director: Ekachai Uekrongtham | Stars: Dolph Lundgren, Tony Jaa, Ron Perlman, Michael Jai White
Votes: 8,580 | Gross: $0.00M
32. The Philly Kid (2012)
R | 90 min | Action, Drama, Sport
A former NCAA champion wrestler, paroled after ten years in prison, agrees to a series of cage fights to save a friend's life and is asked to do the impossible - lose.
Director: Jason Connery | Stars: Wes Chatham, Devon Sawa, Sarah Butler, Neal McDonough
Votes: 2,297
33. Kill Zone 2 (2015)
Not Rated | 120 min | Action, Adventure, Crime
While undercover officer Kit is taken prisoner by the syndicate, he befriends his keeper and discovers an organ trafficking ring.
Director: Soi Cheang | Stars: Tony Jaa, Jing Wu, Simon Yam, Jin Zhang
Votes: 7,261
34. The Wrath of Vajra (2013)
Not Rated | 111 min | Action, Fantasy
Before the West entered World War II, a Japanese death cult called the Temple of Hades is ordered to aid in the spiritual destruction of China. Their method - abduct their enemies' children... See full summary »
Director: Wing-Cheong Law | Stars: Xing Yu, Yoo Seung-jun, Nam Heon-jun, Baocheng Jiang
Votes: 1,782
35. Born to Fight (2004)
R | 96 min | Action, Crime, Drama
A group of athletes helping a poor village must stop an evil tyrant and his men from terrorizing the village.
Director: Panna Rittikrai | Stars: Nappon Gomarachun, Santisuk Promsiri, Dan Chupong, Piyapong Piew-on
Votes: 3,069
36. Fireball (2009)
R | 94 min | Action, Adventure, Drama
Tai, a young man arrested on a crime charge, is discharged thanks to his twin brother Tan's dogged help. After being set free, he finds Tan in a coma with severe injuries. Tan's girlfriend,... See full summary »
Director: Thanakorn Pongsuwan | Stars: Preeti Barameeanat, Khanutra Chuchuaysuwan, Kumpanat Oungsoongnern, Phutharit Prombandal
Votes: 1,046
37. Ip Man 3 (2015)
PG-13 | 105 min | Action, Biography, Drama
When a band of brutal gangsters led by a crooked property developer make a play to take over a local school, Master Ip is forced to take a stand.
Director: Wilson Yip | Stars: Donnie Yen, Lynn Xiong, Jin Zhang, Mike Tyson
Votes: 60,247 | Gross: $2.68M
38. Never Back Down: No Surrender (2016 Video)
R | 101 min | Action, Sport
Picking up after the events of Never Back Down 2, former MMA champion Case Walker is on the comeback trail to become champion once again.
Director: Michael Jai White | Stars: Michael Jai White, Gillian White, Esai Morales, Stephen Quadros
Votes: 7,245
39. Kickboxer: Vengeance (2016)
Not Rated | 90 min | Action, Crime, Drama
A kick boxer is out to avenge his brother.
Director: John Stockwell | Stars: Dave Bautista, Alain Moussi, Gina Carano, Jean-Claude Van Damme
Votes: 12,169
40. Headshot (II) (2016)
Not Rated | 118 min | Action, Drama, Thriller
Uwais plays a young man who washes ashore, an amnesiac with a serious head injury whose past comes back to haunt him shortly after being nursed back to health by a young doctor. Violence ensues. Sweet, sweet violence.
Directors: Kimo Stamboel, Timo Tjahjanto | Stars: Iko Uwais, Chelsea Islan, Sunny Pang, Very Tri Yulisman
Votes: 16,139
41. Undisputed 4: Boyka (2016 Video)
R | 86 min | Action, Drama, Sport
In the fourth installment of the fighting franchise, Boyka is shooting for the big leagues when an accidental death in the ring makes him question everything he stands for.
Director: Todor Chapkanov | Stars: Scott Adkins, Teodora Duhovnikova, Alon Aboutboul, Julian Vergov
Votes: 31,843
42. Ong Bak 2 (2008)
R | 98 min | Action
A young Thai boxer learns the skills and inner meaning of martial arts.
Directors: Tony Jaa, Panna Rittikrai | Stars: Tony Jaa, Sarunyu Wongkrachang, Sorapong Chatree, Primrata Dej-Udom
Votes: 31,924 | Gross: $0.10M
43. The Villainess (2017)
Not Rated | 124 min | Action, Crime, Drama
A female assassin leaves a trail of bodies behind her as she seeks revenge.
Director: Jung Byung-gil | Stars: Kim Ok-bin, Shin Ha-kyun, Sung Jun, Kim Seo-hyeong
Votes: 16,806 | Gross: $0.03M
44. Paradox (2017)
101 min | Action, Adventure, Crime
A tough Hong Kong cop's 16 y.o. daughter disappears in Pattaya. He goes to Thailand to find her and must deal with corrupt cops but an honest one helps him track down culprits involved in illegal organ trafficking.
Director: Wilson Yip | Stars: Louis Koo, Yue Wu, Ka-Tung Lam, Chris Collins
Votes: 4,357
45. Kickboxer: Retaliation (2018)
R | 110 min | Action, Drama
Right after winning a fight in Las Vegas, Kurt Sloane is sedated and taken to a prison in Bangkok, where he's forced to fight a 6'10" giant for freedom and $1M - but this will require some intense training.
Director: Dimitri Logothetis | Stars: Alain Moussi, Sara Malakul Lane, Maxime Savaria, Wanderlei Silva
Votes: 6,129 | Gross: $0.00M
46. The Night Comes for Us (2018)
TV-MA | 121 min | Action, Crime, Thriller
Ito, a gangland enforcer, is caught amidst a treacherous and violent insurrection within his Triad crime family upon his return home from a stint abroad.
Director: Timo Tjahjanto | Stars: Iko Uwais, Joe Taslim, Julie Estelle, Dian Sastrowardoyo
Votes: 29,265
47. Revenger (2018)
Not Rated | 101 min | Action, Crime, Thriller
A former police investigator decides to go to a prison island to revenge the brutal killings of his family.
Director: Lee Seung-won | Stars: Je-Heon Choi, Park Chul-min, Kim Dae-hyun, Park Hee-soon
Votes: 4,755
48. Master Z: The Ip Man Legacy (2018)
Not Rated | 107 min | Action, Biography, Crime
While keeping a low profile after his defeat by Ip Man, Cheung Tin Chi gets into trouble after getting in a fight with a powerful foreigner.
Director: Woo-Ping Yuen | Stars: Jin Zhang, Dave Bautista, Yan Liu, Michelle Yeoh
Votes: 9,826 | Gross: $0.21M
49. Mard Ko Dard Nahin Hota (2018)
134 min | Action, Comedy, Drama
It is a story of a young boy Surya who has a rare condition of Congenital Insensitivity to pain meaning he can not feel pain, and he sets out to learn martial arts and hunt down muggers.
Director: Vasan Bala | Stars: Abhimanyu Dasani, Radhika Madan, Mahesh Manjrekar, Gulshan Devaiah
Votes: 8,977
50. John Wick: Chapter 3 - Parabellum (2019)
R | 130 min | Action, Crime, Thriller
John Wick is on the run after killing a member of the international assassins' guild, and with a $14 million price tag on his head, he is the target of hit men and women everywhere.
Director: Chad Stahelski | Stars: Keanu Reeves, Halle Berry, Ian McShane, Laurence Fishburne
Votes: 426,265 | Gross: $171.02M
51. Ip Man 4: The Finale (2019)
Not Rated | 107 min | Action, Biography, Drama
The Kung Fu master travels to the U.S. where his student has upset the local martial arts community by opening a Wing Chun school.
Director: Wilson Yip | Stars: Donnie Yen, Scott Adkins, Danny Kwok-Kwan Chan, Vanness Wu
Votes: 36,747 | Gross: $3.96M
52. Mortal Kombat (2021)
R | 110 min | Action, Adventure, Fantasy
MMA fighter Cole Young seeks out Earth's greatest champions in order to stand against the enemies of Outworld in a high stakes battle for the universe.
Director: Simon McQuoid | Stars: Lewis Tan, Jessica McNamee, Josh Lawson, Joe Taslim
Votes: 190,217 | Gross: $42.20M
Tell Your Friends