Top 10 Sci-Fi Kung Fu Movies Ranked: From The Matrix To Shang-Chi

Kung fu films are known for their exciting and creative fight scenes, and when combined with science fiction, they can lead to truly imaginative stories. These movies showcase incredible martial arts talent, featuring stars like Jackie Chan, Donnie Yen, and Jet Li. You’ll also find sci-fi action films with well-known American actors.

These movies all share a common thread: they use science fiction as a way to deliver the exciting kung fu action and fight scenes that audiences already enjoy. Skilled directors can make kung fu even more spectacular by incorporating sci-fi elements, which simply add to the entertainment.

Ultraviolet (2006)

I remember when “Ultraviolet” came out in 2006! Kurt Wimmer really delivered a cool, futuristic thriller starring Milla Jovovich. The story is set in the future, and it’s pretty dark – the US government tried to make super-soldiers to control other countries, but a virus ended up spreading and infecting everyone. It’s a wild ride!

People infected with the virus transformed into incredibly powerful creatures called Hemophages. These beings were physically superior to humans – stronger, faster, and more intelligent – but didn’t live as long. A war between humans and the Hemophages devastated the world, causing governments to fall and basic freedoms to disappear. Milla Jovovich stars as Violet, a Hemophage fighting as part of a secret resistance group.

Although the movie received negative reviews, the action sequences were exceptionally well-done. Featuring a mix of kung fu, gunfights, and swordplay, these over-the-top battles are the film’s biggest strength and what makes it worth watching.

Equilibrium (2002)

Before directing Ultraviolet, Kurt Wimmer created an even more impressive film that was surprisingly ahead of its time. Equilibrium is a science fiction movie heavily inspired by Ray Bradbury’s Fahrenheit 451, a story about a world where books are outlawed. In Equilibrium, not only books, but all forms of art and emotional expression are prohibited.

In a future where the government suppresses emotions with mandatory drugs – believing it prevents war – law enforcement officers Christian Bale and Taye Diggs are tasked with enforcing this policy. But when one officer decides to stop taking the drug, it sparks a crisis.

The movie Equilibrium is memorable for its ‘gun-fu’ style of action, a technique that gained prominence three years earlier in The Matrix. Interestingly, the John Wick films clearly draw inspiration from the action Wimmer created in this sci-fi kung fu movie, which also features a compelling story and some of the best action sequences in the genre.

The One (2001)

Jet Li is famous for starring in many classic kung fu films, including the sci-fi action movie The One. The film explores the idea of a multiverse, where a character named Gabriel Yulaw discovers multiple versions of himself exist across different realities. By defeating these alternate selves, he becomes more powerful, and his ultimate goal is to be the only one left – an invincible being.

The trouble starts when Jet Li’s character faces off against a determined deputy sheriff in a futuristic Los Angeles. What makes this sci-fi action movie unique is that Jet Li brilliantly portrays nine different versions of himself, each with a distinct personality and skillset.

Jason Statham appears as a fellow agent from the killer’s alternate reality. Ultimately, Jet Li promises the kung-fu action is brilliantly done, whether he’s battling himself or his opponents, making the film enjoyable and a standout achievement in his work during the 2000s.

Shin Kamen Rider (2023)

Released in 2023, Shin Kamen Rider is a Japanese superhero film created to celebrate the 50th anniversary of the Kamen Rider series. It’s the third time director Hideaki Anno has revisited a classic Japanese franchise, following his successful reimaginings of Shin Godzilla (2016) and Shin Ultraman (2022).

The first Kamen Rider started as a TV show and was also released as a science fiction manga. The story takes place in a world threatened by a terrorist group made up of ex-Nazis. When one of their mutant cyborg experiments broke free before being mind-controlled, he dedicated himself to stopping them.

In Shin Kamen Rider, a hero and his female teammate work together to take down a dangerous organization. The movie was a hit with both critics and audiences – it currently has an 89% rating on Rotten Tomatoes – and features exciting, though sometimes over-the-top, fight choreography.

Timecop (1994)

Jean-Claude Van Damme became a major action star in the 1980s, known for his martial arts films. He later expanded his roles and starred in the 1994 science fiction movie Timecop, which had an inventive plot involving time travel.

Jean-Claude Van Damme plays Detective Max Walker, a police officer who works in a special time travel unit. This unit can send people back in time, but altering the past creates dangerous consequences. When his superior officer illegally uses time travel to launch a presidential campaign, Walker is faced with a difficult choice.

Even though the movie is a fairly standard action film, the fight choreography is excellent, as you’d expect from a Jean-Claude Van Damme movie. It’s also one of the more creative time-travel action films out there, offering some unique concepts for viewers who are open to them.

Alita: Battle Angel (2019)

Alita: Battle Angel was a fantastic film that expertly mixed many different types of science fiction. Directed by Robert Rodriguez and produced by James Cameron, it features Rosa Salazar as a cyborg who is rebuilt and then competes in a fast-paced, rollerball-like contest.

The movie, inspired by Yukito Kishiro’s manga, features a lot of exciting battles. You’ll see futuristic fights with high-tech weapons used by Alita and those hunting her, but it also includes impressive kung fu and martial arts, all made unique by the fact that many of the fighters are cyborgs.

The movie was really enjoyable, and people are hoping for a sequel that’s as good as the first one. For now, though, fans can still enjoy the original, which is sure to please anyone who likes science fiction or martial arts films.

Big Trouble In Little China (1986)

It might surprise you, but Kurt Russell actually starred in a fantastic sci-fi kung fu film. Director John Carpenter’s Big Trouble in Little China, released in 1986, features Russell as Jack Burton, a truck driver who unexpectedly gets caught up in a wildly over-the-top kung fu adventure.

In the movie, Jack teams up with his friend Wang Chi to save Wang’s fiancée from kidnappers in San Francisco’s Chinatown. But once they find her, they discover she’s being held by an ancient sorcerer named David Lo Pan, who intends to marry her as part of a mystical prophecy.

What makes Big Trouble in Little China so great is that Jack Burton is completely out of his depth – and that really suited Kurt Russell at the time. The movie cleverly puts the focus on the Asian cast members for the impressive kung fu action, while Jack gets involved in more gritty, close-quarters brawls to support them.

Shang-Chi And The Legend Of The Ten Rings (2021)

Although some fans believe the Marvel Cinematic Universe declined in quality after Avengers: Endgame, that’s not entirely accurate. Several excellent movies have been overlooked, and Shang-Chi and the Legend of the Ten Rings is a prime example. The film stars Simu Liu as Shang-Chi, Marvel’s Master of Kung Fu.

Okay, so the movie’s about Shang-Chi, and he’s been trying to live a normal life, basically hiding from his family. Turns out his family isn’t just any family – they’re the heads of this huge criminal group called the Ten Rings! And get this – his dad is the Mandarin, the villain they hinted at way back in Iron Man 3. As a Marvel fan, I was so excited to finally see that connection made!

The movie features amazing kung fu fights, showcasing both Shang-Chi’s skills and the action within the magical village of Ta Lo. Marvel made a real effort to ensure authenticity by working with a predominantly Asian team of filmmakers and crew, and the result is a hidden gem within the Marvel Cinematic Universe.

Everything Everywhere All At Once (2022)

Released in 2022, Everything Everywhere All at Once quickly became a hit. The film, directed by Daniel Kwan and Daniel Scheinert, features Michelle Yeoh as a wife and mother who also runs a laundromat. Beneath the surface, she’s a woman grappling with a sense of unfulfillment and wondering what might have been.

The film delivers one of the most compelling multiverse stories ever put on screen. Michelle Yeoh plays Evelyn, a woman who discovers she lived countless other lives – some filled with glamour and success, others marked by profound loneliness – all different from the life she ultimately chose. Woven into this is the tale of a powerful, enigmatic force threatening to destroy everything.

This movie blends science fiction and fantasy with impressive kung fu action. Michelle Yeoh’s incredible performance not only made the action sequences work, but also elevated the dramatic elements, ultimately contributing to the film’s Best Picture Oscar win.

The Matrix (1999)

Many consider 1999’s The Matrix to be the greatest science fiction martial arts film of all time. A key to its success was Keanu Reeves, who, as demonstrated in films like John Wick, is dedicated to making his fight scenes look incredibly realistic. Achieving this level of detail was a significant challenge given the film’s complex choreography.

The Wachowskis pioneered the “Bullet Time” effect here – a technique that slows down action sequences to make it appear as if characters, like Keanu Reeves’ Neo, can perceive and react to events in slow motion, dodging bullets and weapons with incredible speed.

The Matrix revolutionized science fiction cinema, inspiring many imitators, but none could replicate its impact. It’s still considered one of the greatest sci-fi films of all time, and also a fantastic martial arts movie.

2025-12-25 21:44