Chinese films about self-defense

List of the best Chinese films about self-defense according to the audience: Ip Man, Wolf Warrior 2, Women Who Flirt, Flavors of Youth, Legend of the Naga Pearls, Railroad Tigers, The Thousand Faces of Dunjia, Saving Mr. Wu, Special ID, Love Actually... Sucks!.

In the top there are new films of 2023, a plot description and trailers for films that have already been released.

Country
Markimdb: 8
Genreaction, drama, biography
CountryHong Kong, China
Duration01:46

A semi-biographical account of Yip Man, the first martial arts master to teach the Chinese martial art of Wing Chun. The film focuses on events surrounding Ip that took place in the city of Foshan between the 1930s to 1940s during the Second Sino-Japanese War. Directed by Wilson Yip, the film stars Donnie Yen in the lead role, and features fight choreography by Sammo Hung.

Markimdb: 5.9
Genreaction
CountryChina
Duration01:35

China's deadliest special forces operative settles into a quiet life on the sea. When sadistic mercenaries begin targeting nearby civilians, he must leave his newfound peace behind and return to his duties as a soldier and protector.

Markimdb: 5.9
Genrecomedy
CountryChina
Duration01:37

When Zhang Hui is told by long-time best friend Xiao Gong that he has a new girlfriend, she is determined to learn new tricks to gain him back. Based on the novel written by Luo Fuman, "Everyone Loves Tender Women".

Markimdb: 6.6
Genremelodrama, drama, cartoon, anime
CountryJapan, China
Duration01:31

Three different stories of youth set in different cities of China. 1 Shanghai Love. 2 Sunny Breakfast. 3 Small Fashion Show. Directed by Zhenxing Yi, the plot revolves around a young man working in Beijing. He used to live with his grandma in his less developed hometown Hunan. While he is drown in his childhood reminiscence, he receives an unexpected call – Grandma is in critical condition.

Markimdb: 5.5
Genreaction, fantasy, comedy, melodrama, adventure
CountryChina
Duration01:49

After being defeated by humans centuries ago, the Winged Tribe has lost their ability to fly. Seeking vengeance, a royal descendant of the tribe has begun searching for the magical Naga Pearls, which he plans to use to destroy the humans. When the legendary pearls fall into - and out of - the hands of Heiyu, a wily human street punk, he must join a team of unlikely heroes as they race to prevent the destruction of their people in this magical fantasy adventure.

Markimdb: 5.7
Genreaction, comedy, adventure, family, military, history
CountryChina
Duration01:54

A railroad worker in China in 1941 leads a team of freedom fighters against the Japanese in order to get food for the poor.

Markimdb: 5.4
Genreaction, fantasy
CountryChina, Hong Kong
Duration01:12

The world is on the brink of catastrophe in a chaotic age where evil demons roam. In order to keep evil at bay, a mysterious organisation from the pugilist world emerges. A new constable and a young girl with a mysterious past are also drawn into this group, and the group embarks on an incredible adventure.

Markimdb: 6.6
Genrethriller, crime
CountryChina

Mr. Wu, a Hong Kong movie star, is kidnapped in Beijing by Zhang Hua's gang. The police quickly form a task force and begin the search, ignoring that detectives in charge have only twenty hours before the deadline. (A story based on the famous kidnapping case of television actor Wu Rufou that took place in 2004.)

Markimdb: 5.5
Genreaction, crime
CountryChina

A cop and his team of comrades go undercover in one of China's most ruthless underworld organizations to stop a gang leader, only to put themselves in great danger after being exposed one by one.

Markimdb: 4.1
Genredrama
CountryHong Kong, China
Duration01:23

Love Actually... Sucks! was inspired by real-life events, and opens with a dramatic wedding feast. It tells a variety of stories about love that has gone wrong: a brother and sister in an illicit relationship, a married painter who falls in love with his young male life model, a dance school teacher who is besotted with his senior student, and a lesbian couple, one of whom has role-play paranoia, and is caught in a complex love triangle. The film celebrates the belief that life is love.

Markimdb: 7.3
Genreaction, comedy, drama
CountryChina, USA, Hong Kong

Set in China during the Warlords Period of the 1920s, notorious bandit chief Zhang descends upon a remote provincial town posing as its new mayor, an identity that he had hijacked from Old Tang, himself a small-time imposter. Hell-bent on making a fast buck, Zhang soon meets his match in the tyrannical local gentry Huang as a deadly battle of wit and brutality ensues.

Markimdb: 6.3
Genreaction, thriller, history
CountryHong Kong, China, Singapore
Duration01:54

Trained in clandestine combat from childhood, the Jinyiwei were masters of the 14 Blades; eight being for torture, five for killing, and the last blade reserved for suicide when a mission failed. An elite force of secret agents with a license to kill, the Jinyiwei devoted their lives and lethal prowess to the service of the Emperor alone. When the Imperial Court is taken over by evil eunuch Jia (Law Kar Ying), the best of the Jinyiwei, Qinglong (Donnie Yen) is assigned to steal a list identifying those still loyal to the Emperor. However unbeknownst to Qinglong, the Jinyiwei have fallen under the control of Jia, and during the mission Qinglong is betrayed and barely escapes with his life. Now as the most wanted man in the land, Qinglong must seek out and rally the loyalists to rise against Jia and restore the Emperor to power. In his way are the deadliest assassins in the land, his former brethren, the Jinyiwei.

Markimdb: 6.4
Genreaction, thriller, adventure, crime
CountryHong Kong, China
Duration01:28

During the warlords era in China, a village located in rural area called Pucheng fell into dangerous situation when its government allocated all its military force to the front line, the cruel commandant Cao from the enemy troops arrived the village and killed the innocent, the guardians of Pucheng were desperate to fight against Cao for justice and to protect their homeland.

Markimdb: 6.8
Genreaction, adventure
CountryChina, Taiwan, Hong Kong
Duration01:57

Set in ancient China, Zeng Jing is a skilled assassin who finds herself in possession of a mystical Buddhist monk's remains. She begins a quest to return the remains to its rightful resting place, and thus places herself in mortal danger because a team of assassins is in a deadly pursuit to possess the remains which holds an ancient power-wielding secret.

Markimdb: 7.2
Genrefantasy, drama, adventure, cartoon
CountryChina

In the bustling human world, various demons are hidden and live in peace with humans. Luo Xiaohei, the cat demon, begins his journey of wandering because his forest home is destroyed. On his search for a new home he encounters other demons as well as understanding human allies, leaving Hei in the dilemma of which side will be his true attribution.

Markimdb: 6.5
Genreaction, thriller, drama, adventure, crime, detective
CountryHong Kong, China
Duration01:44

One rainy night in an arms factory near Shanghai, a young female worker accused of stealing a box of bullets from the ruthless Boss Ding (Liu Kai Chi) is violently killed in a game of Russian roulette. Half a month later, a series of inexplicable deaths takes place in the factory, where the victims are shot but no bullets are found. Rumors of a deadly curse begin to spread in the factory, terrorizing the workers there. So, eccentric police inspector Song Donglu (Lau Ching Wan) and his hot-blooded, gunslinging partner Guo Zhui (Nicholas Tse) are sent in to investigate the mystery of the phantom bullets...

Markimdb: 6.3
Genreaction, drama, history
CountryHong Kong, China
Duration01:46

    Seven years after the apparent death of Chen Zhen, who was shot after discovering who was responsible for his teacher's death (Huo Yuanjia) in Japanese-occupied Shanghai. A mysterious stranger arrives from overseas and befriends a local mafia boss. That man is a disguised Chen Zhen, who intends to infiltrate the mob when they form an alliance with the Japanese. Disguising himself as a caped fighter by night, Chen intends to take out everyone involved as well as get his hands on an assassination list prepared by the Japanese.

    Markimdb: 6.1
    Genreaction, drama
    CountryChina

    An elite group of Chinese pilots must take part in a dangerous mission to thwart a terrorist plot and resolve a hostage situation.

    Markimdb: 6.2
    Genrethriller, drama, crime, detective, history
    CountryHong Kong, China
    Duration02:00

    An espionage thriller set in the 1950s and adapted from the novel "Year Suan/Plot Against" by May Jia. Tony Leung Chiu Wai plays a blind man who works for a piano tuner. He is recruited for a spy mission because of his exceptional hearing.

    Markimdb: 7
    Genremelodrama, drama, crime
    CountryChina, France, Japan
    Duration01:17

    Set in China's underworld, this tale of love and betrayal follows a dancer who fired a gun to protect her mobster boyfriend during a fight. On release from prison 5 years later, she sets out to find him.

    Markimdb: 6.8
    Genredrama
    CountryChina
    Duration02:26

    In 1942, Henan Province was devastated by the most tragic famine in modern Chinese history, resulting in the deaths of at least three million men, women and children. Although the primary cause of the famine was a severe drought, it was exacerbated by locusts, windstorms, earthquakes, epidemic disease and the corruption of the ruling Kuomintang government.

    Markimdb: 4.8
    Genrefantasy, adventure
    CountryChina
    Duration01:45

    Time Raiders is based on the online novel series Daomu Biji written by Xu Lei. It tells the story of explorers searching for the secrets of immortality in ancient tombs

    Markimdb: 5.9
    Genreaction, thriller, crime
    CountryHong Kong, China
    Duration01:27

    Realising that he will be defeated in no time during a police showdown, a thug shoots himself to force the cops to cease fire and take him to the hospital. In the hospital, he claims human rights to refuse immediate treatment in order to buy time for his underlings to rescue him. The detective in charge sees through his scheme but decides to play along so as to capture his whole gang once and for all.

    Markimdb: 5.5
    Genrefantasy, adventure, family, cartoon
    CountryChina
    Duration01:37

    A group of tea pets—cute clay figurines that are good-luck charms for tea drinkers—embark on a magical animated adventure to find a fabled mystic.

    Markimdb: 6.9
    Genreaction, drama
    CountryChina

    Determined to pass down his art, the Final Master of Wing Chun is caught in a power struggle with malicious local officials and ultimately must choose between personal honor and his master’s dying wish.

    Markimdb: 5.8
    Genreaction, fantasy, melodrama
    CountryChina, Hong Kong
    Duration01:38

    The Sorcerer and the White Snake is an ancient Chinese fable about a woman demon who falls in love with a mortal is brought to life through the latest advances in CGI and action techniques.

    Markimdb: 5
    Genreaction, fantasy, adventure
    CountryChina

    The movie takes partridge and Chen Yulous exploration of Pingshan as the background of western Hunan half a century later. It tells the story of Hu Bayi in order to save the poisonous big golden tooth after returning from the Longling Cave, leading the Golden Triangle into the iron triangle. In Pingshan, Xiangxi, the story of searching for the long-lost six-winged centipede in the legend of the rivers and lakes, and obtaining the life-saving inner alchemy.

    Markimdb: 5.5
    Genrefantastic, comedy, melodrama
    CountryChina
    Duration01:56

    After an accident, a chauvinistic executive gains the ability to hear what women are really thinking.

    Markimdb: 5.8
    Genreaction, fantasy
    CountryChina
    Duration01:58

    An undercover agent is assigned by his corrupt chief to infiltrate a rival department and sabotage their investigation of counterfeit currency. What he discovers is the counterfeiter's real plan. To overthrow the capital. Not by flooding it with funny money, but with an army of undead.

    Markimdb: 5.1
    Genremelodrama
    CountryChina
    Duration01:45

    In the rising populations of Tomboys in China, one rise up to develop a "Love Formula" App to find true love. Will the Love Coach, Do, played by Simon Twu, be able to save the world in helping people finding True Love?

    Markimdb: 7.6
    Genreaction, drama, military, history
    CountryChina, Hong Kong
    Duration02:26

    A Westerner finds refuge with a group of women in a church during Japan's rape of Nanking in 1937. Posing as a priest, he attempts to lead the women to safety.

    Markimdb: 6.4
    Genreaction, military, history
    CountryChina, Hong Kong
    Duration02:21

    Based on the real life story of an incident in 1946 during the Chinese Civil War, the film involves a communist reconnaissance team soldier Yang Zirong who disguised himself as a bandit to infiltrate a local gang of bandits, eventually helping the main communist force to destroy the bandits. Based on the novel "Tracks in the Snowy Forest" by Qu Bo.

    Markimdb: 6.2
    Genreaction, drama, family, sport
    CountryUSA, China
    Duration02:20

    12-year-old Dre Parker could have been the most popular kid in Detroit, but his mother's latest career move has landed him in China. Dre immediately falls for his classmate Mei Ying but the cultural differences make such a friendship impossible. Even worse, Dre's feelings make him an enemy of the class bully, Cheng. With no friends in a strange land, Dre has nowhere to turn but maintenance man Mr. Han, who is a kung fu master. As Han teaches Dre that kung fu is not about punches and parries, but maturity and calm, Dre realizes that facing down the bullies will be the fight of his life.

    Markimdb: 7
    Genredrama
    CountryChina

    During the economic reform period of the 80’s, three undergraduates bind together by a common ambition – to live the American dream. They are Cheng Dongqing, a hillbilly who refuses to accept his destiny of being a farmer; Meng Xiaojun, a self-confident, cynical intellectual; and Wang Yang, an idealistic romantic poet. Xiaojun is the first to obtain an US Visa for studying abroad. Yang follows but decides to remain in China for his beloved. Poor Dongqing is rejected by the US Embassy repeatedly. Baffled, he reluctantly accepts the job as an English instructor in the university but eventually gets fired for teaching tutorial classes in private. Across the Pacific, Xiaojun fails to find a decent job and is driven to work as a busboy in a diner.

    Markimdb: 4.7
    Genrethriller, fantasy, adventure
    CountryRussia, Ukraine, Germany, United Kingdom, Czech Republic, China
    Duration01:54

    The Russian Czar Peter the Great commissions Jonathan Green, an English traveller, to map the Far East territories of the Russian Empire. Green sets off on yet another long journey, full of unbelievable adventures, which eventually leads him to China. On his way, the famous cartographer makes breath-taking discoveries, meets mysterious creatures, Chinese princesses, deadly masters of oriental martial arts, and even Lun Van, the King of Dragons, himself. What could be more perilous than looking into the eyes of Viy? Only meeting him again… What will prevail this time — the unflinching scepticism of the scientist or ancient black magic, which has already gained influence over the Far East Lands?

    Markimdb: 4.4
    Genreaction
    CountryChina

    The film is set in early 11th century China during the reign of Emperor Renzong of the Song Dynasty. The emperor neglects state affairs and indulges in personal pleasures, while the government sinks into corruption and war continues to rage on at the borders of the Song Dynasty. The Song Dynasty is being invaded by the armies of the rival state of Western Xia. Yang Zongbao is the last man standing in the Yang clan, a family of generals who have dedicated their lives to defending the Song Dynasty from foreign invaders. He apparently dies in battle tragically when the treacherous Imperial Tutor Pang refuses to send reinforcements to aid him. Yang Zongbao's widowed wife Mu Guiying leads the other widows of the Yang clan into battle to continue the legacy of their husbands.

    Markimdb: 6.7
    Genreaction, fantasy, cartoon
    CountryChina
    Duration02:06

    The all-powerful Monkey King once roamed freely between Heaven and Earth, but after angering the Gods, he was imprisoned within an ice cage deep within the mountains. 500 years later, monsters attack a small village and a child flees to the mountains. Unknowingly, the child releases the Monkey King from his curse. With the help and encouragement from this special child, Monkey King saves the village from the evil monsters.

    Markimdb: 6.4
    Genrethriller, melodrama, drama, detective, military
    CountryChina, USA
    Duration01:43

    An American man returns to a corrupt, Japanese-occupied Shanghai four months before Pearl Harbor and discovers his friend has been killed. While he unravels the mysteries of the death, he falls in love and discovers a much larger secret that his own government is hiding.

    Markimdb: 5.6
    Genreaction, comedy
    CountryChina, Hong Kong, USA

    A tale of revenge, honor and greed follows a group of misfits that gets involved with a kitchen cleaver made from the top five swords of the martial arts world in this wild and brash action comedy.

    Markimdb: 3.7
    Genremelodrama, musical
    CountryChina, USA

    Youth from different social classes in Beijing come together to form China's best dance crew and learn what it really means to be family.

    Markimdb: 6.9
    Genreaction, comedy, adventure, military, history
    CountryChina, Hong Kong
    Duration01:32

    The story of a farmer forced into conscription, who has been looking to get out of the army ever since. His great chance arrives when he stumbles upon a wounded general from an enemy state, and he kidnaps him, intending to claim credit for the capture, which includes five "mu" of land, and most importantly, honorable discharge from the army.

    Markimdb: 5.9
    Genrecomedy, melodrama, drama, detective
    CountryHong Kong, China
    Duration02:08

    In the early 1920’s, on the streets of Beijing, the nation’s most talented performers have gathered to show off their most spectacular skills. One day, a challenge is set: 50 silver dollars to whoever can reproduce the incredible magic trick “Eight Immortals’ Treat”. Zhang Xian appears amidst the waiting crowd and decides to try his hand at it.

    Markimdb: 6.4
    Genreaction, drama
    CountryChina

    A special operations team headed by elite pilots are ordered to test new fighter jets. Test flight after test flight, they challenge the limits of the sky and themselves.

    Markimdb: 7.2
    Genredocumentary
    CountryUnited Kingdom, China, USA

    Venturing into the wilds of China, "Born in China" captures intimate moments with a panda bear and her growing cub, a young golden monkey who feels displaced by his baby sister, and a mother snow leopard struggling to raise her two cubs.

    Markimdb: 7.8
    Genredrama, biography
    CountryChina
    Duration01:30

    When a mysterious visitor appears, the life of Yong Cheng, owner of a store that stocks aphrodisiac products, changes dramatically. He becomes the exclusive selling agent of a cheap Indian generic drug against Chronic Granulocytic Leukemia in China. Not only does Yong Cheng see his profits skyrocket, but he is dubbed the god of medicine“ by his customers

    Markimdb: 5
    Genrehorror, fantastic, comedy
    CountryUSA, China

    After losing his parents, a priest travels to China, where he inherits a mysterious ability that allows him to turn into a dinosaur. At first horrified by this new power, a hooker convinces him to use it to fight crime. And ninjas.

    Markimdb: 6.7
    Genrefantasy, comedy, adventure
    CountryChina, Hong Kong
    Duration01:50

    In a world plagued by demons who cause great human suffering, young demon hunter Xuan Zang risks his all to conquer a water demon, a pig demon and the demon of all demons, Sun Wukong.

    Markimdb: 5.9
    Genreaction, thriller, fantasy, adventure
    CountryUSA, China, Hong Kong, Australia, Canada
    Duration02:21

    European mercenaries searching for black powder become embroiled in the defense of the Great Wall of China against a horde of monstrous creatures.

    Markimdb: 4.7
    Genreaction, comedy, adventure
    CountryChina, USA
    Duration02:24

    A washed-up private security agent has to escort a valuable Chinese antique out of Shanghai but is ambushed en route.

    Markimdb: 6.3
    Genrethriller, drama, crime, detective
    CountryChina

    On a dark night, Xueming hits a pedestrian with his car and flees the scene. Desperate to escape his feelings of guilt, he decides to approach the dead man's wife, Mrs. Liang. Meanwhile, the body is discovered—riddled with bullets. Chen, the detective in charge of the investigation, becomes obsessed with the case. Years later, all three remain caught in a tangled web of memories and lies, desperately searching for a truth that refuses to be revealed…




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