20 best movies like Once Upon a Time in China and America (1997)

List of the best movies like Once Upon a Time in China and America (1997): The Way of the Dragon, Forced Vengeance, Naked Soldier, Little Big Soldier, The Last Tycoon, Dragon Blade, Chinese Zodiac, Kung Fu Jungle, The Quest, The Master.

Tags: movies similar to Once Upon a Time in China and America (1997) - full list

Markimdb: 7.2
Genreaction, thriller, comedy, drama, adventure, crime
CountryHong Kong
Duration01:26

Tang Lung arrives in Rome to help his cousins in the restaurant business. They are being pressured to sell their property to the syndicate, who will stop at nothing to get what they want. When Tang arrives he poses a new threat to the syndicate, and they are unable to defeat him. The syndicate boss hires the best Japanese and European martial artists to fight Tang, but he easily finishes them off.

Markimdb: 5.5
Genreaction, thriller, adventure, crime
CountryUSA, Hong Kong
Duration01:30

A casino security guard is forced into violence from when the Hong Kong mob threatens his friends.

Markimdb: 4.8
Genreaction, thriller, drama, crime
CountryHong Kong
Duration01:30

A gorgeous lethal killer, brainwashed by the villain, makes a startling discovery in a mission to eliminate a person she can in no way imagine.

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: 6.6
Genreaction, drama, adventure, crime
CountryHong Kong, China

Set in Shanghais Gangster era of the early 1900s, THE LAST TYCOON tells the tale of CHENG (Chow Yun-Fat), a young man who is set up by the chief of police (Sammo Hung) and must leave the life he knows and QIU (Monica Mok), the woman he loves, to start again. After escaping prison CHENG quickly and violently moves his way up the ladder of Shanghais criminal underworld to become on the most powerful mob bosses in Shanghais history. But fame and notoriety take their toll when CHENG finds himself stuck between the looming Japanese army and the scheming local secret service. Matters are only made worse when he bumps into the love of his life QIU, along with her writer husband. Will love re-kindle in the dusk of an era?

Markimdb: 5.9
Genreaction, fantasy, drama, adventure, history
CountryChina, Hong Kong
Duration02:01

Huo An, the commander of the Protection Squad of the Western Regions, was framed by evil forces and becomes enslaved. On the other hand, a Roman general escapes to China after rescuing the Prince. The heroic duo meet in the Western Desert and a thrilling story unfolds.

Markimdb: 6.1
Genreaction, comedy, adventure
CountryHong Kong, Yugoslavia
Duration01:53

Asian Hawk (Jackie Chan) leads a mercenary team to recover several lost artifacts from the Old Summer Palace, the bronze heads of the 12 Chinese Zodiac animals which were sacked by the French and British armies from the imperial Summer Palace in Beijing in 1860. Assisted by a Chinese student & a Parisian lady, Hawk stops at nothing to accomplish the mission.

Markimdb: 6.4
Genreaction, thriller, crime
CountryChina, Hong Kong
Duration01:40

A martial arts instructor working at a police academy 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.

Markimdb: 5.5
Genreaction, thriller, drama, adventure
CountryUSA, Canada
Duration01:31

Ghang-gheng, the ancient winner-take-all competition in which the deadliest fighters from around the world employ the most spectacular feats of martial arts skills ever displayed in order to win the prized Golden Dragon. But fighting prowess alone will not be enough for Chris to triumph over such daunting foes.

Markimdb: 5.7
Genreaction, comedy, crime
CountryHong Kong
Duration01:28

Uncle Tak is famous for using Chinese herbal medicines to cure diseases. A martial arts expert, he also teaches the young how to defend themselves. One of his students, Johnny, dreams of monopolizing the teaching of kung fu throughout the United States. To accomplish this, he tries to kill Uncle Tak. Chuck, Uncle Tak's best student from Hong Kong, comes to Los Angeles to find his master. Chuck is willing to let Johnny have his way, and tries to take Uncle Tak back to Hong Kong. But Johnny and his men will not leave Chuck alone. Chuck, on his way back to Hong Kong, returns for the showdown.

Markimdb: 6.8
Genreaction, crime
CountryChina, Hong Kong

A laborer moves to Shanghai in the hope of becoming rich. But ends up using his kung fu skills to survive. Remake of The Boxer From Shantung.

Markimdb: 4.6
Genreaction, adventure
CountryChina, Canada, France
Duration01:39

A mysterious warrior teams up with the daughter and son of a deposed Chinese Emperor to defeat their cruel Uncle, who seeks their deaths.

Markimdb: 3.6
Genrefantastic, action, thriller, comedy, drama, adventure, crime
CountryHong Kong, USA

The Black Mask must stop a group intent on setting off a DNA bomb that could cause mutations to the human race.

Markimdb: 6
Genreaction
CountryChina, Hong Kong, USA
Duration01:45

In Beijing, a young martial artist's skill places him in position to experience opportunities and sacrifices.

Markimdb: 5.7
Genreaction, thriller, drama, crime
CountryUSA
Duration01:32

Akira Saito, a Japanese businessman lives in Tokyo with his Japanese-American wife Aiko and their children, Takeshi and Tomoya. When the family has a chance to move to the United States so that Aiko can teach the children about their American heritage, they pack up and head for Houston, Texas and run a restaurant. This is where the trouble begins....

Markimdb: 5.7
Genreaction, comedy, drama, crime
CountryUSA, Hong Kong

After being humiliated in the ring by a dirty kickboxer who pulled down his shorts and then hit him, a martial arts master decides to travel to China and enter a monastery where he may learn the Shaolin form of fighting. The film then veers into "Karate Kid" territory where the novice humiliates himself at every turn, is tolerated as a foreigner, and still comes out a champion. The monastery teaches non-violence, but everyone knows that sooner or later the student will catch up with the bad guy.

Markimdb: 6.1
Genreaction, fantasy, melodrama, drama, adventure
CountryTaiwan, Hong Kong, USA, China
Duration02:21

A story of lost love, young love, a legendary sword and one last opportunity at redemption.

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: 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: 6.2
Genreaction, drama, biography, history, sport
CountryHong Kong
Duration01:40

    In postwar Hong Kong, legendary Wing Chun grandmaster Ip Man is reluctantly called into action once more, when what begin as simple challenges from rival kung fu styles soon draw him into the dark and dangerous underworld of the Triads. Now, to defend life and honor, he has no choice but to fight one last time...

    Markimdb: 5.2
    Genreaction, fantasy, adventure
    CountryHong Kong

    Wind and Cloud find themselves up against a ruthless Japanese warlord intent on invading China.

    Markimdb: 5.6
    Genreaction, fantasy, adventure, history
    CountryThailand

    As sea pirates threaten to invade their kingdoms, three queens of Langkasuka must band together to defend their lands and peoples.

    Markimdb: 5.6
    Genreaction, crime
    CountryUSA
    Duration01:58

    Jean Claude Van Damme plays a dual role as Alex and Chad, twins separated at the death of their parents. Chad is raised by a family retainer in Paris, Alex becomes a petty crook in Hong Kong. Seeing a picture of Alex, Chad rejoins him and convinces him that his rival in Hong Kong is also the man who killed their parents. Alex is suspicious of Chad, especially when it comes to his girlfriend.

    Markimdb: 8
    Genreaction, drama, adventure
    CountryUSA
    Duration03:09

    In a land controlled by feudal barons, a great warrior and a young boy embark on a journey across a dangerous land to find enlightenment. A genre-bending martial arts series very loosely based on the classic Chinese tale Journey to the West.

    Markimdb: 7.1
    Genreaction, comedy, adventure
    CountryHong Kong
    Duration01:41

    Youthful martial arts master Lung is searching for his missing brother, when he is mistaken for a criminal on the run. He must prove his innocence by solving the case himself, while local lawmen and merciless mercenaries are hot on his trail.

    Markimdb: 5.5
    Genreaction, thriller, adventure, crime
    CountryUSA
    Duration01:46

    Sean Kane is forced to resign from the San Francisco Police Department's Narcotics Division when he goes berserk after his partner is murdered. He decides to fight alone and follows a trail of drug traffickers into unexpected high places.

    Markimdb: 6.7
    Genreaction, comedy, crime
    CountryHong Kong
    Duration01:29

    Keong comes from Hong Kong to visit New York for his uncle's wedding. His uncle runs a market in the Bronx and Keong offers to help out while Uncle is on his honeymoon. During his stay in the Bronx, Keong befriends a neighbor kid and beats up some neighborhood thugs who cause problems at the market. One of those petty thugs in the local gang stumbles into a criminal situation way over his head.

    Markimdb: 5.6
    Genreaction, drama, adventure, crime
    CountryHong Kong, France, China
    Duration01:36

    The world's top thieves join forces to pull off the heist of a lifetime. But when they find themselves pursued across Europe by a legendary French detective, they'll have to take their game to the next level.

    Markimdb: 6.5
    Genreaction, melodrama, drama, military, biography
    CountryHong Kong, China
    Duration02:03

    Ip Man's peaceful life in Foshan changes after Gong Yutian seeks an heir for his family in Southern China. Ip Man then meets Gong Er who challenges him for the sake of regaining her family's honor. After the Second Sino-Japanese War, Ip Man moves to Hong Kong and struggles to provide for his family. In the mean time, Gong Er chooses the path of vengeance after her father was killed by Ma San.

    Markimdb: 7.3
    Genreaction, drama, adventure, military, history
    CountryUnited Kingdom

    Our story begins at the end of Sharpe's Challenge. Sharpe and Harper are en route to Madras when they encounter a baggage train from the East India Company traveling through hostile territory. Chitu, a legendary bandit leader in control of the area, strikes fear in the members of the party. When an attack occurs Sharpe takes control of the situation, leading the group 300 miles through enemy territory and training the disorganized, rag-tag group to be proper soldiers. Despite all these responsibilities, Sharpe still manages to find time for a little romance...

    Markimdb: 6.8
    Genreaction, drama, history
    CountrySouth Korea

    Set in the 19th century, when lowly butcher Dol Moo-Chi refuses to carry out an assignment, his failure causes tragedy to unfold upon his family and himself. As Dol Moo-Chi is about to be executed, a group of righteous thieves known as Kundo arrive.

    Markimdb: 4.8
    Genreaction, thriller, drama, adventure, sport
    CountryUSA
    Duration01:30

    A group of Russian mobsters have stolen a huge supply of paper for printing U.S. currency, and are now flooding the market with conterfeit bills. When one of the mobsters decides to give herself in and hand over a data CD to the DA, she is shot and killed, but not before handing the disc to an unsuspecting Tommy Lee. Despite working with the police as a martial arts instructor, Lee doesn't go to the cops with the disc, but instead goes on the run, giving the mafia time to kidnap his daughter and hold as a hostage in exchange for return of the disc. Will Tommy ever see his daughter again?

    Markimdb: 7.3
    Genreaction, comedy
    CountryHong Kong

    A rich man's son believes himself to be the best kung fu fighter in Canton. Unfortunately, his father, anxious for his son's safety, bribes all his opponents to lose. After a humiliating defeat at the hands of an actor in a traveling theatre company, the son resolves to find a better teacher.

    Markimdb: 5.4
    Genreaction, melodrama, drama, adventure, crime
    CountryUSA
    Duration01:45

    During a routine prison work detail, convict Piper is chained to Dodge, a cyberhacker, when gunfire breaks out. Apparently, the attack is related to stolen money that the Mafia is after, and some computer files that somebody wants desperately to bury. The pair, who don't exactly enjoy each other's company, escape and must work together if they are to reach Atlanta alive. Luckily, they meet a woman who may be willing to help them.

    Markimdb: 5.2
    Genreaction, thriller, crime
    CountryFrance, USA, China, Belgium, Monaco
    Duration02:34

    The fast-paced action movie is again set in the criminal underworld in France, where Frank Martin is known as The Transporter, because he is the best driver and mercenary money can buy. In this installment, he meets Anna and they attempt to take down a group of ruthless Russian human traffickers who also have kidnapped Frank’s father.

    Markimdb: 7.2
    Genreaction, drama, military, history
    CountrySouth Korea, China
    Duration02:13

    In 1375, China was in chaos between Yuan Dynasty and Ming Dynasty. Coryo (an ancient kingdom of Korea then) sent a delegation of many diplomats, soldiers and a silent slave to make peace with the new Chinese government. However, this delegation got charged as spies and sent in exile to a remote desert.

    Markimdb: 5.9
    Genreaction, thriller, comedy, drama, crime
    CountryHong Kong, China
    Duration01:46

    A man looking for the release of a long-time prisoner takes a police officer, his daughter, and a group of strangers hostage.

    Markimdb: 6.1
    Genreaction, drama, adventure
    CountryChina
    Duration01:38

    Chinese steampunk martial arts blockbuster about the early years of Tai chi master Yang Luchan, the man who founded in the 19th century what has now become the most popular Tai Chi style in the world. The second instalment of the "Tai Chi" trilogy continues the journey of Yang Luchan, a gifted child with a fleshy growth on his forehead who helped save a village from a frightening army of steampunk soldiers bearing strange machines with the knowledge of Tai Chi that they entrusted him with.

    Markimdb: 6
    Genreaction, drama, crime
    CountryHong Kong

    Brandon plays Brandon Ma, a regular working Joe who holds down two jobs, so he can support his girlfriend May and his dream of owning a motorcycle. Brandon's best friend is Michael, an ambitious and murderous dope peddler. Michael covets May and so he comes up with a plan that will win her for him, and solves a problem he's been having. It seems that an undercover cop named Sharky has been using his police connections to dominate the local cocaine trade, so Michael has him killed and uses Brandon as the fall guy. Brandon goes to jail, though he thinks that he will be released soon thanks to the efforts of his good buddy Michael. Eight years later Brandon finally gets out of jail and vows revenge.

    Markimdb: 7
    Genreaction, comedy, drama
    CountryHong Kong
    Duration01:36

    Martial arts expert Wing Chun battles bandits in this magical film that provides as many laughs as it does wallops. Besides horse thieves, Wing Chun must deal with the men around her who simply can't handle a strong, independent woman. Ultimately, she must dish out "lessons" again and again and again until the respect for her remarkable skills is finally won.

    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: 6.1
    Genreaction, drama, military, history
    CountryChina, South Korea, Hong Kong
    Duration01:42

    The aging Zhao embarks on his final and greatest campaign, a road to adventure that will crown his name in glory for all time.

    Markimdb: 7
    Genreaction, melodrama, drama, adventure, military, history
    CountryHong Kong, China
    Duration02:06

    A heroic tale of three blood brothers and their struggle in the midst of war and political upheaval. It is based on "The Assassination of Ma," a Qing Dynasty (1644-1911) story about the killing of general Ma Xinyi.

    Markimdb: 6.6
    Genreaction, drama, history
    CountryJapan
    Duration02:08

    Follow the infamous ninja bandit named Ishikawa Goemon (Yosuke Eguchi) in an epic story. One night while looting treasure from Nanban (Southern Barbarians), Goemon finds a mysterious box hidden inside a secret grave. A forgotten relic from the past containing untold powers.

    Markimdb: 7.3
    Genreaction, comedy
    CountryHong Kong
    Duration01:30

    Everyone abuses and humiliates a downtrodden orphan (Chan) until he befriends an old man, who turns out to be the last master of the "snake fist" fighting style. Jackie becomes the old man's student and finds himself in battle with the master of the "eagle's claw" style, who has vowed to destroy the snake fist clan.

    Markimdb: 2.1
    Genrefantastic, action, thriller, melodrama, adventure, crime
    CountryChina

    In search of an ancient Chinese scroll, a Chinese agent battles against Japanese Yakuzas and British mercenaries.

    Markimdb: 6.3
    Genreaction, drama
    CountryHong Kong
    Duration01:46

    In order to release his kidnapped sister, sports car mechanic Jackie Chan has to beat a super-criminal street racer.

    Markimdb: 6.6
    Genreaction, drama, adventure, western
    CountryUSA
    Duration01:30

    Grant MacLaine, a former railroad troubleshooter, lost his job after letting his outlaw brother, the Utica Kid, escape. After spending five years wandering the west and earning his living playing the accordion, he is given a second chance by his former boss.

    Markimdb: 6.8
    Genreaction, comedy, adventure
    CountryHong Kong
    Duration01:58

    A group of covert CIA operatives trailing a potential new energy source are double-crossed by corrupt agent Morgan, who causes a helicopter crash in remote South Africa. The sole survivor, suffering severe amnesia, is nursed to recovery by a kindly native tribe who call him "Whoami" after the question he keeps asking. With the help of a mysterious reporter Christine, Whoami pieces together his past and tracks the turncoat agent and his criminal cohorts.

    Markimdb: 5.9
    Genreaction, thriller, adventure
    CountryHong Kong, China
    Duration01:58

    Flying Swords of Dragon Gate picks up three years after the infamous Dragon Inn was burnt down in the desert when its innkeeper Jade vanished. A new gang of marauders had taken over - innkeepers by day and treasure hunters by night. The inn is the rumoured location of a lost city buried under the desert, and its hidden treasure would only be revealed by a gigantic storm every 60 years. The gang used the inn as a front to locate the lost treasure.




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