The 10 Greatest Jet Li Action Movies, Ranked

Published Sep 29, 2026, 7:32 AM EDT

Michael Block is a 14 time GLAM Award nominated writer, producer, and host of the podcast Block Talk. Throughout his time in the entertainment industry, he has worked on and off Broadway as a stage manager, written several produced plays, critiqued hundreds of theatrical performances, drag and cabaret shows, and has produced events randing from drag competitoons to variety concerts! 
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There are very few genres in cinema where you can craft a definitive Mount Rushmore of performers. For martial arts action films, one of those names is Jet Li. The legendary martial arts champion, global film star, and dedicated philanthropist served as an influential figure who brought traditional Chinese wushu and culture to the world stage.

From his 1982 film debut to his defining roles in classic films, Li revived global interest in the genre while successfully transitioning into Western blockbusters. With a large body of work, his filmography has had its share of highs and lows. We’re here to celebrate the greatest Jet Li action movies, the titles that represent his entire screen history and track his evolution. Though the films that didn't make the cut are important, these are simply the best.

10 'The Forbidden Kingdom' (2008)

Image via Lionsgate

Though it’s not a top-tier film compared to those at the conclusion of this list, The Forbidden Kingdom remains a fascinating project. It follows Jason Tripitikas (Michael Angarano), a Boston teenager obsessed with Hong Kong cinema, who is suddenly transported to ancient China to help free the Monkey King (Li). Joined by a band of fighters— the drunken immortal Lu Yan (Jackie Chan), the Silent Monk (Li), and the vengeful orphan Golden Sparrow (Liu Yifei)— they must cross dangerous territory to reach the Jade Warlord (Collin Chou) and the White-Haired Witch (Li Bingbing) to free the Monkey King from his stone prison and restore peace to the realm.

At its core, The Forbidden Kingdom is a pop culture milestone, marking the only on-screen team-up between Chan and Li. A true dream team, the film married Chan's playful artistry with Li’s precise, lightning-fast intensity. If there’s a moment in the film that should be a reason to watch, it’s the teahouse fight scene, choreographed by legendary action director Yuen Woo-ping. Li showcases his incredible physical range in his dual roles. As the Monkey King, he is magically mischievous, while the Silent Monk shows off his stoic side. The film is a cultural tapestry, weaving Chinese folklore through a Western lens.

9 'Unleashed' (2005)

Image via EuropaCorp

A truly fascinating team-up on and off-screen, Unleashed is a Louis Leterrier-directed and Luc Besson-written collaboration that saw Li and Morgan Freeman share the screen. The film follows Danny (Li), a man raised from childhood like an animal to serve as a ruthless enforcer for a crime boss, Bart (Bob Hoskins). When he escapes, he finds shelter with Sam (Freeman), a kind, blind piano tuner, and Sam’s stepdaughter, Victoria (Kerry Condon).

Blending brutal, animalistic martial arts with surprisingly tender, heartfelt performances, Unleashed is an underrated gem, elevating itself far above typical action flicks of the time by operating as both a dramatic thriller and a major martial arts movie. Li does wonders as Danny, easing into the character's duality and shifting from a terrifying, berserk mindset to childlike innocence as he discovers the world he missed. Yuen Woo-ping choreographed Danny's fights to be chaotic, unrefined, and animal-like rather than the refined Wushu perfection normally seen. A truly visceral film, Unleashed is unlike anything you’ve seen before.

8 'Shaolin Temple' (1982)

Image via Chung Yeun Motion Picture Company

It all began with Shaolin Temple. This martial arts marvel, set amid the political upheaval between the Sui and Tang dynasties, follows Jue Yuan (Li), who trains in traditional Shaolin martial arts at the legendary monastery to avenge his father's murder by the corrupt warlord Wang Shichong. Jue Yuan becomes a monk to help the future Tang emperor and establish the temple's infamy. Directed by Chang Hsin-yen, Shaolin Temple launched Li into stardom.

To say the least, Li is incredible here. A Wushu champion in real life, Li brought genuine, breathtaking athleticism and fast-paced weapon and empty-hand forms to the story. The film holds historical relevance as it was the first major Hong Kong-Chinese co-production filmed on location at the real, then-ruined Shaolin Monastery in China, helping revive the site into a global landmark. Shaolin Temple revived a kung fu craze that served as a cultural bridge, forever changing martial arts cinema and cementing Li as an international icon.

7 'The One' (2001)

Image via Sony Pictures Releasing

Not every film is beloved by all. In fact, The One has gotten a bad rep. That said, Li does the heavy lifting with dual roles, carrying the weight of the James Wong film. The One follows Gabriel Yulaw (Li), a rogue interdimensional Multiverse Authority officer who hunts down parallel universe versions of himself to absorb their life energy and become a godlike super-being. Upon murdering 123 of his alternate selves, his mission becomes killing the final remaining version of himself: Gabe Law, a peaceful Los Angeles County Sheriff's Department deputy.

The One challenged the concept of the multiverse and interdimensional travel before it was "cool" in the mainstream. Rather than a sleek, artistic achievement, it embraces campy, over-the-top sci-fi action. Playing both hero and villain, Li goes blow-for-blow with an alternate version of himself, showcasing that no matter the part, he's got dynamite screen presence and impressive skills. Action fanatics get an opportunity to see a rising Jason Statham and Oscar nominee Delroy Lindo as Multiverse Bureau agents. Though it wasn't well received, The One is an intriguing film for what it is and when it was released.

6 'Fearless' (2006)

Image via Edko Films

A pinnacle piece of Li's career, Fearless merged exceptional fight choreography with a richly mature exploration of redemption and the true philosophy of martial arts. Directed by Ronny Yu, Fearless tells the story of Huo Yuanjia (Li), the real-life Chinese martial artist and national hero who founded the Chin Woo Athletic Association. The film chronicles Huo's transformative journey from a driven martial artist in Tianjin to his refuge in a rural village where Yueci (Betty Sun), a gentle blind woman, helps him find peace, and his fight to defend China's national pride by fighting international foes.

Fearless showcases martial arts transforming into a symbol of unity and survival. It subverts typical kung fu tropes by showing an individual initially blinded by ego, pride, and obsession who finds redemption through grief, hubris, and spiritual awakening. Li's performance as Huo is the most dramatic and moving in his career. With great emotional depth, Fearless featured incredible combat across the three tiers of a martial arts fighter. Today, it remains one of Li's definitive projects.

Collider Exclusive · Action Hero Quiz Which Action Hero Would Be
Your Perfect Partner? Rambo · James Bond · Indiana Jones · John McClane · Ethan Hunt

Five legends. Five completely different ways of getting out alive — with style, with muscle, with charm, with luck, or with a plan so intricate it probably shouldn't work. Ten questions will reveal which action hero was built to have your back.

🎖️Rambo

🍸James Bond

🏺Indiana Jones

🔧John McClane

🎭Ethan Hunt

FIND YOUR PARTNER →

01

You're dropped into a dangerous situation with no warning. What do you need most from a partner? The first few seconds tell you everything about who belongs beside you.

ASomeone who already has three contingency plans running and is calmly working through all of them. BSomeone who reads the terrain instinctively and knows exactly how to use it against the enemy. CSomeone who keeps their nerve and their sense of humour when everything is falling apart. DSomeone who knows the history of wherever we are and what we're walking into. ESomeone with the right contact, the right cover identity, and the right exit already arranged.

NEXT QUESTION →

02

You have to get somewhere dangerous, fast. How do you travel? How you get there is half the mission.

AOn foot through terrain no one else would attempt — I move where vehicles can't follow. BOn a motorcycle, a cargo plane, or anything else that gets me there before I think too hard about it. CIn something that belongs to someone else — borrowed, stolen, or improvised under fire. DFirst class, with a cover identity and a gadget that does something I won't explain until it's needed. EBy whatever means are available — I've driven, flown, and once arrived by camel. The destination matters, not the method.

NEXT QUESTION →

03

You're pinned down and outnumbered. What does your ideal partner do? This is when you find out what someone is really made of.

ADisappears into the environment, flanks them silently, and ends it before I've reloaded. BCracks a one-liner, grabs a fire extinguisher or a chair, and improvises something that somehow works. CProduces a gadget specifically designed for this exact scenario and uses it with infuriating precision. DPulls out a whip, a pistol, and an archaeological insight that somehow gets us out alive. ENeutralises the threat with maximum efficiency and minimum words — they were already three moves ahead.

NEXT QUESTION →

04

The mission is paused. You have one evening to decompress. What does your partner suggest? Who someone is when the pressure drops is who they actually are.

AA bar with terrible lighting, cold beer, and absolutely no questions about feelings. BThe finest restaurant in the city, a bottle of something expensive, and a conversation that is equal parts brilliant and exhausting. CA local dig site, a museum after hours, or a long story about why that particular artefact matters to human civilisation. DPizza. Bad TV. Falling asleep halfway through a movie neither of you were watching anyway. EA debrief that turns into three hours of contingency planning that somehow becomes the most fun you've had all week.

NEXT QUESTION →

05

How do you prefer your partner to communicate mid-mission? Good communication is the difference between partners and a liability.

APrecise and minimal — tell me what I need to know and nothing else. Every word has a cost. BDeadpan and dry — keeping it light keeps me sharp, even when everything is on fire. CEnthusiastic and slightly chaotic — but always with useful information buried somewhere in the noise. DCalm and controlled through an earpiece, with a plan that covers every variable I haven't thought of yet. EBarely at all — silence is a language and they speak it fluently.

NEXT QUESTION →

06

Your enemy is powerful, well-resourced, and has the upper hand. How should your partner approach them? The approach to the enemy defines the partnership.

AInfiltrate their inner circle, learn everything, and dismantle them from inside out before they know we're there. BStudy the historical pattern — every villain of this type has a weakness written somewhere in the past. CGet them talking. The more they monologue, the more time I have to figure out how to beat them. DGo through them. Directly. With as much force as the terrain allows. EFind the one thing they haven't accounted for — there's always one thing — and make sure we're holding it.

NEXT QUESTION →

07

Things go badly wrong and you're captured. What do you trust your partner to do? Who someone is when you need them most is the only thing that matters.

ACome in alone, quietly, and get me out before anyone knows they were there. BHave already been working on the extraction since the moment I disappeared — the plan is already running. CCome in loud, come in fast, and worry about the collateral damage later — I'd do the same for them. DUse every resource, every contact, and bend every rule until I'm out — they don't leave people behind. ECharm their way in somehow, bluff through the hard part, and still manage to look good doing it.

NEXT QUESTION →

08

What does your ideal partner bring to the table that you couldn't replace? A great partner fills the gap you didn't know you had.

ATechnology that shouldn't exist yet and the training to use it under any conditions. BSurvival instinct so refined it borders on supernatural — and the scars to prove it's been tested. CKnowledge of history, language, and culture that makes them invaluable in places where force is useless. DThe ability to walk into any room in the world and immediately become the most trusted person in it. EStubbornness that refuses to accept a situation is hopeless — and the improvisational skill to back it up.

NEXT QUESTION →

09

Every partnership has a cost. Which of these can you live with? No one comes without baggage. The question is whether you can carry it together.

AA partner who never fully switches off — always watching exits, always calculating threats, even at dinner. BA partner who gets the job done brilliantly but has the emotional availability of a locked filing cabinet. CA partner who makes everything ten times more complicated than it needs to be — but who always comes through. DA partner who gets personally attached to every relic, ruin, and artefact we encounter, which slows everything down. EA partner who was not built for this and knows it — but shows up anyway, every time, without being asked.

NEXT QUESTION →

10

It's the final moment. Everything is on the line. What do you need from your partner right now? The last question is the most honest one.

AOne line. Absolutely dry. Delivered like the world isn't ending. Then we move. BNothing said at all — just a look that means we both already know what has to happen. CA plan I don't fully understand that somehow accounts for everything, delivered in thirty seconds flat. DA piece of historical context that reframes the entire situation and tells us exactly what to do next. ESomeone who steps forward instead of back — because that's who they've always been.

REVEAL MY PARTNER →

Your Partner Has Been Assigned Your Perfect Partner Is…

Your answers have pointed to one action hero above all others. This is the person built to have your back — for better or considerably, spectacularly worse.

Rambo

Your partner doesn't talk much, doesn't need to, and will have assessed every threat in your immediate environment before you've finished your first sentence. John Rambo is not a man of plans or politics — he is a force of nature shaped by survival, loyalty, and a capacity for endurance that goes beyond anything training can produce. He will not leave you behind. He has never left anyone behind who deserved to come home. What you get with Rambo is the most capable, most quietly ferocious partner imaginable — one who has been through things that would have broken anyone else, and who chose to keep going anyway. You'll never need to ask if he has your back. You'll just know.

James Bond

Your partner will arrive perfectly dressed, perfectly briefed, and with a cover story so convincing it'll take you a moment to remember what's actually true. James Bond is the most professionally dangerous person in any room he enters — and the most disarmingly charming, which is the point. He operates in a world of layers, where nothing is what it appears and every advantage is used without apology. You'll never be bored. You'll occasionally be furious. But when it matters — when the mission is genuinely on the line and the margin for error has collapsed to nothing — Bond is exactly the partner you want. He has survived things that have no business being survivable. He does it with style. That is not nothing.

Indiana Jones

Your partner will know the history, the language, the cultural context, and exactly why the thing everyone else is ignoring is actually the most important thing in the room. Indiana Jones is brilliant, reckless, and occasionally impossible — but he is also one of the most resourceful, most genuinely knowledgeable partners you could find yourself beside. He approaches every situation with a scholar's eye and a brawler's instinct, which is an unusual combination and a remarkably effective one. He hates snakes and gets personally attached to objects of historical significance, both of which will slow you down at least once. It doesn't matter. What Indy brings is irreplaceable — and the adventures you'll have together will be the kind people write books about. Assuming you survive them.

John McClane

Your partner was not supposed to be here. He does not have the right equipment, the right information, or anything approaching the right odds. He has a sarcastic remark and an absolute refusal to accept that the situation is as bad as it looks. John McClane is the greatest accidental hero in the history of action cinema — a man whose superpower is stubbornness, whose contingency plan is improvisation, and whose capacity to absorb punishment and keep moving would be alarming if it weren't so useful. He will complain the entire time. He will make it significantly more chaotic than it needed to be. And he will absolutely, unconditionally, without question come through when it counts. Yippee-ki-yay.

Ethan Hunt

Your partner has already run seventeen scenarios by the time you've finished reading the briefing, and the plan he's settled on involves at least two things that should be physically impossible. Ethan Hunt operates at the absolute edge of human capability — technically, physically, and intellectually — and he brings the same relentless precision to protecting his partners that he brings to dismantling organisations that shouldn't exist. He is not easy to know and he will never fully tell you everything. But he will carry the weight of the mission so completely, so absolutely, that your job is simply to trust him — and the remarkable thing is that trusting him always turns out to be the right call. The mission will be impossible. He will complete it anyway.

↻ RETAKE THE QUIZ

5 'Kiss of the Dragon' (2001)

Image via StudioCanal

Another Luc Besson collaboration, Kiss of the Dragon follows Liu Jian (Li), a Chinese intelligence officer, who is framed for the murder of drug lord "Mr. Big" Sung (Ric Young), at the hands of corrupt French police inspector Jean-Pierre Richard (Tchéky Karyo). Teaming up with Jessica Kamen (Bridget Fonda), an American woman forced into prostitution by Richard, he must prove his innocence while helping to rescue Jessica's daughter.

One of Li's finest Western releases, Kiss of the Dragon brings raw, bone-crunching martial arts mastery to the big screen. Directed by Corey Yuen, the film is all about the real speed, brutal impact, and precise joint manipulation in the fight choreography. Li's character excels at weapon improvisation, using everything from billiard balls to laundry-room items as lethal weapons. Now to the title. The film is infamous for the finishing move in which Liu uses acupuncture needles to paralyze his opponent's heart, known as the "kiss of the dragon." Though the script isn't the strongest, Li has a great platonic rapport with Fonda, with a fight-first storytelling focus.

4 'Tai Chi Master' (1993)

Image via Golden Harvest

A strong, yet singular directorial collaboration between Li and Yuen Woo-ping, Tai Chi Master remains a genuine classic Hong Kong martial arts film. Growing up as monks at the Shaolin Temple, Junbao (Li) and Tianbao (Chin Siu-ho) are kicked out after a rigged competition and Tianbao's aggressive nature. Sent out into the chaotic outside world, Junbao joins a group of rebels fighting an oppressive government, while Tianbao, driven by a desire for power and wealth, joins the military. Aided by a loyal friend, Siu Nin (Michelle Yeoh), a mentally broken Junbao seeks out one last battle against his old friend.

Tai Chi Master pairs Li's peak athletic prowess with inventive, high-flying fight choreography for an extraordinary masterpiece. Li is in tip-top shape through the fluidity of his ultra-fast martial arts skills, transforming Junbao from a playful individual into a man consumed by despair who must embrace the soft teachings of Tai Chi. Li has excellent chemistry playing opposite Siu-ho, whose tragic downfall leads to a brilliant climax. Yeoh serves as an incredible supporting player, adding to the fantastic nature of the combat. Tai Chi Master is a wonderful film to watch as it tracks Li's ascension to the top.

3 'Once Upon a Time in China' (1991)

Image via Golden Harvest

One of the most influential Hong Kong martial arts films is Once Upon a Time in China. Directed and co-written by Tsui Hark, it's set in late 19th-century Guangzhou, where Wong Fei-hung acts as the moral compass, trying to protect his homeland and traditional Chinese values from foreign imperialism, corrupt officials, and local gangs during societal upheaval. Once Upon a Time in China depicts the friction between traditional beliefs and rising Western technology and ideas while highlighting Chinese resilience and pride in the face of external exploitation and internal dissent.

Based on the real-life historical folk hero, Once Upon a Time in China explores a fascinating figure while redefining modern wire-fu action choreography. The film helped to continue Li's rise in the martial arts genre as a global superstar. The icon fully embodied the character, honoring Wong Fei-hung's calm demeanor while keeping his athleticism in check. An important political drama, Once Upon a Time in China is not merely an action film, but an incredible exploration of society wedged between Western imperialism and changing traditions.

2 'Hero' (2002)

Image via Beijing New Picture Film

Directed, co-written, and produced by Zhang Yimou, the epic wuxia film Hero remains one of Li’s crowning achievements. Nominated for Best Foreign Language Film at the 75th Academy Awards, Hero is set during the Warring States period of ancient China, where a nameless warrior (Li) recounts how he defeated the King of Qin's (Chen Daoming) most dangerous enemies. Unfolding like a Rashomon-style narrative, Nameless recounts how he has claimed to slay the king's top adversaries: Long Sky (Donnie Yen), Flying Snow (Maggie Cheung), and Broken Sword (Tony Leung). Each tale is told through distinct color palettes that reflect contrasting perspectives on duty, sacrifice, love, and the true cost of peace.

Hero elevated the traditional martial arts movie into a breathtaking, visually stunning work of high art. Yimou and cinematographer Christopher Doyle take a simple conceit and expand it through breathtaking visual storytelling. Every frame resembles a moving painting through ornate costuming, scenic pieces of grandeur, and stunning filming locations. Li brings his brilliance to Nameless, anchoring the film with a magnetic, poised presence. With an all-star ensemble and gravity-defying choreography, Hero reshaped 21st-century wuxia cinema.

1 'Fist of Legend' (1994)

Image via Golden Harvest

Truly a toss-up for the top spot, the distinction goes to Fist of Legend. Directed by Gordon Chan, Fist of Legend follows Chen Zhen (Li), a Chinese martial artist who returns to Shanghai in 1937 during the Japanese occupation to avenge his murdered master, Huo Yuanjia (Chin Siu-ho). Chen Zhen doubts that any rival could have beaten his master fairly, only to discover he was poisoned. Chen seeks justice by challenging the local Japanese dojo, uncovering a wider military conspiracy.

With grounded, hard-hitting combat and action, Fist of Legend differs from most revenge thrillers, featuring honorable characters on both sides as it explores prejudice and cross-cultural romance. A remake of Fist of Fury starring Bruce Lee, Fist of Legend remains the better of the two films. The film elevates the original plot with stronger character development and a more thoughtful pace. Though it may not be an original story for Li, it remains his most prominent piece. His character blends traditional kung fu, Western boxing, and karate, creating a unique fight in each battle. Speaking of which, the iconic dojo remains one of his very best. The blindfolded duel with Funakoshi (Yasuaki Kurata) and the brutal final showdown with General Fujita (Billy Chow) continue to be benchmark moments in martial arts cinema.

Fist Of Legend