12 Best Fighting Movies That You Should Watching Update 04/2024

Best Fighting Movies

There appears to be a genetic component to the human desire to engage in combat. Watching an amazing MMA contest, a brutal boxing encounter or simply a street brawl, we as a species can not help but feel the adrenaline rush as it unfolds. As a result, there have been a number of films about fighting in the filmmaking industry. Here are some of the best martial arts, boxing, and karate movies of all time, with a little something for everyone.

1. Never Back Down (2008)

Never Back Down (2008)

You’ll find Never Back Down sitting lonesome in this peculiar genre, where high school drama meets a fighting movie. When Jake Tyler (Sean Faris) arrives at his new school, he is a disillusioned and conflicted kid. When he gets enticed into an underground fighting club, things take an unexpected turn. In the end, he finds himself confronted with a formidable adversary that can be overcome under the guidance of a seasoned mixed martial arts practitioner.

2. Bloodsport (1988)

When it comes to 1980s action films, Bloodsport is a great option. To win a covert martial arts competition in Hong Kong, Army Captain Frank Dux goes AWOL. In any one of these confrontations, there is no assurance of survival. This film, which starred Jean-Claude Van Damme in his breakthrough role, is an excellent resource for learning more about the action star’s past.

3. Fight Club (1999)

Fight Club (1999)

David Fincher’s film based on Chuck Palahniuk’s novel is one of the best of all time. In this film, some young and irritated men believe that kicking each other around is the best way to deal with their problems. The movie, despite its moral conclusion in the end, causes societal unrest in the unsatisfied young men of society. Despite this, the movie has some excellent writing and an excellent twist ending. His portrayal in this film is one of the best Brad Pitt has ever given. He manages to be both charming and filthy at the same time, making fun of the social expectations and outlooks of young guys in a meta way.

4. Real Steel (2011)

Real Steel has all the ingredients of a classic boxing movie, but with the sci-fi flair of a movie like Alien. Hugh Jackman stars as an ex-boxer who chances to uncover an untapped ability in the film. If this is starting to sound like every other underdog boxing movie you’ve ever seen, you’re totally on target. On the other hand, an old, discarded robot plays a key role in Real Steel’s search for new talent. There are few better robot-fighting movies than this one, and it’s definitely worth checking out. Other action movies on Netflix are definitely worth a look.

5. Enter The Dragon (1973)

Enter The Dragon (1973)

Enter The Dragon is widely regarded as the best Bruce Lee film of all time and one of the best films ever made in the martial arts genre. In addition, it is the final picture in which he appeared before his death. James Bond and the blaxploitation movement were just beginning to take hold at the time Lee teamed up with James Minton Kelly and John Saxon. Just sit back and enjoy the beautifully choreographed action scenes and the sleazy 70s appeal of the picture, which has since been regarded as an allegory of post-colonial Asia.

6. Million Dollar Baby (2004)

“Million Dollar Baby” tells the story of Frankie (Clint Eastwood) who has dedicated his life to the ring at the expense of nearly everything else in his life, including his wife and children. Because Frankie doesn’t think much of women boxing, he refuses to train Maggie Fitzgerald (Hilary Swank) in his gym. When she refuses to accept Frankie’s offer of help, she develops an emotional link with him that will impact their lives for many years to come.

7. The Karate Kid (1984)

The Karate Kid (1984)

It was big in the 80s and beyond, even if it wasn’t as intense a form of mixed martial arts as UFC fights or other kinds. Even after all these years, the Karate Kid still influences the combat genre. It’s one of the most recognizable and influential films in the history of cinema and television. In fact, the Netflix series, Cobra Kai, has even gained its own cult following as a result of the original movie’s popularity.

8. The Fighter (2010)

The Fighter is based on the true story of Micky Ward, a young boxer who is trying to break out of the shadow cast by his elder half-sibling. In order to assist Micky (Mark Wahlberg) realize his ambitions of grandeur, his older brother Dicky (Christian Bale) accepts him as his student. As a great boxer falls from grace, his younger brother climbs through the ranks, this classic story is brought to life in a unique way by the actors in this film.

9. Crouching Tiger, Hidden Dragon (2000)

Crouching Tiger, Hidden Dragon (2000)

“Wire-Fu” cinematic aesthetics are liberally used in Crouching Tiger, Hidden Dragon, a film that redefines the sub-genre of Kung Fu movies. By opposing her arranged marriage, Jen (Ziyi Zhang) fights to overthrow the shackles of society by pursuing a life of crime on the run while in the throes of genuine love with another. Yu (Michelle Yeoh), a highly competent and trained swordmaster, discovers that she has let her life pass her by without having her own genuine love story, despite her devotion to fairness and honor. As one of the most critically acclaimed pictures of its day and a global sensation, it won four Oscars.

10. Warrior (2011)

Warrior, like The Fighter, tells the story of two brothers. Tommy Riordan, a former marine who returned to his hometown of Pittsburgh to train for the largest MMA competition in history, enlists the help of his father, an alcoholic who has since rehabilitated. Tommy’s estranged brother, a former MMA fighter, decides to enter the battle as he works his way toward the title reward. Their paths will inevitably cross, and they will be forced into a confrontation over what brought them apart.

11. Ip Man (2008)

Ip Man (2008)

One of the best martial arts films ever made, Ip Man is a must-see for anyone searching for a more classic kung fu movie. The truth that IP Man was a genuine person and Bruce Lee’s first martial arts teacher should also be brought to light. As a whole, this film is a must-see for everyone because it features some of the best fight scenes you’ll ever see.

12. Rocky (1976)

As a rough and rugged underdog boxer story that moviegoers have loved since its conception, Sylvester Stallone’s Rocky is a beloved classic. With Apollo Creed’s (Carl Weathers) random selection to battle the heavyweight champion of Philadelphia, Rocky (Robert De Niro) must overcome both physical and emotional barriers. In telling a fantastic sporting narrative, this film also tells a personal one about overcoming the odds and proving everyone else wrong. It’s a masterful piece of storytelling. In spite of the fact that this film is based on a true story, there are a few similarities to the greatest boxing contests of all time that can be found in it.