10 Best Fantasy Martial Arts Movies From The 1980s

By the 1980s, the genre of fantasy martial arts had produced some of the best martial arts performances of all time. They present the best of both worlds – the action, mythology, and magic of fantasy mixed with the thrill of watching graphic martial arts combat. These films were often set in a fantastical world that allowed martial artists to defy physics and perform gravity-defying stunts. The special effects and the magnetic characters of the 1980s made it a golden age of this hybrid genre. Film-makers have taken the conventions of kung fu and transformed them into something exciting and different.

These movies married martial artists to monsters, magic, and adventure, delivering over-the-top fight scenes and exciting storytelling, bringing with them rich folklore, lore, mythical creatures, and heroes on epic journeys. Films like Shogun Assassin and one of Kurt Russell’s best comedy films, Big Trouble In Little China didn’t just define the genre but helped define cinema in its entirety in the 1980s and beyond. The decades that followed would pay tribute to many of the moments and themes in these styles of film, and left an indelible mark on the pop culture of their era.

10 Legend Of The Eight Samurai (1983)

Starring Hiroko Yakushimaru And Hiroyuki Sanada

The Legend of the Eight Samurai is set in the feudal Japan period, where an evil clan is chasing Princess Shizu (Hiroko Yakushimaru), who has fled for her life. The princess needs to find and recruit eight legendary samurai to protect her with the help of glowing beads, and the film combines classic samurai lore with these supernatural elements. The warriors face not only human enemies but ghosts, demons and curses. Full of elaborate visuals and sweeping storytelling, the film is a fantasy adventure filled with both swordplay and bravery.

An early samurai film that blended interesting, fantasy elements mixed with traditional martial arts. The action is intricate and imaginative, and it mingles the traditional combat skills of Samurai with supernatural abilities. There are a multitude of mystical foes and legendary battles, all of which give the movie a different feeling than your classic samurai flick. The fantasy elements are well executed with props, wires, and post-production editing; it’s a required watch for those who are into fantasy martial arts.

9 The Seventh Curse (1986)

Starring Chow Yun-Fat And Chin Siu-Ho

This 1986 film is an incredibly unique mix of martial arts, horror, and adventure, directed by Lam Ngai Kai. The story follows Dr Yuen, who is cursed with seven “Blood Curses” that burst through his leg, and he must fight his way through a series of supernatural threats, including flesh-eating cults and monsters, to find a cure for the hex. The Seventh Curse is a relentless rollercoaster of action and horror, with slick martial arts sequences combined with strong horror moments that keep the tension high throughout.

The Seventh Curse
has at least three different endings for each of its official releases. 1: After the monster is killed, there is another pool party scene with a moment with the two main characters. 2. The final two shots are cut entirely, and the final shot is a two-shot of Bachu and her lover in black and white. 3. The second to last scene is cut, and the final scene plays out while the credits roll over the top.

With its incessant pace and unusual kung fu/supernatural horror mix, The Seventh Curse stands out as a solid entry in the genre. While the plot veers far into the fantastic realm, the action scenes feature fast, hard-fought martial arts battles that ground the film back closer to reality. The film’s premise, its many imaginative set pieces, and inventive action sequences have made The Seventh Curse a cult classic film. As one reviewer eloquently put it, “The Seventh Curse is weird and crude, gross and tasteless, silly and shocking, but God is it fun.”

8 The Boxer’s Omen (1983)

Starring Phillip Ko And Shao-Yen Lin

A boxer’s search for revenge against a rival who has cursed him becomes a hellish transgression into the shadow realm of shamanism and the supernatural. After the brother of a young fighter is savagely beaten and paralyzed, he seeks out the wisdom of Buddhist monks to help him on his journey, understand his religious visions, and train him in the dark arts. The film is a riot of ghastly imagery, grotesque beasts, surreal black magic, and frenzied martial arts combat. The perfect melding of horror and kung fu in this cult film is undeniable.

The Boxer’s Omen is one of the most incredibly wild, vivid visual experiences in cinema, and its undertones provide a uniquely supernatural atmosphere. The boxer’s visions presented are nothing short of disturbing, with several sequences presenting winged, fire-eyed demons, blistering skin, terrifying aliens, and psychological nightmares that turn into a genuine fever-dream mixture. The Boxer’s Omen nails the brief of combining fantasy and martial arts into one of the most unique and compelling films of the ’80s.

7 Zu: Warriors From The Magic Mountain (1983)

Starring Sammo Hung And Yuen Biao

Zu: Warriors of the Magic Mountain is a visually stunning fantasy epic in which ancient Chinese soldiers join forces with mystical warriors in a fight against an evil demon cult. The movie features many gravity-defying stunts, magic, and dazzling special effects, all set within an elaborately imagined world of epic battles and otherworldly peril. It also helped to define the style of fantasy martial arts cinema that emerged in the 1980s, featuring more expansive storylines and visually impressive effects.

Filmmaker John Carpenter has stated that
Zu: Warriors from the Magic Mountain,
was a major influence on his 1986 cult classic film
Big Trouble in Little China
(which appears further down this list).

Most notably, Zu: Warriors from the Magic Mountain featured groundbreaking visuals and effects that set the model for all fantasy martial arts films that came after. Its combination of Hong Kong action film elements with Western ideals and special effects, enlisting talent such as Robert Blalack, renowned for his work in the Star Wars franchise, was incredibly innovative at the time. The action is fast and entertaining, with flying swordsmen, epic war shots, and magical duels. It is an absolute must-see for those who enjoy martial arts and fantasy.

6 The Last Dragon (1985)

Starring Taimak And Julius Carry

Part martial arts, part music, part ’80s street culture, The Last Dragon follows a young martial arts prodigy on his quest to achieve mastery. Standing in his way is Sho’nuff, a self-declared ‘Shogun of Harlem’, a power-hungry madman who wants to be acknowledged as the one true master of martial arts. Taking place in New York, the movie blends kung fu mayhem with pop culture references and a killer soundtrack. This weird, sometimes silly, but many times brilliant film is among the most original of the 1980s.

What really makes The Last Dragon stand out as unique is its weaving of multiple genres, ranging from martial arts to urban action to elements of musicals. The climactic fight between Leroy and Sho’nuff is arguably the best part of the film, as it marries the high-energy martial arts with the funky, 80s aesthetic that defined the era. The Last Dragon has become a cult classic, thanks to its wacky characters, romantic subplot, dynamic fight scenes, and the chart-topping, soundtrack of a generation of moviegoers.

5 Fists Of The White Lotus (1980)

Starring Lo Lieh And Gordon Liu

The story follows two martial artists seeking revenge against the White Lotus clan, led by the nearly invincible Pai Mei, who is seemingly impervious to all forms of combat. Much of the movie is filled with the two combatants training, then skillfully and brutally exchanging blows in one of the most intricate and fast-paced hand-to-hand combat sequences in history. Pai Mei’s nearly god-like status gives an element of danger to the conflict and makes each battle more exciting than the last in a narrative rich with revenge and palpable anger.

The final showdown between the hero and Pai Mei is among the best in all kung fu cinema, with a surprising twist on how to defeat a mystical foe.

The fight scenes are incredibly meticulous, right down to the positions of the feet, and it shows in the final product. Not surprisingly, the fight choreography was devised by the incredible Liu Chia-Liang, a frequent collaborator with Gordon Liu. The final showdown between the hero and Pai Mei is among the best in all kung fu cinema, with a surprising twist on how to defeat a mystical foe. Fists of the White Lotus blends the best of traditional martial arts with the best of fantasy elements that combine to make a timeless classic of the genre.

4 Mr. Vampire (1985)

Starring Ricky Hui And Moon Lee

Mr. Vampire was a genre-defining blend of horror, kung fu, and comedy; it’s a potent blend of spooky humor and kung fu mayhem, in which a Taoist priest who performs magic and his disciples take on a host of irrepressible vampires and malevolent spirits. Due to its popularity and success, in no small part to its cast and its original, jiangshi concept, Mr. Vampire spawned countless sequels and turned into a franchise. It remains, to this day, one of the most influential films of its kind.

The fight scenes in the movie – which blend kung fu with Taoist magic – add an innovative element to martial arts choreography, while the film’s humor is so deftly integrated into the action that the film is an endlessly entertaining experience. There are some genuinely terrifying moments throughout the 96-minute runtime, and its ability to juggle genres so effectively is what makes Mr. Vampire a genre classic of 1980s fantasy martial arts films, with sharp dialogue and perfectly executed action sequences that set it apart from its peers.

3 Shogun Assassin (1980)

Starring Tomisaburo Wakayama And Kayo Mautso

Shogun Assassin was a re-edited version of two Lone Wolf and Cub films, which chronicle the exploits of a tattooed renegade samurai and his young son as they travel a treacherous landscape of assassins and warlords in search of vengeance. An epic, gore-soaked journey through wartime Japan, Shogun Assassin is a series of bloody sword fights and elaborate action scenes strung together by the guilt-ridden determination of the samurai to simultaneously protect his son yet avenge his wife. The iconic film’s stark, visceral use of violence made it an underground cult favorite among fans of martial arts and action films.

It is the emotional father-son narrative arc that makes Shogun Assassin so much more than just another high-octane, blood-splattering action film. The relationship between the two gives the film its roots and makes the endless sword-fighting feel all the more gripping as the two of them battle wave after wave of assassins. The action is brutal and beautifully choreographed, and blood and violence are used as a visual element that lingers well after the credits end. It is a film that has stained pop culture, with many popular films paying homage even decades later.

2 Encounters Of The Spooky Kind (1980)

Starring Sammo Hung And Wong Ha

Written, directed, and starring Sammo Hung, Encounters of the Spooky Kind blends martial arts, supernatural horror, and comedy. It revolves around Cheung, a bold and confident man who is tasked with spending the night in a haunted house, where he must ward off ghosts, ghouls, and vampires. His various encounters with the supernatural combine slapstick elements with a brilliantly inventive series of kung fu sequences, and Sammo Hung’s direction keeps the film pumping forward and yielding equal parts horror and humor in abundance.

Encounters of the Spooky Kind
like many films in the genre, blends horror, comedy, and action, and while there have been other films to successfully meld all three elements, few do it as well.

The action scenes are imaginative, incorporating supernatural elements into the fight choreography to create wonderfully weird combat sequences not available to those outside the genre. Sammo Hung’s physical humor lends a light touch to the film, but his fighting skills are also on full display. Encounter of the Spooky Kind like many films in the genre, blends horror, comedy, and action, and while there have been other films to successfully meld all three elements, few do it as well. Fans of martial arts films will enjoy the light-hearted, exciting ride and one of the best films in the genre.

1 Big Trouble In Little China (1986)

Starring Kurt Russell And Kim Cattrall

Big Trouble in Little China is a genuine cult favorite, a unique melding of kung fu, fantasy, and American style action-adventure, the kind of movie only John Carpenter could have made. The film tells the story of a truck driver named Jack Burton (Kurt Russell) who finds himself unwittingly pulled into a supernatural war in San Francisco’s Chinatown. With his closest friend Wang Chi, he must battle ancient sorcerers with superpowers who have kidnapped his fiancée. Carpenter’s knack for mixing intensive action with sharp humor and larger-than-life personalities makes it a frantic, fun-packed 99-minutes.

The movie’s martial arts scenes are fast and unyielding, with the supernatural elements that provide a magical flair. Carpenter and his special effects team were ahead of their time, creating a film that combined the techniques of traditional kung fu choreography with paranormal elements that feels contemporary. The dialogue and physical comedy are underrated and one of the highlights of the film. Big Trouble in Little China stands apart for being a wildly inventive story, and it has become a cult classic for its fusion of East and West cinematic traditions into a cohesive and beloved fantasy martial arts classic.