10 Amazing Martial Arts Movies and TV Shows to Watch if you Love Max's Warrior
With their fantastic fight scenes, gang warfare stories, or Bruce Lee inspirations, here are the best movies and TV shows if you like Max's Warrior
We have seen a plethora of spectacular martial arts series in the past few years, but few have been as fantastic as the hit TV show, Warrior. Based upon the writings and concept of martial arts legend Bruce Lee, Warrior follows Ah Sahm (Andrew Koji), a martial arts prodigy from China, who begins to lead a colorful life as a hatchet man for one of the most powerful Tongs in San Francisco.
The series is full of jaw-dropping fight scenes and has a phenomenal cast. The likes of Joe Taslim, Andrew Koji, Dianne Doan, Hoon Lee, and Jason Tobin headline the series and elevate the show with their exceptional performances and physicality in the fight scenes.
If you're a fan of the show, listen up, as there are many brilliant movies and TV shows you should check out that are very similar to Warrior. Whether it's with the cast, action, or the story that made you fall in love with the show, here are the best movies and shows to watch if you're a fan of Warrior.
10 PHOTOS
10. Cobra Kai (2018 - Present)
Cobra Kai is one of the best TV shows in recent memory. Sure, it's ridiculous, but that's a large reason why we fell in love with the show. Continuing 34 years after the events of the All Valley Karate Tournament in The Karate Kid (1984), Cobra Kai features some deeply compelling and exhilarating fight scenes, and perhaps some of the best and most over-the-top martial arts fights in TV history. On top of that, the show's characters are fantastic and instantly lovable, making for a far more captivating TV show.
9. Banshee (2013-2016)
Banshee is an HBO action show that has criminally flown under the radar for far too long. Starring Anthony Starr of The Boys fame, Banshee is a brutal, action-packed thriller that follows former swindler Lucas Hood, who assumes the identity of a murdered sheriff. The show's action is second to none. It's violent, well-shot, and brilliantly edited. Those who have seen Banshee never stop praising the show, and those who haven't seen it don't know what they're missing.
8. Headshot (2016)
Following a very similar story to the Bourne movies, Headshot offers a far more visceral experience with action that is far more fluid and exhilarating. Iko Uwais, one of cinema's best martial artists, leads the film, which allows the actor to showcase his stunning and fast-paced martial arts skills in brilliant fashion. It's an underrated martial arts masterpiece that deserves far more love.
7. Wu Assassins (2019 - Present)
Netflix tends to knock it out of the park with its martial arts TV shows, and Wu Assassins is no different. Following an unassuming chef in San Francisco who is chosen to keep the mystical Wu powers out of the wrong hands, Wu Assassins' action is very similar to that of Warrior. Its cast features the likes of Iko Uwais, Mark Dacascos, Lewis Tan, Katheryn Winnick, and Bryon Mann, who, with their exceptional martial arts backgrounds, elevate the already brilliantly directed action to new heights.
6. Gangs of London (2020 - Present)
The director of both The Raid movies, Gareth Evans tried his hand at the TV with Gangs of London. Winning four awards at the Welsh BAFTAs for Photography and Lighting, Production Design, Sound, and Editing, Gangs of London follows London's most powerful gangs, as the City of London is being torn apart. The show features some exceptional writing and powerful performances, as well as many brutal action sequences that will leave audiences' jaws on the floor. This is a show that fans of Warrior will adore.
5. Enter the Dragon (1973)
What better movie to watch for fans of Warrior, than one of Bruce Lee's best-ever martial arts epics? Enter the Dragon is one of the best and most important martial arts movies of all time. The movie has influenced many movies, shows, and video games in both its tournament-style premise and action in general.
Following Lee, a Shaolin martial artist who gets recruited by a British Intelligence agent to infiltrate an island fortress and take down a tyrannical crime lord, Enter the Dragon is filled with some of Bruce Lee's best moments. The action is fantastic and the story, although simple, is deeply intriguing.
4. The Night Comes for Us (2018)
The Night Comes for Us is without a doubt one of the most violent action movies ever made. Starring the likes of Iko Uwais and Joe Taslim, this martial arts masterpiece sees Ito (Joe Taslim) protecting a young girl from the forces of a powerful triad. Featuring the best action on the streaming service, The Night That Comes For Us is one of the best Netflix Original Action movies the streaming service has to offer. Iko Uwais and Joe Taslim are fantastic as the respective antagonist and protagonists, leading to an incredibly grizzly fight to the death in the film's final act.
3. The Raid (2011) and The Raid 2 (2014)
The two Raid movies are without a doubt two of the best action movies ever made. From their simple, yet intriguing stories to their groundbreaking action scenes, which paved the way for modern-day action movies. Both movies follow Rama (Iko Uwais) an Indonesian police officer who must beat the living daylights out of criminals, in order to survive their onslaught. Iko Uwais is at his best in The Raid movies, showcasing his rapid martial arts move set, and without him in the lead role, the movies wouldn't be half as fantastic as they are.
2. Peaky Blinders (2013-2022)
Peaky Blinders is a fantastic crime TV series, full of sensational performances, compelling characters, and an infectious style, which uses slow motion and amazing music to enhance the show. The show follows Thomas Shelby (Cillian Murphy), the leader of the Peaky Blinders, as he attempts to keep his gang at the top of the food chain and his family safe. Although the series lacks the martial arts action set pieces that made fans fall in love with Warrior. Warrior's story is very reminiscent of Peaky Blinders, and fans of Warrior should certainly give it a go.
1. Into the Badlands (2015-2019)
Sadly, after three seasons, this fantastic martial arts TV series was canceled. However, the three seasons we received delivered an incomparable television martial arts experience. Into the Badlands follows a mighty warrior and a young boy with supernatural powers, as they search for enlightenment in a ruthless, post-apocalyptic America.
The series stars the likes of Daniel Wu, Emily Beecham, Aramis Knight, Nick Frost, Stephen Lang, and Martin Csokas, who all deliver fantastic performances and display some incredible physicality in the action scenes. Warrior is a perfect parallel for Into the Badlands and will soon become one of your favorite TV shows.
Keywords: Martial Arts Movies | Movies | Cinema | TV Shows | Gangsters | Fight scenes | Stories