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.

1. Big Trouble In Little China (1986)
2. Encounters Of The Spooky Kind (1980)
3. Shogun Assassin (1980)
4. Mr. Vampire (1985)
5. Fists Of The White Lotus (1980)
6. The Last Dragon (1985)
7. Zu: Warriors From The Magic Mountain (1983)
8. The Boxer’s Omen (1983)
9. The Seventh Curse (1986)
10. Legend Of The Eight Samurai (1983)