11 Terrible Martial Arts Movies That Are Super Entertaining

Whether you want to call it a “guilty pleasure” or “so-bad-its-good-cinema,” many film fanatics have their movies that they know are technically “bad,” yet still manage to entertain. This approach to film can apply to almost any genre, but decades of low-budget cinema, especially during the ’90s in the West, saw the action genre being flooded with subpar films. Breaking it down further, with martial arts madness in full swing (so many kids wanting to become ninjas), there is no shortage of features that have managed to capture an audience despite their many flaws.

“Bad” films still exist, of course, and the action genre continues to turn out turkeys that also happen to be highly entertaining. Going through the past several decades, here are some of the best action movies that are terrible but still manage to entertain.

11

‘Gymkata’ (1985)

Gymkata

Release Date

May 3, 1985

Runtime

90 minutes

Director

Robert Clouse

Writers

Charles Robert Carner

Cast

• Kurt Thomas

  Jonathan Cabot

• Tetchie Agbayani

  Princess Rubali

Plenty of misdirected attempts to introduce a fresh concept into the action genre throughout the 1980s and ’90s made for plenty of turkeys. For Gymkata, they brought Olympic gymnast Kurt Thomas to play Jonathan Cabot, who is tasked with competing in a martial arts tournament in the fictional county of Parmistan as an SIA agent. If he wins, he can fulfill the wish of the USA to install a satellite in the country, giving them an edge.

Martial Arts Meets Gymnastics

Gymnastics does not make for engaging in martial arts action, especially when one understands how martial arts are about maximizing damage with as little energy expended as possible. This makes for abundant silly fight scenes backed by a somewhat predictable and basic plot. Yet, the high production value and the consistent silliness of the whole endeavor make for a consistently entertaining experience.

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10

‘We’re Going to Eat You’ (1980)

As soon as the soundtrack lifted from the popular horror movie Suspiria kicks in, audiences will know that Wer’e Going to Eat You cares little about quality or originality. Tsui Hark’s action/horror/comedy centers around Agent 999, who is sent to a remote village to apprehend a fugitive known as Rolex. However, when he arrives, he learns that the residents have developed a taste for human flesh and are looking to chomp down on him.

HK Cannibal Action

It is hard not to mention bad, yet entering action cinema without touching on some Hong Kong productions, as they often turn predictable cheese into an enjoyable art form. What makes We’re Going to Eat You Stand Out, though, is its entertaining mix of martial arts action, b-horror, and slapstick comedy. The movie has all the charms of the era of HK action and can easily be enjoyed as the bizarre genre mash-up it is, despite its stealing from many movies that make up its poor patchwork plot.

9

‘Fight of Fury’ (2020)

Fight of Fury

Release Date

August 7, 2020

Runtime

81 minutes

Director

Shuny Bee

Producers

Cecilia Parasar

There are those people you meet who you can tell have had a Bruce Lee poster up in their bedroom for decades. Don’t get us wrong, Bruce Lee is a deserved film icon worthy of admiration, but there is a sort of pseudo-wisdom that can come with admiration of the man and trying to mimic his approach to martial arts and philosophy. Star, writer, and director Shunny Bee gives off the vibe of a Bruce Lee obsession as he fights against a cartel of human smugglers while dishing out bits of knowledge.

Wisened Dad-Fu

Fight of Fury is ridiculously cheesy, and it has a lot of the trappings of an amateur filmmaker. Yet, despite all this, actor Shunny Bee manages to come across as oddly charming, and the action is well-choreographed. The movie also has that so-bad-its-good quality, with some bizarre showdowns and location work; an affluent gang just hanging out on lawn chairs in an unkempt backyard waiting for a call to kick some butt. There is memorable dialogue, plenty of cheese, and lots of action to keep this flawed martial arts movie entertaining.

8

‘Lion Man’ (1975)

Early Turkish film has only made itself known to the West in a few instances, often through bizarre remakes where the country offered low-budget versions of classics like Star Wars and The Exorcist. Yet, a few hidden gems still thrive under budgetary restrictions. Lion man follows the son of a king who is hidden away after he is executed, living among wolves and learning to fight like them. Now a grown man with a set of deadly claws, the titular Lion Man returns to seek revenge.

A Turkish “Classic”

Largely unknown outside his native Turkey, Cüneyt Arkin was an actor of immense talent, spawning over 300 film credits. His presence as a lion-inspired marital artist is utterly captivating, and the fights are choreographed with a lot of over-the-top action that gives it a cartoonish charm.

In execution, the movie is far from great. Still, there are so many small, charming elements and exciting action throughout that it overcomes its goofy elements and awkward storytelling approach; the movie was even successful enough to spawn a sequel. AGFA also gave the film a much-needed technical upgrade to re-introduce it to audiences decades after its initial release.

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7

‘High Kicks’ (1993)

High Kicks

Release Date

March 16, 1993

Runtime

82 minutes

Writers

Ruta K. Aras

Producers

Jerry Feifer

Cast

• Tara Lee-Anne Roth

  Sandy Thomas

• Anastasia Alexander

  Tracy

• Kevin Knotts

  Crazy Maurice

A shoe-string budget, failed attempts at eroticism, and a new martial art style based on aerobics should be a recipe for disaster. And while it kind of is, there is a lot of low-budget charm in this obvious passion project that makes it an oddly endearing watch. The movie opens like a lot of films of this era, with a sexual assault-turned-tale of revenge. The victim turns to a wandering stranger to teach her martial arts to save herself, and the two develop a relationship.

From Aerobics to Martial Arts Master

High Kicks really does have all the charm of a production made by a group of friends who love shooting martial arts but don’t understand any other elements of movie-making. The dialogue is stunted, the acting is stiff, and everything is so awkwardly cliché. Yet, sometimes flaws can make for a highly entertaining movie, particularly when it tries its hardest to stand out from others and fails gloriously. With a good group of friends, High Kicks is a highly entertaining outing.

6

‘Mortal Kombat’ (1995)

Mortal Kombat

Release Date

August 18, 1995

Runtime

101minutes

Director

Paul W. S. Anderson

Writers

Paul W. S. Anderson

Producers

Lawrence Kasanoff, Robert Engelman

When you hear the title Mortal Kombat, do you repeat it back in your mind in the iconic scream from the electronic soundtrack of the 1995 film? Don’t worry, we all do. Mortal Kombat is often fondly remembered through the view of nostalgia, with the game dominating the arcades, becoming a political talking point, and providing many kids’ first view of extreme graphic violence in video games.

The Nostalgia Remains Strong With This One

Putting all that aside, the tournament between Earth and the Netherrealm is painfully cheesy, from its score to its now-dated special effects. The action is not even exceptional, it is passable, but it is far from the best of the era. That said, the movie has become such a celebration of the era and the video game franchise that it is hard not to get excited when the techno starts thumping, and Scorpion yells, “Get over here.” The sequel is bad, but the first film will always win over and entertain despite its many faults.

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5

‘Carter’ (2022)

Carter

Release Date

August 5, 2022

Runtime

132 Minutes

Director

Byung-gil Jung

Those with motion sickness or sensitivity will find the South Korean action flick Carter to be an overwhelming mess. Following a man who wakes up in an overrun DMZ zone, the titular Carter has to navigate hordes of thugs, government operatives, and zombie-like civilians. A mysterious voice gives Carter instructions, and he is tasked with taking care of a young girl. As he pushes forward, he begins to unravel his past.

Please, Make The Action Stop!

Carter starts as one of the coolest action movies ever, with an explosive opening sequence that sees a man dismantle a large group of gangsters in a bathhouse. However, after this sequence, and another, and another, and another, it becomes evident that the film has zero direction and is just a series of long-drawn-out unrealistic action sequences strung together by a paper-thin plot. Many will hate Carter for how indulgent and silly it is, but it manages to stay entertaining just in the sheer volume of insane action that is a mix of martial arts, shoot-outs, and questionable CGI.

4

‘Ninja III: The Domination’ (1984)

Ninja III: The Domination

Release Date

September 14, 1984

Runtime

92 minutes

Director

Sam Firstenberg

Writers

James R. Silke

Producers

Menahem Golan

Cast

• Jordan Bennett

  Billy Secord

While entertaining in their own right, skip over Ninja and Ninja II, and jump right into the best in the franchise Ninja III: The Domination. From the same director of the cult-classic Breakin 2: Electric Boogaloo, this bizarre mash-up is pure ’80s glory in every aspect. After a ninja is killed on a mission in the USA, he passes on his katana to Christie Ryder, a telephone lineswoman who is placed under the curse of an ancient Japanese spirit.

A Little Bit The Exorcist A Little Bit Wu-Tang

Mixing elements of action, eroticism, and horror, Ninja III: The Domination is one of those movies that throws everything at the wall to see what sticks. While this usually results in a muddled mess of a film, the elements manage to create a pretty absurd yet exciting martial arts-heavy feature. The most entertaining aspect is the mysticism around Ninja, with the opening sequence seeing a single one take out dozens of cops while performing miraculous feats (and amazing stunt work).

3

‘The Dark Angel: Psycho Kickboxer’ (1998)

The Dark Angel: Psycho Kickboxer

Release Date

June 28, 1998

Runtime

90 minutes

Director

David Haycox

Writers

Danny Dennison

Cast

• Chad Bernhard

  Alex Hunter / The Dark Angel

Look at that poster artwork! How can you not be enticed? The Dark Angel: Psycho Kickboxer, often shortened to Psycho Kickboxer, stars 5-time World Kickboxing Champion Curtis Bush as Alex Hunter. Hunter is on the rise in the ranks of kickboxing, but after a gang murders his wife, he begins a downward spiral. At his lowest, he meets a veteran who was once a prized fighter who helps him turn his life around.

Part Psycho, All Kickboxer

The question is, does Psycho Kickboxer kick someone’s head off? The answer is yes. Still, the movie is a slog throughout most of its runtime, with its gritty edge falling flat under some questionable acting and poor direction. However, this is one of those films that, just as it starts to lose you, it does something so bizarre through dialogue or action that it pulls you back in.

2

‘Superfights’ (1995)

Superfights

Release Date

November 10, 1995

Runtime

94 minutes

Director

Tony Leung Siu-Hung

Writers

Keith W. Strandberg

Cast

• Keith Vitali

  Robert Sawyer

• Chuck Jeffreys

  Dark Cloud

Sometimes, all you need is two slabs of meat throwing punches in a ring to keep yourself entertained; Superfights fits that bill to a tee. The movie follows an unassuming warehouse worker named Tony, who dreams about competing in the premiere fighting league that has captured the world’s attention, the titular Superfights. After saving a woman who some thugs are attacking, he is deemed an American hero and is asked to be the next star of the famous fighting league. Yet, the more time he spends in the league, the more he learns of the corruption and abuse.

An Exciting Martial Arts Tournament

The fight choreography here is top-notch, flowing from fight to fight and introducing a wonderfully eccentric group of fighters whose entire character is defined by wanting to trade blows with others to prove who is the alpha; bonus points for their costumes. The plot here is cookie-cutter, yet it has plenty of unintentional humor that makes it oddly engaging. Essentially, those who love the tournament format of action movies will find this one a hidden gem initially overlooked because of its many faults.

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1

‘Miami Connection’ (1987)

Miami Connection is the definitive terrible yet entertaining action experience. Much of the movie is soaked in horrible dialogue, bad acting, and obnoxious earworms; the line “Friends through eternity” will repeat for weeks after the first viewing. The movie follows a group of adult orphans who love martial arts and making music under “Dragon Sound.” However, when they cross paths with a gang, they become involved in a deadly showdown with Miami’s seedy criminal organizations.

Don’t Mess with Dragon Sound

Most of the movie delivers awkward dialogue and sparse action that is goofy enough to keep the audience’s attention. The final scenes are gloriously violent and over-the-top, making the movie a wonderful concoction of unintentional comedy and explosive action. Miami Connection proved to be an instant cult hit for this balance; when the film was unearthed decades after its release, it got a remastered theatrical release.

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