Best movies like American Shaolin
Last updated March 2024
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Plot Summary:
After being humiliated in the ring by a dirty kickboxer who pulled down his shorts and then hit him, a martial arts master decides to travel to China and enter a monastery where he may learn the Shaolin form of fighting. The film then veers into "Karate Kid" territory where the novice humiliates himself at every turn, is tolerated as a foreigner, and still comes out a champion. The monastery teaches non-violence, but everyone knows that sooner or later the student will catch up with the bad guy.
IMDB Rating: 5.8
IMDB Votes: 2000
Genere: Action
Country: USA, Hong Kong
Duration: 106 min
Plot tags: exciting, rough, realistic, tense, serious, independent film
Best tv shows and movies like American Shaolin (1991):
Similar in 86%
Max Havoc: Curse of the Dragon (2004)
Plot Summary:
Ex-kickboxing champion turned sports photographer Max Havoc again finds himself in Guam on a publicity photo shoot. Max's helpful ways land him in the lives of the vacationing sisters Jane and Christy Goody who have acquired a rare jade dragon, which belongs to the ruthless Japanese Yakuza who will stop at nothing to get it back. It's up to Max to stop the Yakuza, save the sisters and restore order to the peaceful island.
IMDB Rating: 3.4
IMDB Votes: 968
Genere: Action
Country: USA
Duration: 90 min
Plot tags: exciting, rough, realistic, serious, independent film, fast
Similar in 88%
Showdown (1993)
Plot Summary:
Ken has just moved from Kansas with his mother. He talks to a girl named Julie, not knowing that her boyfriend Tom is very possessive of her. Tom is learning karate from Lee, a sensei whose brother was killed by a rookie cop named Billy. Billy has since then become the janitor of the school that Ken, Julie and Tom go to. When Ken gets beaten up by Tom for talking to Julie again, Billy helps Ken by teaching him how to defend himself, which eventually leads to a battle between student vs. student, and sensei vs. sensei.
IMDB Rating: 5.2
IMDB Votes: 1000
Genere: Action
Country: USA
Duration: 98 min
Plot tags: independent film, exciting, rough, serious, realistic, suspenseful
Similar in 85%
Angry Tiger (1973)
Plot Summary:
Chang Chen-Wai, a martial arts expert who runs a jade-importing business, follows his missing brother to Thailand and learns he has been murdered. Chang vows revenge.
IMDB Rating: 4.2
IMDB Votes: 98
Genere: Action
Country: Hong Kong, Thailand
Duration: 93 min
Plot tags: independent film, exciting, rough, serious, realistic, suspenseful, cult film
Similar in 83%
Forced to Fight (2011)
Plot Summary:
Once a legend in the brutal world of illicit underground fighting, Shane Slavin (Daniels) decides to turn his life around, promising his wife and young son he's fought his last battle. But when his younger brother betrays a ruthless crime boss (Weller), Shane is forced back into the arena to pay his brother's debts and to protect his family.
IMDB Rating: 4.3
IMDB Votes: 817
Genere: Action
Country: Canada
Duration: 101 min
Plot tags: exciting, rough, realistic, tense, suspense, serious
Similar in 87%
To Be the Best (1993)
Plot Summary:
Eric Kulhane, a member of the U.S. Kickboxing Team, lets his quick temper and obsessive love for beautiful Cheryl make him the perfect target for blackmail. In order to stop ruthless gambler from rigging the World Championship and killing Cheryl, Eric and his father, his American teammates and their most feared Chinese opponents join for an explosive climax which rocks the Las Vegas Strip.
IMDB Rating: 4.4
IMDB Votes: 338
Genere: Action
Country: USA
Duration: 99 min
Plot tags: independent film, exciting, rough, serious, realistic, suspenseful, stylized, fast
Similar in 88%
American Kickboxer (1991)
Plot Summary:
Kickboxing champion B.J. is jailed for an accidental murder thanks to the testimony of his arch-nemesis Denard. A year later, B.J. is released and then challenged by Denard for $100,000. Will B.J. accept and get even with Denard?.
IMDB Rating: 3.7
IMDB Votes: 697
Genere: Action, Sport
Country: USA, South Africa
Duration: 92 min
Plot tags: rough, realistic, suspenseful, exciting, serious, grindhouse, independent film, cult film
Similar in 84%
Shootfighter II (1996)
Plot Summary:
In this martial-arts actioner, Miami mobsters find themselves in mortal danger after an angry police chief hires the world's most vicious fighters and uses them to launch a city-wide vendetta.
IMDB Rating: 4.8
IMDB Votes: 775
Genere: Action
Country: USA
Duration: 91 min
Plot tags: independent film, exciting, rough, serious, realistic, suspenseful
Similar in 85%
Bloodsport III (1996)
Plot Summary:
Bloodsport III brings us back to the world of Alex Cardo. This time he must battle in a fight to end all fights - The Kumite, the most vicious warrior alive - Beast. He must not only battle for his own honor, but also avenge the death of Sun, his mentor, teacher, and spiritual "father", when Sun is spitefully killed by crime boss Duvalier. In order to defeat Beast, destroy Duvalier, and avenge Sun's death, Alex turns to Leung to whom he was indebted in Bloodsport II. Leung directs him to the great shaman, Makato "the Judge", to whom Alex must turn for guidance. The judge teaches him to fully channel the energy in his mind and body in order to rout the Beast in the Kumite.
IMDB Rating: 4.1
IMDB Votes: 2000
Genere: Action, Sport
Country: USA
Duration: 91 min
Plot tags: suspenseful, semi serious, independent film, exciting
Similar in 86%
Pit Fighter (2005)
Plot Summary:
Jack Severino has no memory, all he knows is the brutal sport of Pit Fighting. When his past catches him up, he realizes he is not who he thought he was. For some men must fight for redemption.
IMDB Rating: 4.3
IMDB Votes: 1000
Genere: Action
Country: USA
Duration: 83 min
Plot tags: rough, serious, realistic, tense
Similar in 86%
Max Havoc - Ring of Fire (2006)
Plot Summary:
Max, having forsaken his life as a former world kick-boxing champion to redefine himself as a world class photographer, is on his way to photograph top tennis star and athlete Suzy Blaine. While on assignment, Max uncovers a crime ring and relies on his skills as a martial artist to set the situation straight.
IMDB Rating: 3.4
IMDB Votes: 314
Genere: Action
Country: USA, Canada, Germany
Duration: 89 min
Plot tags: exciting, serious, tense, suspense, independent film, rough, realistic, suspenseful, fast
Similar in 76%
Shaolin Temple (1976)
Plot Summary:
There is no place more hallowed in the martial art world than China's Shaolin Temple. This special place deserves a special epic, which is what the martial arts maestro delivers in this battle between a brave brand of Chinese boxers and literally thousands of Ching troops - complete with betrayals, intrigues, and such novel fighting machines as 108 wooden robots. The conflicts grow in complexity, intensity and even suspense as monks struggle to stay alive in the face of overwhelming odds.
IMDB Rating: 6.8
IMDB Votes: 1000
Genere: Action
Country: Hong Kong
Duration: 126 min
Plot tags: serious, realistic, exciting, cult film
Similar in 80%
Kickboxer 2: The Road Back (1991)
Plot Summary:
In this rousing sequel to Kickboxer, Tong Po broods about his defeat at the hands of Kurt Sloan. Po and his managers resort to drastic measures to goad Kurt into the ring for a rematch.
IMDB Rating: 4.5
IMDB Votes: 6000
Genere: Action, Sport
Country: USA
Duration: 90 min
Plot tags: rough, serious, feel good, independent film, realistic, exciting, road movie, thought provoking, humorous, bloody
Similar in 86%
Bloodmoon (1997)
Plot Summary:
Ken O'Hara (Gary Daniels) is a "Mindhunter" - a serial killer specialist enlisted to find the mass murderer (Darren Shahlavi) intent on killing the strongest fighters in New York City. Trying to catch this cunning and clever killer is the hardest assignment Ken has ever had. Now, the moon is rising again and he must use all of his resources to hunt down the murderer....or he may be the next to die.
IMDB Rating: 5.8
IMDB Votes: 890
Genere: Action, Thriller
Country: USA
Duration: 102 min
Plot tags: independent film, exciting, rough, serious, realistic, suspenseful, fast, detective
Similar in 88%
Kickboxer (1989)
Plot Summary:
If your enemy refuses to be humbled... Destroy him. Accompanied by his brother Kurt (Van Damme), American kickboxing champion Eric Sloane (Dennis Alexio), arrives in Thailand to defeat the Eastern warriors at their own sport. His opponent: ruthless fighter and Thai champion, Tong Po. Tong not only defeats Eric, he paralyzes him for life. Crazed with anger, Kurt vows revenge.
IMDB Rating: 6.4
IMDB Votes: 60000
Genere: Action, Sport, Thriller
Country: USA
Duration: 97 min
Plot tags: cult classic, inspirational, harsh, serious, realistic, grindhouse, feel good, exciting, social, action thriller
Similar in 87%
The Executioner (1974)
Plot Summary:
Three street toughs are hired to take down a Tokyo drug dealer in this hard-hitting Toei karate action film.
IMDB Rating: 6.7
IMDB Votes: 646
Genere: Action
Country: Japan
Duration: 87 min
Plot tags: exciting, rough, serious, realistic, suspenseful
Similar in 89%
Martial Arts of Shaolin (1986)
Plot Summary:
Jet Li weasels out of the north Shaolin temple to assassinate a despotic ruler at the ruler's extravagant public birthday celebration. Two other men from the south Shaolin temple also set out to assassinate the ruler, but all three fail and are chased all over by soldiers. Meanwhile, one of the southerners turns out to be a cross-dressed woman, who is also discovered to wear a footbell to match Jet Li's, meaning they are somehow slated for an arranged marriage.
IMDB Rating: 6.4
IMDB Votes: 3000
Genere: Action, Comedy, Drama
Country: Hong Kong, China
Duration: 94 min
Plot tags: serious, realistic, suspenseful, exciting, cult classic, cult film
Similar in 85%
Kickboxer: Retaliation (2018)
Plot Summary:
One year after the events of "Kickboxer: Vengeance", Kurt Sloan has vowed never to return to Thailand. However, while gearing up for a MMA title shot, he finds himself sedated and forced back into Thailand, this time in prison. He is there because the ones responsible want him to face a 6'8" 400 lbs. beast named Mongkut and in return for the fight, Kurt will get two million dollars and his freedom back. Kurt at first refuses, in which a bounty is placed on his head as a way to force him to face Mongkut. Kurt soon learns he will have no other choice and will undergo his most rigorous training yet under some unexpected mentors in order to face Mongkut in hopes to regain his freedom.
IMDB Rating: 5.0
IMDB Votes: 6000
Genere: Action, Drama
Country: USA
Duration: 110 min
Plot tags: brutal, suspenseful, exciting, inspirational, feel good, bleak, serious, realistic, tense, rough
Similar in 82%
Fist 2 Fist (2011)
Plot Summary:
Still haunted by his failure to prevent the murder of a young couple years earlier, a mixed martial arts teacher must confront the skeleton in his closet when the boy who was orphaned by the killing shows up at his door.
IMDB Rating: 3.5
IMDB Votes: 188
Genere: Action
Country: USA
Duration: 92 min
Plot tags: exciting, serious, realistic, suspenseful, rough, cult film
Similar in 78%
The Sword Identity (2011)
Plot Summary:
During the Ming Dynasty one man will request a competition when his weapon is rejected. After a series of fights he is determined to prove his sword is invincible.
IMDB Rating: 5.4
IMDB Votes: 659
Genere: Action
Country: China
Duration: 108 min
Plot tags: exciting, serious, realistic, tense, captivating, suspense
Similar in 76%
5 Masters of Death (1974)
Plot Summary:
Hu Te et al. escape the burning Shaolin temple after the Qing soldiers destroyed it in Shaolin Temple. The group of 5 decide to develop secret codes to identify fellow patriots, enlist those patriots and eventually meet up again to escape to the south away from the Qings, and also identify the traitor who sold out Shaolin temple. Ma Fu Yi (the traitor, played by Wang Lung Wei), joins the Qing top fighters to eliminate the rebels but is exposed by Ma Chao-Tsing who gets captured by Ma Fu Yi. Hu meets up with a group of Shaolin men secretly posing as bandits to rescue Ma as their leader is killed in the process, thus the bandits join the rest of the Shaolin patriots.
IMDB Rating: 6.6
IMDB Votes: 1000
Genere: Action, Drama
Country: Hong Kong, Taiwan
Duration: 109 min
Plot tags: exciting, tense, rough, serious, realistic
Similar in 78%
Wushu Warrior (2011)
Plot Summary:
China, 1862: Lord Lindsey rules the opium trade and enslaves the innocent. The only hope for the oppressed nation, is a covert group of trained Wushu Warriors - The Red Lotus Society – who will fight to restore justice to its people.
IMDB Rating: 3.9
IMDB Votes: 450
Genere: Action
Country: USA
Duration: 85 min
Plot tags: exciting, captivating, tense, entertaining, rough, serious, realistic, suspenseful, fast
Similar in 76%
Fury of the Shaolin Master (1978)
Plot Summary:
A government law officer is dispatched to bring his brother's killers to justice. On his bloody mission, untold assassins are thrown at him, but to no avail. One by one they are done away with in a most militant style.
IMDB Rating: 6.2
IMDB Votes: 152
Genere: Action, Drama
Country: Taiwan, Hong Kong
Duration: 86 min
Plot tags: exciting, rough, serious, realistic, suspenseful, stylized
Similar in 77%
Ong Bak 3 (2010)
Plot Summary:
Ong Bak 3 picks up where Ong Bak 2 had left off. Tien is captured and almost beaten to death before he is saved and brought back to the Kana Khone villagers. There he is taught meditation and how to deal with his Karma, but very soon his arch rival returns challenging Tien for a final duel.
IMDB Rating: 4.9
IMDB Votes: 15000
Genere: Action
Country: Thailand
Duration: 99 min
Plot tags: exciting, rough, serious, captivating, suspenseful, cult classic, sentimental
Similar in 86%
Tiger Claws (1991)
Plot Summary:
The police does not know what to do. They have to deal with a serial killer who aims at martial arts masters. One after another is killed in the same brutal way. This may be a chance for detective Linda Masterson to work on her first murder case. She gets the job and to her side an other martial arts specialist, Sgt. Tarek Richards. Now they need to find a tiger style master, because the killer obviously uses tiger style kung fu. Not a simple task, since tiger is a very ancient and rare style.
IMDB Rating: 5.4
IMDB Votes: 1000
Genere: Action
Country: Canada, USA
Duration: 92 min
Plot tags: exciting, rough, serious, independent film, realistic, suspenseful, detective, cult film
Similar in 83%
The Shaolin Temple (1982)
Plot Summary:
The Tang emperor is betrayed by one of his generals, who installs himself as emperor in the East Capital. The son of one of his slave workers escapes to the Shaolin Temple, learns kung fu, and sets out to kill the traitor who killed his father. Based on a true story from Shaolin folklore, but highly fictionalized.
IMDB Rating: 6.8
IMDB Votes: 5000
Genere: Action, Comedy, Drama
Country: China, Hong Kong
Duration: 100 min
Plot tags: exciting, serious, stylized, captivating, tense, touching, cult classic, cult film
Similar in 79%
Fist of Legend (1994)
Plot Summary:
Chen Zhen, a Chinese engineering student in Kyoto, who braves the insults and abuse of his Japanse fellow students for his local love Mitsuko Yamada, daughter of the director, returns in 1937 to his native Shangai, under Japanse protectorate -in fact military occupation- after reading about the death of his kung-fu master Hou Ting-An in a fight against the Japanese champion Ryuichi Akutagawa.
IMDB Rating: 7.5
IMDB Votes: 25000
Genere: Action, Drama
Country: Hong Kong
Duration: 103 min
Plot tags: harsh, intense, tense, rough, realistic, suspenseful, exciting, serious, cult classic, brutal
Similar in 77%
Kung Fu Killer (2008)
Plot Summary:
China is in unrest, as the Republic falls prey to Warlords like Kahn Xin, who holds an entire province hostage to the opium trade—and destroys all who oppose him. Only the revered Wudang monks dare stand in Kahn’s way in order to protect the very soul of China. Among them is the Westerner, White Crane, a spiritual master of the martial arts and protector of the innocent. Revenge is not in Crane’s heart—until a mercenary army storms the temple and slaughters the beloved female Grandmaster Myling. Out of the ashes of the temple ruins, Crane rises—with vengeance in his heart. Crane comes upon Jane Marshall, a New York lounge singer and her gangster boss Bingo Quo. But it’s Bingo’s dangerous professional ties to Kahn that draw both Crane and Jane deep into the Warlord’s lair. Now torn between the spiritual Wudang teaching and the cold-blooded life of an assassin, Crane is about the cross the fine line between justice and revenge.
IMDB Rating: 4.9
IMDB Votes: 853
Genere: Action
Country: Canada, USA
Duration: 176 min
Plot tags: exciting, serious, captivating, tense, suspense, rough, realistic, suspenseful
Similar in 81%
Ong Bak 2 (2008)
Plot Summary:
Moments from death a young man is rescued by a renowned warrior. Realizing unsurpassed physical potential in the young boy he trains him into the most dangerous man alive. As he becomes a young man he goes on a lone mission of vengeance against the vicious slave traders who enslaved him as a youth and the treacherous warlord who killed his father.
IMDB Rating: 6.2
IMDB Votes: 32000
Genere: Action
Country: Thailand
Duration: 98 min
Plot tags: stylized, serious, harsh, epic, cult classic, action thriller, exciting, sentimental, sincere, rough
Similar in 90%
Urban Fighter (2012)
Plot Summary:
The "Bloods" are the most intimidating and violent gang in the city. A lawless city... where gangs rule the streets... The vicious and blood thirsty murderer Slater is their leader. The city is his domain... he rules! There are those who are not members of gangs such as Mikey and his friends. Mikey lives on the edge, he is daring and always in trouble and fights. His brother Mathis and his friends try to avoid trouble at any cost. Revenge becomes the motive to Mikey when his brother Mathis goes missing and is killed..... Written by Generation X Group GmbH.
IMDB Rating: 3.2
IMDB Votes: 456
Genere: Action
Country: Germany
Duration: 102 min
Plot tags: exciting, tense, captivating, suspense, rough, bleak, serious, realistic, suspenseful, fast
Similar in 80%
Underground (2007)
Plot Summary:
In the UK suburbs, an underground tournament is set to challenge twelve fighters from different backgrounds to compete for the price of £500,000. They have been handpicked for a no-holds barred competition that will push each fighter to their limit. Each fighter has their own reason for competing, and each will give everything they've got to take the prize...but there can be only one winner.
IMDB Rating: 4.2
IMDB Votes: 590
Genere: Action
Country: UK
Duration: 95 min
Plot tags: rough, exciting, serious, suspenseful, realistic