Best movies like Fighter in the Wind
Last updated March 2024
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Plot Summary:
An account of karate competitor Choi Yeung-Eui who went to Japan after World War II to become a fighter pilot but found a very different path instead. He changed his name to Masutatsu Oyama and went across the country, defeating martial artists one after another. This film concentrates on the period when he is still young, and developing his famous karate style, Kyokushin.
IMDB Rating: 6.9
IMDB Votes: 4000
Genere: Action, Biography, Drama, History, War
Country: South Korea
Duration: 120 min
Plot tags: exciting, rough, serious, realistic, suspenseful, spiritual
Best tv shows and movies like Fighter in the Wind (2004):
Similar in 90%
When Taekwondo Strikes (1973)
Plot Summary:
The story is about the Japanese occupation of Korea during World War II. A Korean patriot played by Carter Wong gets into a fight with some Japanese people and is chased into a church. The priest there is captured and tortured. Trying to secure his release, the leader of the resistance, Jhoon Rhee is himself captured and tortured by the Japanese. Carter Wong, Angela Mao and Anne Winton have to now try and rescue him. This leads to an explosive climax with the heroes having to fight the likes of Wong In Sik (Hwang In-Shik), Sammo Hung and Kenji Kazama.
IMDB Rating: 6.3
IMDB Votes: 240
Genere: Action, War, Drama
Country: Hong Kong, South Korea
Duration: 91 min
Plot tags: grindhouse
Similar in 77%
7 Grandmasters (1977)
Plot Summary:
An aged Kung Fu practitioner travels across China, challenging the best Grandmaster from each province to prove his mastery of martial arts. Meanwhile is a plot developing behind his back.
IMDB Rating: 7.0
IMDB Votes: 977
Genere: Action, Comedy, Drama
Country: Taiwan
Duration: 89 min
Plot tags: action adventure, road movie, exciting, rough, serious, suspenseful, stylized, independent film, cult film
Similar in 75%
Star Runner (2003)
Plot Summary:
Preparing for the hand-to-hand battle of his life and the title of Champion Star Runner, a headstrong fighter creates a deadly hybrid mix of Thai kickboxing and Chinese kung fu. Get ready for the ultimate Pan-Asian mixed martial arts competition, where anything goes and lives are bought and sold.
IMDB Rating: 5.1
IMDB Votes: 329
Genere: Action, Drama, Romance
Country: Hong Kong, South Korea
Duration: 103 min
Plot tags: rough, serious, realistic, suspenseful, exciting
Similar in 77%
Black Belt (2007)
Plot Summary:
Set in 1932, amid the rise of militarism after the establishment of the Manchukuo colony in Northeast China, the story centers on a trio of karateka. Studying under their aging master in a small dojo in the woods of central Kyushu, Choei, Taikan and Giryu face a company of kempeitai military police come to requisition their dojo for use as a military base.
IMDB Rating: 6.9
IMDB Votes: 2000
Genere: Action, Drama, Sport
Country: Japan
Duration: 95 min
Plot tags: serious, realistic, exciting, captivating
Similar in 76%
Fists of Legend (2013)
Plot Summary:
On a television show billed as “the greatest fight show on Earth,” eager amateurs with lots to prove boldly step into the ring and expect to leave bloody but victorious. The ratings hungry producers seek out “legendary” but largely forgotten streetfighters and mine their desperation for recaptured glory and redemption into ratings gold.
IMDB Rating: 6.8
IMDB Votes: 1000
Genere: Action
Country: South Korea
Duration: 154 min
Plot tags: exciting, serious, realistic, suspenseful, captivating, rough
Similar in 86%
Challenge of the Masters (1976)
Plot Summary:
The Wong family kung fu school gets smacked around by a rival school. Wong Fei-hong gets fed up with the abuse and goes to learn from his fathers master. After one of the rival schools members kills some of the towns people Wong Fei-hong becomes enraged trains even more comes back and gets his revenge.
IMDB Rating: 6.6
IMDB Votes: 796
Genere: Action, Drama
Country: Hong Kong
Duration: 97 min
Plot tags: exciting, rough, serious, realistic, suspenseful, stylized, fast
Similar in 85%
Hapkido (1972)
Plot Summary:
Korea, 1934. During the Japanese occupation, there is open warfare between rival martial arts schools. There is a fight in the marketplace, and three Chinese students can't stand the unfair way of students that side up with the invasors, when they gang assault one of the fighting men. Between the three, they send the aggressors away. Retaliation is heavy: their school is destroyed, and they are banished. They return to China, and start their own school, and set out on good-will visits to the other martial arts schools, only to find that everybody in their neighbourhood is already dominated by the Japanese. They have many kung fu fights to win, before they eventually manage to establish peace.
IMDB Rating: 6.8
IMDB Votes: 976
Genere: Action, Drama
Country: Hong Kong, South Korea
Duration: 97 min
Plot tags: cult classic, serious, realistic, stylized
Similar in 75%
Muscle Heat (2002)
Plot Summary:
In the year 2009, a young policeman must collapse a Yakuza family whose members make a large profit with a new drug.
IMDB Rating: 5.1
IMDB Votes: 295
Genere: Action, Adventure
Country: Japan
Duration: 92 min
Plot tags: rough, realistic, suspenseful, exciting, serious, crime drama, fast
Similar in 90%
Yamada: Samurai of Ayothaya (2010)
Plot Summary:
Based on a true historic figure, Yamada Nagamasa, a Japanese adventurer who went to Ayothaya in the 16th century and became a soldier in King Naresuan's army. After the war in Burma it's restless in Ayothaya, because of a mysterious group of men that terrorizes and plunders the city. Yamada goes after them and discovers that the men are rebelious Japanese samurai. Now he has to fight his own countrymen.
IMDB Rating: 5.8
IMDB Votes: 1000
Genere: Action, Drama, History
Country: Thailand
Duration: 100 min
Plot tags: exciting, rough, serious, realistic, inspirational
Similar in 76%
Ip Man: The Final Fight (2013)
Plot Summary:
In postwar Hong Kong, legendary Wing Chun grandmaster Ip Man is reluctantly called into action once more, when what begin as simple challenges from rival kung fu styles soon draw him into the dark and dangerous underworld of the Triads. Now, to defend life and honor, he has no choice but to fight one last time.
IMDB Rating: 6.1
IMDB Votes: 11000
Genere: Action, Biography, Drama
Country: Hong Kong
Duration: 100 min
Plot tags: exciting, serious, realistic, suspenseful, tense, scenic
Similar in 75%
Ip Man 4: The Finale (2019)
Plot Summary:
Ip Man 4 is an upcoming Hong Kong biographical martial arts film directed by Wilson Yip and produced by Raymond Wong. It is the fourth in the Ip Man film series based on the life of the Wing Chun grandmaster of the same name and features Donnie Yen reprising the role. The film began production in April 2018 and ended in July the same year.
IMDB Rating: 7.0
IMDB Votes: 36000
Genere: Action, Biography, Drama, History
Country: Hong Kong, China
Duration: 107 min
Plot tags: poignant, inspirational, atmospheric, uplifting, suspense, tense, serious, disturbing, spiritual, saga
Similar in 82%
The Legend Is Born: Ip Man (2010)
Plot Summary:
Featuring some of the most spectacular, innovative and explosive martial arts ever staged, The Legend Is Born is the remarkable true story of the early life of Ip Man, the formidable kung fu genius who would become Bruce Lee's mentor.Beginning at the start of his journey from his initial training through to the ultimate battle to become supreme master of the art of Wing Chun, The Legend Is Born has already been hailed as one of the greatest martial arts films of all time and features an all-star cast, including Sammo Hung (Enter The Dragon), Yuen Biao and Ip Man's real life son, 76-year-old Ip Chun, as Ip Man's kung fu master.
IMDB Rating: 7.0
IMDB Votes: 33000
Genere: Action, Biography, Drama, History, Sport
Country: Hong Kong
Duration: 100 min
Plot tags: heroic, exciting, sentimental, serious, suspenseful, captivating, realistic, epic
Similar in 80%
Legend of the Fist: The Return of Chen Zhen (2010)
Plot Summary:
Seven years after the apparent death of Chen Zhen, who was shot after discovering who was responsible for his teacher's death (Huo Yuanjia) in Japanese-occupied Shanghai. A mysterious stranger arrives from overseas and befriends a local mafia boss. That man is a disguised Chen Zhen, who intends to infiltrate the mob when they form an alliance with the Japanese. Disguising himself as a caped fighter by night, Chen intends to take out everyone involved as well as get his hands on an assassination list prepared by the Japanese.
IMDB Rating: 6.2
IMDB Votes: 11000
Genere: Action, Drama, History
Country: Hong Kong, China
Duration: 106 min
Plot tags: exciting, rough, realistic, suspenseful, serious, stylized, anime, non stop action
Similar in 85%
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 88%
The Grandmaster (2013)
Plot Summary:
Ip Man's peaceful life in Foshan changes after Gong Yutian seeks an heir for his family in Southern China. Ip Man then meets Gong Er who challenges him for the sake of regaining her family's honor. After the Second Sino-Japanese War, Ip Man moves to Hong Kong and struggles to provide for his family. In the mean time, Gong Er chooses the path of vengeance after her father was killed by Ma San.
IMDB Rating: 6.5
IMDB Votes: 36000
Genere: Action, Biography, Drama, Romance, War
Country: Hong Kong, China
Duration: 130 min
Plot tags: visually stunning, exciting, atmospheric, captivating, suspenseful, realistic, stylized, lyrical, tense, retro
Similar in 86%
Fearless (2006)
Plot Summary:
Huo Yuan Jia became the most famous martial arts fighter in all of China at the turn of the 20th Century. Huo faced personal tragedy but ultimately fought his way out of darkness, defining the true spirit of martial arts and also inspiring his nation. The son of a great fighter who didn't wish for his child to follow in his footsteps, Huo resolves to teach himself how to fight - and win.
IMDB Rating: 7.6
IMDB Votes: 78000
Genere: Action, Biography, Drama
Country: China, Hong Kong, USA
Duration: 104 min
Plot tags: inspirational, epic, intense, exciting, captivating, serious, cult classic, stylized, harsh, motivational
Similar in 88%
Bloodsport (1988)
Plot Summary:
Frank Dux has entered the "kumite", an illegal underground martial-arts competition where serious injury and even death are not unknown. Chong Li, a particularly ruthless and vicious fighter is the favorite, but then again Dux has not fought him yet.
IMDB Rating: 6.8
IMDB Votes: 92000
Genere: Action, Biography, Drama, Sport
Country: USA
Duration: 92 min
Plot tags: exciting, intense, grindhouse, cult classic, serious, suspenseful, epic, independent film, rough, realistic
Similar in 81%
Kingdom of Conquerors (2013)
Plot Summary:
In the 1200s, a man arose whose ruthlessness was so feared, he emerged as the greatest empire builder ever known to mankind. Inspired by true historical events.
IMDB Rating: 5.6
IMDB Votes: 225
Genere: Action, Drama, History, War
Country: China, Japan, South Korea
Duration: 108 min
Plot tags: exciting, serious, suspenseful, captivating
Similar in 90%
Goemon (2009)
Plot Summary:
Follow the infamous ninja bandit named Ishikawa Goemon (Yosuke Eguchi) in an epic story. One night while looting treasure from Nanban (Southern Barbarians), Goemon finds a mysterious box hidden inside a secret grave. A forgotten relic from the past containing untold powers.
IMDB Rating: 6.6
IMDB Votes: 6000
Genere: Action, Drama, History
Country: Japan
Duration: 128 min
Plot tags: exciting, epic, captivating, anime, tense, suspense, action thriller, visually stunning, serious, stylized
Similar in 82%
Purple Butterfly (2003)
Plot Summary:
Ding Hui is a member of Purple Butterfly, a powerful resistance group in Japanese occupied Shanghai. An unexpected encounter reunites her with Itami, an ex-lover... and officer with a secret police unit tasked with dismantling Purple Butterfly.
IMDB Rating: 6.1
IMDB Votes: 1000
Genere: Drama, History, War
Country: China, France
Duration: 127 min
Plot tags: thought provoking, serious, realistic, bleak, captivating, suspenseful, tense, atmospheric, non-linear
Similar in 77%
White Vengeance (2011)
Plot Summary:
White Vengeance tells the story of two brothers contending for supremacy during the fall of the Qin Dynasty, which ruled Imperial China from 221 to 206 BC. As rebels rose, the nation fell into chaos. Liu Bang and Xiang Yu, became leaders of the rebellious army, and also became sworn brothers in battle.Xiang Yu and Liu Bang are close friends who both serve King Huai of Chu. King Huai uses a plot, saying that whoever can subvert the Qin kingdom in Guanzhong would be the Lord Qin, in order to benefit from the competition between Xiang Yu and Liu Bang. Xiang Yu is over-confident. He fights against the main force of Qin army, and entrusts Liu Bang with Yu Ji, the woman he loves.Liu Bang expresses his love to Yu Ji and takes the chance to invade Guanzhong first when most of Qin army is outside fighting against Xiang Yu’s army.
IMDB Rating: 6.1
IMDB Votes: 2000
Genere: Action, Drama, History
Country: China
Duration: 135 min
Plot tags: exciting, suspenseful, rough, serious, realistic, epic
Similar in 90%
My Way (2011)
Plot Summary:
Jun-shik, who works for Tatsuo’s grandfather’s farm while Korea is colonized by Japan, dreams about participating in the Tokyo Olympics as a marathon runner. Tatsuo also aims to become a marathon runner, so the two become rivals. But the war breaks out and they both are forced to enlist in the army. Tatsuo becomes the head of defense in Jun-shik’s unit and he devises a scheme but fails. Jun-shik and Tatsuo are held captive by the Soviets. They run away but soon are captured by the Germans and forced to separate. In 1944, they meet again on the shores of Normandy.
IMDB Rating: 7.6
IMDB Votes: 12000
Genere: Action, Drama, War
Country: South Korea
Duration: 137 min
Plot tags: tense, serious, rough, captivating, touching, epic, realistic, odd
Similar in 76%
The Lost Bladesman (2011)
Plot Summary:
During the warring period of the three kingdoms, ancient China is in turmoil. To unify the country, general Cao Cao (Jiang Wen), the real power behind the Emperor, enlists the aid of the greatest warrior in the land, Guan Yu (Donnie Yen). However, Guan Yu is a loyal friend of Cao Cao's enemy Liu Bei (Alex Fong) so to persuade the peerless warrior to fight, Cao Cao takes his beloved Qi Lan (Sun Li) hostage. After leading Cao Cao's forces to victory Guan Yu sets out with Qi Lan to rejoin Liu Bei. But now Cao Cao has deemed him too great a threat to live, and on the journey he must face all the forces at the Emperor's command sent to destroy him.
IMDB Rating: 6.0
IMDB Votes: 4000
Genere: Action, Biography, Drama, History
Country: China, Hong Kong
Duration: 109 min
Plot tags: exciting, emotional, stylized, action packed, serious, realistic, epic
Similar in 80%
Three Kingdoms (2008)
Plot Summary:
The aging Zhao embarks on his final and greatest campaign, a road to adventure that will crown his name in glory for all time.
IMDB Rating: 6.1
IMDB Votes: 7000
Genere: Action, Drama, History, War
Country: China, South Korea, Hong Kong
Duration: 102 min
Plot tags: exciting, realistic, atmospheric, serious, stylized, epic
Similar in 87%
The Warrior (2001)
Plot Summary:
In 1375, China was in chaos between Yuan Dynasty and Ming Dynasty. Coryo (an ancient kingdom of Korea then) sent a delegation of many diplomats, soldiers and a silent slave to make peace with the new Chinese government. However, this delegation got charged as spies and sent in exile to a remote desert.
IMDB Rating: 7.2
IMDB Votes: 11000
Genere: Action, Drama, History, War
Country: South Korea, China
Duration: 158 min
Plot tags: exciting, rough, suspenseful, stylized, epic, captivating, intense, serious, tense, sentimental
Similar in 78%
Ip Man 2 (2010)
Plot Summary:
Having defeated the best fighters of the Imperial Japanese army in occupied Shanghai, Ip Man and his family settle in post-war Hong Kong.Struggling to make a living, Master Ip opens a kung fu school to bring his celebrated art of Wing Chun to the troubled youth of Hong Kong. His growing reputation soon brings challenges from powerful enemies, including pre-eminent Hung Gar master, Hung Quan. However, when corrupt colonial officials stage a life-or-death contest with formidable British boxer, Twister, to humiliate the Chinese people, the masters quickly forget their differences. Soon, the eyes of the nation are on the one man capable of securing a victory-Grandmaster Ip Man!.
IMDB Rating: 7.5
IMDB Votes: 110000
Genere: Action, Biography, Drama, History
Country: Hong Kong, China
Duration: 108 min
Plot tags: heroic, exciting, suspenseful, tense, rough, captivating, action packed, epic, stylized, spiritual
Similar in 79%
Battle of the Warriors (2006)
Plot Summary:
In 370 B.C, China was separated as seven nations and several other small tribes, one of these being the city state of Liang. The nation of Zhao is led by the terrifying Xiang Yangzhong who orders his troops to conquer the small city. Leaping to the defense of the people of Liang is 'Ge Li' from the Mo-Tsu tribe, their last hope from the terrors of Yangzhong's troops.
IMDB Rating: 6.7
IMDB Votes: 4000
Genere: Action, Drama, War
Country: China, Japan, South Korea, Hong Kong
Duration: 133 min
Plot tags: exciting, rough, stylized, serious, realistic, epic
Similar in 80%
The Showdown (2011)
Plot Summary:
In the 11th year of Kwang Hae-gun, Jo-seon soldiers go to war with China after an invasion. In the middle of Manchu, three people who have barely survived are being cornered by the Chinese forces, and begin a bloody battle not with their enemies but with their friends.
IMDB Rating: 5.8
IMDB Votes: 364
Genere: Action, Drama, History
Country: South Korea
Duration: 111 min
Plot tags: psychological, suspenseful, exciting, tense, rough, captivating, realistic, serious, stylized
Similar in 76%
Ip Man (2008)
Plot Summary:
A semi-biographical account of Yip Man, the first martial arts master to teach the Chinese martial art of Wing Chun. The film focuses on events surrounding Ip that took place in the city of Foshan between the 1930s to 1940s during the Second Sino-Japanese War. Directed by Wilson Yip, the film stars Donnie Yen in the lead role, and features fight choreography by Sammo Hung.
IMDB Rating: 8.0
IMDB Votes: 232000
Genere: Action, Biography, Drama, War
Country: Hong Kong, China
Duration: 106 min
Plot tags: heroic, epic, exciting, tense, uplifting, captivating, inspirational, touching, entertaining, fast paced
Similar in 88%
MacArthur (1977)
Plot Summary:
The film portrays MacArthur's (Gregory Peck) life from 1942, before the Battle of Bataan, to 1952, the time after he had been removed from his Korean War command by President Truman (Ed Flanders) for insubordination, and is recounted in flashback as he visits West Point.
IMDB Rating: 6.5
IMDB Votes: 5000
Genere: Biography, Drama, History, War
Country: USA
Duration: 130 min
Plot tags: melancholic, epic, intense, realistic, serious, political, exciting, tense, sincere, rough