Best movies like The Showdown
Last updated March 2024
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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
Best tv shows and movies like The Showdown (2011):
Similar in 77%
The Unjust (2010)
Plot Summary:
A series of murders holds the nation in its sway and the longer the police fail to catch the murderer, the more the public begins to panic. Choi, a highly successful investigator whose methods have always held him back from promotion, senses that this case might be his last chance to make something of his career. He and his old mentor Jang agree to arrest the next best suspect as the serial killer – whatever it might cost. Just when it looks as if all the dirty tricks, dark deeds and treacherous secret deals are about to be exposed, all the stakeholders find themselves drawn deeper into the morass of questionable morals and open violation of the law. The search for the murderer begins to unite the four men, even though none are particularly interested in finding the culprit.
IMDB Rating: 6.6
IMDB Votes: 2000
Genere: Action, Crime, Drama
Country: South Korea
Duration: 119 min
Plot tags: tense, rough, suspenseful, exciting, realistic, psychological, detective, crime drama, twisted, bleak
Similar in 86%
Bandits, Prostitutes and Silver (1977)
Plot Summary:
To free his girlfriend from her contract with a greedy madam, Shang Li (Don Wong) teams up with a cold-blooded thief called the Sparrow (Chiang-lung Wen) to hijack a large shipment of silver. But when the heist suddenly goes bad, Shang Li finds himself with blood on his hands and a price on his head. Martial arts superstars Angela Mao and Lieh Lo also star in this kung fu classic from writer-director Pao-Shu Kao.
IMDB Rating: 6.6
IMDB Votes: 113
Genere: Action, Drama
Country: Hong Kong
Duration: 83 min
Plot tags: exciting, rough, serious, captivating, realistic, suspenseful
Similar in 88%
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 87%
Brothers Five (1970)
Plot Summary:
The 5 Kao brothers, separated since childhood, are unaware that the master Teng Lung Manor, Lung Chen-feng has killed their father. All five, however, seek to defeat the vicious gangsters at the Manor.
IMDB Rating: 6.6
IMDB Votes: 222
Genere: Action, Drama
Country: Hong Kong
Duration: 109 min
Plot tags: grindhouse, exciting, rough, serious, captivating, realistic, suspenseful, stylized
Similar in 85%
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 84%
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 77%
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 75%
Legendary Amazons (2011)
Plot Summary:
The film is set in early 11th century China during the reign of Emperor Renzong of the Song Dynasty. The emperor neglects state affairs and indulges in personal pleasures, while the government sinks into corruption and war continues to rage on at the borders of the Song Dynasty. The Song Dynasty is being invaded by the armies of the rival state of Western Xia. Yang Zongbao is the last man standing in the Yang clan, a family of generals who have dedicated their lives to defending the Song Dynasty from foreign invaders. He apparently dies in battle tragically when the treacherous Imperial Tutor Pang refuses to send reinforcements to aid him. Yang Zongbao's widowed wife Mu Guiying leads the other widows of the Yang clan into battle to continue the legacy of their husbands.
IMDB Rating: 4.4
IMDB Votes: 796
Genere: Action
Country: China
Duration: 107 min
Plot tags: exciting, realistic, epic, serious, tense, captivating, historical romance, stylized
Similar in 78%
The Invincible Armour (1977)
Plot Summary:
Hwang Jang Lee is a corrupt Ming guard who frames John Liu for murder. A wanted fugitive, John hides out with a teen who is an expert in the infamous Iron Armor technique, a technique that means the expert can withstand anything. However, Hwang is an expert in it as well as the Eagle Claw's. Can John stop Hwang before it's too late?.
IMDB Rating: 7.0
IMDB Votes: 1000
Genere: Action, Drama
Country: Hong Kong, Taiwan
Duration: 90 min
Plot tags: exciting, rough, serious, realistic
Similar in 85%
Shaolin Intruders (1983)
Plot Summary:
On a routine courier mission, the prestigious Chin Hu chief was murdered by four mysterious monks. When all evidence points to Ching Hua (Liu Yu-Po), his friend Lei Hsin (Derek Yee) is determined to clear his name by barging in the Shaolin Temple thrice, and gets intwined in an intricate web of deception!.
IMDB Rating: 7.1
IMDB Votes: 371
Genere: Action, Drama
Country: Hong Kong
Duration: 89 min
Plot tags: exciting, tense, atmospheric, serious, realistic, stylized, fast
Similar in 87%
Brotherhood of Blades II: The Infernal Battlefield (2017)
Plot Summary:
An imperial guard searches for the truth behind a conspiracy that framed him and his partners. The proof of his innocence lies with a wanted woman named Bei Zhai... but will she reveal what she knows? In this intense prequel to BROTHERHOOD OF BLADES, the only thing he can truly trust is his sword.
IMDB Rating: 6.6
IMDB Votes: 2000
Genere: Action, Adventure, Drama, History, Thriller
Country: China
Duration: 120 min
Plot tags: psychological, exciting, tense, captivating, suspenseful, disturbing, stylized
Similar in 79%
Death Duel of Kung Fu (1979)
Plot Summary:
Ming General Cheng (Wang Dao) and his band of soldiers escape to Taiwan after Ching forces topple the Ming Dynasty. Still fearing the deposed general's deadly potential, however, the Ching prince Ta orders his own band of ruthless mercenaries to finish off Cheng and his warriors. The rivals prove to be equally skilled, and soon everybody is kung fu-fighting in this action-heavy martial arts spectacular.
IMDB Rating: 5.9
IMDB Votes: 201
Genere: Action, Drama
Country: Taiwan, Hong Kong
Duration: 86 min
Plot tags: exciting, serious, captivating, suspenseful, stylized
Similar in 78%
Blades of Blood (2010)
Plot Summary:
In the 16th century in Chosun dynasty, HWANG Jung-hak and LEE Mong-hak create the “Grand Alliance” with the united dream of a better world. While the new leader LEE dreams of eradicating this world of all its corruption and becoming king himself, the legendary blind swordsman HWANG who had once been his comrade goes after him with the loss of his good friend at the hands of LEE. Just as the king abandoned his kingdom from Japanese invasion, the two come face-to-face inside the empty palace and begin their last battle they were destined to fight.
IMDB Rating: 5.9
IMDB Votes: 834
Genere: Action, Drama
Country: South Korea
Duration: 111 min
Plot tags: exciting, captivating, serious, tense, epic, realistic, stylized
Similar in 85%
The New One-Armed Swordsman (1971)
Plot Summary:
Lei Li lost his right-arm in a sword duel with the master of a martial arts school, long ago. Now, he is able to defend himself well with just his left arm, and kung fu techniques. That he proves with just the help of his friend Chung-Chieng, when he crosses his path with a beautiful girl in need, Pao Chiao. Even against impossible odds, he will prove a great warrior.
IMDB Rating: 7.2
IMDB Votes: 2000
Genere: Action, Drama
Country: Hong Kong
Duration: 98 min
Plot tags: exciting, serious, realistic, stylized
Similar in 78%
Kill the Shogun (1975)
Plot Summary:
Action-drama set during the 1904 occupation of Korea (by Japan). An incident is sparked when the Japanese force the Korean soldiers to strip off their uniforms. Two of the Korean soldiers refuse and go on a rampage against the Japanese, forcing them to take their uniforms off.
IMDB Rating: 6.8
IMDB Votes: 47
Genere: Action, Drama
Country: South Korea
Duration: 114 min
Plot tags: exciting, tense, rough, serious, realistic, suspenseful
Similar in 86%
The Warring States (2011)
Plot Summary:
Rival Chinese military strategists Sun Bin (Sun Honglei) and Pang Juan (Francis Ng) clash in this historic war adventure set during the Era of Warring States.
IMDB Rating: 4.6
IMDB Votes: 569
Genere: Drama, War
Country: China
Duration: 126 min
Plot tags: exciting, serious, captivating, suspenseful, stylized, epic, realistic
Similar in 81%
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 77%
An Empress and the Warriors (2008)
Plot Summary:
After the death of her father, a woman is forced to take over as empress and fight to save her kingdom.
IMDB Rating: 5.8
IMDB Votes: 4000
Genere: Action, Drama, History, Romance
Country: Hong Kong, China
Duration: 99 min
Plot tags: captivating, stylized, tense, serious, epic
Similar in 86%
Sacrifice (2010)
Plot Summary:
For generations the Zhao family has wielded power, until their mortal enemy TU’AN GU slaughters the entire clan, determined to wipe out their influence forever. But one Zhao baby survives hidden by CHENG YING the doctor who delivered him. When Tu’an Gu learns of the baby’s escape he seizes every infant in the city, vowing to kill them all unless the Zhao baby is surrendered. As the tyrant’s soldiers arrive at Cheng Ying’s home the frantic doctor hides his wife with their own baby whilst surrendering the Zhao child as his own. But his family is discovered; his baby is presumed to be the Zhao heir and murdered along with his wife for harboring the infant. Now set on revenge Cheng Ying enrolls the Zhao orphan into the service of the Tu’an Gu household, plotting to use him as an instrument of vengeance when he comes of age.
IMDB Rating: 6.2
IMDB Votes: 2000
Genere: Drama, History
Country: China
Duration: 122 min
Plot tags: exciting, atmospheric, serious, suspenseful, captivating, stylized, epic, realistic, costume drama
Similar in 81%
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 83%
Samurai Banners (1969)
Plot Summary:
Feudal Japan, 1543 to 1562. Kansuke Yamamoto is a samurai who dreams of a country united, peaceful from sea to sea. He enters the service of Takeda, the lord of Kai domain. He convinces Takeda to kill the lord of neighboring Suwa and take his wife as a concubine. He then convinces the widow, Princess Yu, to accept this arrangement and to bear Takeda a son. He pledges them his life. He then spends years using treachery, poetic sensibility, military and political strategy to expand Takeda's realm, advance the claim of Yu's son as the heir, and prepare for an ultimate battle with the forces of Echigo. Has Kansuke overreached? Are his dreams, blinded by love, too big? Written by [email protected].
IMDB Rating: 7.1
IMDB Votes: 798
Genere: Action, Adventure, Drama, History, War
Country: Japan
Duration: 165 min
Plot tags: serious, captivating, realistic, stylized, jidai geki
Similar in 86%
Dragon Blade (2015)
Plot Summary:
Huo An, the commander of the Protection Squad of the Western Regions, was framed by evil forces and becomes enslaved. On the other hand, a Roman general escapes to China after rescuing the Prince. The heroic duo meet in the Western Desert and a thrilling story unfolds.
IMDB Rating: 5.9
IMDB Votes: 21000
Genere: Action, Drama, Fantasy, History
Country: China, Hong Kong
Duration: 127 min
Plot tags: realistic, exciting, serious, scenic, cult classic, action adventure, epic
Similar in 79%
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 77%
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 77%
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 84%
Genghis Khan: To the Ends of the Earth and Sea (2007)
Plot Summary:
A look at Genghis Khan's life, from his birth to conquests in Asia.
IMDB Rating: 6.2
IMDB Votes: 898
Genere: Action, Adventure, Drama, History, War
Country: Japan
Duration: 136 min
Plot tags: exciting, serious, captivating, realistic, epic
Similar in 78%
Sword of the Assassin (2012)
Plot Summary:
Nguyen Vu is the sole survivor of his family who was executed by the empress of Vietnam. Upon discovering that his family may have been framed for crimes they did not commit, he sets out to bring justice and clear his family name.
IMDB Rating: 6.2
IMDB Votes: 847
Genere: Action, Drama, History, Romance
Country: Vietnam
Duration: 103 min
Plot tags: exciting, serious, realistic, captivating, tense, suspense, scenic, stylized
Similar in 87%
Sword of Vengeance (2015)
Plot Summary:
Returning to his homeland after years of slavery, a Norman prince seeks revenge on his father's murderer – his ruthless uncle, Earl Durant. Gaining the trust of a band of exiled farmers, he leads them into battle against Durant, exploiting them in his inexorable quest for vengeance. As one by one they are slaughtered in the brutal battle, will the prince sacrifice everything an everyone to fulfil his quest for blood?.
IMDB Rating: 4.4
IMDB Votes: 3000
Genere: Action, Adventure, Drama, History, War
Country: UK
Duration: 87 min
Plot tags: tense, serious, bleak, realistic, rough, action adventure, twisted, suspenseful
Similar in 83%
Northmen: A Viking Saga (2014)
Plot Summary:
A band of Vikings cross enemy lines and a panicked race begins. The losers will pay with their lives.
IMDB Rating: 5.4
IMDB Votes: 11000
Genere: Action, Drama, History
Country: Switzerland, Germany, South Africa
Duration: 97 min
Plot tags: stylized, captivating, exciting, rough, serious, realistic, epic, saga, atmospheric, suspense
Similar in 75%
186 Dollars to Freedom (2012)
Plot Summary:
A young California surfer has to grow up in a hurry when he is thrown into a Peruvian political prison in 1980.
IMDB Rating: 5.2
IMDB Votes: 575
Genere: Action, Drama
Country: Peru, USA
Duration: 101 min
Plot tags: realistic, tense, serious, captivating, suspense, exciting, rough, suspenseful