Collider ranks the ten greatest Jet Li action movies
- Martial arts icon Jet Li remains a defining figure in global action cinema, bridging traditional Chinese wushu with Western blockbusters across a career spanning multiple decades.
- Released in 1982 and directed by Chang Hsin-yen, Shaolin Temple launched Li into international stardom.
- Among Li's late-2000s projects, 2008's The Forbidden Kingdom stands out as a pop culture milestone by marking the only on-screen team-up between Li and Jackie Chan.
Martial arts icon Jet Li remains a defining figure in global action cinema, bridging traditional Chinese wushu with Western blockbusters across a career spanning multiple decades. Collider published its ranking of the ten greatest Jet Li action movies, highlighting a filmography defined by high-impact choreography, historical milestones, and unique genre crossovers. From his 1982 feature debut to landmark collaborations with fellow martial arts legends, Li’s catalog captures the evolution of modern action filmmaking.
The Historic Breakthrough of Shaolin Temple
Released in 1982 and directed by Chang Hsin-yen, Shaolin Temple launched Li into international stardom. Set amid political upheaval between the Sui and Tang dynasties, the film follows Jue Yuan, played by Li, as he trains in traditional Shaolin martial arts at the legendary monastery to avenge his father’s murder. As a real-life wushu champion, Li brought breathtaking athleticism, fast-paced weapon forms, and empty-hand techniques to the screen. Collider noted that the project holds immense historical relevance as the first major Hong Kong-Chinese co-production filmed on location at the real, then-ruined Shaolin Monastery in China, helping revive the site into a global landmark and sparking a worldwide kung fu craze.
Dream Team Collaboration in The Forbidden Kingdom
Among Li’s late-2000s projects, 2008’s The Forbidden Kingdom stands out as a pop culture milestone by marking the only on-screen team-up between Li and Jackie Chan. Directed with a blend of Chinese folklore and a Western lens, the film follows a Boston teenager transported to ancient China to help free the Monkey King, portrayed by Li in a dual role alongside the Silent Monk. Collider highlighted the teahouse fight scene, choreographed by legendary action director Yuen Woo-ping, as a showcase of Li’s physical range and Chan’s playful artistry.
Dramatic Depth in Unleashed
The 2005 release Unleashed paired Li with Morgan Freeman under the direction of Louis Leterrier and writer Luc Besson. Li stars as Danny, a man raised like an animal to serve as an enforcer for a crime boss played by Bob Hoskins, before finding shelter with a blind piano tuner played by Freeman. Collider described the film as an underrated gem that operates as both a dramatic thriller and a martial arts movie. Yuen Woo-ping choreographed Danny’s fights to be chaotic and animalistic, while Li shifted between terrifying intensity and childlike innocence.
Sci-Fi Action in The One
Rounding out notable entries from his filmography, 2001’s The One features Li in dual roles under the direction of James Wong. Li plays Gabriel Yulaw, a rogue interdimensional Multiverse Authority officer hunting parallel universe versions of himself to absorb their life energy. Despite mixed critical reception, Collider reported that Li carries the weight of the film through his demanding dual-role performance.