From bone-breaking brawls to elegant sword duels, join us as we count down the most spectacular hand-to-hand combat sequences ever filmed! Our countdown celebrates the perfect blend of choreography, emotion, and raw physicality that makes these fights unforgettable. Whether it's martial arts masters, superheroes, or everyday heroes, these scenes changed action cinema forever.
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00:00:00Welcome to WatchMojo, and today we're counting down our picks for the most action-packed,
00:00:10well-choreographed, and generally badass fight scenes in movie history.
00:00:14Some were played for laughs, others set the standard for the time they were shot.
00:00:17We're skipping giant battles and gunfights that don't include substantial hand-to-hand
00:00:22What's worse than getting mugged and immobilized?
00:00:37How about waking up with experimental tech embedded into your spine that turns you into
00:00:41an unstoppable killing machine?
00:00:43That's exactly what happens to Grey Trace in Upgrade.
00:00:53When his new AI buddy STEM takes the wheel, things get very messy.
00:00:57The kitchen fight is an exercise in almost robotic combat efficiency.
00:01:08Grey's fight choreography gives him the vibe of a deadly marionette.
00:01:12His face contorts in shock and horror, a spectator to the carnage being inflicted by
00:01:16his own limbs.
00:01:17Blades fly, bones break, and he watches his own actions with complete surprise.
00:01:33Guy Ritchie's take on Sherlock Holmes isn't just a methodical cerebral detective.
00:01:37Robert Downey Jr's Sherlock is a physical force, dismantling his enemies with mathematical
00:01:42precision.
00:01:43In Sherlock Holmes, Ritchie brings slow-motion spectacle to bare-knuckle boxing.
00:01:55Holmes applies his deductive reasoning to the sweet science.
00:01:59The fight analysis scene has Holmes calmly predicting every strike before executing his
00:02:03attacks with ruthless efficiency.
00:02:14A shattered rib here, a dislocated jaw there.
00:02:17The fight is already over before a single punch is thrown.
00:02:20It is the perfect blend of brains and brawn, proving that violence, much like detective
00:02:25work, can be approached with cold, calculated logic.
00:02:42Alfred Hitchcock may be known for various applications of his genius.
00:02:46Psychological thrillers, horror, dark comedy.
00:02:49He is not known as an action director, but the culmination of Strangers on a Train proves
00:02:53he could have been.
00:02:55After Guy Haynes meets the deranged Bruno Antony on a train, he unwittingly enters
00:02:59into an agreement to kill.
00:03:12Their conflict ends up on an out-of-control carousel after the ride's operator is taken
00:03:16out.
00:03:17Terrified children cling to their horses, and terrified parents cling to their kids
00:03:21while the carousel careens at breakneck speed.
00:03:35With each punch, the stakes rise, until an old man belly-crawls under the spinning death
00:03:40trap to shut it down.
00:03:58There is one very important lesson to glean from South Korean cinema.
00:04:02Never give cause for revenge.
00:04:04The Man From Nowhere follows a former black ops agent on a relentless quest to save a
00:04:08kidnapped girl.
00:04:09He mows his way through gangsters and drug dealers.
00:04:18When he has their boss cornered, the resulting knife fight is nothing short of stunning.
00:04:23In the film's climactic showdown, our brooding hero faces off against a room full of gangsters.
00:04:33He slices through them with surgical precision, staining the immaculate marble room with bloody
00:04:38gore.
00:04:39The sequence ends with a ballet of death between the hero and the bad guy's top enforcer,
00:04:43stabbing and slashing until only one survivor remains.
00:04:58If you thought rush hour was stressful, try fighting an entire gang on a speeding bus.
00:05:09Shang-Chi and the Legend of the Ten Rings was easily among the most well-received MCU
00:05:13entries post-Endgame.
00:05:14The kung-fu homage to speed makes it easy to understand why.
00:05:18When Sean, aka Shang-Chi, finds himself ambushed by a razor-armed assassin and his henchmen,
00:05:24his years of training kick in.
00:05:26He doesn't just hold his own.
00:05:27He destroys them.
00:05:39Flipping over seats, dodging punches, and turning the cramped space into his personal
00:05:43dojo, Shang-Chi channels Jackie Chan's slapstick combat energy.
00:05:47As the bus careens out of control, the fight escalates, culminating in a jaw-dropping escape.
00:05:5895.
00:06:04Barroom Brawl – Dodge City
00:06:06Before Hollywood perfected the barroom brawl, Dodge City set the gold standard.
00:06:11The film spends most of its runtime as a cookie-cutter classic Hollywood western.
00:06:15All of a sudden, it features a saloon fight so chaotic it feels like a cartoon adapted
00:06:20to live-action.
00:06:28Errol Flynn, playing lawman Wade Hatton, throws himself into a spiraling beer-soaked brawl.
00:06:33Chairs shatter, fists fly, and bodies crash through waiting tables.
00:06:37The sequence escalates into pure mayhem, with half the saloon involved in the fight whether
00:06:42they want to or not.
00:06:52What makes it legendary?
00:06:54The sheer scale.
00:06:55By its end, the fight seems to involve an entire town throwing down in glorious, stunt-packed
00:07:00fashion.
00:07:0794.
00:07:12The Operator vs. Elena and Alma – The Night Comes for Us
00:07:15If you thought the Raid movie set the bar for bone-crunching action, The Night Comes
00:07:19for Us smashes that bar to pieces.
00:07:22One of its most jaw-dropping fights sees The Operator take on the deadly duo of Elena and
00:07:26Alma.
00:07:27The three master fighters square off in a small, blood-drenched apartment.
00:07:41It's a whirlwind of knives, garrots, and sheer desperation.
00:07:45It's hard not to stare in stunned admiration as three of the deadliest women in action
00:07:50cinema try to carve each other into pieces.
00:08:03The brutality is relentless.
00:08:04The sheer speed of the choreography leaves no room to breathe.
00:08:08This isn't just a great fight scene.
00:08:10It is a feral, no-holds-barred survival match that turns the screen into a symphony of violence.
00:08:2593.
00:08:33Walker vs. Nightclub Goons – Point Blank
00:08:36Lee Marvin doesn't need fancy choreography or wirework to make a fight scene unforgettable.
00:08:41His sheer screen presence was enough to make it seem like his characters punched like a
00:08:44wrecking ball.
00:08:51In Point Blank, he stars as Walker, a man on a relentless quest for revenge.
00:08:56He doesn't have time to waste on flashy moves, which he proves when confronted by a band
00:09:00of assailants in a nightclub.
00:09:02He dismantles them one by one with sheer brute force.
00:09:13His surroundings, from walls to furniture, all become weapons as he takes his enemies
00:09:17down with methodical precision.
00:09:19There's no flashy music, no exaggerated reaction shots, just unfiltered violence that
00:09:24feels more real than anything else Hollywood was doing at the time.
00:09:3292.
00:09:35Scott Pilgrim vs. Gideon Graves – Scott Pilgrim vs. The World
00:09:39Scott Pilgrim finds himself in a state of perpetual combat, contending with the super-powered
00:09:44exes of his new love interest, Ramona.
00:09:58He defeats them one by one before confronting their leader, the katana-wielding hipster
00:10:02villain Gideon Graves.
00:10:04He battles Gideon in a neon-drenched brawl, armed with the flaming sword of love.
00:10:09Scott unleashes a flurry of stylish, over-the-top attacks that feel ripped straight from a video
00:10:15But the real twist?
00:10:16Scott's most recent ex, Knives Chau, jumps in for an unexpected assist.
00:10:27She teaches Scott that his journey wasn't just about Ramona, but about learning to be
00:10:30a better person.
00:10:32Packed with Edgar Wright's signature visual flair, pixelated explosions, and a healthy
00:10:36dose of absurdity, the fight wraps up a truly madcap action-adventure.
00:10:4091.
00:10:51The Price is Wrong – Happy Gilmore
00:10:54What's better than Adam Sandler getting into a fistfight?
00:10:57Adam Sandler getting absolutely wrecked by Bob Barker.
00:11:01Sandler's rage-fueled, hockey-player-turned-golfer teams up with the legendary Price's right
00:11:05host for a celebrity tournament.
00:11:16After some bad shots and pointed barbs, the two throw down in one of the most unexpectedly
00:11:21hilarious fistfights in movie history.
00:11:36Happy lands a few solid hits, but Happy's prize is catching Bob's hands.
00:11:39He delivers one last insult before laying out Happy for good.
00:11:46Who knew that lifting a skinny microphone all morning was such a great workout?
00:11:5090.
00:11:51Massage Parlor Fight – Rush Hour 2
00:11:54Chris Tucker and Jackie Chan walk into a massage parlor.
00:11:57As it turns out, that's both the setup for a joke and a classic buddy cop fight scene.
00:12:01When Carter and Lee stumble into an ambush, they find themselves surrounded.
00:12:05There's no armor, no leather, no fancy suits.
00:12:09These bad guys are all wearing plush robes.
00:12:12The ensuing fight is a classic of the Jackie Chan style.
00:12:21Improvisational genius, acrobatics, and lightning-fast counters.
00:12:24Tucker, meanwhile, scrambles to keep up, throwing in his signature comedic one-liners.
00:12:29The scene perfectly balances martial arts mastery with laugh-out-loud moments as the
00:12:37pair dodge half-naked men and whipped towels alike.
00:12:4789.
00:12:51The Killer vs. The Brute – The Killer
00:13:0488.
00:13:05Private Stanley Mellish vs. Nameless German Soldier – Saving Private Ryan
00:13:0987.
00:13:20Father vs. Cleric – Equilibrium
00:13:2286.
00:13:32Johnny Cage vs. Scorpion – Mortal Kombat
00:13:3585.
00:13:47Chaney vs. Street – Hard Times
00:13:49No gloves, no rules, just pure, unfiltered grit and paying up when one guy hits the mat
00:13:55for good.
00:13:56In Hard Times, an absolutely jacked Charles Bronson stars as Chaney, a drifter who punches
00:14:02his way through the underground fighting circuit of Depression-era America.
00:14:14His biggest test?
00:14:15A brutal showdown against the equally tough Street, a ringer brought in from Chicago to
00:14:20take Chaney down.
00:14:28Set in a dingy warehouse, the fight is raw, quiet, and completely unforgiving.
00:14:34Every punch lands like a sledgehammer, and neither fighter is willing to go down easy.
00:14:38It's not just a fight, but a war of bruising attrition.
00:14:4984.
00:14:54Kay vs. Rick Deckert – Blade Runner 2049
00:15:0983.
00:15:10V vs. Police – V for Vendetta
00:15:1282.
00:15:22Huo Yuanjia vs. Chin – Fearless
00:15:3681.
00:15:37Huo Yuanjia vs. His Hand – Evil Dead 2
00:15:4780.
00:15:51Fight for the Key – Pirates of the Caribbean – Dead Man's Chest
00:15:54What's better than a sword fight?
00:15:56A three-way sword fight on a giant rolling wheel.
00:15:59In Dead Man's Chest, Jack Sparrow, Will Turner, and James Norrington battle for possession
00:16:04of the key to Davy Jones' heart.
00:16:06It starts as a traditional duel quickly spirals into chaos.
00:16:16Each of the three wants the key for himself, leading to a whirlwind of slashing, parrying,
00:16:21and flipping.
00:16:22The fight traverses beaches, jungle, stone ruins, and finally onto a massive runaway
00:16:27water wheel.
00:16:33Meanwhile, Pintel and Rigetti hilariously bumble through their own fight with Elizabeth
00:16:39Swan.
00:16:40The sequence is fast, inventive, and loaded with swashbuckling spectacle.
00:16:44It's peak Pirates of the Caribbean, over-the-top, well-choreographed, and incredibly fun.
00:16:5279.
00:16:56Mad Max vs. Furiosa – Mad Max Fury Road
00:17:1278.
00:17:13The Final Fight – Yes Madam
00:17:2877.
00:17:29Diner Fight – A History of Violence
00:17:3176.
00:17:44Dalton vs. Jimmy – Roadhouse
00:17:4575.
00:17:58The Tramp vs. Prizefighter – City Lights
00:18:01Silent films weren't exactly known for their epic fight sequences.
00:18:05After all, what impact has a punch to the face without an audibly satisfying crunch?
00:18:17Charlie Chaplin changed that in one of the earliest and most brilliant examples of using
00:18:21fight scenes for laughs.
00:18:23In City Lights, Chaplin's famous tramp finds himself in the ring, squared off against a
00:18:27towering Prizefighter.
00:18:39Rather than trading blows, the tramp turns the match into a slapstick dance-off.
00:18:43He dances behind the ref, ducks around his opponent, and dodges blows to comedically
00:18:47timed perfection.
00:18:48It's less a fight and more a choreographed comedy routine, proving that action and humor
00:18:54could go hand-in-hand.
00:18:5574.
00:19:06King Arthur vs. Mordred – Excalibur
00:19:0873.
00:19:18Bus Station Brawl – The Transporter
00:19:3172.
00:19:32Dutch vs. Predator – Predator
00:19:3471.
00:19:44Bamboo Forest Fight – House of Flying Daggers
00:19:4770.
00:19:57Twenty Minute Action Shot – Extraction 2
00:20:00If you thought Extraction pushed the limits of nonstop single-take action, its sequel
00:20:05practically dares you to catch your breath.
00:20:07The first film's one-shot sequence was undeniably impressive, but Extraction 2 cranks up the
00:20:12violence in a relentless 20-plus minute prison break that turns into an all-out war.
00:20:24Chris Hemsworth's Tyler Rake fights off waves of enemies with everything from his
00:20:28fists to a flaming riot shield.
00:20:43The seamless camerawork drags you bodily through the carnage, feeling as if you yourself are
00:20:48dodging bullets, fists, and flying vehicles.
00:20:51The frenetic pace lets you feel every blow to Rake's body.
00:21:0468.
00:21:05Duel at the Gates of Hell – The Northmen
00:21:0767.
00:21:19Basement Fight – Fight Club
00:21:2066.
00:21:32Dominic Toretto vs. Luke Hobbs – Fast Five
00:21:3565.
00:21:49Boss Fight – Kung Fu Hustle
00:21:51If Looney Tunes and Enter the Dragon had a baby, it'd look a lot like Kung Fu Hustle.
00:21:56The film's first epic fight takes place as the Axe Gang invades a slum.
00:22:09A trio of unassuming slum residents reveal themselves as legendary Kung Fu masters, serving
00:22:14up gravity-defying beatdowns.
00:22:16But that's just the warm-up.
00:22:18When Stephen Chow's lovable loser gets in touch with his inner, more enlightened self,
00:22:22he gets real, real, real fast.
00:22:35He fights The Beast, a seemingly unbeatable criminal Kung Fu master.
00:22:39What begins as a brutal brawl escalates into a mythic showdown, complete with earth-shattering
00:22:45punches and literal Buddha palm attacks.
00:22:52It's silly, over-the-top, and still one of the most spectacular boss fights ever put
00:23:01to film.
00:23:0364.
00:23:04Tommy Reardon vs. Brendan Conlon – Warrior
00:23:1863.
00:23:19Jocka vs. Mad Dog – The Raid
00:23:2162.
00:23:34Front Lawn Fight – Lethal Weapon
00:23:3561.
00:23:48Bone vs. Price – Blood and Bone
00:23:5060.
00:24:04Coffee Coffin vs. The Girls – Coffee
00:24:07Pam Greer didn't just star in the 1970s classic Coffee.
00:24:10She completely redefined what an action heroine could be.
00:24:14She plays the titular Coffee, a nurse-turned-vigilante taking on drug dealers and corrupt officials.
00:24:19Greer is furious, fearless, and completely unstoppable.
00:24:29Nowhere is this more obvious than in a scene where she crashes a party full of shady characters.
00:24:42She quickly gets into a full-blown, no-holds-barred brawl with a gang of women.
00:24:47Hair gets ripped, clothes get torn, and Greer fights with pure, unadulterated rage.
00:24:52It is chaotic, savage, and a defining moment in blaxploitation cinema.
00:24:56You don't mess with Coffee.
00:24:58If you do, get ready to lose.
00:25:0359.
00:25:06Batman vs. Bane – The Dark Knight Rises
00:25:2158.
00:25:22Apollo Creed vs. Rocky Balboa – Rocky
00:25:2457.
00:25:36Ting vs. The Fight Club – Ong Bak – Muay Thai Warrior
00:25:3956.
00:25:51Sean Thornton vs. Squire Danaher – The Quiet Man
00:26:0755.
00:26:08The News Team Brawl – Anchorman – The Legend of Ron Burgundy
00:26:12It starts with some mild workplace rivalry.
00:26:15It ends with bloody anarchy.
00:26:17When Ron Burgundy and his Channel 4 news team cross paths with their competitors, they exchange
00:26:22and burns.
00:26:30The war of words escalates into a straight-up battle to the death.
00:26:33What begins as a ridiculous standoff in an alley quickly spirals into a full-blown, medieval-style
00:26:39war.
00:26:40Each rival station ups the ante with horses and machetes.
00:26:50Men from different stations whack each other with clubs and other improvised weapons.
00:26:54Brick even impales a man with a trident.
00:26:56It's the most completely unnecessary fight in film history.
00:27:00And that is exactly why we love it.
00:27:0954.
00:27:12Mickey Swimming in Pain – Snatch
00:27:3353.
00:27:34The T-800 vs. The T-1000 – Terminator 2 – Judgment Day
00:27:3852.
00:27:50Daniel LaRusso vs. Johnny Lawrence – The Karate Kid
00:28:0551.
00:28:06Trial by Combat – The Last Duel
00:28:2150.
00:28:22Bruce Lee's Dojo Destruction – Fist of Fury
00:28:25Some people settle disputes with words.
00:28:27Bruce Lee settles them by single-handedly destroying an entire dojo.
00:28:31In Fist of Fury, Lee's Chen Zhen storms into a rival Japanese martial arts school.
00:28:36There, he takes out dozens of opponents with speed and alacrity.
00:28:40It's a devastatingly efficient takedown, capped off with Lee using his iconic nunchaku.
00:29:02Just 20 years later, martial arts legend Jet Li remade the film into Fist of Legend.
00:29:07He paid tribute to Bruce with an equally brutal dojo fight between Zhen and Japanese General
00:29:12Fujita.
00:29:21Even with modern choreography, nothing quite matches the raw power and intensity of Bruce
00:29:26Lee on a mission for vengeance.
00:29:2949.
00:29:30The Warriors vs. The Baseball Furies – The Warriors
00:29:4248.
00:29:43Weyman's Fanny Pack vs. Security Guards – Everything, Everywhere, All at Once
00:29:4747.
00:30:02Carriage Fight – From Russia with Love
00:30:3345.
00:30:37Jake LaMotta vs. Sugar Ray Robinson – Raging Bull
00:30:40In The Ring, Jake LaMotta never went down.
00:30:43But staying up doesn't mean you didn't get beat.
00:30:46In Raging Bull, Martin Scorsese recreates LaMotta's epic bout against Sugar Ray Robinson.
00:30:51It was one of the most brutal, artfully shot boxing sequences in cinema history.
00:31:06The slow-motion sequence lets the audience feel on a visceral level just how much punishment
00:31:11the real-life fighter endured.
00:31:13During the beating, LaMotta becomes a bloody, swollen mess.
00:31:16LaMotta's sound design makes every hit feel like a cannon blast.
00:31:27By the time Robinson delivers the final, merciless flurry, LaMotta is barely standing.
00:31:32It's not just a fight.
00:31:34It's a grueling testament to self-destruction, pride, and punishment.
00:31:4344.
00:31:45Robin Hood vs. Guy of Gisborne – The Adventures of Robin Hood
00:32:0443.
00:32:05Rama and Andy vs. Mad Dog – The Raid
00:32:2042.
00:32:21Nightcrawler vs. The White House – X2
00:32:3941.
00:32:40The Kumite – Bloodsport
00:32:4340.
00:32:44Paul Muad'Dib vs. Fayed Rotha Harkonnen – Dune Part II
00:32:55The epic saga of Paul Atreides comes to a crescendo in a duel to literally reshape the
00:33:00universe.
00:33:01Paul Atreides, now entrenched with the Fremen, had honed his combat skills through years
00:33:05of training and fighting for his life.
00:33:07He had to kill a potential ally, Jamis, to become a desert warrior.
00:33:20But his opponent, Fayed Rotha Harkonnen, was more than prepared.
00:33:24The cunning and ruthless heir of House Harkonnen honed his blade on the white sands of his
00:33:28homeworld's fighting arena.
00:33:29Their duel is more than a personal vendetta.
00:33:31It is a decisive battle for the future of Arrakis and its invaluable spice.
00:33:37Their fight is quick and quiet.
00:33:46No frills, just two expert knife fighters struggling to kill and survive.
00:34:0339.
00:34:04Creepy Bedroom Fight – Haywire
00:34:0838.
00:34:09Airstrip Fight – Raiders of the Lost Ark
00:34:3037.
00:34:31Ip Man vs. Hong Chun Nam – Ip Man 2
00:34:3836.
00:34:39Sharks vs. Jets Rumble – West Side Story
00:35:0435.
00:35:05Ellen Ripley vs. Xenomorph Queen – Aliens
00:35:08When Ellen Ripley throws down, xenomorphs die.
00:35:11After surviving a nightmarish hive, rescuing Newt and escaping an apocalyptic explosion,
00:35:16Ripley is exhausted.
00:35:18Sadly, she has no choice but to initiate a showdown with the horrifying Xenomorph Queen.
00:35:24A seasoned alien killer by this point, Ripley is ready to rumble.
00:35:28Armed with a power loader, a walking, industrial exosuit, she goes toe-to-claw with the Queen
00:35:33in a fight for survival.
00:35:35The battle is brutal, mechanical limbs smashing and locking as Ripley desperately maneuvers
00:35:40the Queen toward the airlock.
00:35:43With one final triumphant line, she blasts the alien menace into space.
00:35:48It's the ultimate mic-drop moment, cementing Ripley's legacy as one of sci-fi's greatest
00:35:53action heroes.
00:35:5436.
00:35:55The Force Awakens – Star Wars
00:36:1334.
00:36:14Lee vs. Ohara – Enter the Dragon
00:36:2733.
00:36:28Nameless vs. Long Sky – Hero
00:36:4332.
00:36:44Bathroom Fight – The Bourne Ultimatum
00:36:5831.
00:36:59Kyuzo vs. Challengers – Seven Samurai
00:37:1233.
00:37:13No Sleep Till Brooklyn – Guardians of the Galaxy Vol. 3
00:37:23The Guardians of the Galaxy are an argumentative bunch, but when they do work together, there
00:37:27is little that can stand in their way.
00:37:29When the group attacks the lab of the High Evolutionary to rescue his test subjects,
00:37:33they have to make their way through a hallway full of his guards and mutated cyborg Hellspawn.
00:37:38Each of the Guardians gets their own chance to shine in this fight, which is delivered
00:37:42in one continuous shot and set to the dulcet tones of the Beastie Boys.
00:37:51Groot does some deadly growing, Nebula doesn't let her head nearly getting knocked off Stopper,
00:37:56and Drax even does his actor's signature Batista bomb.
00:37:59It's a phenomenally executed sequence that feels right out of a comic book.
00:38:04Did that look cool?
00:38:0729.
00:38:08Jackie Chan vs. Benny the Jet Yorkides – Wheels on Meals
00:38:12In this film, Jackie Chan plays Thomas, who infiltrates a castle and is faced with a nameless
00:38:17goon played by Benny the Jet Yorkides.
00:38:19The latter may be playing a man with no name, but his fighting skills need no introduction.
00:38:24The two master martial artists go at it with a flurry of punches, as well as high and low
00:38:29kicks.
00:38:30Chan's character gets the worst of it, at least until he lightens up and starts incorporating
00:38:34more unorthodox moves into his routine like tickling.
00:38:37He ultimately sends his foe out the window.
00:38:39He's not the only one who has to deal with this.
00:38:41He's also the one who has to deal with the fact that he's the only one who's ever
00:38:46He ultimately sends his foe out the window with a flying knee, only to pull him back
00:38:51in with the promise of another round.
00:39:03And yes, Chan and Yorkides did indeed have a rematch.
00:39:0728.
00:39:08Bus Fight – Nobody
00:39:10Hutch Mansell is a retired assassin itching for some action, and he gets it when a rowdy
00:39:14group of gangsters boards his bus.
00:39:26He decides to vent by beating the crap out of them.
00:39:29It's not all smooth sailing, as Hutch takes plenty of hits and several stabs himself.
00:39:34But the ex-killer's incredible persistence scares even the gangsters.
00:39:38He uses everything from his watch to a passenger's purse to bits of the bus to ensure his opponent
00:39:44will be enjoying hospital food for a long time.
00:39:47Actor Bob Odenkirk is not the typical action hero, which, along with its realistic stakes,
00:39:52helps make this fight so amazing.
00:40:0027.
00:40:01Donnie Yen vs. Wu Jing – SPL – Sha Pua Long
00:40:04The penultimate fight of this Hong Kong crime action film sees Donnie Yen's inspector Ma
00:40:08Kuan pitted against Wu Jing's Jack, a knife-wielding assassin in an alleyway.
00:40:13The sequel-in-name-only SPL II sees a fun twist with Wu Jing in the heroic role.
00:40:25And while that is a nice tribute, there's no beating the original.
00:40:29The two combatants attack one another in a series of lightning-fast exchanges that leave
00:40:33them both coming away bloody.
00:40:35Not only is the speed of the fight jaw-dropping, behind-the-scenes features reveal that it's
00:40:39essentially all improvised.
00:40:41It's just two great fighters going at it until the director yelled cut.
00:40:5426.
00:40:55Dread Pirate Roberts vs. Inigo Montoya – The Princess Bride
00:40:59One of the all-time great gentlemanly duels, this clifftop swordfight is a fencing masterclass.
00:41:12Inigo Montoya fights the dread pirate Roberts with the goal of preventing his pursuit of
00:41:18the princess they've rightfully stolen.
00:41:21The two men range all over the rocky terrain, with their witty remarks being as sharp as
00:41:25their swords.
00:41:27They both fight using their right and left hands, utilize a variety of fencing styles,
00:41:32and even do some cool flips.
00:41:34With actors Cary Elwes and Mandy Patinkin performing most of the stunts themselves,
00:41:38and legendary choreographers Bob Anderson and Peter Diamond lending their expertise,
00:41:43it's as exciting and enchanting a fight as it is to watch.
00:41:47Inigo Montoya is a master of the sword, and he's a master of the sword.
00:41:5225.
00:41:53Mall Fight – Police Story
00:41:55Perhaps the most explosive of Jackie Chan's on-screen fights, this brawl sees the martial
00:42:00artist's Sergeant Shan Ka-Kui attempt to protect a valuable witness and her data at a mall.
00:42:09However, the ensuing fight against goons demolishes Bob Anderson and Peter Diamond.
00:42:15However, the ensuing fight against goons demolishes much of the store and shatters what feels
00:42:20like more glass than every opera singer in history.
00:42:23The stunts, particularly the famous light fixture slide by Chan, are all incredible
00:42:28and bone-breakingly authentic.
00:42:30Meanwhile, the choreography is fast-paced and makes use of store displays, coat hangers,
00:42:35and even a motorcycle.
00:42:37Jackie Chan goes full Jackie Chan with this fight, delivering just pure,
00:42:41full Jackie Chan with this fight, delivering just pure action brilliance.
00:42:5624.
00:42:57Hector vs. Achilles – Troy
00:42:59It may be set in an epic mythic war film, but this duel is intensely personal.
00:43:12After Hector kills Patroclus, Achilles' cousin, mistakenly believing him to be Achilles,
00:43:18the two engage in a one-on-one fight outside the walls of Troy.
00:43:22The choreography of the duel tells a story and gives greater insight into both characters.
00:43:27Hector is a skilled and traditional fighter, while Achilles favors unconventional tactics.
00:43:33Their match utilizes spears and shields before transitioning to swords and shields,
00:43:37and then swords alone.
00:43:39Ultimately, though, Achilles' greater skill and endurance prevail,
00:43:43and he badly injures Hector before delivering the final blow.
00:43:46It is a magnificent and often underrated fight that even someone as arrogant as Achilles
00:43:51has to catch his breath afterwards.
00:43:53I have endured what no one on Earth has endured before.
00:43:59I kiss the hands of the man who killed my son.
00:44:0323.
00:44:04Ram vs. Bheem – Triple R
00:44:07This epic Indian action movie's fights all go for broke.
00:44:10While the final fight in the forest was also a contender,
00:44:13we had to highlight the long-building confrontation between its two protagonists,
00:44:17Komaram Bheem and Alluri Sitaram Raju.
00:44:24Get lost!
00:44:26Why are you talking to me like this?
00:44:28Get lost!
00:44:29The two friends who are each on opposite sides are forced into conflict
00:44:33when Bheem's dramatic rescue attempt at the governor's palace causes chaos.
00:44:37The emotions are at their peak throughout the fight, but so is everything else.
00:44:41Music, choreography, and spectacle.
00:44:43Every punch and grapple hits hard,
00:44:45and both friends' near superhuman strength is on display
00:44:48with fountains getting wrecked and a tiger meeting the blow of a fiery brazier.
00:44:52The battle has a mythic quality that's rare, and it's absolutely glorious.
00:45:0722.
00:45:08Rooftop Fight – Who Am I?
00:45:10A spy with amnesia, who may or may not be Jackie Chan himself,
00:45:14is confronted by two henchmen on a rooftop in pursuit of a disc.
00:45:18You got two treasures.
00:45:19He lost the disc.
00:45:21Tell him off.
00:45:22At number two, we take the disc and throw you off.
00:45:25He fights the first, played by Kwon Young, who primarily uses fists.
00:45:29Jackie then moves on to the second, played by Ron Smorenberg,
00:45:33who specializes in kicks.
00:45:35Then both goons take him on at the same time,
00:45:37with their fight sprawling all across the entire rooftop.
00:45:41In the end, Jackie is fighting so hard that the other two just throw in the towel altogether.
00:45:45Young!
00:45:52It's a magnificent brawl, utilizing the environment, the combatants' clothing,
00:45:56a little humor, a ton of grounded yet skilled moves, and some hair-raising stunts.
00:46:0121.
00:46:02Glasses Fight – They Live
00:46:04Ironically, sometimes a fight is spectacular because it lacks spectacle.
00:46:09Protagonist Nada tries to convince his friend Frank that aliens are among us
00:46:13by putting on special sunglasses.
00:46:15I'm giving you a choice.
00:46:17Either put on these glasses or start eating that trash can.
00:46:21When Frank refuses, the two of them come to blows.
00:46:24What follows is a long, drawn-out street brawl between two buddies.
00:46:28There's fisticuffs and wrestling moves, but as it goes on,
00:46:31things get personal, with biting and attacks to the groin.
00:46:34It truly feels like one of the most authentic and realistic fights ever put on film.
00:46:39And that's partly because actors Roddy Piper and Keith David
00:46:42were sometimes really hitting each other.
00:46:44Now that's dedication.
00:46:46Take a look.
00:46:48Put them on.
00:46:4920.
00:46:50Captain America and the Winter Soldier vs. Iron Man – Captain America Civil War
00:46:55Captain America and the Winter Soldier have been involved
00:46:57in some of the MCU's most thrilling fight sequences.
00:47:04However, it's this one where they fight side-by-side that really gets us going.
00:47:08After Tony Stark learns that a brainwashed Bucky killed his parents
00:47:11and that Cap knew about it, he's out for blood.
00:47:14What follows is a brutal smackdown that trumps all previous hero-on-hero action.
00:47:19Ultimately, Cap is able to incapacitate Tony,
00:47:22but at great cost to the Avengers' dynamic.
00:47:28Kudos to Marvel for being able to make fan-favorite Iron Man
00:47:31come across as an imposing third-act villain.
00:47:3419.
00:47:35Train Fight – Spider-Man 2
00:47:38Keeping the superhero train rolling a little longer,
00:47:40our next entry takes us to Spider-Man's confrontation with Dr. Octopus
00:47:44after he kidnaps Mary Jane.
00:47:50They soon find themselves atop an above-ground commuter train
00:47:53where the stakes are raised tenfold.
00:47:55With both wall-crawling adversaries able to explore the space in its entirety,
00:47:59director Sam Raimi and company orchestrate an exhilarating fight sequence
00:48:03that sees Spider-Man endure heaps of punishment from Ock's mechanical arms.
00:48:07In a cheap tactic, Ock disables the train's brakes
00:48:10and forces Spidey to wear himself out stopping it.
00:48:19Spider-Man may end up kidnapped himself,
00:48:22but not before he proved his heroism to the people of New York.
00:48:2618.
00:48:27Bathhouse Fight – Eastern Promises
00:48:30We realize we can't show all of this outstanding fight due to nudity,
00:48:34but we'd be remiss not to recognize its excellence.
00:48:46When Nikolai is set up by his own organization to satisfy a rival mafia,
00:48:50two assassins approach him in a bathhouse armed with knives.
00:48:53Fortunately, Nikolai repels their attack
00:48:55and absolutely refuses to be taken out.
00:48:58Unafraid to get down and dirty,
00:48:59he soon becomes the most dangerous man in the room
00:49:02as he scratches and claws to wrestle their weapons away.
00:49:05Forcing one assassin's head down on his knife
00:49:08and stabbing the other's eye out,
00:49:10Nikolai walks away thoroughly bloody.
00:49:12In retrospect, they probably should have just walked up and shot him,
00:49:15but we're sure glad they didn't.
00:49:2517.
00:49:26Staircase Fight – Atomic Blonde
00:49:32Now, here's a scene that shows just how exhausting fighting really is.
00:49:36Earlier in the movie,
00:49:37we got a taste of just how resilient Charlize Theron's Lorraine Broughton could be
00:49:41when she was ambushed by corrupt cops.
00:49:43But it's this stairwell fight that really takes our breath away.
00:49:47And hers.
00:49:53As she looks to protect a defecting Stasi agent from the KGB,
00:49:56Lorraine's extended bout follows her through multiple floors of an apartment building.
00:50:00Gradually and tiresomely she fends off her attackers,
00:50:03until they're all dead.
00:50:05As impressive as the fight choreography is,
00:50:08what's really astounding is how long the seemingly unbroken shot lasts,
00:50:12as it's followed up with a car chase to boot.
00:50:2316.
00:50:24Continuous Staircase Fight – The Protector
00:50:27If you thought John Wick was enraged when his dog got killed,
00:50:31watch what Tony Jaa does when his elephant gets kidnapped.
00:50:48Before making it to the restaurant where exotic animal connoisseurs plan to serve his prize pachyderm,
00:50:53Jaa's comm must make it up several flights of stairs through an endless succession of baddies.
00:50:57With a steadicam slowly following him all the way up,
00:51:00there's no question that this fight is a single-take marvel
00:51:03that must have taken a lot of work to perfect.
00:51:06But perfect it is,
00:51:08as Jaa sends bodies over railings and through doors and latticework.
00:51:14It just makes an already impressive movie that much better.
00:51:17Just, for the love of God, don't watch the much-maligned US cut of the film.
00:51:2415.
00:51:27Yu Xiu Lian vs. Green Destiny – Crouching Tiger, Hidden Dragon
00:51:31In a swordfight as high-intensity as this,
00:51:34what's more vital, being the better duelist or wielding the superior weapon?
00:51:44The more experienced Yu Xiu Lian intends to find out
00:51:47as she engages with Zhen Yu and the legendary sword dubbed Green Destiny.
00:51:51Though Xiu Lian holds her own,
00:51:53every weapon of hers eventually breaks at the might of the Green Destiny.
00:51:57Despite this, Xiu Lian ultimately holds the winning position with a broken sword.
00:52:01She then yields and an indignant Zhen gives her a cheap slash,
00:52:04so neither is truly victorious.
00:52:07However, due to the fantastic stunt work executed by the two actresses,
00:52:11we'd say we're the real winners.
00:52:1514.
00:52:17Cave Troll – The Lord of the Rings – The Fellowship of the Ring
00:52:20Of all the fights on this list, this one might be the most underrated.
00:52:27That's probably due to it being lost in an epic trilogy chock-full of thrilling clashes.
00:52:32But let's appreciate this one for a minute.
00:52:34Trapped in the mines of Moria,
00:52:35the Fellowship is beset upon by a horde of vicious orcs and one very imposing cave troll.
00:52:41A claustrophobic fight breaks out,
00:52:43one where our intrepid heroes prove their mettle and skill.
00:52:46While none of the good guys is killed,
00:52:48the fast-paced editing and threat level had us seriously on edge
00:52:52and gasping in our seats when Frodo is stabbed.
00:52:58This is high-fantasy action at its finest.
00:53:0513.
00:53:06Kitchen Scene – The Raid 2 – The Fellowship of the Ring
00:53:09There's something to be said for a fight scene that starts off slow and gradually builds intensity.
00:53:14While Rama goes on to confront the film's main villains afterwards,
00:53:18this bout with a top henchman in an immaculate kitchen sure feels like a finale.
00:53:22Director Gareth Evans had a high bar to clear following up The Raid Redemption,
00:53:26which is essentially one feature-length fight scene.
00:53:29But this entry makes the plot's more protracted nature feel worth the wait.
00:53:33Both actors' physicality is stellar,
00:53:36and the slowly crescendoing score gives the fight scene the epic feel it needs.
00:53:41By the end of it,
00:53:43the previously white floors and walls are splattered red,
00:53:47and our jaws are literally on the floor.
00:53:5212.
00:53:53Maximus Vs. Tigress – Gladiator
00:53:56There's a reason this Best Picture winner stirred up such a fervor in the summer of 2000.
00:54:00While it remains a visually compelling film with breathtaking cinematography,
00:54:04a lot of it had to do with the sword-and-sandals action scenes.
00:54:07The best of these comes when Russell Crowe's Maximus squares off against undefeated champion Tigress.
00:54:12The odds are stacked against Maximus,
00:54:14who has to fend off a handful of tigers as well.
00:54:17Initially overwhelmed,
00:54:18Maximus is forced to fight off a group of tigers,
00:54:21but eventually,
00:54:22he's defeated by a group of other tigers.
00:54:25While the crowd doesn't get the execution they wanted,
00:54:28we think Maximus had it right earlier when he said,
00:54:3511.
00:54:36Hallway Fight – Oldboy
00:54:38Here's a fight that's won through sheer stamina and resilience.
00:54:56In the thinnest of hallways,
00:54:58Odissu is confronted by a gaggle of goons that seem insurmountable.
00:55:02However,
00:55:03Odissu has been waiting too long to give up searching for his captor after 15 years of imprisonment.
00:55:08In one extended shot,
00:55:10Odissu is repeatedly swarmed and beaten on the ground,
00:55:13only for him to rise again more ferocious than ever.
00:55:16He even gets stabbed in the back and presses on with the knife sticking out.
00:55:20Eventually,
00:55:21every single bad guy is writhing on the floor in pain.
00:55:24Too exhausted to continue.
00:55:26We then smile along with Odissu as he's greeted with an elevator full of more fodder.
00:55:3610.
00:55:37Rotating Room Fight – Inception
00:55:46To simplify a scene in a more complicated movie as much as possible,
00:55:49Joseph Gordon-Levitt's Arthur finds him protecting a dream level
00:55:52in between dream levels from the projections within.
00:55:55Due to being in a car chase in the previous level,
00:55:58Arthur's hotel design begins literally turning on itself.
00:56:01Inception could have been one of those movies that relied exclusively on CGI
00:56:05rather than practical effects.
00:56:07Instead,
00:56:08Christopher Nolan opted to literally turn a hallway over repeatedly
00:56:11to make the shifts in gravity realistic,
00:56:13which leads to a thrilling and wholly unpredictable fight scene.
00:56:17The environment created is just as impressive as the stunt performers.
00:56:21It'll make you dizzy but it will also knock your socks off.
00:56:289.
00:56:29Restroom Fight – Mission Impossible Fallout
00:56:32As it's gone on,
00:56:33the Mission Impossible series has somehow topped itself over and over again,
00:56:37continuing to raise the bar for high-octane stunts.
00:56:44However,
00:56:45in what could be the finest entry,
00:56:47it's this simple sequence in a nightclub bathroom that really stands out.
00:56:50Here,
00:56:51Ethan Hunt teams up with CIA operative August Walker
00:56:54in tracking down a nuclear weapons buyer known only as John Lark.
00:57:02They confront a man they believe to be Lark
00:57:04and a knock-em-sock-em brawl breaks out.
00:57:06Despite sending the supposed Lark through a mirror and a support beam,
00:57:10they're given more than they can handle
00:57:12and have to be bailed out by Faust.
00:57:14Also,
00:57:15this is where we get that iconic shot of Henry Cavill pumping his fists.
00:57:218.
00:57:25Obi-Wan vs. Anakin – Star Wars Episode III – Revenge of the Sith
00:57:30The prequels get a lot of flack, to say the least,
00:57:33but one thing they did give us were amazing lightsaber duels.
00:57:37Hell,
00:57:38the Darth Maul sequence at the end of The Phantom Menace blew all our minds.
00:57:46However,
00:57:47if you want an emotionally charged showdown,
00:57:49you cannot do much better than the finale of Revenge of the Sith.
00:57:53Set on the thematically appropriate lava planet of Mustafar,
00:57:56Obi-Wan and his former apprentice Anakin have a duel for the ages.
00:58:00It's as hot-blooded as the backdrop,
00:58:02and though we knew the outcome,
00:58:04we still held our breath.
00:58:06Star Wars had more thrilling moments ahead,
00:58:08but none quite so tragic.
00:58:19Bring balance to the Force,
00:58:21not leave it in darkness!
00:58:257.
00:58:26The Bride vs. The Crazy 88's – Kill Bill Vol. 1
00:58:30The incredible fight between the Bride and henchgirl Go-Go
00:58:33already had us gasping for breath.
00:58:41What follows, however,
00:58:42is an even more mind-blowing sequence
00:58:44pitting our heroine against the entire Crazy 88.
00:58:50If you thought those numbers were skewed unfairly,
00:58:52you'd be right.
00:58:53But,
00:58:54the Bride absolutely slays.
00:58:56Limbs and heads are chopped off with bloody, reckless abandon.
00:59:00In fact,
00:59:01there's so much red spewing,
00:59:03the fight switches to black and white to avoid an NC-17 rating.
00:59:06Quentin Tarantino is known for his over-the-top violence,
00:59:09and here is where that style arguably became fully realized.
00:59:12There are a ton of scenes in the movie
00:59:14where the Bride and Go-Go fight,
00:59:17There are a ton of astounding fight sequences in this two-parter,
00:59:20so the fact that this one stands out the most
00:59:22is really saying something.
00:59:286.
00:59:29Jackie Chan vs. Ken Lo – Drunken Master 2
00:59:38While the martial artist has had a long career of superb stunt work,
00:59:42his specific brand of action comedy
00:59:44is never so dynamically exercised
00:59:46as in the Drunken Master movies.
00:59:48This climactic battle initially sees Chan
00:59:50being utterly manhandled by Ken Lo's character,
00:59:53to the point that he's seared on a bed of hot coals.
00:59:56Just when things are looking grim,
00:59:58Chan makes like Popeye and downs a secret weapon,
01:00:01which, for him,
01:00:02just happens to be alcohol.
01:00:04Re-energized,
01:00:05Chan flexes his acrobatic prowess
01:00:07by thoroughly pummeling his opponent in a variety of ways.
01:00:10With physicality like this,
01:00:12it's easy to see why he became such an icon.
01:00:225.
01:00:23Church Fight – Kingsman The Secret Service
01:00:38When villain Richmond Valentine activates
01:00:41in a hate church,
01:00:42Kingsman agent Harry Hart
01:00:43is caught in one of the most badass battle royales
01:00:45ever put to film.
01:00:47With Leonard Skinner's Freebird playing
01:00:49and the camera jerkily shifting from one kill to the next,
01:00:52we are instantly sucked into the mayhem.
01:00:54Hart's bullets may eventually run out,
01:00:56but that doesn't stop the mind-controlled Kingsman agent
01:00:58from turning any object into a deadly weapon.
01:01:01The movie was already great,
01:01:02but this scene definitely cemented that fact.
01:01:054.
01:01:06Bruce Lee vs. Chuck Norris – The Way of the Dragon
01:01:11It was THE movie martial arts match-up
01:01:13to end all match-ups.
01:01:15With the climactic showdown
01:01:16appropriately taking place in the Roman Colosseum,
01:01:19the bare-chested Lee
01:01:20and the decidedly not-bare-chested Norris
01:01:22show the utmost respect for one another before the fight.
01:01:25But once the shirts drop,
01:01:26all bets are off.
01:01:33This fight is simple
01:01:34in that it doesn't require fancy camera work
01:01:36and editing to excite,
01:01:37but rather it puts two powerhouse fighters in frame
01:01:39and lets them do the rest.
01:01:41While Norris puts on a good show,
01:01:43Lee ultimately disables his character
01:01:45and kills him when he stubbornly persists.
01:01:47Worthy of the gladiators?
01:01:49We say yes.
01:01:50Also, kitty!
01:01:593.
01:02:00Ip Man vs. 10 Black Belts – Ip Man
01:02:03We move now from Bruce Lee
01:02:05to the master who trained him,
01:02:07or at least an actor portraying him.
01:02:09Donnie Yen takes on the eponymous role
01:02:11in this famous biopic,
01:02:12which is fairly loosely based on real events.
01:02:15Though the movie fabricated some historical details,
01:02:17it led to one of the most entertaining
01:02:19and spectacular demonstrations of skill
01:02:21in a martial arts movie.
01:02:23Incensed over the death of his friend Master Liu,
01:02:25Ip Man charges into General Miura's dojo
01:02:28and demands to fight 10 karate black belts at once.
01:02:31His wish is granted.
01:02:34And the previously phlegmatic Ip Man
01:02:36holds nothing back.
01:02:49Absolutely decimating the forces in his path,
01:02:52he sends a clear message to the general.
01:02:54Do not underestimate us.
01:02:592.
01:03:00Nightclub Fight – John Wick
01:03:03The John Wick movies have boasted impressive fight choreography,
01:03:15from the home invasion in the first movie
01:03:17to the escape scene featuring trained dogs in the third.
01:03:20However, what really sold us on Keanu Reeves'
01:03:23returning as a bona fide action star
01:03:25was his rampage through a New York nightclub
01:03:27in search of the man responsible for stealing his car
01:03:29and killing his dog.
01:03:30Though most of the killing is done through gunplay,
01:03:32there's enough well-timed physical combat
01:03:34interspersed throughout for it to qualify for this list.
01:03:37Set to the perfect dubstep song,
01:03:39if ever there were such a thing,
01:03:40the sequence is as impressively staged
01:03:42and pulse-pounding as it gets
01:03:44while still feeling grounded.
01:03:46You get that, Dog Killer John?
01:03:49Before we continue,
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01:04:08If there's anything this list shows,
01:04:10it's that Keanu Reeves is the apparent king of movie fight scenes
01:04:13as he takes the top two spots on our list.
01:04:16What is he doing?
01:04:17He's beginning to believe.
01:04:19His sparring match with Morpheus earlier on
01:04:21is definitely badass,
01:04:23but we really have to give it to this underground brawl
01:04:25for its elevated stakes and groundbreaking special effects.
01:04:28Neo finds himself at the mercy of Agent Smith in a subway,
01:04:31but, ready to accept his destiny as the one,
01:04:34he puts up more of a fight than Smith expected.
01:04:36And boy, is it a sight to behold.
01:04:39The slowed-down and sped-up visual flares
01:04:41only add to the dynamic nature,
01:04:43creating one epic duel.
01:04:45It is the sound of your death.
01:04:49Goodbye, Mr. Anderson.
01:04:52My name...
01:04:54is Neo.
01:05:03Cinema has over a century's worth of epic showdowns,
01:05:06fist-to-fist and blade-to-blade.
01:05:08Let us know your favorite cinematic beatdowns in the comments below.
01:05:11If this is your first night at Fight Club,
01:05:14you have to fight now.
01:05:16Did you enjoy this video?
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