Wuxia Movies

Wuxia is sub-genre of the martial arts film and is defined by specific features. The word translates literally as “martial chivalry” or “martial hero”; and the main elements that make up the wuxia film are the warrior, xia, whose actions (and swordsmanship) are governed by specific codes and the world which they inhabit, known as jianghu (‘rivers and lakes’). Xia warriors often embody what is known as the wen-wu dyad. Wu represents physical strength and martial power, while wen represents mental, civic and literary accomplishment. Similar in form to the yin-yang, the two opposing masculinities work in harmony to create the masculine ideal. Although the martial arts of wuxia film share some ground with the more recognized subgenre of the kung fu film, there are significant differences that separate the two. The wuxia film features fantastic elements and has a basis in mythology, with the films often described as ‘epics’. This is particularly evident when considering the xia warrior, whose abilities and skill range far beyond the human boundaries that limit the kung fu protagonist; the xia warrior is often able to fly or run on water, for example. As Stephen Teo argues “the essential marker of difference distinguishing the kung fu film from the wuxia film was the emphasis on ‘real fighting’." 

Takeshi Kaneshiro, Andy Lau, and Ziyi Zhang in House of Flying Daggers (2004)

Martial arts titles from Japan, China, Hong Kong, Korea, etc.  Lots of Shaw Bros., Jet Li, Sonny Chiba, Toshiro Mifune, Shintaro Katsu (Zatoichi), Jackie Chan & more! See also my other list "Black Belt Jones" for more martial arts action!

Yung-Sheng Wang and Jimmy Wang Yu in Master of the Flying Guillotine (1976)

Bruce Lee, Ahna Capri, Jim Kelly, John Saxon, Shih Kien, and Robert Wall in Enter the Dragon (1973)

Shaw Brothers Production Company - filmography

First 274 movies are from the Singapore production company. After that there are the movies from the Hong Kong production company.   Feel free to copy this list, just give me the credit of adding it. My hand would appreciate this

Shaw Brothers Production Company - filmography

This is a list of historical (set pre-1800) or historical-fantasy films produced by Asian countries from 1949 until the present day - including Bollywood and martial arts pictures.

The list is alphabetical using the most common English titles (where applicable), so the IMDb titles may appear to be all over the place alphabetically.

This list is certainly far from complete and a work in progress, so I would welcome any suggestions of titles I may have omitted.

I have included a few additional titles at the end of the main list which bear some relevance to the subject.

There were a number of Asian titles, at least 10, mostly Indian and Pakistani, for which I was unable to find matching IMDb pages, and which are therefore not included.

I will be updating the list regularly with new and expanded reviews and any new titles that I may discover.

Latest Updates: Review: Buddha (1961) Review: The Servant (2010) Review: Swordsman II (1992) Review: Painted Skin (2008) Review: Sher-E-Watan (1971)

To keep up to date with all the latest additions join my "Peplum Paradise" group on Facebook

This list is a companion piece to my other lists:  Peplum Paradise Part 1: Italian Historical and Fantasy films 1949-1969 (http://www.imdb.com/list/9zpI-Wdt6pU/),  Peplum Paradise Part 2: Italian Historical and Fantasy films from 1970 onwards (http://www.imdb.com/list/ZRRuOUh_u_o/)  and Peplum Paradise Part 3: International Historical and Fantasy films 1949 onwards (http://www.imdb.com/list/R3yu3z-zETE/) Peplum Paradise Part 5: Animated Historical and Fantasy films 1949 onwards (http://www.imdb.com/list/XHCOctNtVqg/)

Peplum Paradise Part 4: Asian Historical and Fantasy films 1949 onwards.

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