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The 10 Best Asian Martial Arts/Action Films of 2020

The martial arts genre has been in a significant decline for many years now, with just a few entries here and there over the years, reminding us of its existence essentially, although gems like The Raid, Jailbreak etc occasionally come to the fore. A number of Asian martial arts superstars have already moved to Hollywood or other countries in the west, with the same applying to the action stars, at least those who have not moved to China. The Chinese industry releases action blockbusters quite frequently, most of which, however, are of doubtful quality, to say the least, with the combination of the aforementioned, making the current list one of the most difficult to compile. Nevertheless, 10 films were found in the end, although a number of them are mostly here for the impressiveness of the action scenes and not their quality overall.

Without further ado, here are the best Asian martial arts/action films of 2020, in reverse order. Some films may have premiered in 2019, but since they mostly circulated in 2020, we decided to include them.

*By clicking on the title, you can read the full review of the film

10. Train to Busan: Peninsula (Yeon Sang-ho, S. Korea)

Packed with action and emotional resonance even if the former is out-of-touch with the tone of the film and the subplots aren't as necessary this time around, “Peninsula” isn't as impactful as its predecessor but is a worthy and enjoyable film taken on its own terms. No doubt fans of “Train to Busan”, zombie-genre fanatics or those curious about the hype will definitely be interested in this while viewers turned off by the change in tone or aren't fans of this style should heed caution. (Don Anelli)

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9. Gundala (Joko Anwar, Indonesia)

If there is one aspect which stands out in a project like “” it is the sheer ambition of the film. While essentially telling a superhero's genesis, as well as the background of his enemy, Anwar's script also transfers the themes and characters of the comic into the modern world. His image of Jakarta as presented in the film is that of a place defined by misery, exploitation and darkness. From the very first moments of the film, showing Sancaka's father leading a group of workers to the gates of a factory in a struggle to fight for their rights, Anwar introduces the theme of class struggle and difference, a theme which will become a common thread throughout the movie. (Rouven Linnarz)

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8. Enter the Fat Dragon (Kenji Tanigaki, Wong Jing, Hong Kong)

With mandatory nods to Hung's cult classic, Bruce Lee's filmography and quotes and John Woo's “Hard Boiled”, among other things, “” is a fun watch not too dissimilar to Jackie Chan's mid-career flicks. The ambiguity regarding the context leaves the possibility for the viewers to read their own into it. (Marko Stojiljković)

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7. Vanguard (Stanley Tong, China)

 “”, as was always the case with HK action movies, does not stand up to logic. However, both and Jackie Chan seem to acknowledge, cherish and thrive on this fact, a concept that is quite obvious in the whole duration of the film, resulting in a title that could be described simply as pure fun. (Panos Kotzathanasis)

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6. Deliver Us From Evil (Hong Won-chan, S. Korea)

Overall, this is an entertaining action movie featuring two strong and likeable leads, although the predictable set-ups are sloppy and the story offers nothing new. In fact it's similar to Wilson Yip's “Paradox, Sha Po Lang III” in which Louis Koo's character travels to Thailand to save his daughter. However, the Bangkok locations here are a nice touch; they have the nitty gritty look of a sinister place but definitely not for children. (David Chew)

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