Karate movies and TV shows
The list contains the best, new and most relevant karate movies ordered by relevance. The recommendation service has sorted out realistic, serious, exciting, cult classic, suspenseful and captivating films and TV shows about / with karate, martial arts, fight, martial artist, heroes, master warrior, violence, fistfight, fighting and rivalry plots mostly in Action, Drama and Sport genres shot in USA, Japan, Hong Kong and other countries.
karate
TOP 10 movies tagged as karate: The Empty Hands (2017), High-Kick Girl! (2009), Black Belt (2007), Cobra Kai (2018), The Karate Kid (1984), Karate Girl (2011), Duel of Legends (2023), The Art of Self-Defense (2019), Karate Bear Fighter (1975), Sidekicks (1992).
Best films
List of karate movies
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Genre: Drama, Sport
Country: Hong Kong
Duration: 87 min.
Story:
Half-Chinese and half-Japanese Mari Hirakawa is the daughter of a Karate coach. Since her childhood, she was forced under her father's training, and has resented Karate for as long as she can remember--her only wish is to sell the dojo after ...
Style:
disturbing, suspense, captivating
Audience:
kids
Plot:
karate, martial arts, dojo, inheritance, battles, fight, daughter, victory, master warrior, heir, competitor, combat ...
Place:
hong kong, china
Is relevant ?
Genre: Action
Country: Japan
Duration: 81 min.
Story:
Martial arts purists -- not to mention fans of miniskirt-clad, high-kicking karate girls -- will welcome the tightly choreographed fight scenes and slow-motion scuffles in this film about a teenage karate phenom eager to take down her older peers. ...
Style:
exciting, tense, captivating, suspense, fast ...
Audience:
teens
Plot:
karate, martial arts, teenage girl, female martial artist, hottie, japanese schoolgirl, rivalry, master warrior, gang, battles, danger, escapades ...
Time:
21st century
Place:
japan, asia
Is relevant ?
Genre: Action, Drama, Sport
Country: Japan
Duration: 95 min.
Story:
Set in 1932, amid the rise of militarism after the establishment of the Manchukuo colony in Northeast China, the story centers on a trio of karateka. Studying under their aging master in a small dojo in the woods of central Kyushu, Choei, Taikan and ...
Style:
serious, realistic, exciting, captivating
Audience:
boys' night
Plot:
karate, martial arts, heroes, martial arts tournament, battles, vengeance, rivalry, against the odds, military life, instructor, tough heroes, self defense ...
Time:
1930s
Place:
japan, asia
Is relevant ?
203K
Genre: Action, Comedy, Drama, Sport
Country: USA
Duration: 30 min.
TV show
Story:
This Karate Kid sequel series picks up 30 years after the events of the 1984 All Valley Karate Tournament and finds Johnny Lawrence on the hunt for redemption by reopening the infamous Cobra Kai karate dojo. This reignites his old rivalry with the ...
Style:
light, motivational, exciting, epic, captivating ...
Audience:
teen drama
Plot:
karate, martial arts, dojo, martial arts training, master apprentice relationship, fight, starting over, middle aged man, teenager, martial artist, father figure, father son relationship ...
Time:
2020s, 90s, 2010s
Place:
los angeles, thailand, california, southern california
Is relevant ?
Genre: Action, Drama, Family, Sport
Country: USA
Duration: 126 min.
Story:
Hassled by the school bullies, Daniel LaRusso has his share of adolescent woes. Luckily, his apartment building houses a resident martial arts master: Kesuke Miyagi, who agrees to train Daniel ... and ends up teaching him much more than ...
Style:
feel good, inspirational, sentimental, uplifting, touching ...
Audience:
teens, kids, family outing, family friendly, pre-teens ...
Plot:
martial arts, teenager, karate, human spirit, teaching the ways of the world, underdog, teacher, bullying, coming of age, high school, childhood, martial arts tournament ...
Time:
80s, 20th century, 90s, year 1984
Place:
los angeles, california, usa
Is relevant ?
Genre: Action
Country: Japan
Duration: 92 min.
Story:
In Okinawa, Ayaka Kurenai was born in the world’s greatest legendary Karate family. When she was a child, her family was attacked by a mysterious gang that seeks legendary black belt. Her father Soujiro Kurenai was killed and her younger sister ...
Style:
unusual plot structure, captivating, stylized, suspense
Plot:
karate, female martial artist, pretty girl, teenage girl, pretty woman, martial arts, kidnapping, japanese man, schoolgirl, japanese schoolgirl, sibling relationship, fight ...
Place:
japan, okinawa japan, okinawa
Is relevant ?
Genre: Action, Drama, Sport
Country: USA
Story:
Duel of Legends is directed by Hector Echavarria and is about a Chinese boy who is left to survive by himself because his parents were murdered by rebels. The boy is raised by a Temple Monk who teaches the boy the secrets of the Martial arts. When ...
Style:
suspenseful, thought provoking, suspense, captivating
Plot:
karate, fight, tough guy, martial arts, master warrior, hand to hand combat, showdown, fistfight, wrestler, warrior, combat, heroes ...
Is relevant ?
Genre: Action, Comedy, Crime, Drama, Mystery, Thriller
Country: USA
Duration: 104 min.
Story:
Casey is attacked at random on the street and enlists in a local dojo led by a charismatic and mysterious Sensei in an effort to learn how to defend himself. What he uncovers is a sinister world of fraternity, violence and hypermasculinity and a ...
Style:
dark comedy, captivating, psychological, independent film, black comedy ...
Audience:
adult
Plot:
martial arts, traumatized man, master warrior, accountant, conspiracy, suicide, karate, male nudity, gang leader, motorcycle gang, female martial artist, male pubic hair ...
Time:
year 2019, 2010s
Is relevant ?
Genre: Action, Adventure, Biography, Drama, History
Country: Japan
Duration: 87 min.
Story:
Masutatsu Oyama is recruited by his former Army friend to work for a crew of gangsters, but when they kill both his girlfriend and his best friend, Oyama flees away to a small town where he both learns lessons in martial arts philosophy from a ...
Plot:
karate, martial arts, fight, showdown, katana, heroes, master warrior, dojo, gangster, brutality, violence, blood ...
Time:
1950s
Is relevant ?
10K
Genre: Action, Adventure, Comedy, Drama, Sport
Country: USA
Duration: 101 min.
Story:
Barry is an asthmatic kid having trouble in life. He lives with his father, a computer programmer, in Texas. Barry is struggling to get by in life, dealing with his rough school life, bullies, as well as his health. Barry's only source of ...
Style:
humorous, suspense, epic, sentimental, cult classic ...
Audience:
teens, kids, family outing, teen drama
Plot:
asthmatic, karate, childhood, martial arts, school, youth, bully, asthma, mentor, bike, martial arts tournament, coming of age ...
Time:
90s
Place:
austin texas, usa
Is relevant ?
Genre: Action, Drama, Family, Romance, Sport
Country: USA
Duration: 107 min.
Story:
During a commemoration for Japanese soldiers fighting in the US Army during World War II, Mr. Miyagi meets the widow of his commanding officer. He gets to know her granddaughter Julie, an angry teenager who is still feeling the pain of losing both ...
Style:
teen, motivational, action packed, cult classic, sentimental ...
Audience:
kids, teens, family friendly, family outing, pre-teens
Plot:
karate, martial arts, high school, teenage girl, high school student, bullying, teacher, hawk, teen angst, bully, female protagonist, showdown ...
Time:
year 1994, 90s, 20th century
Place:
boston, los angeles, massachusetts, usa, california
Is relevant ?
Genre: Action, Biography, Drama, Sport
Country: USA
Duration: 92 min.
Story:
Frank Dux has entered the "kumite", an illegal underground martial-arts competition where serious injury and even death are not unknown. Chong Li, a particularly ruthless and vicious fighter is the favorite, but then again Dux has not ...
Style:
exciting, grindhouse, cult classic, intense, serious ...
Audience:
manly, teens, boys' night
Plot:
martial arts, mixed martial arts, heroes, martial arts tournament, kung fu, tournament, underdog, master warrior, revenge, hand to hand combat, karate, underground fighting ...
Time:
80s, 20th century
Place:
hong kong, asia
Is relevant ?
Genre: Action, Biography, Drama, History
Country: Japan
Duration: 91 min.
Story:
The last of the Masutatsu Oyama trilogy. Oyama takes a job as a professional wrestler in Okinawa, but when he discovers that he is expected to take a dive, he quits in disgust. However, when a friend finds herself in desperate need of medical ...
Style:
fast paced, psychotronic
Plot:
martial arts, karate, kung fu, fight, martial artist, legendary hero, martial arts school, kung fu classic, gangster, brutality, violence, tough guy ...
Place:
japan
Is relevant ?
Genre: Action, Crime, Thriller
Country: Japan
Duration: 91 min.
Story:
Terry is a tough mercenary and a master of martial arts. When an important business magnate dies, leaving billions to his daughter, the Mafia and Yakuza try to hire Terry to kidnap the daughter. When they refuse to meet his exorbitant price, then ...
Style:
grindhouse, cult classic, bloody, stylized, perverse ...
Audience:
boys' night
Plot:
kung fu, martial arts, karate, samurai, yakuza, mafia, kidnapping, exploitation, fight, violence, violent, vengeance ...
Time:
70s, 20th century
Place:
japan, hong kong, bolivia, asia
Is relevant ?
Genre: Action, Crime, Drama, Sport
Country: Hong Kong
Duration: 101 min.
Story:
Two feuding brothers (one a policeman, the other a martial arts expert) of different political views, join forces to avenge the death of their father, a retired agent, killed by the mafia.
Style:
serious, realistic, intense, suspense, fast ...
Plot:
kickboxing, karate, martial arts, kickboxer, vengeance, martial artist, hand to hand combat, fistfight, dojo, master warrior, buddy cop, fight ...
Time:
80s
Place:
florida, washington d.c.
Is relevant ?
Genre: Action, Adventure, Fantasy
Country: China, Hong Kong, USA
Duration: 104 min.
Story:
An American teenager who is obsessed with Hong Kong cinema and kung-fu classics makes an extraordinary discovery in a Chinatown pawnshop: the legendary stick weapon of the Chinese sage and warrior, the Monkey King. With the lost relic in hand, the ...
Style:
exciting, intense, semi serious, epic, action adventure ...
Audience:
teens, family outing, kids, chick flick, boys' night
Plot:
martial arts, sword fight, good versus evil, young heroes, wuxia, monkey king, medieval, friendship, time travel, shaolin, master warrior, immortality ...
Time:
year 2008, medieval times, middle ages, 21st century
Place:
china, boston, usa, asia
Is relevant ?
Genre: Action, Adventure, Romance
Country: USA
Duration: 95 min.
Story:
Joe Armstrong, an orphaned drifter will little respect for much other than martial arts, finds himself on an American Army base in The Philippines after a judge gives him a choice of enlistment or prison. On one of his first missions driving a ...
Style:
cult classic, entertaining, exciting, serious, suspenseful ...
Audience:
boys' night, manly
Plot:
ninja, martial arts, chase, assassin, fight scenes, karate, heroes, military, master warrior, violence, amnesia, mortal combat ...
Time:
80s, year 1985, 20th century
Place:
the philippines, asia
Is relevant ?
Genre: Action, Crime, Drama, Sport
Country: USA
Duration: 93 min.
Story:
In Los Angeles, an ex-con (White) takes the underground fighting world by storm in his quest to fulfill a promise to a dead friend.
Style:
exciting, inspirational, brutal, harsh, rough ...
Audience:
manly, boys' night
Plot:
martial arts, streetfighting, prison fight, kickboxing, prison, hand to hand combat, kung fu, revenge, boxing, fight, gangster, boxer ...
Time:
year 2009, 21st century
Place:
los angeles, california, usa
Is relevant ?
Genre: Action, Crime, Drama, Romance, Thriller
Country: Thailand, Hong Kong, USA
Duration: 108 min.
Story:
Military veteran and former mercenary, FRENCHY works as a taxi driver, and hiding in Bangkok, picks up a beautiful female passenger who will change his life forever. When he embarks on a journey to save her he has the fight of his life.
Style:
intense, romantic, tense, suspenseful, cynical ...
Plot:
one against many, sniper, military, karate, producer, godfather, comeback, violence, kickboxing, hand to hand combat, martial arts, leader ...
Time:
21st century
Place:
thailand
Is relevant ?
Genre: Action, Comedy, Drama, Family
Country: USA
Duration: 22 min.
TV show
Story:
Kickin' It is an American martial arts inspired comedy television series, which debuted on June 13, 2011 on Disney XD. Created and executive produced by Jim O'Doherty, the series is rated TV-Y7 and follows the karate instructor at an ...
Style:
cult classic, humorous, slapstick, realistic, not serious
Audience:
kids, teens
Plot:
karate, martial arts, friends, friendship, teenage life, teenage boy, best friend, buddies, teenage girl, high school, social relations, underdog ...
Time:
21st century
Place:
usa
Is relevant ?
Genre: Action, Biography, Drama
Country: China, Canada, USA
Duration: 95 min.
Story:
Set against the backdrop of San Francisco’s Chinatown, this cross-cultural biopic chronicles Bruce Lee’s emergence as a martial-arts superstar after his legendary secret showdown with fellow martial artist Wong Jack Man.
Style:
exciting, atmospheric, factual, suspense, inspirational ...
Plot:
martial arts, fight, kung fu, karate, kung fu master, destiny, heroes, athlete's life, fight scenes, kung fu fighting, jeet kune do, martial artist ...
Time:
60s
Place:
usa
Is relevant ?
Genre: Action, Thriller
Country: USA
Duration: 97 min.
Story:
When Ethan's older brother Greg is found dead, the police rule the case a suicide, but Ethan suspects foul play stemming from Greg's recent involvement with a martial arts team called the Scorpions. Ethan is also accomplished at martial ...
Style:
independent film, exciting, serious, realistic, rough ...
Audience:
boys' night, teens
Plot:
martial arts, dojo, karate, high school, gang, youth, violent content, performer's life, urban ghetto, high school life, urban ghetto life, teachers and students ...
Time:
20th century, 90s
Is relevant ?
Genre: Action, Adventure, Comedy, Crime, Drama, Thriller
Country: Hong Kong
Duration: 99 min.
Story:
Tang Lung arrives in Rome to help his cousins in the restaurant business. They are being pressured to sell their property to the syndicate, who will stop at nothing to get what they want. When Tang arrives he poses a new threat to the syndicate, and ...
Style:
breathtaking, humorous, stylized, talky, serious ...
Audience:
boys' night, manly
Plot:
martial arts, kung fu, fight, gangster, master warrior, combat, tough heroes, karate, honor, vengeance, gang, culture clash ...
Time:
70s, 20th century
Place:
rome italy, china, hong kong, italy, europe ...
Is relevant ?
Genre: Animation, Action, Adventure, Comedy, Family
Country: USA
TV show
Story:
The Karate Kid is a thirteen episode animated series which debuted on NBC's Saturday morning lineup. It starred Joey Dedio, Robert Ito, and Janice Kawaye. It is based on the popular Karate Kid series of films. Hoping to build from the ...
Style:
anime, exciting, serious, realistic
Audience:
kids, family outing
Plot:
karate, martial arts, friendship, mascot, master warrior, heroes, teacher student relationship, martial artist, child martial arts, power relations, friends, teachers and students ...
Is relevant ?
432
Genre: Action, Comedy, Family
Country: USA
Duration: 90 min.
Story:
Karate action and laughs never cease when a brother and sister go to California to visit their uncle. They soon discover that he's an alcoholic on the run from the Mob who want him to pay up or else...
Style:
independent film, semi serious, humorous
Plot:
kickboxer, martial arts, kickboxing, alcoholic, karate, youth, ninja, gangster, child martial arts, down on your luck, alcohol abuse, family life ...
Time:
90s
Place:
california, usa
Is relevant ?
Genre: Action, Thriller
Country: USA, Japan
Duration: 90 min.
Story:
Johnathan Cabot is a champion gymnast. In the tiny, yet savage, country of Parmistan, there is a perfect spot for a "star wars" site. For the US to get this site, they must compete in the brutal "Game". The government calls on ...
Style:
surreal, funny, action adventure, serious, exciting ...
Audience:
boys' night
Plot:
martial arts, kung fu, martial artist, karate, ninja, gymnastics, contests and competitions, 007, mixed martial arts, exodus, exploitation, fight ...
Time:
year 1985, 80s
Is relevant ?
Genre: Action, Crime, Drama
Country: Japan
Duration: 89 min.
Story:
The fourth and final film in the "Street Fighter" series, where Tsurugi protects a little boy while coping with rival gangs.
Style:
grindhouse
Plot:
martial arts, karate, medieval, kung fu, fight, samurai, ancient, gang, yakuza, gang war, revenge, katana ...
Is relevant ?
Genre: Action, Drama, Family, Sport
Country: USA
Duration: 112 min.
Story:
Kreese, his life in tatters after his karate school was defeated by Daniel and Mr. Miyagi, visits Terry, a friend from Vietnam. Terry is a ruthless business man and a martial arts expert, and he vows to help Kreese take revenge on Daniel and Mr. ...
Style:
spiritual, saga, action packed, serious, realistic ...
Audience:
teens, kids, family outing, family friendly, pre-teens ...
Plot:
martial arts, bullying, teacher, karate, teenager, fight, ninja, children, childhood, fight scenes, underdog, teachers and students ...
Time:
80s, 20th century
Place:
tahiti, usa, vietnam, los angeles
Is relevant ?
564
Genre: Action, Adventure
Country: USA
Duration: 60 min.
TV show
Story:
Cobra is an American television action/adventure series starring Michael Dudikoff. It ran for just one season in syndication.
Style:
exciting, realistic, serious, suspenseful
Plot:
heroes, karate, martial arts, ex soldier, chase, revenge, escapades, fighting crime, good versus evil, rivalry, master warrior, criminal ...
Time:
90s
Is relevant ?
Genre: Action, Sport
Country: USA
Duration: 90 min.
Story:
After thief Alex Cardo gets caught while stealing an ancient katana in East Asia, he soon finds himself imprisoned and beaten up by the crowd there. One of the guards, Demon, feels upset by Alex appearance and tortures him as often as he gets the ...
Style:
suspense, intense, realistic, serious, independent film ...
Audience:
boys' night
Plot:
martial arts, prison brawl, master warrior, contests and competitions, rivalry, prison life, prison, mixed martial arts, tournament, heroes, martial arts tournament, prison violence ...
Time:
90s
Is relevant ?
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