Top 5 Hong Kong Action Movies That Changed The Cinema History

Liputan6.com, Jakarta Hong Kong action cinema revolutionized the way filmmakers approach choreography, storytelling, and visual style. From the 1970s through the early 2000s, Hong Kong produced some of the most innovative and influential action films ever made, blending martial arts mastery, balletic gunplay, and emotional depth in ways Hollywood had never seen. These films inspired Western directors and forced them to rethink what action cinema could be.

Here are five groundbreaking Hong Kong action films that left an indelible mark on global cinema, reshaping the genre and inspiring countless filmmakers worldwide.

Where to Watch: Kanopy, Plex, Fandango At Home, Apple TV

The Killer is one of the most influential action films ever made, redefining the "heroic bloodshed" genre with a poetic blend of stylized violence and emotional storytelling.

Starring Chow Yun-Fat as a remorseful assassin trying to save a blind woman, the film blends balletic gunfights with themes of honor, loyalty, and tragedy.

Director John Woo's signature slow-motion shootouts, dual-wielded pistols, and flying doves became iconic, later inspiring Hollywood films like Face/Off, The Matrix, and Quentin Tarantino's Reservoir Dogs.

It showed the world that action could be both brutal and beautiful.

Where to Watch: Apple TV, Fandango At Home

Jackie Chan's Police Story didn't just change action cinema—it revolutionized stunt work.

Combining slapstick comedy, martial arts, and jaw-dropping physical feats, the film pushed boundaries with its fearless choreography and real, often dangerous stunts (including Chan sliding down a pole wrapped in lights inside a shopping mall).

The film was a response to the more serious crime thrillers of the time, introducing a high-energy style that made Chan a global icon.

Its influence reached beyond Asia, inspiring Western filmmakers and choreographers for decades to come.

Where to Wathc: Criterion Channel, Shout! Factory TV, Fandango At Home, Amazon Video, Apple TV.

This gritty crime drama launched the "heroic bloodshed" genre and turned Chow Yun-Fat into a cultural phenomenon.

Directed by John Woo, A Better Tomorrow weaves themes of brotherhood, redemption, and betrayal into a story of two brothers on opposite sides of the law.

The film's stylish shootouts and emotional depth helped usher in a new era of morally complex action heroes.

It was a box office sensation in Hong Kong and deeply influenced American directors like Robert Rodriguez and the Wachowskis, who borrowed heavily from its emotional weight and visual flair.

Where to Watch: Amazon Video, Apple TV, Fandango At Home, Spectrum On Demand

While technically a joint U.S.-Hong Kong production, Enter the Dragon is a cornerstone of Hong Kong action cinema that introduced Bruce Lee to the world stage.

As one of the first martial arts films aimed at Western audiences, it opened the floodgates for global interest in kung fu movies.

Lee's charisma, screen presence, and lightning-fast technique redefined martial arts on film.

Beyond action, the film also carried themes of personal discipline, racial pride, and philosophical introspection.

Its legacy lives on in everything from Mortal Kombat to Tarantino's Kill Bill.

Where to Watch: Amazon Video, Apple TV, Fandango At Home

Before The Departed, there was Infernal Affairs—a taut psychological thriller about a cop undercover in the mob and a gangster undercover in the police force.

With its sleek cinematography, intense pacing, and morally ambiguous characters, the film revitalized the Hong Kong crime genre in the early 2000s.

It was a major influence on Western cinema and directly inspired Martin Scorsese's Oscar-winning remake.

Infernal Affairs proved that Hong Kong action could evolve into cerebral, emotionally resonant storytelling without losing its intensity.