Ordinarily, a new Marvel Netflix series would be a cue to clear your schedule. But Iron Fist earned a stunning 13 percent rating on Rotten Tomatoes, making it a lot less tempting than Daredevil or Luke Cage.
Even if you don’t agree with the political critiques, Iron Fist still suffers from a pretty serious problem: It’s a martial arts show with very little action. And since the Iron Fist comics were inspired by 1970s kung fu movies, decent martial arts scenes are kind of necessary.
So, just in case you decide to avoid Iron Fist this weekend, we’ve put together a shortlist of famous martial arts movies you can watch on Netflix instead.
The 36th Chamber of Shaolin
If you’re at all familiar with Wu-Tang Clan, you’ve probably heard of this movie. The 36th Chamber of Shaolin is one of the most iconic kung fu movies of all time, a historical epic about a young hero who learns kung fu at a Shaolin temple so he can battle against an oppressive regime.
Way of the Dragon
The 1972 action comedy Way of the Dragon is one of Bruce Lee’s greatest hits. Starring, written, and directed by the martial arts legend, it’s a gangster story set in 1970s Rome. As a bonus, Chuck Norris co-stars.
Ip Man
Starring Donnie Yen (Rogue One‘s Chirrut Imwe), this historical movie follows the life of Ip Man, the famous Wing Chun grandmaster and mentor to Bruce Lee. Acclaimed by critics, Ip Man combines the biopic genre with decades of martial arts training and expertise from its lead actor.