5 female-led martial arts movies to fill the Mulan-shaped hole in your life
Image: Graphic: Natalie Peeples Film Features 5 To Watch
Even as Disney’s once-buzzy live-action remakes become routine—the studio released three last year alone, and that’s not including Maleficent: Mistress Of Evil—the March 27 release of Mulan was going to be a big one. We say “was,” of course, because the film has since been postponed to an as-yet-unannounced date, along with much of the U.S. theatrical release calendar for March and April. But just because COVID-19 has shuttered movie theaters doesn’t mean you can’t get your fix of female warriors in China’s mythical past.
Women have featured in Chinese martial arts cinema since the beginning, and actresses like Cheng Pei-pei, Angela Mao, Kara Hui, Michelle Yeoh, Brigitte Lin, and Zhang Ziyi stand proudly alongside the Bruce Lees and Donnie Yens of the world in the firmament of Hong Kong and mainland Chinese stars. That distinction is an important one, as Hong Kong’s (and Taiwan’s) pre-unification dominance of Chinese-language cinema has given way to blockbuster filmmaking on the mainland in recent decades. Another distinction to keep in mind is the difference between wuxia—a historical genre that blends chivalry and romance with high-flying action—and kung fu, which places more emphasis on harder-hitting fighting styles and can take place any time between ancient history and the modern day.
Both regions and styles of filmmaking are represented in our selection of female-led Chinese martial arts movies. We’ve chosen films that share historical settings as well as certain themes with the legendary tale of Hua Mulan: Women dressing up as men in order to pursue their martial ambitions comes up a lot, as do romances between warriors in disguise. Epic sweep, light-hearted comedy, stunning cinematography, and magnetic performances that make expert fight choreography look effortless are also in abundance. Two of the stars featured in our picks, Cheng Pei-Pei and Michelle Yeoh, even appear in Disney’s Mulan remake. And all are available to watch online, making them the perfect thing to hold you over until it’s Disney’s turn.
Come Drink With Me (1966)
Inspired by the Italian Westerns and Japanese samurai movies that were all the rage in the mid- to late-’60s, Come Drink with Me (1966) was a massive hit that raised the bar for Hong Kong action cinema. That’s thanks both to director King Hu’s artistic eye—which would later win him a special prize from the Cannes Film Festival for his film A Touch Of Zen—and the talents of star Cheng Pei-pei, a former ballerina who became the first major female martial arts star. The plot of the film is fairly simple: After nimble swordswoman Golden Swallow (Cheng) dispatches some goons who challenge her at an inn, she catches the eye of a local drunk (and secret kung fu master), Fan Da-Pei (Yueh Hua), who despite his reservations helps her confront the evil abbot, Liao Kung (Yeung Chi-hing), who is holding her brother hostage. According to Hu, the choice of a former dancer in the lead role was deliberate; the fights in Come Drink With Me are not meant to be realistic, but “always keyed to the notion of dance.” So although those swords in our heroes’ hands are absolutely real, the style of martial arts here is light and graceful.
Availability: Come Drink With Me is currently streaming on Amazon Prime. It’s dubbed, unfortunately, and the transfer is just okay, but it’s better than nothing.
My Young Auntie (1981)
My Young Auntie is a kung fu film rather than a wuxia epic, and an unusual one at that: In structure and tone, it’s more similar to a Hollywood musical than the brutal punch-outs between shirtless dudes that dominated kung fu cinema in the ’70s. That’s not to say that the young auntie of the title, Cheng Tai-nan (Kara Hui, a.k.a. Kara Wai), isn’t dangerous. She can deliver a beatdown as well as anyone—even when dressed in a glamorous white silk evening gown—and excels at keeping her nephew, Yu Yung-Sheng (Lung Wei Wang), in line, even though he’s older than she is. Tai-nan is an aunt by marriage, but she’s no gold digger: In fact, it’s the conniving Yung-Sheng who has designs on his elderly uncle’s fortune, prompting the old man to ask Tai-nan, an accomplished and principled martial artist, to marry him in order to protect him and his riches. The comedy that unfolds when this unusual family unit comes together both fuels and reinforces the film’s precise, sprightly fight choreography, which changed the course of the Shaw Brothers’ house style and influenced budding filmmakers like Stephen Chow, whose work similarly intertwines action and humor.
Availability: My Young Auntie is available as a digital rental on YouTube, Google Play, and iTunes. It’s worth the $1.99.
New Dragon Gate Inn (1992)
For Chinese audiences, Dragon Gate Inn is an iconic story, one that’s been remade several times since its debut in 1967 in a film directed by the great King Hu. The ’90s version, 1992’s New Dragon Gate Inn, is especially notable thanks to its all-star cast, which features Donnie Yen and Tony Leung Ka-fai (not to be confused with the other Tony Leung) alongside two of the biggest female Hong Kong stars of the era, Brigitte Lin and Maggie Cheung. Lin co-stars in the Mulan-esque role here, playing a rebel warrior from the Ming Dynasty era traveling in disguise as a man. Cheung, meanwhile, is the wild card, the brash, sexy owner of the eponymous inn where the forces of good and evil find themselves sheltering together on China’s arid frontier. The subsequent showdown is like something out of a Western, as is the sweeping desert cinematography. But the film’s high-flying fantasy action and blend of violence, comedy, and romance are quintessentially wuxia. Producer Tsui Hark also leaves his stamp on the material in the form of a wild cannibalism subplot—a bizarre pet theme of the legendary writer-director’s.
Availability: New Dragon Gate Inn is available online as a reasonably priced used DVD under the title Dragon Inn. But given the quality of the subtitles and transfer on the disc, you may be better off hunting down a YouTube rip from a Chinese Blu-ray—like, oh, say, here.
Wing Chun (1994)
How many Star Trek captains can say they do their own stunts? Born in Malaysia, Michelle Yeoh came to prominence as a martial arts star in the mid-’80s before breaking out in the West; her best-known Chinese-language roles were in cop movies (please see Yes, Madam! as soon as you can), but she did star in a handful of period kung fu movies as well. We have a special affection for Wing Chun (1994), directed by legendary fight choreographer Yuen Woo-Ping (who did the fights for the Matrix and Kill Bill movies) and starring Yeoh as Yim Wing Chun, a figure from Chinese mythology rather like Hua Mulan. Like Mulan, Wing Chun dresses like a man in order to practice kung fu unbothered. Unlike Mulan, Wing Chun lives in her family’s tofu shop along with her scheming aunt and their assistant, a flirtatious widow new to the neighborhood. That leads not only to sisterly bonding and lots of slapstick comedy, but also a memorable scene where Wing Chun humiliates a cocky martial arts master by challenging him to chop through a block of tofu—and then repeatedly snatching it from his hands. Yeoh is excellent in the lead role, sweet but stern in her demeanor and elegant but athletic in her fight scenes. If you’ve been looking for a lighthearted action-comedy about how tofu is great and men are trash, look no further.
Availability: With no official North American Blu-ray release on the horizon, Wing Chun’s home video and streaming situation is similar to New Dragon Gate Inn’s. However, the DVD isn’t too expensive, and if you can wait a few days for shipping, the subtitles are much better on the disc.
House Of Flying Daggers (2004)
Like Cheng Pei-pei, Zhang Ziyi trained as a dancer before transitioning into acting, and the incredible grace and control of her movements gets a suitably lavish showcase in House Of Flying Daggers (2004). The film marked Zhang and director Zhang Yimou’s follow-up to their international breakout smash Hero (2002), and wasn’t terribly well-received abroad by moviegoers who weren’t expecting the melodrama of its central love story. And that’s what this film really is: It’s a soap opera with martial arts elements, rather than a martial arts movie with a love story in it. As such, fans of K-drama and anime featuring historical romance should love it—and will have no problem following the admittedly (but not especially) convoluted plot. And even if you’re not used to tangled webs of secret identities and ulterior motives featuring tender-hearted men and strong-willed women, the film is absolutely gorgeous to look at. From the intricate jewel-toned patterns covering every surface of the brothel where our story begins to the breathtaking bamboo forest battle midway through the film, every frame of House Of Flying Daggers is a ravishing feast for the senses.
Availability: House Of Flying Daggers is available for free streaming with ads on Crackle. Even better, it’s a nice transfer with decent subtitles.
62 Comments
Great, now I want to listen to Wu-Tang Clan again
Wing Chun is one of my favorites. I love the balance of excellent choreography, silliness and sentiment.
Women dressing up as men to lead armies is the plot of like a quarter of Chinese period TV shows. Though personally, I’m a bigger fan of cross-dressing in other arenas, like Sungkyunkwan Scandal (Korean, not Chinese), which is a period show, but around going to college rather than the army. Lots of action, though not quite on the level of a kung fu movie.
And just so I’m on topic, this is my favorite recent crossdressing kung fu lady Chinese show, Oh My General. Which, the trailer speaks for itself. Also, I’m a sucker for Song dynasty stuff.
It’s not female led but the 1993 Jet Li film The Legend (aka The Legend of Fong Sai-yuk or just Fong Sai-yuk) has a really strong performance by Josephine Siao who plays Li’s character’s mother. there’s a romantic subplot involving Siao and another woman which, though beginning rather farcically, is treated with a surprising amount of dignity for a Hong Kong action movie.
I was about to say something similar – she’s not the lead, but Josephine Siao is easily a co-star and is just as good as Jet.
I was thinking about this film while I was reading through this (excellent) list. Lead or not, Josephine Siao walks away with that movie.
Come Drink With Me is currently streaming on Amazon Prime. It’s dubbed, unfortunately, and the transfer is just okay, but it’s better than nothing.Naw man, don’t do that. Get the 88 Films release. It’s a nice solid disc with a good transfer and both the dub and subs:
https://88-films.myshopify.com/collections/frontpage/products/come-drink-with-me-88-asia-24
Is the US version from Dragon Dynasty ?
Well, according to Blu-ray.com, looks like Dragon Dynasty did a release of CDwM, but it’s a 10+ year old disc, so I’d wager that the new 88 Films release will look better, if that’s a factor for you.
Heroic Trio should have made the list. It’s cheesy but great and has three female co-leads.
It’s a contemporary movie, not a historical — and thus out of the purview of this article.
Cheng Pei-pei, a former ballerina who became the first major female martial arts star.
Not so! There was at least one before her, as the excellent Accented Cinema tells us.
I guess it’s a Thai movie, but 2008’s Chocolate was the best female led karate/kung fu movie I’ve ever seen.
Only movie I’ve ever seen where the bad guy needlessly absconds with a dead body before a well deserved beating. I like your style, anonymous internet commentator!
Check out Jeeja’s Raging Phoenix as well.
That end fight though. Last 30mins or so of this film is crazy.
No Cynthia Rothrock? Lady Dragon? Okay fine. No hard feelings. Here’s some money
The article did make a passing reference to Yes, Madam, which also has Cynthia Rothrock .
I came in looking for Yes, Madam myself — but apparently these are period Chinese Kung Fu/Wuxia films only.I don’t think Cynthia Rothrock starred in any period movies, given the…problematic nature of relations between China and The British Empire then. Also Rothrock’s inability to do a remotely convincing British accent…
In fairness, the theme of the article was films similar to Mulan, which is a period/Wuxia film.
It’s a shame that Cynthia Rothrock has been somewhat forgotten; Rarely mentioned in martial arts conversations with the Van Dammes, and Segals and *never* mentioned in the kick-ass female convos with Sigourney and Linda Hamilton (even though her movies were in that same era). Her skills totally blew me away
Cynthia Rothrock had a prominent supporting role in the movie Mercenaries a few years ago, which was the kind of movie she used to make, starring Zoe Bell and Kristanna Loken
Annoying because she was a legit martial artist.
Ahh Cynthia was my first crush after I watched China o brien. She was so cool in that series. Had a couple of good fights with two of my fave martial artists of all time Sammi hung and Yuen biao and her team up film with Michelle yeoh is still one of the best female led action films of all time
She is still foxy too
I appreciate the more-obscure titles, but is Crouching Tiger not female-led?
I guess not, and Kill Bill’s not a martial arts movie?
This all has to do with women dressing as men, which would exclude both (damn my reading comprehension).
There is the diner scene where I thought they initially mistook Zhang Ziyi’s character for a boy? As for reading comprehension, I’m so confused by Yeoh being mentioned as appearing in the new Mulan movie when it doesn’t seem like anywhere else draws attention to this (unless it’s a spoiler/surprise cameo?)
Ah, you’re probably right, but I didn’t get that from the first reading either. Either way I applaud your self moderation.
I had stumbled across a recent Japanese TV series named ‘Caution, Hazardous Wife’ about a spy-on-the-run who goes under cover as a conservative Japanese stay-at-home housewife. I watched season 1, I’m not saying its a GOOD series, just that it fulfills the martial arts quota.
That clip from Wing Chun is great. I like my wire fu comedic, and that spirited defense of a block of innocent tofu is the kind of thing I want to watch right now.
Wow…thanks for making me aware of Wing Chun. I studied that art for many years and never knew about that movie. Michelle Yeo is badass, so I’ll try to check it out!
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These are some good choices, particularly the two Shaw Brothers titles. For more Lady-centered Shaw films, I would recommend:Golden Swallow (1968) – The blood soaked sequel to Come Drink With MeThe Lady Hermit (1971)- Another Cheng Pei Pei vehicle, with an incredible endingIntimate Confessions of a Chinese Courtesan (1972)- Closer in spirit to Japan’s “Pinky Violence” films than a true martial arts film14 Amazons (1972)- A family of women avenge the death of their Patriarch, this is Shaw Brothers at it’s most epic.
14 Amazons is AMAZING, one of the better Shaw Bros I’ve seen, and genuinely epic.My other recommendation was Vengeful Beauty, crossing the line between serious, mad and pure exploit. I love it.
I’d give a nod to Crouching Tiger, Hidden Dragon.Zhang Ziyi and Michelle Yeoh steal the show.
13 Evil Bandits. YouTube it. Download it. Whatever. She’s blind and drinks to cry out the poison. Oh yeah, she does drunken style. Just…just find the movie.
I loved Come Drink With Me. I discovered it when it inexplicably showed up on Netflix in a pristine new transfer. It’s beautiful looking and was shot before those cheesy 70’s snap zooms infested Kung Fu cinema, so it has a classic visual style that hasn’t dated. Great film.
I wish Netflix was a little more dedicated to restoring and preserving older films like this.
There’s a movie called Kill Bill by some guy named Tarantula or something, and based on the previews it has a bunch of female martial artists. I think they even made a sequel or something.
No Sister Street Fighter??
Excellent, well curated list. I would add The Heroic Trio (1993), a superhero adventure that features Chinese superstars Michelle Yeoh, Maggie Cheung and Anita Mui as the titular team. Its a bit goofy, but the charisma and chemistry of the three leads, as well as some classic ‘90s wire fu, makes it highly enjoyable.And Chocolate (2009), starring Jeeja Yanin, a Thai action star who combines Jackie Chan’s gift for acrobatic comedy with the Muay Thai brutality Thailand’s own Tony Jaa. Chocolate is the best showcase of Yanin’s of acting and action skills, as she plays a Rain Man-esque character whose special gift is kickass martial arts ability.
I was gonna say, Chocolate was a cool little movie.
There’s also the 2015 film “Memories of the Sword” starring Kim Go-eun. I think it fits the criteria nicely.
I will thank you not to notice the Mulan-shaped hole in me!
(I’m a sensitive spider)
I saw House of 1000 Flying Dagger Impaled Corpses when it came out and thought the excessive melodrama at the end kind of ruined the entire movie. Then again, I really liked the first two acts so maybe I’ll give it another shot.
For just pure batshit crazy, there’s Swordsman II and Swordsman III: East Is Red with Brigitte Lin. Both movies are about Invincible Asia, a swordsman who castrated himself to master more martial arts. Lin plays Asia, so… I dunno, figure out the LGBTQ PCishness on your own.The plots are confusing. The action is amazing. Swordsman III: East Is Red is early ‘90s Tsui Hark at his zaniest. Jet Li is in Swordsman II.Swordsman III: East Is Red may be most notable for finally giving us a long-awaited ninja vs. pirates battle. And there’s a wooden submarine. And ninjas on kites.
Sister Street Fighter ‘series’ is worth a look:
Chocolate (2008) is on Hoopla, Magnolia Select, and Shudder, plus $2.99 to rent on Amazon and is the most brutal teenage girl with autism martial arts movie ever made. Not historical, but amazing. A+++
I was going to say where is “Chocolate” but that movie is Indonesian not Chinese but does featuring JeeJa Yanin kicking a lot of ass.
I’ve been on a bit of a martial arts movie binge lately, so thank you for this!
Could we add Crouching Tiger, Hidden Dragon? Jen has substantially more screentime than Mu Bai and many if not all of the other major characters are strong women.
And a lot of the plot is about women trying to get away from the roles assigned to them.
Would Crouching Tiger, Hidden Dragon make the list?I’m aware it isn’t quite female-lead, but Michelle Yeoh is a central character (Zhang Yiyi, too), and it’s definitely a period piece.
Chocolate (2008)
Mrs Sammo Hung
It’s certainly female led, but on the exploitative side at times.Still, I have to recommend, “Challenge of the Lady Ninja” for its sheer weirdness. The US dub features Al Di Meola music.
Ninja Ninja 3 the Domination would be my pick for my favorite woman-led martial arts movie and definitely up there in the top pics of total martial arts movies.