This Forgotten 1986 Jet Li Movie Was The End of An Era For The Martial Arts Genre

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As a huge fan of classic martial arts films, I always feel a little sad when I think about Martial Arts of Shaolin. It’s not one of Jet Li’s most famous movies, but it actually marked the end of a really special time for the genre. Released back in 1986, it was the third and last film in what people consider the Shaolin Temple trilogy, even though the movies aren’t directly connected. It feels like a true end of an era.

Jet Li first became well-known for his role in the 1982 Hong Kong film, Shaolin Temple. The film’s success led to another movie, Kids from Shaolin. He then collaborated with Shaw Brothers, Hong Kong’s leading kung fu studio, on Martial Arts of Shaolin, where he worked with director Lau Kar-leung.

Martial Arts Of Shaolin Represented The End Of An Era In The Martial Arts Genre

While not usually considered one of Jet Li’s greatest films, Martial Arts of Shaolin is personally significant to him as it’s the only classic, traditional kung fu movie he ever starred in. These types of films are generally set in historical China and often focus on characters training and seeking revenge.

Shaw Brothers spent years perfecting this unique style of filmmaking, which featured lengthy, detailed fight scenes rooted in Chinese martial arts. These scenes, showcasing hand-to-hand combat, weapons, or a mix of both, often required weeks or even months to film due to their complex choreography and long, unbroken shots.

Actors like Jackie Chan, Ti Lung, Alexander Fu Sheng, and Carter Wong were hugely influential in shaping martial arts films, but Jet Li emerged at a different time, preventing him from fitting into the same mold.

By the mid-1980s, martial arts films were evolving. Fantasy and contemporary action were becoming more popular, and the traditional filmmaking techniques used in classic kung fu movies were falling out of favor. Films were being made faster, which meant less time and effort were dedicated to creating the elaborate and exciting fight choreography audiences had come to expect.

Even before Martial Arts of Shaolin came out, the kung fu genre was starting to change. But this film felt like a final celebration of the classic style, especially because Shaw Brothers, the studio most responsible for making kung fu popular, closed down its film production department. Sadly, Martial Arts of Shaolin was their last movie released in 1986.

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2026-02-28 06:40