Top 10 Greatest Bruce Lee Fight Scenes of All Time
#10: Chen Zhen vs. Petrov
“Fist of Fury” (1972) Size does not always make a difference. "Fist of Fury" places Bruce Lee's Chen in a string of lop-sided battles, only for the martial artist to prove repeatedly that no odds are insurmountable. Nearing the climax of the film, Chen takes on a Russian powerhouse known for bending metal bars. In an exciting battle of styles and temperaments, Chen responds to each one of Petrov's powerful attacks with vicious strikes and kicks that leave the Russian constantly on the ropes. Although by no means brief, this fight is shockingly one-sided.
#9: Mr. Lee & Roper vs. Han’s Men
Top 20 Greatest Bruce Lee Fight Scenes of All Time
“Enter the Dragon” (1973) As "Enter the Dragon" reaches its conclusion, Han's private martial arts tournaments erupts into a massive brawl after Roper takes out the crime lord's main guard. Roper and Mr. Lee come together to take on an army of Han's goons, with the heroes eventually being aided by a group of prisoners held captive on the island. The whole sequence is chaotic and a sight to behold, with Lee looking in full control as he takes on multiple opponents without breaking a sweat. Lee could have probably taken all of Han's henchmen on his own.
#8: Chen Zhen vs. Hiroshi Suzuki
“Fist of Fury” (1972) Everything in "Fist of Fury" is leading up to the battle between the Jingwu School's Chen Zhen and the Hongkou dojo's master, Hiroshi Suzuki. A scheming murderer directly responsible for the death of Chen's teacher, Suzuki fearfully hides behind a katana as he desperately tries to keep the hero and his nunchucks at a distance. The weapons represent the conflicting ideologies of the Jingwu school and the Hongkou dojo, while Chen smashing Suzuki multiple times in the face represents that, well, the protagonist is not especially fond of his opponent. While the fight is on the shorter side, every blow stresses the fact that Chen and Suzuki want to kill each other, and one of them eventually succeeds.
#7: Mr. Lee vs. Han
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“Enter the Dragon” (1973) Following a solid fight that ends with a spear stuck in a wall, Lee chases Han into a room of mirrors. More of a psychological than a physical fight, Lee and Han engage in a cat and mouse contest as the hero struggles to pick out the real villain from the many illusions caused by the mirrors. Bolstered by splendid cinematography and an intensity that does not let up for a second, "Enter the Dragon's" final battle stands out as a unique experience in Bruce Lee's impressive catalog of cinematic action scenes.
#6: Billy Lo vs. Dan Inosanto
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“Game of Death” (1978) As just a percentage of "Game of Death" was filmed before Bruce Lee's untimely passing, who knows how much of Bruce’s original vision is captured in the completed version? If the immaculate fight scene pitting Lee against Dan Inosanto is anything to go by, "Game of Death" was going to be something special. The two masters craft a flawlessly paced encounter that is just as much about the gaps between the blows as it is about the hits themselves. Locked in a game of chess with nunchucks, each move made by Lee and Inosanto is calculated, suspenseful, and gripping.
#5: Cheng Chao-an vs. Hsiao Mi
“The Big Boss” (1971) Also known as "Fists of Fury," "The Big Boss" put Bruce Lee on the map as an action movie star. Centering around a drug trade operating out of an ice factory, the film culminates with a brutal battle pitting Lee's Cheng Chao-an against Hsiao Mi, the titular big boss. Marked by a vicious intensity that arguably none of Lee's subsequent movies would replicate, this bloody fight blends stellar stunt work with strategy and storytelling. Hsiao Mi grows more fearful of Cheng and desperate as the battle progresses, culminating in a fantastic and narratively complementary final move.
#4: Mr. Lee vs. O'Hara
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“Enter the Dragon” (1973) This is less of a contest and more of a prolonged execution. Mr. Lee meets O'Hara, the man responsible for his sister's death, in a shady martial arts tournament, and then proves that revenge is a dish best served with multiple blows to the head. While Bob Wall's O'Hara presents an imposing figure, the martial artist is absolutely dismantled by Lee. Once the desperate killer brings a broken bottle into play, O'Hara's fate is sealed. There are plenty of more complex fight scenes, but this battle effectively tells a story and highlights Bruce Lee's acting chops, all while still including a few jaw-dropping moves.
#3: Tang Lung vs. Colt
“The Way of the Dragon” (1972) In "The Way of the Dragon's" climax, Bruce Lee's Tang Lung faces off against Chuck Norris' Colt in a fight for the ages. Set in Rome's Colosseum, this is a true battle of the Goliaths, as two masters earn each other's respect while holding absolutely nothing back. Tang comes across as unstoppable in most fights, but Colt gets plenty of good licks in, making the hero's eventual dominance all that more impressive. Lee gets to show off a wide range of moves, be it body chops or low kicks, while Norris helps ensure the fight is mesmerizing every step of the way.
#2: The Hongkou Dojo Fight
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“Fist of Fury” (1972) Class is in session. Following an intense and frustrating opening segment that involves representatives of a Japanese dojo mocking the deceased master of the Jingwu School, Chen decides to get some revenge. More than two dozen students attempt to overwhelm Chen, only for each one of them to be taught an emphatic lesson. Expertly choreographed to ensure each moment flows seamlessly from the last, this sequence is enthralling from beginning to end. Things only get better when Chen brings out the nunchucks, causing the students to collectively wish their dojo used brown gi. Before we unveil our top pick, here are a few honorable mentions. Billy Lo vs. Kareem Abdul Jabbar, “Game of Death” (1978) Because the Size Difference Is Something Behold Underground Fight, “Enter the Dragon” (1973) Because This Fight Builds Up Steam Nicely & Features a Young Jackie Chan The Alley Fight with Weapons, “The Way of the Dragon” (1972) Because These Gangsters Are So Outmatched, It Is Almost Hilarious Tang Lung vs. Two Martial Artists, “The Way of the Dragon” (1972) Because Each Kick Lands with Incredible Power Kato vs. Low Sing, “The Green Hornet” (1966-67) Because This Was A Preview of Things to Come
#1: The Ice Factory Fight
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“The Big Boss” (1971) Putting aside a very brief fight that serves as a teaser of things to come, "The Big Boss" holds back on its Bruce Lee until the movie's final act. Then, Lee's Cheng takes on the big boss's son and a gaggle of goons in and around an ice factory, creating history in the process. Along with being the first major cinematic showcase of Lee's martial arts, this sequence amplifies its dynamic stunt work with innovative use of weaponry and a willingness to get bloody. Tiny character moments like Cheng tasting his own blood supplement the action splendidly, while there is just something satisfying about seeing Lee punch a guy through a wall.
