Why It Ranks
Ip Man is the finest martial arts biopic of the 21st century. Donnie Yen's performance is magnetic. Sammo Hung's fight choreography is peerless. The ten-man fight is one of the most iconic martial arts scenes ever filmed. It spawned three sequels.
The Film
Ip Man is a martial arts epic based on the life of the Wing Chun grandmaster who trained Bruce Lee. Donnie Yen brings quiet dignity and explosive skill to the title role, and the fight choreography by Sammo Hung is among the finest ever staged. The Japanese occupation setting gives the martial arts genuine patriotic and moral weight. The ten-man fight scene is one of the most thrilling sequences in martial arts cinema.
Fun Facts
Donnie Yen trained in Wing Chun specifically for the role, despite his background in other martial arts styles.
The real Ip Man's sons consulted on the film's production.
The film sparked a wave of Ip Man biopics and media, including a rival film released the same year.
Bruce Lee's connection to Ip Man is referenced but saved for the sequels.
Get Glen's Musings
Occasional thoughts on AI, Claude, investing, and building things. Free. No spam.
Unsubscribe anytime. I respect your inbox more than Congress respects property rights.
Keep Exploring
Top 25 Sports Movies
See the full ranked list of the greatest sports films ever made.
Read moreMichael Jordan
The greatest basketball player of all time. Six rings. Zero debate.
Read moreBrad Pitt
From Fight Club to Moneyball. One of the most versatile actors alive.
Read moreTop 25 Basketball Players
The greatest basketball players of all time, ranked.
Read moreConsulting
Salesforce development and technical consulting.
Read moreWins
Track record of wins across investing, building, and creating.
Read more