Fun-filledmartial arts movieshave the power to bring the whole family together, and there are some astounding releases that kids, in particular, will connect with. As the stories of epic heroes overcoming adversity,animated kung fufighters learning the value of honor and training, or even fantastical adventures that transport characters to different worlds, there are so many different types of great martial arts movies.
Many of thebest martial arts movies evermade were family-friendly features that can be enjoyed by viewers of all ages. Some of these releases come frommajor franchiseslike theTeenage Mutant Ninja Turtles, while others are timelesskung fu classicsthat have endured in the hearts and minds of viewers for decades.Kid viewers can be very discerning in their preferences, and it takes a truly special film to be able to keep everybody happy while ensuring there’s still enough action, adventure, and excitement for young viewers to connect with.
Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles: Mutant Mayhem
Cast
Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles: Mutant Mayhem is an animated film in the enduring action-comedy franchise. Directed by Jeff Rowe, the movie follows the iconic Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles—Leonardo, Michelangelo, Donatello, and Raphael—alongside their mentor Splinter, as they confront new adversaries and navigate their teenage years. The film combines humor and action while maintaining the core themes of the beloved series.
Although the “heroes in a half shell” Leonardo, Donatello, Raphael, and Michelangelo started off as a dark parody of superhero comics, since its debut in 1984, this franchise has transformed into a very family-friendly property. Following animated series, live-action films, and countless miscellaneous media,Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtleshave long been a firm favorite of martial arts-loving children. The animated movieTeenage Mutant Ninja Turtles: Mutant Mayhemrepresented the best of this seriesand received widespread acclaim from audiences and critics alike.
As one of the bestTurtlesfilms ever made,Mutant Mayhemaddressed timeless themes of family as the turtles’ isolation from the world mimicked young people’s desire to fit in. This reboot could be enjoyed by longtime viewers and first-timers alike as it retold the ninjutsu-fighting turtles’ origins while capturing the essence of what has made them so enduring these past decades.
Shaolin Soccer
Shaolin Soccer: Released in 2001, this film follows a once-promising follower of Shaolin martial arts who convenes with his estranged brothers to create a soccer team. They harness their martial arts prowess on the field, merging their skills with the game in pursuit of victory.
The acclaimed Hong Kong filmmaker Stephen Chow is a master at blending high-stakes action with laugh-out-loud comedy in a way that will appeal to younger viewers. This skill was powerfully seen inShaolin Soccer, a martial arts sports comedy that football-loving kids will surely connect with. Telling the story of a downtrodden soccer star trained in the way of Shaolin kung fu by a master monk, this genre-bending movie was buckets of fun.
While the titleShaolin Soccermay appear gimmicky, in practice, this movie played out with a real sense of style and engaging energy that’s sure to win over even the sternest viewer. By mixing the fast-paced nature of soccer with the intricacies of kung fu,Shaolin Soccerbecame a ridiculously entertaining martial arts story. With over-the-top stylistic sensibilities, it’s hard to imagine a kid who wouldn’t loveShaolin Soccer.
The LEGO Ninjago Movie
Ninjago is the story of six young ninja tasked with defending their island home, called Ninjago. By night, they’re gifted warriors, using their skill and awesome fleet of vehicles to fight villains and monsters. By day, they’re ordinary teens, struggling against their greatest enemy: high school.
The Lego Moviefranchise got to the very heart of children’s sense of playand showcased how well these beloved building blocks work in a cinematic environment. From the original film right through toThe Lego Batman Movie, this series effortlessly blends major properties in a way that’s exciting and engaging for young viewers. This track record was continued withThe Lego Ninjago Movie, which, despite underperforming box office expectations, remains a creative, exciting, and fun-filled movie experience for kids.
While Lego Ninjago toys have been popular since their debut in 2011 and have already gained viewers' attention through its successful TV series,The Lego Ninjago Moviegave this toy line an A-list voice cast and the blockbuster movie treatment.The Lego Ninjago Moviefeatured a charming and funny story about a ninja named Lloyd Garmadon who was outcast from society due to the actions of his evil father. With plenty of tongue-in-cheek humor that leans into tropes and cliches of martial arts movies, kid viewers will surely get a kick out of this clever story.
Kubo and the Two Strings
Kubo and the Two Strings is a stop-motion animation film from Laika that follows a young boy named Kubo who lives a quiet, normal life in a small shoreside village. His life is suddenly turned upside down when a spirit from the past visits him and re-ignites an age-old vendetta. Now on the warpath of various gods and creatures, Kubo must locate a legendary suit of armor worn by his late father.
Kubo and the Two Stringswas the perfect combination of Japanese-inspired art styles, fantastical mysticism, and martial arts. As an epic story of magic and adventure,Kubo and the Two Stringsfollowed a boy named Kubo who wielded a magical string instrument called the shamisen and, along with an anthropomorphic snow monkey and a human-stag beetle hybrid, embarked on a quest to defeat his mother’s evil twin sisters and power-hungry grandfather.
With a unique art style that blended stop-motion, ink painting, and origami aesthetics, the distinctive look ofKubo and the Two Stringsled to it becoming thesecond stop-motion animated film ever to be nominated for a Best Visual Effects Oscar, afterThe Nightmare Before Christmas. As Kubo attempted to live up to his missing samurai warrior father, seeing him use his magical powers to showcase incredible martial arts skills was thrilling. The individualistic style ofKubo and the Two Stringsmeant viewers of all ages could enjoy it, but children will especially be blown away by its magic.
Surf Ninjas
Surf Ninjas follows two Asian-American brothers who discover they are the rightful heirs to a China Sea Island. Inheriting martial arts abilities and precognitive powers, they embark on a quest to overthrow the island’s tyrannical ruler, a dictator with a metal face.
Based on the title alone, it’s clear that kid viewers will have a fun time withSurf Ninjas. As viewers can probably guess, this was a fun-filled, family-friendly martial arts comedy about teenage surfers discovering a magical world of adventure. As the two brothers learn they are the heirs to the throne of the Asian kingdom of Patusan, they must embark on a quest to overthrow the evil colonel that rules over the kingdom and take up their rightful place as leaders.
By combining disparate aspects of pop culture, such as the Los Angeles surf scene, the slacker mentality of theTeenage Mutant Ninja Turtles, and a coming-of-age story of adventure,Surf Ninjasfelt like an epic mishmash of everything kids love. While the jokes were corny and the martial arts left a lot to be desired, the mindless sense of fun at the heart of this story made it endlessly watchable.Surf Ninjaswas the kind of family-friendly film that a kid begs to watch on repeat, only to return to it as an adult and no longer understand its appeal.
Sidekicks
Sidekicks is a 1992 action-comedy directed by Aaron Norris, starring Chuck Norris and Jonathan Brandis. The film follows a bullied teenager who escapes his troubles through a vivid fantasy life where he is the sidekick of martial arts hero Chuck Norris. With the help of his martial arts teacher, he strives to turn his fantasies into reality, building self-confidence and physical strength along the way.
Sidekickswas one of the best rip-offs ofThe Karate Kidout there, as it borrowed many aspects of that film’s appeal yet found its own unique identity. Featuring a teenager who consistently escapes to a fantasy world where he’s Chuck Norris’ sidekick, the real Norris got in on the action to play a fictionalized version of himself in this movie directed by his own brother. WhileSidekicksreceived negative reviews upon release, looking back, it’s got plenty of interesting ideas that would appeal greatly to young viewers.
With themes of legacy, fantasy, and heroism,Sidekicksfeatured a strong performance from the late Jonathan Brandis as the asthmatic teenager Barry Gabrewski, who pursues martial arts to become as brave as he is in his fantasies. While Barry initially attempted to run away into a world of escapism, he starts to reach his full potential after a restaurant owner named Mr. Lee (Mako) takes him and starts to teach him martial arts. Released in Europe a full year beforeLast Action Hero, many of the ideas seen in the film were repeated in that Schwarzenegger movie.
The Spy Next Door
The Spy Next Door is a family action-comedy film directed by Brian Levant. The movie stars Jackie Chan as Bob Ho, an undercover CIA super spy who decides to retire and settle down with his next-door neighbor and girlfriend. However, he faces the challenge of caring for her three children, who are unaware of his covert lifestyle, while handling a last mission involving a clandestine Russian plot.
As perhaps the greatest kung fu star of all time, Jackie Chan has had plenty of family-friendly films that are beloved by viewers of all ages. As a global phenomenon that’s equally popular in the East and the West, the undeniable appeal of Chan’s unique mix of slapstick comedy and incredible martial skills makes him endlessly watchable. One Chan film that will have young viewers crying with laughter isThe Spy Next Door.
This hilarious story featuredChan as a secret agent who’s tasked with his toughest mission yet: babysitting.The Spy Next Doorbrought to mind the hilarious fish-out-of-water action hero stylings ofKindergarten Copand mixed them with plenty of kung fu carnage. While critics were not convinced byThe Spy Next Door, kids will surely be charmed by its off-the-wall antics and child-friendly sense of humor.
3 Ninjas
3 Ninjas follows the adventures of brothers Samuel, Jeffrey, and Michael Douglas as they spend their summer with their grandfather, a skilled martial artist. Trained in martial arts and ninjutsu, the brothers join forces to combat an organized crime ring, using their skills to thwart determined kidnappers.
It’s hard to imagine any kid who won’t be won over by the hilarious antics seen in3 Ninjas. With a mix ofHome Alone-style carnage and classic kung fu action,3 Ninjastold the lighthearted story of three young brothers learning the art of ninjutsu from their Japanese grandfather. As a cult classic that kickstarted its own franchise, the campy humor and over-the-top premise of a group of kids taking out their would-be kidnappers made for endlessly engaging, family-friendly viewing.
Audiences clearly connected with3 Ninjas,as it was the most successful movie of 1992 when viewed in terms of a cost-to-gross ratio, making over $29 million against its $2.5 million budget (viaDeseret.) With an enjoyable blend of action, adventure, and comedy,3 Ninjasdidn’t take itself too seriously as its trio of fighting child actors used their martial arts skills to take on a ruthless criminal. While better movies have been made using a similar premise,the feel-good factor of3 Ninjasmade it stand out.
Kung Fu Panda
Kung Fu Panda is an animated martial arts comedy directed by Mark Osborne and John Stevenson. Set in ancient China, it follows Po, an overweight and clumsy panda voiced by Jack Black, who dreams of becoming a kung fu master. When an evil snow leopard named Tai Lung threatens the Valley of Peace, Po is unexpectedly chosen as the Dragon Warrior.
Kung Fu Pandais one of the most successful animated franchises ever, whose first movie grossed an astounding over $630 million (viaBox Office Mojo.) WithJack Black as the voice of the bumbling giant panda named Powho is determined to learn the art of martial arts in the anthropomorphic animal-inhabiting Valley of Peace, this was a story that all viewers, no matter their age, could connect with. As Po’s desire became a necessity as he was prophesized to fight the savage snow leopard, Tai Lung, this hero’s journey turned into a timeless tale of resilience.
With a great premise, incredible animation, and a strong sense of humor, it’s no surprise that kids immediately connected withKung Fu Panda. As a visually stunning blend of Eastern and Western animation styles,Kung Fu Pandawas packed with energy and heart. With three sequels, several TV spin-offs, and the door open for a fifth installment,Kung Fu Pandacertainly struck a chord with kids worldwide.
The Karate Kid
Released in 1984, The Karate Kid follows the story of Daniel LaRusso on his unexpected journey to becoming a Karate expert under the tutelage of a martial arts master. Recently relocated from New Jersey to Los Angeles, Daniel and his mother are trying to adapt to their new home. Unfortunately, Daniel becomes the target of a gang of Cobra Kai dojo students. When his handyman, Mr. Miyagi, saves him with expert Karate skills, Daniel convinces him to teach him his Karate to defend himself, and put his bullies in their place.
Following his astounding success directingRockywith Sylvester Stallone, filmmaker John G. Avidlsen took the underdog sports story appeal of that previous film and presented it in a way that kids could connect with. The result was the kung fu classicThe Karate Kid, a movie that inspired generations of children to pursue martial arts. AsDaniel LaRusso learned self-confidence and defense-based skills through his mentor, Mr. Miyagi,The Karate Kidkickstarted a franchise that continues to remain just as relevant today as when it was first released.
From the sinister villainy of the Cobra Kai sensei, John Kreese, to the bullying tactics of Johnny Lawrence,The Karate Kidwas a timeless tale of resilience packaged in an effective coming-of-age story. While the characters of this film have been expanded upon in sequels and the incredible Netflix seriesCobra Kai, it all started with this original movie, which still packs a serious punch. Viewers of all ages hold a special place in their hearts forThe Karate Kid, and its legacy stands today as the definitivemartial arts moviefor kids.
