6 Great ’70s & ’80s Kung Fu Comedies That Don’t Star Jackie Chan

The 1970s and 80s are famous for martial arts movies, especially the classic kung fu films produced by companies like Golden Harvest and Shaw Brothers. While many of these movies were intense dramas about revenge and fighting injustice, some were made with a more comedic and playful tone.

Combining comedy and martial arts has been a winning formula for decades, and Jackie Chan is a major reason why. His classic films like Drunken Master, The Young Master, and Snake in the Eagle’s Shadow offered a fun, lighthearted change of pace from traditional historical Chinese martial arts movies.

Although he was the most famous, he wasn’t the only star of kung fu comedies. Golden Harvest studio also featured Sammo Hung, a frequent collaborator with Jackie Chan, and a proven talent in excellent martial arts comedies, whether alongside Chan or on his own.

Golden Harvest wasn’t the only major player in kung fu films. Shaw Brothers, their biggest competitor, also had a talented group of actors, many of whom were skilled in both martial arts and comedy. Actors like Alexander Fu Sheng and Wong Yue became Shaw Brothers’ response to Jackie Chan’s rising popularity in the late 1970s and early 1980s – whether that was planned or not.

I remember a lot of smaller studios also finding success by mixing comedy with kung fu. Honestly, when you look back at the 70s and 80s, there’s no lack of really fun martial arts comedies to watch. There’s plenty to enjoy if you’re a fan!

6. Dance Of The Drunk Mantis

As a big fan of classic kung fu, I always get excited about films from Yuen Woo-ping, and Dance of the Drunk Mantis (1979) is a gem. It’s actually a sequel to his incredibly popular Drunken Master, but this time, instead of following Jackie Chan’s character, it tells the story of his master, Sam Seed. Luckily, Yuen Siu-tien returns to play Sam Seed, which is fantastic!

Though a Drunken Master movie without Jackie Chan might seem risky, director Yuen Woo-ping quickly proves it works. This spin-off film successfully blends martial arts and comedy, largely thanks to Yuen Siu-tien, whose performance was a key ingredient in the original Drunken Master‘s appeal.

Yuen Siu-tien once again shines as Sam Seed, a lovable and playful beggar. Though he seems lazy and carefree, Sam Seed is secretly a highly skilled martial arts master – a delightful contrast the actor perfectly portrays.

The scenes between him and his new student, Yuen Shun-yi, are often funny and build anticipation for the intense final fight with Rubber.

Legs, who is portrayed by Hwang Jang Lee, the same actor who played the villain of Drunken Master.

5. The Magnificent Butcher

The year Yuen Woo-ping made Dance of the Drunk Mantis, he also directed The Magnificent Butcher, another exciting martial arts comedy. This film launched Sammo Hung to stardom, and features him as a kung fu student wrongly accused by a competing school.

Even though it was one of his earlier films, this comedy really showcases Sammo Hung’s unique brand of humor. Paired with Yuen Woo-ping’s fantastic fight choreography, it delivers a lot of hilarious, over-the-top slapstick. Both Sammo Hung and Fan Mei-sheng have plenty of funny scenes, constantly tricking, hitting, and stomping on the bad guys.

The Magnificent Butcher is easily one of Sammo Hung’s best martial arts movies.

4. Mad Monkey Kung Fu

In 1979, Lau Kar-leung both directed and starred in Mad Monkey Kung Fu, a unique film that blended intense martial arts action with comedic elements. It’s a revenge story filled with brutal fighting, but it also manages to be funny.

Director Lau Kar-leung took a chance by combining comedy and action in Mad Monkey Kung Fu, and it works. The film skillfully blends slapstick humor with impressive martial arts as it tells the story of a master whose life is destroyed by a rival (Lo Lieh).

Unable to take revenge himself due to a serious injury, he chooses to train a student to fight his enemy. With its witty dialogue, exciting training scenes, and unique depiction of monkey-style kung fu, this 1979 film is a classic kung fu comedy you shouldn’t miss.

3. The Victim

Often overlooked in Sammo Hung’s career, the film The Victim is notable for teaming him up with Byron Leung, an actor famous for playing tough, straightforward fighters. The difference in their styles makes them an enjoyable pair in this 1980s martial arts movie, which centers on a master and his student as they fight against the master’s wicked adopted brother.

With two incredible martial arts performers and Sammo Hung choreographing the fights, The Victim delivers plenty of exciting action. However, the film’s true charm lies in the humorous connection between the characters played by Hung and Bryan Leung.

Sammo Hung stars as a talented but boastful and mischievous martial artist, while Bryan Leung plays a weary master trying to live a quiet life with his wife, but they’re targeted by a dangerous enemy. The younger character’s funny behavior constantly tests the patience of the older, more experienced hero.

2. Shaolin Prince

Look, Ti Lung isn’t exactly known for comedy, but he absolutely nails his role in Shaolin Prince. He plays Tao Hing, one of a pair of twins whose parents were killed when they were babies. They’re separated and raised in completely different environments, both becoming skilled in martial arts. The movie then follows them as adults when they finally meet and team up to find the person who ruined their lives. It’s a classic revenge story, and Ti Lung really delivers!

Many classic kung fu films from the 1970s and 80s start with a similar idea, but this movie stands out because of the story surrounding Ti Lung’s character. He’s named Tao Hing, and he grows up in a temple, trained by three former Shaolin monks who are playfully called the Three Holy Fools.

The Three Holy Fools are essentially the Three Stooges of kung fu films, and this comedic approach really enhances Shaolin Prince. Their funny faces and movements are entertaining on their own, and their unusual training methods for Tao Hing make the movie even funnier.

Surprisingly, the Holy Fools do more than just explain where one of the main characters comes from. The movie clearly shows they’re the most valuable part of the story, making them central to the climax. It demonstrates to both the characters and the audience that despite their silliness, they’re actually the strongest fighters – even stronger than the villain.

1. The Spiritual Boxer

Released in 1975 by Shaw Brothers, The Spiritual Boxer was a unique martial arts film for its time. It centers around a father and son who travel around pretending to be exorcists as a way to make money. The son, played by Wong Yue, becomes separated from his father and must continue the family’s con artistry on his own.

The Spiritual Boxer is a significant film for several reasons, notably because it was the first movie directed by Lau Kar-leung, now celebrated as one of the masters of martial arts cinema. Back then, funny martial arts films weren’t very common; Jackie Chan hadn’t yet become a star with films like Drunken Master and Snake in the Eagle’s Shadow, which would come three years later.

What sets The Spiritual Boxer apart as a groundbreaking martial arts film is its unique blend of genres. The story goes beyond traditional fighting, incorporating ghosts and elements of Chinese folklore to create a supernatural world.

The film The Spiritual Boxer playfully explores the concept of ghosts, particularly when the main character, Wong Yue, begins to suspect he’s encountering actual spirits.

2026-04-06 04:13