10 Incredible Asian Action Movies You Have To See Before You Die

From: Hong Kong

Rotten Tomatoes Score: 100%

Like Jackie Chan, there were a number of early Chow Yun-Fat films under consideration here, his collaborations with director John Woo being particularly memorable. The high point of their groundbreaking work together was undoubtedly The Killer, a film in which Woo's signature style reached a crest that he rode into Hollywood.

Yun-Fat stars as Ah Jong, a Hong Kong hitman who accidentally damages the eyes of a young nightclub singer with a muzzle flash when his last hit for the Triads goes wrong. Wracked with guilt, the assassin begins to watch over the woman as she performs and, after escorting her home one evening, realises he has fallen in love with her. Knowing it is the only way he will ever be able to make things right, he takes on one last hit to get the money together for a corneal transplant.

The Killer epitomised what would come to be known as Gun Fu, a style of action movie that relies on sophisticated close-quarters gunplay. Battles in which traditional martial arts weapons would normally be used are instead fought with firearms, and Chow Yun-Fat diving through the air while firing pistols with each hand became the iconic image of a new era of Asian action movies.

What's your favourite Asian action movie? What major ommissions were there on this list? Let us know down in the comments.