Movies like Circus Kids (1994)
The best movies like Circus Kids (1994) are Dragon Lord (1982), The Paper Tigers (2020) and Snake in the Eagle's Shadow (1978). If Circus Kids hooked you with its action, these 30 similar films are what to watch next, and every pick says why it matches.
Quick picks
- Highest ratedSnake in the Eagle's Shadow (1978)7.3/10 from 382 votes
- NewestGladiator Underground (2025)Released 2025
Dragon Lord (1982)
Dragon and his madcap pal Cowboy spend their days getting into mischief, frustrating the elders, chasing girls, and competing in the village sport. When Dragon overhears a fiendish plot by smugglers to sell China's national treasures overseas, the pair leap into action. Also, Cowboy's wealthy father is kidnapped by the villainous and lethal Big Boss, and the scene is set for a furious martial arts showdown.
Why it matches: Recommended by TMDB viewers · both action
Popcorn FlickMovies like thisThe Paper Tigers (2020)
Three middle aged men polish their martial arts skills to avenge their fallen master.
Why it matches: Recommended by TMDB viewers · both action
Popcorn FlickMovies like thisSnake in the Eagle's Shadow (1978)
Everyone abuses and humiliates a downtrodden orphan until he befriends an old man, who turns out to be the last master of the snake fist fighting style. Jackie becomes the old man's student and finds himself in battle with the master of the eagle's claw style, who has vowed to destroy the snake fist clan.
Why it matches: Recommended by TMDB viewers · both action
Worth the HypeMovies like thisThe Legend (1993)
The secret Red Lotus Flower Society is committed to the overthrow of the evil Manchu Emperor and his minions. One of his Governors is sent on a mission to retrieve a list of members of that secret society. Meanwhile, Canton kung fu practitioner Fong Sai-Yuk falls in love with the beautiful daughter of a rich merchant.
Why it matches: Recommended by TMDB viewers · both action
Worth the HypeMovies like thisFist of Fury 1991 (1991)
Lau Ching, a Mainlander with an incredibly powerful right arm, arrives in Hong Kong to find his cousin. He befriends with a drifter named Handsome, and a martial artist girl named Mandy. In order to woo her, Ching participates in a fighting competition in hopes of winning a $10 million prize, and must defeat his love rival, Wai, in the ring.
Why it matches: Recommended by TMDB viewers · both action
Popcorn FlickMovies like thisForbidden City Cop (1996)
An imperial agent gets ridiculed for his various inventions, until his supportive wife encourages him to attend a conference, which's actually a trap to kill all the doctors serving the emperor, where his crazy inventions come in handy.
Why it matches: Recommended by TMDB viewers · both action
Worth the HypeMovies like thisUnbeatable (2013)
Fai, once a world champion in boxing, escapes to Macau from the loan sharks and unexpectedly encounters Qi, a young chap who is determined to win a boxing match. Fai becomes Qi's mentor and rediscovers his passion to fight not only in the ring but for his life and the cares.
Why it matches: Recommended by TMDB viewers · both action
Popcorn FlickMovies like thisShadow Master (2022)
After being slain by a group of criminals, a man is reborn with animal-like superpowers and makes it his mission to right the wrongs of his city.
Why it matches: Recommended by TMDB viewers · both action
Popcorn FlickMovies like thisLove on Delivery (1994)
After being humiliated in front of a love interest, delivery boy Ho Kam-An seeks help from a retired martial arts master for self-improvement, unaware that he might actually be a fraud.
Why it matches: Recommended by TMDB viewers · both action
Worth the HypeMovies like thisThe Big Brawl (1980)
A young Asian American martial artist is forced to participate in a brutal formal street-fight competition.
Why it matches: Recommended by TMDB viewers · both action
SnoozefestMovies like thisThe Inspector Wears Skirts (1988)
The film revolves around a crack squad of female police officers who have to deal with harassment and a lack of respect from their male colleagues, personal issues, as well as some serious criminals.
Why it matches: Recommended by TMDB viewers · both action
Popcorn FlickMovies like thisThe Prodigal Son (1981)
A rich man's son believes himself to be the best kung fu fighter in Canton. Unfortunately, his father, anxious for his son's safety, bribes all his opponents to lose. After a humiliating defeat at the hands of an actor in a traveling theatre company, the son resolves to find a better teacher.
Why it matches: Recommended by TMDB viewers · both action
Worth the HypeMovies like thisWarriors Two (1978)
In an attempt to save his village from being taken over by brutes, Wah is beaten to a pulp and his mother brutally murdered. Determined to take revenge, Wah learns the art of Wing Chun and enters into a showdown with the nasty villains.
Why it matches: Recommended by TMDB viewers · both action
Worth the HypeMovies like thisEmbattled (2020)
The eldest son of a ruthlessly tough MMA champion must fight his way out of the abusive cycle his father has continued.
Why it matches: Recommended by TMDB viewers · both action
Popcorn FlickMovies like thisGladiator Underground (2025)
Two brothers compete in the world's deadliest underground fighting tournament, where they must decide whether to play by the rules or to cast their honor aside and team up to bring down the dark syndicate running the tournament.
Why it matches: Recommended by TMDB viewers · both action
Worth the HypeMovies like thisWe're Going to Eat You (1980)
Agent 999 is sent to a remote Chinese island to capture a notorious bandit named Rolex. Upon arrival, 999 begins to suspect that something is wrong, and soon learns that the island is inhabited by flesh-eating cannibals under control of a tribal chief. 999 ultimately teams up with Rolex to overthrow the evil chief and escape the island.
Why it matches: Recommended by TMDB viewers · both action
Popcorn FlickMovies like thisDie Hart (2023)
Kevin Hart - playing a version of himself - is on a death-defying quest to become an action star. And with a little help from John Travolta, Nathalie Emmanuel, and Josh Hartnett - he just might pull it off.
Why it matches: Recommended by TMDB viewers · both action
SnoozefestMovies like thisAirborne (1993)
Good-natured teen surfer Mitchell Goosen finds himself staying with his aunt and uncle in Cincinnati, Ohio when his parents head to Australia for work. There he meets his cousin, Wiley, and together they try to navigate the perils of high school—avoid the bullies, get the girl, and win a little respect.
Why it matches: Recommended by TMDB viewers · both action
Popcorn FlickMovies like thisShootfighter: Fight to the Death (1993)
Nick and Ruben are hoodwinked into a "shootfighter" (no-holds-barred, to the death) martial arts match by the evil Mr. Lee, who has a grudge against world shootfighter champ(and teacher of Nick and Ruben) Shingo.
Why it matches: Recommended by TMDB viewers · both action
Popcorn FlickMovies like thisSakra (2023)
Qiao Feng is the respected leader of a roving band of martial artists. After he is wrongfully accused of murder and subsequently exiled, Qiao Feng goes on the run in search of answers about his own mysterious origin story—and the unknown enemies working to destroy him from the shadows.
Why it matches: Recommended by TMDB viewers · both action
Popcorn FlickMovies like thisThe Lady Constables (1978)
Fierce females in flowing frocks force fear on fiendish filchers of the Five Phoenixes!! Angela Mao and Chia Ling star as cops on the trail of bandit leader Chang Yi whose gang has stolen the Five Phoenixes' Night Shining Pearl. They confront him at his fortress stronghold in an all out effort to prevent evil from dominating the martial world!
Why it matches: Similar story and style · both action
Black Rain (1989)
Two New York cops get involved in a gang war between members of the Yakuza, the Japanese Mafia. They arrest one of their killers and are ordered to escort him back to Japan. However, in Japan he manages to escape, and as they try to track him down, they get deeper and deeper into the Japanese Mafia scene and they have to learn that they can only win by playing the game—the Japanese way.
Why it matches: Similar story and style · both action
Popcorn FlickMovies like thisThe Transporter (2002)
Former Special Forces officer Frank Martin will deliver anything to anyone for the right price, and his no-questions-asked policy puts him in high demand. But when he realizes his latest cargo is alive, it sets in motion a dangerous chain of events. The bound and gagged Lai is being smuggled to France by a shady American businessman, and Frank works to save her as his own illegal activities are uncovered by a French detective.
Why it matches: Similar story and style · both action
Popcorn FlickMovies like thisJohnny Owes (2008)
Johnny Owes But they'll pay. This is an award-winning independently produced, "Ong Bak" and "Tom Yum Goong" style martial arts action short film. Meaning it features action choreography that employs the use of real contact whenever possible.
Why it matches: Similar story and style · both action
Magnum Killers (1976)
A woman seeks revenge against a group of gangsters who have taken ownership of her father's company, and hires a man to carry out the task.
Why it matches: Similar story and style · both action
The Shaolin Invincibles (1977)
Two sword-wielding sisters seek revenge against the villains who murdered their family. But these are no ordinary villains — they’re wizards with giant, elasticized tongues who use black magic to control... kung fu gorillas!
Why it matches: Similar story and style · both action
Legionnaire (1998)
Alain Lefevre is a boxer paid by a Marseille mobster to take a dive. When he wins the fight he attempts to flee to America with the mobster's girlfriend Katrina. This plan fails and he seeks escape by joining the foreign legion. As part of the legion he tangles with abusive lieutenant Steinkampf and bonds with legionnaires Luther, Mackintosh and Rosetti.
Why it matches: Similar story and style · both action
SnoozefestMovies like thisUnleashed (2005)
Raised as a slave, Danny is used to fighting for his survival. In fact, his "master," Bart, thinks of him as a pet and goes as far as leashing him with a collar so they can make money in fight clubs, where Danny is the main contender. When Bart's crew is in a car accident, Danny escapes and meets a blind, kindhearted piano tuner who takes him in and uses music to free the fighter's long-buried heart.
Why it matches: Similar story and style · both action
Worth the HypeMovies like thisMy Lucky Stars (1985)
Two Hong Kong cops are sent to Tokyo to catch an ex-cop who stole a large amount of money in diamonds. After one is captured by the Ninja-gang protecting the rogue cop, the other one gets his old Orphanage gang, dubbed the "Five Lucky Stars," to help him. They don't like this much, but they do it.
Why it matches: Similar story and style · both action
Popcorn FlickMovies like this
Like Circus Kids and something else?
Blend two favourites and we’ll find the films in between.
Frequently asked questions
What are the best movies like Circus Kids?
The closest matches to Circus Kids are Dragon Lord (1982), The Paper Tigers (2020) and Snake in the Eagle's Shadow (1978). Below are 27 more, each with the reason it matches.
What should I watch after Circus Kids?
Start with Dragon Lord (1982), the closest match to Circus Kids.
What is the highest-rated movie like Circus Kids?
Snake in the Eagle's Shadow (1978), rated 7.3/10 by 382 TMDB users.
What is the newest movie like Circus Kids?
Gladiator Underground (2025) is the most recent release on this list.
How are movies similar to Circus Kids chosen?
First come films that Trakt’s viewers watch alongside Circus Kids, then TMDB’s recommendations and films it rates as similar in story and genre. Each pick says which signal put it there.