Movies like Invincible Shaolin (1978)
The best movies like Invincible Shaolin (1978) are Clan of the White Lotus (1980), Crippled Avengers (1978) and Two Champions of Shaolin (1980). If Invincible Shaolin hooked you with its action and drama, 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
- NewestDisciples of the 36th Chamber (1985)Released 1985
- In ChineseClan of the White Lotus (1980)Also in Chinese
Clan of the White Lotus (1980)
The Qing emperor releases all detained Shaolin disciples, but the vindictive White Lotus clan decides to exterminate all the disciples. One martial artist survives the onslaught, and constantly trains while in hiding for revenge.
Why it matches: Fans watch both · both action & drama
Popcorn FlickMovies like thisCrippled Avengers (1978)
A group of martial artists seek revenge after being crippled by Tu Tin-To, a martial arts master, and his son.
Why it matches: Fans watch both · both action & drama
Popcorn FlickMovies like thisTwo Champions of Shaolin (1980)
Shaolin warrior Tung Chien-chen is injured in battle against the hated Wu Tang clan, and nursed back to health by a knife-throwing master. As he recovers, Tung learns this deadly art, and also falls in love with his teacher's daughter. But when a Wu Tang attack disrupts the young lovers' wedding, Tung must put his new skill to use as he seeks revenge.
Why it matches: Fans watch both · both action & drama
Shaolin Temple (1976)
There is no place more hallowed in the martial art world than China's Shaolin Temple. This special place deserves a special epic, which is what the martial arts maestro delivers in this battle between a brave brand of Chinese boxers and literally thousands of Qing troops - complete with betrayals, intrigues, and such novel fighting machines as 108 wooden robots. The conflicts grow in complexity, intensity and even suspense as monks struggle to stay alive in the face of overwhelming odds.
Why it matches: Fans watch both · both action
The Chinese Boxer (1970)
Lei Ming, a noble young martial arts student who doesn't know the meaning of giving up. He faces a treacherous, blood-thirsty Japanese karate expert, which leads to many memorable battles as well as several unforgettable training sequences.
Why it matches: Fans watch both · both action & drama
Popcorn FlickMovies like thisThe Magnificent Ruffians (1979)
Venom regulars Philip Kwok, Chiang Sheng, and Sun Chien star as a gang of unemployed martial artists who spend their days stuffing their faces at local restaurants and letting the staff beat them up instead of paying the bill. Their fortunes appear to improve when the head of a local security agency hires them to take out the competition, who their new employer insists is up to no good. But the boys are being played for fools, and after an unfortunate misunderstanding, they unite with their former adversary to take out the true villain.
Why it matches: Fans watch both · both action & drama
Snake 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: Fans watch both · both action
Worth the HypeMovies like thisThe Buddhist Fist (1980)
Two orphans raised by monks are taught divine secrets of kung fu. As adults, one chooses the path of the monks while the other opts for the outside world. Aspiring barber and experienced kung-fu fighter Shang learns that his childhood friend, Siu Ming, has been framed for murder by an unknown villain.When Shang begins looking into the crime, he soon finds himself the target of an assassination attempt. They reunite to find their missing godfather and seek vengeance on his kidnappers. Who is behind all these crimes, and can Shang stop them?
Why it matches: Fans watch both · both action
The Dragon and the Tiger Kids (1979)
Two young kung fu experts are terrorized by an evil warlord whose weapon is known as the Hell's Wind Staff. With the aid of an old rival of the warlord, they train in the Dragon Hands and the Rowing Oar to face off against the deadly Hell's Wind Staff.
Why it matches: Fans watch both · both action
The Buddha Assassinator (1980)
A young and unworldly kung fu student is now the student of an evil teacher, the villainous Manchu Lord Tsoi. The young impressionable man soon learns that his choice has made him a villain to his own family and people.
Why it matches: Fans watch both · both action
The 7 Grandmasters (1977)
An aged Kung Fu practitioner travels across China, challenging the best Grandmaster from each province to prove his mastery of martial arts. Meanwhile is a plot developing behind his back.
Why it matches: Fans watch both · both action
Disciples of the 36th Chamber (1985)
Monk San Te tries to support and protect Shaolin and her Fang Shih-yu who purposely attacks corrupt Ching officials.
Why it matches: Fans watch both · both action
Popcorn FlickMovies like thisShaolin Abbot (1979)
While international favorite David Chiang was best known for his roles as a grinning, streetwise, fighter in many Chang Cheh-directed classics, he rarely played a noble warrior monk. But here he portrays the great Chih Shim, the monk who saved the Southern Shaolin Temple. Making this production all the more notable is Lo Lieh, Shaws' first international star, who returns to a role he also made famous - that of Shaolin renegade Pai Mei. This, and even more, makes for a true martial arts epic of the first order.
Why it matches: Fans watch both · both action
Return to the 36th Chamber (1980)
The workers of a dye factory have their pay cut by 20% when the factory owner brings in some Manchu thugs to try and increase production. Desperate to reclaim their full wages, the workers hire an actor to impersonate a priest and kung-fu expert from the temple of Shaolin. The factory owner proves the actor a fraud, and punishes all those involved. The young actor feels he has let the workers down, and promises to atone. He sets out for Shaolin, determined to be accepted as a kung-fu pupil at the elite temple.
Why it matches: Fans watch both · both action
Popcorn FlickMovies like thisSlaughter in San Francisco (1974)
A Chinese-American cop, skilled in martial arts, battles the most powerful criminal gang in San Francisco that is responsible for the death of his partner.
Why it matches: Fans watch both · both drama & action
The Crippled Masters (1979)
Two men, one a lowly peon and the other a dutiful nobleman, are betrayed by their master and crippled for life-- One left with no arms and the other with paralyzed legs. Despite their obvious disadvantages, they strive to seek revenge against their evil master. The two men endeavor to track down the fabled Eight Jade Horses, said to hold the key to special martial arts techniques.
Why it matches: Fans watch both · both action
Shaolin vs. Ninja (1983)
A Japanese Prince proposes to the Shaolin abbot that a contest between Ching and Japanese martials arts should be held at the Shaolin Temple. However this is just a front for a more villainous plot to overthrow Shaolin and then China herself. Without doubt some of the best choreography to come out of the Orient and crack up as Japanese Bushido experts take on the very best of Shaolin kung fu
Why it matches: Fans watch both · both action
The Iron-Fisted Monk (1977)
Husker is a student of the Shaolin monks, learning kung fu so that he can avenge his uncle who was murdered by the Manchus who control the province. He leaves his training early, desperate to teach the killers a lesson, and teams up with a martial artist monk who is teaching a group of factory workers how to defend themselves. When the Manchus strike again, Husker and his Buddhist pal decide it's time to even the score.
Why it matches: Fans watch both · both action & drama
Shaolin vs. Lama (1983)
A kung fu fanatic, Yu Ting (Alexander Lo Rei), searching for the ultimate master, saves a young Shaolin monk, Hsu Shi (William Yen), from a group of mobsters and sees it as a golden opportunity to enrich his kung fu skills. He persuades the young novice monk to smuggle him into Shaolin, but Ting's presence isn't welcome and he is driven out, but remains close to the temple, keeping in touch with Hsu Shi. When Ting rescues a girl from the clutches of the Flying Eagle gang, the Golden Wheel Lama and sworn enemy of Shaolin finds the perfect excuse to lead an assault on the Temple. Realizing Ting's devotion, the abbot decides to bring Ting into the Shaolin order and teach him the deadliest techniques to prepare him for the Lama's merciless fury.
Why it matches: Fans watch both · both action & drama
The Deadly Duo (1971)
The plot involves patriots during the Sung Dynasty and their attempts to rescue a kidnapped prince from Ching troops who have invaded the north of China. The patriots are led by Ti Lung who recruits a mysterious but seemingly superhuman fighter played by David Chiang to find a way to cross a perilous bridge to enter an impregnable fortress to locate and rescue the imprisoned prince.
Why it matches: Fans watch both · both action
The Iron Monkey (1977)
Iron is the son of a rebel leader, but prefers to spend his days gambling and getting into fights. When his father's group is arrested and executed, Iron is forced to flee and hide in the woods as a beggar and thief. After being taken in by a Shaolin monastery and trained in the art of Monkey-Style Kung Fu, Iron vows to hunt down his father's killer and avenge his death.
Why it matches: Fans watch both · both action
Hitman in the Hand of Buddha (1981)
A country bumpkin arrives to help his brother's rice business. Things get out of hand while a rival company becomes corrupt. The bumpkin, an ace martial artist, fights off the rivals. Angered, the rivals hire a martial arts expert to fight the hero, only to get beaten up himself. The expert send his teacher to hurt the hero and succeeds. The hero is sent to a temple where he learns a new style of kung fu. Now with the skills, our hero is ready to get even.
Why it matches: Fans watch both · both action
Executioners from Shaolin (1977)
After the destruction of the Temple, a Shaolin disciple devotes years to mastering the Tiger style in order to defeat the martial arts master who killed his teacher. His wife, a Crane style specialist, has a feeling one style won't be enough.
Why it matches: Fans watch both · both action & drama
Popcorn FlickMovies like thisChallenge of the Masters (1976)
The Wong family kung fu school gets smacked around by a rival school. Wong Fei-hong gets fed up with the abuse and goes to learn from his fathers master. After one of the rival schools members kills some of the towns people Wong Fei-hong becomes enraged trains even more comes back and gets his revenge.
Why it matches: Fans watch both · both action & drama
Hand of Death (1976)
A young monk must face the Extended Iron Claw technique of a powerful warlord seeking to destroy Shaolin.
Why it matches: Fans watch both · both action
Popcorn FlickMovies like thisThe 18 Bronzemen (1976)
During the Manchurian invasion of China, the son of the Ming Dynasty General takes refuge in the Shaolin Temple to learn martial arts, so that he may seek revenge for his dead father. But he must first endure the rigorous test of the temple's legendary 18 Bronzemen.
Why it matches: Fans watch both · both action
Shaolin Mantis (1978)
When scholar Wei Fung is forcibly hired by the Manchu Emperor to infiltrate a clan of rebellious Ming Loyalists, his mission goes adrift when he falls in love with the clan's leader's granddaughter. Wei Fung must choose between his new love and his family, who will be put to death if he doesn't return to the palace successfully.
Why it matches: Fans watch both · both action & drama
Five Shaolin Masters (1974)
Hu Te et al. escape the burning Shaolin temple after the Qing soldiers destroyed it in Shaolin Temple. The group of 5 decide to develop secret codes to identify fellow patriots, enlist those patriots and eventually meet up again to escape to the south away from the Qings, and also identify the traitor who sold out Shaolin temple. Ma Fu Yi, joins the Qing top fighters to eliminate the rebels but is exposed by Ma Chao-Tsing who gets captured by Ma Fu Yi. Hu meets up with a group of Shaolin men secretly posing as bandits to rescue Ma as their leader is killed in the process, thus the bandits join the rest of the Shaolin patriots.
Why it matches: Fans watch both · both action & drama
The 8 Diagram Pole Fighter (1984)
The Yangs are betrayed by a government official conspiring with the Mongols. All of the Yang family males except the 5th and 6th brother are killed. Fu Sheng loses his mind after the death of his family, while the other brother takes refuge in a Buddhist temple.
Why it matches: Fans watch both · both action & drama
Worth the HypeMovies like thisSpiritual Kung Fu (1978)
Jackie Chan plays the part of the class clown in a shaolin temple whose deadliest secret is stolen. All is lost until Jackie's character discovers dancing blue ghosts with bright red hair who haunt the library.
Why it matches: Fans watch both · both action
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Frequently asked questions
What are the best movies like Invincible Shaolin?
The closest matches to Invincible Shaolin are Clan of the White Lotus (1980), Crippled Avengers (1978) and Two Champions of Shaolin (1980). Below are 27 more, each with the reason it matches.
What should I watch after Invincible Shaolin?
People who watched Invincible Shaolin most often go on to Clan of the White Lotus (1980), Crippled Avengers (1978) and Two Champions of Shaolin (1980).
What is the highest-rated movie like Invincible Shaolin?
Snake in the Eagle's Shadow (1978), rated 7.3/10 by 382 TMDB users.
What is the newest movie like Invincible Shaolin?
Disciples of the 36th Chamber (1985) is the most recent release on this list.
Are there Chinese movies like Invincible Shaolin?
Yes: Clan of the White Lotus (1980), Crippled Avengers (1978) and Two Champions of Shaolin (1980).
How are movies similar to Invincible Shaolin chosen?
First come films that Trakt’s viewers watch alongside Invincible Shaolin, then TMDB’s recommendations and films it rates as similar in story and genre. Each pick says which signal put it there.