10 Underrated Jet Li Movies You Must See

Jet Li has built a global career that stretches from mainland Chinese productions to Hong Kong hits and large scale international projects. He trained with the Beijing Wushu Team and brought that athletic base to screen roles that mix period adventure, modern thrillers, and science fiction. His filmography includes celebrated landmarks, yet it also contains excellent features that many viewers simply have not explored.

This guide gathers ten titles that highlight range across genres and production eras. You will find alternate release titles, key collaborators, and story details that help you pick what to watch next. Every entry focuses on concrete facts about casts, crews, and settings so you can quickly decide which film fits your mood.

‘Born to Defence’ (1988)

Jet Li makes his directing debut and plays a Chinese soldier who returns to Qingdao after the war and faces clashes with foreign sailors in the port city. The film stages boxing influenced choreography and street level brawls that contrast with traditional wushu movements. The story follows his character’s adjustment to civilian life while defending locals from abuse.

The production was shot on coastal sets that recreate dockside bars and alleys, which supports a grounded tone. Period costuming and props place the action in the immediate aftermath of conflict, and the plot uses that setting to frame encounters between servicemen and residents.

‘Dragon Fight’ (1989)

‘Dragon Fight’ pairs Jet Li with Stephen Chow in an early screen appearance for Chow. The story sends a Chinese martial arts demonstration team to the United States and follows two friends who take different paths once they arrive. Jet Li’s character tries to do the right thing while navigating immigration troubles and street level threats.

Filming took place in San Francisco locations, which gives the fights and chases a recognizable urban backdrop. The narrative mixes Cantonese and English dialogue and reflects late stage Hong Kong action trends that were beginning to push stories into overseas settings.

‘The Master’ (1992)

‘The Master’ brings Jet Li to Los Angeles as a disciple who travels to help his teacher and ends up battling a rival martial arts group. Tsui Hark directs and uses storefronts, freeways, and strip malls to stage fish out of water episodes along with fast paced set pieces. The plot centers on protecting a Chinatown school and confronting a former student who turned violent.

Practical stunts emphasize speed in tight interiors such as clinics and shops. The film captures a slice of Chinese American community life through local extras and signage, and it blends comic beats with straight action while keeping the focus on teacher student bonds.

‘The Legend’ (1993)

Corey Yuen directs ‘Fong Sai-yuk’, which adapts the folk hero’s youthful exploits with a mix of acrobatics and ensemble comedy. Jet Li plays the title character, while Josephine Siao stands out as his fearless mother who often steals scenes in domestic sequences. The story connects to the secretive Red Flower Society and sets up duels that occur on rooftops and public squares.

Wire assisted choreography lets performers leap across market stalls and balance on precarious platforms. The film uses Southern Chinese settings and colorful costuming to create clear visual cues for clans and families, and the music supports a lively tempo across tournament and wager scenes.

‘The Legend II’ (1993)

The sequel continues ‘Fong Sai-yuk’ with new trials tied to the Red Flower Society and its leadership tests. Corey Yuen returns to direct, and the script sends the hero on missions that involve disguises, encrypted messages, and court intrigue. Family dynamics remain central as parents and elders push duty and tradition while the hero tries to protect loved ones.

Set pieces highlight team based tactics that require coordination rather than solo duels. Production design expands to official compounds and riverfront docks, which allows for chase scenes on boats and fights that move between interior halls and outdoor courtyards.

‘The Bodyguard from Beijing’ (1994)

Also released as ‘The Defender’, this modern action thriller casts Jet Li as a mainland security specialist hired to protect a key witness in Hong Kong. Corey Yuen directs and balances shootouts with close quarters combat in apartments, shopping centers, and a courtroom. Christy Chung plays the witness whose testimony draws contract killers to their safe houses.

The film uses high rise interiors and busy streets for suspense sequences that revolve around surveillance and counter surveillance. Collin Chou features as a primary assassin, which leads to a final confrontation that showcases mix and match choreography with firearms, knives, and improvised tools.

‘The Enforcer’ (1995)

Known in some regions as ‘The Enforcer’, this feature teams Jet Li with child actor Miu Tse as a father son pair thrust into a criminal investigation. He plays an undercover officer who infiltrates a gang and brings his son to Hong Kong when the cover situation escalates. Anita Mui co stars as a local officer who becomes an ally during the case.

Action design moves from schoolrooms to warehouses and docks, and it often puts the father and child together in escape sequences that require trust and timing. The plot highlights cross border policing procedures and the strain that covert work places on families.

‘Tai-Chi Master’ (1993)

Yuen Woo ping directs ‘Tai Chi Master’, which pairs Jet Li with Michelle Yeoh in a Shaolin to battlefield saga. The story follows two friends who leave the temple and end up on opposite sides of a political struggle. Jet Li’s character develops internal strength methods that become the basis for the art presented in the film.

The choreography showcases soft to hard transitions, with pushes and neutralizations that send opponents flying from minimal contact. Large group formations fill courtyards and bridges, and weapons drills include staffs, spears, and swords that match the temple training sequences shown early on.

‘Contract Killer’ (1998)

Released internationally as ‘Contract Killer’, this crime caper stars Jet Li as a newcomer who teams with a small time fixer played by Eric Tsang. The pair hunts a mysterious assassin called the King of Killers after a bounty is posted, which pulls them into disputes involving Japanese and Hong Kong underworld figures. Gigi Leung appears as a relative who complicates the teammates’ plans.

The film mixes hotel corridors, convention halls, and luxury homes to create puzzle like chases where mistaken identity plays a role. Stephen Tung directs and includes gadget assisted traps along with hand to hand fights, which keeps the tone light even when rivals close in.

‘Once Upon a Time in China and America’ (1997)

Jet Li returns as Wong Fei hung in ‘Once Upon a Time in China and America’, which relocates the series to a frontier town in the United States. Sammo Hung directs and stages horseback pursuits, river rescues, and saloon confrontations while keeping the Wong Fei hung medical clinic at the center of community life. Rosamund Kwan and Xiong Xin xin reprise key roles from earlier entries.

Location work in deserts and forests gives the long running saga a fresh visual identity. The production blends Cantonese dialogue with English speaking characters, which reflects the cultural mix of Chinese railroad workers, indigenous communities, and settlers who share the town.

Share your picks for lesser known Jet Li films in the comments so other readers can discover them too.