8 Times Where Jet Li Fought Another Action Hero In A Movie

Prior to his move to the United States, Jet Li was already a highly acclaimed figure, particularly in Asia. Upon his arrival, he shared the screen with prominent action stars and engaged in thrilling combat sequences. His journey began as an athlete, where he clinched five national championship titles for the Beijing Wushu Team. This achievement catapulted him to fame within Asian cinema, marking his debut with Shaolin Temple, followed by blockbusters such as Once Upon a Time in China and Fist of Legend.

Jet Li made a name for himself in Hollywood by joining the popular action movie series “Lethal Weapon” to act alongside Mel Gibson in the fourth installment. Following this, he took on leading roles in his own movies and achieved remarkable success. Throughout the 1980s to the 2000s, he collaborated with numerous renowned action stars, demonstrating that his Wushu martial arts skills could compete effectively with Western combat styles, delighting fans all around the globe.

1. Lethal Weapon 4 (1998)

Mel Gibson

In his initial American film role, Jet Li played a significant antagonist in “Lethal Weapon 4.” His character, Wah Sing Ku, was a Triad member who posed a considerable challenge. Reminiscent of how Gary Busey served as the primary adversary for Riggs (Mel Gibson) in the original “Lethal Weapon,” Li presented the main threat in this movie, while Riggs and Murtaugh (Danny Glover) pursued a Chinese immigrant smuggling operation.

Jet Li captivated American cinema-goers with his extraordinary martial arts abilities, showing himself to be nearly too much for Mel Gibson’s Riggs in their encounters. Their most intense battle occurred during the climactic fight on the pier, and it was only a fortunate break and an assault rifle that allowed Riggs to emerge victorious against Li (Ku). However, it wasn’t the quality of Li’s performance that led to the end of the franchise; instead, he revitalized the series following a less successful third installment.

2. Hero (2002)

Donnie Yen

Back in 2002, I was captivated by one of the finest Asian martial arts films I’ve ever seen, the mesmerizing “Hero”. In this cinematic masterpiece, I found myself in the shoes of an enigmatic assassin, tasked with eliminating a king to thwart China’s unification. The movie was a visual feast, owing not just to my performance, but also to Tony Leung, Maggie Cheung, Zhang Ziyi, and Donnie Yen. The confrontation between myself and Yen was a breathtaking spectacle that defied belief, a testament to the skill and artistry of martial arts choreography.

In a different wording: Li employed his martial arts abilities from Wushu, incorporating elements of the mystical combat style found in Wuxia. Yen portrayed Long Sky, a skilled spearman who was the initial adversary Li’s character overcame. The fight scene between Jet Li and Donnie Yen commenced with a tense standoff, eventually escalating into an extraordinary duel that showcased wire work seldom seen in other Wuxia films of that era. This battle significantly contributed to Hero approaching the greatness demonstrated by Crouching Tiger, Hidden Dragon.

3. Cradle 2 The Grave (2003)

Mark Dacascos

2003 saw the release of a movie where Jet Li starred in an American action flick alongside former rapper-turned-actor DMX. In this film, DMX portrayed jewel thief Tony Fait, whose latest heist turned sour. This put him on the radar of crime lord Ling, played by Mark Dacascos. When Ling abducts Tony’s daughter, he forms an alliance with a Taiwanese intelligence officer named Su (Jet Li) to rescue her.

In this setting, Jet Li and Mark Dacascos are locked in combat, a duel that took place mere two years after Dacascos demonstrated his remarkable martial arts prowess in the fantasy kung fu monster movie titled “Brotherhood of the Wolf.” Despite being somewhat underestimated, Dacascos was an exceptionally skilled action star from the 1990s. In a highly anticipated confrontation during the climax, he went head-to-head with Li’s character, offering fans of action movies the long-awaited spectacle between two true martial arts masters in real life.

4. Unleashed (2005)

Scott Adkins

Fans of B-grade action flicks widely recognize Scott Adkins as a genuine icon within the genre. With his performances in the Undisputed series, he consistently stood out and was admired in virtually every film he joined. His popularity even extended to larger productions, with John Wick: Chapter 4 being one of his more recent appearances.

Since the age of 13, Adkins has been immersed in martial arts, proficiently mastering various styles, including Wushu, which is highly revered by Jet Li. This made the prospect of these two action legends clashing in the film “Unleashed” all the more thrilling. In this production, Li portrays Danny the Dog, a deadly assassin. While Adkins’ character didn’t have a named role, he was pivotal in the pool fight club scene, a fierce confrontation that matched the intensity of any other battle depicted in the movie.

5. War (2007)

Jason Statham

Jet Li and Jason Statham have collaborated in numerous films across their careers. Their first collaboration was a sci-fi action flick titled “The One“, where they initially clashed, but the narrative primarily revolved around Jet Li fighting multiple versions of himself in a story about the multiverse. However, their most intense confrontation occurred in the 2007 movie “War“, which featured them as former FBI partners who now found themselves on opposite sides of the law.

In the film, actor Jet Li portrays Rogue, a hitman who used to work alongside FBI agent John Crawford (played by Statham). The narrative opens with Rogue assassinating Crawford’s current partner and his entire family, leading up to their climactic showdown. Their confrontation was not only a physically intense battle but also a verbal one, as the story took a dramatic turn, making the final fight both electrifying and destructive.

6. The Forbidden Kingdom (2008)

Jackie Chan

It’s quite astonishing, but it’s true that Jet Li and Jackie Chan have starred together only once – in the 2008 movie “The Forbidden Kingdom”. This is a fantasy Wuxia film where a teenage boy journeys back through time to ancient China, becoming entangled in a war while attempting to return home. In this film, Chan portrays Lu Yan, and Li takes on the role of the Monkey King, two legendary Chinese characters from folklore.

From a film enthusiast’s perspective, while the movie garnered a mix of opinions, I must say the fight sequence between Chan and Li was nothing short of spectacular. The brilliance of this battle lies in the fusion of their unique fighting styles. Chan, with his unorthodox drunken boxing technique, squared off against Li’s graceful Wuxia wire work, resulting in a breathtaking spectacle that left me yearning for more. Alas, it seemed as though the fight was over all too soon.

7. The Mummy: Tomb of the Dragon Emperor (2008)

Brendan Fraser & Michelle Yeoh

People who were kids when The Mummy was first released are well aware that Brendan Fraser shone as a dynamic action star in the early 2000s. Although he now focuses more on dramatic roles in Hollywood, back then, Rick O’Connell was just as renowned in action films as any other actor. In 2008, the film The Mummy: Tomb of the Dragon Emperor reintroduced him and placed him against Jet Li’s revived Qin Shi Huang.

In the battles against this martial arts master, Rick O’Connell often didn’t come out on top. Michelle Yeoh also added impressive fight sequences to the mix. Unfortunately, this movie wasn’t critically acclaimed, and The Mummy franchise was starting to lose its luster. Still, having Jet Li and Brendan Fraser together in the same film was a delight for fans who admired both the series and Li’s popular action cinema career in America.

8. The Expendables (2010)

Dolph Lundgren

The Expendables series significantly enhanced action movie enthusiasts’ experiences. By uniting the principal action stars from the 80s to the present in a massive ensemble film, it offered an all-you-can-eat buffet of what fans adore about this genre. Sylvester Stallone took charge, with Arnold Schwarzenegger and Bruce Willis following closely as iconic figures from the 1980s. However, there were numerous other notable stars involved, such as Jet Li and Dolph Lundgren.

In the realm of action movies, few pairs can match Jet Li and Dolph Lundgren when it comes to martial arts prowess versus raw power. Li showcases his finely tuned martial arts abilities, while Lundgren leverages his immense strength. Interestingly enough, they initially fought together but became adversaries in their first film, leading to two electrifying fight scenes where each man dished out equal blows. To put it simply, their rivalry brought out the best in both of them.

2025-06-06 21:38