Finding a movie that hits the same notes as Stephen Chow’s 2004 masterpiece is actually a nightmare. Most "action comedies" are just action movies with a few bad jokes, or comedies with one or two poorly choreographed fights. Kung Fu Hustle is different. It’s a Looney Tunes cartoon brought to life with high-stakes martial arts and a weirdly emotional core.
You’ve probably seen it a dozen times. The Landlady’s sonic scream? Iconic. The harp-playing assassins? Terrifyingly cool. But once the credits roll, what’s next? If you’re looking for kung fu hustle similar movies, you have to look for that specific blend of "Mo Lei Tau" (nonsense humor), incredible wire-work, and underdog stories.
Honestly, nobody does it quite like Stephen Chow, but a few films come dangerously close.
The Immediate Must-Watches: Stephen Chow’s Other Hits
If you haven’t seen Shaolin Soccer, stop reading this and go find it. It’s the closest thing to a spiritual sibling you’ll ever find. Directed by and starring Chow, it basically asks: "What if monks used their superhuman abilities to win a soccer tournament?" It has the same CGI-heavy, reality-bending physics. Seeing a goalie turn into a literal flaming tiger to block a ball is the exact energy you’re looking for.
Then there is The God of Cookery. It’s less about fighting and more about, well, cooking, but the tone is identical. It’s about an arrogant chef who gets humbled and has to learn "the ultimate cooking" in a Shaolin temple. The absurdity levels are off the charts. You get "Pissing Beef Balls" that are so elastic they can be used as ping-pong balls. It sounds stupid. It is. It’s also brilliant.
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- Journey to the West: Conquering the Demons (2013): Chow stayed behind the camera for this one. It’s a dark, fantastical, and deeply funny take on the classic Chinese legend.
- CJ7: Think E.T. but with a weirdly adorable alien dog and a lot of slapstick violence involving a poor construction worker and his son.
Kung Fu Hustle Similar Movies From the Jackie Chan Era
You can’t talk about martial arts comedy without the king. While Stephen Chow leans into the supernatural and the "cartoonish," Jackie Chan is all about the "how did he not die?" physical comedy.
The Legend of Drunken Master (also known as Drunken Master II) is widely considered one of the greatest martial arts films ever made. The final fight in the steel mill? Pure insanity. Jackie plays Wong Fei-hung, a folk hero who gets stronger the more he drinks. The choreography is fast, rhythmic, and genuinely funny. It doesn't use the CGI "magic" of Kung Fu Hustle, but the way Jackie uses his environment—ladders, benches, hot coals—feels just as inventive.
Project A and Police Story are also essential. These aren't just "fights." They are elaborate sequences of movement that feel like a dance. In Project A, there’s a bicycle chase through narrow alleys that captures that same frantic, "how are they still going?" vibe that the Landlady’s chase scene in Kung Fu Hustle perfected.
The "Western" Versions That Actually Get It
Most Hollywood attempts at this style fail. They try too hard to be "cool" or they don't understand the pacing. But a few gems actually understand the assignment.
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Kung Pow! Enter the Fist is a love letter (and a total mockery) of 1970s kung fu cinema. Director Steve Oedekerk took an actual 1976 movie called Tiger and Crane Fists, digitally inserted himself into it, and redubbed the whole thing. It is arguably the most "nonsense" movie on this list. If you loved the absurdity of the Toad Style or the Axe Gang, Kung Pow will speak to your soul. "I am a great magician! Your clothes are red!"
Then there is Everything Everywhere All at Once. People might argue it’s a sci-fi drama, but at its heart, the fight scenes are pure Hong Kong cinema. The way Michelle Yeoh uses a fanny pack as a weapon or how Ke Huy Quan moves with a mix of grace and goofiness is a direct descendant of the style Stephen Chow popularized. It has the heart, the weirdness, and the "Wait, did they really just do that?" factor.
Why These Movies Stick With Us
It isn't just the punching. Kung Fu Hustle works because it’s a "zero to hero" story about a nobody who discovers he’s a literal god of combat. We love that. We love the idea that the grumpy old woman down the street might actually be a hidden master who can level a building with a shout.
Big Trouble in Little China captures this perfectly. Kurt Russell plays Jack Burton, who thinks he's the hero, but he's actually the bumbling sidekick to the real martial arts masters. It’s a 1980s fever dream filled with Chinese mythology, neon lights, and underground fighting cults. It’s campy, it’s fast, and it’s deeply fun.
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The Deep Cuts You’ve Probably Missed
If you’ve exhausted the big names, you have to look into the Shaw Brothers catalog. Specifically, look for Holy Flame of the Martial World (1983). It’s absolute chaos. Characters have "telepathic" swords, people explode for no reason, and the colors are so bright they’ll hurt your eyes. It’s the spiritual ancestor to the over-the-top nature of modern kung fu comedies.
Also, check out Tai Chi Zero. It feels like a video game come to life. It uses graphics on screen to explain moves and features a "steampunk" aesthetic that you don't usually see in the genre. It’s high energy, slightly exhausting, and very creative.
Your Actionable Watchlist
Don't just browse Netflix for three hours. Pick one of these based on what you loved most about Kung Fu Hustle:
- For the "superhuman" cartoon vibe: Watch Shaolin Soccer.
- For the "hidden masters in a slum" vibe: Watch Everything Everywhere All at Once.
- For the "pure, high-speed choreography": Watch The Legend of Drunken Master.
- For the "I want to laugh until it hurts" vibe: Watch Kung Pow! Enter the Fist.
- For the "modern cinematic polish": Watch Journey to the West: Conquering the Demons.
Start with Shaolin Soccer if you haven't seen it. It's the only one that truly matches the DNA of what Stephen Chow created. After that, dive into the Jackie Chan classics to see where the physical comedy roots actually began.