If you grew up in the early 2000s, you remember the vibe. It was a weird, electric time when Hollywood decided that the best way to reinvent the action genre was to smash Hong Kong martial arts together with American hip-hop. At the center of that storm were two guys who couldn’t have been more different on paper: Jet Li and DMX.
One was a soft-spoken, world-champion Wushu practitioner from Beijing. The other was the raw, barking, multi-platinum voice of Yonkers. Somehow, when they shared a screen, it worked. It wasn't just "fine." It was a cultural moment that defined an entire era of Silver Pictures' "urban" action flicks.
The First Spark: Romeo Must Die (2000)
Most people forget that DMX wasn't actually the co-lead in their first outing. In Romeo Must Die, Jet Li was the undisputed star, playing Han Sing, a former cop seeking revenge in Oakland. DMX played Silk, a nightclub owner who was more of a high-profile supporting character than a partner.
But even with limited screen time, Dark Man X stole his scenes.
Honestly, the movie itself was a bit of a mess. It tried to be a Shakespearean tragedy set against an NFL stadium real estate scam. Yeah, really. But the chemistry between the "hip-hop" aesthetic and the "wire-fu" action was undeniable. This was the movie that gave us the "X-ray" bone-breaking shots long before Mortal Kombat games made them a staple. It also featured the late, great Aaliyah, making the film a bittersweet time capsule today.
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Despite the "so-bad-it's-good" reputation some critics give it now, Romeo Must Die was a massive hit. It pulled in over $91 million on a $25 million budget. Hollywood took notice. Producer Joel Silver realized he had a winning formula: Jet Li’s speed plus DMX’s "street" intensity.
Cradle 2 the Grave: The Peak of the Duo
Fast forward to 2003. This is the big one. If you search for a "Jet Li movie with DMX," Cradle 2 the Grave is usually what you're actually looking for.
This time, they were the main event.
The plot is peak early-2000s absurdity. Anthony Fait (DMX) is a high-end jewel thief who steals a bag of "black diamonds." Turns out, they aren't diamonds at all—they're synthetic plutonium. Su (Jet Li) is a Taiwanese agent who needs those stones to stop a global catastrophe. When Fait’s daughter is kidnapped by a rogue agent played by Mark Dacascos, the thief and the agent have to team up.
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Why this movie hits different
You've got a scene where DMX escapes a rooftop on an ATV by literally jumping between buildings. Then you've got Jet Li taking on an entire underground fight club of cage fighters—including UFC legends like Tito Ortiz and Randy Couture—with one hand literally tucked in his pocket.
It was ridiculous. It was over-the-top. It was perfect.
- The Budget: $25 million.
- The Box Office: $56.4 million.
- The Vibe: Pure adrenaline fueled by the "X Gon' Give It To Ya" soundtrack.
People often argue about which film is "better." Romeo Must Die had more heart (and Aaliyah), but Cradle 2 the Grave is the superior action movie. The fight choreography by Corey Yuen was tighter, and the stakes felt more personal.
The Cultural Impact and the "What If"
There was a specific "Andrzej Bartkowiak style" back then. He directed both these films (and Exit Wounds with Steven Seagal and DMX). He loved high-contrast lighting, rapid-fire editing, and making sure the music was as loud as the explosions.
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Kinda makes you miss the days when action movies didn't need to be part of a 30-movie cinematic universe to get a green light.
Jet Li and DMX shared a genuine respect for each other. In interviews, Li often praised X's natural intensity. Following DMX's passing in 2021, the martial arts community—including Li and MC Jin—paid tribute to the rapper's impact. They weren't just co-stars; they were the faces of a bridge between East and West that hadn't been crossed quite like that before.
What You Should Do Next
If you haven't seen these in a decade, they hold up surprisingly well as "popcorn" movies. You shouldn't expect Crouching Tiger, Hidden Dragon level philosophy here. You should expect DMX barking and Jet Li kicking people through walls.
- Watch Romeo Must Die first to see the origins of the "Hip-Hop Kung Fu" subgenre. Pay attention to the soundtrack; it's basically a 2000s R&B time capsule.
- Queue up Cradle 2 the Grave for the fight club scene alone. It remains one of Jet Li's most creative "one-vs-many" sequences in his American filmography.
- Check out the soundtracks. Both films were released under Def Jam and feature some of the best production work from Timbaland and Dame Grease.
The era of the "urban martial arts" blockbuster was short-lived, but it left a mark. Whether you're a fan of Jet Li’s technical precision or DMX’s raw energy, these movies represent a moment in time when two worlds collided and created something undeniably fun.
Actionable Insight: If you're looking to stream these today, they frequently cycle through platforms like Max or Netflix. For the best experience, look for the "Unrated" version of Cradle 2 the Grave to see the full extent of the stunt work that didn't make the theatrical cut.