Overview
A martial arts master faces new challenges in a foreign land, battling rivals to uphold his legacy.
Ember's analysis
- Pacing
- Brisk
- Intensity
- Strong
- Complexity
- Easy to follow
- Violence
- Brutal
- dignified
- propulsive
- sincere
- martial arts movie night
- action film marathon
What critics said
Critics broadly praised the film's energetic, clearly staged martial arts choreography, period atmosphere, and cultural sincerity, while noting a conventional and occasionally thin narrative.
What sets it apart
May contain story progression spoilers
Ip Man seeks to establish Wing Chun in Hong Kong while negotiating rivalry with Hung Ga practitioners and other local masters.
The Hong Kong setting under British colonial rule and the introduction of Western boxing frame the film's major conflicts.
The choreography contrasts Wing Chun, Hung Ga, and Western boxing through fluid, intricate sequences and distinct movement systems.
Donnie Yen's Ip Man propagates his discipline while facing professional rivalry and threats to his moral authority.
Films like Ip Man 2, and why
Ip Man
period martial arts drama centered on a principled master, cultural identity, and elegantly choreographed combat
Once Upon a Time in China
Hong Kong historical action film combining national pride, colonial-era conflict, and virtuosic martial arts set pieces
Fearless
biographical martial arts drama with disciplined choreography, teacher-student traditions, and a charismatic real-life protagonist
Legend of the Fist: The Return of Chen Zhen
stylish Hong Kong action drama built around contrasting martial arts schools and a showdown between traditional and Western fighting
Movie Details
- Director
- Wilson Yip
- Release Date
- 2010-04-29
- Runtime
- 108 min
- Rating
- 7.5 / 10 (2572)
Cast
- Donnie Yen
- Sammo Hung
- Huang Xiaoming
- Lynn Hung Doi-Lam
- Kent Cheng Jak-Si
- Ngo Ka-Nin
- Simon Yam
- Calvin Cheng
- Louis Fan Siu-Wong
- Dennis To Yu-Hang
Where to watch in United States
- Streaming
- Hulu, Amazon Prime Video, fuboTV, Peacock Premium, FlixFling, Hi-YAH, ViX Premium Amazon Channel, Amazon Prime Video with Ads, Peacock Premium Plus, Midnight Pulp Amazon Channel, Hi-YAH Amazon Channel, Cineverse Amazon Channel
- Rent
- Amazon Video, Apple TV Store, Google Play Movies, YouTube, Fandango At Home
- Buy
- Amazon Video, Apple TV Store, Google Play Movies, YouTube, Fandango At Home, FlixFling
Streaming options come from TMDB and change over time.
Common questions
- What is Ip Man 2 about?
- A dignified Wing Chun master builds a school in colonial Hong Kong while defending his discipline against local rivalry and Western boxing.
- What is Ip Man 2 like to watch?
- Ember's analysis rates the pacing of Ip Man 2 as brisk, its intensity as strong and its storytelling as easy to follow.
- Is Ip Man 2 violent?
- Yes. Ember rates the violence in Ip Man 2 as brutal.
- What did critics think of Ip Man 2?
- Critics broadly praised the film's energetic, clearly staged martial arts choreography, period atmosphere, and cultural sincerity, while noting a conventional and occasionally thin narrative.
- Which films are like Ip Man 2?
- Films with a similar feel include Ip Man, Once Upon a Time in China, Fearless, and Legend of the Fist: The Return of Chen Zhen.
- How long is Ip Man 2?
- Ip Man 2 runs 108 minutes.
- Where can I watch Ip Man 2?
- In United States, Ip Man 2 streams on Hulu, Amazon Prime Video, fuboTV, Peacock Premium, FlixFling, Hi-YAH, ViX Premium Amazon Channel, Amazon Prime Video with Ads, Peacock Premium Plus, Midnight Pulp Amazon Channel, Hi-YAH Amazon Channel, Cineverse Amazon Channel.
