Overview
A master of martial arts faces challenges that will test his skills and honor.
Ember's analysis
- Pacing
- Brisk
- Intensity
- Strong
- Complexity
- Easy to follow
- Violence
- Moderate
- heroic
- tense
- proud
- martial arts movie night
- historical action marathon
What critics said
Critics broadly praised Donnie Yen's dignified performance, engaging narrative, and exceptionally graceful martial arts choreography, while noting its conventional nationalist pulp framing.
What sets it apart
May contain story progression spoilers
Ip Man's confrontations with Japanese forces transform personal martial arts mastery into symbolic resistance during wartime Foshan.
The film broadly draws on Ip Man's life while inventing or heightening major duels for dramatic impact.
Ip Man's controlled Wing Chun technique contrasts with the aggression and dishonor of rival masters and occupying soldiers.
Ip Man's family life and reputation in Foshan remain central as martial artists and civilians face escalating hardship.
Films like Ip Man, and why
Fearless
shared martial arts spectacle, historical drama, national identity, and dignified heroic protagonist
Hero
shared Chinese martial arts tradition, period setting, stylized combat, and themes of honor
The Grandmaster
shared martial arts mastery, historical conflict, and character-driven action drama
Movie Details
- Director
- Wilson Yip
- Release Date
- 2008-12-12
- Runtime
- 106 min
- Rating
- 7.8 / 10 (4263)
Cast
- Donnie Yen
- Simon Yam
- Lynn Hung Doi-Lam
- Hiroyuki Ikeuchi
- Gordon Lam Ka-Tung
- Louis Fan Siu-Wong
- Xing Yu
- Wong Yau-Nam
- Dennis To Yu-Hang
- Calvin Cheng
Where to watch in United States
- Streaming
- Hulu, fuboTV, Peacock Premium, Screambox Amazon Channel, FlixFling, Hi-YAH, ViX Premium Amazon Channel, 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 about?
- A serene kung fu master is drawn from private virtuosity into public resistance when wartime occupation turns Foshan into a test of honor.
- What is Ip Man like to watch?
- Ember's analysis rates the pacing of Ip Man as brisk, its intensity as strong and its storytelling as easy to follow.
- Is Ip Man violent?
- Somewhat. Ember rates the violence in Ip Man as moderate.
- What did critics think of Ip Man?
- Critics broadly praised Donnie Yen's dignified performance, engaging narrative, and exceptionally graceful martial arts choreography, while noting its conventional nationalist pulp framing.
- Which films are like Ip Man?
- Films with a similar feel include Fearless, Hero, and The Grandmaster.
- How long is Ip Man?
- Ip Man runs 106 minutes.
- Where can I watch Ip Man?
- In United States, Ip Man streams on Hulu, fuboTV, Peacock Premium, Screambox Amazon Channel, FlixFling, Hi-YAH, ViX Premium Amazon Channel, Peacock Premium Plus, Midnight Pulp Amazon Channel, Hi-YAH Amazon Channel, Cineverse Amazon Channel.
