Honoring AAPI Month Through the Power of Martial Arts Cinema

May marks Asian American, Native Hawaiian, and Pacific Islander (AANHPI) Heritage Month, a time dedicated to reflecting on the diverse histories, cultures, and contributions of AANHPI communities across the United States. Nearly 50 years ago, this began as just a single week in May. Since then, it has evolved into a month-long celebration observed nationwide, featuring events and storytelling that both honor heritage and engage with the ongoing struggles faced by these communities.

Today, AANHPI Heritage Month isn’t just about cuisine, traditions, or fashion, though those are essential parts of AANHPI culture. It’s also a time to acknowledge these communities by engaging in meaningful conversations about their grief, resilience, activism, and the pursuit of justice. The rise in anti-Asian hate during the COVID-19 pandemic only deepened the urgency for these conversations and reminded us why visibility and representation matter more than ever.

One of the most powerful ways to highlight culture and identity is through film. For this week’s blog, we wanted to highlight martial arts cinema. This genre of films goes beyond stunts and choreographed fight scenes. They explore discipline, philosophy, and the complexity of honor, often carried by characters fighting not just their opponents, but injustice, and their own inner struggles.

Our martial arts film collection features titles like Super Dragon: The Bruce Lee Story. This compelling film traces Bruce Lee’s rise from an ambitious young man delivering newspapers in Seattle to a martial arts instructor, tournament competitor, and eventually a film icon who redefined the image of Asian Americans in Hollywood. His journey was marked by intense focus and passion, yet he also faced significant personal and professional challenges. The film offers a powerful look at the man behind the legend, culminating in his mysterious and untimely death. 

Another film in our collection, Bloody Fists, delivers the kind of classic martial arts storytelling that defined a generation of cinema. Set in China, the film opens on a hopeful note: a man joyfully announces his brother’s blessing for his marriage. But their celebration is quickly interrupted by dark news: a villain has returned from exile in Japan, bringing with him a dangerous hybrid of judo and karate, and a plan to shield his opium-smuggling ring from justice. What follows is a high-stakes, action-packed showdown filled with powerful themes of loyalty and resistance.

Martial arts films like these have helped bring AANHPI experiences to the global stage, paving the way for broader representation in film and media. Bruce Lee, in particular, didn’t just transform how martial arts were portrayed on screen; he transformed how Asian Americans in cinema were seen at all.

This AANHPI Heritage Month, we invite you to join us in celebrating by exploring the legends and the strength captured in our martial arts collection. They remind us of the value of cultural pride and the importance of exploring other cultures outside your own. Superdragon: The Bruce Lee Story, Bloody Fists, and more are streaming now.

Looking for even more ways to watch and enjoy excellent movies & TV series?!? Head on over to YouTube and subscribe to Grapevine Documentaries, Multicom Entertainment, and TheArchive. These channels are dedicated to aficionados and lovers of cinema. You’ll find rare, retro, and restored films and TV, ranging from indies and series to Oscar-winning docs, unearthed MOWs, a killer horror library, and MORE!  

TheArchive channel is dedicated to aficionados and lovers of story, craft, and silver screen fun – streaming rare, retro, and restored films and classic TV. From indies and series to Oscar-winning documentaries, unearthed MOWs, and a killer horror library, TheArchive delivers forgotten, never-before-seen gems for free and many in 4K. Marilyn, Karloff, and Orson Welles stream alongside Reese, Keanu, and Samuel L. Jackson. Find true stories of Queen, Hendrix, and Sinatra, an LGBTQ library, MLK bios, and world history docs. TheArchive has the movies and shows you either saw, should’ve seen, or should be watching now!