The Best Movies About Martial Arts Legend Bruce Lee: Biographies, Documentaries & Instructional Films Are Essential Bruce Lee Viewing

Legendary martial artist, actor and film director Bruce Lee only starred in five major motion pictures, had a small part in a 1969 James Garner movie (Marlowe) and co-starred as Kato in the American television series The Green Hornet. Despite a relatively small number of movies, Bruce Lee's legend has only grown since his tragic premature death in 1973.

Similar to other Hollywood stars dying while still in youthful prime, Lee became an icon. Like Marilyn Monroe, James Dean or Elvis Presley, his death at 33, keeps him forever young and electrically gymnastic in his classic action films. An Asian superstar while alive, Lee morphed into a true global icon and he's now synonymous with martial arts.

There are many films chronicling his life and incomparable fighting prowess. Sifting through them is time consuming. Following are the best on Lee's life, his legend and most of all his eye popping fighting style.

Bruce Lee: The Legend (1977)

Produced by Raymond Chow, Lee's producing partner on Lee's Return of The Dragon and Fists Of Fury, this is a well produced documentary with plenty of footage of Bruce Lee's films, along with his screen test, interviews with friends, co-stars and training partners. Generous clips of Bruce Lee as a boy acting in Chinese movies alongside his father actor Hoi-Chuen Lee is just one of the many highlights of the documentary.

Bruce Lee: The Man, The Myth (1978)

This biography is light viewing at only 70 mins, but it hits most of the big points of Lee's mythic rise to fame and fortune. Bruce Lee look-alike actor Bruce Li has the look and the moves and while the movie tends to sensationalize some aspect of Lee's life, it more than delivers on well done fight scenes and overall fun factor.

Bruce Lee: The Curse Of The Dragon (1993)

Films On Bruce Lee.

Credit: Will N. Stape

Copyright: Will N. Stape