The “Ip Man” films represent some of the most fun one can have with the martial arts genre. The franchise is loosely based on the life of present-day Ip Man (or Yip Man), a Chinese martial arts grandmaster who specialized in the art of Wing Chun, and whose most famous student was Bruce Lee, the star of incredible martial arts action. movie “Enter the Dragon”. The property’s main films are directed by Wilson Yip and star Donnie Yen as the title character. Yen played Ip Man for over a decade in the meantime, giving us one of the best “Star Wars” characters of all time in Chirrut Îmwe from “Rogue One: A Star Wars Story,” as well as the one of “John’s” best fights. “Wick” films.
As far as martial arts cinema goes, it’s rarely better than the “Ip Man” films, which manage to build tension even though the audience knows full well that Ip Man will never completely lose a particular fight. Aside from its phenomenal action scenes and stunts, it’s also a franchise known for being refreshingly character-driven, in addition to having interesting depictions of the Second Sino-Japanese War and British colonialism in Hong Kong. These aren’t just fight scenes wrapped in plot, but movies with actual stories to tell that feature great action scenes to boot.
With a fifth “Ip Man” film reportedly on the way, it’s never a bad time to visit the property. Whether it’s been a minute since you’ve seen these films or you’ve never had the pleasure of watching “Ip Man” wipe out 10 guys in a fight and are wondering where to start, here’s your guide to the best viewing order for “Ip Man”. “Man” franchise.
The Best Order to Watch Ip Man Movies
The correct order to watch “Ip Man” movies is simply to follow the release order. Although the films have a fairly simple naming convention, there is an exception for a spin-off film that takes place within the timeline of the films, making it important to go by the release date, like this:
- “Ip Man” (2008)
- “Ip Man 2” (2010)
- “Ip Man 3” (2015)
- “Master Z: The Legacy of Ip Man” (2018)
- “Ip Man 4: The Finale” (2019)
This order also follows the thematic line of the franchise, with each film focusing on a different theme. The first film is about Ip Man trying to survive in the face of oppression, while the second is about adapting to a new reality and trying to make a living. Likewise, the spin-off film and the fourth film are about legacy. As for the third film in the franchise, it’s actually about Ip Man fighting Mike Tyson under the gaze of a young Bruce Lee.
Following this order allows you to experience a complete story with a beginning, middle, and end. Or at least it was like that until 2023. That’s because it was announced that a new “Ip Man” movie, titled “Ip Man 5,” was being developed by Mandarin Motion Pictures , with Donnie Yen involved at least to the extent that he shared the film. teaser poster on Instagram at that time. How and if Yen will actually reprise his role is a very interesting question given the finality of the character’s story in the aptly titled “Ip Man 4: The Finale.”
Still, it’s hard not to be excited about the prospect of more “Ip Man.” These films are nationalist propaganda at its best and a chance for China to prove its superiority to the world through the most ridiculous and over-the-top martial arts showdowns.
