Ip Man (2008)
Kernel Score: 88% · 4,031 ratings · Rated R
Genres: Drama, Action, History
Released: 2008-12-12
Runtime: 106 minutes
Is Ip Man worth watching?
Worth watching. The story of the kung fu master who taught Bruce Lee, set during the Japanese occupation. Donnie Yen's fight scenes are superb, and the drama around them is simple but solid.
Watch it if you
- love martial arts films
- like polished, well-staged fight scenes
- enjoy period stories about honour and pride
Skip it if you
- hate subtitles
- want deep character work
Best for: Action night in
Fresh Kernels verdict, AI-assisted from our scores, audience reviews and the official rating.
Where to watch Ip Man
- Stream: Hulu, Fubo, Peacock, FlixFling, Hi-YAH
- Free with ads: Kanopy, Fawesome, YOW.tv, The Roku Channel, Fandango at Home
- Rent: Prime Video, Apple TV, Google Play, YouTube
- Buy: Prime Video, Apple TV, Google Play, YouTube
US availability, updated 2026-10-23.
Overview
A semi-biographical account of Yip Man, the first martial arts master to teach the Chinese martial art of Wing Chun. The film focuses on events surrounding Ip that took place in the city of Foshan between the 1930s to 1940s during the Second Sino-Japanese War. Directed by Wilson Yip, the film stars Donnie Yen in the lead role, and features fight choreography by Sammo Hung.
Ip Man parents' guide: ages 15+
Parents need to know that Ip Man is an R-rated martial arts biopic about Wing Chun master Yip Man during the Japanese occupation of China, featuring intense fight violence.
- Violence & scariness: Strong — Extensive martial arts combat and wartime brutality, including racism and sadistic characters, consistent with the R rating.
Fresh Kernels AI-assessed from the official R rating, publicly documented content. A guide for families, not an official rating.
Movies like Ip Man
If you liked Ip Man, these are the movies we'd watch next.
- Ip Man 2 (2010) — 83%: The sequel, with more fights and the same lead
- Fist of Legend (1994) — 86%: Classic kung fu film about national pride
- Fearless (2006) — 86%: Martial arts hero's story about honour
- Fist of Fury (1972) — 82%: Bruce Lee classic of national pride
- Hero (2002) — 85%: Elegantly staged martial arts epic
- Ip Man 4: The Finale (2019) — 80%: Final chapter of the Ip Man series
Director
Cast
- Donnie Yen as Yip Man
- Simon Yam as Zhou Qing Quan
- Lynn Hung Doi-Lam as Zhang Yong Cheng
- Hiroyuki Ikeuchi as General Miura
- Gordon Lam Ka-Tung as Captain Li Zhao
- Louis Fan Siu-Wong as Jin Shan Zhao
- Xing Yu as Master Zealot Lin / Crazy Lin
- Wong Yau-Nam as Shao Dan Yuan
- Dennis To Yu-Hang as Hu Wei
- Calvin Cheng as Zhou Guang Yao
Ip Man FAQ
Is Ip Man worth watching?
Worth watching. The story of the kung fu master who taught Bruce Lee, set during the Japanese occupation. Donnie Yen's fight scenes are superb, and the drama around them is simple but solid.
Where can I watch Ip Man?
In the US you can stream Ip Man on Hulu, Fubo, Peacock, FlixFling and Hi-YAH, watch it free with ads on Kanopy, Fawesome, YOW.tv, The Roku Channel and Fandango at Home and rent it from Prime Video, Apple TV, Google Play and YouTube.
Is Ip Man OK for kids?
Ip Man is rated R. Fresh Kernels suggests ages 15+. Parents need to know that Ip Man is an R-rated martial arts biopic about Wing Chun master Yip Man during the Japanese occupation of China, featuring intense fight violence.
What movies are like Ip Man?
If you liked Ip Man, try Ip Man 2, Fist of Legend, Fearless and Fist of Fury.