Every Ip Man Movie in Order, Chronologically and by Release Date

Bruce Lee’s incredible success was built on the foundation of his teacher, Ip Man, a grandmaster of Wing Chun. Ip Man trained numerous martial artists who later became famous masters themselves. His life experiences – from a comfortable youth to the hardships he faced later on – deeply influenced his teachings and were shaped by the changing times in China.

The life and legend of Ip Man have been the subject of many films, beginning with the 2008 release of Ip Man, directed by Wilson Yip and starring Donnie Yen. Since then, over ten movies centered around Ip Man have been made. Yip and Yen collaborated on four films that cover more than twenty years of his life, while other filmmakers have explored his story with different casts. Below is a list of all the Ip Man films, presented in the order they were released.

‘Ip Man’ (2008)

Mandarin Films

It took ten years of hard work, but the first Ip Man movie was finally made. Producer Raymond Wong assembled a talented group to create what many consider a classic martial arts film. Directed by Wilson Yip and starring Donnie Yen, the movie tells the story of Ip Man’s life during the Second Sino-Japanese War in the 1930s and 40s.

The collaboration between renowned fight choreographer Sammo Hung and director Yip Wei showcases remarkable filmmaking talent. Though many actors have portrayed Ip Man, Donnie Yen’s performance in this film is widely considered the most iconic and a career highlight.

‘Ip Man 2’ (2010)

Mandarin Films

Okay, so “Ip Man 2” basically shows us Ip Man’s early days trying to establish himself in Hong Kong after the war. It’s a bit of a struggle for him at first, and when he finally opens a Wing Chun school, he quickly runs into trouble with a rival master. Honestly, the last half of the movie is just incredible fight scene after incredible fight scene, but it also does a surprisingly good job of showing what life was like in Hong Kong right after the war – a lot of hardship and not much to go around.

Donnie Yen first portrayed Ip Man in the initial film, but he delivered an even stronger and more polished performance in the sequel. The movie was also greatly enhanced by the addition of Sammo Hung, a legendary actor, who played Hung Chun-nam. The climactic fight against a British boxer remains one of the most memorable scenes in the Ip Man series.

‘The Legend Is Born: Ip Man’ (2010)

Funimation Entertainment

Following Donnie Yen’s initial success playing Ip Man, there was a surge of interest in the martial artist’s life within the Chinese film industry. While numerous projects were proposed, only a handful made it to production. One of these was The Legend Is Born: Ip Man, directed by Herman Yau. The film tells the story of Ip Man’s early years as a Wing Chun student and his journey to becoming a master.

Though it marked a departure from previous films in the series and didn’t quite reach the same heights, The Legend Is Born: Ip Man still offers enjoyable qualities. Fans particularly appreciated seeing Ip Man’s backstory, and the movie provided a classic martial arts experience with a strong focus on the fighting techniques. The cast was also excellent, notably featuring Sammo Hung again.

‘The Grandmaster’ (2013)

Pluto TV

Wong Kar-Wai’s The Grandmaster is arguably the most visually stunning film here. It’s a biopic about Ip Man, a legendary Kung Fu master, and his peers, who helped establish modern martial arts. While the film includes impressive action, it’s more of a thoughtful exploration of a changing time in martial arts history, and how Ip Man’s generation worked to preserve the traditions of the past.

The direction and action sequences in this film are flawless, beautifully portraying Ip Man’s life with both elegance and exciting fight choreography. It explores a wide range of events in his life and also addresses important cultural themes. If you’re looking for a film beyond the four starring Donnie Yen, this is the one to see.

‘Ip Man: The Final Fight’ (2013)

Lark Films Distribution

Herman Yau’s second Ip Man film, Ip Man: The Final Fight, takes place years after the first movie. It follows Ip Man as he navigates life in post-war Hong Kong, dealing with health problems and conflicts with local gangsters. The film introduces acclaimed actor Anthony Wong as the legendary Grandmaster Ip Man.

Similar strengths and weaknesses can be found in Yau’s sequel, which continues the story of Ip Man’s life. While it boasts a solid historical foundation, strong acting, and classic martial arts action, it doesn’t quite reach the same level of refinement or excitement as the first film.

‘Ip Man 3’ (2015)

Well Go USA / courtesy Everett Collection

It’s been five years since the last Ip Man movie, and I was really excited for Ip Man 3. It definitely felt like it built on everything we loved in the first two films, but with a lot more emotional depth. What was cool was seeing some international stars join the cast, which shows how popular the series had become. The main story follows Ip Man as he defends Hong Kong from a ruthless property developer and his gang – Mike Tyson actually plays the villain! But beyond the action, the movie really explores themes of family, hardship, and dealing with loss, which I thought added a lot to the film.

Donnie Yen had more opportunities to display emotional depth in Ip Man 3 compared to earlier installments, showing a more vulnerable side. The action sequences were also strong, with Mike Tyson bringing his boxing expertise to a classic East-meets-West fight. But the highlight of the film is likely the final battle between Ip Man and Cheung Tin-chi (Max Zhang)—a truly exceptional fight that was so good, it eventually led to a spin-off movie.

‘Master Z: Ip Man Legacy’ (2018)

Mandarin Pictures

Following his defeat by Ip Man in Ip Man 3, Cheung Tin-chi focuses on spending time with his son. However, their peaceful life is disrupted when he steps in to protect a girl from a street gang, drawing him into a dangerous conflict with a local crime organization, the police, and a group of foreigners.

Master Z: Ip Man Legacy stands out in the Ip Man series because of its incredibly detailed fight choreography. This is thanks to director Yueng Woo-ping, a highly respected martial arts choreographer known for his work on films like The Matrix Trilogy, Crouching Tiger, Hidden Dragon, and the two Kill Bill movies.

Ip Man 4: The Finale (2019)

This latest film in the Ip Man series, directed by Wilson Yip, is the most emotionally resonant and gentle of the bunch. It focuses on a difficult time in Ip Man’s life – his cancer diagnosis – and follows his son’s search for a better future, leading them to San Francisco. The film also depicts a rivalry between a young Bruce Lee and other martial artists in the city.

Even so, Ip Man 4: The Finale remains a true action movie, featuring fights designed by Yuen Woo-ping that feel authentic and emphasize effective self-defense over flashy moves. It’s a fitting conclusion to a smart and well-made series. And bringing Bruce Lee (played by Danny Chan) into the story nicely completed the franchise’s journey.

‘Ip Man: Kung Fu Master’ (2019)

Dennis To reprises his role as Ip Man in this movie. Ip Man: Kung Fu Master shows the famous martial artist working as a police officer in Guangzhou before the Communist Revolution began.

While the movie touches on crime drama themes, it doesn’t quite deliver a compelling story. Unfortunately, it feels like the Ip Man character is now being exploited for profit, and the series has lost its original spark due to too much focus on commercial success.

Ip Man Films in Order of Release

Title	Year	Director
Ip Man	2008	Wilson Yip
Ip Man 2	2010	Wilson Yip
The Legend Is Born: Ip Man	2010	Herman Yau
The Grandmaster	2013	Wong Kar-wai
Ip Man: The Final Fight	2013	Herman Yau
Ip Man 3	2015	Wilson Yip
Master Z: Ip Man Legacy	2018	Yuen Woo-ping
Ip Man 4: The Finale	2019	Wilson Yip
Ip Man: Kung Fu Master	2019	Li Liming

Ip Man Films in Chronological Order of Events

Title	Year (release)	Where It Fits in Ip Man’s Life
The Legend Is Born: Ip Man	2010	Youth and early Wing Chun training
Ip Man: Kung Fu Master	2019	Early adulthood as a police officer in 1930s Guangzhou
Ip Man	2008	Foshan years during the Sino-Japanese War (1930s–40s)
Ip Man 2	2010	Early Hong Kong years after WWII
Ip Man 3	2015	1950s–60s Hong Kong period
Master Z: Ip Man Legacy	2018	After Ip Man 3 (focus on Cheung Tin-chi)
Ip Man: The Final Fight	2013	Later years of Ip Man’s life in Hong Kong
Ip Man 4: The Finale	2019	Late-life trip to San Francisco
The Grandmaster	2013	Spans youth → later life (non-linear, artistic retelling)

2026-02-22 22:25