Once Upon a Time in China IV (1993)

Once Upon a Time in China IV is the kind of sequel that knows exactly why you showed up: to watch Wong Fei Hung move like a force of nature, with fights staged so cleanly and energetically you can feel every beat of skill and momentum. Vincent Zhao steps into the role with a confident, athletic presence, and the action scenes have that classic Hong Kong snap—fast, precise, and joyfully inventive without turning into visual noise. The vibe is rousing and old-school heroic, mixing historical tension with crowd-pleasing kung fu spectacle that keeps the film buoyant even when the story isn’t the series’ strongest. If you’re here for character drama first, you may find it lighter on depth, but if you want an impressive, fun martial-arts showcase, it absolutely delivers.

Once Upon a Time in China IV is clearly trying to keep the series’ mix of patriotic spectacle and crowd-pleasing kung fu going, pitting Wong Fei Hung against both foreign pressure and the Red Lantern Society. The problem is it feels like a step down: the Jet Li replacement changes the energy of the character, and the story lurches between threads without giving the supporting cast much to do beyond showing up for the next conflict. You can also sense the tighter budget in the staging, which makes the film less grand and less emotionally involving than the earlier entries. If you’re here mainly for the franchise’s richer character work and dramatic sweep, this may frustrate you, but if you just want a serviceable dose of period action and can accept a rougher, more uneven sequel, there are still moments that deliver.