Iwa Uwais is an action star. The film industry has plenty of legendary performers who transcend the medium, becoming icons known around the world. More so than any other genre, action has the most bullet-proof track record for turning stars into superstars, even if fewer actors and actresses are reaching that status nowadays than during the ’80s and ’90s. While modern blockbusters tend to be sold on their larger-than-life set piece more than anything else, the martial arts movie subgenre is still driven by leading men and women defined by their physicality. John Wick is arguably the most beloved action series of the last decade, and Keanu Reeves’ stunt work helped it greatly. Although not as well-known as Reeves, Uwais has also established himself as a genre heavyweight, largely thanks to his performances in The Raid: Redemption and The Raid 2.
The Best Hollywood Martial Arts Movies
Taking inspiration from Asia, Hollywood has produced some of the greatest martial arts movies ever.
Gritty and intense, The Raid was a breath of fresh air when it came out in the early 2010s, and its success influenced the action genre as a whole. Following its explosion in popularity, movies started to emphasize close-quarters combat more than they had in years, a trend that continues to this very day. Uwais will likely always be known for these two films, but he has starred in many other great action flicks that deserve attention.
Who is Iko Uwais?
The Raid’s Martial Arts Star
Born Uwais Qorny, Iko Uwais stepped into the acting world through unexpected means. His grandfather, H. Achmad Bunawar, was a respected master and teacher of a traditional Indonesian martial art called silat. Director Gareth Evans came to Uwais’ training hall while he was in Indonesia shooting a documentary about silat. Evans discovered Uwais, taking note of his easy charisma and flawless screen presence, and gave him a shot at feature film success. Few partnerships between actors and directors would be as impactful as Evans’ bond with Uwais. Uwais first starred in Merantau, the film that also featured the debut of Yayan Ruhian. Together, Evans, Uwais, and Ruhian would forge one of the most important action films of the 2010s.
