By Marquee Editorial3 entries
The Swordsman movie franchise spans three martial arts films released between 1990 and 1993. The series begins when a sacred kung-fu manual is stolen from the Emperor's library, drawing a young swordsman into the ensuing chaos. Subsequent films follow characters like Ling Wu Chung hiding from a chaotic world and dealing with the aftermath of the sacred scroll's misuse, alongside royal officials and warring factions. Watching these films in their release order allows viewers to follow the progression of these martial arts stories and characters as they encounter stolen manuals, snake-wielding warriors, and foes with supernatural abilities.

Swordsman
Movie, 1990
Start here with the 1990 original film. It introduces the chaos surrounding the theft of the Sacred Scroll from the Emperor's library and a young swordsman.

The Legend of the Swordsman
Movie, 1992
Watch this 1992 sequel second. It follows Ling Wu Chung hiding from the world and investigating an attack on a tribe of snake-wielding women warriors.

Read what its ending meant, or search for another franchise.
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Swordsman III: The East Is Red
Movie, 1993
View this 1993 entry third. It features a royal official and a Portuguese warship investigating the site of the defeat of the evil Invincible Asia.
| # | Title | Type | Year | Rating | Guide |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Swordsman | Movie | 1990 | ★ 7.0 | Not yet |
| 2 | The Legend of the Swordsman | Movie | 1992 | ★ 6.6 | Not yet |
| 3 | Swordsman III: The East Is Red | Movie | 1993 | ★ 6.1 | Not yet |
Average audience ratings, in watch order.
Start with the 1990 movie Swordsman, which introduces the initial storyline involving the stolen Sacred Scroll from the Emperor's library, drawing a young swordsman and his fellow disciple into chaos.
Watching the films in release order—starting with Swordsman in 1990, followed by The Legend of the Swordsman in 1992, and Swordsman III in 1993—matches the sequence of their original releases.
The supplied entry facts do not state whether any specific movies in the Swordsman franchise can be skipped, nor do they provide details on mandatory viewing requirements for the series.
Watch in this order: 1. Swordsman, 2. The Legend of the Swordsman, 3. Swordsman III: The East Is Red.
This guide lists 3 entries, released between 1990 and 1993.
Swordsman has the highest average rating in this guide, at 7.0 out of 10.