The Best Action Movies Featuring Silat: Let’s Discover Them Together!

If you’re a fan of action movies and martial arts, then you can’t miss the opportunity to discover Pencak Silat. This Indonesian discipline, which is gaining more and more popularity, has been featured in some of the most spectacular action films of recent years.

So let’s take a look at the best Action Movies featuring Silat.

In particular, there are two actors who have brought Silat to the big screen.

Cecep Arif Rahman

Cecep Arif Rahman (born August 18, 1972) is an Indonesian actor, athlete, and martial artist. Cecep is a practitioner of Pencak Silat from the Silat Panglipur school. His career in Pencak Silat led him to participate in the Bercy Festival des Arts Martiaux in France from 2005 to 2008.

Some of his most well-known films, where he appeared either in cameo roles or as a prominent actor, include:

Star Wars: Episode VII – The Force Awakens
John Wick: Chapter 3 – Parabellum
The Raid 2
Gundala – Son of the Lightning
Legend of Gatotkaca

Iko Uwais

Iko Uwais was born in Jakarta in 1983. At the age of 10, he began practicing Pencak Silat, the traditional Indonesian martial art. In 2007, he was discovered by Welsh director Gareth Evans, who was in Indonesia to shoot a film about Pencak Silat. Evans cast him as the lead in Merantau, and later in The Raid: Redemption and The Raid 2: Berandal. He also appeared in Man of Tai Chi as a Pencak Silat fighter.

Film

Merantau, directed by Gareth Evans (2009)
The Raid: Redemption (Serbuan Maut), directed by Gareth Evans (2011)
Man of Tai Chi, directed by Keanu Reeves (2013)
The Raid 2: Berandal (Serbuan Maut 2: Berandal), directed by Gareth Evans (2014)
Star Wars: The Force Awakens, directed by J.J. Abrams (2015)
Headshot, directed by Kimo Stamboel and Timo Tjahjanto (2016)
Beyond Skyline, directed by Liam O’Donnell (2017)
The Night Comes for Us, directed by Timo Tjahjanto (2018)
Mile 22, directed by Peter Berg (2018)
Stuber, directed by Michael Dowse (2019)
Triple Threat, directed by Jesse V. Johnson (2019)

Television

Wu Assassins, TV series, 10 episodes (2019–present)

Pak Flohr emphasized a rather direct approach in his fighting style, as Walter said: “Pak Flohr didn’t like fighting — he liked winning.”

In these films, Pencak Silat is showcased in an incredibly spectacular way, featuring breathtaking fight scenes and extraordinary stunts. The lead actors, all seasoned martial artists, combine remarkable physical skill with strong screen presence, creating unforgettable characters.

Ben Affleck

Following the success of the first film, The Accountant 2 brings Christian Wolff back to the screen — the autistic accountant played by Ben Affleck, who hides lethal skills beneath his quiet demeanor. In this sequel, the action reaches new heights, with fight scenes choreographed in a raw, direct, and realistic style.

What many don’t know is that Ben Affleck continued training in Pencak Silat, the traditional Indonesian martial art he had already studied while preparing for the first movie. With its fluid movements, joint locks, and close-quarters control, Silat proved to be the perfect match for his character’s combat style: deadly, yet disciplined.

Affleck was trained by Guru Dan Inosanto, one of the most respected martial arts masters in the world, a direct student of Bruce Lee and student of Paul de Thours, the Founder of our Bukti Negara, and a major proponent of Pencak Silat in the United States. Under Inosanto’s guidance and that of the stunt coordination team, Affleck refined techniques in disarming, takedowns, and opponent control — making the action scenes both believable and visually compelling.

The result? Fight sequences that feel more like strategic choreography than just another movie brawl. The Accountant 2 isn’t just a thriller — it’s a celebration of the efficiency and elegance of Silat.

A choice that will resonate with viewers who appreciate action with substance — and authentic roots.

Two more fun facts

Cliff Stuard was Wesley Snipes’ bodyguard in Blade 2. Over the course of his martial arts career, he trained with some of the most respected instructors in the Southern California area, including Paul de Thouars, the founder of our Bukti Negara system.

In the 1990s, he also appeared in a low-budget film with Cass Magda (who was also a student of Paul de Thouars for a time) titled Hawk’s Vengeance.

If you’re curious to learn more about this fascinating Indonesian martial art, I highly recommend checking out these films.

In addition to featuring spectacular fight scenes, they also offer a glimpse into a martial art and culture that’s gaining more and more recognition worldwide.