Five Venoms films
Kung-fu films that feature a decent percentage of the Five Venoms (to be a contender it needs 3 or more of the 6, yes I know, confusing but Wei Pai/Snake was one of the 5 Venoms in the film but doesn't usually appear in the Venoms' films. I will note a few examples with only 2 of the core Venoms). All but one are directed by Chang Cheh and they are all from the Shaw Brothers. Anything else is a cheap cash-in and, to be honest, some of the ones on the list might also be but you'll have to judge that for yourself.
List order: We include a few proto-Venom films in which the team started to coalesce before the Five Deadly Venoms films and then, following that films success, the appearance of members of the group in other films often using a similar formula (with the same actors playing similar roles). As the films came thick and fast I've also noted the release dates (at least according to IMDB, some sources vary) - HK ones unless otherwise noted.
Further reading: Venom Filmography.
Key:
Centipede - Lu Feng
Snake - Wei Pai
Scorpion - Sun Chien
Lizard - Kuo Chui/Philip Kwok
Toad - Lo Meng
Last Student - Chiang Sheng
List order: We include a few proto-Venom films in which the team started to coalesce before the Five Deadly Venoms films and then, following that films success, the appearance of members of the group in other films often using a similar formula (with the same actors playing similar roles). As the films came thick and fast I've also noted the release dates (at least according to IMDB, some sources vary) - HK ones unless otherwise noted.
Further reading: Venom Filmography.
Key:
Centipede - Lu Feng
Snake - Wei Pai
Scorpion - Sun Chien
Lizard - Kuo Chui/Philip Kwok
Toad - Lo Meng
Last Student - Chiang Sheng
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- DirectorCheh ChangStarsSheng ChiangChien SunPhillip Chung-Fung KwokThe sixth and final pupil of a dying martial arts teacher is instructed to find the teacher's five former pupils and defeat any evil ones that are among them.Just sticking this at the top to get the picture as the list's thumbnail.
The list starts with the next entry: - DirectorCheh ChangStarsSheng FuKuan-Chun ChiSzu ShihFour friends learn kung fu to avenge the death of their friend against the manchus.aka Marco Polo
Centipede, Lizard and Last Student (3/6)
The first of the proto-Venom films, with the first three Venoms coming together but often in very minor (and sometimes uncredited) roles.
Release: 25 December 1975 - DirectorCheh ChangStarsSheng FuKuan-Chun ChiYen-Tsan TangThe famous story of the Shaolin Temple's betrayal by the White-Browed Hermit, and the subsequent revenge by Shaolin firebrand Fang Shih-yu.aka Shaolin Avengers
Centipede, Lizard and Last Student (3/6).
Release: 18 June 1976 - DirectorCheh ChangWu MaStarsSheng FuJenny TsengHsia Hui WuInternational favorite Alexander Fu Sheng cemented his stardom in this, the fourth film in his esteemed director's "Shaolin" series. Fu gives both a great dramatic and kung-fu performance as an honorable carriage driver who finds love and death when he battles particularly homicidal street punks.aka New Shaolin Boxers
Centipede, Lizard and Last Student (3/6).
Release: 3 September 1976 - DirectorCheh ChangWu MaStarsSheng FuKuan-Chun ChiLung TiThe Shaolin Temple is the last place to resist defeat by the Manchu Dynasty, mostly because of their unique fighting style. Men from far and wide come to wait outside the temple, hoping that they will be admitted as pupils. As the Abbot becomes older, he realizes that the Manchus are determined to destroy the temple and eradicate the Shaolin fighting techniques. To this end, he decides that it is time at last to admit worthy men into the temple as students, to learn the way of Shaolin.aka Shaolin Temple
Centipede, Lizard, Toad and Last Student (4/6) - Toad joins the team.
Release: 22 December 1976 - DirectorCheh ChangWei-Bin LiuHsueh-Li PaoStarsTony LiuKuan-Chun ChiLung TiThe story of a seemingly suicidal mission to destroy the Japanese Navy's flagship in 1937.Centipede, Lizard, Toad and Last Student (4/6).
Release: 7 April 1977 - DirectorCheh ChangStarsSheng FuDavid ChiangKuan-Chun ChiWealthy rebel Chu Tie Xia/Chu Te-Sa, conned out of assets by local merchants, is aided by 3 wandering con artists. Chu's talent with a bow and gold pellets and the Wushu of his 3 new companions unleash on the unsuspecting invading Mongols.aka Magnificent Wanderers
Centipede, Lizard and Last Student (3/6).
Release: 27 May 1977 - DirectorCheh ChangStarsSheng FuNiu TienDanny LeeA young man must complete a series of martial art tests and overcome assassins along the way.aka Brave Archer
Centipede, Lizard, Toad and Last Student (4/6).
Release: 30 July 1977 - DirectorCheh ChangStarsSheng FuShirley YuSusan Yam-Yam ShawAfter getting in trouble with local gangs, a young man (Fu Sheng) flees to San Francisco, where the same gangs are still causing problems. He becomes a part of a rival gang, and eventually decides to play them against each other in order to clean up the town.Centipede, Scorpion, Lizard, Toad and Last Student (5/6) - enter the Scorpion.
Release: 2 December 1977 - DirectorCheh ChangStarsSheng FuPhillip Chung-Fung KwokMeng LoLIFE GAMBLE is the tale of a simple blacksmith (Kuo Chue) with extraordinary martial-arts skills who is entangled in a life-and-death struggle among swordsmen, thieves, con artists, a smooth dagger-slinger (Fu Sheng), a beautiful seductress (Lin Chen-chi) who can kill with her smile, a servant with a deadly whip, an assassin with a golden hairpin, an iron-fisted villain on a murderous rampage, a ruthless gambler with seemingly unlimited funds, and so many more.aka Life Gamble
Centipede, Lizard, Toad and Last Student (4/6).
Release: 26 April 1978 (Taiwan) / 22 February 1979 (Hong Kong) - DirectorCheh ChangStarsSheng FuNiu NiuDanny LeeKuo Tsing wins the hand of fair maiden Huang Yung. Almost immediately, however, clan rivalries leads to Kuo being wounded by Ouyang Feng and Huang being named new leader of the Beggar Clan.Centipede, Snake, Scorpion, Lizard, Toad and Last Student (6/6) - the full team.
Release: 13 May 1978 - DirectorCheh ChangStarsSheng ChiangChien SunPhillip Chung-Fung KwokThe sixth and final pupil of a dying martial arts teacher is instructed to find the teacher's five former pupils and defeat any evil ones that are among them.Centipede, Snake, Scorpion, Lizard, Toad and Last Student (6/6), obviously.
Release: 12 August 1978 - DirectorCheh ChangStarsFeng LuSheng ChiangChien SunCritically acclaimed director Chang Cheh has The Five Venoms turn Shaolin fighters as they challenge the authority of the evil Chings in Invincible Shaolin. Per usual, the fights will knock your socks off.Centipede, Snake, Scorpion, Lizard, Toad and Last Student (6/6).
Release: 19 November 1978 - DirectorCheh ChangStarsKuan Tai ChenFeng LuPhillip Chung-Fung KwokThree men who have been physically disabled by an evil warlord and his physically-disabled son become friends and learn kung fu so that they can seek revenge with help from an elderly martial-arts teacher and his mentally-disabled pupil.aka Return of the 5 Deadly Venoms
Centipede, Scorpion, Lizard, Toad and Last Student (5/6).
Release: 21 December 1978 - DirectorCheh ChangStarsJason Piao PaiFeng LuMeng LoTwo friends who long to be heroes join the fight against a Ching warlord and his students. They get help from a Kung Fu student and a rebel. They also save Hung Si Quan's life.aka Shaolin Rescuers
Centipede, Scorpion, Lizard, Toad and Last Student (5/6).
Release: 24 March 1979 - DirectorCheh ChangStarsPhillip Chung-Fung KwokFeng LuSheng ChiangThe heroes pose as gun dealers and acrobats in order to get close to the bad guys so they can avenge the death of one of their brothers. In the end they lock the bad guys in a warehouse for a final battle to the death.aka Shaolin Daredevils
Centipede, Scorpion, Lizard, Toad and Last Student (5/6).
Release: 29 June 1979 - DirectorCheh ChangStarsFeng LuMeng LoChien SunYuan Ying Fei is the descendant of the one known as Golden Sword and himself is a master of the technique as well as being boss of the town. He is so a cruel man and has killed his sparring partners with unnecessary blows, causing many martial artists to leave the town with only Guan Ah Yun remaining. Guan is the owner of Wu Wei security bureau which Yuan wishes to buy but cannot bully Guan out as he has an eye for his sister and Guan cannot fight back because any time he tries his sister and mother stop him. Yuan is stuck until he learns of 4 kung fu experts who are passing through the town by eating in restaurants and then taking it in terms to take a beating due to not being able to pay. Yuan tricks He Fei,Yang Zhui Feng, Zeng Qiao and Feng Jia Ji into being his friends and then tricks them into believing that Guan is a cruel and unhelpful man. The four go to fight Guan, but do so away from his mother and sister - but the fights produce mutual respect and friendship between sparring which leads Yuan to more deadly deception.aka Magnificent Ruffians
Centipede, Scorpion, Lizard, Toad and Last Student (5/6).
Release: 20 September 1979 - DirectorCheh ChangStarsChien SunMeng LoFeng LuDirector Chang Cheh reunites the Five Venoms in his second biggest cult hit in the West. It's Lo Meng's most memorable performances whose showdown with fellow Venom Kuo Chue is artistically violent while being graphically artsy.aka Kid With the Golden Arm
Centipede, Snake, Scorpion, Lizard, Toad and Last Student (6/6).
Release: 2 November 1979 - DirectorCheh ChangStarsSheng FuJenny TsengDavid ChiangA man and woman are kicked out of the Court of Heaven on trumped up charges of bringing shame onto the Kingdom.Centipede, Scorpion, Lizard, Toad and Last Student (5/6).
Release: 19 January 1980 - DirectorCheh ChangStarsMeng LoSheng ChiangLi WangThe Wu Tang chief sends out his men, each of whom is given a symbol so they can recognize each other. The largest is given to Lee, whom the others are to obey.Centipede, Scorpion, Toad and Last Student (4/6) - the only one of the Venom films without Lizard.
Release: no date (elsewhere: 12 April 1980) - DirectorCheh ChangStarsPhillip Chung-Fung KwokSheng ChiangLi WangWhen director Chang Chen found new talent and blood with "The Five Venoms" actors, most of which were trained in the highly acrobatic Chinese opera and well versed with exotic martial arts weapons, this crated a new spark for his use of bizarre weapons in his films.aka Flag of Iron
Centipede, Lizard and Last Student (3/6).
Release: 14 August 1980 - DirectorCheh ChangStarsPhillip Chung-Fung KwokMeng LoSheng ChiangThree refugees become sworn brothers during a war. One (Kuo Chui/Philip Kwok) works in a whore house, one (Chiang Sheng) in a gambling house, and the other (Lo Mang) in a martial arts school. They become embroiled in the war and are betrayed by one's mentor.aka Killer Army
Centipede, Scorpion, Lizard, Toad and Last Student (5/6).
Release: 10 September 1980 - DirectorCheh ChangStarsSiu-Ho ChinSheng ChiangLinda ChuChin Siu Ho plays a young man who believes himself to be an orphan. Until one rainy night when he and three different men find themselves taking shelter from the storm in the same place.aka Legend of a Fox
Centipede, Lizard and Last Student (3/6).
Release: no date (elsewhere: 15 November 1980) - DirectorCheh ChangStarsLung TiSheng FuPhillip Chung-Fung KwokThe movie involves two stories concerning the original Ten Tigers and their future disciples.aka 10 Tigers of Kwangtung
Centipede, Snake, Scorpion, Lizard, Toad and Last Student (6/6) - the last film with the full team.
Release: 20 December 1980 (Taiwan) - DirectorCheh ChangStarsPhillip Chung-Fung KwokHsueh-Erh WenTien-Hsiang LungYuan finishes his training in the mountains and his master gives him an assignment. In his journey, he finds a cave containing a skeleton, a treasure chest, and a manual showing the Golden Snake style. So Yuan sets on the way to accomplish the last desire of the dead person he found in the cave.aka Sword Stained With Royal Blood
Centipede, Lizard and Last Student (3/6).
Release: 6 March 1981 - DirectorCheh ChangStarsPhillip Chung-Fung KwokSiu-Ho ChinSheng ChiangThe masked gang have created a menace, killing many people, now it is up to Philp who once worked for the masked gang to destroy them.Centipede, Lizard and Last Student (3/6).
Release: no date (elsewhere: 15 May 1981) - DirectorCheh ChangStarsSheng FuNiu NiuLung TiThe third installment of The Brave Archer series brings Guo Jing and Huang Rong closer together as they struggle to find a cure for the Iron Palm Clan's deadly blows.aka Brave Archer 3
Centipede, Scorpion, Lizard, Toad and Last Student (5/6) - exit the Toad.
Release: 12 November 1981 - DirectorPhillip Chung-Fung KwokStarsChung-Kuei ChangPeng ChangShen-Lin Chen3 men trained in separate styles by the same teacher are located to stop an assassination attempt by marauding ninjas.aka Ninja in the Deadly Trap
Centipede, Lizard (who also directs) and Last Student (3/6).
Release: no date
A crossover with ninjas films. - DirectorCheh ChangStarsFeng LuLi WangTien-Hsiang LungA team of skilled fighters navigate a house rigged with an array of ingenious and deadly traps.aka House of Traps
Centipede, Scorpion, Lizard, and Last Student (4/6).
Release: 9 January 1982 - DirectorCheh ChangStarsSheng FuTien-Hsiang LungPhillip Chung-Fung KwokBrave Archer and His Mate is the fourth in a series originally starring international favorite Alexander Fu Sheng as master martial artist Kuo Tsing. Kuo Chui is the new hero who is out to defeat the mass murderer of his martial arts masters.aka Brave Archer and His Mate
Centipede, Lizard and Last Student (3/6).
Release: 25 February 1982 - DirectorCheh ChangStarsPhillip Chung-Fung KwokChing TangHui-Ling LiuA lone wanderer is repeatedly mistaken for someone else and drawn into a number of violent battles.aka Ode to Gallantry
Scorpion, Lizard, and Last Student (3/6) - the only one without Centipede and the last appearance of Scorpion. So, technically, this is the last film that could qualify as a Venom film under our criteria.
Release: 16 December 1982 - DirectorCheh ChangStarsFeng LuSheng ChiangShih ChinA troupe of traveling performers stop in a small town. However, the general who controls the town has designs on the group's leading actress. They must figure a way to get out of town before the general has his way with her.Centipede and Last Student (2/6).
Having only 2 Venoms puts it outside of the remit of this list, but is worth a mention as it was also directed by Chang Cheh. However, we are now at the asymptote so you can stop here if you like, but we are close to the end.
Also, like the next one, a crossover with kung-fu horror films. - DirectorCheh ChangStarsTien-Chi ChengLi WangFu-Chien ChangAfter selling his soul to the devil, Joey is given the power to control 9 demons. With their help, Joey must save his childhood friend Gary from a bloody massacre.Centipede and Last Student (2/6).
I've included it here as it sometimes gets labelled as a Venoms film, but tends to fall out of the remit of this list. - DirectorCheh ChangStarsJimmy Wang YuKuan Tai ChenDanny LeeA patriot finds evidence that the government is collaborating with a foreign power. He gets assistance from a local rebel leader who is in charge of a motley group of fighters called the Shanghai 13.Centipede and Last Student (2/6).
And we are done. These two did appear in one more film, Fight Among the Supers, but it wasn't directed by Chang Cheh, so this really is it.