Chen Zhen (played by Bruce Lee) is a student of Huo Yuanjia, a renowned martial artist and teacher. After completing his studies abroad, Chen returns to Shanghai in 1910 and joins the international compound of China where he works as an assistant to his friend, Liu. However, upon his arrival, he is informed that Huo has died from illness. Chen is devastated by the news and vows to avenge his teacher's death.
The situation in Shanghai at this time is tense, as the Japanese have established a strong presence in the area and are openly racist towards the Chinese. Chen witnesses several instances of Japanese oppression, including the beating of a Chinese man in a park, and is enraged by their behavior.
As the tension between the Chinese and Japanese escalates, Chen becomes increasingly confrontational towards the Japanese, using his martial arts skills to defend himself and his people. He also begins investigating his teacher's death, suspecting that the Japanese may have been involved.
Chen's actions attract the attention of the Japanese authorities, who begin targeting him as a troublemaker. In one memorable scene, Chen confronts a group of Japanese karate students in their dojo and defeats them all using his own version of Wing Chun martial arts.
The plot comes to a head when Chen discovers that the Japanese are responsible for his teacher's death. In the film's climactic scene, he storms the Japanese headquarters, taking on dozens of soldiers in a ferocious battle. Chen emerges victorious but is ultimately killed by a Japanese sniper as he leaves the building.
Fist of Fury is considered a classic martial arts film and one of Bruce Lee's most iconic roles. The film's themes of racial tension and discrimination, as well as its depiction of a hero fighting against oppression, have resonated with audiences for decades.