Taijiquan in movies and TV series: a growing list of scenes

Taijiquan (aka Tai Chi) has been showing up on screen for decades. In movies, in TV series, in animated kids’ shows. I find that fascinating, and I have been collecting these scenes for a while now.

Taijiquan appears in movies and TV – quite often!

What strikes me most is that directors, writers, and actors keep choosing to include Taijiquan in their work, even though it is far less popular in the West than yoga. And yet, whenever it appears on screen, audiences seem to know exactly what they are looking at. Nobody needs it explained. That quiet, universal recognition is quite remarkable. (If you are curious which celebrities do practice it, I wrote about that here.)

This is my growing list of Taijiquan in movies and TV series. I will keep adding to it whenever I discover new scenes, or as readers (you!?) send me your discoveries.

Taijiquan in movies and TV series: the list

Easy Rider (1969)

I find it quite astonishing that Taijiquan appears in a movie as early as 1969, given that it was only introduced to the West in the mid-1960s. Cheng Man-Ching began teaching in New York City around that time, so Taijiquan was still very new to Western audiences.

Killer Elite (1975)

What makes this scene special is that the Tai Chi you see in it is the real thing. The teacher leading the group in the park is Kuo Lien-ying, a skilled Taijiquan master. And I think the students practising with him are actual Taijiquan students, not actors. You can tell the difference when you watch it.

Vision Quest (1985)

In this movie, Taijiquan is not just shown, it is also talked about. The characters actually discuss the benefits of the practice.

Road House (1989)

Patrick Swayze does the form quite well. He was a gifted dancer and good at learning choreography. But there is a certain tension in his movement, a kind of muscling through, which is very dancer-like. Or maybe that’s just his shirtless performance. 😉

Pushing Hands (1992)

This was actually Ang Lee’s debut film, before he went on to direct Sense and Sensibility, Crouching Tiger Hidden Dragon, Brokeback Mountain etc. Pushing Hands is one of the very few mainstream films where Taijiquan is not just a background detail but central to the whole story.

Buffy the Vampire Slayer (1998, season 3)

In episodes 6 and 7 of season 3, the characters Angel and Buffy practise Taijiquan together. Angel practises shirtless. Which, in my experience, is not exactly how you see people practise in real life. Hollywood seems to have a thing for shirtless Taijiquan.

Jimmy Neutron: Boy Genius (2001)

One of the characters practises Taijiquan in her bedroom while drinking a sugary soft drink. An amusing take on balance. And it shows that even in a kids’ animated film, Taijiquan is recognizable enough to be included.

Calendar Girls (2003)

Taijiquan features so prominently in this film that it even made it into the trailer. Helen Mirren and a group of friends practise on a grassy hill in the Yorkshire countryside. I am not sure how much fun it is to practise on a windy hill, but it looks beautiful.

Hot Rod (2007)

This one is interesting because it starts exactly as you would expect: slow, graceful moves in nature. But then it takes a turn and actually shows some of the martial art applications of Taijiquan. Plus it is young people practising it, including a young woman.

This Must Be The Place (2011)

A funny scene that captures exactly how absolute beginners feel when they first try Taijiquan. What makes it extra interesting is that the teacher in the scene is an actual Taijiquan teacher: Master Deng Er Li from Dublin, Ireland.

Family Guy (2012)

A very short scene, but an interesting one. Stewie Griffin does Taijiquan, and the characters mention that it makes you look young. Not sure if that is scientifically accurate, but it is a fun idea. 😉

The Intern (2015)

Let’s spill some tea here. In this film, Robert De Niro’s character practises Taijiquan as a quiet counterweight to the busy, demanding world around him. It gives his character a certain gravitas.

But what makes this entry extra special is a real-life connection: De Niro met his partner Tiffany Chen on this set. She played his Taijiquan instructor in the film and she actually is a martial arts instructor and Taijiquan expert, daughter of grandmaster William C.C. Chen! They even have a child now (view on Instagram).

Dept. Q, season 1, episode 8, approx. minute 8 (Netflix, 2025)

One character explains that they are doing Taijiquan. Another character dismisses it as “weird ballet.” Interestingly, what they are actually doing looks and sounds more like Qi Gong than Taijiquan. Either way, it is described as something a bit odd, but also good for the mind.

Know a Taijiquan scene I missed?

Now I have shown you all the different Taijiquan scenes in movies and series. This list is a work in progress and I will keep adding to it. If you have seen Taijiquan in a movie or TV series that is not on this list, I would love to hear from you. Just send me an email and I will add it.

If you would like to go deeper into Taijiquan and pop culture, have a look at:

• Celebrities who practice Taijiquan
• Taijiquan in music videos (coming soon)
• Taijiquan in documentaries

Happy Qi!
Angelika