All great movies are built around drama, conflict, intentions, meetings obstacles. Sometimes those obstacles are unrealized potential or unrequited love, but sometimes they’re some dude’s meaty fists.

Great fight scenes make movies better, but the best fight scenes transcend their movies and forge their own history. Take the green screen trash fire that was The Phantom Menace—you still have to give it props for crafting one of the coolest sword-fights ever seen. Darth Maul became a franchise icon despite uttering exactly two lines during the movie. That’s how good that fight scene was.

Of the tens of thousands of movie fight scenes, hundreds of which could make the top spots, this list selects ten of the best. So strap in and prepare a pre-typed comment starting with, “I can’t believe they left out…” because here are ten of the best fight scenes in movies.

Related: 10 Myths About Weapons And Combat You Believe Because Of Movies

10 The Possessed Hand: Evil Dead 2

Aside from being a well-crafted, entertaining scene, this fight is also completely unique, and for that, it deserves a spot on this list.

After the serious horror of the first Evil Dead, Evil Dead 2 opted to blend funny into the fear and become a comedy-horror. One of the best examples of its hybrid tone, aside from the hilarious and horrifying mounted deer head, is the prolonged fight between Ash and his own hand.

After becoming possessed, Ash’s hand attacks him, viciously tearing into his face and throwing him around the room. It only ends when Ash cuts his hand off completely, and after all the violence, screaming, shoving, and wrestling, it’s important to remember: Bruce Campbell played both duelists at the same time, with only himself to act off of. Where was the Oscar?

9 The Alley: They Live

There isn’t much that can be said about the long alleyway brawl in They Live that hasn’t already been said. Nonetheless, to not include this absolute gem of a scrap would be a travesty.

From the legendary John Carpenter, They Live is a top-tier example of campy horror, and this fight is perhaps its best scene, competing only with the “chew bubblegum and kick a**” scene. The brawl, so deliberately over-elongated, pits screen and voice legend Keith David against wrestling legend Rowdy Roddy Piper, the two scrapping until both are almost unable to stand. And the best part? If you haven’t seen it, we’ll tell you without any context: the whole fight is about whether or not Keith David’s character should try on a pair of sunglasses.

8 “I Am Not Left-Handed”: The Princess Bride

Humor, wit, action, combat, plot, and charm—the cliffside swordfight in The Princess Bride has it all.

Almost every line in the scene is quotable, both from Inigo and the Dread Pirate Roberts. And these quotes all come during or between bouts of wonderfully structured swordplay. The fight starts as slowly as possible with the duelists actually sitting down together, talking about their feelings, and builds to deft sparring and playful use of space and platforms. Also, as the entry title suggests, the twist based on Inigo’s hand-dominance is a joyful bit of writing.

7 Shredder: Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles (1990)

The 1990 Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles movie is a criminally underrated gem. Despite being based on overtly nonsensical source material, the filmmakers crafted a narrative with real heart and a surprising amount of grit. And unsurprisingly, it delivers on the ninja action.

There are a few major fight scenes in the movie, and each of them manages its own distinct atmosphere and stakes. The thugs are mugging April (in which the world was introduced to Sam Rockwell); the Foot ambushing Raph on the rooftop; the battle inside the collapsing, burning antique store; and the quip-saturated war the turtles wage from sewers to streets.

Lastly, there is the epic final showdown with Shredder on a rooftop, and that fight has everything; it is atmospheric, tense, frantic, well-choreographed, and gorgeous. Perhaps its greatest feat is making giant foam turtle costumes seem both dexterous, realistic, and expressive.

6 Lee vs. Han: Enter the Dragon

Later on, I’ll mention that including a John Wick scene feels like cheating. If that’s the case, including any Bruce Lee fight is like taking Olympics-level steroids for tee-ball.

No one in history has delivered more great fight scenes than Bruce Lee. In fact, this list could easily be ten Bruce Lee battles, one after the other. His dismantling of an entire karate dojo in Fist of Fury and his visceral duel with Chuck Norris in Way of the Dragon are an easy two to start with.

But Lee’s best is most likely his climactic battle against Han in Enter the Dragon. So many movie fights owe this battle a thank you, not least of which any who use the “taste your own blood” bit or the “chase leading into a hallway of mirrors” trope.

5 The Hallway: Old Boy

When creating a list like this, the goal is to, hopefully, surprise readers with fresh takes that are as fun as they are informative. But sometimes, an old idea that’s been sitting out is just too appetizing to ignore. When it comes to movie fights, there is one scene that, although long-matured, was made so darn well that it will never expire: the corridor scene in Old Boy. It would be a travesty to exclude it. And though it could easily be #1, we’ll tuck this masterfully arranged scene in the middle to give some others a chance.

The scene, almost entirely comprised of one long, wide shot, is clumsy, chaotic, and visceral. And it deserves recognition beyond its own merits: perhaps the most famous fight scene in Netflix’s Daredevil series is a direct homage to Old Boy. It also sets itself in one corridor; features one clumsy, tired combatant against a score of weapon-wielding gangsters; and is built from only a handful of long tracking shots. Old Boy, then, earns two spots in one.

4 Too Many to Name: John Wick

It may be unfair to include John Wick. After all, the franchise has three movies (so far) that are entirely devoted to awesome action scenes, even at the cost of every other aspect.

There’s the first real action scene, in which Wick’s home is invaded, and he expertly double-taps the goons around corners and through walls. There’s the loud, pulsing nightclub scene that took 30 seconds of the Dark Knight and blew it up into six minutes of dubstep and freneticism. Perhaps best of all is the scene in the weapons collection room, which features more knife-throwing than an entire Barnum & Bailey tour.

3 The News Team Rumble: Anchorman

Brick: “I stabbed a man in the heart.”

Ron: “I saw that! Brick killed a guy. Did you throw a trident?”

Brick: “Yeah, there were horses and a man on fire, and I killed a guy with a trident.”

Ron: “Brick, I’ve been meaning to talk to you about that. You should find yourself a safe house or a relative close by. Lay low for a while because you’re probably wanted for murder.”

If you’re like us, then those lines made you burst out laughing in the theater. Especially since they came during a moment of reflection after one of the most surprising scenes in movie history. No one going in to see a comedy about local news expected to see a giant melee with swords, severed limbs, and an afro-wearing Tim Robbins. Yet, it happened and is still a highlight in Ferrell’s filmography.

2 Fighting Apollo: Rocky

Rocky lost. The filmmakers of Rocky made an unusually brave decision and decided that their hero should lose in the end. The choice was strong, uncommon, and ultimately the right one for the story’s theme. It’s especially unexpected, as well, since it follows one of the most energetic, epic, climactic battles in movie history.

Rocky and Apollo fight for fifteen rounds, and over its duration, the fight evolves perfectly. Creed’s punches begin as massive, titanic blows and by the end become desperately tired, sweaty swings. Likewise, Rocky and Creed both grow ever more sluggish, sweat-drenched, bruised, and bloody. At the fight’s final, merciful end, you simply had to expect a triumphant Rocky, and yet that’s not what you got. Instead, Rocky went the distance and landed Adrian, and that was enough for him.

1 The Bespin Duel: Star Wars: Episode V – The Empire Strikes Back

Many superlatives could be applied to the lightsaber duel in The Empire Strikes Back. It spawned possibly the most famous line in movie history with “No, I am your father,” and the movie itself may well be the best sequel of all time. But if there’s one thing above all others that puts this fight at the number one spot on the list, it’s the pure, finely-wrought atmosphere.

Throughout the extended fight, flashy lightsaber tricks and force magic are rare. In fact, it’s mostly just lazy wand-waving and rock-throwing. But it succeeded in implanting itself in so many people’s minds for so long because it manages to do so much with so little.

After almost two movies of buildup, this was the first time Luke and Vader squared off (outside of spaceships), and the tension was unbelievable. The darkness and fogginess of the various set pieces only add to the feeling. They made audiences feel like every fleeting shimmer of blue was hope, and every flash of red was death.

Then, of course, there’s the severed hand, the genealogy reveal, and finally—Luke desperately ejecting himself into the vacuum of space to escape his mortal enemy/father. Don’t agree with our choice? Then draw your weapon, Jedi.

According to WHO estimates, cancer is the second leading cause of death around the world, and the cases are only on the rise. Between 2010 and 2019, there was a 26% rise in global cancer incidence, making it perhaps one of the deadliest and fastest-growing diseases in human history.

While there’s still no cure for it, it’s important to remember that those numbers could be far higher. Thanks to the continuous efforts of scientists, doctors, surgeons, and other specialists working in the field, there have been many breakthrough treatments – like immunotherapy and chemotherapy – that have come together to improve the lives of countless patients around the world. 

10. Halsted’s Mastectomy

Named after its inventor William Stewart Halsted, Halsted’s Mastectomy was developed in the late-19th century. It revolutionized breast cancer treatment, as Halsted’s approach was a radical departure from previous methods. It involved the complete removal of the breast, underlying muscles, and adjacent lymph nodes to ensure the complete removal of the tumor. It was a revolutionary idea at the time, as the procedure didn’t just remove the tumor, but also any remaining cancerous cells that might have spread to nearby lymph nodes. 

By taking this approach, Halsted believed that he could improve long-term outcomes and reduce the risk of disease recurrence. This technique laid the foundation for modern breast cancer surgery, as it focussed on the careful dissection and preservation of healthy tissues. While the procedure has undergone many modern refinements over time, the fundamental principles of Halsted’s Mastectomy remain influential in the field of cancer research.

9. X-Rays And Radiation Therapy

The discovery of X-rays by Wilhelm Conrad Roentgen in 1895 would prove to be a breakthrough event in the field, as it directly led to the development of other modern techniques for cancer treatment. Emil Grubbe, a Chicago chemist and physician, was one of the early pioneers in using X-ray radiation to treat cancer. In 1896, he successfully performed radiation therapy on Rose Lee, a patient suffering from recurrent breast cancer. This was perhaps the first documented instance of using radiation therapy to treat cancer in history, and there would be no looking back.

Grubbe’s experiments had a profound impact on the field of medical radiation therapy. His treatments involved placing lead sheets to shield healthy tissues from the harmful rays, and focusing the X-ray radiation on the tumor site. While these procedures were relatively long by modern standards – each lasting about an hour – they were still a huge leap for the time. Grubbe’s early work with X-rays paved the way for all future research in radiation therapy.

8. Discovery Of Radium

In 1898, Polish physicist and chemist Marie Curie discovered the highly-radioactive element called radium and forever changed the field of cancer treatment as we know it. Early experiments with radium revealed its potential to destroy diseased cells, leading to its widespread use in patients suffering from various types of skin cancers for many years.

Before the discovery of radium, surgical removal of tumors used to be the standard treatment for treating cancer. This approach often proved painful and ineffective, with limited consideration for the rapid growth of new tumors. Radium therapy – also sometimes called ‘Curie Therapy’ after Marie Curie – emerged as a viable alternative, delivering targeted radiation directly to the cancerous cells to eliminate them. 

On the other hand, the introduction of radioactivity to cancer treatment came with its own set of risks, like the absence of proper safety procedures to protect against radiation at that time. There was also a general lack of understanding of radium’s properties, which resulted in health issues like anemia, cataracts, fractured teeth, and even cancer. 

7. Mustard Gas And Chemotherapy

While mustard gas initially came into mass use as a deadly chemical agent during the First World War, it has also played a pivotal role in the larger history of cancer treatment. Researchers in the early 1900s, like Dr. Edward and Helen Krumbhaar, began studying the effects of mustard agents and their potential medical applications. By the 1940s, scientists transformed mustard gas into substances that could be used for cancer chemotherapy, specifically sulfur mustards and nitrogen mustards. 

During World War II, extensive research was done on chemical warfare agents of all kinds, including mustard gas, to better understand their harmful effects and develop countermeasures. The researchers also drew from wartime experience, as accidental exposure to the agent on the frontline revealed its effects on blood cells. Subsequent trials proved the effectiveness of nitrogen mustard in regressing existing tumors, which set the stage for further breakthroughs in chemotherapy in the coming years.

6. Environmental Factors

While we now know that environmental factors can cause cancer, it hasn’t always been common knowledge. The first scientist to link environmental factors with the disease was Percivall Pott, who – in 1775 – wrote a book about how workers in London that were exposed to soot from the chimneys were at a higher risk of scrotal cancer. Pott observed an unusually high incidence of skin sores on the scrotums of chimney sweepers, leading him to identify an environmental factor, soot, as the cancer-causing agent. 

This discovery was a milestone in the history of cancer research, as it not only revealed the role of occupational exposure in carcinogenesis , but also contributed to the understanding of diseases caused by infections like Pott disease. 

5. P53 Protein

The discovery of the p53 protein in the 1970s revolutionized our understanding of how cancer works. First identified by independent researchers in 1984, p53 is a tumor-suppressor protein found within our cells that plays a crucial role in preventing the development and progression of cancer throughout our lifetimes. It acts as a guardian of the genome, responding to DNA damage – which may lead to cancer – by halting cell growth or inducing cell death. 

Over the years, scientists have uncovered many functions of the p53 protein, describing it instead as a network. In addition to its role in DNA repair and cell death, it’s also involved in processes like metabolism and immunity. Years of better understanding the complex mechanisms driven by p53 has led to many major advancements in cancer research and potential treatments. 

4. Discovery Of The Role Of Viruses

In 1910, Peyton Rous discovered a filterable agent, later named the Rous sarcoma virus, that was causing cancer in chickens. On further experimentation, he found that freezing, drying, or radiation didn’t diminish the virus’s cancer-causing ability, and that the infected chickens produce antibodies, leading him to develop his viral theory of cancer. 

In 1934, Rous also found a virus responsible for warts in jackrabbits that could later develop into cancerous tumors. This newfound focus on viruses as a potential agent of cancer led to further discoveries by him and other researchers in the field. One of them was that certain viruses could permanently alter the DNA of host cells without killing them, resulting in the growth of cancer at a later stage. 

3. Immunotherapy

William Coley is often referred to as the ‘Father of Immunotherapy’ due to his contributions to the field of cancer research in the late 19th century. In 1891, Coley attempted to treat bone cancer by utilizing the immune system. He observed tumor regression in sarcoma patients after infecting them with mixtures of live and inactivated bacteria. 

This new strategy provided early evidence of cancer treatment with the body’s own immune system, and Coley’s work laid the foundation for all future advancements in cancer immunotherapy. Subsequent discoveries in the field, like the discovery of T cells and their role in the immune system, reignited academic interest in using the immune system to fight cancer, leading to further insights and discoveries. 

2. Hormone Therapy

Over the years, hormone therapy has played a major role in cancer research and treatment, particularly in the areas of prostate and breast cancer. It was only made possible after the discoveries of Charles Huggins, a Canadian-born American surgeon and urologist, who was the first researcher to prove the influence of hormones on certain types of cancer. 

Huggins demonstrated that prostate cancer could be affected by hormones, and that inhibiting hormone production through castration or introducing female sex hormones could counteract the disease. This breakthrough led to the rapid adoption of hormone treatment for prostate and other types of cancer, including breast cancer. For his work, Charles Huggins – along with Peyton Rous – received the Nobel Prize for Physiology or Medicine in 1966.

1. Mapping Of The Human Genome

The mapping of the human genome was completed in 2003, giving us – for the first time – access to the entire set of DNA instructions found in a human cell. It was a breakthrough event for the medical world, as doctors and medical researchers now had access to the fundamental knowledge needed to understand genetic mutations and their role in diseases, especially cancer. With this new understanding, personalized therapies could now be developed to target specific genetic changes in cancer cells.

Thanks to the Human Genome Project, researchers discovered that some breast cancer cells had an altered HER-2 gene, which led to the production of a growth-promoting protein. Over the years, similar genetic changes were found in other types of cancer, leading to more advanced targeted therapies and personalized medicine for specific diseases. Unlike traditional chemotherapy and radiation, targeted therapies offer longer-lasting treatment effects with minimal side effects. The ability to sequence the DNA in cancer cells and compare it to the human genome also allowed for a more comprehensive categorization of tumors.

Movies bring people together, whether good or bad. One of the things I like about movies is that they can transport you anywhere. A great film can make you laugh or cry and even change your perspective. Many of the movies on this list may make you cry or laugh, but not for the right reasons. For many movie viewers, fight scenes are the most exciting parts of a film. But every fight scene is not created equal.

This article will go through the ten movies with the worst fight scenes. These scenes stick out for being exceptionally bad for multiple reasons, from a lack of choreography or talent to some of the most absurd premises for a fight. Let’s get ready to rumble with the ten movies with the worst fight scenes.

Related: Top 10 Worst Movies From The Top Genres

10 Rock ‘n’ Roll Nightmare (1987)

This movie is appropriately named. It is both rock and roll and a total nightmare. Rock ‘n’ Roll Nightmare is the project of Jon Mikl Thor, who is not only the starring man but also the main writer. The movie features Thor as the hero battling his enemies with huge ’80s metal hair. While it is mostly nonsensical, the movie comes to a head with a speech from the hero directly into the camera. It turns out he is talking to an alien puppet of some kind.

After the two talks, the weirdest battle ensues, complete with an epic rock ballad. The song, as you probably expected, was written and performed by Thor as well. The alien puppet is far more interesting than scary, as the face never moves. It really seems as though they filmed this scene with just one take. The acting, effects, and general premise are all just bad. Check it out yourself, and you’ll be sure to agree that this is one of the worst fight scenes in movie history.

9 Pit Fighter (2005)

The movie Pit Fighter holds the dubious distinction of being the newest movie to make this list. Made in 2005, Pit Fighter stars Dominique Vandenberg as Jack Severino. At the movie’s beginning, Severino has no memory of his life. The only thing he remembers is pit fighting. As the movie continues, he learns more about his past. Eventually, he has a major conflict when he remembers crucial information. This major conflict is one of the worst fight scenes I have ever seen in a movie.

It is certainly more of a gunfight than a fist fight, but that apparently did not make the choreography any easier. The scene is a nonstop battle, where the gunshots keep going for quite a while. Eventually, Severino runs out of bullets after killing dozens (maybe hundreds?) of enemies. No problem, though; he then just attacks henchmen with a sword. Finally, he is overcome by many men with guns. He smiles for some reason, then gets completely riddled with bullets.

Clearly, the movie didn’t have trouble finding extras, as the ground is covered with bodies multiple times. This may well be the least realistic movie scene I have ever viewed.

8 Mr. No Legs (1979)

The next scene is the oldest on our list, from a movie made back in 1979. It is safe to say that a movie like this would never be made today because it is in such poor taste. The movie stars wrestler Ron Slinker as a mob enforcer. As you probably guessed from the title, Slinker plays a character with no legs. In reality, Slinker suffered from no notable disabilities (besides a possible lack of judgment).

Slinker’s character was the title character, Mr. No Legs, who did his mob enforcement from a wheelchair. Or the ground. Or in a pool. The fight scene featured shows Slinker dispatching an enemy first from his wheelchair. Then, he dismounts and kills an attacker using ninja stars hidden in the wheels of his chair. In general, the whole movie is an absurdity, but this scene, in particular, is clearly one of the worst fight scenes of all time.

7 Ninja: Silent Assassin (1987)

Godfrey Ho, the director of Ninja: Silent Assassin, is known for his ninja films. He’s directed more than 120 movies over his career, but that doesn’t mean they’re all good. In this particular instance, the acting is incredibly bad, and the tone is unbelievable. The scene that made the list is the final battle from the movie. First, you may notice that none of the people seem like ninjas initially. Then, when they agree to meet to a fight “to the death,” all characters show up in cartoonish gear.

They trash talk and agree again that their battle will be “to the death,” and madness ensues. Complete with over-the-top drama, excessive cursing, wild outfits, and unnecessary and inappropriate sound effects, it is clear that this is one of the worst fight scenes on film. Also, the ninjas in this movie are far from silent. Perhaps Godfrey Ho ran out of logical names for his ninja movies.

6 Rambu: The Intruder (1986)

Yes, you read that right. Not John Rambo, the character made famous by Sylvester Stallone, but rather Rambu. Incredibly, this movie is not a parody. Apparently, the “star” of Rambu was spotted at an airport in Jakarta and mistaken for the star of the Rambo and Rocky films. I guess a passing resemblance to a movie star was enough to inspire this Indonesian rip-off. The star of Rambu, Peter O’Brian, went on to have a career as an action star. This movie overall is a bit of a disaster, but the scene linked above epitomizes the absurdity.

This particular fight scene includes Rambu easily beating up multiple henchmen. The bad guys were apparently angry that a lady had gotten in the way. Rambu quickly comes to the poor woman’s aid and easily dispatches the thugs. After, he throws out a couple of cheesy lines and finishes by saying, “the name is Rambu.” This is only the intro to a quite bizarre movie, and it just devolves from there.

5 They Live (1988)

The 1980s were a crazy time in the film industry. Yet another ’80s movie that makes the list is They Live, a gloriously cheesy movie. The scene above starts innocently enough. Then, the two men begin exchanging punches. An amazing quote from the fight is when one character says, “I’m giving you a choice. Either put on the glasses or start eating that trash can.” The two exchange blows for several minutes, while both insist that they don’t want to fight.

The fight continues in this vein for too long and borders on being ridiculous. One man insists the other needs to wear the glasses, and he refuses. Eventually, he forces the glasses onto the other person’s face. Probably the best way to watch this scene is without glasses. Or maybe with your eyes totally covered.

4 Gymkata (1985)

Back in 1985, movie producers decided it was a worthwhile idea to cast Olympic gold medalist Kurt Thomas as the star of a movie. Thomas was known not only for his gymnastic abilities but also for his long, glorious mullet. He was certainly not known for being an accomplished actor. The movie Gymkata was based entirely on the Olympian.

The movie’s basic premise is that Thomas is a gymnastics ninja. Due to the absurd concept, this movie has several fight scenes that are truly awful. In the scene linked above, Kurt Thomas takes down several bad guys using all sorts of impractical techniques. At one point, it appears that he is landing from a backflip, and he knocks down multiple enemies. Worth a watch for its absurdity alone, this scene from Gymkata definitely deserves a spot on our list.

3 Night of the Kickfighters (1988)

Another ’80s movie that tried and failed to turn a sports star into an action star is the movie Night of the Kickfighters. It stars a kickboxing champion, Andy Bauman. What is a kickfighter, you ask? It’s a kickboxer! I have no idea why they decided to go with this name.

The fight scene linked above is just one example of many in the movie. It shows a very slow-speed fight, almost like something you would expect to see on a stage. Then, the main character is thrown out the window. Complete with gratuitous sound effects and grunting, this scene shows us why there are no famous movies starring kickboxers (or kickfighters, for that matter). It’s slow, awkward, and generally hokey.

2 Exit Wounds (2001)

A list like this wouldn’t be complete without the king of cheesy action movies, Steven Segal. This movie, Exit Wounds, came out in 2001 and also featured another well-known actor, Anthony Anderson. He features in one of the worst fight scenes, which you can see above. The scene begins when Segal approaches Anderson in a club and immediately starts beating him up.

Anderson tries to fight back but is easily overmatched. Then, Anderson calls in his security force. And mayhem ensues. Who knew there would be so many chains and so much breakable glass in the club? The choreography is silly enough, but the club patrons do not even leave when there is a full-scale ninja fight. This is one of the most well-known and one of the most ludicrous fight scenes on our list.

1 Undefeatable (1993)

The final fight scene on our list comes to us in another “masterpiece” by the director Godfrey Ho. This film, called Undefeatable, came out in 1993. If you spend a lot of time on YouTube, you may have seen this fight. It has gone viral and the video linked above (ironically called “Best fight scene of all time”) has more than 10 million views. The scene starts with a person licking a knife.

Both fighters repeatedly grunt before and during the fight, eventually taking off their shirts. When a lady in a sling appears and starts kicking, one of the characters is sent flying into the wall, face first. That wall had a knife sticking out of it, which impaled his eye. That is just the start because his other eye also gets impaled. Rough day. If you are looking for the ultimate in cheesy, excessive fight scenes that really make no sense, this scene is unforgettable.

Living through a global pandemic, it can seem like the news has slipped into an endless cycle of misery and despair. But it is important to remember that this coronavirus is not the first epidemic humanity has faced. For the last half-century, people have been battling against the debilitating and potentially fatal terror of HIV/AIDS.

The fight is a long way from over. To date, HIV has taken over 36 million lives and still claims hundreds of thousands each year. Of the nearly 38 million people still living with the infection, one in five is said to be unaware of their condition. And with marginalized communities most at risk of infection, the virus still carries a weighty social stigma.^[1]

But the fight against HIV/AIDS has also produced a wealth of uplifting breakthroughs and inspiring victories. As of January 2021, the virus has been eliminated in three patients. There are reports of a potential vaccine in the pipeline. Around the world, there are inspiring stories of people coming together to minimize HIV infection. And plenty of work is being done to fight the stigma too.

So, in these bleak times of coronavirus, when it feels like the world might be damaged beyond repair, here are ten uplifting stories from the fight against HIV/AIDS.

10 Gene Editing Helps Cure Mice

Gene editing is a controversial practice, but it could prove vital to curing HIV. In 2020, researchers discovered a way to stamp out HIV in mice.

As part of the scientists’ study, HIV-infected mice were given a cocktail of slow-release drugs for four weeks. They then received a complex gene-editing treatment. The two treatments were ineffective on their own. But the scientists found that they could eliminate HIV if they were used together. Of the 23 mice that received both therapies, nine came back HIV-negative.

Dr. Howard E Gendelman of the University of Nebraska worked closely on the study. He described it as “the first time, to my knowledge, that any group has shown viral eradication is possible in a live animal model.”

Currently, people with HIV keep relatively normal lives by taking antiretroviral drugs. These drugs stabilize the condition—but they are not a cure. If someone with HIV were to stop taking their medication, their symptoms would flare up again in only a few weeks.^[2]

9 Monthly Injections Could Replace Pills

For people with HIV, taking pills is part of their daily routine. But those pills could soon be on their way out. Scientists in California have developed a monthly injection that they claim is better than pills at keeping the virus at bay. The drugs are injected into the patient’s buttock. They remain between the muscle fibers while they soak into the bloodstream. This method is remarkably effective. In a recent trial, 94% of participants who received the injection were stable after two years.

The injectable therapy is welcome news to many, including UN health expert Mahesh Mahalingam. As he told reporters, “It will help remove the challenge of taking tablets every day and significantly improve the quality of life of people living with HIV.”^[3]

8 “Dusseldorf Patient” Cured after Bone Marrow Transplant

In 2019, a patient in Germany became the third person in history to be cured of HIV after receiving a bone marrow transplant. For confidentiality reasons, very little is known about the identity of the “Dusseldorf Patient.” But, when doctors revealed the case at a conference in Seattle, the patient had gone three months without taking medication and was still free of HIV. The scientists looked for traces of the virus by studying tissue from the lymph nodes and the gut.

A bone marrow transplant is an advanced treatment in which infected cells are replaced with healthy ones. Scientists have been aware of the potential of bone marrow transplants since 2007, when “Berlin Patient” Timothy Ray Brown became the first person to be cured of the virus.^[4]

7 Protests Against Mbeki’s Denial in South Africa

HIV was rife in post-apartheid South Africa. By the mid-1990s, over one and half million people had tested positive for the virus. The hospitals were filled with dying patients. Across the country, tens of thousands of mothers were giving birth to infected babies.

Amidst this devastation, President Thabo Mbeki decided to push aside a wealth of scientific evidence. He declared that people with HIV should stop taking their medication. Instead, officials were recommending garlic and beetroot as potential treatments. In addition, Mbeki banned infected mothers from accessing drugs that would prevent them from passing on the virus to their children. Mbeki’s leadership is said to have cost 300,000 people their lives.

But the people of South Africa did not suffer Mbeki’s actions gladly. Throughout his presidency, protesters took to the streets. Crowds of South Africans called on the president to abandon his AIDS denial and face reality. Finally, in 2001, a community group called the Treatment Action Campaign took the issue to court. Their legal case forced the government to backtrack. Pregnant women would finally be allowed to access the medication they so desperately needed.

The impact on South Africa’s collective health has been astounding. In the decade following the drug’s release, life expectancy has risen by nine years. The child mortality rate has fallen through the floor. Mbeki resigned in 2008, making space for a government committed to tackling the pandemic. South Africa is still a long way from kicking out the virus completely. But they are in a far stronger position than they were twenty years ago.^[5]

6 PrEP Prevents Infection

Prevention, the saying goes, is better than the cure. Especially with HIV/AIDS, which has no known cure. Over the past fifteen years, researchers have made incredible strides in developing the PrEP medication that they say reduces the risk of getting HIV to almost zero.

PrEP is a daily program of drugs that protect at-risk people from contracting the virus. Initially, the drugs were limited to certain groups like sex workers and people who inject drugs. But after promising trials, the World Health Organization recommended that PrEP be made available to anyone at risk of infection. The rollout of PrEP now includes countries like the U.S., Brazil, and Thailand. In Thailand, anyone can access free PrEP no matter their age or gender.^[6]

5 HIV-Positive Sperm Bank Opens in New Zealand

In 2019, New Zealand opened the doors to the world’s first HIV-positive sperm bank. Sperm Positive is part of a new scheme to reduce the stigma surrounding the virus. All the men who donate to the bank will be HIV-positive with an undetectable viral load. This means that when their sperm is used for conception, there is no possibility of the virus being transmitted to the child.

Sperm Positive is a collective effort run by three charities—Positive Women Inc, Body Positive, and the New Zealand Aids Foundation. They hope that the project will help broaden people’s horizons about the virus and lessen the social shame attached to it.^[7]

4 Brighton’s HIV Test Vending Machine

The English city of Brighton faces numerous issues when it comes to HIV. Excluding London, it has the highest rate of HIV in the country. Eight out of every 1,000 people have tested positive for the virus, four times the national average. A 2016 study estimated that almost one-fifth of the people with HIV in Brighton were unaware that they had the infection.

However, that number is falling. In 2016, the city council became the first in the UK to commit to a target of zero new infections.

To minimize infection, the council installed vending machines across the city so that locals could access HIV testing kits. These machines are the first of their kind anywhere in the world. In 2017, the Martin Fisher Foundation set up five machines in venues around Brighton that are often visited by high-risk groups.

The vending machines are playing a vital role in reducing Brighton’s infection rate. The Foundation recently upgraded three of them to full Sexual Health Machines. Now, locals can use the machines to get STI kits as well as HIV tests.^[8]

Following Brighton’s promising example, Glasgow, Liverpool, London, and Manchester have also pledged to eradicate new infections.

3 Cyclists Help HIV-Positive Sex Workers in Zimbabwe

Coronavirus has taken its toll on all of our lives. But, for HIV-positive sex workers in rural Zimbabwe, the pandemic has been a nightmare. Zimbabwe’s national lockdown has stopped people in remote areas from accessing necessities.

When the pandemic hit, people in the village of Mashava were suddenly unable to get to the nearest clinic. This left four hundred HIV-positive sex workers stranded without their medication. Women like Dorcas Mbiri found that they were being turned away by the police and told to stay indoors.

So Mbiri and her colleagues decided to organize among themselves. They borrowed bicycles so that once a week, a cyclist could travel to the nearest clinic and collect essential medication for the villagers. On the poor quality Zimbabwean roads, the 10km trek (6.2 miles) can take almost three-quarters of an hour. But it has provided a much-needed lifeline for the sex workers of Mashava.^[9]

2 Woman Free of HIV for Twelve Years without Medication

In 2015, a young woman born with HIV made headlines after testing HIV-negative twelve years after last taking her medication. The unnamed woman was treated with antiretroviral drugs as a baby. But, after six years, the family decided to end her treatment. A year later, aged seven, doctors tested her again and found no trace of the virus.

Eleven years later, now an adult, she went back for another HIV test. Medical professionals were astounded by what they saw. Remarkably, over a decade since her last dose of drugs, HIV had not resurfaced in the young woman’s blood. This was the longest any young person has gone virus-free without medication.

“There have been other reports of treating infants followed by the stoppage of antiretroviral therapy that have not turned out as well,” explained Dr. Scott Sieg, an expert in infectious disease and HIV. “This case provides new hope.”^[10]

1 DNA-rTV, China’s Potential HIV Vaccine

Researchers in China have produced a potential HIV vaccine. One day, this may be used to protect the public from the virus. The potential vaccine, DNA-rTV, completed its second phase of clinical trials in 2019. So far, the results appear to be positive.

DNA-rTV is a replicating viral vector vaccine. This means that the vaccine particles can reproduce themselves. These new particles then enter cells in the body and produce antigens. Antigens are hugely important for immunization because they make the immune system produce antibodies. If that person ever becomes infected, those antibodies will play a vital role in helping the immune system fight off the virus.

Developing an HIV vaccine is a difficult task. Scientists say that we should not expect the vaccine any time soon. Jin Cong, director of China’s AIDS Prevention Office, has warned people not to get their hopes up too quickly.

“In general, all vaccines require a long process from development to the market,” Cong explained. “It is even more difficult for the AIDS vaccine, which is determined by the characteristics of the AIDS virus itself.”^[11]