Drums of Fu Manchu (1940) is a 15-chapter Republic serial film based on the character created by Sax Rohmer.

Fu Manchu attempts to conquer the world by acquiring the sceptre of Genghis Khan, which will unite the people of Asia under his rule.

[1] Directors Witney and English, working with photographer William Nobles, stressed the elements of mystery in the plot over the usual action.

According to serial expert Alan Barbour, the Hays Office accepted the explanation that Fu Manchu always "got away" at the end of his novels to wreak further havoc in the next adventure, and Republic may well have been considering follow-ups.

[4] Hans J. Wollstein, writing at Allmovie, concurs that Drums of Du Fu Manchu is "one of [Republic's] very best" serials.

He does, however, note mistakes such as the misspelling of "Ghengis Khan" and Fu Manchu referring to Mary Randolph as "Miss Parker" but considers them part of the charm of the serial.

Following their standard practice of 1938-1944, Republic also released two 12-chapter serials in this year, Adventures of Red Ryder and King of the Royal Mounted.