The decade-spanning film superstar Jackie Chan needs no introduction as both an action hero and martial arts legend. Since the mid-70s, the Rush Hour actor has garnered international fame through his commitment to adrenaline-fueled action, superb fight choreography, and a flurry of incredulous, death-defying stunts that made Chan a household name in both hemispheres.
With this illustrious career in mind, it’s time we took a look back at Jackie Chan’s vast filmography to sort out the actor’s ten greatest martial arts movies. Whether you’re a fan of the actor’s earlier Hong Kong films or prefer Chan’s action movies from the ’90s, there are bound to be movies that have fallen between the cracks of your recommended watches amid the overwhelming plethora of content and new releases on streaming services.
10
Dragons Forever
This Film Is An Excellent ’80s Action Comedy
In Dragons Forever, Jackie Chan reunited with Yuen Biao and legendary Hong Kong director and actor Sammo Hung in a goofy action comedy that sees the trio hired by a shady chemical company accused of polluting the water supply near a local fishery. Per usual, Chan brings his A-game in the film’s tight stunts and choreography.
What may surprise those unfamiliar with the actor’s filmography is his keen slapstick comedic chops in Dragons Forever, a skill he’d honed since his breakthrough as a martial arts lead in several Hong Kong comedies of the mid-to-late ’70s.
Perhaps the best remembered in Dragons Forever is the film’s iconic finale, wherein Jackie Lung (Jackie Chan) and his friends Wong (Sammo Hung) and Tung (Yuen Biao) storm the chemical factory (which is revealed in the film to be a front for a massive drug empire) and take on its leader, Hua Hsien-Wu (Yuen Wah), and his henchmen in a superb ultimate showdown.
If nothing else, Dragons Forever is particularly noteworthy for being Jackie Chan’s final on-screen collaboration with both Sammo Hung and Yuen Biao, whose electric chemistry made for some excellent cinema throughout the 1980s.
9
Crime Story
Jackie Chan Ventured Into More Dramatic Territory In This ’90s Film
Moving forward to the ’90s, the 1993 action thriller Crime Story (also known as “New Police Story“) saw Jackie Chan take on a more serious role as gruff Inspector Eddie Chan, a special agent suffering from post-traumatic stress that’s tasked with protecting a wealthy business magnate named Wong Yat-Fei (Kar-Ling Law).
After Wong is abducted alongside his wife for a ransom of $60 million USD, Chan joins a nationwide manhunt for the criminals responsible, all the while suspecting that his seasoned partner, Hung Ting-Bong (Kent Cheng), is involved in the kidnapping.
Fellow martial arts legend Jet Li was originally up for the role of Eddie Chan in Crime Story.
Loosely based on the real-life kidnapping of Chinese businessman Teddy Wang, Crime Story proved to be the perfect storm for Chan as he began to gain traction in America, as the gritty 1993 crime thriller demonstrated the actor’s range beyond sheer comedy and physicality, making way for his breakthrough in the West.
Though Crime Story didn’t prove to be the box office slam dunk that would catapult Chan to stardom, it was an essential puzzle piece in a long, fruitful career that served to elevate the actor beyond his American cult status in the early ’90s.
8
Rumble in the Bronx
This Film Made Jackie Chan A Household Name
Rumble in the Bronx was Jackie Chan’s breakout film in the West, becoming a surprise box-office hit in the US and Canada off of a modest $7 million budget. Set in the northernmost borough of New York City (despite being filmed in Vancouver, Canada), Rumble in the Bronx sees Chan star as Keung, a Hong Kong cop who finds himself in the troublesome Big Apple after his uncle invites him to attend his wedding.
After Keung comes to blows with a local street gang, he finds himself in the midst of a larger criminal conspiracy, forcing him to clash against the menacing syndicate boss “White Tiger” (Kris Lord).
In true action-hero fashion, Rumble in the Bronx contains all the elements of a signature Jackie Chan movie: bright slapstick comedy, expert choreography, and a plethora of dangerous, jaw-dropping stunts, including one unforgettable sequence where Keung goes on a rampage across town in a hovercraft that treks both land and sea—a scene far more memorable than your usual aquathlon.
There’s a reason why this 1995 title proved to be the film that shot Chan to stardom, and at a breakneck pace of only one-hour-and-27 minutes, it’s a thrilling action-packed breeze.
7
Snake in the Eagle’s Shadow
The Film Is A Delightfully Cheesy ’70s Kung Fu Classic
Jumping back several decades, Snake in the Eagle’s Shadow is an excellent showcase of Jackie Chan’s promise as a young and up-and-coming martial artist, and truly one of the greatest old-school kung fu movies of the 1970s.
The directorial debut of Crouching Tiger, Hidden Dragon choreographer Yuen Woo-ping, Snake in the Eagle’s Shadow stars Jackie Chan as Chien Fu, an orphan that befriends an old beggar who—unbeknownst to him—is Pai Chang Tien (Yuen Siu-tien) one of the last surviving masters of the titular “Snake-style” of kung fu.
What’s immediately noticeable about Snake in the Eagle’s Shadow is its visual similarity to another 1978 kung fu comedy titled Drunken Master, which features both Jackie Chan and Yuen Siu-tien in a similar student-master dynamic. In truth, Snake in the Eagle’s Shadow and Drunken Master were both filmed in the same year and include some crossover actors in key roles with Hwang Jang-lee playing villains in both films.
Like Drunken Master, Snake in the Eagle’s Shadow features top-notch martial arts choreography, aided in large part by the talents of Chan and Hwang Jang-lee, not to mention the directing of Yuen Woo-ping.
6
Drunken Master II
The Film Elevated The Drunken Master Choreography
A soft reboot of its 1978 predecessor, Drunken Master II (also known as “The Legend of Drunken Master“) brings its protagonist Wong Fei-hung (Jackie Chan) to the ’90s with an electric follow-up to his previous drunken escapades. Per usual, Fe-hung (who’s also known as “Freddie” in some dubs) finds himself in trouble after accidentally stealing an ancient Chinese artifact, landing him in the midst of a brewing conflict between foreigners and loyalists all wanting a piece of the prize.
For me, it doesn’t get better than Fei-hung’s painful trek across burning hot coals, a feat Chan allegedly performed twice to get the right look for the film.
Drunken Master II takes the choreography and stunts of the original and modernizes with sleeker filmmaking and martial arts performances all around, delivering a signature blend of comedy and action that’s become the norm for a Jackie Chan picture.
It doesn’t get better than Fei-hung’s painful trek across burning hot coals, a feat Chan allegedly performed twice to get the right look for the film. Truly, describing Jackie Chan’s role in Drunken Master II with only two words is a rather easy feat, as the only thing that comes to my mind is “fully-fledged dedication.”
5
Armour of God
Jackie Chan Meets James Bond And Indiana Jones
If you’ve ever wanted to see Jackie Chan in the role of an Indiana Jones-like treasure hunter, or—alternatively—never could’ve even conceived of such a thought, let alone a film, Armour of God is your next watch, and for good reason.
Starring as former pop star-turned-adventurer “Asian Hawk” (not even kidding), Chan comes to blows with a cult seeking to construct the “Armour of God“ whilst venturing across Europe in search of treasure—a truly epic and off-the-wall odyssey, indeed.
Filled to the brim with impeccable stunts and action set pieces, it’s no surprise that Armour of God landed smack-dab in the middle of the 1980s, an over-the-top era defined by high-octane thrills and ripped, muscular strongmen whose heroics captured the hearts and dollars of audiences worldwide.
4
Wheels On Meals
This 1984 Film Is Pure Comedy Gold
Yet another film featuring the Chan-Hung-Biao trio, Wheels On Meals is an excellent martial arts action comedy directed once more by the great Sammo Hung. In Wheels On Meals, Thomas (Jackie Chan) and David (Yuen Biao) are martial arts hobbyists who run a food truck in Barcelona, Spain.
After their ’80s perm-rocking friend Moby (Sammo Hung) passes onto them the task of finding Sylvia (Lola Forner), the pickpocket daughter of a wealthy family, the trio are put onto a path that spells trouble, hilarity, and all-out chaos in this entertaining romp.
Though Jackie Chan’s comedic talent is well-known through such blockbuster hits as Shanghai Noon and the highly-successful Rush Hour trilogy, the extent of his background in slapstick remains relatively unknown to Western audiences, in large part thanks to Chan’s tendency to play more “straight man” roles in comedies following Rumble in the Bronx.
Nevertheless, Wheels On Meals is the perfect encapsulation of this skill in Chan’s arsenal, and it makes for quite an entertaining watch when with a friend that’s only familiar with the actor’s later work.
3
Project A
This Film Saw Chan Excel As A Stunt Performer
Sticking with the ’80s, Project A is yet another martial arts action comedy that sees the Chan-Hung-Biao trio spar with pirates in 19th-century Hong Kong. Leading the fight is Sergeant Dragon Ma (Jackie Chan), a member of the Hong Kong Marine Police who teams up with his friend, a thief named Fei (Sammo Hung), and the nephew of his superior officer, Captain Tzu (Yuen Biao), to thwart the wicked schemes of the pirates.
Upon its release in late 1983, Project A was highly successful in Asia, even earning Jackie Chan a “Best Actor” nod and “Best Action Choreography” win at the 4th Hong Kong Film Awards. Indeed, the latter is well-deserved, with Project A featuring some of Chan’s most innovative stunts and choreography in his career, including one notable scene where Chan hangs onto a clock tower for dear life almost two years before Doc Brown did the same in Back to the Future.
2
Drunken Master
Jackie Chan Shines In This Old School Kung Fu Flick
Jackie Chan’s performance as Fei-hung in Drunken Master was truly his breakout role as an actor, illustrating his prowess not only as a martial artist, but as a more-than-competent comedic talent. Set in early 20th-century China, Drunken Master follows the mischievous but good-hearted Fei-hung as his increasingly daring antics lead to his father employing Beggar So (Yuen Siu-tien) to implement brutal punishments on the young delinquent.
After escaping his home and sparring with the owner of a restaurant, Fei-hung is then unknowingly saved by Beggar So, who begins personally training him in the eight drunken fighting styles after torturous preparation.
Related
Jackie Chan’s Greatest Old-School Kung Fu Movie Is This Stone-Cold Classic With 85% On Rotten Tomatoes
This cult classic Jackie Chan movie from 1978 has it all — laughs, action, and of course, incredible martial arts and stunt choreography.
Drunken Master is the quintessential old-school kung fu flick, carrying the perfect amount of humor, slapstick, and expert choreography to dazzle audiences while busting their guts in the process.
Furthermore, though Jackie Chan plays a character that might best be described as “not the sharpest tool in the shed,” he projects a surprising amount of emotion in what is otherwise a goofy martial arts comedy, most apparent in the scene when Fei-hung is bested and humiliated by the arrogant and aloof “Thunderfoot” (Hwang Jang-lee), whose ’70s mustache can truly only be described as “inappropriate.”
1
Police Story
It Doesn’t Get Better Than This ’80s Action Thriller
Finally, 1985’s Police Story is the greatest presentation of Jackie Chan’s strength as both a physical and dramatic actor. In Police Story, Chan stars as Chan Ka-Kui, a Hong Kong police officer who finds himself in the center of a murder plot after successfully carrying out a drug bust that made him a hometown hero.
After being framed for the murder of a fellow cop, Ka-Kui is then thrust into a frantic race against time to prove his innocence, bring the parties responsible to justice, and not get himself killed in the process. To put it simply, there isn’t a better example of Chan’s prowess as an action star than Police Story, which features some of the most entertaining stunts, car chases, and fight sequences in his entire filmography.
Police Story was both directed and co-written by Jackie Chan.
It’s not just what’s on-screen, however: the narrative framework behind Police Story allows Chan to reach cinematic heights yet to be bested—and not for a lack of trying, seeing as the 1985 film set off a decade-spanning franchise that brought so many action setpieces to the big screen. Truly, if you have yet to see Police Story, check it out today to see why Jackie Chan considers the 40-year-old film his greatest.
Police Story
- Release Date
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December 14, 1985
- Runtime
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99 minutes
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Sergeant ‘Kevin’ Chan Ka-Kui
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Brigitte Lin Ching-Hsia
Salina Fong
