Jackie Chanis a highly influential martial artist whose acting career spans several decades and is well known for his entertaining action comedies, but there are a few great movies from Chan’s lustrous career that aren’t as well-known to many. As an actor and filmmaker,Chan has proven himself to be effective in both thrilling, high-octane action movies and lighthearted martial arts filmsthat incorporate his signature slapstick humor.
During his peak as an actor,Chan played a significant role in the martial arts genre, earning praise for his ability to perform impressive, death-defying stuntsand combining them with an appreciated amount of silliness. Chan’s status as an action movie star went beyond Hong Kong during the 1990s, with his worldwide fame growing exponentially in the following years. With a career and filmography as expansive as Chan’s, it’s inevitable that several awesome films slip through the cracks and get lost among Chan’s best movies, likePolice StoryandDrunken Master.
10Half A Loaf Of Kung Fu (1978)
Directed by Chen Chi-hwa
One of the earliest films that saw Chan play with comedy and martial arts isHalf a Loaf of Kung Fu. In the film, Chan is Jiang, an acrobat who wishes to practice kung fu.The movie is less of a straightforward martial arts film and instead aims to poke fun at the seriousnessoften seen within the genre at the time.
Half a Loaf of Kung Fumay not be the best example of Chan’s ability to incorporate humor into stunning action sequences, but it is still quite a compelling film. WhileHalf a Loaf of Kung Fu’s action scenes are choreographed to be entertaining,the comedic tone of these scenes doesn’t detract from the sheer impressiveness of Chan as a martial artist.
9New Police Story (2004)
Directed by Benny Chan
The originalPolice Storymoviesare what many action comedy fans know Chan best for, as they memorably paired impressive action choreography with a refreshing, humorous tone. However, in the early 2000s, Chan led the darkerNew Police Story, playing Chan Kwok-wing. The film acts as a reboot of the original acclaimedmartial arts cop movieand sees Chan’s character falling into a depression following the death of his entire squad during a bank robbery.
However, it isn’t long until Chan Kwok-wing is back in action after he decides to go after those responsible for his squad members' deaths. Whilethe story inNew Police Storyis darker and more dramatic, Chan doesn’t feel out of place. WhatNew Police Storylacks in humor, it makes up for in thrills, and can overall be enjoyed as an exciting shift in the famous action film franchise.
8Mr. Nice Guy (1997)
Directed by Sammo Hung
Released towards the end ofChan’s incredible run of action movies in the ’90s,Mr. Nice Guyis a film that continues to be unfairly overlooked despite its strong entertainment value. The movie sees Chan’s TV chef character Jackie get involved in a local conflict between the mob and a street gang after he helps a journalist (Gabrielle Fitzpatrick) on the run from the former.
Mr. Nice Guydelivers nearly everything one could want from a ’90s action film led by Chan, including laughter and a hefty number of jaw-dropping fight scenes. WhileMr. Nice Guy’s uninspired narrative hasn’t allowed the film to be the most memorable of Chan’s career, it does give plenty of room for the fight sequences to steal the show.
7To Kill With Intrigue (1977)
Directed by Lo Wei
OfChan’s best old school kung fu movies,To Kill with Intrigueis the one that’s most often overlooked. The movie is a co-production between Hong Kong and South Korea and stars Hsu Feng alongside Chan.To Kill with Intriguehas a dark tale, and its action is more traditionaland far from the brilliant stunt work Chan would eventually be known for.
To Kill with Intriguefollows gang leader Ding Can-ren (Hsu Feng) on a revenge mission in which she wipes out Lei Shao-feng’s (Chan) entire family and only spares him. The conflict and intensity inTo Kill with Intrigueis palpable. The film’s fusion of romance, revenge, and action appears effortless and is likely to have audiences hooked until the very end.To Kill with Intrigueis also another movie where Chan is allowed to deliver a compelling dramatic performance.
6Rob-B-Hood (2006)
Rob-B-Hoodis a fun,comedic crime moviein which a kidnapping doesn’t go according to plan. The movie stars Chan, Louis Koo, and Michael Hui as a trio of burglars ordered to kidnap the baby of a wealthy family. Following a few hiccups in their plan, Thongs (Chan) and Octopus (Koo) wound up taking care of the baby and, inconveniently, forming a bond with him.
Though upon its release,Rob-B-Hoodwas a hit in China, the movie never gained the same worldwide success as Chan’s other work, leading it to be easily overlooked. Still,Rob-B-Hoodis hilarious from beginning to end and is infused with a surprising amount of heart. Chan is comfortable in his comedic role and has fun chemistry onscreen with Koo, making their shenanigans throughout the movie a pleasure to follow along with.
5Shanghai Knights (2003)
Directed by David Dobkin
A sequel toShanghai Noonfrom just a few years prior,Jackie Chan and Owen Wilson reprise their roles as Chon Wang and Roy O’BannoninShanghai Knights. This time around, the duo travels to London, where they embark on a mission to prevent the assassination of the royal family.Shanghai Knightshas just as many laughs as its predecessor, and the chemistry between Chan and Wilson is as strong as ever.
Shanghai Knightscan also be appreciated for its emphasis on action sequences, which allows Chan to bring his signature action style to Hollywood. Of all ofChan’s Hollywood movies,Shanghai Knightsis most reminiscent of Chan’s work in Hong Kong. The film’s action scenes are both innovative and elaborate, paying homage to some ofChan’s comedic influencesand tying intoShanghai Knights' inclusion of famous figures like Charlie Chaplin into its fun story.
4Ride On (2023)
Directed by Larry Yang
Ride Onis one ofChan’s best movies in the past 15 years, yet it remains largely underrated. The movie follows accomplished stuntman Lao Luo (Chan) at the end of his career and at a time in his life when everything appears to be falling apart. Though Chan’s career is still going strong, and he remains a powerful, celebrated force in the martial arts genre,Ride Oncan feel like a heartfelt send-off at times.
Ride Onfeels like a celebration of Chan’s career as an action movie starand is an affecting tribute to the actor and those like him. The movie’s celebration of the profession isn’t nearly as bold and risky as the job it’s highlighting, and is instead quite sentimental. Additionally,Ride On’s charm stems from the endearing relationship between Chan’s character and his stunt horse, Red Hare.
3Who Am I? (1998)
Directed by Jackie Chan & Benny Chan
Who Am I?is a spy comedy from Chan that isn’t appreciated nearly as much as it should be.Who Am I?has the trademark combination of comedy and action seen throughout Chan’s filmography, with the latter element being among the actor’s more risky stunt work. One ofChan’s most intense stuntscan be seen inWho Am I?,where his character lowers himself off a roof by tying a rope around himself and letting it unravel as he falls down the side of the building.
On top of its dangerous and exciting stunt work,Who Am I?also features a gripping narrative with many twists to keep audiences engaged. The movie has a compelling mystery at its center and follows Chan’s amnesiac character known as “Who Am I?” as he sets out on a journey to uncover his real identity and what led to his loss of memory.
2Shaolin (2011)
Chan doesn’t have as big a part inShaolinas he does in the other movies mentioned. Yet, Chan transforms what could have easily been a quick, forgettable cameo into a moving supporting part that adds warmth and comedic relief to the otherwise dramatic story. The movie follows the journey of a ruthless warlord (Andy Lau) after he seeks refuge at a Shaolin Temple, hoping to turn his life around.
The historic setting ofShaolinis wonderfully brought to life by the film’s set design and costumes. Chan’s character is aShaolincook whose hospitality helps push Lau’s character in the necessary direction. Whether the comedic tone Chan’s character brings toShaolinworks within the film overall varies, but there’s no denying Chan’s talent as an actor in the film.
1Shinjuku Incident (2009)
Directed by Derek Yee
Differing from the funaction comedies Chan is primarily knownfor,Shinjuku Incidentis much darker.The film’s story and tone are drastically more grim than Chan’s most popular work,so it’s not hard to understand how many are likely to have skipped overShinjuku Incidentwithout realizing he was the lead.Shinjuku Incidentrevolves around a mechanic from China known as Steelhead (Chan) who immigrates to Japan in search of his long-lost fiancée.
When Steelhead finds himself getting involved in the dangerous underworld, the intensity ofShinjuku Incidentis turned up high. ThoughShinjuku Incidentisn’t as action-packed as most of Chan’s other work,its gritty narrative provides Chan the opportunity to show off his skills as a dramatic performer, and it’s just as exciting for audiences to see what he does with it.
