Jackie created his images as if in contrast to another star – Bruce Lee. Chan’s characters are not heroes at all, but rather clumsy, naive, and often in trouble. The actor built a stellar career in this role and only much later began to try himself in serious roles.
Jackie Chan made his film debut as a stuntman, and then there were small episodes. His first major role was played at the age of 19 in the action film “The Little Tiger of Kwantung.” But the film and the actor himself were left without due attention. Jackie’s triumph came five years later, in the 1978 comedy The Serpent in the Eagle’s Shadow. And “Drunken Master” consolidated his success.
While working on the action film Project A, Jackie assembled his own team of stuntmen, with whom he continues to collaborate to this day. In Hollywood, fame came to Chan in 1995 after the release of Rumble in the Bronx. From that moment on, the actor became a world-famous star. In 2016 he received an honorary Oscar for his contributions to cinema.
We have put together a selection of the most striking films, where Jackie surprised fans not only with incredible stunts, but also with good acting.
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“Police story”, Hong Kong, 1985
Gender: action comedy
Directors: Jackie Chan, Chen Chi-Hwa
Main actors: Jackie Chan, Bridget Lin, Maggie Cheung
Age restrictions: 12+
The main character, police officer Kevin, challenges the Hong Kong drug mafia. To imprison a gang leader, the police need to protect the only witness: his secretary. But on the day of his testimony, he disappears without a trace and all evidence points to Kevin organizing his escape. Now he has to find the fugitive, catch all the criminals and at the same time resolve his difficult relationship with his beloved girl May.
Many stuntmen who were not trained to perform complex stunts were injured during filming. It was then that Chan came up with the idea of creating his own team of professionals.
After the success of the first part, a sequel to the action comedy film was released three years later. The filming was not without injuries. During an iconic stunt, jumping out the window of a bus while it was moving, Jackie cut his hands almost to the bone. Actress Maggie Cheung, who played May, suffered a serious back injury and was unable to continue filming.
In 1992, the third part of the film “Police Story 3: Super Cop” was released. And 2004’s New Police Story isn’t really considered a sequel, but rather a reboot. Here the comic moments were reduced to a minimum, the result was more drama than action.
Still from the movie “Police Academy”
Photo: Kinopoisk
“Armor of God”, Hong Kong, Yugoslavia, 1986
Gender: action comedy
Directors: Jackie Chan, Eric Tsang
Main actors: Jackie Chan, Alan Tam, Lola Forner, Rosamund Kwan
Age restrictions: 18+
The filming of the first part of the adventures of the treasure hunter Jackie, nicknamed the Asian Falcon, almost cost the actor his life. While jumping from the fortress wall to a tall tree, Chan could not resist and fell. As a result of a strong blow with a stone, his skull was pierced and a brain hemorrhage began. Only by miracle did the doctors manage to save the star. After a few months, Jackie went back to work.
In 1992, a sequel was released: “Armor of God 2: Operation Condor”, where Asiatic Hawk searches for a Wehrmacht base where the Nazis hid gold during World War II. In 2012, the third part, Armor of God 3: Mission Zodiac, was released, and in 2017, Armor of God: In Search of Treasures.
By the way, the third part of the film earned Jackie Chan an entry in the Guinness Book of Records for “the most mentions in the credits of a film.” He held 15 positions: actor, director, screenwriter, producer and also cameraman, stunt coordinator, singer and even head of the food team.
Still from the movie “The Armor of God”
Photo: Kinopoisk
“Dragon Twins”, Hong Kong, 1992
Gender: action comedy
Directors: Ringo Lam and Tsui Hark
Main actors: Jackie Chan, Maggie Cheung, Teddy Robin
Age restrictions: 12+
The film is considered a parody response to the cult action film with Jean-Claude Van Damme “Double Impact”, released a year earlier. In the story, two twins (both played by Jackie Chan) were separated as children. The former grew up in prosperity and became a famous pianist and conductor, while the latter grew up on the streets, where he gained fame as a fighter. By chance, the brothers meet and change places. And both will have to fight against the mafia.
Still from the movie “Dragon Twins”
Photo: Kinopoisk
“Mr. Cool”, Hong Kong, 1996
Gender: action comedy
Director: Sammo Hung
Main actors: Jackie Chan, Richard Norton, Miki Lee
Age restrictions: 12+
Jackie also had to show his culinary talents, because in this film he plays the host of a gastronomic show. However, in the video, Chan masterfully prepared the pizza and was no less masterful in beating up the villains. A video of a local gang’s crimes accidentally falls into the hands of its hero, who now wants to eliminate the witness. During filming, Jackie once again broke her nose and almost broke her neck.
Still from the movie “Mr. Cool”
Photo: Kinopoisk
“Who am I?”, Hong Kong, 1998
Gender: action comedy
Directors: Benny Chan, Jackie Chan
Main actors: Jackie Chan, Michel Ferré, Mirai Yamamoto
Age restrictions: 12+
A group of special forces soldiers in Africa are eliminated immediately after completing a mission. Only one survives, but he remembers nothing. He is cared for by a local Aboriginal tribe and, after recovering, the hero goes in search of the truth.
In the film, Jackie Chan performed one of the most incredible stunts of his career: jumping and running up the vertical wall of a 23-story building in Rotterdam. Jackie dedicated this trick to his teacher, Master Yu Jim Yuan.
Unfortunately, the film did not include the scene where Jackie rides a rhino. The operator made a mistake and the defective frame had to be removed during assembly. The actor was furious. But he did not dare to repeat the trick: a broken rib became evident due to the fall of a disgruntled rhino.
Still from the movie “Who am I?”
Photo: Kinopoisk
“Rush Hour”, United States, 1998
Gender: action comedy
Director: Brett Ratner
Main actors: Jackie Chan, Chris Tucker, Elizabeth Peña, Tom Wilkinson
Age restrictions: 12+
The film became Jackie Chan’s first American hit. The three parts of the action film together grossed around $1 billion at the box office. Jackie himself became rich with almost 45 million dollars. The film’s tagline “The fastest hands in the East and the talkiest tongue in the West” speaks for itself, and partners Lee and Carter became one of the best comedy film duos.
It is curious that the first meeting of the heroes in a film is similar to the real acquaintance of the actors. When they met, Chris Tucker spoke so fast that Jackie Chan later admitted, “I didn’t understand anything he said.” This phrase was included in the film.
Still from the movie “Rush Hour 2”
Photo: Kinopoisk
“Shanghai Noon”, United States, Hong Kong, 2000
Gender: action comedy
Director: tom day
Main actors: Jackie Chan, Owen Wilson, Lucy Liu
Age restrictions: 12+
Another Hollywood blockbuster that returned good box office returns. A Chinese princess is kidnapped and the emperor sends his best warriors to the Wild West. The humble Chong Wang is just a companion. However, everything turns out that he will have to save the princess together with the losing thief Roy O’Bannon.
In 2003, a sequel was released – “Shanghai Knights”. They say that Owen Wilson and Jackie Chan have already given the go-ahead for the filming of the third part, called Shanghai Dawn.
Still from the movie “Shanghai Noon”
Photo: Kinopoisk
“Around the world in 80 days”, Ireland, United Kingdom, Germany, United States, 2004
Gender: action comedy
Director: Frank Coraci
Main actors: Jackie Chan, Steve Coogan, Cécile de France, Jim Broadbent
Age restrictions: 6+
Unfortunately, the adventure comedy became one of the most expensive box office failures: the producers lost around $80 million. Critics also did not ignore the film, for example, the film itself received a Golden Raspberry nomination and Arnold Schwarzenegger was nominated for this award. for Worst Supporting Actor (in the film he played Prince Hapi). Despite the negative reception abroad, the film was warmly received in Russia. Russian viewers liked the unusual cinematic interpretation of Jules Verne’s novel.
By the way, Sylvester Stallone played a small role as an Irish boxer. But during final editing, for unknown reasons, all images of Sly were removed.
Frame from the movie “Around the World in 80 Days”
Photo: Kinopoisk
“Foreign”, United Kingdom, China, United States, India, 2017
Gender: drama
Director: Martin Campbell
Main actors: Jackie Chan, Pierce Brosnan, Michael McElhatton
Age restrictions: 18+
One of Jackie Chan’s dramatic roles, whose performance was highly praised by critics. According to the plot, Ngoc Minh Quan is a former Vietnamese partisan who later became a soldier in the American special forces. Long retired, he owns a small restaurant in London and is raising his daughter Fan.
Ngoc’s measured life is ruined by tragedy: his daughter dies during a terrorist attack. Ngoc asks for help from Liam Hennessy, a British official who was once a member of this terrorist organization. The father, heartbroken, asks the names of the group leaders. But Hennessy rejects it. So Ngoc takes the law into his own hands.
Frame from the movie “The Stranger”
Photo: Kinopoisk
“The Karate Kid”, United States, China, 2010
Gender: family
Director: Harold Zwart
Main actors: Jackie Chan, Jaden Smith, Taraji P. Henson
Age restrictions: 12+
This is a remake of the 1984 film of the same name and is already the fifth film in the franchise. As in the original, the main character is a 12-year-old boy who is bullied by local bullies. To learn how to defend himself, the boy asks for help from Mr. Khan, a martial arts master.
A sequel to the film is expected in 2025, where Jackie Chan will once again play the lead role, and he will be joined by Ralph Macchio, the actor who played the role of “Karate Kid” in the original.
Still from the movie “The Karate Kid”
Photo: Kinopoisk
Follow the link to see a selection of movies for boxing fans:
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