What are the best Jackie Chan movies? For over 50 years, Jackie Chan has been delighting us all by putting his body on the line for our amusement.
Jackie Chan is a living legend, responsible for many of the best action movies, spending decades making some of the biggest and most dangerous films in Hong Kong before migrating to Hollywood. His time making the best thriller movies in the US didn’t quite have the same impact, but we’ve always been glad to see more of him.
His comedy movies and adventure movies endure as some of the most fun you can have watching a film. Finding the best Jackie Chan movies isn’t an easy task, but we’re here to make it simple. Pick one, relax, and enjoy all the bone-breaking martial arts.
What are the best Jackie Chan movies?
- Kung Fu Panda
- Crime Story
- Rumble in the Bronx
- Police Story
- Drunken Master 2
- Project A
- Police Story 4: First Strike
- The Forbidden Kingdom
- Police Story 3: Supercop
- Dragons Forever
10. Kung Fu Panda (2008)
These films are fun, and Chan sounds like he’s having a great time doing lots of moves without any threat to his physical health. He’s part of the Furious Five, a number of martial arts legends who are outdone by a dangerous new technique.
Only the titular hero can stop this foe. Joined by Jack Black, Ian McShane, Lucy Liu, and Angelina Jolie, Chan delivers an enthusiastic performance that befits his monkey character. The kind of movie that’s definitely better than you’d think.
9. Crime Story (1993)
Chan tackles some true crime for a film that’s got much less laughs that you might expect from him. The premise borrows from the a real 1990 case of a Chinese businessman getting kidnapped. Crime Story’s version changes the names, and gives Chan’s character, Eddie Chan, the broad stereotype of dealing with PTSD during his investigation.
Getting the victim back is one thing, avoiding the corrupt police officer within the criminal underground is another. In another world, Chan could’ve been a dramatic superstar going by his work on this.
8. Rumble in the Bronx (1995)
By the mid-’90s, Chan had become a global star. For Rumble in the Bronx, he gets caught in some violent gang drama on the mean streets of New York City. Typical, really.
The bikers give the film a different edge from most of Chan’s work, presenting a different dynamic to the organized crime he’s normally up against. Throw in that he’s not on active duty and you get something that feels just that bit more dangerous than usual for the daredevil.
7. Police Story (1985)
Jackie Chan’s brainchild franchise, for which he stars, directs, and co-writes different instalments. The first is all him, as he introduces Chan Ka-Kui, a Hong Kong detective who’s framed by the gang he’s targeting.
Cue Chan on the backfoot for the duration, a position he excels in. The speed, pacing, intricacy, and adrenaline make Police Story lightning in a bottle, one of our great masterminds of action cinema at his height.
6. Drunken Master 2 (1994)
Don’t mess with Jackie Chan, even when he’s had a few. The follow-up to 1978’s Drunken Master is more confident and more slapstick in equal measure, with Chan downing spirits and wine to make himself more powerful, like an inebriated Popeye.
Two decades of filmmaking experience have created a blend of martial arts and comedy so strong it’s just infectious. Be ready for the downer ending, mind.
5. Project A (1983)
Legend has it the Jackie Chan Stunt Team became official on Project A, and you can tell there was some excitement in the air. The pirates of 1800s Hong Kong push Chan to do some of his wildest stuntwork and hand-to-hand combat ever, much to our amusement.
There are parts of Project A that need to be seen to be believed, from the dance-like bar fight to Chan getting himself literally stuck on a clock tower. You could easily imagine this film being a musical, but then it already sort of is, just using fists and kicks for the rhythm.
4. Police Story 4: First Strike (1996)
The rest of this film could be boring exposition and it’d still make the cut thanks to a delightfully springy sequence that involves Chan moving from tables to scaffolding to ladders. Stilts versus a Landrover in a shopping mall and a messy hotel teardown only cement the picture’s status.
Jackie takes on Russian weapons dealers for the fourth instalment in the Police Story saga. A decade strong and he’s still finding ways to pull out the stops.
3. The Forbidden Kingdom (2008)
Jet Li and Jackie Chan’s first and only movie together is truly a product of Chinese mythology pushed through the gears of Hollywood. Li and Chan are Sun Wukong and Lu Yan, respective warriors whom American teenager Jason meets when he’s magically transported back in time.
The obnoxious framing narrative ceases to matter when Sun and Lu fight, kicking life into uninspired cinematography. There’s enough energy the opportunity isn’t squandered, some genuine luck given it’s the same director as Stuart Little.
2. Police Story 3: Supercop (1992)
Michelle Yeoh joins Jackie Chan for the Police Story threequel, and proves herself well able to defy death to the same degree. They team up to take down a drugs kingpin, putting themselves in harm’s way in just about every way you can imagine.
Chan ceded the director’s chair to upcomer Stanley Tong, who keeps momentum high. A motorcycle jump from Yeoh tends to get all the attention, but every fight and chase has something to it. With these two at the forefront, how could they not?
1. Dragons Forever (1988)
That time Chan portrayed a lawyer – rest assured, there’s not much courtroom drama. He’s brought in by a company hoping to shut up locals complaining about their work. The plan doesn’t work, and it turns out they were drug dealers to start, who knew?
Since negotiations are out the window, they settle everything using arms and legs. The end of an era, as it’d be the last collaboration between Chan, director Sammo Hung, and co-star Yuen Biao. A fine swansong.
Those are the best Jackie Chan movies ever made. Our guides to the Fast and Furious movies in order and the Mission: Impossible movies in order will keep you on the edge of your seat. You’ll also like our articles on the Fast and Furious 11 release date and Mission: Impossible 8 release date. Have a look at our new movies list for when Chan may return to your local cinema!