Jackie Chan is easily one of Hollywood's most recognizable and successful actors, largely credited with popularizing the martial arts comedy genre and having appeared in well over 100 movies. Most recently, he starred alongside Ralph Macchio and Ben Wang in Sony’s new Karate Kid movie, Karate Kid Legends, reprising his iconic role as Mr. Han for the first time in over 14 years.
For those wishing to acquaint themselves with more of Jackie Chan’s work following his new movie, this guide will rank his 10 best films and tell you where to find them on platforms like Tubi, Paramount+, and more.
10. Rush Hour (1998)
Rush Hour is one of the films that helped Chan break through in Hollywood, years after becoming a household name in Asia and Europe. The buddy cop movie sees Hong Kong Police Force Chief Inspector Lee (Chan) and LAPD Detective James Carter (Chris Tucker) form an unlikely alliance to rescue a Chinese diplomat’s abducted daughter.
If you love buddy cop movies like 21 Jump Street and Bad Boys, Rush Hour is a must-see. It boasts the special ingredient that every buddy cop movie needs to thrive, which is incredible chemistry between its two leads. Chan and Tucker play off each other beautifully, complementing each other’s skills and offering quite the dynamic, comedic duo. While it’s laugh-out-loud funny and will appeal to Tucker and Chan fans, the often silly, slapstick humor and action clichés aren’t for everyone. With less sophisticated action than some entries on this list and dated humor, Rush Hour takes 10th place.
9. Shanghai Noon (2000)
Viewers who loved the Tucker and Chan pair up in Rush Hour won’t be able to resist the Chan and Owen Wilson pairing in Shanghai Noon. In the film, Imperial Guard Chon Wang (Chan) travels to America to rescue kidnapped princess Pei-Pei (Lucy Liu), teaming up with cowboy outlaw Roy O’Bannon (Wilson) along the way.
Shanghai Noon has a little something for everyone with its wild blend of martial arts, buddy comedy, action, and western. The stacked cast makes this martial arts western work incredibly well, as Chan and Wilson are hilarious together. Additionally, the Imperial Guard and outlaw cowboy match-up brings a little originality to the buddy cop premise. Shanghai Noon is even funnier than Rush Hour and will catch viewers' attention with an even more outlandish plot, although it suffers from the same lack of depth. If you’re seeking pure fun entertainment, though, it’s an excellent pick.
8. The Legend of the Drunken Master (1994)
The Legend of the Drunken Master is the sequel to one of Chan’s most iconic films, Drunken Master. In the sequel, Wong Fei-hung (Chan) attempts to stop a group of foreigners from smuggling precious artifacts from China.
The Legend of the Drunken Master is another excellent addition to the martial arts comedy genre. Chan’s physical comedy is on point, while his martial arts skills are as sharp as ever. The movie goes all out for its action, featuring some fight scenes up to 20 minutes long. The choreography makes the film a true spectacle. Like many of Chan’s action-heavy movies, there isn’t much in terms of plot. It’s the kind of movie you watch more for the choreography than the storyline. The Legend of the Drunken Master is a fun and outlandish Chan film that gives him a chance to shine with his stunt work, but it’s not as groundbreaking, original, or witty as the first Drunken Master.
7. Kung Fu Panda (2008)
Chan may be best known for his live-action films, but he has also made a name for himself in voice acting. In 2008, he joined the cast of Kung Fu Panda as the voice of Master Monkey, one of the members of the Furious Five.
While Chan’s role is small, his presence in a film rife with appreciation for kung fu and Chinese culture feels right. Additionally, he gets to pack quite a bit of charm and comedy into Monkey’s laconic, lighthearted mannerisms. Kung Fu Panda is the perfect animated movie for fans looking for a family-friendly take on kung fu. It boasts a unique story, an appreciation of other cultures, colorful animation, and enjoyable fight scenes. However, more serious fans of Chan and kung fu movies should be aware that it can be a pretty silly take on the martial arts genre.
6. Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles: Mutant Mayhem (2023)
In Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles: Mutant Mayhem, Chan voices Splinter, the beloved mutant rat father of the ninja turtles. Chan’s role is small, but impactful, as Splinter has grown to distrust humanity, which alienates him from his sons, who desperately want the average teenage experience.
No one could insert as much gravity, wisdom, and comedy into Spinter’s small role as Chan. Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles: Mutant Mayhem is an excellent Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles adaptation, with vibrant, innovative animation and a heartfelt story on acceptance and identity. The only downfall is that fans of Chan may leave wishing he had a more prominent role in the movie. Ultimately, Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles: Mutant Mayhem is a great movie, but Chan’s limited role prevents it from ranking higher among his best movies.
5. Police Story 2 (1988)
Police Story 2 is the sequel to Police Story, in which Chan Kai-Kui (Chan) is demoted to the position of a traffic cop, though the Royal Hong Kong Police Force soon finds itself in need of his skills in the face of a bomb threat.
While the stunts, action, and Chan’s performance are once more phenomenal, Police Story 2 is still the weakest installment in the original Police Story film series. It tones down both the emotion and action a bit, resulting in good action and stunts, but failing to replicate the original movie's awe-inspiring nature. The true highlight of Police Story 2 is Chan, who packs as much heart, spirit, and physical skill into the story as ever. If you liked Police Story and want a solid action movie with Chan’s stylish stunts, Police Story 2 will still satisfy your craving.
4. Crime Story (1993)
Viewers who loved Chan’s Police Story movies but yearn for something a little more serious may want to check out Crime Story. The action film is inspired by the kidnapping of Chinese businessman Teddy Wang, with Chan starring as Inspector Eddie Chan, who investigates a case similar to Wang’s.
Crime Story is action-packed with stylish stunts and a fast pace. However, it also boasts more dramatic elements as Eddie Chan wrestles with his traumatic past while navigating a stressful and complex case. The only issue is that the film also features Chan’s signature imaginative, outlandish fight scenes, which don’t mesh well with the more serious tone. The film sometimes seems torn between being a classic Chan film and a dark, edgy police thriller. Still, fans of embattled detective or reluctant hero films like 21 Bridges and Extraction will enjoy Crime Story, as well as viewers seeking a slightly different side to Chan.
3. Police Story 3: SuperCop (1992)
Police Story 3: SuperCop sees Chan Ka-Kui (Chan) become Hong Kong’s “supercop,” where he works alongside Chinese policewoman Jessica Yang (Michelle Yeoh) to take down a drug cartel.
Police Story 3: SuperCop is just as sharp and action-packed as its predecessors. Chan and Yeoh are truly a dream team with their top-notch acting skills and passion for performing all their own stunts. After the first two Police Story movies, Police Story 3: SuperCop begins to feel a bit formulaic and much of the same with a simplistic action plot. Still, its stunt scenes make up for the lack of depth and familiarity, featuring the same dangerous, dazzling, and highly convincing stunts as Police Story. If you loved the first two Police Story movies and highly appreciate action and realistic stunts, Police Story 3: SuperCop is a must-see.
2. Drunken Master (1978)
Chan’s first big break came with Drunken Master, often considered a significant milestone in the kung fu comedy genre and popularization of Zui Quan. In the film, the mischievous Wong Fei-hung (Chan) studies under the master of drunken fighting style, Beggar So (Yuen Siu-Tin), who tries to teach him respect and humility. In addition to being his breakthrough role, Drunken Master stands as one of Chan’s best movies. The audacious film proved that martial arts and comedy are the perfect blend, bringing slapstick humor and freshness to a strong, spirited Hong Kong action movie.
Despite its humor, the film takes its martial arts seriously, resulting in dazzling and astounding fight scenes. Chan’s athleticism and martial arts skills are exhilarating, and he brings a drive and passion to Fei-hung that adds emotional depth to the story. Drunken Master is classic Chan and classic kung fu at its finest, and it will appeal to fans who love nostalgic, refreshing, and funny martial arts action films. However, it may be under-appreciated by those who dislike slapstick humor.
1. Police Story (1985)
Police Story is an action film that centers on Detective Chan Ka-Kui (Chan), who goes on the run after someone frames him for a cop’s murder. If you thought the Mission: Impossible franchise or the Fast & Furious franchise were stunt-heavy, just wait until you see Police Story. The action here is truly something to behold.
Police Story is 100 minutes of non-stop action and breathtaking stunts, so mesmerizing that the movie flies by like a breeze. Most of these stunts were genuinely dangerous to perform (Chan suffered second-degree burns, a dislocated pelvis, and back injury while filming), adding realism and leaving audiences holding their breath throughout the film. Some viewers may dislike the thin plot, but those who appreciate action and Chan's signature style will recognize that few movies surpass the action and stunts in Police Story, making it easily his best movie of all time.
