Jackie Chan is arguably the greatest kung fu action star in film history, combining stellar martial arts with death-defying stunts and slapstick comedy. However, the Rush Hour actor’s earlier filmography is often overlooked for his work in the 1990s and 2000s, which is unfortunate, since some of Chan’s rawest performances are found in his classic Hong Kong movies, such as the iconic Yuen Woo-ping’s Drunken Master from 1978.
Drunken Master is frequently hailed as containing one of the best martial arts movie performances of the 1970s thanks to Chan’s incredible aerobic stunts and comedic talent. The story follows Wong Fei-hung (Chan) — known as Freddie Wong in the English dub — a young and mischievous martial artist who continually ends up in trouble until he encounters Beggar So (Yuen Siu-tien) and takes up the unusual “drunken” style of fighting. Blending humorous gags with expert choreography, Drunken Master is easily one of Chan’s greatest old-school kung fu movies.
Drunken Master Is Jackie Chan’s Best Old-School Kung Fu Movie
The Humor Alone Sets Drunken Master Apart From The Rest
In Drunken Master, Wong Fei-hung finds himself in H๏τ water after getting into fights with his aunt and the son of local businessman Mr. Li (Fung Ging-man), which leads his father to hire Beggar So to put Fei-hung through his brutal training program as punishment. After Fei-hung runs away from home, he unknowingly attempts to trick the owner of a restaurant into paying for his meal and faces off against its attacking staff until an old drunkard — eventually revealed to be Beggar So, by far one of the best sensei masters in all martial arts movies — helps him fight the remaining employees and escape.
After being defeated by the infamous Thunderleg (Hwang Jang-lee), Fei-hung fully commits himself to the “drunken” style of fighting by getting plastered every day and practicing the fighting techniques of “The Eight Drunken Immortals.” After Mr. Li hires Thunderleg to carry out a hit on his father, Fei-hung is forced into a ᴅᴇᴀᴅly rematch with the ᴀssᴀssin, now equipped with the fighting style of drunken boxing.
How Jackie Chan’s Drunken Master Holds Up In 2025
Drunken Master Is Still A Stellar Entry Into Chan’s Filmography
Nearly 50 years after its release, Drunken Master is still an entertaining, balls-to-the-wall kung fu film that’s one of the best martial arts movies directed by Yuen Woo-ping. In an age of seemingly endless CGI effects and quick-cut action set pieces, it’s refreshing to tune into the long takes of Jackie Chan’s breathtaking choreography that he makes look effortless in the process.
Jackie Chan’s performance as Fei-hung in Drunken Master is largely considered his breakout role.
With a breakneck pace, slapstick humor, and electrifying stunt choreography, Drunken Master is the perfect ’70s kung fu movie to watch for an incredibly entertaining night. It’s riveting to see a young and hungry Jackie Chan whose talent, while refined, is still raw and developing. Whether you’re a lifelong Jackie Chan fan or just tuning into his older kung fu movie catalog, Drunken Master is well worth the watch and persists as one of Chan’s finest pictures.
