Jackie Chan is 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 films that 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 stunts and 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, like Police Story and Drunken Master.

10

Half 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 is Half 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 seriousness often seen within the genre at the time.

Half a Loaf of Kung Fu may not be the best example of Chan’s ability to incorporate humor into stunning action sequences, but it is still quite a compelling film. While Half 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.

9

New Police Story (2004)

Directed by Benny Chan

The original Police Story movies are 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 darker New Police Story, playing Chan Kwok-wing. The film acts as a reboot of the original acclaimed martial arts cop movie and 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. While the story in New Police Story is darker and more dramatic, Chan doesn’t feel out of place. What New Police Story lacks in humor, it makes up for in thrills, and can overall be enjoyed as an exciting shift in the famous action film franchise.

8

Mr. Nice Guy (1997)

Directed by Sammo Hung

Released towards the end of Chan’s incredible run of action movies in the ’90s, Mr. Nice Guy is 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 Guy delivers nearly everything one could want from a ’90s action film led by Chan, including laughter and a hefty number of jaw-dropping fight scenes. While Mr. 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.

7

To Kill With Intrigue (1977)

Directed by Lo Wei

Of Chan’s best old school kung fu movies, To Kill with Intrigue is 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 Intrigue has a dark tale, and its action is more traditional and far from the brilliant stunt work Chan would eventually be known for.

To Kill with Intrigue follows 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 in To Kill with Intrigue is 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 Intrigue is also another movie where Chan is allowed to deliver a compelling dramatic performance.

6

Rob-B-Hood (2006)

Directed by Benny Chan

Rob-B-Hood is a fun, comedic crime movie in 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-Hood was 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-Hood is 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.

5

Shanghai Knights (2003)

Directed by David Dobkin

A sequel to Shanghai Noon from just a few years prior, Jackie Chan and Owen Wilson reprise their roles as Chon Wang and Roy O’Bannon in Shanghai Knights. This time around, the duo travels to London, where they embark on a mission to prevent the ᴀssᴀssination of the royal family. Shanghai Knights has just as many laughs as its predecessor, and the chemistry between Chan and Wilson is as strong as ever.

Shanghai Knights can also be appreciated for its emphasis on action sequences, which allows Chan to bring his signature action style to Hollywood. Of all of Chan’s Hollywood movies, Shanghai Knights is most reminiscent of Chan’s work in Hong Kong. The film’s action scenes are both innovative and elaborate, paying homage to some of Chan’s comedic influences and tying into Shanghai Knights‘ inclusion of famous figures like Charlie Chaplin into its fun story.

4

Ride On (2023)

Directed by Larry Yang

Ride On is one of Chan’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 On can feel like a heartfelt send-off at times.

Ride On feels like a celebration of Chan’s career as an action movie star and 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.

3

Who 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 of Chan’s most intense stunts can be seen in Who 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 idenтιтy and what led to his loss of memory.

2

Shaolin (2011)

Directed by Benny Chan

Chan doesn’t have as big a part in Shaolin as 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 of Shaolin is wonderfully brought to life by the film’s set design and costumes. Chan’s character is a Shaolin cook whose hospitality helps push Lau’s character in the necessary direction. Whether the comedic tone Chan’s character brings to Shaolin works within the film overall varies, but there’s no denying Chan’s talent as an actor in the film.

1

Shinjuku Incident (2009)

Directed by Derek Yee

Differing from the fun action comedies Chan is primarily known for, Shinjuku Incident is 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 over Shinjuku Incident without realizing he was the lead. Shinjuku Incident revolves 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 of Shinjuku Incident is turned up high. Though Shinjuku Incident isn’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.