JACKIE CHAN: A Legend, A Legacy, and the 20 Films That Prove It
- Nick Digilio
- Jun 3
- 8 min read
Updated: Jun 3
I am a massive Jackie Chan fan. But it’s complicated. His life, his career, even my relationship with his work—it’s all a little messy, a little chaotic… kind of like his greatest fight scenes. And that’s exactly why I love him.
Jackie Chan has had one of the most fascinating careers in the history of cinema—over 60 years of nonstop filmmaking, stunt work, directing, producing, and yes, even singing (he’s released full pop albums!). He’s done it all. With over 150 screen credits and 18 directorial efforts, Jackie Chan is a one-man entertainment machine. And at the height of his powers, nobody—and I mean nobody—was better.
Born Chan Kong-sang in 1954, Jackie trained at the China Drama Academy, became one of the famed Seven Little Fortunes, and broke into the Hong Kong film industry first as a stuntman. (Fun fact: he even did stunt work for Bruce Lee in Fist of Fury and Enter the Dragon.)
But Jackie’s path didn’t lead him down Bruce’s ultra-serious, hyper-macho style of martial arts cinema. No, Jackie went another route. He mixed martial arts with slapstick, added choreography that would’ve made Busby Berkeley blush, and infused his work with the timing and physicality of Buster Keaton—his true spiritual inspiration.
That’s what set Jackie apart: not just the bone-breaking, death-defying stunts, but the comedy, the timing, and the total commitment to entertaining his audience. And man, he earned it.
He got hurt—a lot. He’s broken nearly every bone in his body, and famously has a literal hole in his head from falling out of a tree during a stunt. (I’ve met Jackie. I’ve felt that dent in his skull. It’s real.)
And because he’s always been transparent with his audience, he showed us. He put the outtakes and stunt bloopers at the end of his movies—those now-famous "how-the-hell-did-he-survive-that?" clips. He gave us the magic, and then he showed us the scars.
I truly discovered Jackie Chan in the early-to-mid '80s—around 1986. Chicago film critic Dave Kehr opened the door, and after that, I dove in hard. I would track down Cantonese-language VHS tapes from back alley shops and restaurants in Uptown just to get subtitled versions of Hong Kong action films. And not just Jackie—I was inhaling the work of Sammo Hung, Yuen Biao, Ringo Lam, Tsui Hark, John Woo, and so many more. It was a cinematic education.
The fight scenes I was watching—especially Jackie's—were miles beyond anything being done in American action cinema at the time. Sorry, but you can keep your Van Damme, your Seagal, your Dudikoff.
In Hong Kong, Jackie was choreographing complex, jaw-dropping martial arts ballets with perfect comic timing, all while throwing himself out of windows and through flaming scaffolding. No wires. No doubles. Real bruises. Real genius.
Now, Jackie didn’t fully break through in America until the mid-’90s, when Rumble in the Bronx made a splash. And then came the Rush Hour trilogy, Shanghai Noon, and a string of family-friendly flicks (The Tuxedo, The Spy Next Door, The Medallion) that were, honestly, kind of meh. By then, America was late to the party. Jackie had already peaked. We got the watered-down version, while in Asia he was already a legend.
That said, the American films made money. A lot of it. But for me—and for a lot of longtime fans—the real Jackie Chan magic lives in the Hong Kong output of the ’80s and ’90s. That’s where you’ll find the raw, unfiltered brilliance.
Now... yeah. Let’s talk about the elephant in the room. In the 2010s, Jackie made headlines for political statements that were, frankly, hard to swallow. He went from being a once pro-democracy voice to openly supporting the Chinese Communist Party and making troubling remarks about free speech, America, and Hong Kong itself. As someone who once adored him, it was disappointing. Even alienating.
But this list isn’t about politics. It’s about cinema. About the films. About the era when Jackie Chan was the greatest action-comedy filmmaker on the planet. This is a celebration of that man. The man who risked his life for our entertainment.
The man who fused martial arts with physical comedy in a way nobody ever had before—or since. The man who made us laugh, gasp, and sit in awe, all in the same scene.
So here it is. My 20 favorite Jackie Chan movies of all time, ranked in order of preference. Most of them come from his prime—because that’s the Jackie I’m here to celebrate: the one who jumped off buildings, danced through ladders, and made us believe in movie magic again.
Let’s do this.
THE 20 BEST JACKIE CHAN MOVIES (in order of preference)
Directed by: Jackie Chan Co-starring: Sammo Hung, Yuen Biao
This is peak Jackie Chan. Alongside Sammo Hung and Yuen Biao—two of the greatest action collaborators of all time—Jackie delivers one of the most wildly entertaining action-comedies of the 1980s. Set in 19th-century Hong Kong with Jackie playing a Marine Police officer taking on pirates (!), this film has outrageous stunts (including a Buster Keaton-style clock tower drop that is utterly insane), perfect comic timing, and some of the most exhilarating fight choreography you’ll ever see. The Holy Trinity of Chan, Hung, and Biao is untouchable here. Just a perfect movie.
Directed by: Jackie Chan
This sequel takes everything that made the first Police Story great and ramps it up. Jackie is back as supercop Ka-Kui, this time dealing with bomb threats, gang retaliation, and corruption from all angles. The stunt work is outrageous (again), and the fights are long, brutal, and perfectly staged. This is pure Jackie, with that amazing blend of physical comedy, high-stakes action, and “I might actually die doing this” stunt insanity.
Directed by: Jackie Chan Co-starring: Maggie Cheung, Brigitte Lin
The one that started it all—Police Story is a game-changer. It kicked off a franchise, redefined the action genre, and firmly established Jackie Chan as the master of combining comedy, action, and insane stunts. The shopping mall finale is legendary, the glass-breaking alone will make you wince, and Maggie Cheung kicks off a series of great appearances alongside Jackie. One of the best action films ever made. Period.
Co-directed by: Jackie Chan and Lau Kar-leung
One of the best martial arts films ever committed to film. This spiritual sequel to Drunken Master (1978) features Jackie playing Wong Fei-hung again, only this time with even more outrageous choreography, gorgeous period setting, and a final battle that is, without exaggeration, one of the greatest fight scenes in cinema history. Jackie performs with such fluidity, precision, and creativity, it’s breathtaking.
Directed by: Jackie Chan Co-starring: Maggie Cheung, Bill Tung
Following up Project A with a more story-heavy, comedic approach, Part II still manages to deliver some of Jackie’s wildest physical comedy and fight choreography. Jackie now has to clean up a corrupt police force from within, and the result is a mix of screwball comedy, action, and silent-era homage that only Jackie could pull off.
Directed by: Sammo Hung & Corey Yuen Co-starring: Sammo Hung, Yuen Biao
This is the last time the big three—Jackie, Sammo, and Yuen—starred together in a film, and they went out with a bang. Jackie plays a lawyer (yes, really), caught up in a chemical smuggling ring. The plot doesn’t matter—it’s all about the fight scenes, which are tight, brutal, and endlessly inventive. One of the best ensemble martial arts movies of the era.
Directed by: Jackie Chan
Jackie’s take on Indiana Jones, but with more kicking. Playing an adventurer nicknamed “Asian Hawk,” Jackie travels across Europe battling cults and chasing mystical artifacts. It’s globetrotting nonsense of the highest order, with amazing location work, fun set pieces, and a hilarious rock concert intro. One of Jackie’s most flat-out fun films.
Directed by: Stanley Tong Co-starring: Michelle Yeoh
Jackie teams up with Michelle Yeoh—and she more than holds her own. This entry takes the Police Story formula international, and the stunts are next-level. Michelle jumps a motorcycle onto a moving train. Jackie hangs from a helicopter. It’s pure adrenaline and a reminder that Michelle Yeoh is one of the greatest to ever do it.
Co-directed by: Jackie Chan & Kirk Wong
One of Jackie’s rare serious dramatic roles, and he nails it. He plays a cop investigating a kidnapping plot, and while the action is still impressive, it’s the mood, the violence, and the weight of the story that stand out. Gritty, emotional, and far removed from his usual comedic persona—this is Jackie showing range.
Directed by: Sammo Hung
Part caper, part comedy, part action showcase—this is an ensemble comedy that leans more on laughs but still features one of the best skate chase scenes ever filmed. Jackie plays a supporting role, but his presence is felt and his stunt work is top-notch. The chemistry with Sammo and Yuen is once again gold.
Directed by: Sammo Hung Co-starring: Yuen Biao, Benny "The Jet" Urquidez
Set in Spain, this film is hilarious, offbeat, and has one of the most famous one-on-one fight scenes ever filmed—Jackie vs. Benny “The Jet.” It’s lightning-fast, brutal, and beautifully choreographed. Great fun with that trio magic once again fully firing.
Directed by: Stanley Tong Starring: Michelle Yeoh
A spin-off featuring Michelle Yeoh taking the lead, with Jackie appearing in a supporting role. This film proves how strong Michelle is as a solo action star. Great fight choreography, high-stakes thrills, and a perfect companion piece to Supercop.
Directed by: Jackie Chan
Jackie returns as “Asian Hawk” in a globe-hopping search for Nazi gold. This one is bigger, slicker, and arguably even more insane than the first. It’s a live-action cartoon, and Jackie’s stunt work is absolutely bonkers. High energy, high comedy, high risk.
Directed by: Yuen Woo-ping
The movie that made Jackie a superstar in Asia. This is the original martial arts comedy hybrid, and Jackie’s drunken boxing style became iconic. It’s funny, fast, and pure fun. The final fight? Legendary. You don’t get modern Jackie without this one.
Co-directed by: Jackie Chan & Benny Chan
An underrated gem from Jackie’s later '90s output. He plays a man with amnesia who uncovers a dangerous conspiracy. It’s got comedy, some great action, and a rooftop fight finale that is straight-up incredible. The fight choreography and wide-angle shooting are next-level stuff.
Directed by: James Glickenhaus
Jackie’s first major attempt at breaking into the American market. It’s gritty, rough around the edges, and doesn’t fully understand Jackie’s appeal—but there are still some great fights and standout moments. Jackie famously hated how it turned out, but it’s worth seeing as a time capsule
Directed by: Robert Clouse
Another early American attempt that never quite lands, but it has charm. Jackie plays a martial artist caught up in underground street fights in 1930s Chicago. A curiosity more than a classic, but it planted the seeds for what was to come.
Directed by: Sammo Hung
Jackie plays a TV chef (yes!) who gets caught up with drug dealers. It’s more lighthearted than some of his other films, but there’s a massive construction vehicle chase that makes it all worth it. Not top-tier Jackie, but very fun.
Directed by: Benny Chan
Jackie returns to the franchise with a darker, more serious tone. It’s a kind of redemption arc for him, playing a broken-down cop seeking revenge on a gang of thrill-killing punks. A solid comeback in Hong Kong, even if it’s more melodramatic than usual.
Directed by: Ding Sheng
A fascinating, claustrophobic take on the Police Story legacy. Jackie plays a hostage negotiator stuck in a bar with a criminal bent on revenge. There’s tension, a few solid fights, and some unexpected dramatic weight. It’s not great, but it’s interesting, especially considering Jackie’s later career and political turn.
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