A Celebration of One of the Greatest Action Comedy Stars: Jackie Chan

Jackie Chan turns 67 today so what better way to celebrate than to pick out some of my favorite Jackie Chan films, where to watch them, and what makes them so entertaining. Jackie has amassed thousands of fans from around the world over the years so keep in mind, this isn’t a definitive list but rather a collection of his works that spoke to me the most and provided some much-needed excitement and wonder throughout the years. Also keep in mind that people have asked me over the years what other movies he’s starred in and where I can see them over the usual selection of Rush Hour, Shanghai Noon, and other more Western-centric titles. Don’t worry, I got you covered as I do my best to provide information on the easiest way to stream these films.

Police Story

We’re starting the list with one of his more memorable and well-known films. Police Story is one of the essential Jackie Chan movies to get a feel for what you’re getting into. The final fight and the physical comedy defined his movies for years to come. This was one of the first of his films I ever saw and it defined the type of actor and character he was trying to play combining slapstick antics and physical comedy mixed with intense and stylized martial arts battles. I am lucky enough to own the Criterion physical release but it is also currently streaming on HBO Max.

Wheels on Meals

Wheels on Meals is the 1st of many partnerships with director and co-star Sammo Hung. A great mix of absurd comedy and insane fight scenes. The battle between him and kickboxer Benny “The Jet “ Urquidez still looks incredible to this day. In an age where most hand-to-hand fight scenes come across as choppy, hard to follow, and dare I say it, overly choreographed, it’s refreshing to see two masters go at it and make it look scary and impressive in the process. It’s streaming on Amazon Prime.

Dragon’s Forever

A bit more serious than the previous entries, but must be mentioned as the fight scenes in this are nothing less than stunning. Featuring largely the same cast from the previous entry, Jackie, Benny the Jet, and his entire stunt team put out arguably their best fights ever. With everyone getting the chance to get some on-screen fight time and show off in unique locations. The locations in Jackie Chan movies are almost as important as the fights themselves and the warehouse seen in the finale provides plenty of rails to fall over, boxes to be thrown on top of and glass to be thrown into. It’s also streaming on Amazon Prime.

Winners and Sinners

Winners and Sinners is a bit more obscure but showcases Chan’s prowess beyond his martial arts capabilities and more into his stunt and comedy capabilities. This features more Buston Keaton-esque slapstick, more ridiculous stunts that no ordinary human should ever attempt, and one of the best car crash scenes ever put to film. It’s harder to track down as no mainstream streaming services currently host it, but it’s worth the search.

Legend of the Drunken Master 2

Legend of the Drunken Master 2 is a fantastic all-around Chan film. Good story, decent acting, and excellent fight scenes. Jackie isn’t the only one who shines here as his own real-life bodyguard provides some impressive kicks and holds his own against Chan’s manic fists. This movie is worth it for the last battle alone where Jackie puts his life on the line by setting himself on fire, getting the living daylights kicked out of him, and drinking industrial-strength alcohol that turns him into a raging fighter that's driving by pure, manic rage. You can purchase this Vudu.

Project A

Jackie Chan and Sammo Hung together again! This time in 19th century Hong Kong. The chemistry between the two gives off major Lauriel and Hardy vibes as they bumble their way through the entire movie protecting Hong Kong’s citizens against pirates. Out of all the movies on this list, this one has to take the cake in the number of exciting sequences this movie has to offer. A bicycle chase, bar fight, and a battle that has Jackie hanging for dear life off the edge of the clock tower straight out of the Harold Lloyd classic Safety First, Project A proves that Jackie’s ambition to make each stunt bigger and more memorable than the last one pays off for the viewer. Project A is available to stream on Amazon Prime.

Who Am I?

Finally, we come to one of the many spy-style flicks Jackie stared in. Who Am I is known for its amazing rooftop battle but the one worth talking about is the amazing roof roll stunt that sends him spinning out of control down the edge of a sheer building. Between his fall and the angles, it was filmed, it creates a sense of chaos and fear that few stunts achieve in film. Most of the time we’re watching the stunt take place. In here, we’re feeling like we’re living it with him and that’s what sets him apart from so many others. The stunts he performs are real and done as realistically as possible to look as good as possible. Who Am I is another one that’s hard to track down but again, is worth the trouble.

Jackie Chan is one of a kind. A man who has broken nearly every bone in his body, almost died to a stunt only to come back later and complete it after his recovery and even had a singing career. Jackie is a true icon who took his early inspiration from silent comedies and martial arts and turned it into something unique that many attempted but few could replicate. While this is a good starting point for getting into more of his catalog, there are quite a few titles that are not mentioned here. If you’re interested in learning more or want even more recommendations, let me know, I’d love to talk about it.

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