When it comes to action cinema, few names shine as brightly as Jackie Chan. With a career spanning over five decades, Jackie has become a global icon, known for his death-defying stunts, and unique blend of action and comedy. His films are endlessly entertaining, captivating audiences from all corners of the world. International audiences connect with him the most through his hilarious turn in the Rush Hour series. While he has been constantly releasing new movies in China, he will make his Hollywood return in Karate Kid: Legends alongside Ralph Macchio.
For now, we’ll dive into the most thrilling Jackie Chan movies of all time. These films not only showcase his incredible physicality and creativity but also highlight his ability to tell iconic stories beloved by everyone. Whether he’s taking on a group of pirates or falling from a tall clock tower, Jackie’s commitment to pushing the boundaries of action filmmaking is unmatched. Each movie on this list is a testament to Jackie’s enduring legacy as one of the greatest action stars in cinematic history.
10
‘The Foreigner’ (2017)
Directed by Martin Campbell
The Foreigner is a revenge thriller that takes Jackie Chan into darker, more dramatic territory. The film follows Jackie as Quan Ngoc Minh, a humble restaurant owner whose life is shattered when his daughter is killed in a terrorist attack. Determined to find justice, Quan embarks on a relentless quest to uncover the identities of the attackers, crossing paths with a high-ranking government official (Pierce Brosnan) with ties to the IRA.
What makes The Foreigner thrilling is Jackie’s ability to break new ground in his career at this stage in his career. While the film is more subdued compared to his earlier works, the fight scenes are more brutal, grounded and less acrobatic, while still showcasing Jackie’s precision and physicality. The standout moment is a exhilarating hand-to-hand combat sequence in an apartment, where Jackie uses everyday objects as weapons, proving he’s still a master of inventive action. Directed by seasoned Martin Campbell, the film is an underrated entry in Jackie Chan’s rich filmography.
9
‘Wheels on Meals’ (1984)
Directed by Sammo Hung
Wheels on Meals teams Jackie Chan with fellow martial arts legends Sammo Hung and Yuen Biao. The trio plays Thomas (Jackie), David (Biao), and Moby (Hung), three friends running a food truck in Barcelona. Their lives take a wild turn when they cross paths with Sylvia (Lola Forner), a pickpocket being pursued by a group of dangerous criminals. Wheels on Meals was so successful it even spawned a video game franchise called Spartan X.
The film is a showcase of Jackie, Sammo, and Yuen’s incredible chemistry and martial arts prowess. The final fight scene between Jackie Chan and Benny Urquidez, a kickboxer athlete nicknamed The Jet, is often called one of the best fight scenes in martial arts cinema, displaying of speed, precision, and creativity that remains unmatched until today. As a martial artist himself, Sammo Hung’s direction ensures that every fight scene is displayed in its full rawness. Wheels on Meals is a celebration of martial arts cinema at its finest, packed with heart, humor, and unforgettable stunts.
8
‘New Police Story’ (2004)
Directed by Benny Chan
New Police Story follows Inspector Chan Kwok-wing (Jackie Chan), a once-brilliant cop who spirals into alcoholism after his entire team is brutally killed by a group of high-tech, rogue thrill-seekers led by Joe (Daniel Wu). Haunted by guilt and failure, Chan is a broken man until he crosses paths with Frank (Nicholas Tse), a young, aspiring officer who helps him seek redemption by bringing justice to the group that killed his team.
New Police Story brings the franchise to the 20th century by combining modern, high-stakes action with raw emotions. The fight scenes are gritty and intense, reflecting the film’s darker tone, and Jackie’s performance is both physically and emotionally demanding. The standout sequence is the opening heist, where the criminals ruthlessly take down Chan’s team in a brutal and chaotic shootout. New Police Story is a great example of how to revive a beloved film series for a new generation.
New Police Story
- Release Date
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September 23, 2004
- Runtime
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123 minutes
7
‘Rumble in the Bronx’ (1995)
Directed by Stanley Tong
Rumble in the Bronx is the film responsible for introducing Jackie Chan to a wider Western audience. The film follows Keung (Jackie Chan), a Hong Kong cop who visits New York to help his uncle with his grocery store. What starts as a simple family visit quickly turns chaotic when Keung gets caught up in a war between a local street gang and a ruthless group of criminals.
Rumble in the Bronx immediately captured audiences’ attention with its non-stop action and jaw-dropping stunts. Jackie delivers some of his most iconic moments, including the infamous hovercraft chase through the streets of New York and the rooftop fight scene where he battles a gang using whatever he can find—shopping carts, refrigerators, and even a mattress with fast and creative fight choreography. Rumble in the Bronx is a thrilling, action-packed ride that solidified Jackie’s status as a global action star.
Rumble In the Bronx
- Release Date
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January 21, 1995
- Runtime
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104 minutes
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Anita Mui Yim-Fong
Elaine
-
-
-
6
‘Who Am I?’ (1998)
Directed by Jackie Chan and Benny Chan
Who Am I? follows a special forces operative (Jackie Chan) who loses his memory after a mission goes wrong like Jason Bourne. Stranded in a remote African village with no recollection of his identity, he adopts the name “Who Am I?” and embarks on a journey to uncover the truth about his past. Along the way, he teams up with two journalists and faces off against a group of dangerous mercenaries who will stop at nothing to silence him.
Who Am I? features some of Jackie’s most iconic moments, including the rooftop chase and fight scene in Rotterdam. In this sequence, Jackie slides down the side of a skyscraper at a 45-degree angle—a stunt that has become one of the most legendary in action cinema history and probably inspired Tom Cruise to do a similar stunt in Mission: Impossible III. Who Am I? is a thrilling ride that proves why Jackie Chan is the king of action cinema.
Who Am I?
- Release Date
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September 11, 1998
- Runtime
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120 Minutes
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Jackie Chan
Lee (Who Am I)
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Michelle Ferre
Christine Spaak
-
-
Ron Smerczak
CIA Agent Morgan
5
‘Project A’ (1983)
Directed by Jackie Chan
Project A is an action-adventure set in 19th-century Hong Kong, where Jackie Chan plays Dragon Ma, a coast guard officer determined to protect the seas from ruthless pirates. When the coast guard is disbanded due to budget cuts, Dragon teams up with his old friends to take down the pirate leader, San-pao. In this film, Jackie Chan reunited with his Wheels on Meals co-stars, Sammo Hung and Yuen Biao.
Project A features some of Jackie’s most daring stunts. The film’s most iconic moment is the clock tower fall, where Jackie drops several stories onto the ground below—a stunt that required incredible precision. Audiences, particularly Western viewers, drew similarities between this stunt and Buster Keaton and Harold Lloyd‘s silent movie films. However, their films weren’t available on home video at that time, proving that great minds do think alike. From the bicycle chase to the final showdown with the pirates, every action sequence in Project A is packed with energy and innovation.
Project A
- Release Date
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December 22, 1983
- Runtime
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106 minutes
Cast
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Jackie Chan
Sergeant Dragon Ma Yue Lung
-
-
Yuen Biao
Inspector Hong Tin Chi
-
Dick Wei
Pirate Chief Lo San Po
4
‘Drunken Master II’ (1994)
Directed by Lau Kar-leung
Drunken Master II is a standalone sequel to Jackie Chan’s 1978 classic, Drunken Master. The film follows Wong Fei-hung (Jackie Chan), who becomes the target of a dangerous conspiracy when he accidentally intercepts a precious artifact being smuggled out of China. With the help of his father and a quirky beggar, Wong must master the art of drunken boxing to protect his family and his country.
Drunken Master II is unique for Jackie’s unique, unparalleled drunken fight choreography. He delivered some of the most creative and acrobatic fights of his career. The film also features incredible set pieces, like the fiery factory fight, where Jackie uses his environment to outsmart his opponents. The final showdown, where Wong takes on a horde of enemies while intoxicated, is a jaw-dropping display of skill and comedic timing. Drunken Master II is simply one of the best martial arts films ever made.
Drunken Master II
- Release Date
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February 3, 1994
- Runtime
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102 Minutes
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Jackie Chan
Wong Fei-hung
-
-
-
3
‘Armour of God’ (1986)
Directed by Jackie Chan
Armour of God is an action-adventure ala Indiana Jones that follows Asian Hawk (Jackie Chan), a treasure hunter who finds himself roped into a dangerous mission to rescue his ex-girlfriend from a mysterious cult. The cult is after a legendary artifact known as the Armour of God, and Hawk must team up with his friend Alan to retrieve the treasure and save the day.
While it finds itself inspired by the Steven Spielberg film series, Armour of God stands on its own thanks to Jackie Chan’s performance. The movie displays Jackie’s fearless approach to stunts, including the infamous cliff fall that nearly cost him his life and left him with a permanent injury. Armour of God itself has become one of Jackie’s many running film series, with the latest entry released in 2012 titled Chinese Zodiac, which broke the Guinness World Records.
Armour of God
- Release Date
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January 21, 1987
- Runtime
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88 Minutes
2
‘Police Story 3: Supercop’ (1992)
Directed by Stanley Tong
Police Story 3: Supercop is a high-stakes action thriller that takes Inspector Chan Ka-Kui (Jackie Chan) out of Hong Kong and into the heart of an international drug cartel. This time, Chan teams up with Interpol and mainland Chinese officer Jessica Yang (Michelle Yeoh) to go undercover and bring down a powerful drug lord. Both Chan and Yang have to infiltrate the criminal underworld and risk their lives to complete the mission.
Released in the US simply as Supercop, the film features some of the most iconic action sequences in Jackie’s career, including the legendary moment where he hangs from a ladder attached to a helicopter as it flies over Kuala Lumpur. Michelle Yeoh also shines with her own daring stunts, like riding a motorcycle onto a moving train. Supercop is a perfect blend of Jackie’s trademark humor and Michelle Yeoh’s fearless, scene-stealing performance, making it one of the most thrilling entries in the Police Story series.
Police Story 3: Super Cop
- Release Date
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July 4, 1992
- Runtime
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95 minutes
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Jackie Chan
Kevin Chan Ka-Kui / Lin Fu-Sheng
-
-
-
Josephine Koo Mei-Wah
Ching Wing-Xi
1
‘Police Story’ (1985)
Directed by Jackie Chan
Police Story is a groundbreaking action film that made Jackie Chan’s a master of modern martial arts and stunt work. The film follows Inspector Chan Ka-Kui, a dedicated cop tasked with bringing down a powerful drug lord. After a high-stakes bust goes wrong, Chan becomes the target of both the criminals and his own department, forcing him to clear his name while protecting a key witness.
Right from the beginning, Police Story displays massive scale filmmaking, with an explosive shantytown showdown that saw several cars tearing down temporary houses in Hong Kong. With Jackie’s commitment to stunts, the iconic moment appears during a mall fight scene where Jackie slides down a pole covered in lights—a stunt that left him with severe burns. The sequence was so good, the film replayed it three times in the movie. Not only action, Police Story also spared some time for hilarious comedic gags. The film set the tone for subsequent Jackie Chan’s films, blending exhilarating action with entertaining characters.
Police Story
- Release Date
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December 14, 1985
- Runtime
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100 Minutes
