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Although they don’t advertise it, action thrillers like Prime Video’s Heads Of State and Netflix’s The Old Guard 2 owe a clear debt to the martial arts films of the previous century…

On a farm in a remote part of Belarus, the British Prime Minister and the United States of America are in the middle of a punch-up with a gang of young-ish thugs wearing tracksuits. Both leaders are big chaps, but they’re outnumbered and older than their opponents; their victory ultimately comes as much from pure luck as their strength. The fight reaches its comedic zenith with one goon left hopelessly coiled up in barbed wire while another’s set on fire by a stray cigarette.

This is Heads Of State, director Ilya Naishuller’s enjoyably daft action thriller which emerged on Prime Video on the 2nd July (you can listen to our extended interview...

Director Larry Yang, celebrated for acclaimed films like Ride On, Adoring, and My Other Home, appears poised to deliver a truly captivating action film with the upcoming release of The Shadow's Edge. The recently unveiled trailer offers a compelling look at what promises to be an intense and gripping cinematic experience.

The movie boasts a formidable cast, led by the legendary Jackie Chan, whose extensive career spans decades of iconic action films, from Rumble in the Bronx to the more recent Karate Kid: Legends.

Joining him is the venerable Tony Leung Ka-fai, known for his powerful performances in features like She Shoots Straight and Once Upon A Time In Hong Kong.

These two seasoned actors provide a strong foundation for the film, anchoring an ensemble that also includes promising young talent such as Zifeng Zhang, recognized for her compelling role in Aftershock.

The Shadow's Edge benefits from established collaborative history...

It's very strange that it took so long for Hong Kong action star Jackie Chan to break out in North America. He was a massive star in Hong Kong throughout the 1970s, and his films are exciting and fun. For some reason, though, that success didn't translate very well to American audiences, despite a few tries by major American studios.

In 1980, for instance, Warner Bros. and Golden Harvest teamed up to make "The Big Brawl," a.k.a. "Battle Creek Brawl," an American production that was meant to bring Jackie Chan stateside. "The Big Brawl" starred Chan, playing a gentle restaurateur in 1930s Chicago, who runs afoul of the mob. It co-starred Kristine DeBell, José Ferrer, Mako, Rosalind Chao, and wrestler Hard-Boiled Haggerty. The film was actually a hit, but Warner Bros. was disappointed that it wasn't as big as the recent Bruce Lee film "Enter the Dragon." Chan was...

Jackie Chan has achieved in Hollywood what many actors could only dream of. He emerged as a known action star in the industry after coming from a different film industry, armed with only broken English. The Western audiences became familiar with Jackie Chan after the crazy edge-of-the-seat action thriller, Rumble in the Bronx. He later became even more popular with the Rush Hour franchise.

He was still a newbie to the American audiences when Sony decided to gamble big on him for a TV show. They presented the animated series, Jackie Chan Adventures, to an audience who were still warming up to him. Interestingly, the Sony chief’s idea gave birth to one of the most beloved cartoon series by Chan.

The story behind how Jackie Chan Adventures came into being, even before his fame A still from Jackie Chan Adventures | Credits: Sony Television

While Jackie Chan became familiar to...

Karate Kid: Legends director Jonathan Entwistle reveals that Jackie Chan dislocated his shoulder during a fight sequence, only to then pop it back in himself. Serving as the sixth movie in the Karate Kid franchise, the martial arts film chronicles the journey of kung fu prodigy Li Fong (Ben Wang), who becomes a student of Mr. Han (Chan) and Daniel Larusso (Ralph Macchio) after finding himself on a collision course with a local karate champion. Chan's role in the Karate Kid: Legends cast marks his second outing as Mr. Han after 2010's The Karate Kid.

During a recent interview with CinemaBlend, Entwistle recalls filming the Mr. Han kitchen fight in Karate Kid: Legends, revealing that the action in the sequence caused Chan to dislocate his shoulder. The 71-year-old actor didn't miss a beat, however, popping his shoulder back into place and promptly getting back to filming. Check out Entwistle's recollection...

When you think of cinematic stunt work, what’s the first name that comes to mind? Maybe it’s Tom Cruise (and that would be fair), but a conversation can’t be had without mentioning Jackie Chan, whose stunts have seen him breaking bones, being electrocuted, nearly losing eyes, falling to the pavement, and having a piece of skull pierce his brain. And even 50+ years into his career, Jackie Chan continues to do his own stunts and will do so until he retires…which he has no plan on.

Jackie Chan had a wildly successful career in his native Hong Kong but he became synonymous with stunt work to Western audiences with 1995’s Rumble in the Bronx. Objectively, he changed how we looked at action movies, shocking us with the insane skills and techniques he applied in every action sequence. And he’s going to keep doing it for us,...

The Locarno Film Festival will honor Jackie Chan with a lifetime career award honoring the martial arts master who helped define Hong Kong action cinema before becoming a Hollywood mainstay.

Chan is “beloved for action films that bridged the gap between East and West,” the Swiss event dedicated to indie cinema noted in a statement.

Chan, who made his name in martial-arts films in his native Hong Kong before establishing himself in Hollywood with 1995’s “Rumble in the Bronx” and then achieving global attention in the wildly popular “Rush Hour” films, will be making the trek to the Swiss fest where he will introduce his early films “Project A” (1983) and “Police Story” (1985) – both of which he directed and starring in – as part of the tribute.

Chan will hold an onstage conversation in Locarno on Aug. 10.

A far more complete filmmaker than is widely appreciated, Chan has co-directed, stunt-directed, financed or...

Karate Kid: Legends releases in theaters on May 30, and fans of the martial arts franchise will be able to see the first new Karate Kid movie to hit the big screen in 15 years. Director Jonathan Entwistle and writer Rob Lieber found a way to connect both the original franchise and the 2010 reboot by having Daniel Larusso (Ralph Macchio) and Mr. Han (Jackie Chan) in the same timeline. Everyone's already prepared for the drama that will surely ensue, but Jackie Chan's fans will actually get a surprise. According to Entwistle, he made sure that the action sequences in Karate Kid: Legendshave that particular spice that Jackie Chan's martial arts action movies used to have.

Speaking with Empire magazine, Entwistle spoke about the upcoming sequel that's set to take place three years after the events in Cobra Kai. The film will follow Daniel Larusso as he teams up with Mr. Han in...

Stars: Jackie Chan, Wei Xiang, Han Yanbo, Temur Mamisashvili, Shi Ce | Written by Meng Yida, Xu Wei | Directed by Zhang Luan

Directed by Zhang Luan, Panda Plan is the latest vehicle for international action superstar Jackie Chan, who, at 70 years old, continues to defy the physical limitations of age (and science) with his trademark blend of martial arts and slapstick comedy. The film sees Chan playing a more animated version of himself with a meta twist that both celebrates and gently mocks his decades-long career. The premise is simple yet absurd. Jackie, the beloved movie star, adopts a rare baby panda named Hu Hu at a zoo, only to find himself embroiled in a rescue mission when mercenaries attempt to kidnap the dodgy CGI critter for a mysterious Middle Eastern client.

The film starts with a self-aware action sequence, a chaotic shootout in a church that’s revealed to be...

Before Jackie Chan became the high-flying action hero we all know, he took a different kind of leap – straight into a controversial film career. Back in the day, long before he was smashing box offices with his stunts, Chan appeared in an adult film, a decision that raised eyebrows. But here’s the kicker: he never shied away from owning it.

Jackie Chan in Rush Hour Credits: Warner Bros.

Inspired by Hollywood icons like Marlon Brando, Chan believed doing what it took to survive was all part of the journey.

Jackie Chan’s risqué leap: The quirky softcore film that preceded the stunts Jackie Chan in a still from All in The Family | Credits: Golden Harvest productions

Jackie Chan’s resume includes action-packed blockbusters, death-defying stunts, and yes, that 1975 s*x comedy All in the Family. Long before Chan became a martial arts icon, he appeared in the Hong Kong-made softcore film,...

Jackie Chan is known for hurting himself when performing his own stunts, and the action and martial arts icon joined forces with another guy who is also known for self-injury, Jackass star Johnny Knoxville, for the buddy cop action comedy Skiptrace, which is headed for Max next month. Directed by Die Hard 2 and Cliffhanger’s Renny Harlin, Skiptrace pairs Chan and Knoxville together after a Hong Kong detective finds himself teaming up with an American gambler to take down a major criminal.

Written by Jay Longino and BenDavid Grabinski, Skiptrace stars Fan Bingbing, Eve Torres, Eric Tsang, Winston Chao, and Yeon Jung-hoon alongside Chan and Knoxville. Released in 2016, Skiptrace was met with a... not-exactly-ideal response from critics, with the action movie receiving a “rotten” score of 38% on Rotten Tomatoes and a somehow-even-worse score of 27 from audiences on the Popcornmeter.

However, while it may not be one of the most...

Jackie Chan has entertained and stunned us all for years with his amazing martial arts-fused movies that have been a global force in the entertainment industry. He went from being a renowned artist in Hong Kong to becoming a superstar in Hollywood.

Jackie Chan in Rush Hour | New Line Cinema

Most of his films have been all about action, comedy, and charisma, which is loved by everyone. His classics like Police Story, Drunken Master, and Rumble in the Bronx have established his status in the industry. Despite all this international success, Chan has been quite candid about struggling with cultural differences.

Jackie Chan had doubts about Rush Hour Jackie Chan and Chris Tucker in Rush Hour | New Line Cinema

Jackie Chan played the role of Chief Inspector Lee in Rush Hour and was paired with Chris Tucker in the American comedy that had a rapid-fire style of humor. It was...

Jackie Chan's best movies from the past 15 years demonstrate a surprising trend that proves he is so much more than a (legendary) martial arts actor. Most prominently known for his crazy martial arts stunts, Jackie Chan has featured in over 150 domestic and international movies in his 60-year career, breaking into Hollywood with titles such as Rush Hour and Rumble in the Bronx. However, Jackie Chan's recent movies show a different side of the famous actor and stuntman, as he has made a significant move into animation, starring as a voice actor in numerous roles.

From Mulan to the Kung Fu Panda movies, Chan has had a successful run in the animated movie medium, partly due to his popularity, yet mostly due to his incredible wit. Chan excels in action-comedy roles, having been an actor and stunt performer in the genre for the majority of his career, and this translates to his animated films.

The latest in our series of Guardian writers picking their go-to happy movies is a look back at 1998’s unlikely buddy comedy

There’s many a time in a grocery store or Cvs when Fantasy by Mariah Carey comes on, and all I can think of is Rush Hour. It’s 1997, and in the backseat of a car the Chinese consul’s daughter Soo-yung (played by an 11-year-old Julia Hsu) belts sweet fantasy in the only way a Mariah song can be belted, her stone-faced bodyguards in front wading through Los Angeles traffic. To 10-year-old me, who sang about heartbreak and desire with similar vigor in front of her immigrant parents, it was a quintessentially American moment. There’s pure joy in Soo-yung’s face before we cut to the scene at large, as the car is directed to the side. A police car swings in front of them and a man gets out,...

“A Legend” is another entry in the seemingly unlimited Jackie Chan universe, and despite its visual opulence, it is ultimately a bitter disappointment. The film joins the ranks of the many, many expensive but insignificant works that the action master has delivered in recent years. Released nationwide on July 10, it was massively rejected by Chinese audiences: With production costs of a good 50 million dollars, “A Legend” brought in a meager 11 million dollars and was not received well by critics either.

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The film is another collaboration between Jackie Chan and his long-time buddy Stanley Tong, a collaboration that has produced such pleasing and successful results in recent decades as “Police Story 3: Supercop” (1992), “Police Story 4: First Strike” (1996) and especially “Rumble in the Bronx” (1995), which finally made Jackie Chan famous in the USA. Tong also directed “The Myth” (2005) and “Kung Fu Yoga...

Once upon a time, a certain legendary action star, Jackie Chan, favored performing his own wildly dangerous movie stunts which captivated audiences and made him into the global superstar he is today. Now a septuagenarian, Chan is well past those years, but with the use of AI, were seeing Chan as a de-aged warrior in his latest role in the fantasy action, A Legend. A sequel to the 2005 fantasy thriller, The Myth, A Legend reunites Chan with his frequent collaborator, Stanley Tong. Tong has directed Chan in several movies, including the super hit Supercop and Police Story films, as well as Rumble in the Bronx. A newly released trailer for the movie sees Chan playing dual roles, an archaeologist named Professor Fang and a twenty-something leader of the Han Dynasty named Zhao Zhan, the latter of whom appears in Fangs fantasies.

Jackie Chan once attempted to break out of his signature comedy style in the early part of the millennium when he made New Police Story, which had him playing a more dramatic role as an alcoholic ex-cop. He would follow it up with 2005’s The Myth, which would be half of an Armor of God-type movie where he played an archeologist and half of a period film where Chan also played a General of a historical Chinese army. Chan returns with a new sequel to The Myth, titled A Legend. This film reunites him with director Stanley Tong, who directed Chan in movies like Rumble in the Bronx and Police Story 3: Supercop.

Well Go USA has just released the trailer for A Legend. Not long after the company unveiled the trailers for the upcoming action films of other martial arts icons, Tony Jaa’s Striking Rescue and Donnie Yen’s The Prosecutor.

Jackie Chan had long been a presence in Hollywood. He was just eight years old when he first appeared in a movie, and he has been dominating the industry ever since. Big and Little Wong Tin Bar, his first release, entered theaters in Hong Kong in 1962, and it was considered lost until it was rediscovered in 2016. The movie launched Chan's career, which has seen the actor star in a wide range of releases. He is best known for his old school kung fu movies, and his well-rounded performances have earned immense praise.

Rumble in the Bronx (1995), Shanghai Noon (2000), Kung Fu Panda (2008), and The Karate Kid (2010) were all mainstream hits that helped Chan define his name and identity within Hollywood. Even after achieving success, he still remains active in Hong Kong, having earned numerous acknowledgments from the Hong Kong Film Awards. The actor has even had the opportunity to serve as...

Hollywood is brimming with skillful actors who perform their own stunts, but not a lot of major A-listers are well-trained and actual fighters. We know the likes of Tom Cruise, who delivers death-defying choreography in his movies, and we know Sylvester Stallone, who has been an iconic action star since the ‘70s.

Credits: Tom Cruise in Mission: Impossible – Dead Reckoning Part One / Paramount Pictures

This is not to discredit their works because they are truly one of the hallmarks of action films, but we are talking about actors who can genuinely fight in real life and have in-depth knowledge of their respective martial arts.

1. Jason Statham Credits: Jason Statham in Mechanic: Resurrection / Summit Entertainment

We’ve seen his fight moves in action thrillers like The Mechanic and Furious 7, and they were all impressive – thanks to his expertise in Brazilian jiu-jitsu. The actor also trained in several martial arts disciplines such as karate,...

Sylvester Stallone, Arnold Schwarzenegger, Jet Li, Bruce Willis, Dolph Lundgren, Jason Statham, The Expendables has been chock-full of beloved action superstars since it first began back in 2010. But there is one glaring omission. And Statham would love to see them join the ranks. That name is, of course, Jackie Chan, and, according to The Stath himself, the Rush Hour and Rumble in the Bronx star could one day join the party.

[Sylvester Stallone] hasnt said anything but I hear rumors. I should never go with rumors because theyre often not correct, but I hear Jackie Chan might be coming to the party and that would make me very happy because I do like Jackie Chan.

I like Jackie because Ive been a fan of Jackies forever. Hes broken every bone in his body for his commitment and dedication to doing his own stunts. So hes the real deal. He *is* the real deal.

The nineties was the heyday of the mid-level action hero. Jean Claude Van Damme and Steven Seagal churned out a whole series of increasingly profitable action programmers in the early part of the decade. Seagal’s movies were wildly profitable for Warner Bros, while Van Damme had a home at Universal Pictures. Every studio wanted its own Jcvd or Seagal, with Paramount trying to launch Jeff Speakman with The Perfect Weapon (which has a devoted fan in our own writer Ej Tangonan) and Fox even trying with football player Howie Long in Firestorm. One studio that badly wanted their own action guy was New Line Cinema, but before they found their niche in the genre with Rumble in the Bronx and Mortal Kombat, they tried to launch two promising action heroes. One was Thomas Ian Griffith, whose (pretty awesome) action flick Excessive Force was only given a small regional release.

Jackie Chan (right) and co-stars in Panda Plan. Courtesy of Well Go USA Entertainment

Ever since 1995’s Rumble In The Bronx lit up our screens, I’ve been a huge fan of Jackie Chan. Not only for his subsequent work on this side of the Pacific but scrounging through every available resource to watch his previous Hong Kong action flicks. To date, I’ve seen over 80 of his 146 credited roles. Nobody has ever combined physical and character comedy as delightfully as he has. His work is even more remarkable considering that he’s choreographed and performed most of his own stunts for about 45 years!

Jackie turned 70 this past April, so his level of physical artistry is obviously starting to decline. But his new kid-friendly comedy, Panda Plan, delivers all the slapstick energy of his usual productions. Perhaps even too much for grownups. But kids should be delighted.

Jackie plays a version of himself,...

Stars: Jackie Chan, Wei Xiang, Han Yanbo, Temur Mamisashvili, Shi Ce | Written by Meng Yida, Xu Wei | Directed by Zhang Luan

Panda Plan (aka Xiong Mao Ji Hua) opens on a highly meta note as action star Jackie Chan, played by Jackie Chan takes out an entire squad of terrorists while filming a scene for his latest film. After wondering if he’s supposed to be playing a superhero, he and his agent David review a list of possible off-screen activities. That list includes a housewarming party at Stallone’s new mansion and a celebrity golf tournament.

Jackie passes on all of them to accept an offer from the Noah Zoo to adopt Big Babe, their media star baby panda. What they don’t know is that the leader of what appears to be the evil equivalent of The Untouchables has been offered $100,000,000 to pandanap Big Babe.

With his right hand man James in charge,...

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Officer Black Belt is a South Korean action comedy film written and directed by Joo-hwan Kim. The Netflix film follows the story of Lee Jong-do, a skilled martial arts fighter as he is recruited by a probation officer to help closely manage the criminals wearing electronic ankle bracelets to stop them from hurting innocent people. Officer Black Belt stars Kim Woo-bin in the lead role with Kim Sung-kyun, Lee Hae Young, and Kim Yool-ho starring in supporting roles. So, if you loved the thrilling action, hilarious comedy, and compelling characters in Officer Black Belt here are some similar movies to watch next.

Midnight Runners (Tubi & Prime Video Add-On) Credit – Lotte Entertainment

Midnight Runner is a South Korean action comedy film written and directed by Jason Kim. The 2017 film follows two new students at the Korean National Police University...

There can only be one Jackie Chan. The legendary actor/filmmaker/martial artist is known for his unique style of fight choreography that blended action with comedy. Choreographing his own fights, performing them, and directing them, Chan became a global star when he conquered Hollywood in the ‘90s.

Before he broke into English-language films with Rumble in the Bronx, Jackie Chan attempted to expand his horizons in Hollywood with The Big Brawl. Laying the foundations for his now-iconic style of choreography, the actor demonstrated how he threw realistic punches in an interview. The realistic fake-outs seem straight out of WWE’s playbook.

Jackie Chan Demonstrated How To Throw Realistic Punches Without Hurting The Opponent Jackie Chan in The Big Brawl | Credits: Warner Bros.

Jackie Chan is known for his perfect blend of comedy and martial arts. Straying away from his predecessors like Bruce Lee, who depicted a serious and disciplined approach to martial arts,...

The Canadian industry is paying tribute to distribution veteran Tony Cianciotta, who died last month (June 26). He was 85.

Cianciotta began his career in 1965 in Toronto as a film buyer for J. Arthur Rank Organization, which became Cineplex Odeon in 1980.

He went on to work in senior executive roles such as vice president and general manager at 20th Century Fox, Canada, and senior vice president, film at Cineplex Odeon, among others, before becoming senior vice president and general manager at Alliance Releasing from 1992-97.

In this role he championed Cinema Paradiso, Mediterraneo, The English Patient, Pulp Fiction and Trainspotting and many others,...

The Western audiences became familiar with Jackie Chan’s crazy edge-of-the-seat action sequences and physical comedy from 1995’s Rumble in the Bronx. The film, as the name suggests, was completely shot in the Bronx, New York State. Viewers were surprised by this Hong Kong actor who did everything for his movie, including extremely dangerous stunts.

Jackie Chan in a still from Rumble in the Bronx | New Line Cinema

Interestingly, Chan did much more than acting and stunt work. He also used to write, direct, produce, and most importantly, edit his films. A video showing him at his editing table for Rumble in the Bronx was recently shared on social media.

Jackie Chan Spent Hours At The Editing Table For Rumble in the Bronx Jackie Chan in a still from Rumble in the Bronx | New Line Cinema

Jackie Chan‘s Rumble in the Bronx defined his genre of films for American viewers.

NYC Weekend Watch is our weekly round-up of repertory offerings.

Film Forum

Films by David Lynch, Tony Scott, David Cronenberg, and Jim Jarmusch play in “Out of the 80s,“ which includes Do the Right Thing on 35mm this Sunday; The Neverending Story plays on Sunday.

Museum of the Moving Image

Rumble in the Bronx and The Straight Story play on 35mm as part of “See It Big at the ’90s Multiplex” which also includes Boomerang and Trainspotting; an Agnieszka Holland retrospective begins; Mothra screens on Saturday.

Roxy Cinema

Altered States plays on 35mm this Friday; Saturday brings Knight of Cups; George Cukor’s It Should Happen to You plays on 16mm this Sunday.

Paris Theater

Seven, Old Joy, Come and See, and The Conformist all screen on a despair-inducing Sunday.

Metrograph

Films by Gus Van Sant and Alain Resnais play in an mk2 retrospective; retrospectives of Obayashi and Dieudo Hamadi...

The story goes thus: it was 1985, and Hong Kong superstar Jackie Chan, having enjoyed nearly two decades of cinematic success in his native country, wanted to extend his reach into the United States. Chan had already tried to infiltrate America in 1980 with Robert Clouse's film "The Big Brawl," but while it was highly respected by martial arts fans, "Brawl" wasn't the massive hit Chan wanted. Chan had already directed four movies by 1985 but still felt that an American director could translate his fightin' sensibilities for a North American audience more accurately. So, he hired genre filmmaker James Glickenhaus to helm the 1985 actioner "The Protector."

Chan and Glickenhaus butted heads throughout production, as Glickenhaus refused to film fight sequences in a way Chan approved of. At the end of production, Chan merely re-edited the film himself and directed new scenes in the hope of salvaging the project.

It was his...

1998 was a fascinating year in popular culture. Furbies were taking over the world, Seinfeld was airing its final season, and Jackie Chan was planting the seeds for what was to become his breakout Hollywood picture, Rush Hour. Chan was already a big star in Asia and in Europe with hits like Drunken Master, Police Story, and Armour of God. A worldwide release of Rumble in the Bronx in 1995 opened the Western world's eyes to the martial arts phenomenon, and filmmaker Brett Ratner wanted to bring him to the forefront of a film that would showcase his talents. Little did he know that the picture would also indirectly be responsible for influencing a new age in the appreciation of movies.

Tubi, Fox’s free streaming service, has announced its list of May titles. The May 2024 slate features new Tubi Originals as well as numerous action, art house, Black cinema, comedy, documentary, drama, horror, kids and family, romance, sci-fi and fantasy, thriller, and Western titles.

As a leading ad-supported video-on-demand service, Tubi engages diverse audiences through a personalized experience and the world’s largest content library, which includes over 200,000 movies and TV episodes, a growing collection of Tubi Originals, and nearly 250 Fast channels.

You can watch the Tubi May 2024 lineup for free on Android and iOS mobile devices, Amazon Echo Show, Google Nest Hub Max, Comcast Xfinity X1, and Cox Contour.

You can also watch the service on connected television devices such as Amazon Fire TV, Vizio TVs, Sony TVs, Samsung TVs, Roku, Apple TV, Chromecast, Android TV, PlayStation 5, Xbox Series X|S, and on the Tubi site.

Tubi Originals

Action...

There's an entire generation of movie lovers who first encountered Jackie Chan in the "Rush Hour" films. The actor, director and stuntsman didn't have a huge love for the franchise at the time, perhaps because they barely scratched the surface of what he was capable of as a choreographer. Still, his buddy cop films hold a special place in the hearts of countless action fans, and his rapport with co-star Chris Tucker isn't half bad, either.

The "Rush Hour" trilogy hasn't aged the best in the intervening years, thanks in part to its director, Brett Ratner, who was accused of sexual misconduct in 2017. The film's "East meets West" humor would also never fly today, making the franchise something of a time capsule for irreverent, 2000s humor. Still, we could never get enough of Chan and Tucker — that's why we're all still holding out for that potential "Rush Hour 4." While...

"New Fist of Fury" launched Jackie Chan's career as a leading man, showcasing his martial arts skills and professional relationship with director Lo Wei. "Snake in the Eagle's Shadow" established Chan's unique comedic fighting style, allowing him to relax in his performance and showcase his talent. "Shinjuku Incident" marked a departure from Chan's usual roles, showcasing his dramatic range and versatility as an actor beyond physical comedy.

Jackie Chan is a brilliantly talented actor, but only a few of his movies can be considered defining moments in his career. The Hong Kong national began performing as a child, appearing in small roles since the age of 5, and has since spent an incredible sixty-two years developing and honing his acting skills. While many will know Jackie Chan for his martial arts skills, he's proved his versatility as an actor and has a wide range of abilities as a performer.

In his long career,...

Upping The Ante

France’s Canal+ Group said that it has increased its stake in multi-territory Asian streaming platform Viu to 30%.

“This additional investment underlines the confidence that Canal+ has in Viu and its teams. It also highlights the determination of Canal+ to make Asia its next growth vector, through its strategic partnership with Pccw, and through an acceleration of growth at Viu, a premium streaming service present in Asia, the Middle East and South Asfrica,” the French group said in a statement. Additionally, it said that its investment in Viu now amounted to some $300 million and that it retains an option to increase its stake to 50%.

In June last year, Canal+ announced that it was to pay $200 million for an initial 26.1% stake in Viu and that it would make a total staggered investment of $300 million.

In results published on Friday, Pccw said: “Viu saw 27% growth in revenue in2023 […] propelled...

Rotten Tomatoes owes its existence to Jackie Chan's action-comedy "Rush Hour," as the website started as a fansite for the film in 1998. Rotten Tomatoes became more popular in 1999 after featuring reviews for films like "Star Wars: Episode 1" and "The Blair Witch Project," leading to its official launch in April 2000. Rotten Tomatoes has had a profound impact on the industry, despite controversy surrounding its scoring system and criticisms from filmmakers like Martin Scorsese.

Rotten Tomatoes owes its existence to a Jackie Chan action classic. The action movies Jackie Chan made in Hong Kong such as the Drunken Master or Police Story films may have been hugely popular with fans of the genre, but they did little to help the star break into American films. This wasn't for lack of trying; during the '80s, Chan starred in several American productions, like The Big Brawl or The Protector. Both were financial...

Vintage martial arts film fans rejoice as the 70s classic, The Shaolin Plot, is set for a 2K restoration release on Blu-ray. The Mvd Entertainment Group has just released a trailer for Arrow Video’s new physical copy release of the Sammo Hung film. The Shaolin Plot comes from director Huang Feng (director of Lady Whirlwind & When Taekwando Strikes), the father of modern Kung Fu films and a mentor to John Woo (Face/Off) and Stanley Tong (Rumble in the Bronx). The cast features Sammo Hung, James Tien and Cassanova Wong.

The release details read,

“In 1977, fight choreographer Sammo Hung made one last film under his mentor, director Huang Feng before graduating to the director’s chair himself with The Iron-Fisted Monk. That film was the rarely-seen martial arts ensemble thriller The Shaolin Plot, which sees the pair reunite with Hong Kong heavy Chan Sing (New Fist of Fury). Prince...

Call it the Karate Kid Cinematic Universe.

Jackie Chan and Ralph Macchio, both of whom starred in Karate Kid movies decades apart, are set to reprise their popular characters in Sony Pictures’ latest installment of the iconic coming-of-age martial arts franchise.

Jonathan Entwistle, best known for his well-regarded and award-winning teen television dramas I’m Not Okay with This and The End of the F***ing World, is directing the untitled feature that the studio is positioning as the fusing and continuing the mythology of the original franchise.

A global search for a Chinese actor to play the erstwhile title character launched today, with the Chan and Macchio kicking things off with an introductory video, seen below.

Rob Lieber, whose credits include Sony’s Peter Rabbit and Disney’s Alexander and the Terrible, Horrible, No Good Very Bad Day, wrote the script. The plot line is hiding in the back of the dojo.

Actors like Jackie Chan, Dwayne Johnson, Emma Watson, and Gwyneth Paltrow have chosen not to play villains to protect their established public image and career trajectory. Some actors fear that playing villains would be perceived as a loss of their likability or that they wouldn't be able to convincingly portray darkness. Actors like Adam Sandler, Jennifer Lawrence, Clint Eastwood, Jimmy Stewart, Sylvester Stallone, and Anne Hathaway have mostly avoided playing villains due to the audience's expectations of them as heroes or morally upright characters.

Many actors refuse to play villains because of how it might look for their careers, choosing instead to build their reputations around playing the good guy. In the days when the studio system had enough control to keep actors under contract for years, an actor had to be prudent and careful about what roles they played, or else they would be typecast, and heroes were much more successful than heavies.

In the world of buddy cop comedies, the "Rush Hour" franchise remains a standout. The odd coupling of a reserved chief inspector from Hong Kong and a fast-talking LAPD officer sparked three action-packed, hilarious films popular the world over, amassing over $850 million at the global box office.

Across the three films, Chief Inspector Lee (Jackie Chan) and Detective James Carter (Chris Tucker) solve cases in Hong Kong and the U.S., even paying a brief visit to France, typically involving the Triads and government officials. And while the trilogy offers adrenaline-inducing action sequences, it's the comedic chemistry between the two actors that has endured.

When the first installment of "Rush Hour" debuted in 1998, North American audiences had just become acquainted with Chan following the success of "Rumble in the Bronx," while films like "Friday" and "The Fifth Element" highlighted Tucker as an emerging comedic voice. Their natural banter won audiences...

The following contains spoilers for Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles: Mutant Mayhem, now playing in theaters.

When it comes to the Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles adaptations, it's safe to say the Heroes in a Half Shell are the main focus. Some iterations do give Master Splinter his time in the limelight. But it's usually reserved for when villains like Shredder and the Foot invade the sewers and come looking for a brawl.

Tmnt: Mutant Mayhem drastically switches this up, though, with Jackie Chan's Master Splinter. Here, Splinter, as pacifist as he is, has to go on the offensive. In the process, the film produces the best Splinter action sequence ever for a couple of endearing reasons, reminding audiences why Splinter is the emotional anchor of the property.

Related: Tmnt: Mutant Mayhem Shares Two Plot Threads With The Amazing Spider-Man

Mutant Mayhem Nails Jackie Chan's Veteran Essence

Splinter is indeed...

Plot: Two ex-special forces soldiers must escort a group of civilians along Baghdad’s “Highway of Death” to the safety of the Green Zone.

Review: Released last week with minimal promotion, the new action flick Hidden Strike shocked everyone by becoming the number-one movie on Netflix in the United States and over fifty other countries. It should come as no surprise that a movie starring Jackie Chan and John Cena would do as well as this. With the marketplace desperate for products due to the ongoing SAG-AFTRA and WGA strikes limiting the new content at their disposal, Hidden Strike is a surprising success story in a year where a new Indiana Jones movie became one of the biggest box office bombs ever. While Hidden Strike‘s long journey to the screen saw it shift stars from Sylvester Stallone to John Cena while relying on lots of CGI to make...

Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles: Mutant Mayhem finds the iconic Heroes in a Half Shell once more fighting tooth and nail to protect New York. It's been a while since fans have seen them on the big screen. But this time, Paramount Pictures is leaning into the animation trend that Sony's Spider-Verse kicked into high gear.

And make no mistake, from the trailers and promotional content, this new foray is gorgeous. Not to mention with the Turtles as a bunch of kids again, it's angling to pack the story with tremendous heart and soul. With that in mind, let's break down the sprawling cast as one of pop culture's most iconic properties jumps back to life.

Related: Tmnt: Mutant Mayhem Director Explains Why Shredder Isn't the Main Villain

Micah Abbey, Shamon Brown Jr, Nicolas Cantu & Brady Noon as the Tmnt

Mutant Mayhem is keen to capture the youthful energy of the franchise,...

Jackie Chan is a martial arts movie legend who has delivered many great fight scenes and stunts. With a career in both Eastern and Western action movies spanning decades, Jackie Chan is renowned worldwide for his unique blend of comedy and action. Millions first saw the future action superstar without even knowing it during Chan's brief on-screen appearance in Enter the Dragon, but his career since has been nothing short of historic.

Jackie Chan's action scenes often include stunt work that has left him with innumerable injuries, with Chan also frequently fighting seemingly insurmountable martial artists portraying the villains of his films. In both his early movies and Jackie Chan's Hollywood career, some of his best action scenes continue to stand the test of time, helping him become an icon of martial arts and comedy. Here are 10 Jackie Chan movie moments that would help make him a martial arts movie legend.

The film the mark the tenth collaboration between Chan and director Stanley Tong.

Taiwan’s Distribution Workshop is to begin sales at Cannes on Jackie Chan fantasy adventure The Legend, which marks the action star’s tenth film with director Stanley Tong.

The $50m mainland China feature is a sequel to 2005’s The Myth, which was also directed by Tong, and stars Chan as an archaeologist who discovers a jade pendant that seems to connect the dream world with reality.

Produced by Bona Film Group, the feature also stars Yixing Zhang, Coulee Nazha and Aarif Lee. A release date has...

Jackie Chan has signed on to star in A Legend, a martial arts fantasy-adventure movie which will be a sequel to his 2005 movie The Myth.

The sequel to The Myth will find Jackie Chan reprising his role as archaeology expert Professor Chen. “The film’s action begins when he notices that the texture on the artifacts discovered by his students during a glacier expedition is strikingly similar to a jade pendant he had seen in his dreams,” reads the description. “Suspecting that the pendant is acting as a bridge between the realm of dreams and reality, Professor Chen leads his research team on a journey deep into the Glacier Temple, embarking on a fantastical adventure.” A Legend will be directed by Stanley Tong, a long-time collaborator of Chan who has helmed Police Story 3, Rumble in the Bronx, and The Myth.

A Legend will have a budget of $50 million, a large...

Jackie Chan's 1992 action-comedy Twin Dragons broke a long-standing trend of his on-screen persona in a big way. Directed by Ringo Lam and Tsui Hark, Twin Dragons stars Chan as identical twin brothers Boomer and John Ma, who were separated at birth. When John returns to Hong Kong to perform a live concert as conductor, he and Boomer cross paths and find themselves in a battle against a ruthless Hong Kong crime boss.

Twin Dragons is a product of Jackie Chan's heyday, with all the wild stunts, action, and comedy one would expect from a golden age Jackie Chan movie. One added element of Twin Dragons is that, in portraying twin brothers, Chan got the chance to deviate rather sharply from his usual big-screen persona. In effect, Jackie Chan plays characters who embody the two extremes of his career at once in Twin Dragons.

Related: Shanghai Knights' 2 Jackie Chan Influences...

Some noteworthy new releases, a bevy of library titles and the complete series of “Freaks and Geeks” are among the new additions to Amazon Prime Video this month. May will see the streaming availability of the 2022 films “She Said,” “Violent Night” and “Till” on Prime Video, while the beloved (and short-lived) TV series “Freaks and Geeks” will be streaming on Amazon starting May 4.

We’ve also included everything new to Freevee, which includes the first three “John Wick” movies, “Scarface” and “The Usual Suspects.”

Check out the complete list of everything new on Amazon Prime Video in May 2023 below.

Also Read:

The 41 Best Movies on Amazon Prime (April 2023)

Arriving May 1

MasterChef Mexico S1-4 (2015)

A Beautiful Mind (2002)

Amistad (1997)

Babe (1995)

Babe: Pig In The City (1998)

Babel (2006)

Beavis and Butt-Head Do America (1996)

Biker Boyz (2003)

Bill & Ted’s Excellent Adventure (1989)

Blue Crush (2002)

Blue Crush 2 (2011)

Bound (1996)

Bridget Jones: The Edge Of Reason (2004)

Bridget Jones’s Baby...

With its list of new releases for May 2023, Amazon Prime Video is increasing its global reach.

The streamer’s biggest original offering this month is a German series. Hohlbeins’ – The Gryphon, based on the works of Wolfgang Holhlbein, will present a sprawling fantasy tale about three teens discovering a fantastical world called The Black Tower where “the Gryphon, a world-devouring monster, mercilessly subjugates all living creatures.”

The only other original title of note in May is Freevee comedy Primo on the 19th. Written by author and journalist Shea Serrano and produced by Michael Schur (The Good Place), this coming-of-age series will follow a teenager balancing “college aspirations, societal expectations, and a hectic home life on the south side of San Antonio.”

And that’s pretty much it for Amazon Originals this month! Thankfully, there is a huge influx of library content to keep Prime Video subscribers entertained. May 4 sees the...

Tenth Time Lucky The Legend teaser poster (Bona Film Group)

Director Stanley Tong (“Rumble in the Bronx”) is to team up with Jackie Chan for the tenth time on “The Legend.” State media in China report that Chan, who recently reached the top spot in the mainland Chinese box office with aged stuntman comedy “Ride On,” will play an archaeologist on a quest through time and space. With production by Bona Film Group, “The Legend” is pitched as being in the same vein as Tong and Chan’s 2005 effort “The Myth,” which was a fantasy love story. Tong and Chan have worked together on other titles including “Police Story 3,” “Supercop” and “Vanguard.”

Olympic Dreams

India’s Jio Studios is backing “Khashaba,” a Marathi-language film on the life of India’s first Olympic medalist Khasaba Dadasaheb. After delivering the “Sairat,” the all-time highest grosser in the history of Marathi cinema, and London and Goteborg selection “Fandry,...

Jackie Chan utilized a great American sitcom gimmick as a tool to propel his career. Growing up in the Peking Opera Academy, Jackie Chan would begin his career in movies as a stuntman, even having his neck memorably broken by Bruce Lee in Enter the Dragon. With his back-to-back hits of Snake in the Eagle's Shadow and Drunken Master in 1978, Jackie Chan became Hong Kong's biggest star in the ensuing years and gradually made himself into a household name worldwide.

Despite some early struggles in breaking into the Hollywood industry, Chan eventually succeeded in doing so with the 1996 release of Rumble in the Bronx, followed by Jackie Chan's 1998 mega-hit Rush Hour. While Jackie Chan's style of action and unique brand of comedy has been key components of his winning formula to success, he has also utilized a few tried and true tricks to achieve stardom. One trick in particular that...