Jackie Chanis one of the most influential and popular actors in the industry who has had a ridiculously long career. Ever since his cameo as a child-actor inBig and Little Wong Tin Bar(1962), he has been prolific in picking up acting roles. Over six decades later, he shows no signs of stopping asChan is returning forKarate Kid: Legendsin 2025. He’s led innumerable action movies and left an indelible mark on the martial arts scene as a man who performs his own stunts and adds his traditional comical twist to daring stuntwork.
However, despite the longevity that has continued well into the 21st Century, whenever he’s talked about, people mostly refer toJackie Chan’s best action movies from the 1990sor thebest old-school kung fu movies starring Jackie Chan. While he no longer takes on action-heavy roles that involve the most unbelievable stunts,Chan hasn’t slowed his roll. He now often plays mentor-like characters in action movies or portrays mature characters in dramas and adventure movies. His work from the past decade and a half includes some compelling movies that deserve more attention.
Ride On
Cast
Ride On is a film centered on a washed-up stuntman and his horse who achieve social media fame after their confrontation with debt collectors goes viral. Released in April 2023, the film explores themes of redemption and unexpected celebrity in the digital age.
The clip of Jackie Chan watching scenes from his old action movies with his “daughter” that went viral in early 2024 is actually a scene from his 2023 movieRide On. Actress Liu Haocun plays the daughter in the film to Jackie’s character, who is a stuntman at the tail end of his career. If it were Chan’s final film, this would pack a stronger emotional punch, as the character’s journey is one of reconciliation with his mortality and the inevitable cycle of life that would always put him out of a job as he aged and CGI started taking over.
While the sentimentality can feel tacky, especially given how Jackie Chan is far from irrelevant, even if he’s had to stop doing stunts that put his life at risk, as a pet movie,Ride Onhas its moments. The relationship between Chan’s character and his horse along with the father-daughter dynamic add a strong emotional layer to the film. Moreover, for fans of Chan,it’s a chance to revisit some of his most daring stuntsas the movie features real footage of his movies where he performed life-threatening stunt work.
The Karate Kid
The Karate Kid is a 2010 remake of the original martial arts drama film released in 1984. Directed by Harald Zwart, this new telling follows young Dre Parker who after a big move with his mother from Detroit, Michigan to Beijing, China, finds difficulty fitting in and manages to get caught in a bullies' crosshairs. Dre is saved by the mysterious maintenance worker named Mr. Han, who teaches him Kung Fu in order to defend himself.
The showrunners ofCobra Kaimay have denounced it as not being canon to the franchise, but the 2010 remake of the classic movie is the highest-grossing ofall theKarate Kidmovies. While it didn’t make Jaden Smith the overnight sensation that his parents had hoped it would,The Karate Kidhas memorable moments, especially from Jackie Chan, who plays an unorthodox martial arts mentor to Jaden Smith’s character.
Karate Kid: Legends' Shock Connection Between Mr. Miyagi & Jackie Chan’s Mr. Han Resolves A Problem With The New Movie
Jackie Chan’s Mr. Han being connected to Mr. Miyagi from the original movies eases a major concern heading towards the release of Karate Kid: Legends.
The most glaring flaw in the remake is obviously the fact that Chan’s character actually teaches kung fu to his mentee, and the movie features no karate whatsoever. Moreover,The Karate Kiddidn’t really need a remakeand the 2010 film adds nothing of consequence to the story, almost following the original beat-for-beat. The saving grace is Chan’s surprisingly emotional performance in the dramatic scenes, which let him demonstrate his range as an actor.
The LEGO Ninjago Movie
Ninjago is the story of six young ninja tasked with defending their island home, called Ninjago. By night, they’re gifted warriors, using their skill and awesome fleet of vehicles to fight villains and monsters. By day, they’re ordinary teens, struggling against their greatest enemy: high school.
The adorably goofy LEGO movie formula, which involves using over-the-top comical characterization, committing to the ridiculous, and surrendering to the unique vibe of the toys, works wonders forThe LEGO Ninjago Movieas well. The only problem is that its tone, while reminiscent of the show, which had six seasons at the time of the movie’s release, isn’t as endearing because it’s not able to replicate the strength of the character moments viewers can find in the show.
WhileNinjagoran for 15 seasons until 2022, there’s a sequel show,LEGO Ninjago Dragons Rising,which first aired in 2022 and awaits the release of its third season in 2025.
Even then, it’s a relatively solid entry in theLEGO Moviefranchise, and features Jackie Chan in two roles. One of the characters he plays is the customary live-action father figure of the child who is canonically playing with the Ninjago set. The other is the leader of the ninjas, who is almost like a father to them. His voice-acting skillsmake the character as compelling as he is in the TV series, but the movie would have strongly benefitted from treating the structure of the previous LEGO movies as a blueprint for success.
7Namiya (2017)
Directed by Han Jie
Based on Keigo Higashino’s bookMiracles of the Namiya General Store(2012),Namiyais a cute and heartwarming fantasy anthology featuring one of Jackie Chan’s most emotional performances. As a book adaptation, the movie really struggles to live up to the source material, but Chan’s adorable performance asthe old man who saves people across timelinesmakes it worth watching.
Chan’s performance is an endearing improvement, and he makes this Chinese movie immersive with emotive acting.
The Japanese adaptation of the book is a stronger film because it does a better job of conveying the book’s message by balancing the various timelines better, and because it features more compelling performances. However, Chan’s performance is an endearing improvement, and he makes this Chinese movie immersive with emotive acting that one doesn’t usually associate with him. Moreover, the heartwarming story itself is compelling enough to bring viewers to tears at various points during the runtime.
The Foreigner
The Foreigner, directed by Martin Campbell, follows Quan, a London businessman whose past resurfaces after his daughter dies in an IRA bombing. His quest for justice leads to a tense pursuit involving a British government official, whose own secrets may reveal the identities of the perpetrators.
Even though he has revived the James Bond franchise twice, first with Pierce Brosnan inGoldenEye, which is one of thebest action movies turning 30 in 2025, and then again withCasino Royalein 2006, Martin Campbell’s most recent movie beforeThe Foreignerwas the horrendousGreen Lanternmovie starring Ryan Reynolds. He went on a hiatus from directing for 6 years before returning for the Jackie Chan movie.
His return proved skeptics wrong, as he delivered a poignant revenge thriller with a political theme. Jackie Chan and Pierce Brosnan both deliver strong and compelling performances. The former blends brooding dramatic acting with quintessentially Jackie Chan action stunts to bring his character’s angst and grief to life. It’s one of Chan’s more underrated movies that would have been appreciated more if it had been made in the ’90s. He’s played such roles before as well, but for some reason,The Foreignerflies under the radar during discussions about his work.
Kung Fu Panda 3
DreamWorks’ 2016 computer-animated movie Kung Fu Panda 3 brings back Jack Black’s Po, Dustin Huffman’s Master Shifu, and the Furious Five in a battle against the supernatural warrior Kai (J.K Simmons). Bryan Cranston appears as Po’s father Li Shan and Randall Duk Kim returns as Grand Master Oogway.
Easily the weakest film of the trilogy,Kung Fu Panda 3feels like a forced sequel in some ways because of the innumerable side characters introduced in it, who aren’t even properly fleshed out. It builds upon the legacy and the lore of the previous couple of movies, but it has a weaker plot and a weaker villain. J. K. Simmons' voice adds to the gravitas of the villain, but his motivation doesn’t have the same emotional relevance or strength as his predecessors.
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However,Kung Fu Pandais still a highly entertaining film, and that’s owing to the original ensemble’s chemistry with each other. Angelina Jolie as Tigress, Lucy Liu as Viper, Seth Rogen as Mantis, David Cross as Crane, and Jackie Chan as Monkey reprise their iconic roles and bring the unmistakablechaotic but synchronized energy of the Furious Five. Moreover, the compelling drama of Po’s biological and adoptive father bonding over trying to protect their son adds an endearing emotional layer that makes the movie memorable.
4Little Big Soldier (2010)
Directed by Ding Sheng
Jackie Chan’s 99th film took him 20 years to get made, and when it finally happened,Little Big Soldierwas a box office hit and found critical acclaim as well. Chan’s impassioned performance is clear proof of how much he cares about the movie. With fast and memorable action sequences, it features crisp fight scenes, but the focus isn’t on the stunt work or on Chan’s star persona. Instead,Little Big Soldieris about commentary on the destructive nature of war,which ultimately benefits no one on the battleground.
Chan’s acting range is on full display as the disillusioned soldier who’s looking for a way out of the army. He leans into his dramatic skills as well as his martial artistry to deliver what is perhaps his greatest performance in the 2010s. One of the fewmovies with a Jackie Chan character death,Little Big Soldierdoesn’t shy away from exploring the gritty nature of war.
Shaolin
Shaolin (2011) is a martial arts drama directed by Benny Chan. The film stars Andy Lau as a warlord who seeks redemption after a tragic turn of events leads him to a Shaolin monastery. Supported by Nicholas Tse and Jackie Chan in key roles, the story intertwines themes of revenge, peace, and personal transformation within the backdrop of China’s war-torn period.
Set in the period of the Republicwhen warlords were fighting each other all the time to the point that Shaolin monks had to get involvedand intervene, Benny Chang’sShaolintells the story of a warlord, played by Andy Lau, who seeks refuge in a Shaolin Temple. The warlord gradually learns to live differently, accepting the tenets of Buddhism, and preparing to confront and stop the evil warlords.
Jackie Chan appears as a comic relief character whose presence undercuts the drama.
As a period film, the movie’s production, costume design, and action set pieces are impeccable.Shaolinis bookended by two brilliant and extensive action sequences that feature stunning martial arts choreography. Unfortunately, despite the compelling nature of the story and the strong performances from the stellar cast, the movie suffers from being tonally inconsistent. Jackie Chan appears as a comic relief character whose presence undercuts the drama, but instead of feeling like a good pacing device, it just breaks viewers' immersion in the movie.
Kung Fu Panda 2
Kung Fu Panda 2 is the sequel to the popular animated film featuring Po as the Dragon Warrior. Set in ancient China, this film follows Po and the Furious Five as they attempt to thwart a malevolent peacock villain intending to wield a new weapon. Po must also confront his past to succeed.
The originalKung Fu Pandawas one of thoseanimated movies that turned out better than expected, because it turns a seemingly silly idea into a compelling narrative. The concept of animals doing kung fu lends itself to energetic animation fight sequences, but what no one expected was the depth of its emotional impact on viewers. So, to live up to that was a tall task, butKung Fu Panda 2did just that.
The internet is often divided on who is a better villain between Tai Lung and Lord Shen, the villains from the first and the second movies respectively. WhileKung Fu Panda 2is slower than its previous movie,it is equally rich, if not richer, in emotions. The comedy is almost just as sharp, the fight sequences, though fewer, are even better, and the performances are at par with the original. Jackie Chan reprises his role as Monkey and delivers a similar hilariously goofy energy as a master of martial arts as he did inKung Fu Panda.
Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles: Mutant Mayhem
Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles: Mutant Mayhem is an animated film in the enduring action-comedy franchise. Directed by Jeff Rowe, the movie follows the iconic Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles—Leonardo, Michelangelo, Donatello, and Raphael—alongside their mentor Splinter, as they confront new adversaries and navigate their teenage years. The film combines humor and action while maintaining the core themes of the beloved series.
One of the surprise hits of 2023,Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles: Mutant Mayhemis a uniquely animated moviethat blends hand-drawn and computer-generated graphics to create a look that’s a cross between 3D animation and comic book art. The visual style itself explains why the movie was such a hit with audiences when it came out, but on top of that, the story itself is compelling. With surprising sincerity for a Seth Rogen movie featuring comical characters, it tackles an emotionally deep storyline about the turtles as it revisits the origin lore.
How Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles: Mutant Mayhem Blended Hand-Drawn & CG Animation Detailed By VFX Artists
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Jackie Chan plays the turtles' mentor and adoptive father, Splinter. His voice lends an authoritative and calming quality to the character, who’s both strict and benevolent. The energetic action sequences, hilarious one-liners, quintessential TMNT shenanigans, and a terrifying villain who almost has horror movie monster vibes to him, all contribute toTeenage Mutant Ninja Turtles: Mutant Mayhem’s success. While his role is small, it isJackie Chan’sbest movie in the last 15 years.
