Jackie Chanhas made a name for himself as a global superstar who can seamlessly blend action and comedy and whose films have left viewers clamoring for more as he’s starred in many sequels. With a unique style combining intense stuntwork with slapstick humor, Chan is one of the few performers equally recognizable in the East as in the West. A true cinematic icon, many of his sequels stand up againstChan’s very best workand include some of his finest performances.
Through a tireless career that has included nearly 150 films, Chan has earned his spot amongthe best martial stars of all time. As perhapsthe greatest Kung Fu performerthere’s ever been,Chan has followed up hit movies likeDrunken MasterandPolice Storywith equally impressive sequels. While not all of Chan’s movie sequels were created equally, his very best follow-up films stand as essential releases in a long and illustrious career that continues to this very day.
16The Nut Job 2: Nutty by Nature (2017)
Jackie Chan as Mr. Feng
Despite boasting an incredibly talented all-star cast,The Nut Job 2: Nutty by Naturewas a lackluster kids' animated sequelwith very little to offer for adult viewers. Chan portrayed the leader of a gang of street mice named Mr. Feng, who hated being called cute despite his tiny stature and adorable blue eyes. With a story about a group of squirrels trying to stop a mayor from destroying their park, young kids may enjoy this tale of friendship and collaboration, but for everyone else, it’s best skipped, even if it was an improvement over the firstNut Job.
While Jackie Chan has had his fair share of forgettable sequels,Fearless Hyena Part IIwas perhaps the most disposable. In fact,Chan himself left the movie during its productionand did not even finish filming his part (viaRoger Ebert) after film producer Willie Chan left the Lo Wei Motion Picture Company to join Golden Harvest. What’s left was a poorly put together, unfinished movie that told the story of two Kung Fu prodigies endeavoring to fight two foes known as the Earth Devil and the Heaven Devil.
Cannonball Run II
Cast
Cannonball Run II is a comedic action-adventure film featuring legendary driver J.J. McClure, who, alongside his friend Victor, enters a high-stakes cross-country car race. Participants compete for a $1 million prize from a wealthy sheikh, showcasing a series of wild escapades and automotive challenges.
Jackie Chan once again appeared as himself in the action comedy sequelCannonball Run II, starring Burt Reynolds. While the first film was a fun, wacky races-style showcase of car racing carnage, the joke had already run dry by the time the credits had rolled. Despite this, a sequel was produced, as well as a third movie in the franchise, yet each subsequent installment felt wholly unnecessary, and although the inclusion of Chan was a nice touch, it was not enough to save this franchise from mediocrity.
13Viy 2: Journey to China (2019)
Jackie Chan as Master Et Al
Viy 2: Journey to Chinawas a Russian-Chinese fantasy adventure that, like its predecessorViy, was loosely based on the Nikolai Gogol story of the same name. While this sequel included martial arts legendJackie Chan and action movie icon Arnold Schwarzeneggeramong its cast, this was not enough to save this woefully misguided fantasy adventure. WhileViy 2was presented as a serious film, the only way to truly enjoy this painfully underwhelming story was as an unintentional comedy.
Viy 2: Journey to Chinawas also released under the titlesIron Mask,The Iron Mask,The Mystery of the Dragon Seal, andThe Dragon Seal.
The Twins Effect II
The Twins Effect II is a Hong Kong martial arts film directed by Patrick Leung and Corey Yuen. The plot centers around a group of rebels, led by Charcoal Head (Jaycee Chan) and Blockhead (Bo-lin Chen), who seek to overthrow an oppressive queen. Along their journey, they encounter Princess Blue (Charlene Choi) and Red (Gillian Chung), who join them in their fight for freedom.
The Hong Kong action fantasy adventureThe Twins Effect IIwas marketed as a sequel toThe Twins Effectbut featured an entirely different story. Telling the tale of a humble boy in a mythical land undertaking an epic journey to claim his throne, this Donnie Yen movie featured plenty of supernatural occurrences and a grand quest of spiritual discovery. Jackie Chan’s role was minimal and amounted to little more than cameo appearances where he played two characters. Despite some strong points,The Twins Effect IIwas held back by lackluster special effects.
11Supercop 2 (1993)
Jackie Chan as Inspector “Kevin” Chan Ka-Kui
ThePolice Storyfranchise featured many of Jackie Chan’s greatest onscreen moments; however, the spin-off storySupercop 2was the series at its weakest. DespiteMichelle Yeoh’s performance inSupercopbeing good enough to warrant this new entry, it just couldn’t hold a candle to the franchise’s glory days. While it was nice to see Jackie Chan reprise his role as Inspector Chan Ka-kui in a small cameo appearance,Supercop 2just did not add anything new or interesting to the series.
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.
Jackie Chan’s role as Master Monkey was an essential part of theKung Fu Pandafranchise and was an important addition to the Furious Five fighting team. The third installment was yet another fun-filled addition to the Dreamworks franchise, whose light touch and knowing sense of humor made it stand out as Po (Jack Black) faced two major threats, one supernatural and one personal. WhileKung Fu Panda 3didn’t reach the same heights as the previous two installments, it was still a fun and worthy addition to the series.
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.
Kung Fu Panda 2proved this animated martial arts comedy series' potential as a major franchise. Once again, Jackie Chan was featured as Master Monkey, helping Po travel to Gongmen City to stop the evil peacock Lord Shen from conquering China. This epic quest was oddly touching asKung Fu Panda 2perfectly blended action, comedy, martial arts, and visual splendor. With Guillermo del Toro onboard as executive producer,Kung Fu Panda 2was not afraid to embrace darker themesand delve deeper than the average animated kids’ film.
Rush Hour 3
Rush Hour 3 reunites Jackie Chan and Chris Tucker as Detective Lee and Detective Carter. The duo heads to Paris to thwart a crime syndicate after an assassination attempt. As they navigate dangerous encounters and revisit Lee’s past, they work to recover a critical list of names.
Whileit’s always a pleasure to see Jackie Chan team up with Chris Tuckerfor another installment in theRush Hourseries, by the third film, the concept felt like it had mostly run out of steam. This time, the action was moved to Paris, where Chief Inspector Lee and Detective James Carter unraveled a mystery involving an assassin and Chinese triads. While big spectacle set pieces kept things entertaining,Rush Hour 3failed to add meaningfully to the franchise and was a disappointing ending that will hopefully be undone whenever the long-speculatedRush Hour 4finally comes to fruition.
Rush Hour 2
Rush Hour 2, directed by Brett Ratner, follows Detective Carter and Inspector Lee as they navigate a dangerous investigation in Hong Kong. While Carter seeks leisure, Lee is determined to apprehend a Triad gang leader linked to a counterfeiting scheme tied to a bombing at the American Embassy.
Rush Hour 2managed to bring this franchise into new and interesting territory as the action was moved to Jackie Chan’s home turf as Chief Inspector Lee (Chan) and LAPD Detective James Carter (Chris Tucker) vacationed in Hong Kong. However, this simple premise was soon turned on its head as the crime-busting duo found themselves embroiled in a murder investigation. With more of Tucker’s signature sense of humor and Chan’s martial arts skills elevating the film’s action sequences,Rush Hour 2offered audiences everything they could possibly want in a sequelto this well-loved, mismatched buddy cop story.
