Jackie Chan is a well-known and well-loved actor. When he first started acting, he didn't speak English well, but that didn't keep people from falling in love with his action-packed movies or his great comedic style. Chan has starred in many live-action films over the years, as well as voicing characters in animated films. This list is sticking with his live-action work to get a look at Chan's highest grossing films, what they're about, and why you need to see them.
1. Rush Hour Franchise
Rush Hour, and it's 2nd and 3rd installment all fall into the top grossing movies starring Jackie Chan. These funny flicks didn't gross in order though. In fact, of all of the Jackie Chan movies out there, Rush Hour 2 is the highest grossing of all. The 2nd movie alone has brought in over 200 million dollars since its release in 2001.
This series of crime thriller comedies stars Chris Tucker alongside Chan. There are serious moments, plenty of action, and lots of laughs to be seen in each movie. The popularity of these movies has a Rush Hour 4 in talks.
2. The Karate Kid
In 2010 The Karate was brought to a new generation of kids with a whole new movie, in a whole new setting, with a whole new cast. This cast includes Jackie Chan, as well as Will Smith's son Jaden. This new Karate Kid movie has grossed over 175 million dollars since it came out. The Karate Kid original film from 1984 has only grossed just over 90 million in its lifetime, so far.
3. Shanghai Knights
2003s Shanghai Knights is the sequel to Shanghai Noon, which is next on this list. These two movies star Chan with Owen Wilson as his sidekick (or maybe it's vice versa). Shanghai Knights is a $60 million-plus grossing film set in London. This franchise, much like the Rush Hour movies, offers lots of comedy mixed with action and thrills.
4. Shanghai Noon
The original Shanghai movie paring Jackie Chan with Owen Wilson came out in 2000. This film takes Chan from the Forbidden City in China to the wild west of Nevada, chasing some people that took a princess hostage. This film has grossed almost 57 million dollars since its release.
5. The Forbidden Kingdom
2008s The Forbidden Kingdom is a fantasy film starring Jackie Chan alongside Jet Li. This movie is packed with action and adventure as a team of martial arts heroes attempt to free the Monkey King. It's a film loosely based on the book “Journey to the West.” The film has grossed over 52 million dollars in the last decade.
6. The Tuxedo
The Tuxedo is one of many fun Jackie Chan movies, and this one teams him up with actress/singer Jennifer Love Hewitt. In this film, a suit gives Chan special “spy” powers, and he ends up impersonating the person that was supposed to wear the suit. The movie has grossed just over $50 million since its 2002 release.
7. The Foreigner
The Foreigner is one of the most recent Jackie Chan movies on this list. Since its inception in 2017, this film has grossed $34 million, which is more than some of his movies that came out in the 80s. Like most Chan movies, the actor finds himself looking for the bad guy, in this case, a killer (instead of a kidnapper).
8. Rumble In The Bronx
Since '95, Rumble in the Bronx has brought in over 32 million dollars. In this adventure flick, Chan plays a police officer from Hong Kong attending his uncle's wedding in New York. A biker gang causes some trouble, Chan uses martial arts to fight them, and the rest is history.
9. The Spy Next Door
In The Spy Next Door, Chan stars as an undercover CIA operative. The twist? He gives up his career for a woman. The movie is a comedic romp in which Chan is seen trying to win over his girlfriend's children and trying to keep his past behind him as he finds himself up against Russian terrorists.
10. Around The World In 80 Days
This is not the first time Jules Verne's story of traveling around the world in an air balloon has been turned into a movie. This version has Jackie Chan playing Passepartout, Phileas Fogg's valet. The movie has grossed just over $24 million since it came out in 2004.
Why You Should Watch Jackie Chan Movies
Chan's movies may not be the most top-grossing films in the world, and they might not even be close to the Jurassic Parks, superheroes, and Star Wars of the film world, but they are fun. Jackie Chan has a knack for comedy, martial arts, and great action-adventure flicks that are often fun for the entire family.
Leave a Reply