40 Best Jackie Chan Movies of All Time Ranked (2023)

Are you wondering what the best Jackie Chan movies are?

In this article, we’ll list the 40 best Jackie Chan movies and provide some information about the plot and best scene in each movie to help you decide which movie to watch.

40 Best Jackie Chan Movies

Jackie Chan’s a legendary actor and martial artist known for his brilliant mixing of his acrobatic martial arts fighting style, innovative stunts, hilarious comedy, and charismatic performances over the last 50 years.

With around 150 movies and 100 of those being martial arts movies, here are the 40 best Jackie Chan movies ranked in order starting with the best.

1. Drunken Master (1978)

>IMDB Rating: 7.4

Drunken Master was the first time viewers saw Jackie Chan’s unique blend of martial arts and comedy. In this film, Chan portrays Wong Fei-Hung, a young martial artist who adopts the unusual ‘Drunken Boxing’ technique to overcome an assassin trying to kill his father.

One standout scene is the battle where Chan’s character deploys his newly acquired Drunken Boxing skills against the assassin. 

Chan’s intricate and humorous execution of this fighting style, which requires him to mimic the movements of a drunkard, shows his ability to interweave comedy with intense action, which are the skills he learned at the Peking Opera School.

2. Police Story (1985)

>IMDB Rating: 7.5

In Police Story, Jackie Chan acts as Kevin Chan Ka Kui, a Hong Kong detective unjustly accused of murder. As he strives to clear his name, the movie is full of highly engaging fight scenes and stunts showing Chan’s martial arts prowess (especially in kung fu) and stunt coordination.

One memorable scene is the high-speed bus chase where Chan single-handedly arrests the criminals. In a death-defying stunt, he leaps onto the moving bus and eventually brings it to a halt with the ingenious use of umbrellas.

3. Project A (1983)

>IMDB Rating: 7.3

In Project A, Jackie Chan portrays Dragon Ma, a coast guard officer in late 19th-century Hong Kong, who is resolute in his fight against piracy despite numerous obstacles.

The film’s highlight is an exhilarating bicycle chase through the congested alleyways of Hong Kong. This masterfully choreographed scene sees Chan expertly navigate the narrow streets while fending off villains.

4. Armour of God (1986)

>IMDB Rating: 6.9

In Armour of God, Jackie Chan takes on the adventurous role of Asian Hawk, an ex-pop star turned treasure hunter, where he embarks on a dangerous journey to recover stolen fragments of historical armor.

A key scene in the movie involves Asian Hawk in combat with a group of monks using only a ladder. The skillful way Chan maneuvers the ladder, spinning and sliding it against his opponents, shows his innovative use of props in fight scenes which he learned to do because of his weapons training while learning the martial art of Hapkido.

5. Rumble in the Bronx (1995)

>IMDB Rating: 7.3

Rumble in the Bronx introduces Jackie Chan as Ma Hon Keung, an immigrant navigating his new life in the Bronx, New York City. His time becomes a rollercoaster of messy encounters and conflicts with the city’s toughest gangs, pushing him to use his martial arts skills to protect his new community.

One of the standout scenes is the supermarket fight, where Chan uses a refrigerator, shopping carts, and even a pinball machine against his enemies, showcasing his unparalleled ability to turn everyday items into effective combat tools.

6. The Legend of Drunken Master (1994)

>IMDB Rating: 7.5

The Legend of Drunken Master features Chan as Wong Fei-Hung, further refining the art of Drunken Boxing.

The story revolves around British foreigners trying to smuggle ancient Chinese artifacts out of the country and Fei-Hung attempting to stop them while pleasing his pacifist father.

The epic final battle is a display of phenomenal choreography which took 3 months of filming to perfect, as Chan faces off against a rival martial artist in a heated and impressive duel that seals the movie’s status as an action masterpiece and one of the best Jackie Chan movies of all time.

7. Who Am I? (1998)

>IMDB Rating: 6.8

In ‘Who Am I?’, Jackie Chan plays a secret agent suffering from amnesia after falling from a helicopter, and who finds himself in a race against time to regain his memory and understand why outside agency operatives are chasing him.

One of the most unforgettable scenes is a rooftop fight featuring Chan’s incredible agility, fearlessness, and martial arts ability against the taekwondo kicking specialist, played by Ron Smoorenburg. The sequence is filled with hair-raising stunts and is considered one of the best fight scenes of all time.

8. Shanghai Noon (2000)

>IMDB Rating: 6.6

In Shanghai Noon, Chan teams up with Owen Wilson in a Wild West setting. Chan plays Chon Wang, an Imperial Guard from the Forbidden City who travels to Nevada to rescue a kidnapped Chinese princess, while Wilson plays Roy O’Bannon who reluctantly becomes Wang’s partner in the quest.

A standout sequence is a hilarious bar brawl where Chan uses horseshoes and rope, blending Western cowboy antics with his usual prop-oriented martial arts to deliver a highly entertaining scene.

9. Rush Hour (1998)

>IMDB Rating: 7

Rush Hour brought Jackie Chan’s unique action-comedy style to Hollywood in a big way. He teams up with the hilarious Chris Tucker to form an unlikely pair of detectives in a very engaging movie. 

They’re aiming to rescue the Chinese Consul’s kidnapped daughter and make it a double whammy by also trying to arrest a dangerous crime lord along the way.

A standout scene is a fight in an antique store, where Chan uses vases and other artifacts as impromptu weapons, delivering a dynamic action sequence with the right touch of humor.

10. New Police Story (2004)

>IMDB Rating: 6.9

New Police Story reimagines the classic series with a darker, grittier approach. Chan plays a hardened detective who becomes an alcoholic and is forced to confront a huge failure where he remained the only survivor in his last case.

He attempts to bring himself back to life by diving head-first into a new case involving the very same gang of thrill-seeking young criminals who took out his former team. The gang uses high-tech equipment in a number of robberies and heists across Hong Kong.

The standout sequence is an intense bus chase scene where the gang has hijacked a double-decker bus and they’re wreaking havoc through the streets of Hong Kong. Jackie Chan manages to climb aboard the moving bus and use his martial arts skills to fight them off and try and stop the bus.

11. Wheels on Meals (1984)

>IMDB Rating: 7

Wheels on Meals sees Chan team up with Yuen Biao and Sammo Hung, two other martial art acting legends, in a movie about mobile caterers in Barcelona who cross paths with a pickpocket and the people chasing her.

The highlight of the movie is the climactic fight between Chan and Benny “The Jet” Urquidez, showcasing a harmonious blend of speed, precision, and the spectacle of physical combat that has made the movie a fan favorite and one of the best Jackie Chan movies of all time.

12. Project A Part II (1987)

>IMDB Rating: 7

In Project A Part II, Chan reprises his role as Dragon Ma. He’s now a police officer in colonial Hong Kong trying to dismantle a corrupt police unit and disrupt a rebel group trying to overthrow the government. Of course, this leads to tonnes of great fighting scenes and plenty of laughs.

The film’s pinnacle arrives when Chan fights his way out of a mansion filled with traps. This scene is a testament to Chan’s ability to incorporate elements of physical comedy into great martial arts scenes.

13. Supercop (1992)

>IMDB Rating: 6.9

Supercop is the third entry in the Police Story series. In this movie, Jackie Chan plays Kevin Chan, a new inspector who teams up with a Chinese officer, Jessica Yang (Michelle Yeoh). Their mission is to go undercover and infiltrate and dismantle a powerful drug trafficking operation in mainland China.

A remarkable scene is the train chase sequence as it demonstrates Chan’s commitment to performing his stunts, as he dangles from a helicopter to eventually land on the moving train.

14. Twin Dragons (1992)

>IMDB Rating: 6.4

Twin Dragons has Jackie Chan playing dual roles as John Ma, a world-renowned classical music conductor, and Boomer, a Hong Kong-based mechanic with a knack for getting into fights.

Separated at birth during a hospital mix-up, their lives become intertwined years later in a hilarious case of mistaken identity, involving gangsters, beautiful women, and high-speed chases.

The climactic scene involving a high-speed car chase and fight at a car testing facility is one of the best and illustrates Chan’s knack for orchestrating multi-layered action scenes with a comedic twist.

15. First Strike (1996)

>IMDB Rating: 6.6

In First Strike, Jackie Chan stars as Hong Kong police officer Jackie, who’s recruited by the CIA and a Russian intelligence outfit to recover a stolen nuclear warhead. 

His global mission takes him from Ukraine to the sunny beaches of Australia where he uncovers an international arms smuggling operation and utilizes his unique blend of electrifying martial arts and slapstick comedy to save the day.

A great highlight is a ski chase scene where Chan uses a ladder in a fight, further demonstrating his creativity and resourcefulness in incorporating everyday objects into stunning action sequences.

16. The Tuxedo (2002)

>IMDB Rating: 5.4

In The Tuxedo, Jackie Chan plays Jimmy Tong, an everyday cabbie turned international spy after he inherits a high-tech, gadget-filled tuxedo from his employer who is sidelined by a critical injury. 

Together with his rookie spy partner (Jennifer Love Hewitt), Jimmy uses the tuxedo’s powers to take on a wealthy business magnate plotting to contaminate the world’s water supply.

The standout scene involves a dance fight where the tuxedo enables Chan to combine his martial arts with dance moves, creating a unique and entertaining action sequence unlike any other.

17. The Foreigner (2017)

>IMDB Rating: 7

The Foreigner is a departure from Jackie Chan’s typical roles, offering a more serious and somber performance which still worked out to be one of the best Jackie Chan movies.

He portrays Quan, a London-based businessman with a buried past. When his daughter’s killed in a politically-motivated terrorist attack, Quan embarks on a personal mission of revenge against those responsible, pitting him against a British government official (Pierce Brosnan) who may have ties to the terrorists.

The standout sequence involves Jackie Chan using his military skills to set traps and ambush his enemies, demonstrating a more intense and dramatic version of Jackie Chan’s action sequences.

18. City Hunter (1993)

>IMDB Rating: 6.3

City Hunter features Jackie Chan as a womanizing private detective called Ryo Saeba. When he’s hired to find a wealthy businessman’s runaway daughter, the chase leads him onto a luxury cruise ship that gets hijacked by a group of ruthless criminals. 

Amidst the chaos, Ryo must not only rescue his client’s daughter but all the passengers onboard while still maintaining his carefree and playful demeanor.

A memorable part of the movie is Chan’s homage to the incredibly popular “Street Fighter” video game/franchise, which creates some weird scenes but showcases his flexibility in incorporating elements of pop culture and gaming into his comedic fight sequences.

19. Miracles (1989)

>IMDB Rating: 6.9

Miracles, also known as Mr. Canton and Lady Rose, is a gangster comedy-drama directed by Chan himself. He plays a country boy called Kuo Cheng-Wah, who through luck becomes a respected gang leader in 1930s Hong Kong. 

When he crosses paths with a destitute woman (Anita Mui), he promises to help her find her long-lost family, leading to a series of comedic misunderstandings, intense battles, and elaborate musical numbers.

The standout scene is a choreographed fight involving a rolling wooden barrel, which pays tribute to classic Hollywood musicals while showcasing Chan’s unique approach to action choreography.

20. Operation Condor (1991)

>IMDB Rating: 7.2

Operation Condor, also known as Armour of God II, is an action-adventure comedy where Jackie Chan is again the treasure hunter, Asian Hawk. 

He’s hired by a United Nations organization to find a cache of hidden gold, originally amassed by the Nazis during World War II, that’s buried somewhere in the Sahara desert. This globetrotting adventure takes Asian Hawk from Spain to the Middle East, facing off against a multitude of foes who also seek hidden treasure.

A notable sequence is the wind tunnel fight scene, with Chan and his foes battling it out.

21. Snake in the Eagle’s Shadow (1978)

>IMDB Rating: 7.3

Snake in the Eagle’s Shadow follows Chien Fu (Jackie Chan), an orphan boy who works as a janitor at a kung fu school run by a master who constantly mistreats him.

His life takes a turn when he encounters an old beggar who’s actually a grandmaster of Snake Fist kung fu. Recognizing Chien’s potential, the old master teaches him the secret snake-style kung fu, empowering Chien to confront an assassin from the rival Eagle’s Claw school.

The final fight scene, in which Jackie Chan employs his snake-style kung fu, is a spectacular showcase of his agility, flexibility, and comedic timing in martial arts to make it easily one of Jackie Chan’s best movies.

22. Dragon Lord (1982)

>IMDB Rating: 6.3

In Dragon Lord, Jackie Chan plays Dragon Ho, a rebellious and sport-obsessed young man who unwittingly uncovers a smuggling operation. 

His curiosity lands him in a dangerous world, leading to a series of acrobatic battles, high-stakes sports games, and hilarious escapades, culminating in a face-off with the villains in a fireworks factory.

The highlight is a thrilling fight scene taking place in a fireworks factory, showcasing Chan’s creativity and physical prowess in orchestrating a visually stunning and intense fight scene.

23. The Young Master (1980)

>IMDB Rating: 7.1

The Young Master is one of Jackie Chan’s early classics where he plays Dragon, a young martial arts student in a traditional Chinese school. 

When his older brother is expelled and ends up involved with a criminal gang, Dragon steps in to clear his brother’s name, leading to a sequence of misadventures and fight scenes showing Chan’s unique blend of comedy and martial arts.

A standout scene is the lion dance competition, demonstrating Chan’s unique ability to incorporate traditional Chinese elements into his more modern action-packed scenes.

24. Fearless Hyena (1979)

>IMDB Rating: 6.6

Fearless Hyena features Chan as Ching Hing Lung, a young martial artist living with his grandfather in a remote village. 

When his grandfather’s killed by a rival kung fu school, Ching sets off on a journey of revenge. This quest requires him to master a new martial art style and face his fears in a series of challenging and comedic duels.

The film’s highlight is the final fight scene, showcasing Chan’s impressive martial arts skills and his knack for incorporating humor into fight scenes.

25. Crime Story (1993)

>IMDB Rating: 6.7

Crime Story is one of the few times Jackie Chan breaks away from his comedic persona to play a serious role as Eddie Chan, a dedicated and traumatized detective tasked with rescuing a kidnapped businessman. 

As Chan navigates the seedy underworld of Hong Kong, he battles internal corruption, deals with his personal demons, and risks everything to bring the businessman home safely.

One of the standout sequences involves an intense foot chase and fight scene in a construction site, providing a darker, more dramatic showcase of Chan’s acting and his knack of choosing epic fight backgrounds.

26. Gorgeous (1999)

>IMDB Rating: 6

Gorgeous sees Jackie Chan playing C.N. Chan, a successful Hong Kong businessman who falls in love with Bu (Qi Shu), a woman from a small fishing village who’s arrived in the city looking for adventure. 

As their relationship develops, C.N. finds himself having to defend his love against a boxing tycoon and former suitor of Bu’s, leading to a spectacular showdown.

The film is remembered for its spectacular final boxing match, where Chan delivers a combination of speed, agility, and deftly choreographed moves to make one of his only martial arts movies where his character is boxing based as opposed to kung fu.

27. Little Big Soldier (2010)

>IMDB Rating: 6.9

Little Big Soldier is set during China’s Warring States period, with Jackie Chan (Old Soldier) as the sole survivor of a defeated army who captures a young enemy general (Wang Leehom). 

As the Old Soldier attempts to bring the general home and collect a reward, they find themselves on a dangerous journey filled with bandits, warlords, and mutual distrust.

A memorable scene is the ambush sequence where Chan’s character uses ingenious traps and diversions, highlighting his comedic timing and skillful physical comedy.

28. Heart of Dragon (1985)

>IMDB Rating: 6.3

Heart of Dragon sees Jackie Chan in a more dramatic role as Tat, a policeman who’s given up his dream of becoming a sailor to take care of his intellectually disabled brother, Danny (Sammo Hung). 

When Danny is wrongly accused of a crime, Tat must balance his duties as a brother and a policeman to prove Danny’s innocence.

The highlight is a car chase sequence that culminates in a foot chase, demonstrating Chan’s commitment to delivering high-energy action scenes.

29. Railroad Tigers (2016)

>IMDB Rating: 5.7

Railroad Tigers is set in 1941 China, with Jackie Chan as Ma Yuan, a railroad worker who leads a team of freedom fighters to disrupt the Japanese war effort. 

Using their knowledge of the train network, Ma Yuan and his team execute a daring plan to destroy a critical bridge, facing down the Japanese army along the way.

A standout scene is the climactic train derailment sequence where Jackie Chan and his team attempt to disrupt the Japanese army’s supply chain during World War II.

30. The Accidental Spy (2001)

>IMDB Rating: 5.8

In The Accidental Spy, Jackie Chan plays a fitness equipment salesman known as  Buck Yuen, who finds himself entangled in international espionage when he’s mistaken for a spy. 

This mistaken identity takes Buck on a whirlwind journey across continents, on the trail of a deadly terrorist plot and a mysterious miracle cure.

The film’s highlight is a chase scene in a Turkish market where Chan’s naked and slippery from a shower and manages to evade his pursuers in a comedic yet thrilling sequence.

31. Around the World in 80 Days (2004)

>IMDB Rating: 5.8

Around the World in 80 Days reimagines the classic Jules Verne novel with Jackie Chan as Passepartout/Lau Xing, the loyal valet to inventor Phileas Fogg. As Fogg bets that he can travel the entire world in 80 days, Passepartout aids the journey while revealing he has his own mission to return a stolen jade Buddha to his village in China.

A highlight of the movie is the artful lantern fight sequence in Paris which demonstrates Chan’s unique ability to use everyday objects in his fight choreography by hanging onto the lanterns, swinging around from one lantern to the next, and attacking his enemies.

32. Bleeding Steel (2017)

>IMDB Rating: 5.1

Bleeding Steel sees Jackie Chan as a special forces agent known as Lin Dong who becomes caught up in a high-tech conspiracy involving bio-engineering.

Years after a mission gone wrong, Lin Dong finds himself protecting a young woman who’s targeted by a genetically enhanced villain, all while unraveling the truth behind his own past.

A standout scene is a fight on the roof of the Sydney Opera House, a visually stunning sequence showcasing Chan’s talent for choreographing fights in unique locations not seen in other martial arts movies.

33. Battle Creek Brawl (1980)

>IMDB Rating: 5.7

Battle Creek Brawl was Jackie Chan’s first Hollywood movie, where he plays Jerry Kwan, a young man living in 1930s Chicago. 

When his family is harassed by local gangsters, Jerry is pushed into participating in a no-holds-barred fight tournament in Texas (vale tudo style), requiring him to train intensively and face some of the toughest fighters around.

The tournament finale offers a brutal, action-packed showcase of Chan’s martial arts skills, demonstrating his ability to adapt his action style to different cinematic contexts and motivating viewers to pick up training themselves.

34. The Myth (2005)

>IMDB Rating: 6.1

In The Myth, Jackie Chan plays Jack, an archaeologist who’s haunted by recurring dreams of his past life as General Meng Yi, a warrior in ancient China. 

As Jack’s drawn into a 2000-year-old mystery involving a mythical artifact, he journeys across continents and epochs, facing danger, romance, and an exploration of his own identity.

The standout scene is a zero-gravity fight in a futuristic space lab, demonstrating Chan’s willingness to experiment with new ideas in his action scenes while staying true to his brilliant mix of martial arts skills and comedy.

35. The Medallion (2003)

>IMDB Rating: 5.2

The Medallion features Jackie Chan as Eddie Yang, a Hong Kong detective who has a bad accident and is given supernatural abilities by a mystical medallion.

With his new powers of immortality and superhuman strength, Jackie Chan must protect the medallion from an evil British mastermind who seeks to harness its power for world domination.

One memorable scene is the final confrontation where Chan’s character uses his new powers to defeat the villain, providing a unique twist on his usual action sequences which are focused on hand-to-hand combat and weapons fighting.

36. The Spy Next Door (2010)

>IMDB Rating: 5.4

In The Spy Next Door, Jackie Chan plays Bob Ho, a former CIA agent who’s tasked with babysitting his girlfriend’s three kids. Things get complicated when one of the children accidentally downloads a secret code, drawing Bob and the kids into a dangerous plot involving Russian terrorists.

The kitchen fight scene, where Chan uses various household items against Russian spies, is hilarious and a testament to his signature style of fighting.

37. CZ12 (Chinese Zodiac) (2012)

>IMDB Rating: 6

CZ12, or Chinese Zodiac, sees Jackie Chan as a treasure hunter named JC, who’s on a mission to retrieve twelve bronze heads of the Chinese zodiac stolen by the French and British armies from the imperial Summer Palace in Beijing. 

His mission takes him around the world (not in 80 days), facing various challenges and dangerous adversaries along the way.

One highlight is an extended chase sequence where Chan is trying to escape a group of enemies. To get away, he uses a suit that turns into a rollerblade (with wheels on the hands and feet) and flees down the mountainside roads while avoiding traffic. 

The powerful suit also aids him when fighting, so is much different from how he normally takes on his enemies.

38. Mr. Nice Guy (1997)

>IMDB Rating: 6.2

In Mr. Nice Guy, Jackie Chan plays Jackie, a popular television chef in Melbourne, Australia. 

Without meaning to, Jackie saves a reporter from a drug trafficking gang and finds himself entangled in their dangerous world. Now, he must use his wits and martial arts skills to protect his loved ones and bring the criminals to justice.

A standout scene is the construction site fight, involving heavy machinery, displaying the signature Chan combination of creativity, comedy, and action.

39. The Cannonball Run (1981)

>IMDB Rating: 6.2

The Cannonball Run has a star-studded cast comedy featuring Jackie Chan as the Japanese Subaru driver in an illegal cross-country car race. The Subaru has a variety of gadgetry which adds a unique twist to the antics and rivalries in this comedic race against time.

Throughout the movie, Chan’s character uses high-tech gadgetry in his car to outwit competitors, such as a computerized navigation system providing real-time data and directions, and a rocket firing system. 

Making it funny is how many of the gadgets also start malfunctioning and Jackie Chan ends up driving into a swimming pool.

40. Shanghai Knights (2003)

>IMDB Rating: 6.2

In Shanghai Knights, the sequel to Shanghai Noon, Jackie Chan reprises his role as Chon Wang, taking his adventures to London with his usual partner, the American bandit Roy O’Bannon (Owen Wilson).

The unlikely pair find themselves in England after Chon’s sister sends a distress call following the murder of their father. Now, they must navigate a foreign land, confront an evil aristocrat, and protect the royal family, all while creating their unique brand of havoc.

A great moment in the movie is the fight scene involving a revolving door inside a gentleman’s club in London. Jackie Chan uses the door for both attack and defense by striking through the glass panes and spinning the door into enemies.

The Bottom Line

This has been the 40 best Jackie Chan movies of all time ranked in order starting with the best. 

Don’t let the low IMDB rating of many of the best Jackie Chan movies deter you from watching them. They’re all great if you’re interested in great martial arts movies with plenty of different martial arts styles and humor included.

You may also be interested in the martial arts Jackie Chan knows and the 15 best martial arts actors of all time.