Fang Shilong[a] (bornChan Kong-sang;[b] 7 April 1954), known professionally asJackie Chan,[c] is a Hong Kongmartial artist,actor andfilmmaker, known for hisslapstick, acrobatic fighting style, comic timing, and innovative stunts, which he typically performs himself. Witha film career spanning more than sixty years, he is regarded as one of the mosticonic and influential martial artists in the history of cinema.[3][4] Films in which he has appeared have grossed over $6 billion worldwide.[5]
Starting as one of theSeven Little Fortunes at theChina Drama Academy, where he was trained in acrobatics, martial arts and acting, Chan entered the Hong Kong film industry as a stuntman before making the transition to acting. His breakthrough came with the action comedySnake in the Eagle's Shadow (1978). He then starred in similar action comedies such asDrunken Master (1978) andThe Young Master (1980). He made hisdirectorial debut withThe Fearless Hyena (1979), which was a box office success. Throughout the 1980s, he was part of the "Three Dragons" along withSammo Hung andYuen Biao; the three starred in six Hong Kong films together.[6]Project A (1983) saw the official formation of theJackie Chan Stunt Team and established Chan's signature style of elaborate, dangerous stunts combined with martial arts and slapstick humor, a style he further developed in a more modern setting withWheels on Meals (1984) andPolice Story (1985).Rumble in the Bronx (1995), which had a successful worldwide theatrical run, brought Chan into the North American mainstream.[7][8] By the mid-1990s, he was the most popular action movie star inAsia andEurope.[7]
One of the most recognizable and influential film personalities in the world, Chan was described by film scholar Andrew Willis in 2004 as perhaps "the most recognized star in the world."[11] He has received fame stars on theHong Kong Avenue of Stars and theHollywood Walk of Fame,[12][13] as well as anhonorary Academy Award in 2016. Chan has been referenced in various pop songs, films, television series, and video games. He has an award named after him, theJackie Chan Action Movie Awards. He is an operatically trained vocalist who has releasedseveral pop music albums and performed theme songs for some of the films in which he starred. He is also a philanthropist and was named one of the top 10 most charitable celebrities byForbes in 2011.[14][15] In 2016,Forbes ranked him the second-highest-paid actor in the world.[16][17] In 2025,Parade estimated his net worth to be $400 million, and reported he planned to leave his fortune to charity, rather than to his son,Jaycee Chan.[18]
Early life
Chan was born on 7 April 1954 inBritish Hong Kong as Chan Kong-sang[1][2] toCharles and Lee-lee Chan, political refugees from theChinese Civil War. In circa 1937, Chan's father, originally named Fang Daolong, briefly worked as a secret agent for Lieutenant GeneralDai Li, the chief spy inKuomintang-ruled China.[19] For fear of being arrested by the communist government, Chan's father fled to British Hong Kong in the 1940s and changed his surname from Fang to Chan. Chan was his wife Chan Lee-lee's surname. Chan discovered his father's identity and changed hisChinese name toFang Shilong (房仕龍) in the late 1990s, the name he would have been named according to his kin'sgenealogy book, which allegedly traces back toTang dynasty statesmanFang Xuanling. Chan'sancestral roots are located inWuhu,Anhui.[20][21][22][23]
Chan spent his formative years within the grounds of the French consul's residence in theVictoria Peak, British Hong Kong, as his father worked as a cook there.[24] Chan attended the Nah-Hwa Primary School onHong Kong Island, where he failed his first year, after which his parents withdrew him from the school. In 1960, his father emigrated toCanberra, Australia to work as the head cook for the American embassy, and Chan was sent to theChina Drama Academy, aPeking Opera School run by MasterYu Jim-yuen.[24][25] Chan trained rigorously for the next decade, excelling in martial arts and acrobatics.[26] He eventually became part of theSeven Little Fortunes, a performance group made up of the school's best students, gaining the stage name Yuen Lo (元樓) in homage to his master. Chan became close friends with fellow group membersSammo Hung andYuen Biao, and the three of them later became known as theThree Brothers orThree Dragons.[27] After entering the film industry, Chan along with Sammo Hung got the opportunity to train inhapkido under the grand master Jin Pal Kim, and Chan eventually attained ablack belt.[28] As a martial artist, Chan is also skilled in multiple forms ofKung fu.[29] He is also known to have trained in other martial art forms such as Karate, Judo, Boxing,Taekwondo, andJeet Kune Do.[30]
Chan joined his parents in Canberra, Australia in 1971, where he briefly attendedDickson College and worked as a construction worker.[31] A fellow builder named Jack took Chan under his wing, thus earning Chan the nickname of "Little Jack",[23] later shortened to "Jacky". In the 1980s, the spelling of his nickname became "Jackie", which has stuck with him ever since.[32]
Film career
1962–1975: Early small appearances
He began his film career by appearing in small roles at the age of five as a child actor. At age eight, he appeared with some of his fellow "Little Fortunes" in the filmBig and Little Wong Tin Bar (1962) withLi Li-Hua playing his mother. The following year, the young actor appeared in extras of Yen Chun's 1964 filmLiang Shan Po and Chu Ying Tai and had a small role inKing Hu's 1966 filmCome Drink with Me.[33] In 1971, after an appearance as an extra in another kung Fu film,A Touch of Zen, Chan was signed to Chu Mu's Great Earth Film Company.[34]
Chan appeared in theBruce Lee filmFist of Fury (1972), both as an extra and as astunt double for the Japanese villain Hiroshi Suzuki (portrayed byChikara Hashimoto), particularly during the final fight scene where Lee kicks him and he flies through the air.[35][36] Chan again appeared in another Bruce Lee film,Enter the Dragon (1973), as a minor henchman who gets killed by Lee's character. Sammo Hung helped Chan get minor roles in both of the Bruce Lee films.[37] Chan also worked as a martial arts choreographer forJohn Woo'sThe Young Dragons (1974).[36]
1976–1980: Start-up leading roles
In 1976, Jackie Chan received a telegram fromWillie Chan, a film producer in the Hong Kong film industry who had been impressed with Jackie's stunt choreography work. Willie Chan offered him an acting role in a film directed byLo Wei. Lo saw Chan's performance in theJohn Woo filmHand of Death (1976) and planned to model him afterBruce Lee with the filmNew Fist of Fury.[34] His stage name was changed to成龍 (literally "becoming the dragon",[19][2]Sing4 Lung4 inJyutping[2] or rarely asCheng Long inpinyin),[38] to emphasize his similarity to Bruce Lee, whose stage name meant "Lee the Little Dragon" in Chinese. (Note that "dragon" in Lee's name referred to Lee's birth year being theDragon zodiac, not theChinese dragon.) The film was unsuccessful because Chan was not accustomed to Lee's martial arts style. Despite the film's failure, Lo Wei continued producing films with similar themes, but with little improvement at the box office.[39]
Chan's first major breakthrough was the 1978 filmSnake in the Eagle's Shadow, shot while he was loaned to Seasonal Film Corporation under a two-picture deal.[40] DirectorYuen Woo-ping allowed Chan complete freedom over his stunt work. The film established the comedic kung fu genre, and proved refreshing to the Hong Kong audience.[41] The same year, Chan then starred inDrunken Master, which finally propelled him to mainstream success.[42]
Upon Chan's return to Lo Wei's studio, Lo tried to replicate the comedic approach ofDrunken Master, producing and also showed new features at the time with Jackie as the Stunt DirectorHalf a Loaf of Kung Fu andSpiritual Kung Fu.[23] He also gave Chan the opportunity to make his directorial debut inThe Fearless Hyena. When Willie Chan left the company, he advised Jackie to decide for himself whether or not to stay with Lo Wei. During the shooting ofFearless Hyena Part II, Chan broke his contract and joinedGolden Harvest, prompting Lo to blackmail Chan withtriads, blaming Willie for his star's departure. The dispute was resolved with the help of fellow actor and directorJimmy Wang Yu, allowing Chan to stay with Golden Harvest.[40]
1980–1987: Commercial success in the action comedy genre
Willie Chan became Jackie's personal manager and firm friend, and remained so for over 30 years. He was instrumental in launching Chan's international career, beginning with his first forays into the American film industry in the 1980s. His first Hollywood film wasThe Big Brawl in 1980.[43][44] Chan then played a minor role in the 1981 filmThe Cannonball Run, which grossed overUS$100 million worldwide.[45] Despite being largely ignored by North American audiences in favour of established American actors such asBurt Reynolds, Chan was impressed by theouttakes shown at theclosing credits, inspiring him to include the same device in his future films.[citation needed]
After the commercial failure ofThe Protector in 1985, Chan temporarily abandoned his attempts to break into the US market, returning his focus toHong Kong films.[39]
Back in Hong Kong, Chan's films began to reach a larger audience in East Asia, with early successes in the lucrative Japanese market includingDrunken Master,The Young Master (1980) andDragon Lord (1982).[46]The Young Master went on to beat previous box office records set byBruce Lee and established Chan as Hong Kong cinema's top star. WithDragon Lord, he began experimenting with elaboratestunt action sequences,[47] including the final fight scene where he performs various stunts, including one where he does a back flip off a loft and falls to the lower ground.[48]
Chan produced a number of action comedy films with his opera school friendsSammo Hung and Yuen Biao. The three co-starred together for the first time in 1983 inProject A, which introduced a dangerous stunt-driven style of martial arts that won it the Best Action Design Award at the third annualHong Kong Film Awards.[49] Over the following two years, the "Three Brothers" appeared inWheels on Meals and the originalLucky Stars trilogy.[50][51] In 1985, Chan made the firstPolice Story film, acrime action film in which Chan performed a number of dangerous stunts. It wonBest Film at the1986 Hong Kong Film Awards.[52] In 1986, Chan played "Asian Hawk", anIndiana Jones-esque character, in the filmArmour of God. The film was Chan's biggest domestic box office success up to that point, grossing over HK$35 million.[53]
1988–1998: Acclaimed film sequels and Hollywood breakthrough
In 1988, Chan starred alongsideSammo Hung and Yuen Biao for the last time to date in the filmDragons Forever. Hung co-directed withCorey Yuen, and the villain in the film was played byYuen Wah, both of whom were fellow graduates of the China Drama Academy.[citation needed]
By the mid-1990s, he was the most popular action movie star in Asia and Europe.[7] Up until January 1995, his films had grossed overHK$500 million (US$70 million) in Hong Kong[56] and¥39 billion (US$415 million) in Japan,[46] while having sold over33 million box office admissions in France, Germany, Italy and Spain up until then.[57] Despite his international success, he was not very successful in North America, where he had only two wide releases as a leading actor,The Big Brawl andThe Protector, grossingUS$9.51 million (US$32 million adjusted for inflation).[58] Despite this, there was a thriving North Americanhome video market for Chan's Hong Kong films by the mid-1990s.[59]
Chan rekindled hisHollywood ambitions in the 1990s, but refused early offers to play villains in Hollywood films to avoid beingtypecast in future roles. For example,Sylvester Stallone offered him the role ofSimon Phoenix, a criminal in the futuristic filmDemolition Man. Chan declined and the role was taken byWesley Snipes.[60]
Chan finally succeeded in establishing a foothold in the North American market in 1995 with a worldwide release ofRumble in the Bronx, attaining acult following in the United States that was rare for Hong Kong movie stars.[61] The success ofRumble in the Bronx led to a 1996 release ofPolice Story 3: Super Cop in the United States under the titleSupercop, which grossed a total of US$16,270,600. Chan's first huge blockbuster success came when he co-starred withChris Tucker in the 1998buddy cop action comedyRush Hour,[62] grossing US$130 million in the United States alone.[40] This film made him a Hollywood star, after which he wrote his autobiography in collaboration withJeff Yang entitledI Am Jackie Chan.
1999–2007: Fame in Hollywood and dramatization
Chan on theUSSKitty Hawk in 2002 during the carrier's visit to Hong Kong[63]
In 1998, Chan released his final film for Golden Harvest,Who Am I?. After leaving Golden Harvest in 1999, he produced and starred alongsideShu Qi inGorgeous, a romantic comedy that focused on personal relationships and featured only a few martial arts sequences.[64] Although Chan had left Golden Harvest in 1999, the company continued to produce and distribute for two of his films,Gorgeous (1999) andThe Accidental Spy (2001). Chan then helped create aPlayStation game in 2000 calledJackie Chan Stuntmaster, to which he lent his voice and performed the motion capture.[65] He continued his Hollywood success in 2000 when he teamed up withOwen Wilson in theWestern action comedyShanghai Noon. A sequel,Shanghai Knights followed in 2003 and also featured his first on-screen fight scene withDonnie Yen.[66] He reunited with Chris Tucker forRush Hour 2 (2001), which was an even bigger success than the original, grossing $347 million worldwide.[67] Chan experimented with the use of special effects and wirework for the fight scenes in his next two Hollywood films,The Tuxedo (2002) andThe Medallion (2003), which were not as successful critically or commercially.[68] In 2004, he teamed up withSteve Coogan inAround the World in 80 Days, loosely based onJules Verne's novelof the same name. In 2004, film scholar Andrew Willis stated that Chan was "perhaps" the "most recognized star in the world".[11]
Despite the success of theRush Hour andShanghai Noon films, Chan became frustrated with Hollywood over the limited range of roles and lack of control over the filmmaking process.[69] In response to Golden Harvest's withdrawal from the film industry in 2003, Chan started his own film production company,JCE Movies Limited (Jackie Chan Emperor Movies Limited) in association with Emperor Multimedia Group (EMG).[40] His films have since featured an increasing number of dramatic scenes while continuing to succeed at the box office; examples includeNew Police Story (2004),The Myth (2005) and the hit filmRob-B-Hood (2006).[70][71][72]
Chan's next release was the third instalment in theRush Hour film series directed byBrett Ratner:Rush Hour 3 in August 2007. It grossed US$255 million.[73] However, it was a disappointment in Hong Kong, grossing only HK$3.5 million during its opening weekend.[74]
2008–present: New experiments and change in acting style
Chan on the set ofChinese Zodiac, 2 May 2012
Filming ofThe Forbidden Kingdom, Chan's first on-screen collaboration with fellow Chinese actorJet Li, was completed on 24 August 2007 and the movie was released in April 2008. The movie featured heavy use of effects and wires.[75][76] Chan voiced MasterMonkey inKung Fu Panda (released in June 2008), appearing withJack Black,Dustin Hoffman, andAngelina Jolie.[77] In addition, he has assistedAnthony Szeto in an advisory capacity for the writer-director's filmWushu, released on 1 May 2008. The film starsSammo Hung and Wang Wenjie as father and son.[78]
In November 2007, Chan began filmingShinjuku Incident, a dramatic role featuring no martial arts sequences with directorDerek Yee, which sees Chan take on the role of a Chinese immigrant in Japan.[79] The film was released on 2 April 2009. According to his blog, Chan discussed his wishes to direct a film after completingShinjuku Incident, something he has not done for a number of years.[80] The film was expected to be the third in the Armour of God series, and had a working title ofArmour of God III: Chinese Zodiac. The film was released on 12 December 2012.[81] Because the Screen Actors Guild did not go on strike, Chan started shooting his next Hollywood movieThe Spy Next Door at the end of October inNew Mexico.[82] InThe Spy Next Door, Chan plays an undercover agent whose cover is blown when he looks after the children of his girlfriend. InLittle Big Soldier, Chan stars alongsideLeehom Wang as a soldier in theWarring States period in China. He is the lone survivor of his army and must bring a captured enemy soldier Leehom Wang to the capital of his province.
In 2010, he starred withJaden Smith inThe Karate Kid, a remake ofthe 1984 original.[83] This was Chan's first dramatic American film. He plays Mr. Han, akung fu master and maintenance man who teaches Jaden Smith's character kung fu so he can defend himself from school bullies. His role inThe Karate Kid won him the Favorite Buttkicker award at theNickelodeon Kids' Choice Awards in 2011.[84] In Chan's next movie,Shaolin, he plays a supporting role as a cook of a temple instead of one of the major characters.
His 100th movie,1911, was released on 26 September 2011. Chan was the co-director, executive producer, and lead star of the movie.[85] While Chan has directed over ten films over his career, this was his first directorial work sinceWho Am I? in 1998.1911 premiered in North America on 14 October.[86]
While at the 2012 Cannes Film Festival, Chan announced that he was retiring from action films citing that he was getting too old for the genre. He later clarified that he would not be completely retiring from action films, but would be performing fewer stunts and taking care of his body more.[87]
In 2013, Chan starred inPolice Story 2013, a reboot of thePolice Story franchise directed byDing Sheng, and it was released in China at the end of 2013. Chan's next filmDragon Blade was released in early 2015 and co-starred Hollywood actorsJohn Cusack andAdrien Brody. In 2015, Chan was awarded the title of "Datuk" by Malaysia as he helped Malaysia to boost its tourism, especially inKuala Lumpur where he previously shot his films.[88][89] In early 2017, Chan's new film titledKung Fu Yoga, a Chinese-Indian project, which also starred Indian actorsDisha Patani,Sonu Sood andAmyra Dastur, was released. The film reunited Chan with directorStanley Tong, who directed a number of Chan's films in the 1990s. Upon release, the film was a huge success at the box office, and became the 5th highest-grossing film in China, one month after its release.
In 2016, he teamed up with Johnny Knoxville and starred in his own productionSkiptrace. That same year he also starred in the action-comedyRailroad Tigers. In 2017, he co-starred withPierce Brosnan in the action-thrillerThe Foreigner, an Anglo-Chinese production. He also starred in the 2017 science fiction filmBleeding Steel.
His films had collectively grossedHK$1.14 billion (US$147 million) at the Hong Kong box office up until 2010,[92] overUS$72 million in South Korea between 1991 and 2010,[93] and¥48.4 billion (US$607 million) in Japan up until 2012.[46] In Europe, his films collectively sold about84 million tickets between 1973 and 2010.[57] As of 2021[update], his films have grossed overCN¥14 billion (US$2.17 billion) in China,[94] andUS$1.84 billion[95] (more thanUS$2.44 billion adjusted for inflation) in the United States and Canada.[58] As of 2018[update], 48 of his films have collectively grossed more thanUS$5 billion at the worldwide box office.[95]
Views on filmmaking
On August 10, 2025, during a Q&A session at theLocarno Film Festival, Chan stated that he believes contemporary Hollywood productions have "lost quality" due to major studios prioritizing profit over creative filmmaking.[96] He commented, "Right now, a lot of big studios, they're not filmmakers, they're business guys.[97] They invest 40 million and think, 'How can I get it back?' It's very difficult to make a good movie now.[98]" Chan contrasted modern productions with what he considered higher-quality films from earlier decades and said his own career goal had been to serve as a "cross-cultural bridge" between the United States and China.[99]
Other works
Music
Chan andQin Hailu singing in Shanghai, China in August 2006
Chan had vocal lessons while at the Peking Opera School in his childhood. He began producing records professionally in the 1980s and has gone on to become a successful singer in Hong Kong and Asia. He has released 20 albums since 1984 and has performed vocals in Cantonese, Mandarin, Japanese, Taiwanese and English. He often sings the theme songs of his films, which play over theclosing credits. Chan's first musical recording was "Kung Fu Fighting Man", the theme song played over the closing credits ofThe Young Master (1980).[100] At least 10 of these recordings have been released on soundtrack albums for the films.[101][102] His Cantonese song "Story of a Hero" (英雄故事) (theme song ofPolice Story) was selected by theRoyal Hong Kong Police and incorporated into their recruitment advertisement in 1994.[103]
Chan voiced the character of Shang in the Chinese release of theWalt Disney animated featureMulan (1998). He also performed the song "I'll Make a Man Out of You", for the film's soundtrack. For the US release, the speaking voice was performed byBD Wong and the singing voice was done byDonny Osmond. He also collaborated with Ani DiFranco on "Unforgettable".[104]
In 2007, Chan recorded and released "We Are Ready", the official one-year countdown song to the2008 Summer Olympics which he performed at a ceremony marking the one-year countdown to the2008 Summer Paralympics.[105] Chan also released one of the two official Olympics albums,Official Album for the Beijing 2008 Olympic Games – Jackie Chan's Version, which featured a number of special guest appearances.[106] Chan performed "Hard to Say Goodbye" along withAndy Lau,Liu Huan andWakin Chau, at the2008 Summer Olympics closing ceremony.[107]
In 1981, Chan met Taiwanese actressJoan Lin. In December 1982, they married in Los Angeles; their son,Jaycee Chan, was born the day after.[69] Lin retired from acting after their marriage, but made a cameo inCZ12 (2012), in which she plays Chan's wife.[citation needed]
Chan had an extramarital affair withElaine Ng Yi-Lei, who gave birth to their daughter, Etta Ng Chok Lam, on 18 January 1999. Shortly before Etta's birth, Ng publicly revealed Chan as the father, sparking a scandal. Chan held a press conference where he expressed regret over the affair but stated that he had "only committed a fault that many men in the world commit".[114][115][116] In 2002, Ng moved from Hong Kong to Shanghai. She and her daughter attracted media attention for their financial struggles, family conflicts, and mental health issues. However, according to her lawyer, Chan refused to provide any assistance.[117][118][119][120] Chan has never met his daughter since her birth.[121] In 2017, when asked about her coming out as lesbian, he replied: "As long as she's happy."[122]
Jackie Chan tries on a fighter pilot's helmet with night vision goggles.
Chan has performed most of his own stunts throughout his film career, which are choreographed by theJackie Chan Stunt Team. The team was established in 1983, and Chan has used them in all his subsequent films to make choreographing easier, given his understanding of each member's abilities.[126] Chan and his team undertake many of the stunts performed by other characters in his films, shooting the scenes so that their faces are obscured.[127]
In the early 1980s, Jackie Chan began experimenting with elaborate stunt action sequences in films such asThe Young Master (1980)[128] and especiallyDragon Lord (1982),[129] which featured a pyramid fight scene that holds the record for the mosttakes required for a single scene, with 2900 takes,[130] and the final fight scene where he performs various stunts, including one where he does a backflip off aloft and falls to the lower ground.[131] In 1983,Project A saw the official formation of the Jackie Chan Stunt Team and added elaborate, dangerous stunts to the fights and typical slapstick humor; at one point, Chan falls from the top of a clock tower through a series of fabric canopies. Critics have compared his comedic stunts inProject A toBuster Keaton, who was also known to perform his own stunts, although Chan himself had not watched Keaton's films until years afterProject A released; according to Chan,Project A was an evolution of the action stunt work he had been doing in earlier kung Fu comedy films sinceThe Young Master.[128]
Police Story (1985) contained many large-scale action scenes, including an opening sequence featuring acar chase through ashanty town, Chan stopping adouble-decker bus with his servicerevolver and a climactic fight scene in a shopping mall. This final scene earned the film the nickname "Glass Story" by the crew, due to the huge number of panes ofsugar glass that were broken. During a stunt in this last scene, in which Chan slides down a pole from several stories up, the lights covering the pole had heated it considerably, resulting in Chan sufferingsecond-degree burns, particularly to his hands, as well as a back injury and dislocation of his pelvis upon landing.[132] Chan performed similarly elaborate stunts in numerous other films, such as severalPolice Story sequels,Project A Part II, theArmour of God series,Dragons Forever,Drunken Master II,Rumble in the Bronx, and theRush Hour series, among others.
The dangerous nature of his stunts makes it difficult to get insurance, especially in the United States where his stunt work is contractually limited.[127] Chan holds theGuinness World Record for "Most Stunts by a Living Actor", which emphasizes that "no insurance company will underwrite Chan's productions in which he performs all his own stunts".[133]
Chan has been injured frequently when attempting stunts; many of them have been shown as outtakes or asbloopers during the closing credits of his films. He came closest to death filmingArmour of God when he fell from a tree and fractured his skull. Over the years, he has dislocated his pelvis and also broken numerous parts of his body, including his fingers, toes, nose, both cheekbones, hips, sternum, neck, ankle, and ribs.[134][135] Promotional materials forRumble in the Bronx emphasized that he performed all of the stunts, and one version of the movie poster even diagrammed his many injuries.
Chan created his screen persona as a response to the lateBruce Lee and thenumerous imitators who appeared before and after Lee's death. Lee's characters were typically stern, morally upright heroes. In contrast, Chan plays well-meaning, slightly foolish regular men, often at the mercy of their friends, girlfriends, or families, who always triumph in the end despite the odds.[23] Additionally, he has stated that he deliberately styles his movement to be the opposite of Lee's: where Lee held his arms wide, Chan holds his tight to the body; where Lee was loose and flowing, Chan is tight and choppy. Despite the success of theRush Hour series, Chan has stated that he is not a fan of it since he neither appreciates the action scenes in the movie nor understands American humor.[136]
American filmmakerQuentin Tarantino classified Chan's style of acting and filmmaking asphysical comedy, and considered him one of the greatest in the genre.[7] British filmmakerEdgar Wright describes Jackie Chan as an "expressive" visual performer with aneveryman persona. He notes that, in contrast to other action heroes (such as Bruce Lee,Sylvester Stallone,Clint Eastwood orArnold Schwarzenegger), Chan presents himself as a loveable "goofball" underdog who overcomes the odds with almost "superhuman" acrobatic stunts and fighting abilities.[137]
In the 2000s, the ageing Chan grew tired of being typecast as an action hero, prompting him to act with more emotion in his latest films.[138] InNew Police Story (2004), he portrayed a character suffering from alcoholism and mourning his murdered colleagues.[101] To further shed the image of a "nice guy", Chan played an antihero for the first time inRob-B-Hood (2006) starring as Thongs, a burglar with gambling problems.[139] Chan plays a low-level gangster in 2009'sShinjuku Incident, a serious drama set in Tokyo about unsavory characters.[140]
Chan has received global recognition for his film acting and stunt work. His accolades include the Innovator Award from theAmerican Choreography Awards and a lifetime achievement award from theTaurus World Stunt Awards.[141] He has stars on theHollywood Walk of Fame and the Hong KongAvenue of Stars.[142] In addition, Chan has also been honored by placing his hand and footprints atGrauman's Chinese Theatre.[143] Despite considerable box office success in Asia, Chan's Hollywood films have been criticized with regard to their action choreography. Reviewers ofRush Hour 2,The Tuxedo, andShanghai Knights noted the toning down of Chan's fighting scenes, citing less intensity compared to his earlier films.[144][145][146] The comedic value of his films is questioned; some critics stating that they can be childish at times.[147] Chan was awarded theOrder of the British Empire (MBE) in 1989 and theSilver Bauhinia Star (SBS) in 1999.[148][149]
When American filmmakerQuentin Tarantino presented Chan with the Lifetime Achievement Award at the1995 MTV Movie Awards, Tarantino described Chan as "one of the best filmmakers the world has ever known" and "one of the greatestphysical comedians since sound came into film."[7]
He has been cited as the inspiration formanga andanime such asDragon Ball, which was particularly inspired byDrunken Master,[155][156][157] and the fight scenes in Jackie Chan movies;[158][159] the show pays homage with a character by the alias "Jackie Chun".[160] Toriyama said he had a young Jackie Chan in mind for a live-actionGoku, stating that "nobody could play Goku but him."[161] Chan himself was a fan of the series, and had expressed some interest in adaptingDragon Ball into a live-action film, but said it would require "a lot of amazing special effects and an enormous budget."[162]
On 25 June 2013, Chan responded to a hoax Facebook page created a few days earlier that alleged he had died. He said that several people contacted him to congratulate him on his recent engagement, and soon thereafter contacted him again to ask if he was still alive. He posted a Facebook message, commenting: "If I died, I would probably tell the world!"[175][176]
In 2015, a made-up word inspired by Chan's description of his hair during an interview for a commercial,duang, became an internet viral meme particularly in China. The Chinese character for the word is a composite of two characters of Chan's name.[177]
Jackie Chan has a sponsorship deal withMitsubishi Motors that has resulted in the appearance of Mitsubishi cars in a number of his films. Furthermore, Mitsubishi launched a limited series of Evolution cars personally customized by Chan.[180][181][182]
Chan was also the primary catalyst for the creation of review aggregation websiteRotten Tomatoes, whose founder Senh Duong was his fan and created the website after collecting all the reviews of Chan'sHong Kong action movies as they were being released in the United States. In anticipation forRush Hour, Chan's first major Hollywood crossover, he coded the website in two weeks and the site went live shortly before the release ofRush Hour.[183][184]
Chan says he has always wanted to be a role model to children, and has remained popular with them due to his good-natured acting style. He has generally refused to play villains and has been very restrained in using swear words in his films – he persuaded the director ofRush Hour to take "fuck" out of the script.[185] Chan's greatest regret in life is not having received a proper education,[186] inspiring him to fund educational institutions around the world. He funded the construction of the Jackie Chan Science Centre at theAustralian National University[187] and the establishment of schools in poor regions of China.[188]
According to Chan, he wanted to be a Party member but his moral failings make him unqualified.[203] Chan stated that he can "see the greatness of the CCP" and his view that "[i]t will deliver what it says, and what it promises in less than 100 years, but only a few decades."[203]
During a news conference in Shanghai on 28 March 2004, Chan referred to the recently concluded2004 Taiwanese presidential election, in whichDemocratic Progressive Party candidatesChen Shui-bian andAnnette Lu were re-elected as president and vice-president, as "the biggest joke in the world".[204] A Taiwanese legislator and senior member of the DPP,Parris Chang, called for the government of Taiwan to banAround the World in 80 Days.[205] Police and security personnel separated Chan from scores of protesters shouting "Jackie Chan, get out" when he arrived at Taipei airport in June 2008.[206]
Referring to his participation in thetorch relay for the2008 Summer Olympics in Beijing, Chan spoke out against demonstrators who disrupted the relay several times attempting to draw attention to a wide-ranging number of grievances against the Chinese government. He warned that "publicity seekers" planning to stop him from carrying the Olympic Torch "not get anywhere near" him. Chan also argued that the Olympics coverage that year would "provide another way for us to tell the world about Chinese culture."[207]
In 2009, Chan was named an "anti-drug ambassador" by the Chinese government, actively taking part in anti-drug campaigns and supporting PresidentHu Jintao's declaration that illegal drugs should be eradicated, and their users punished severely. In 2014, when his own son Jaycee was arrested for cannabis use, he said that he was "angry", "shocked", "heartbroken" and "ashamed" of his son. He also remarked, "I hope all young people will learn a lesson from Jaycee and stay far from the harm of drugs. I say to Jaycee that you have to accept the consequences when you do something wrong."[208]
On 18 April 2009, during a panel discussion at the annualBoao Forum for Asia, he questioned whether or not broad freedom is a good thing.[209] Noting the strong tensions in Hong Kong and Taiwan, he said, "I'm gradually beginning to feel that we Chinese need to be controlled. If we're not being controlled, we'll just do what we want."[210][211] Chan's comments prompted angry responses from several prominent figures in Taiwan and Hong Kong.[212][213] A spokesman later said Chan was referring to freedom in the entertainment industry, rather than in Chinese society at large.[214]
In December 2012, Chan caused outrage when he criticized Hong Kong as a "city of protest", suggesting that demonstrators' rights in Hong Kong should be limited.[215] The same month, in an interview with Phoenix TV, Chan stated that the United States was the "most corrupt" country in the world,[216] which in turn angered parts of the online community.[216][217] Other articles situated Chan's comments in the context of his career and life in the United States, including his "embrace of the American film market"[217] and his seeking asylum in the United States from Hong Kong triads.[218]
In April 2016, Chan was named in thePanama Papers.[221] While Chan was not accused of engaging in illegal activity per se, he was listed as having up to six different offshore accounts, likely for the purposes of serving astax shelters.[222]
William, Prince of Wales, with actor Jackie Chan at the London Conference on The Illegal Wildlife Trade at the Natural History Museum, 12 February 2014
In addition to his film production and distribution company,JCE Movies Limited, Jackie Chan owns or co-owns the production companies JC Group China, Jackie & Willie Productions[226] (with Willie Chan) and Jackie & JJ Productions.[227] Chan has also put his name to Jackie Chan Theater International, a cinema chain in China, co-run by Hong Kong company Sparkle Roll Group Ltd. The first—Jackie Chan-Yaolai International Cinema—opened in February 2010, and is claimed to be the largest cinema complex in China, with 17 screens and 3,500 seats. Chan expressed his hopes that the size of the venue would afford young, non-commercial directors the opportunity to have their films screened. Fifteen further cinemas in the chain were planned for 2010,[needs update] throughout Beijing, Shanghai andGuangzhou, with a potential total of 65 cinemas throughout the country proposed.[228]
In 2004, Chan launched his own line of clothing, which bears aChinese dragon logo and the English word "Jackie", or the initials "JC".[229] Chan also has a number of other branded businesses. His sushi restaurant chain, Jackie's Kitchen, has outlets throughout Hong Kong, as well as seven in South Korea, with plans to open another inLas Vegas. Jackie Chan's Cafe has outlets in Beijing, Singapore, and the Philippines. Other ventures include Jackie Chan Signature Club gyms (a partnership withCalifornia Fitness), and a line of chocolates, cookies and nutritional oatcakes.[230] With each of his businesses, a percentage of the profits goes to various charities, including the Jackie Chan Charitable Foundation.
In 2016, Chan partnered withAsian Le Mans Series championDavid Cheng to form a racing team in the series and theFIA World Endurance Championship. The two met in March 2015 and Chan told Cheng about his interest in motorsports and raised the possibility of starting a team.[231] Together, the two formed Baxi DC Racing Alpine, the first mainland China-based operation in WEC. In October, leading into the2016–17 Asian Le Mans Series season, the team was rebranded toJackie Chan DC Racing and raced with liveries promoting Chan's movieKung Fu Yoga.[232] At the2017 24 Hours of Le Mans, the team became the first Chinese team to win its class (LMP2).[233]
In June 2006, citing his admiration of the efforts made byWarren Buffett andBill Gates to help those in need, Chan pledged the donation of half his assets to charity upon his death.[235] On 10 March 2008, Chan was the guest of honour for the launch, by Australian Prime MinisterKevin Rudd, of theJackie Chan Science Centre at theJohn Curtin School of Medical Research of the Australian National University. Chan is also a supporter and ambassador ofSave China's Tigers, which aims to save the endangeredSouth China tiger through breeding and releasing them into the wild.[236]Following the2008 Sichuan earthquake, Chan donated RMB ¥10 million to help those in need. In addition, he planned to make a film about the Chinese earthquake to raise money for survivors.[237] In response to the2011 Tōhoku earthquake and tsunami, Chan and fellow Hong Kong-based celebrities, including American rapperMC Jin, headlined a special three-hour charity concert, titledArtistes 311 Love Beyond Borders, on 1 April 2011 to help with Japan's disaster recovery effort.[238][239] The 3-hour concert raised over $3.3 million.[240] In January 2017, Chan donated $65,000 to helpflood victims in Thailand.[241]
Chan founded the Jackie Chan Charitable Foundation in 1988 to offer scholarship and active help to Hong Kong's young people and provide aid to victims of natural disaster or illness.[15] In 2005, Chan created the Dragon's Heart Foundation to help children and the elderly in remote areas of China by building schools, providing books, fees, and uniforms for children; the organisation expanded its reach to Europe in 2011.[242][243] The foundation also provides for the elderly with donations of warm clothing, wheelchairs, and other items.
Endorsements
One product which Chan had endorsed in China was the "Little Tyrant" ("小霸王") produced by Subor, aNintendo Entertainment System hardware clone marketed as a "learning machine" to circumvent China's then-ban on video game consoles.[244] In 2010, Chan served as brand ambassador forKaspersky Lab's antivirus software in Asia.[245]
There is anurban legend called the Jackie Chan curse.[246][247][248] ABC News reported in 2010 that the legend originated because "A slew of products sold in China bearing his name, smile and seal of approval have proven defective, prone to explosion, and in one case, potentially damaging to consumers' health." This led to a belief that any product or company which was endorsed by Jackie Chan would suffer setbacks.[249] In 2016 the failure of fitness chainCalifornia Fitness was blamed on the curse.[250] The curse was again invoked in 2021 whenEvergrande Group suffered major losses following Chan's promotion of Evergrande Spring brand bottled water.[251] However, Jackie Chan has also endorsed a number of products and companies which have not had issues.[252]
^Chan, Jackie (29 April 2007)."Singapore Trip".Blog. Official Jackie Chan Website. Archived fromthe original on 22 July 2012. Retrieved29 February 2012.
^abHavis, Richard James (14 June 2020)."Jackie Chan on Project A, the martial arts film that set a creative template for his decades of show business success".South China Morning Post. Archived fromthe original on 27 December 2020. Retrieved30 December 2020.Critics often compare your work inProject A to that of silent film stars like Buster Keaton and Harold Lloyd. I'm guessing you had not actually seen the work of those stars when you madeProject A. Yes, that's right. I didn't actually see films by Buster Keaton until later – there were no videos back then. What happened was Western critics would always say that I was like Buster Keaton, and I noticed they seemed to like it if I agreed and said he influenced me. So I said he had. But really, I had worked out that for myself. I was actually already doing these kind of things inThe Young Master. Then one day, new technology comes out – the video – and I had a chance to look at Buster Keaton films. I thought, Wow I really do seem to be like this guy!
^Honeycutt, Kirk (30 July 2001)."Rush Hour 2 Review".The Hollywood Reporter. Archived fromthe original on 30 September 2007. Retrieved1 March 2012.
^Ebert, Roger (27 September 2002)."The Tuxedo Review". Official website of Roger Ebert. Archived fromthe original on 30 September 2007. Retrieved29 February 2012.
^Kobayashi, Kendō (24 March 2013). "『漫道コバヤシ』～映画「ドラゴンボールZ神と神」公開記念！出でよ神龍！！鳥山明先生、アンケート答えておくれーーーっ！！！！！SP～" [A Public Movie Celebration For "Dragon Ball Z: Battle of Gods"! Come forth, Shenlong! Akira Toriyama-sensei, Answers Our Questionnaire!!!! Special].Mandō Kobayashi. Episode 2 (in Japanese).Fuji TV One Two Next.If it were back when Jackie Chan was still young, I suppose I would have thought nobody could play Goku but him.
Corcoran, John.The Unauthorized Jackie Chan Encyclopedia: From Project A to Shanghai Noon and Beyond. Chicago: Contemporary Books, 2003.ISBN0-07-138899-0.
Witterstaetter, Renee.Dying for Action: The Life and Films of Jackie Chan. New York: Warner, 1998.ISBN0-446-67296-3.
Wong, Curtis F., and John R. Little (eds.).Jackie Chan and the Superstars of Martial Arts. The Best ofInside Kung-Fu. Lincolnwood, Ill.: McGraw-Hill, 1998.ISBN0-8092-2837-8.
Berger, Christian.Der echte Jackie Chan (The real Jackie Chan). Weiz: Selbstverlag, 2019, (in German).
Berger, Christian.Fantastic Movie Concepts for Jackie Chan. Weiz, Austria: Self-published, 2021.
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