10 Most Underrated Jackie Chan Action Movies

Jackie Chan is a household name. Audiences know him as the king of the action movie world due to his five-decades-long career in the industry. With his spellbinding stunts, infectious personality, and comedic timing, the Hong Kong legend has graced the silver screen with over 100 movies. From starting off as a stuntman in the 1970s to establishing himself as a global superstar, Chan has proved that extraordinary feats are very much possible for the talented.

But while blockbusters like Rush Hour and Rumble in the Bronx are popular, there are about a dozen lesser-known gems in Jackie Chan’s filmography that deserve another look. These are action-packed, pulse-pounding masterpieces that were overshadowed by his later successes. In this list, we count down 10 underrated Jackie Chan action movies that perhaps the most devoted fans have watched, but others have missed. Brace yourself to marvel at the sheer creativity of his stunt work and the full breadth of his comedic brilliance.

10

‘The Foreigner’ (2017)

Directed by Martin Campbell, The Foreigner centers on Quan Ngoc Minh, a humble London businessman and ex-soldier, who goes on a relentless quest for justice after his teenage daughter is killed in a senseless act of terrorism. Consumed by grief and driven by revenge, Quan searches for answers and stumbles upon a former IRA member-turned-government official, who holds secrets about Quan’s troubled past.

Blends High Stakes and Emotional Depth

A significant departure from Jackie Chan’s usual high-octane and humorous role, The Foreigner sees the actor take on a calmer, grittier role as Quan. It showcases his evolution as a serious actor as well as his dramatic range and versatility. Not to forget, he stands his own against Pierce Brosnan. The gripping story paired with the action sequences and taut direction make the movie a must-watch.

9

‘Shinjuku Incident’ (2009)

Set in the dark underbelly of Tokyo, Shinjuku Incident follows the story of Steelhead, a Chinese immigrant who simply wants a better life in Japan. Struggling to make ends meet and looking for his lost love, Steelhead and his fellow labor workers are drawn into the dangerous criminal underworld, where he gets embroiled in a bloody and brutal turf war that questions his own humanity.

Chan Shines in a Realistic Story

Because of its bold storyline, Shinjuku Incident is one of the bleakest and sincerest movies Jackie Chan has ever done. His character stands out as a man under extreme circumstances striving to make a future for himself rather than the typical crowd-pleasing one doing stunts and making viewers laugh. The movie portrays the criminal underworld powerfully and unglamorous and remains underrated for its depth and Chan’s subdued performance.

8

‘The Forbidden Kingdom’ (2008)

The Forbidden Kingdom is a fantasy-infused adventure starring two of the greatest kung fu masters in history, Jackie Chan and Jet Li. It begins with Jason, a teenager, discovering a mysterious relic in a pawn shop and being transported to ancient China. There, he teams up with legendary warriors Lu Yan and Silent Monk to free the Monkey King and bring peace to the kingdom.

An Iconic On-Screen Pairing

It’s surprising that The Forbidden Kingdom is underrated because it marked the first-ever on-screen collaboration between Jackie Chan and Jet Li. Both the action stars elevated the film’s fight scenes and the quintessential wuxia elements like stunning visuals, a mythological story, and a flawless blend of Eastern and Western influences. Directed by Rob Minkoff, the movie is worth watching for the sheer entertainment it provides.

7

‘Rob-B-Hood’ (2006)

Written and directed by Benny Chan, Rob-B-Hood is an offbeat action comedy about a heist going south. It follows a trio of bumbling thieves, Thongs, Octopus, and the Landlord, who are hired by Hong Kong triads to kidnap a baby. When the Landlord gets arrested, Thongs and Octopus find themselves on the run from the police and the Lee family. They end up forming a bond with the child and try to keep the baby safe.

Opportunity to View Chan as a Gambler

Rob-B-Hood is a delightful movie where Chan plays Thongs, a small-time crook with a heart of gold. They way he transitions from jaw-dropping action sequences to heartwarming moments of comedy. He’s accompanied by Louis Koo and Michael Hui, who deliver standout performances. Despite receiving positive reviews and an impressive box office performance in Asia, Rob-B-Hood has largely flown under the radar for Western audiences.

6

‘New Police Story’ (2004)

The fifth movie in a series of seven, New Police Story centers around a once-respected police officer named Chan Kwok-Wing, who has a harrowing encounter with a group of ruthless, thrill-seeking, tech-savvy criminals and his entire police unit gets killed. Now haunted by guilt, he becomes an alcoholic. With the help of a rookie cop, Chan gets back up on his feet and seeks vengeance against the gang.

Character-Driven Reinvention of the Franchise

The revamp of the series highlights a darker, more introspective side of Jackie Chan’s acting abilities and is a sharp contrast to the previous Police Story movies. Picked up by director Benny Chan, the movie stands out for its strong character development and intense action. Chan has always been willing to take on challenging material and this role lacked mainstream appeal but it’s one of his most impactful ones out there.

5

‘Who Am I?’ (1998)

Who Am I? is a spy comedy that stars Jackie Chan as a secret agent suffering from memory loss after a botched mission leaves him for dead and he wakes up in the African veldt. Dubbed “Who Am I?” by the authorities and the natives, he embarks on a quest to uncover his true identity and piece together clues about the chemical corporation trying to silence him.

Sharp Humor and Intriguing Plot

The action-adventure is Chan’s second film to be scripted and shot in English, and it’s truly breathtaking. It uses his signature charm and combines it with unexpected plot twists to tell a movie that’s highly entertaining. Co-directed by Benny Chan and Jackie Chan himself, Who Am I? was a roaring success in Asia, but over time it was overshadowed by his more commercially successful projects.

4

‘The Fearless Hyena’ (1979)

Almost all of Jackie Chan’s action movies have a revenge-based plot, but what makes The Fearless Hyena stand out is the balance between the grim and exhilarating moments. The movie follows Shing Lung, a rebellious student who learned martial arts from his grandfather. When his grandfather is murdered by another notorious master, Lung takes it upon himself to avenge his only family, hones the skill passed down by his ancestors, and prepares for an ultimate showdown.

Snapshot of Jackie Chan’s Formative Years

While The Fearless Hyena may lack the glossy production values and expansive scale of his other famous action epics, it offers an intimate look into just how Jackie Chan grew as an actor early in his career. His martial arts talent is raw and dazzling, and his innate flair for comedy is on full display. Directed by Jackie Chan in his directorial debut, it was criticized for being unsteady, but it’s the unpredictability that makes it a gem.​​​​​​​

3

‘Spiritual Kung Fu’ (1978)

In Spiritual Kung Fu, Jackie Chan is a mischievous kung fu student named Yi-Lang, who is entrusted with safeguarding spiritual manuscripts at a Shaolin Temple. When a thief steals a book from the library, Yi-Lang finds himself signing up to learn a forbidden martial arts technique from five ghostly masters. He uses the “Five Style Fists” to find the attacker, defeat him, and protect the temple.

An Early Martial Arts Comedy

Spiritual Kung Fu is a unique and often overlooked entry in Jackie Chan’s glorious filmography because it uses traditional martial arts techniques and dives into the philosophical groundwork of the style. It’s both enlightening and extraordinary. The fight choreography and shooting style, as well as the introduction of certain supernatural elements (even though the special effects are appalling), establishes the movie as a rich and promising action comedy.

2

‘Half a Loaf of Kung Fu’ (1978)

One of the first movies where Jackie Chan explored martial arts and slapstick comedy and the adventures associated with juxtaposing the two, Half a Loaf of Kung Fu follows a bumbling young man named Jiang, who dreams of becoming a kung fu master. He poses as someone who killed a bandit and uses the prize money to learn the tricks and trades of the art, but gets embroiled in a series of misadventures.

Pioneering Kung Fu Comedy

Half a Loaf of Kung Fu is far from a traditional kung fu movie. Instead, it’s a parody-filled adventure that combines high-octane martial arts with comedy. It’s an innovative approach for the 1970s, but it’s also the movie that placed Jackie Chan on the map as a promising action star. The film breaks away from convention and utilizes Chan’s energetic performance to deliver surreal scenes as well as slapstick ones.​​​​​​​

1

‘Snake in the Eagle’s Shadow’ (1978)

Directed by Yuen Woo-ping in his directorial debut, Snake in the Eagle’s Shadow is a seminal film in the martial arts genre. Chan stars as Chien Fu, an orphan working as a janitor at a martial arts school. The constant bullying from teachers and students drives him to learn the forgotten Snake style of kung fu from an old beggar, and he eventually becomes a formidable fighter.

The Movie That Started It All

Before he came to be known for his incredible work in movies like The Matrix and Crouching Tiger, Hidden Dragon, Yuen Woo-ping made a quintessential, yet underrated, film that defined Jackie Chan’s career. It was both a breakout role and the start of a collaboration. From the movie’s inventive fight choreography to its captivating storyline, from Chan’s role as an unassuming hero to its lasting impact on the genre. Everything about Snake in the Eagle’s Shadow is simply iconic.