Jackie Chan’s Best Movies From The Past 15 Years Prove He’s So Much More Than A Martial Arts Actor

Jackie Chan‘s best movies from the past 15 years demonstrate a surprising trend that proves he is so much more than a (legendary) martial arts actor. Most prominently known for his crazy martial arts stunts, Jackie Chan has featured in over 150 domestic and international movies in his 60-year career, breaking into Hollywood with titles such as Rush Hour and Rumble in the Bronx. However, Jackie Chan’s recent movies show a different side of the famous actor and stuntman, as he has made a significant move into animation, starring as a voice actor in numerous roles.

From Mulan to the Kung Fu Panda movies, Chan has had a successful run in the animated movie medium, partly due to his popularity, yet mostly due to his incredible wit. Chan excels in action-comedy roles, having been an actor and stunt performer in the genre for the majority of his career, and this translates to his animated films. In fact, some consider movies like Kung Fu Panda 2 and TMNT: Mutant Mayhem to be the best of his work, illustrating Chan’s skills as a voice actor beyond his legacy as a martial arts actor.

Jackie Chan’s Best Movies From The Past 15 Years Are TMNT: Mutant Mayhem & Kung Fu Panda 2

Chan’s Animated Movies Were Commercial & Critical Successes

Jackie Chan has featured in many brilliantly entertaining movies, but Kung Fu Panda 2 and Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles: Mutant Mayhem stand out because they are some of his most successful films. Despite being the second installment of the franchise, Kung Fu Panda 2 is actually Chan’s highest-grossing movie, earning $665 million at the box office worldwide, surprisingly beating the likes of The Karate Kid and the Rush Hour trilogy. While it earned considerably less at the box office, Chan’s TMNT: Mutant Mayhem is the highest-rated TMNT movie of all time on Rotten Tomatoes.

Although the verdict on which Chan movies are his best is subjective, there is something to be said about his roles in TMNT: Mutant Mayhem and Kung Fu Panda 2. When Chan was cast as a voice actor for the Kung Fu Panda character Monkey, he had not previously featured in an animated movie. However, Kung Fu Panda was commercially successful enough to earn itself a franchise, and Chan’s character appears in the sequel alongside the rest of the Furious Five, delivering a hilarious performance that matched, if not improved, the emotional energy of the original movie.

Interestingly, most of Chan’s roles seem to center around martial arts, no matter the medium. In a 2023 interview with Screen Rant, TMNT: Mutant Mayhem‘s Jeff Rowe talked about the movie’s fights and how Jackie Chan influenced the film, even before he was cast as Splinter. According to Rowe, the creative team spent “hours looking at Police Story and Rumble in the Bronx and just being like, ‘What makes a Jackie Chan fight sequence work?’” Thus, Chan’s impact on TMNT: Mutant Mayhem movie was felt before he was cast due to the visual elements drawn from his movies and comedy.

Jackie Chan’s Success As A Voice Actor Proves He’s Still Fantastic Without Martial Arts

The Stuntman Has Earned Much Praise For His Animated Roles

Chan’s success as a voice actor proves that he is more than just a stunt performer. The actor has taken on many visual roles over the years, so it was initially interesting to see him lend his talents to a speaking-only role. The Kung Fu Panda movies first proved that Chan’s abilities go far beyond what he can offer visually with his incredible skills in martial arts, as Monkey feels like a well-rounded and funny character among the Furious Five. Since starring in Kung Fu Panda, Chan has further proven his worth in voice-over roles.

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This allowed him to be cast in the new TMNT: Mutant Mayhem as the turtles’ mentor and adoptive father, Splinter, adding even more authenticity to the movie already influenced by Chan’s work. Despite his relatively small role in the 2023 animated movie, Chan nails the calm and authoritative tone needed for the role of Splinter and delivers a memorable performance. With two of his best recent roles being voice-over work, it is evident that Chan has successfully expanded his range and shown how entertaining he still is outside the stunt work he rose to fame for.

Jackie Chan’s Versatility Has Been The Key To His Movie Career

Jackie Chan Has Evolved On-Screen

Jackie Chan’s best recent movies show that versatility has been the key to his successful career. Chan is synonymous with impressive martial arts feats that no one would dream of trying to match. His level of control and willingness to take risks paid off in his movies, allowing him to impress a worldwide audience with his physical comedy. However, although Chan may have originally started out as a stunt performer, over the years the actor has shown a particular talent for the dramatic.

The move into the animated genre was a good choice for Chan due to his memorable voice and previous experience in comedy roles. Having mastered physical comedy, Chan also showcased his comedic dialogue skills in iconic roles like Rush Hour, as well as his more serious acting chops in properties such as The Karate Kid. By using martial arts knowledge and experience in comedy while branching out with other opportunities, Jackie Chan has had a successful career across the board, and his popularity is unlikely to wane any time soon.

Jackie Chan

Jackie Chan is a Hong Kong actor, martial artist, and filmmaker known for his acrobatic fighting style, comic timing, and innovative stunts. He gained international fame through films like Police Story and Rush Hour, blending action and humor, and is celebrated for his contributions to martial arts cinema.

Birthname

Chan Kong-sang

Birthdate

April 7, 1954

Birthplace

Victoria Peak, British Hong Kong

Professions

Actor
, Martial Artist
, Stuntman
, Filmmaker
, Singer