6. Winners and Sinners (1983)

Yet another movie starring all 3 of these “brothers,” the leading star for this film is Sammo Hung, but Jackie still manages to steal every scene he’s in. The movie follows a group of misfits and ne’er do wells who join together after a prison stint. In a parallel storyline, Jackie is trying to make it as a beat cop. This is the first in the highly popular stars franchise, showcasing many famous Hong Kong names such as Richard Ng, John Shum, Charlie Chin, and many more.

Scene Highlight:

One scene is particularly insane, even in the grand scope of Jackie’s other films. Chan starts on skates, doing tricks in a local competition. He suddenly ends up chasing a group of thugs. Starting at the local park, he somehow ends up in the middle of the highway, ducking and weaving between oncoming traffic. He even manages to duck under a truck going at high speeds. The craziest part is that it all ends with an insane pile-up of cars crashing into each other.

5. Armour of God I (1986)

Indiana- who? Considered (one of) Hong Kong’s answers to Indiana Jones, Jackie Chan stars as the Asian Hawk, a treasure hunter who never leaves empty-handed. Tasked with retrieving the entire set of legendary armor, Chan comes across an old friend who needs his help to save an old flame. Coincidentally, the same people who kidnapped Chan’s ex-lover also possess the armor. The opening scene alone should be enough to hype up any audience. 

Scene Highlight:

Chan infiltrates the cult headquarters in the showdown, possessing the armor set. Unfortunately, however, his friends have been captured, and saving them alerts the entire cult. What ensues can best be described as Chan fighting a small army. From the choreography to each shot, the filmmakers do a great job of making it seem like Chan is outnumbered and on the edge of being overwhelmed. Things don’t end there as he faces off against three skilled female fighters. The choreography for this particular fight scene is so breathtaking that even a single blink would be a shame.

4. The Drunken Master (1978)

One of Chan’s genuine first hits, the concept behind this major motion picture could only ever exist in a kung fu film. Chan starts as a naturally talented but lazy student who is more likely to go skirt chasing than to focus on his training. His latest antics lead to the dishonoring of his father, who threatens to kill Chan himself. Luckily, a mysterious old drunkard offers to teach the boy a lesson. A legendary sequence of martial arts that transcends even present-day action films ensues. This is martial arts, with extra emphasis on the art portion.

Scene Highlight: 

This film was made when training montages were crucial in any action film released at the time. This montage, in particular, is so mesmerizing that it’s impossible not to replay it a dozen times upon each watchthrough. The music and Jackie’s feats of strength and endurance are genuinely so beautiful that it’s easy to forget that this is an action comedy.

3. Police Story (1985)

In an alternate reality, Jackie Chan could easily be a cop. Or at least that’s what viewers will think after watching this gem. As the title would imply, Jackie stars as a police officer (not the first nor the last time). After taking down a big-time gang leader, he gets put in charge of protecting the critical witness against the leader. The problem is that in addition to fighting against thugs hell-bent on killing the witness, he also has to contend with the witness herself. This is another one of his films where he and his team went crazy with the stunts and action sequences.

Scene Highlights:

Most people already know about the infamous mall scene where Jackie slid down a long metal pipe that left burns on his hands. However, the scene that steals the show is in the opening, where Jackie and his squad first capture the gang leader. Infiltrating a shanty town, a shootout quickly ensues, with chaos erupting. Suddenly, a car is driving through the city, causing utter destruction. Cue one of cinema’s best chase sequences with a fantastic theme that perfectly sets the tone for the rest of the film. 

2. Crime Story (1993)

Yep, it’s another police-oriented film. This film manages to separate itself from the rest, thanks to how grounded it feels (compared to others). Expect less comedy, but the action here is much more tense and carries twice the weight than in his usual films. He plays a special agent in charge of protecting a wealthy business mogul known for being a penny pincher and mistreating his workers. However, when a group kidnaps the mogul, Jackie teams up with a senior officer who knows more than he’s letting on. The film has a psychological aspect that puts it above Police Story despite the latter having more death-defying stunts.

Scene Highlights:

In the final showdown, Jackie infiltrates the gang’s hideout despite having already secured the business mogul. The fighting in these scenes feels a lot more gritty than his usual styles and seems to be used out of panic instead of comedic purposes. A fire breaks out at some point, and things get even more hectic.

1. Project A (1983)/ Miracles (1989)

There is a perfectly valid reason why these two films are tied for first place. First of all, in terms of style, these two films are both Chan’s most unique films. Both take place in Hong Kong during the early 20th century. Project A follows Chan as Sergeant Lung, a navy officer stationed strategically to fight off pirates plaguing Hong Kong’s shores. Chan is again joined by his opera school brothers Yuen Biao and Sammo Hung. Miracles is set roughly around the same time, but Jackie plays a country bumpkin trying to make it big in the city. Through a series of wacky events, he somehow becomes the leader of a local gang. Both films are filled to the brim with references to classic silent films and stunts from that era. References to Buster Keaton and Harold Lloyd, in particular, litter both films with various stunts undoubtedly performed as an ode to the legendary actor.

Scene Highlights: 

Project A: In one scene, Chan is at the top of a clock tower, holding onto a clock hand for dear life. He then falls through a series of awnings that break his fall. As a result of that stunt, Chan had landed on his neck but miraculously survived. 

Miracles: The showdown takes place in a printing press factory. This final fight goes up and down, literally. They start on the ground before suddenly performing a balancing act on the rafters above. Jackie makes the viewer feel like they’re watching an old black-and-white cartoon.