Jackie Chan’s 10 Best Old School Kung Fu Movies, Ranked

Jackie Chan is celebrated as one of the greatest kung fu film actors of all time. His classic kung fu movies have their own unique blend of physical comedy, complicated fight choreography, and elaborate stunts. They were not only full of action but were connected to the traditional martial arts – to the skill, discipline, and incredible kung fu techniques. Though he went on to become an action star around the world, in his earlier kung fu movies, Chan captured the best of both worlds: the raw power of bare-knuckle fighting and the elegance of the old school martial arts.

What sets him apart from other martial arts actors is his gift for blending comedy with heart-pounding action. Whether portraying a mischievous, incorrigible student in Drunken Master or a sympathetic, bullied orphan in Snake in the Eagle’s Shadow, Jackie fully embodies the characters he is portraying and his films all have their own brand of slapstick kung fu, memorable dialogue and various fighting techniques. His physicality and effortless ability elevate his roles, and on the screen, Chan’s personality and martial arts skills came together to create a new form of kung fu cinema and make him an incredibly influential actor.