Let's be honest. We’ve all spent the last few years wondering if Jackie Chan was finally hanging up the padded suit and the medical tape. After 2024's A Legend left a lot of us feeling a bit weird—thanks to that "uncanny valley" de-aged CGI that looked more like a video game than a movie—the conversation shifted. People weren't asking what the next stunt was; they were asking if the magic was gone.
Then 2025 happened.
The Jackie Chan new movie landscape isn't just one film anymore; it’s a full-blown comeback tour that feels surprisingly grounded. We aren't just getting more of the "slapstick hero" routine. Instead, Chan is leaning into his age, and oddly enough, it’s making his work better than it’s been in a decade.
The Return of Mr. Han: Why Karate Kid Legends Matters
The big one everyone is talking about right now is Karate Kid: Legends. This isn't just another reboot. It’s a massive collision of nostalgia that actually works. Released in May 2025, the film pulls off the impossible by linking the 1984 Ralph Macchio universe with the 2010 Jackie Chan remake.
Basically, you’ve got Daniel LaRusso and Mr. Han in the same room.
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It sounds like fan-fiction, but the execution is surprisingly heavy on the heart. Chan returns as Mr. Han, the maintenance man turned kung fu master, but he isn't trying to do triple-flip kicks anymore. He’s the mentor. Ben Wang takes the lead as the new kid, Li Fong, and the chemistry is there. The film pulled in about $117 million worldwide, which isn't Avengers money, but for a martial arts drama in 2025? It’s a win.
What really stands out is how Chan handles the physicality. There’s a scene near the end—no spoilers—where he has to step in, and it’s not about speed. It’s about precision. You can tell it’s him, and you can tell he’s 71. That honesty is what makes the movie stick.
Unexpected Family: The Jackie Chan Movie You Didn’t See Coming
If Karate Kid is the blockbuster, Unexpected Family (released January 2026) is the one that might actually make you cry. This is the "Mandarin-language drama" shift people have been waiting for.
Jackie plays Ren Jiqing, an elderly landlord struggling with Alzheimer’s. He’s not a secret agent. He’s not a retired cop. He’s just a man who mistakenly thinks a young drifter (played by Peng Yuchang) is his long-lost son.
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It’s tender. It’s quiet. It’s basically the opposite of Rush Hour.
Watching Chan swap his fight choreography for the confused, fragile movements of a man losing his memory is jarring in the best way. Honestly, it’s a reminder that underneath the broken bones and the "King of Action" title, the guy can actually act. Critics are calling it a "farewell" vibe, but with Jackie, "farewell" usually just means "see you next year."
Is He Finally Done with Stunts?
Not quite. The Shadow's Edge, which hit theaters in August 2025, proved he still wants to play in the action-thriller sandbox. Directed by Larry Yang (who did Ride On), this one is a remake of the 2007 Hong Kong classic Eye in the Sky.
Chan plays a retired surveillance expert. Think less "jumping off a clock tower" and more "high-stakes cat-and-mouse." He’s joined by Tony Leung Ka-fai, and seeing those two legends together is worth the price of admission alone. The film was a monster in China, raking in over $159 million. It shows there’s still a huge appetite for a Jackie Chan new movie that respects the audience's intelligence instead of just relying on green screens.
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The "New Police Story 2" Rumor Mill
We have to talk about the elephant in the room: New Police Story 2. Nicholas Tse is supposedly directing this, marking his debut behind the camera for a major feature.
Chan has been vocal about how much he loves this project because it’s a sequel to what many consider his best dramatic action work. We’ve seen the reports; it was announced back in 2023, and while production has been a bit of a slow burn, the hype is real. Fans are desperate for a return to the gritty, "broken hero" Inspector Wing.
What to Watch Right Now
If you’re trying to catch up on the latest era of Jackie Chan, don't just go for the old classics. The current run is about legacy.
- For the Nostalgia: Karate Kid: Legends. It’s the bridge between generations.
- For the Tears: Unexpected Family. See the side of Jackie that Hollywood usually ignores.
- For the Grit: The Shadow's Edge. It’s a tense, surveillance-heavy thriller that feels very modern.
- Skip This: A Legend. Unless you really like looking at "deepfake" faces that don't quite move right.
The reality of being a Jackie Chan fan in 2026 is accepting that he’s not the human highlight reel he was in 1994. And that’s okay. He’s transitioned from being an "action star" to being a "cinema icon."
Keep an eye on the official festival circuits for Unexpected Family—it’s likely to hit the international streaming platforms by mid-year. If you want the high-octane stuff, go back to the 4K restorations of Police Story 1 and 2 that hit the Criterion Collection recently. But if you want to see where he's going, look for the smaller, character-driven projects. That’s where the real magic is happening now.
Next Steps for Fans: Check your local listings for Unexpected Family if you're in an area with a strong international cinema presence. Otherwise, the digital release for Karate Kid: Legends is expected to hit major VOD platforms by late spring 2026. Stay tuned for the first official teaser of New Police Story 2, which is rumored to drop during the summer blockbuster season.