You’d think a 71-year-old man who has broken every bone in his body twice over would be sitting on a beach somewhere. Not Jackie. Honestly, the man seems busier now than he was in the 90s. Between fighting CGI pandas and de-aging himself into a 27-year-old general, the latest Jackie Chan movies have been a wild, sometimes confusing ride for fans who grew up on Drunken Master or Police Story.
We’re in a strange era of Chan’s career. It's a mix of deep nostalgia and weird experimental technology. If you haven't been keeping up with the Chinese box office or the recent VOD drops, you’ve missed a lot of "did he really just do that?" moments.
The Weird World of A Legend and Digital De-aging
Let’s talk about A Legend. Released widely in early 2025 after a massive production cycle, this movie is technically a sequel to the 2005 classic The Myth. Stanley Tong is back in the director's chair, but the big talking point isn't the stunts. It’s the face.
The film uses AI to de-age Jackie so he can play a Han Dynasty general. It’s... a choice. Some critics called it a "PlayStation 3 cinematic," and they aren't exactly wrong. While the tech allows him to do things his 71-year-old knees won't allow, it loses that "Jackie magic"—the sweat, the real facial expressions, the grit.
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Still, the movie pulled in decent numbers because of the scale. It’s an epic. Big battles, thousands of horses, and that classic sense of adventure. If you can look past the slightly "uncanny valley" face of young Jackie, the third-act fight—the real, older Jackie—reminds you why he’s a legend. He still moves with a sharpness that puts actors half his age to shame.
Why Panda Plan is Better Than it Has Any Right to Be
Then there’s Panda Plan. It hit theaters and digital platforms like a fever dream in early 2025. Jackie plays... Jackie. Specifically, a version of himself who adopts a rare baby panda.
It’s basically The Unbearable Weight of Massive Talent but with more kung fu and a CGI bear. Is it high art? Absolutely not. Is it hilarious to watch mercenaries try to kidnap a panda while being terrified that they’re fighting "THE" Jackie Chan? Yes.
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The tone is all over the place. One minute it's a bloody action flick (the opening sequence is surprisingly gnarly), and the next it's a "farts and pee" comedy for kids. But that’s the charm. It doesn't take itself seriously. It’s Jackie leaning into his status as a global icon and having a bit of fun with the mythos he built.
Looking Ahead: Karate Kid and the Return of Inspector Chan
The big one on the horizon—the one everyone is actually waiting for—is Karate Kid: Legends. Scheduled for May 30, 2025, this is the crossover we didn't know we needed. Jackie Chan’s Mr. Han meets Ralph Macchio’s Daniel LaRusso.
This isn't just a cameo. Jackie is front and center, mentoring a new kid (Ben Wang) in New York City. The production moved from the mountains of China to the streets of Brooklyn, and the buzz from the trailers suggests a much more grounded, emotional performance from Chan.
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What else is in the pipeline for 2026?
- The Shadow’s Edge: This one actually wrapped filming in Macau recently. It’s a remake of the 2007 thriller Eye in the Sky. It’s a cat-and-mouse game involving high-tech surveillance and old-school police work. Jackie reportedly put his "King of Bad Movies" streak to bed with this one, as it’s a much more serious, gritty role.
- New Police Story 2: Nicholas Tse is directing this. It’s a massive deal because the original New Police Story was Jackie’s "comeback" to serious acting in 2004. Expect high stakes and actual, physical stunts.
- Unexpected Family: Set for a January 2026 release in China, this is more of a drama. Jackie is leaning into the "old man" roles that allow him to act without needing to jump off a skyscraper every ten minutes.
The Rush Hour 4 Question
Look, we have to address the elephant in the room. Rush Hour 4.
Jackie and Chris Tucker have been teasing this for a decade. In late 2024 and throughout 2025, Jackie has been vocal about wanting to get it done before they're "100 years old." The script is apparently there, but the director is the sticking point. Without Brett Ratner (who is essentially persona non grata in Hollywood), the studio is struggling to find someone who can capture that specific 90s buddy-cop energy.
Will it happen? Maybe. But don't hold your breath for 2026.
Actionable Insights for Fans
If you want to catch the best of the latest Jackie Chan movies without wasting time on the duds, here is the move:
- Watch Ride On (2023) first. It’s the most "human" Jackie has been in years. It’s a love letter to his stuntman roots.
- Skip the first hour of A Legend if you hate bad CGI. Just skip to the final 20 minutes for the actual martial arts.
- Keep an eye on The Shadow’s Edge. If the early reviews from the 2025 festival circuit are right, this is his best "serious" movie since The Foreigner.
- Set a calendar alert for May 30, 2025. Karate Kid: Legends is going to be the definitive "passing of the torch" moment for his Western career.
The era of Jackie jumping onto moving helicopters might be over, but the era of Jackie the Mentor and Jackie the Meta-Comedy Icon is just getting started. He’s navigating his twilight years by experimenting with tech and legacy, and honestly, it’s just good to see him still smiling on the big screen.