Jackie Chan is 71 years old. Just let that sink in for a second. Most people his age are busy arguing about the lawn or looking for their reading glasses, but Jackie is out here staring down mercenaries and jumping off things. Kinda wild, right? If you’ve been keeping tabs on him lately, you know the legend hasn’t slowed down, even if the movies themselves have been a bit of a rollercoaster.
The latest movie with Jackie Chan that everyone is buzzing about right now is titled Unexpected Family (originally known as Whispers of Gratitude). It hit theaters on January 1, 2026, and honestly, it’s not what most fans were expecting. If you came for the "drunk master" style furniture-breaking or the high-octane rooftop chases of the 90s, you might be surprised. This film is a heavy pivot into comedy-drama. No fights. Just Jackie, a messy family dynamic, and a plot centered around Alzheimer’s.
It’s a bold move. It’s also exactly what his career needed after a few recent misses.
The Shift From Stuntman to Storyteller
For decades, we’ve boxed Jackie into this "action-comedy" category. But let’s be real: his recent output has been hit or miss. Remember A Legend from 2024? The $50 million epic where they used AI to de-age him into a 27-year-old? Yeah, that didn’t go great. Critics in China panned it, and the "stiff" CGI version of a young Jackie was basically the stuff of nightmares. It grossed a measly $11 million against that massive budget. It felt like a legend trying too hard to stay young.
Then came Panda Plan in late 2024. That one was actually pretty fun—a meta-comedy where Jackie plays a fictionalized version of himself saving a baby panda from mercenaries. It was self-aware and silly. But Unexpected Family is different. It’s grounded. There are no wire-work fights or elaborate stunt sequences. It’s a "transformation" piece.
Why Unexpected Family Matters in 2026
Unexpected Family follows an aging man (Jackie) dealing with the onset of memory loss while trying to reconcile with his estranged family.
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- The Acting: For the first time in a long while, people are talking about Jackie's acting rather than his stunt team.
- The Tone: It’s heartfelt, sorta like The Foreigner but without the bombs and vengeful Spec Ops skills.
- The Market: While it’s a Chinese production, the universal themes of aging and family are helping it find legs internationally on streaming platforms.
It’s refreshing to see him embrace his age instead of hiding behind a digital mask. He’s leaning into the wrinkles and the slower pace, and weirdly enough, it makes him more magnetic than the CGI-augmented version we saw a couple of years ago.
What Happened to the Big Blockbusters?
You’re probably asking: "Wait, what about Rush Hour 4? Or that new Karate Kid?"
The world of Jackie Chan sequels is a chaotic place. Here is the actual state of play for the projects you’re likely searching for:
Karate Kid: Legends (2025)
This one already happened, and it was... fine. Released in May 2025, it brought Jackie back as Mr. Han from the 2010 reboot and paired him with the original "Kid" himself, Ralph Macchio (Daniel LaRusso). They trained a new prodigy named Li Fong, played by Ben Wang.
It was a massive deal for fans because it finally bridged the two universes. It wasn't a masterpiece—sitting at mixed reviews—but it pulled in about $117 million worldwide. Seeing Mr. Han and Daniel-san on screen together was a bucket-list moment for martial arts nerds, even if the plot felt a bit like a "greatest hits" compilation.
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The Rush Hour 4 Saga
The update here is actually promising, but stay skeptical. As of January 2026, reports suggest Paramount and Warner Bros. have finally hammered out a distribution deal. The plan is to start filming in the spring or summer of 2026.
The catch? Money.
Jackie and Chris Tucker each made over $20 million for Rush Hour 3 back in 2007. The producers are trying to cap the budget for the new one at $100 million, which doesn’t leave much for the actual movie once the stars take their cut. Jackie has been vocal about this, basically saying, "Hurry up or we’ll be too old to move." They’re looking at filming in China, Africa, and Saudi Arabia, focusing on a plot involving wildlife poaching.
The Reality of Watching Jackie Chan Today
Watching the latest movie with Jackie Chan in 2026 requires a bit of a perspective shift. You have to stop looking for the guy who slid down a skyscraper in Who Am I? and start looking for the veteran actor who has survived fifty years of breaking every bone in his body.
There’s a clear divide in his current filmography:
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- The Legacy Cash-ins: Movies like A Legend or New Police Story 2 (expected later this year) that try to recapture the old magic using technology.
- The Personal Projects: Movies like Unexpected Family where he’s actually trying to say something about life.
Honestly, the drama is where the value is now. When he tries to do the "super-stuntman" thing at 71, it often feels forced or relies too heavily on CGI. When he plays a grandfather or a weary mentor, he’s still the most charming guy in the room.
Upcoming Jackie Chan Projects to Watch
If you're tracking his schedule for the rest of 2026 and beyond, keep these on your radar:
- New Police Story 2: Directed by Nicholas Tse. This is a big one for Hong Kong cinema fans. It’s a direct sequel to the 2004 hit, and Jackie is reprising his role as Inspector Chan Kwok-wing.
- Five Against a Bullet: This has been in development hell for years (Bruce Willis was originally attached). It’s an action-thriller about five bodyguards in Mexico. It’s still "in development," so don't hold your breath.
- Project P (Panda Plan) Overseas Expansion: If you missed the theatrical run, it’s hitting major streaming services globally this quarter.
Actionable Steps for the Jackie Chan Fan
If you want to catch up on the latest movie with Jackie Chan without wasting time on the duds, here is how you should navigate his current era:
- Watch "Unexpected Family" for the heart. If you can find a subbed version or wait for the VOD release in your region, do it. It’s the best performance he’s given in years because it’s honest.
- Stream "Panda Plan" for the laughs. It’s great "Friday night with a pizza" material. It doesn't take itself seriously, and Jackie poking fun at his own "legend" status is genuinely funny.
- Skip "A Legend." Seriously. Unless you want to see a weird, smooth-faced AI Jackie Chan that looks like a video game character from 2012, just pass on this one.
- Check the "Karate Kid: Legends" VOD. It’s likely on Netflix or Disney+ by now (depending on your country). It’s worth it just to see the Macchio/Chan crossover.
- Set a Google Alert for "Rush Hour 4 Production." If filming actually starts this summer in Saudi Arabia as rumored, we might finally see a trailer by late 2027.
Jackie Chan isn't retiring; he's just evolving. He’s moved past the "can he survive this stunt?" phase of his career and into the "can he make us feel something?" phase. It’s a different kind of thrill, but for a guy who has given us everything for five decades, it’s a transition worth supporting.
To stay ahead of the curve, keep an eye on the official Emperor Motion Pictures announcements or Jackie’s personal social media. Most of his Chinese-market films, like Unexpected Family, often land on specialized streaming services like iQIYI or Well Go USA before they hit mainstream platforms like Netflix. Check those libraries first if you're looking for his most recent work.