So, you’re looking for the newest Jackie Chan movie. If you’re expecting another Rush Hour or Police Story right this second, you might want to sit down. The legend is 71 now. He’s not exactly jumping off clock towers every Tuesday anymore, though he’s still working harder than most actors half his age.
Honestly, the "newest" thing depends on where you live. If you’re in China or certain parts of Asia, the big talk is Unexpected Family (also known as Whispers of Gratitude), which literally just dropped on January 1, 2026. But for the rest of the world still catching up on his 2024 and 2025 slate, the landscape looks a lot different.
Why Unexpected Family is the newest Jackie Chan movie you didn't see coming
Most people associate Jackie with broken bones and slapstick. Unexpected Family is... not that. It’s a Mandarin-language drama where Jackie plays Ren Jiqing, an elderly landlord struggling with Alzheimer’s. He’s not kicking people; he’s forgetting people.
The plot centers on a drifter named Zhong Bufan (played by Peng Yuchang) who Jackie’s character mistakenly believes is his long-lost son. It’s a "found family" story that’s been making people cry in theaters across Wuhan and Beijing. This is a massive pivot. We’ve seen him do "serious" before in The Foreigner, but this is pure, tender drama. No hidden jade totems. No international terrorists. Just a guy losing his memory.
👉 See also: Christopher McDonald in Lemonade Mouth: Why This Villain Still Works
The 2025 leftovers: The Shadow's Edge and Panda Plan
If you missed the memo last year, two other "new" Jackie Chan movies are floating around streaming and international theaters.
- The Shadow's Edge (2025): This one hit China in August 2025 and did surprisingly well. It’s actually a remake of the 2007 Hong Kong thriller Eye in the Sky. Jackie plays a lead surveillance officer. It’s gritty, tech-heavy, and way more grounded than his usual stuff. It pulled in over $150 million at the box office, which basically proved he’s still a massive draw when the script isn't total garbage.
- Panda Plan (Late 2024/2025): This is the one where Jackie plays himself—well, a fictionalized version of himself. He adopts a baby panda and has to save it from mercenaries. It’s very "old school Jackie" in terms of tone, but let’s be real: the CGI panda was a bit much for some critics. It’s currently hitting digital and Blu-ray in the US as of February 2025, so for many Western fans, this is the newest Jackie Chan movie they can actually watch right now.
What's actually happening with Karate Kid: Legends?
This is the big one. The one everyone is googling.
Karate Kid: Legends is officially slated for June 5, 2025 (though some markets might see it as late as June 2025 depending on distribution). This is the "multiverse" moment for martial arts fans. You’ve got Ralph Macchio returning as Daniel LaRusso from the original films/Cobra Kai, and Jackie Chan returning as Mr. Han from the 2010 remake.
✨ Don't miss: Christian Bale as Bruce Wayne: Why His Performance Still Holds Up in 2026
They’re training a new kid named Li Fong (Ben Wang).
The production was a whole thing. They had a global casting call that got over 10,000 submissions. Ben Wang eventually won out because he’s actually a skilled martial artist and speaks fluent Mandarin. It’s directed by Jonathan Entwistle (The End of the F*ing World), so expect it to feel a bit more modern and perhaps slightly darker than the 2010 version.
Let's talk about the "A Legend" controversy
We can’t talk about his recent work without mentioning A Legend (2024). It was marketed as a sequel to his 2005 hit The Myth.
🔗 Read more: Chris Robinson and The Bold and the Beautiful: What Really Happened to Jack Hamilton
The movie used AI to de-age Jackie so he could play a 27-year-old Han Dynasty general. It... didn't go great. Critics and fans kind of roasted it. The "uncanny valley" effect was strong, and the movie only made about $11 million against a $50 million budget. It’s a cautionary tale of why we maybe shouldn't try to make 70-year-old legends look like they’re in their twenties using software. Stick to the real Jackie. He’s earned those wrinkles.
What most people get wrong about Jackie's current career
There’s this weird myth that Jackie is "retired" or "only doing voice work."
Nope.
He’s currently got a slate of about five movies in various stages of development or post-production. New Police Story 2 is a real thing that’s been talked about for 2025/2026, with Nicholas Tse directing. And yes, Rush Hour 4 is still the "will-they-won't-they" relationship of the action world. Jackie has confirmed it’s in the works, but Chris Tucker is... well, Chris Tucker. Things move slowly.
Actionable next steps for the Jackie Chan superfan:
- Check your regional VOD: If you're in the US or UK, Panda Plan is likely your newest "at-home" watch.
- Mark June 2025: That’s the hard date for Karate Kid: Legends. It’s his first major Hollywood-adjacent theatrical release in years.
- Search for "The Shadow's Edge": If you want to see Jackie actually act in a high-stakes thriller without the "de-aging" gimmicks, this is the one to track down on international streaming platforms.
- Manage expectations: The days of Jackie doing the "slide down a pole through 500 lightbulbs" are over. His newest movies focus on his legacy, his mentorship, or his dramatic acting chops.
The newest Jackie Chan movie isn't just about the kicks anymore; it's about a 70-year-old icon figuring out how to stay relevant in a CGI world while still being the hardest-working man in show business.