For the next two weeks, the Milan Cortina Olympics in Italy are going to dominate the 2026 TV schedule. Before the opening ceremonies kick off, which you can watch with a Peacock subscription, it’s a good time to look at how far the Olympic torch traveled and what stars took part in the traditional relay. It includes everyone’s favorite Olympic commentator, Snoop Dogg, and legendary action star Jackie Chan.

The Olympic torch relay has become a huge tradition over the past 100 years or so, since the first relay before the 1928 games in Amsterdam. I vividly remember getting to see the torch go by in St. Louis, MO, when I was a kid, as it headed for the 1984 Olympics in Los Angeles. It will likely be doing a similar trek across the U.S. in two years when L.A. will host The Games again, but first, it took a long route around Italy.

By The Numbers

The sheer number of miles traveled is pretty staggering. As is tradition, the relay began in Greece. The torch was lit on November 24th at the Temple of Hera in Olympia, Greece. From there, the relay began at the Archaeological Museum of Olympia, the site of the ancient Olympics. It then passed through the hands of 450 torchbearers, covering 1,400 miles (2,200 km) across most of the country. It arrived in Athens on December 4th, and the handoff at the Panathenaic Stadium for the Italian leg was begun.

The torch arrived in Rome, its first stop in the host country, later on December 4th. By the time it reaches San Siro Stadium in Milan for the opening ceremonies, 10,001 runners will have carried it over 7,400 miles. That includes traveling through all 20 regions of Italy and 110 provinces. It will have made 60 stops over 63 days in that time. One of those stops was in Cortina d’Ampezzo on January 26th, just in time to celebrate the 70th anniversary of the Winter Olympics there. You might know that town from the Roger Moore-era Bond film, For Your Eyes Only.

The Stars Came Out To Carry The Torch

As is tradition, the vast majority of the runners are former Olympic athletes and well-known athletes from other sports, usually most famous in the host country. As such, a huge number of Greek and Italian sports stars carried the torch on its journey. That includes some well-known European soccer players, like Robert Pires, Fabio Cannavaro, and Cesc Fàbregas. Italian Formula 1 driver Kimi Antonelli also got in on the action.

U.S. Ambassador to Greece, Kimberly Guilfoyle, carried the torch in that country, along with American billionaire and owner of the Los Angeles Times, Patrick Soon-Shiong. The U.S. Ambassador to Italy, who owns the Houston Rockets in the NBA, Tilman Fertitta, ran a leg in Italy, and it’s in Italy where things got really fun.

Snoop Dogg, who might have started as a Gangsta rapper, has reinvented himself as America’s sweetheart (and coach on The Voice), ran part of the relay through the streets of Milan. Jackie Chan picked up the torch for a jaunt through the ruins of Pompeii.

Appropriately, the stars of a show about ice hockey, Hudson Williams and Connor Storrie, from Heated Rivalry, one of the hottest shows available with an HBO Max subscription, each took a turn in the town of Feltre. Italian actress Alessandra Mastronardi, who American audiences know from Master of None, available with a Netflix subscription, and the Nicolas Cage flick The Unbearable Weight of Massive Talent, got a chance to carry the torch as well.

All that’s left now is who will get the honor of lighting the Olympic cauldron at the opening ceremonies, which in the past has included sports luminaries like Mohammed Ali and Wayne Gretzky.

Do you understand the words that are coming out of my mouth?! The Rush Hour trilogy is currently available with a Netflix subscription, which I think makes this a time for celebration.

And, while I know we live in different times now than we did when these movies first debuted (with Jackie Chan himself even admitting that he didn't always understand what was coming out of Chris Tucker's mouth), I still think the movies are a fun diversion if you’re willing to acknowledge that some of the humor is not-so-PC these days.

However, unlike a perfect trilogy such as The Lord of the Rings, I actually wouldn't suggest that you watch these movies in order if it’s your first time checking them out. So, here’s the order that I would suggest if you're new to the franchise.

Even Though It's The Last Movie, Watch Rush Hour 3 First. Trust Me

Do you remember the Rush Hour TV show? No? Well, don't bother. It was pretty awful. If I wasn't suggesting the film trilogy to you, I would probably suggest you not bother to check out Rush Hour 3, either, because it's mid at best, and flat out bad at worst (I mean, even Jackie Chan agrees to a certain extent).

That said, if you're a completist like me, then you’ll want to watch the third installment just for curiosity’s sake. So, if you do decide to watch the trilogy, start with this one. Thankfully, the movie pretty much catches you up to speed. Inspector Lee (Chan) reunites with Detective Carter (Tucker) after an assassination attempt on an ambassador, which takes the duo all the way to Paris (where they even meet Roman Polanski, who plays a French police officer who gets a double whammy punch in the end).

The story involves the Chinese Triads, which sounds interesting, but ends up being not so much because the series feels tired at this point. The jokes don't hit as often as the first two films, and the story kind of drags.

However, if this is your first Rush Hour film, it won't be that bad. The energy is still there, and the Paris setting is nice. After the first two good movies, though, this feels like a step down that you likely won't even notice if you’ve never seen the first two. Start with this one. Trust me, it's better than ending with this one like most of us did.

The First Rush Hour Is The Best, But Watch It Next

You know the Scary Movie series? I always felt like that particular franchise got worse as it went along. When I ranked them, I put them at 5, 4, 3, 2, 1 when it came to overall quality. I actually feel the same way about the Rush Hour series. The third film’s the least interesting, then comes the second, and finally the first, which is definitely the best in the trilogy.

However, I wouldn’t direct you to the second movie next, and that’s only because after the third film, I now want you to see what made people fall in love with the franchise in the first place. Though it’s not one of the best movies of the ‘90s, 1998’s Rush Hour is definitely one of my favorites. In this first one, a diplomat’s daughter is taken, and Lee is sent to America to rescue her. That said, after some overseas drama, the FBI doesn’t want to go anywhere near the case so they drop it on the L.A.P.D, which is where Carter works.

Carter and Lee don’t get along at first, but then they do, and it’s the actual blossoming of this friendship that makes this movie work so well. It also has probably the series’ most controversial moment, in which Chan drops the N-word (but trust me, back in the day, the theater roared at this scene).

But, this is the one. Chan and Tucker’s chemistry is infectious, and by the end of it (especially with that catch on the flag scene), you’ll likely be a fan. So, now on to the last film in the trilogy…which is Rush Hour 2 if you’re following my order!

Finish With The Second Movie. It’s Got The Best Action

Okay, yes, I know. This is a weird order to send somebody off to watch a trilogy, but just hear me out. Much like the first Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles movie is often thought of to be the best, I do know people who prefer its sequel, The Secret of the Ooze, and that goes for Rush Hour 2 as well, as some people like it better than the first one.

If it’s for any reason, it’s the action, as this movie arguably has the best in the series. For this one, which only takes place a few days after the first movie’s story (but came out about three years after it), Lee and Carter are in Hong Kong following the events of the first film. They’re on vacation, but a bombing gets them back on the job. This time, however, it’s personal, because the person behind Lee’s father’s death might be involved.

They don’t stay in Hong Kong for long, unfortunately, as they find themselves back in LA., and then ultimately in Vegas. While the story does jump around a bit too much, it moves so quickly that you don’t really have time to get bored (unlike the third movie). Again, the action in this one is so cool. There’s the fight in the massage parlor, the bamboo fight, and a lot more that I don’t want to spoil for you here.

In a lot of ways, some of the fights here feel like some of Chan’s best, and it’s one of the reasons why I would include the franchise on the list of Jackie Chan's best movies as well. I would close the trilogy on this movie. But, wait…there’s more!

They’re Not On Netflix, But If You Can, Watch Shanghai Noon And Knights Last

Now, in-between the Rush Hour movies, Jackie Chan was actually in another action-comedy buddy franchise, and that was 2000’s Shanghai Noon, and 2003’s Shanghai Knights. Both films co-starred Owen Wilson rather than Chris Tucker, and if I’m being completely honest, I think I like them both a little bit better than the Rush Hour series. But, that’s only because I love westerns and martial arts movies, and these films combined both…the first more than the second, though.

In Noon, Chan plays a Chinese Imperial guard who is trying to rescue a princess (Lucy Liu) transported to Nevada. Chan’s character bands with a cowboy (Wilson), and they go on an adventure together. Both the action and humor in this one are top notch, and I actually think it’s just as good as the first Rush Hour.

Knights is a bit weaker, but still fun. The sequel finds Chan and Wilson in London where Chan’s character is out to avenge his father’s murder. It’s a simple plot, but the action, just like Rush Hour 2, is really enjoyable. Plus, Chan gets to have a lot more fun in these movies than the flicks with Tucker, and he and Wilson make for a surprisingly dynamic team.

I’d recommend these movies last because they kind of feel like historical fiction versions of Rush Hour. They’re both available with a Hulu subscription, so watch them there.

Overall, I’m glad all of these movies are widely available to stream. They’re really fun.

The 2025 movie guide has already brought us plenty of treats in terms of actual movies, but also between said flicks' stars (the Scarlett Johansson Jonathan Bailey kiss, anyone?). Apparently, earlier this year, the unlikely pair of Jackie Chan and Michael Cera met for the first time under some silly circumstances. The happening occurred while Chan was on a press tour for Karate Kid: Legends, and he assumed Cera was a contest winner of some sort.

The actor recounted the awkward tale to NME while chatting about Wes Anderson’s The Phoenician Scheme. (Which sounds equally as memorable as the politely forced introduction due to his bug-loving character for the 2025 film.) Both happened to be promoting, respectively, their aforementioned titles in the same location when some crew connected the two. The only thing was, as Cera shares, Chan seemingly had no clue who his Hollywood peer was, but took a picture thinking he was a fan of some sort:

I love this so much just because if it were to happen to any celeb, the Juno actor would top my list. I think his general vibe is why he became Barbie’s Allan, and it all boils down to how he takes everything in stride so well and with the appearance of ease. And as far as the international star not recognizing him, I’m not surprised. He has had an expansive career, filled with great Chan classics in multiple countries and even more peers.

Cera continued the saga by explaining how the photo op went, which was fine and good overall. Though he did note that he felt like he was intruding on the Rush Hour star’s brief moment before returning to press interviews. In his words, he shared:

Again, the exchange couldn’t be more fitting for the Scott Pilgrim vs. the World star. From the start to the end, I’m just so amused by it all, and glad to know that Chan will always have time for a fan (even if it’s an unknowingly well-known one).

Now that both Cera’s The Phoenician Scheme and Chan’s Karate Kid: Legends (which was a pleasant surprise to some fans) are out, maybe they can make time for a redo. I mean, if the action star can literally roll with the punches of dislocating his shoulder on the KKL set and bounce back immediately, who’s to say he’s not in for properly meeting Cera?

Minor spoilers for Karate Kid: Legends lie ahead, so read on accordingly.

The Karate Kid film series officially expands with a sixth installment that’s subtitled Legends. Yet the Jonathan Entwistle-helmed 2025 movie release also melds the Miyagi-verse continuity with that of the 2010 film. As a result, Ralph Macchio’s Daniel LaRusso returns as does Jackie Chan’s Mr. Han to mentor a new karate student, Li Fong (Ben Wang). I had the opportunity to see the legacy sequel myself and, as a fan of the franchise, I’m not too high on it. However, there’s one specific detail that’s really bugging me.

There’s One Thing Aspect Of Mr. Han’s Role That I Just Can’t Get Over

When fans last saw handyman Mr. Han at the end of 2010’s The Karate Kid (which still receives love), he was celebrating with young Parker (Jaden Smith), as the latter emerged victorious at a kung fu tournament. The opening of Legends makes it clear that a lot has changed for Han since his last appearance. From the jump, it’s established that Han is now a revered shifu who oversees multiple schools in Beijing. The character’s status doesn’t bug me on its own, but it’s the lack of clarity regarding how he got there that’s annoying.

I found myself scratching my head over the fact that Legends doesn’t make any kind of attempt to fill in the blanks when it comes to how Han became a legendary master throughout all of China. As mentioned, he was a handyman who was hesitant to take on just one student. Now, not only is he eager to take on new protégés – like his great nephew, Li Fong – but he’s also overseeing a wide swath of kung fu trainees. There’s not even any slight reference to his past as a maintenance man (and not any mention of Dre either).

Considering how far Han has come personally and professionally, I really would’ve appreciated, at the very least, a little bit of exposition to explain how his life shifted shortly after the events of the 2010 flick. I mean, did he and Dre participate in other tournaments, earning Han enough notoriety as a teacher to start a school? Or did he leverage his family’s history with martial arts in some way? We, the viewers, are only left to assume and try to draw our own conclusions.

My gripe may sound nitpicky but, when you’ve established a continuity, character backstory and other details should be taken into account. Then again, this is a film that has no problem bending what’s come before, given how it ropes Han into the Miyagi-verse’s mythology.

Will Mr. Han Ever Return After Karate Kid: Legends?

Now that Jackie Chan’s jovial character is back in the fold, it’s hard not to wonder whether he might return. Considering his current status, there are certainly opportunities for him to pop up again. I wouldn’t be surprised if Chan expressed openness to playing the character again at some point, too. After all, the iconic actor doesn’t seem to have any plans to retire and, as he explained to CinemaBlend, he’s still set on doing his own stunts even in his 70s.

I would imagine, however, that such a reprisal would depend on Legends’ performance at the box office. During its opening weekend, the film amassed a global cume of $47 million against a production budget of $45 million. That’s respectable and, should it trend in the right direction, it could finish its theatrical run with a solid haul.

Sony seems to be all in on this storied martial arts franchise, as potential spinoffs for the hit offshoot TV series, Cobra Kai (which is streamable with a Netflix subscription) are reportedly being considered. We can only speculate as to whether that good fortune from the small-screen side of the franchise will extend to the cinema. For now, fans can see Karate Kid: Legends in theaters and, if they feel like I do, they can hope that any potential sequel might provide clarity on Mr. Han’s personal journey.

SPOILERS are ahead for Karate Kid: Legends.

The latest of big 2025 movie releases that arrived over the weekend was Karate Kid: Legends. The new installment to the Karate Kid franchise finally ties together Daniel LaRusso and Mr. Miyagi with the 2010 The Karate Kid movie with Jackie Chan, however, you might notice one key component of the 15-year-old movie is missing: Jaden Smith’s Dre Parker.

I know I personally didn’t expect to see Jaden Smith in Legends given the son of Will Smith barely acts these days. But I do find it interesting to read about what director Jonathan Entwistle thinks about how Dre Parker fits into his new movie, if you were as curious as I am by the decision. Here’s what he told Inverse:

As Entwistle shared with the outlet, he definitely thinks Jaden Smith’s The Karate Kid character is still absolutely canon and out there somewhere in the world of Karate Kid: Legends. It seems like perhaps he wasn’t deemed necessary to the story of Ben Wang’s Li Fong and therefore is not in this new movie.

In Karate Kid: Legends, which couldn’t surpass the continued box office success of Lilo & Stitch and Mission: Impossible - The Final Reckoning over its first weekend, Mr. Han has followed his time training Dre in The Karate Kid in the 2010 movie by becoming a master to many more in China since the end of his first and only appearance in the franchise. Li Fong is one of his students over in China, but after the tragic death of his brother after a kung fu tournament, Li Fong and his mother move to New York City for a fresh start.

And when Mr. Han senses that Li Fong can use some help over in New York City, and it involves karate, he hunts down Daniel LaRusso in California to help him learn the art. Sure, it’s a bit of a meandering plotline, but Legends does finally tie together the original movies with the 2010 version by connecting Mr. Han with Mr. Miyagi. Knowing that the pair have some shared history makes it more palpable that Mr. Han and Daniel LaRusso would come together.

It would have been nice to see Legends nod to Dre and the 2010 movie, but I know I found it fun on its own to see Mr. Han and Daniel in the same Karate Kid film. It’s been awhile since I saw Jackie Chan in a Hollywood blockbuster, and he is still doing his own stunts at the age of 71 (and told CinemaBlend he always will). I also had a great time seeing Daniel and William Zabka’s Johnny joke around in the post credit scene. At least Dre Parker is still allegedly canon, but I do get why he’s seemingly not part of the plotline of the new film after the director’s comments.

Rush Hour deserves to sit amongst the best buddy cop movies of all time, and that’s in great part due to the performances of lead actors Jackie Chan and Chris Tucker. The two stars are down-right fantastic together, and they share a number of great moments together in the franchise’s original 1998 installment. One such scene involves Tucker’s Det. James Carter scolding Chan’s Chief Inspector Lee for touching his radio. As it turns out, over 27 years later, Chan still doesn’t understand the iconic line featured in that scene.

The moment in question, which can be found on YouTube, happens as Carter and Lee are cruising Los Angeles in the latter’s car and Lee turns on the radio, after which he delightfully listens to the Beach Boys. Carter then bluntly expresses disbelief over Lee’s actions, emphatically telling him, “Don’t you ever touch a Black man’s radio!” It’s easily one of the funniest exchanges in the entire film, and I always chuckle at it whenever I rewatch the film.

Respectfully, I can’t help but chuckle a bit when hearing Jackie Chan’s comments about not understanding the gag. The actor, who’s been promoting the 2025 movie release Karate Kid: Legends, took part in a wide-ranging interview with People that was shared to Instagram. While reflecting on Rush Hour, which still stands as one of Chan’s best movies, didn’t mince words when expressing his confusion over the radio-related moment:

The revered movie icon is correct in that Carter’s brutally honest line has to do with differences in culture – and not just simply general American customs. Carter’s visceral response falls greatly in line with Black culture, in which there’s a great emphasis on being thoughtful of how one interacts with or handles another person’s possessions. Yes, people of various walks of life exhibit similar habits, but this idea – in the context of Rush Hour – is conveyed as a touchstone of African American culture. And, being a Black man myself, I can definitely attest to the importance of that principle.

Jackie Chan later mentioned in his interview that by starring in more American films and living in the states off and on over the years, he’s become somewhat more attuned to Western culture. (As he admitted though, he’s only come to understand “a little bit” more.) So it seems while Chan was entertaining the masses with Shanghai Noon, Shanghai Nights, The Tuxedo and more, the production requirements of the movie benefitted him from a personal standpoint.

While the Drunken Master icon continues to produce American movies, there’s been speculation as to whether he and Chris Tucker might finally make Rush Hour 4. Both stars seem excited about possibly being able to make another sequel. Tucker expressed enthusiasm when asked about the project a few years ago and, just recently, his amiable co-star also discussed a fourth movie while explaining what made the 2007 threequel disappointing.

I’d personally be down to see both Chris Tucker and Jackie Chan, who still does his own stunts, reprise their famous characters for another bombastic and hilarious blockbuster. Should that happen, I’d hope to see more cultural misunderstandings between Lee and Carter. Also, I’d hope that, for Chan’s sake, he’d be in the jokes more so than he was when he filmed the fan-favorite radio scene.

Listen, Jackie Chan is a martial arts legend, so when he's cast in a movie like Karate Kid: Legends, you know he's going to deliver. Director Jonathan Entwistle definitely got to see Chan's skills firsthand. When the filmmaker behind the marquee 2025 movie release spoke to CinemaBlend about working with Chan for his return as Mr. Han, he shared a great story that illustrates how much of a pro the 71-year-old actor is.

Considering just how many stunts Chan has performed over the course of his career, it's natural to think that he's learned a few tricks. Apparently, one of those came into play on the first day of filming, during which the revered Chinese star dislocated his shoulder. As Entwistle explained to me though, Chan corrected that with a smart, but somewhat gross, course of action:

Karate Kid: Legends is certainly not Jackie Chan’s first rodeo. Chan's movies are widely revered and represent some of the best of what Asian cinema has to offer. Chan worked as a stuntman back in the '70s and '80s before eventually landing his own leading roles. So I’m not exactly surprised that he popped his shoulder back in place after getting injured. That said, the thought of seeing that happen in real time makes me uneasy. However, Jonathan Entwistle was impressed:

Karate Kid: Legends follows Ben Wang’s Li Fong, a student and great-nephew of Mr. Han, who moves to New York City with his mom (played by Ming-Na Wen) for a fresh start. When Li finds himself wrapped up in a local martial arts tournament, Mr. Han joins him in the Big Apple to train, and he recruits Ralph Macchio’s Daniel LaRusso to help.

The stunts for Legends were choreographed by Peng Zhang, who was also coordinated on Shang-Chi and American Born Chinese. But, of course, the production also had Jackie Chan, who's quite particular. Jonathan Entwistle even shared during our interview, that Chan was sizing up a variety of pans on set to decide which of them would be the best for comedic effect during his on-screen fight with co-star Ben Wang. The director also said this:

There you have it. What you see is pretty much what you get in this legacy sequel. The big move of the movie, the dragon kick, was even accomplished without wire work, thanks to an amazing stunt performer. I'd say that intense facts like these are enough to make a fan clutch their Karate Kid popcorn bucket.

CinemaBlend also talked to Entwistle about the post credit scene in Legends and to Jackie Chan about his stunt work ethic now that he’s in his 70s. As you may have heard, Chan isn’t ever planning on retiring and is even interested in doing another Rush Hour film! He's a truly committed star, who clearly knows how to maintain his body accordingly on set.

Karate Kid: Legends is playing in theaters now!

Where did the time go? Jackie Chan just turned 71 in April, but you wouldn’t know it considering all the work he’s been up to, primarily in Chinese cinema. It's been a little while since the actor has been aroun Hollywood, but he’s back for the upcoming 2025 movie Karate Kid: Legends! When CinemaBlend spoke to the actor about his current thoughts on doing his own stunts in movies, he shared with us why he’s ready to deliver more punches and kicks now and for years to come.

When I spoke to Jackie Chan, Ralph Macchio and Ben Wang, the leads of Karate Kid: Legends, I had to ask Chan about his stunt work ethic nowadays and how it’s changed over the years. In his words:

As Chan pointed out, while the advancement in technology may have had a large impact on Hollywood movies in recent years, it’s all “useless” to his own career because audiences want to see him really fight. The actor quipped that he’d love to play a masked superhero like Iron Man, Spider-Man and Batman so he can focus more on the story aspects of his character. At the same time, though, he cannot deny what he’s been famous for since finding his first starring martial arts role in Hong Kong’s New Fist Of Fury back in 1976. As Chan continued:

Chan got honest about how his limits as a fighter have somewhat declined with age, but that’s not going to stop people from loving to see him do stunts. His comments to me come after he told Haute Living he will “of course” “always” do his own stunts and that wouldn’t change “until the day I retire, which is never!” He also told the magazine that since he’s been doing it for the past 64 years, “there’s no physical preparation anymore,” but it’s rather “muscle memory” for him.

I also spoke to Karate Kid: Legends director Jonathan Entwistle, who set out to make a movie likened to an early Jackie Chan movie with the star's return to the franchise for the first time since 2010’s The Karate Kid with Jaden Smith. He recalled Jackie Chan getting injured on the first day of shooting, taking it like a champ and going right back into filming the movie. Entwistle also detailed Chan coming on set, and witnessing him choose which different size pans (for a kitchen-set fight scene) he would utilize them for his trademark comedic fighting style.

Chan’s comments highlight his commitment to fans who’ve helped make him as successful as he is, while also pointing out the actor’s desire to not only be known for fighting. In fact, he recently also told People he wants audiences to know “I’m the actor who can fight” rather than simply an action star, and doesn’t want to “always do the same character.”

You can check out the latest Karate Kid: Legends trailer and see Jackie Chan help train Ben Wang's Li Fong alongside Ralph Macchio's Daniel, only in theaters on Friday, May 30. (And, heads up there’s an exclusive popcorn bucket for the release!)

One of the most important lessons in entertainment is something that’s been true long before the 2025 movie schedule started, and will continue to be valid long after it’s finished. It’s practically a commandment that “not all sequels are created equal,” especially when they’re prompted out of a sleeper hit like one of Jackie Chan’s best movies, 1998’s Rush Hour. However, even with Mr. Chan’s polite rejection of the third entry in the canon, the action-comedy superstar is still ready for a fourth rush!

I Think Only Jackie Chan Could Sweetly Pan Rush Hour 3

On hand to promote his role in Karate Kid: Legends, Jackie Chan’s BuzzFeed ‘Puppy Interview’ saw him being asked to rank the Rush Hour movies he made with Chris Tucker. Through those rankings was this running thread of thought that saw Chan rightfully putting Rush Hour 3 at the bottom:

Reading that assessment of the series as a whole makes a lot of sense. Coming from the scrappy beginnings that saw director Brett Ratner hand in an unexpected blockbuster in 1998, Jackie Chan and Chris Tucker’s shtick was at its peak when it was more on the fly.

That seems to be a truth that was present since day one, as even our own Rush Hour 3 review called the film out for squandering a promising first act. Perhaps such reactions, as well as Chan's own kind but firm feedback on the 2007 entry, have him ready to go one more round.

Jackie Chan Really Wants Rush Hour 4 To Happen

Another Rush Hour question came up in an interview with Karate Kid: Legends’ action legend on the red carpet for the premiere of that very movie. ScreenRant caught up with Jackie Chan and asked him if there was actually any progress to report on a Rush Hour 4. That yielded this update, set to inspire some mixed feelings:

It’s kind of hard to believe that Rush Hour 4 hasn’t found some sort of footing, especially with Tucker himself hyping the project in the recent past. That viewpoint only intensified after Chan indicated that a second sequel to Shanghai Noon, titled Shanghai Dawn, actually has a script in play.

With that revelation coming from the same interview, it’s really crazy that both this Owen Wilson co-starring romp and Chan’s 2010 reboot of The Karate Kid (which is currently streamable with a Prime Video subscription) found continuations before one of his biggest hits ever did. Admittedly, the latter concept probably came in part from the meteoric success of Cobra Kai, but the point still stands.

Even though it’s been almost 20 years since Rush Hour 3 did its thing in theaters, so long as Rush Hour 4 has the right script and the proper hustle is involved, this could be what Jackie Chan and his fans needed to see. For now, though, you can see the action star in Karate Kid: Legends, which opens in theaters this weekend.

Jackie Chan has had an incredible career from his origins as a child actor to becoming a worldwide mega-star. He’s been in showbiz since he was five, achieving an early background in martial arts and acrobatics, which went a long way in helping him become a stunt-performing icon in films such as The Legend of Drunken Master and Rumble in the Bronx. With so many impressive stunts in his past, one might think his future will be more restful, but his latest comments about retiring are everything I wanted to hear.

There’s no doubt that Chan has made an artform out of performing his own stunts. From incorporating everyday objects as weapons, a go-to move in many of his best movies to bringing humorous charm to the fisticuffs, Chan’s action scenes are the stuff of leged. While the Shanghai actor may be 71 years old, he’s still performing impressive stunts like time never stopped, with a new Karate Kid movie on the way.

As such, I absolutley loved hearing the Shaolin actor say in his Haute Living interview that retirement hasn’t crossed his mind. In his words:

I completely understand what Jackie Chan is saying. Since the Rush Hour actor has been performing stunts on screen since he was 17, I’m sure performing these dangerous maneuvers is as easy as breathing for him. If he’s in good shape now, why stop?

You’ve gotta give Jackie Chan a lot of credit for not letting a single serious on-set injury stop him from doing what he loves. And believe me, he’s had plenty over the years. A couple of examples include sliding down an electrically-lit 70-foot pole in Police Story, where he suffered third-degree burns on his hands, not to mention he almost drowned in Vanguard, which might have caused other actors to avoid stuntwork entirely.

Despite every life-threatening injury, Chan says he wouldn’t have it any other way, explaining that he’s aware how different the action genre is now than when he first started, given the uptick in CGI and wirework in stunt sequences. However, the Hong Kong native believes that true risk is a true reward to make the audience feel the danger and stakes in a scene. If Chan is the man who continues to make us all hold our breaths with each high-risk stunt, all power to him!

Not only does Jackie Chan continue to be an onscreen talent, but he also spends his days as a mentor, training the next generation of stunt people through his JC Stunt Team. His 2025 movie release of Karate Kid: Legends also has him reprising his Kung Fu guru role as Mr. Han, where he’ll be training a new student looking to compete in a tournament.

Chan’s also got other sequels he plans to revisit, like Panda Plan 2, Rush Hour 4, and New Police Story 2. With the bankable actor’s youthful energy still very much on display in his 70s, there’s clearly no stopping him.

With all of the love I have for Jackie Chan and his ability to defy gravity with his stunts, I’m so glad the talented actor isn’t retiring anytime soon. Considering he helped redefine the action genre, I’d be thrilled to see him continue to shape stunt work with upcoming movies. Make sure to catch his impressive martial arts skills come to life in Karate Kid: Legends in theaters on May 30th, 2025.

When I ranked all five Karate Kid movies, I put the original at number one because, you know, I like to give the people what they want. Even though The Karate Kid Part II and III each have their fans, and The Next Karate Kid…is a film that exists, I know that everybody loves the original.

Inversely, I also know that pretty much nobody thinks the 2010 The Karate Kid, starring Jaden Smith, is the best movie in the franchise. But, do you want to know a little secret that the above headline kind of already spoiled? I think it’s the best.

And, with the upcoming Karate Kid Legends (which looked awesome at CinemaCon) bridging the gap between the old Karate Kid, and the more recent one, I thought that now was as good a time as any to sing the 2010 movie’s praises.

I Actually Like Jaden Smith's Character Better Than Ralph Macchio's

We once ranked the most vicious villains of The Karate Kid franchise, and many of the characters that you might expect made the list, such as John Kreese, Johnny Lawrence, and Terry Silver.

However, while I’m not completely on board with the whole “Daniel LaRusso is the REAL villain theory” that’s been floating around the internet for awhile, what I will say is that Daniel isn’t the most likeable protagonist. For example, in The Karate Kid Part II, he asks mentor,Mr. Miyagi why he doesn’t just kill John Kreese when given the chance. I’ll repeat that. Daniel asks his mentor, who is a man of peace, why he doesn’t KILL another human being.

So, yeah. I’m not sure if Daniel has the best motives when it comes to the fine art of karate. That said, do you know what character doesn’t have murderous intent? Dre Parker, played by Castle headpiece-wearing aficionado Jaden Smith. You see, Dre, just like Daniel, finds himself being a stranger in a strange land (But this time, in China rather than California). And, like Daniel, Dre finds himself in trouble because he likes a girl.

That said, Dre's worst behavior in the movie involves throwing dirty water on some punks, and convincing the girl he likes to play hooky from school for one day. He doesn’t throw the first punch when facing his bully, nor does he seem like the kind of person who can't accept that people can change in the future.

In truth, Dre seems like the kind of kid who avoids seeking out trouble, but is willing to stand his ground if it finds him, and I really like that about him. I'm not sure if I can say the same for Daniel-san, however.

To Be Really Honest, I Also Prefer Jackie Chan As A Mentor Over Pat Morita

Jackie Chan is a legend. Everybody knows that. In fact, I grew up watching all of the best Jackie Chan movies when I was little, and I share a lot of those movies with my own children. Like I said, the man's a legend.

So, it's been interesting to watch one of the greatest action heroes of all time transition into becoming the wise old man character.

And, no offense to Pat Morita, as he carried all four of those Karate Kid movies, but I just don’t see him as being the kind of guy who could kick everybody’s butt in a room if he had the opportunity. But Jackie Chan? Well, I’ve seen him do it. In other movies, sure, but that’s how I know him.

Plus, I just like Jackie Chan's performance as Mr. Han better than Pat Morita as Mr. Miyagi. Both Miyagi and Han have a dark past, and both of them act as father figures to Daniel and Dre, respectively.

However, I just have more of a connection with Jackie Chan, given my history watching so many of his movies. It's almost like, similar to Dre, I grew up with Jackie Chan as well, so I just like him better. It's a personal thing, I know, but this is a personal article.

The Stakes Also Feel Higher In The 2010 Film

I kind of brought this up with the first entry on why I prefer Dre over Daniel, but Daniel seems like he causes a lot of his own problems. Yes, he shouldn’t be bullied by the members of Cobra Kai, but he should also kind of mind his own business, especially when moving to a new area.

Daniel is also a teenager, and even turns 18 in the movie. So, in a lot of ways, I feel like Daniel could possibly make better decisions, or at least know not to spray water at Johnny as payback. Because in a lot of ways, I kind of don’t feel bad when Daniel gets the snot beaten out of him in the first movie. He kind of deserves it.

I don’t feel that way about Dre though. For one thing, Dre is only 12, so I’m more okay with him making bad decisions (like throwing dirty water on his bully). I also feel like Dre has more to deal with in his life, what with moving to a different continent, and the fact that his mentor, Mr. Han has a lot of trauma, as exhibited by the part where he’s wrecking the car that he killed his wife and child in, and that’s a lot for a 12-year-old to witness.

Finally, I think the tournament itself seems more important for Dre, even though the set-up is similar to the original The Karate Kid. Dre, being a foreigner, really only has this opportunity to find happiness in China, whereas I think Daniel would get by, even if he lost the tournament and continued to get bullied (I mean, he got a car, right? He could drive away from his troubles).

So, in every way, I just think the stakes are higher for Dre, and I like that about the 2010 film. I prefer it, even.

I Also Like The China Setting

I’ve never been to China, and I don’t see myself ever going there, unfortunately. So, that’s where movies come in (Inversely, the Chinese audience seems to like our movies, too…though, some of the movies they like might be questionable). Since I won’t travel there, I enjoy seeing characters go there, and that’s where 2010’s The Karate Kid takes place–Right in Beijing, China.

This is a great setting, because again, Dre is a kid out of his element. He originally lived in Detroit, Michigan, but once the auto industry went belly up, his mother had to move them.

And, I love this element about the film. In the original movie, Daniel moved from Newark (Whoop whoop. New Jersey, representing!) to Los Angeles, California. But, I’m sorry. As somebody who has been to both Newark and Los Angeles, I don’t feel anything is exotic about either location. Daniel moving there changes the locale, sure, but not in a way like Detroit does to China.

In fact, this adds to a lot of the conflict in 2010’s The Karate Kid. Because while yes, The Karate Kid Part II takes place in Japan, Daniel is with Mr. Miyagi. But, Dre is all alone in China, for the most part, and trying to navigate this new setting while his mother’s at work really adds to the tension.

In that way, I think China is the most interesting setting this series has ever had. But, that also adds to another reason why this is my favorite “The Karate Kid” movie.

Finally, And Perhaps Most Controversially, I Prefer Kung Fu To Karate

I put “The Karate Kid” in quotes before because it’s a complete misnomer, as this movie is not about karate, which is Japanese in origin (Which is why Part II takes place in Okinawa). Instead, it’s about kung fu, which is from China.

In fact, 2010’s The Karate Kid wasn’t even titled that in China. Instead, it was titled, Kung Fu Dream, which makes sense, since the 2010 movie was only called The Karate Kid in America since people already know the title, and it loosely followed the same events from the first film.

But, I much prefer kung fu to karate. No disrespect to Japan (I mean, I LOVE Japan…and Godzilla), but I’ve always found karate to be kind of boring. In fact, I even find it boring in the original Karate Kid movies, as the actual fighting has always been the least interesting part to me about those first four films.

However, the combat in the 2010 film is awesome. I love all of the fluid movements and martial arts that take place, and that alone makes this movie superior in my eyes, since I genuinely enjoy watching the fight scenes. I think they’re all great.

I think I've waxed on enough here, but what do you think? Does anyone else out there also love the 2010 film as much as I do? I’d love to hear your thoughts.

The already much-anticipated Karate Kid: Legends, premiering on our 2025 movie guide at the end of May, now has me even more excited. Jonathan Entwistle, the sixth movie's director, has teased the world’s continuation before, like how Mr. Han fits into the Miyagi verse, and he's doing it again. This time, he revealed some thrilling details about how the latest flick will reflect some early Jackie Chan work. In a world full of CGI layered sequences and larger-than-life superhero battles, I look forward to watching this influence regain some Hollywood presence.

Entwistle filled Empire in on all things Karate Kid 6. They covered plenty of ground, but a highlight of the conversation related to the iconic Jackie Chan and his martial arts moves. The coming title takes great inspiration from the Hong Kong actor’s early work, along with utilizing a signature filming technique. The I Am Not Okay with This director shared:

In my opinion, Legends just got all the more thrilling. Knowing they took note from some classics, plus young star Ben Wang getting fully on board training, is pretty cool. Some of Jackie Chan's best movies that showcase the influence of fighting structure are not to be missed, especially now with Entwistle’s promise. For any action sequence in any project, there are so many logistics that go into it, but knowing how much the team is training sounds like it’ll be a highly impressive watch.

Judging from the small look into the kung fu, karate, and mashup of the two styles in the first Karate Kid 6 trailer, the callback approach feels exciting (the second teaser from CinemaCon is pretty cool, too). But Jonathan Entwistle also opened up about what goes into one of these numbers is more complex than you’d think. The training team, along with Chan, revealed that it is important to think of the whys and hows of sparking a staged combat. The filmmaker said:

This tease, and all they put into it physically and emotionally, seems like it’ll be a key element to how Karate Kid: Legends plays out on screen. Compared to the various aforementioned MCU and high-tech influences of many physical feuds being the norm today, it’ll be a nice change-up. I’m not sure if there are many movies out there today that can claim this kind of stripped-down choreography.

All of that being said, the coming Mr. Han and Daniel LaRusso team-up to guide Li Fong (Ben Wang) got all the more stellar, knowing what went into the fighting choreography. I have a feeling the vintage approach will be welcomed by any fan like me who enjoys those old Chan titles.

If you’d like to catch up in the Karate Kid world, you can watch the first three movies with a Hulu subscription, 4 with many VOD services, and 5 is free with Roku. Bonus points for those that want to dive into Cobra Kai, available with a Netflix account.

While I was initially hesitant about Karate Kid: Legends because it seemingly excludes any reference to Cobra Kai, the latest trailer makes it one of my most anticipated upcoming movies in 2025. I'm psyched to see new Miyagi-Do pupil Ben Wang kick some ass, and the latest trailer in addition to the first one and what CinemaBlend saw at CinemaCon has me thrilled for Jackie Chan and Ralph Macchio to team up.

Daniel LaRusso and Mr. Han (from The Karate Kid reboot with Jaden Smith) are joining forces to teach a young teen to blend Miyagi-Do with his knowledge of kung-fu. That much we see in the trailer, but what readers didn't see is the exclusive footage rolled out at CinemaCon. Fortunately, we were on the scene and have a breakdown of the two scenes shown during Sony's presentation to those in attendance.

Ben Is Attacked In An Apartment By A Familiar Face

Ben enters his apartment looking for his mother, but she's nowhere to be found. He notices an open window, and then is attacked by an unknown assailant shortly after. During the scuffle, Ben discovers his attacker is none other than Mr. Han, who wishes to train him in the art of karate. Quite a way to make an introduction, but totally in line with the wildness we expect from The Karate Kid franchise.

Mr. Han Convinces Daniel To Come To New York

While part of the scene of Mr. Han visiting Daniel at the Miyagi dojo is seen in the trailer, an extended cut was shown at CinemaCon. There, we see Mr. Han arrive and pay respects to a photo of the departed karate master, and Daniel appears to tell Mr. Han that Mr. Miyagi has passed.

Han knows this and states that he came to see Daniel for help training Ben. Daniel is against the idea and tries to resist, but as we saw, he'll show up in New York and hopefully help get Ben in shape for the big karate tournament.

Overall, it seems Karate Kid Legends continues the classic formula of a struggling teen finding confidence in karate, finding love, and inadvertently pissing off the kung-fu champion of the local region. Hey, it's a formula that had audiences glued to their Netflix subscription for years, and hopefully, it will continue to do so with this movie.

What I think sells me the most on this movie is the action, which looks to be even a step above what we saw in Cobra Kai. Unsurprisingly, it looks like movies get a little more money than streaming shows to build up those fight scenes, or maybe actor Li Fong just sells it all better. Either way, I'm hype and hoping for the happy ending where he gets the girl and wins the tourney.

Karate Kid Legends is coming to theaters on May 30th, and I'm thrilled to see more high-flying action from everyone involved in this cast. Here's hoping it's as great as what we got with Cobra Kai, and if it is, we get some sequels out of it.

Many people are working on a movie set whose names most viewers will never know, but among the greatest unsung heroes has to be the stuntman. They perform some of the most important and impressive on-screen work that fans love, and yet most of us don’t know their names. There isn't even an Oscar for stunt work. However, Richard Norton is one stuntman who those people who make the movies knew well, and they are remembering the legendary performer following his passing.

Australian, stuntman, actor, and martial artist Richard Noton may not be a household name. Still, he’s worked on many movies, you know, from ‘80s action classics like Gymkata and American Ninja to modern blockbusters like Mad Max: Fury Road and The Suicide Squad. Director James Gunn took to Twitter to sing his praises and say goodbye.

Norton worked alongside some of the martial arts greats, including Jackie Chan and Chuck Norris. Norris posted his own remembrance of his friend, whom he called his brother. The pair worked together on Norris' early action movies in the '80s before reuniting later on Walker, Texas Ranger.

If you are of a certain age and grew up consuming every action movie that you found at the video store or on cable, then you probably saw a lot more of Richard Norton than you realize. In addition to being a stuntman, Norton's martial arts abilities made him the perfect action movie hero or villain. He appeared opposite Robert Patrick in Patrick’s second film, the post-apocalyptic actioner Equalizer 2000. Patrick remembered his old co-star, including a video from a more recent meeting.

One actor who clearly knew Richard Norton is Diana Lee Inosanto. The actress is best known for playing the role of Morgan Elsbeth in the recent Star Wars series on Disney+, including The Mandalorian and Ahsoka. She’s the daughter of martial artist Dan Inosanto, who was a student of Bruce Lee. She celebrated Norton not simply for his skills but also for the man that he was.

Considering the career that Norton had, it’s not surprising that, despite never becoming a “movie star” he certainly built a fan base. One of those was apparently professional wrestler X-Pac, who posted a gif of the actor performing opposite ‘90s action movie queen Cynthia Rothrock.

Many of those remembering Norton mention his wife Judy. James Gunn spoke about how much Norton loved her, and it's clear from her post to his Instagram account that she felt the same way.

Richard Norton was a man of many talents, and somebody that a lot of people didn’t simply love to work with but loved to be around. His talents will certainly be missed by movie fans, even those who may not realize that they have seen so much of his work. Luckily, we still have all those great ‘90s Hong Kong action movies and direct-to-video classics that we can enjoy almost anytime.

The 2025 movie schedule really is giving us everything this year, with pleasant surprises popping up at every corner. Case in point: through the career of action/comedy legend Jackie Chan, I’ve grown accustomed to seeing the man either performing death defying stunts, or slinging one-liners with a charming smile. But today, I think I’ve seen the Karate Kid: Legends cast member star in his most charming form: as an emotional support pizza delivery co-star. As part of its celebration for National Pizza Day, Sony Pictures’ social media accounts promoted the May 30 release date with a short, but incredibly sweet video showing just that.

So let’s pretend that there’s a fresh pepperoni pie in front of us and dig into this joyful clip:

You have to understand that my viewpoint on this sixth chapter is pretty limited, as I’ve never seen a Karate Kid show or movie. The trailer for the new film has certainly inspired me to start correcting that error as soon as possible, but I don’t need the backstory to understand that Jackie Chan’s heart is as warm as that pizza he’s serving on the set of director Jonathan Entwistle’s upcoming legacy-quel.

And before any Netflix subscription holders ask, yes that claim includes my lack of knowledge about how Cobra Kai ties into Karate Kid 6. So I'm not exactly able to theorize what to expect from Ralph Macchio's end of the equation here. Well, I can suggest that he should also be in this video, handing out garlic knots and/or cheesy bread. But that's the pizza fan in me speaking.

Turning back to the subject of Karate Kid: Legends, the vague statements we have about Mr. Han’s connection to the Miyagi-verse sound like they might have had a hand in influencing this pleasing pizza moment. That’s not to say that Jackie Chan wouldn’t be handing out pizza, or any other kindness, for other projects. However, the emotional nature of this new movie merging the original Karate Kid canon with its 2010 reboot may have had an influence on Rush Hour legend’s emotional state.

What little I do know about The Karate Kid franchise's trajectory suggests that it's made quite a leap over the decades. For what started as a property that was motivated by revenge against a bully, all involved has pivoted into even more of a showcase of honor, glory, and family throughout the years. And sometimes doing the right thing leaves you hungry for more.

I kind of want to see Jackie Chan and Ralph Macchio in action even more after getting an eyeful of this pie-full. Which means I’ll need to get started on my education in Sony’s nostalgia filled franchise sooner rather than later. Karate Kid: Legend's May 30 release date will be here before we know it, and what better time to jump back into the honor and glory of this series than the beginning of summer?

Michelle Yeoh has been known for starring in action movies for decades, but did you know there was a time in her life, almost 30 years ago, when she almost hung it up completely? Just ahead of Yeoh’s Hollywood debut as one of the “Bond girls”, the actress was in a life-threatening stunt accident that had her rethinking her career. However, a meeting with Quentin Tarantino (of all people) actually inspired her to keep going.

At the age of 62, the actress’ career is bigger than ever, between her 2023 Oscar win and all the upcoming Michelle Yeoh movies. However, she recently reflected on her traumatic accident that almost altered the course of her career, saying:

Before Yeoh became a Hollywood star, she rose to fame with a series of Hong Kong action films in the ‘80s and ‘90s that notably had her working alongside Jackie Chan, Tony Leung, Donnie Yen and Jet Li. However, as she explained on The Graham Norton Show, she suffered a serious accident while trying to accomplish a stunt from an overpass to a moving truck. As she continued:

One wouldn’t blame Yeoh for hanging it all up after being faced with a near-death experience like that. However, a visit from the director behind Kill Bill and Pulp Fiction helped her put things into perspective. In her words:

Quentin Tarantino has long vocally been a huge fan of Michelle Yeoh and some of her Hong Kong films. He even called a stunt sequence she did in 1992’s Supercop "the greatest stunts ever filmed in any movie ever."

As Michelle Yeoh recalls, when Tarantino visited Hong Kong in the ‘90s, he set up a meeting with herself, along with Jackie Chan and Jet Li. During her meeting with him, he helped her realize how much she loves her job and it inspired her to not let her accident put a wrench in her career.

In the few years after the release of The Stunt Woman, Michelle Yeoh had some of the biggest movies of her career. She was in Tomorrow Never Dies with Pierce Brosnan’s 007 and she starred in 2000’s Crouching Tiger, Hidden Dragon, as well. Imagine if she had quit before having those experiences? She would have missed out on so much.

Despite Quentin Tarantino’s love for Yeoh, the pair have never worked together. When the actress once asked him why she wasn’t cast in Kill Bill, he cleverly quipped “Who would believe that Uma Thurman could kick your ass?” Here’s hoping these two do work together someday. In the meantime, you can see Yeoh when the Star Trek: Section 31 release date comes on January 24 and see her in the Wicked cast as Madame Morrible.

The Karate Kid series has evolved into the Karate Kid saga over the years. What started out as the story of a New Jersey teen rising up against his Southern California bullies has grown to include a remake of the tale (led by Jackie Chan), and a very popular Netflix series that has re-imagined the storyline through the eyes of the tormented Johnny Lawrence. Throughout it all, though, the key that unlocks all of the emotion in The Karate Kid has been Ralph Macchio’s original character, Daniel LaRusso, who will embark on a new journey in the anticipated 2025 movie, Karate Kid: Legends. The first trailer for the movie just arrived. Watch it above.

Die hard Karate Kid fans had a few lingering questions, which the new trailer for Karate Kid: Legends goes out of its way to address. Namely, when Jackie Chan took over the story for one movie, he wasn’t playing Mr. Miyagi. His character, Mr. Han, ended up being a mentor to a fish-out-of-water kid (played by Will Smith’s son, Jayden Smith), so that version wasn’t a pure remake. Which meant that Mr. Han could eventually meet Daniel LaRusso (Ralph Macchio) in a story.

But how?

The answer lies in a simple line in the trailer. We hear Jackie Chan’s Mr. Han tell Daniel:

And instantly, in that moment, you know that the Daniel who has spent six seasons caught up in the emotional growth of his Miyagi-do students in Cobra Kai is going to drop everything to help this new kid, Li Fong, played in Karate Kid: Legends by Ben Wang.

Here’s something else nerdy that I detect from this trailer for Karate Kid: Legends. While we do see Jackie Chan’s Han traveling to Southern California and meeting Daniel in Miyagi’s home, the rest of the trailer shows us a very different side of Daniel that has not been on display through Cobra Kai. That Daniel is the buttoned up car salesman, wearing his suits and being a good role model for his children, and for his students. Look at Macchio in this trailer. Even his hair looks more of a throwback to the rebellious teenage Daniel from the first movie. And when the action moves to the East Coast, we see Daniel training and fighting in sweats and casuals. It’s a throwback I didn’t know I needed until I saw it. LaRusso back in New York and New Jersey. Let the games begin!

I’m totally in the bag for whatever it is that writer Rob Lieber and director Jonathan Entwistle have planned for this storyline. This looks like it could be a major surprise on the upcoming 2025 movie slate. It will drop exclusively in theaters on May 30, but this is an excellent trailer that teases the action and story, but leaves plenty more to be discovered. Legendary. 

It may have been a bummer to hear that one of Netflix’s best shows, Cobra Kai’s, sixth season will be its last. However, it doesn’t mean this will be the last we see of Daniel LaRusso or Jackie Chan’s Mr. Han for that matter. With the franchise’s sixth movie Karate Kid: Legends coming to theaters this summer, my mind was officially blown when I found out how the character of Mr. Han fits himself into the Miyagi-verse.

When the Karate Kid remake first came out in 2010, I assumed this would be a franchise of its own since Daniel was renamed Dre (played by Jaden Smith) and he learned Kung Fu in China from Jackie Chan's Mr. Han. But after it was announced that a new Karate Kid movie would bring together the old franchise with the new, with Jackie Chan reprising his iconic role, that must mean there’s a connection to bring back Dre’s instructor. If you’re curious just how much of a connection Mr. Han has to the Miyagi-verse, Karate Kid: Legends director Jonathan Entwistle answers that question to EW and prepare for your mind to be blown like mine:

Hold the phone— when was there a mention of Mr. Han in the Karate Kid movies? Am I going to have to rewatch all of the films to find the answer? I’m truly curious about the history between Mr. Han and Mr. Miyagi. After all, Mr. Han taught Kung Fu to Dre and Mr. Miyagi taught Daniel karate. But Cobra Kai has done a great job refreshing or introducing concepts of the previous films to fans through the art of flashbacks. So, something tells me Karate Kid 6 ought to do the same thing to better explain the connection between the two teachers and what tidbit has escaped our minds after all of these years.

A couple of years ago, Cobra Kai boss Jon Hurwitz clarified the connection between his popular Netflix series and the new Karate Kid movie wouldn’t have a focus on the series’s cast. While maybe the young cast will have reached their conclusion in the upcoming series finale, Ralph Macchio being involved in the martial arts drama film shows the story of Daniel LaRusso isn’t over yet. Jonathan Entwistle continues to talk about how the upcoming 2025 movie will tie in with Cobra Kai:

The Karate Kid cast’s return in Cobra Kai over three decades later successfully brought together fans of the old and new generation. Sony’s interesting plot of the sixth movie follows Bejing-based teenager Li Fong, who moves to New York City with his mother only to get pulled into fights at school. When a new friend of his needs help, Mr. Han enlists Daniel LaRusso to help Li Fong merge Kung Fu and karate to assist him in winning a tournament.

Karate Kid 6's synopsis leaves me with a lot of questions like how Mr. Han and Daniel know each other and where Mr. Miyagi fits into this. Now I’m curious if Cobra Kai’s final scene will include a cliffhanging teaser that ties in with Mr. Han and the future Karate Kid film.

I never would have guessed that Mr. Han’s connection with the Miyagi-verse was somehow mentioned in the franchise. This is a head-scratcher, for sure, but I’m sure all will be revealed when Karate Kid: Legends hits theaters on May 30th. Before you see Daniel and Mr. Han share the big screen together, you can see Ralph Macchio’s memorable character make his Netflix farewell in Cobra Kai: Part Three coming to your Netflix subscription on February 13th.

Sometimes, all it takes is one joint appearance in a movie or television show for two popular actors to become known as an acting duo, and sometimes they prove to work so well together that they go on to star in even more projects together. We’ve come up with a list of 32 acting duos who have worked together multiple times, so you can see if you’ve watched all of the times these talented stars have been on screen with each other.

Tina Fey And Amy Poehler

Obviously, this funny duo began their most famed time together while starring on Saturday Night Live, but Tina Fey and Amy Poehler didn’t let the good times end there. The women were both in Mean Girls, starred in the movies Baby Mama and Sisters, and used their talents to great effect when co-hosting the Golden Globe Awards for several years.

Robert De Niro And Al Pacino

Two legendary actors make for a legendary acting duo, and while Robert De Niro and Al Pacino are frequently mentioned in the same breath, they’ve only been featured in four films together. Two of those movies, however, are absolutely the reason people often talk about them together as they count The Godfather Part II, Heat, Righteous Kill and The Irishman as their joint efforts.

Julia Roberts And George Clooney

Now, these two actually have made quite a few movies with one another, and largely with both in on-screen roles. Of course, it’s hard to forget that George Clooney and Julia Roberts are in all three of the Ocean’s Eleven films, but they’ve also starred in Confessions of a Dangerous Mind (which Clooney also directed), Money Monster and the 2022 rom-com Ticket to Paradise. The erstwhile Danny Ocean also produced August: Osage County, while Roberts starred.

Jane Fonda And Lily Tomlin

Frequently we see an acting duo together multiple times because they really are buddies in real life, and that’s true for Jane Fonda and Lily Tomlin. After first starring together in the 1980 hit 9 to 5 (with Dolly Parton, of course) they eventually re-teamed for the Netflix series Grace and Frankie (which ran for seven seasons), as well as the dark comedy Moving On and 80 for Brady.

Emma Stone And Ryan Gosling

This duo has produced some well-known and beloved comedies and dramas over the years, as Emma Stone and Ryan Gosling first starred together in Crazy, Stupid, Love in 2011, moving on to Gangster Squad in 2013 and the Oscar-winning musical La La Land in 2016. Stone even once said she couldn’t “imagine” her life without Gosling, so these two will probably be friends forever.

Salma Hayek And Antonio Banderas

Salma Hayek and Antonio Banderas sharing the screen in Desperado caused considerable heat, along with igniting a very real friendship, so it’s no surprise that they’ve now worked together a number of times. They’ve also been in the casts of Four Rooms, Frida, Once Upon a Time in Mexico, Spy Kids 3: Game Over, Hitman’s Wife’s Bodyguard and both Puss in Boots animated movies. That’s a lot!

Dwayne Johnson And Kevin Hart

We’ve already born witness to a rather lengthy history of Dwayne Johnson and Kevin Hart ripping on each other during their (apparently) laugh and roast-filled friendship, and the two megastars have, indeed, brought that chemistry to the big screen multiple times. The duo counts Central Intelligence, Jumanji: Welcome to the Jungle and its sequel, Hobbs & Shaw and DC League of Super-Pets as the titles they’ve appeared in together.

Matt Damon And Ben Affleck

If this isn’t a classic acting duo by now, there are none. Matt Damon and Ben Affleck have been “bizarrely close” friends since childhood, and they first joined forces to great effect by penning and starring in Good Will Hunting (after having both appeared in School Ties), which won them the Oscar for Best Original Screenplay. They also worked on Dogma in the 1990s, then, after nearly 25 years, they joined forces again to write and star in The Last Duel, and since then have also worked together on Air and the upcoming RIP for Netflix.

Denzel Washington And Don Cheadle

If only these two powerhouse stars had already been in more movies together…Denzel Washington and Don Cheadle’s first pairing was as P.I. Easy Rawlins and his loyal but unpredictable friend, Mouse, in 1995’s Devil in a Blue Dress. While their work in the film garnered critical acclaim, it would be over 15 years before they teamed again for Flight.

Sanaa Lathan And Taye Diggs

We should never underestimate the power of a franchise when it comes to popular on-screen pairings. Sanaa Lathan and Taye Diggs appeared in The Wood together in 1999 and then went on to star in The Best Man, its sequel and the Peacock mini-series, The Best Man: The Final Chapters. The duo also played the lead couple in the rom-com, Brown Sugar in 2002.

Scarlett Johansson And Chris Evans

Co-starring in a franchise with the same people will take an acting duo far, but Scarlett Johansson and Chris Evans have surpassed even the typical standard where that’s concerned. Thanks to their joint time in the Marvel Cinematic Universe, they’ve appeared in a whopping seven movies together (including their mid-end credits cameo in Captain Marvel), and prior to their time as blockbuster movie-making superheroes they starred in The Perfect Score and The Nanny Diaries, bringing their current total to nine.

Anthony Mackie And Chris Evans

If you did enjoy many of those MCU movies, then you know that Chris Evans rubbed elbows with Anthony Mackie quite a bit there. But, did you also know that the two have been in XX non-Marvel movies together? Playing It Cool, What’s Your Number, and Ghosted also star/feature both actors and if you add in all their shared time in tights on screen, their total is also at nine.

Emily Blunt And Dwayne Johnson

The first time was a hit, so why not join forces again, right? Emily Blunt and Dwayne Johnson famously delivered winning chemistry in Jungle Cruise, and are coming back together for the upcoming drama The Smashing Machine. The two are also said to be willing to return for Jungle Cruise 2, whenever that can finally get off the ground.

Chris Pine And Ben Foster

The third time has been the charm so far for Chris Pine and Ben Foster. The duo famously portrayed bank-robbing brothers in Hell or High Water, joined up for The Finest Hours, and made it a three-peat in 2022 for The Contractor.

Margot Robbie And Will Smith

If it seemed that there could have been a little something extra going on between Margot Robbie’s Harley Quinn and Will Smith’s Deadshot when you watched 2016’s Suicide Squad, then it might have been because you picked up on the chemistry the duo first built in Focus from the year before.

Margot Robbie And Brad Pitt

This big screen coupling made quite a showing for themselves across less than a decade, as Margot Robbie and Brad Pitt have starred in The Big Short, Once Upon a Time…in Hollywood and Babylon. 

Margot Robbie And Leonardo DiCaprio

Just imagine, had it not been for this pairing, we might not have the megastar who is Barbie actor/producer Margot Robbie right now. Her role in Wolf of Wall Street as the second wife of Leonardo DiCaprio’s corrupt fraudster propelled her career, and by the time they starred in Once Upon a Time…in Hollywood together Robbie was a major star.

Halle Berry And Hugh Jackman

We, again, have a superhero franchise to thank for bringing two great talents together, as Oscar winner Halle Berry and Hugh Jackman both have four of the X-Men movies among their credits. The duo also starred in Swordfish and Movie 43.

Awkwafina And Michelle Yeoh

This duo counts two megahits in their joint credits, with Awkwafina and Everything Everywhere All At Once Oscar winner Michelle Yeoh both having starred in Crazy Rich Asians (and we’re still waiting for that rom-com sequel) and the MCU entry Shang-Chi and the Legend of the Ten Rings.

Michelle Yeoh And Jackie Chan

Michelle Yeoh has been a star for several decades, and part of that reason is because of her breakout role in the 1992’s Supercop, which also starred Jackie Chan. But, they’ve made a number of other films with each other, including Supercop 2, and Hong Kong action films Twinkle, Twinkle, Lucky Stars, Project S, and both voiced characters in Kung Fu Panda 2, along with having starred in a 1984 watch commercial together.

Angela Bassett And Laurence Fishburne

While Angela Bassett and Laurence Fishburne were famously nominated for Oscars for their lead roles as Tina Turner and Ike Turner in 1993’s What’s Love Got to Do with It?, the duo was actually first together on screen for Boyz n the Hood in ‘91. They then later teamed up for Akeela and the Bee in 2006.

Julia Roberts And Richard Gere

If this isn’t a famous acting duo, then none are, despite their only making two movies with each other. Of course, Julia Roberts and Richard Gere starred in the mega-hit classic rom-com Pretty Woman and teamed up again for Runaway Bride in 1999.

Jennifer Aniston And Jason Bateman

For a while there, Jennifer Aniston and Jason Bateman, who are friends in real life, were kinda on a roll. Their first joint film was The Break-Up in 2006, and since then they’ve filmed four additional movies with one another: The Switch, Horrible Bosses and its sequel, and 2016’s Office Christmas Party.

Kate Hudson And Matthew McConaughey

Who can forget the glorious chemistry created by Kate Hudson and Matthew McConaughey in How to Lose A Guy in 10 Days? No one, that’s who! This is why they made a second rom-com, Fool’s Gold, just five years later.

Kirsten Dunst And Jesse Plemons

It’s not unusual for an acting duo to become friends in real life, but Kirsten Dunst and Jesse Plemons took that a few steps further after working on the TV series Fargo together. Not only have they since starred in the film The Power of the Dog (which netted each their first Oscar nomination) and the A24 drama Civil War, but they married in 2022 and have two sons.

Meg Ryan And Tom Hanks

We could hardly leave Meg Ryan and Tom Hanks off of this list, as the famed actors have co-starred in two of the biggest romantic comedies of all time. Everyone knows them for making Sleepless in Seattle and You’ve Got Mail hits, but before all of that, they led one of the weirder rom-coms made with Joe Versus the Volcano, and reunited for the 2016 drama Ithaca, which Ryan directed.

Drew Barrymore And Adam Sandler

People often mention Drew Barrymore and Adam Sandler as an acting duo they want to see more of and with good reason. The two have made magic in the classics The Wedding Singer, 50 First Dates and Blended.

Adam Sandler And Chris Rock

This pairing goes back decades, to the time when Adam Sandler and Chris Rock starred on Saturday Night Live together in the ‘90s. Since then, the real-life buddies have appeared in seven movies together, with The Longest Yard, Grown Ups and its sequel, The Week Of and Top Five counted among that number.

George Clooney And Brad Pitt

Of course, George Clooney and Brad Pitt helped to make the Ocean’s Eleven franchise a hit, but the friends additionally teamed up for the live TV movie 8, Confessions of a Dangerous Mind (which Clooney directed), Burn After Reading and the 2024 films If and Wolfs.

Keegan-Michael Key And Jordan Peele

The duo of Keegan-Michael Key and Jordan Peele, who first became recognizable during their time on MadTV, eventually went on to their own acclaimed sketch comedy series, Key and Peele. But, while making names for themselves on other series and in a number of movies, they continue to work with one another on projects like Keanu, Toy Story 4 and Wendell & Wild.

Awkwafina And Simu Liu

It was the MCU that first brought Awkwafina and Simu Liu together in the hit film Shang-Chi and the Legend of the Ten Rings, and while we’re still waiting to see when that franchise will bring them back together, 2024 saw them team up again for the action comedy, Jackpot!.

Jane Fonda And Robert Redford

Dedicated film fans probably know that legends Jane Fonda and Robert Redford starred together in Barefoot in the Park and The Electric Horseman, but their joint movie appearances do go beyond that. They also starred in The Chase in ‘66 and reunited for Our Souls at Night in 2017, and both had their film debuts in 1960’s Tall Story.

As you can see, film history is packed with acting duos who’ve worked together more than once, and that will probably always be the case.

For as long as I can remember, The Karate Kid has been part of my movie-going memories. The original film, released in 1984, was one of the first films that I can remember seeing in a theater. I have been invested in the saga of Daniel LaRusso (Ralph Macchio) ever since, following him to Okinawa, through the various All-Valley Tournaments, and finally to Netflix, where Cobra Kai has expanded the Karate Kid universe. Ironically, Macchio now plans to bring Daniel LaRusso back to theaters for a new Karate Kid movie that will team the actor with Jackie Chan, star of the 2010 remake that also included Jaden Smith. But how will Macchio’s involvement in Cobra Kai lead to the story of the new Karate Kid movie?

As of right now, The Karate Kid 6 (which is what we have been calling it) is set to arrive in theaters on May 30, 2025, which means that it likely will arrive after the conclusion of Cobra Kai Season 6. The final Cobra Kai season is going to be divided up into three chunks, the first of which arrives on July 18. So it makes sense that the final season of Cobra Kai would set up the next story in Daniel LaRusso’s journey. But that’s not the case. While traveling to the Georgia set of Cobra Kai to speak with the show’s creator, I specifically asked them how this final season will establish the movie. And co-creator Josh Heald told me:

That’s interesting to me. And on a certain level, it makes sense. If you are going to bring a new Karate Kid movie into theaters, you might not want to create a scenario where audiences who – for whatever reason – didn’t stay up to date on Cobra Kai might feel isolated. The cast has no bleed-over from the Netflix series. Let Cobra Kai be its own thing. And that “thing” very much happens to be the evolution of Johnny Lawrence from the kid who got beat at the All-Valley to an honorable sensei, a good father, and a cherished husband. 

So, it looks like you will only have to have passing knowledge of The Karate Kid series to plug back into the world  when The Karate Kid 6 (or whatever it ends up being named) reaches theaters in May 2025. Until that happens, plan a trip to the movies for one of the many upcoming 2024 films that are on the calendar. 

The Karate Kid franchise has had a real resurgence thanks to Cobra Kai, so it was only a matter of time before it returned to the silver screen. We will soon have Karate Kid, a.k.a. Karate Kid 6, in the franchise, and while we don't know many details about the movie so far, it could be the connective tissue that ties the entire franchise together. It all starts with Ralph Macchio and Jackie Chan teaming up, but they aren't the only ones featured in this new chapter.

Below, we'll get into the who's who of actors involved in Karate Kid, as well as all we know so far about their roles in the movie. Keep in mind that the movie is still in the early stages, but as more details roll out, we will provide updates on what we know about the roles.

Jackie Chan

The Karate Kid tried to reboot the franchise with Jackie Chan and Jaden Smith in 2010, and now we know one of them is back to give it another go. Perhaps what's more important is we have confirmation that the reboot will actually tie into the universe of the original films considering that Ralph Macchio will reprise his role as Daniel LaRusso. Chan will reprise his role as Mr. Han, who played a vital role in the instruction of his pupil Dre Parker.

Having a legendary kung fu actor like Chan on board will undoubtedly elevate this movie from an action perspective, which makes his return all the more exciting. Here's hoping the 70-year-old actor can still wow theatergoers with his moves, though I shouldn't even question that.

Ralph Macchio

The Karate Kid franchise tried to do a couple of movies without Ralph Macchio, but that's not happening this time around. The original star of the franchise will return in the upcoming movie, but his presence does add some questions regarding how it will proceed.

Fans have seen Macchio as Daniel LaRusso in Cobra Kai, but the co-creators knew little about this project. Is it possible the movie is retconning the series' existence? That would be a bold decision considering its popularity largely led to this movie, but we'll have to wait and see what happens. Perhaps we'll even get some more clues on how connected it is in the final season of Cobra Kai.

Ben Wang

Veteran actors with ties to a franchise are nice and all, but The Karate Kid needs, well, a "kid" to live up to the premise of the franchise. 24-year-old Ben Wang, who you can see in American Born Chinese with a Disney+ subscription, will step into the role as the next heir to The Karate Kid name.

Wang was chosen after a public call was made looking for an actor who was up for the physical work required, so it'll be cool to see what he can do. Though he's had some solid roles, Wang is still a relative newcomer in Hollywood, so a movie like this could really springboard his career to the next level.

Joshua Jackson

In what feels like a big move, actor Joshua Jackson returns to the big screen for his first feature movie in a decade. With that said, there are plenty of projects Jackson projects has done since that makes his appearance in Karate Kid so exciting. We can only speculate on what his role in the movie could be, though I think he does kind of have a similar look to vicious Karate Kid villain John Kreese. Could he be a long-lost son of the iconic baddie?

Sadie Stanley 

Sadie Stanley, who readers may know from the two-season series Cruel Summer, will join Karate Kid in a role we have some details on. Stanley will join the movie to play the love interest of actor Ben Wang's character, which is a big role in the franchise. One question worth asking is if Stanley's character will be more of an Ali Mills or maybe a more modern love interest capable of kicking ass, like Cobra Kai's Sam LaRusso. I'm sure we'll get a better idea as the film draws closer and we see some footage of these characters in action.

Ming-Na Wen

Ming-Na Wen's casting in this movie need not be questioned, especially for those who saw her in The Mandalorian and The Book Of Boba Fett. I would wager she'll be putting some of those skills on display in the upcoming Karate Kid movie, but there are no concrete details at this time regarding her character or what she'll be doing. Personally, I'm hoping to see her put some of her martial arts skills on display, hopefully on the bad guys. If she's one of the bad guys, this Karate Kid return may be over before it ever begins.

Aramis Knight

Ms. Marvel and Into The Badlands actor Aramis Knight is moving on to the Karate Kid movie, though we don't know about what he'll be doing in it. This is another actor coming into this project who has done a lot of martial arts work in roles they've played, so the assumption is he'll be factored into the story either in alliance with or potentially pitted against Ben Wang's character. Whatever the case may be, this is a casting of an actor audiences should be very excited about.

Wyatt Oleff

Wyatt Oleff, who has been featured in the Guardians of the Galaxy and the IT franchises, is also getting in on the Karate Kid fun. Oleff is also in the series I Am Not Okay With This, which is notable because it's created by the directorhelming Karate Kid, Jonathan Entwistle. One can only imagine Entwistle could've had a hand in this casting, so it'll be interesting to see what role Oleff is playing.

Karate Kid is on its way to theaters and is slated to arrive in theaters on December 13th, 2024. CinemaBlend will keep an eye out for more details on the movie as we get closer to the release date and any other exciting names that might get added to the cast as well.

Jakie Chan is the definition of a global superstar. The man made a name for himself outside of Hollywood, and he became so popular that Hollywood had to take notice. For decades he has put his body on the line to give fans incredible cinematic moments, frequently while also making us laugh hysterically. He’s truly a legend, which is why recent images had a lot of fans very worried about him.

For context, some recent pictures of the action star went viral. They showed an actor who was looking much older than we were used to seeing. While Jackie Chan just turned 70, he’s always looked quite good for his age, and images of a white-haired and seemingly more frail Chan were not what we were expecting to see. The good news is that fans need not worry. The actor posted to Instagram to reveal that the pictures going around were of him in makeup for a role where he played a much older character. He explained…

A lot of his fans are probably breathing a sigh of relief reading these words. The setting of the pictures, showing Chan in an interview, certainly didn’t indicate that his look was for a role, but, things like white hair, since he apparently isn’t using a wig, can’t simply be removed when cameras aren’t rolling. The actor insisted that while he might look much older, he’s still in great shape.

It’s not shocking that fans would jump to the conclusion that Chan was ill or in otherwise failing health. Years ago images of Chadwick Boseman showed the actor to be incredibly thin, and fans were equally concerned. A few months later, Boseman passed away from cancer that most people didn’t know he had. So, when an actor looks physically different, you never really know what's going on behind the scenes until they explain it. 

Jackie Chan has been acting since the 1960s, nearly his entire life, and he shows few signs of slowing down, even at 70. Fans will see him later this year on the 2024 movie schedule as the Karate Kid 6 release date is set for this December. The film will bring together his reboot movie with the original franchise. Plus, fans and Chris Tucker are still hoping that Rush Hour 4 could happen at some point. There’s certainly no reason to believe Jackie Chan’s age will stand in the way of that.

While Jackie Chan may not be quite as old as he looks, he doesn’t seem to mind the passage of time. Elsewhere in his post, he quotes his friend, Sammo Hung, saying…

The day may come when Jackie Chan actually looks like he did in these viral images, but that day is not today. Nobody needs to worry about Jackie Chan. He’s doing fine, and just doing what he needs to do to make movies.

Will Smith remains very active on social media, constantly sharing updates with fans on his personal and professional activities. Something he’s also known for is sending well wishes to friends, family and colleagues on their birthdays. For instance, Smith shouted out Martin Lawrence – his longtime Bad Boys co-star – on his special day last year. And, this weekend, the veteran actor took a little time out to celebrate the b-day of the one and only Jackie Chan, who he worked with on 2010’s The Karate Kid. To celebrate Chan’s special day, Smith penned a very sweet message as part of a nostalgic post. 

The Hong Kong-born actor turns 70 today, April 7, and he seems to be relishing it. My assumption on that front comes from a sweet post he shared on Instagram, which features some tender sentiments and a number of photos from his past productions. Of course, the Karate Kid reboot is also one of the many entries in his filmography, and Will Smith (who was a producer on the flick) called back to it while honoring the Drunken Master icon. Smith shared several behind-the-scenes images from the film and dropped the following thoughts in the accompany caption: 

The coming-of-age kung-fu flick, which is available to stream with a Prime Video subscription, sees Jaden Smith play a 12-year-old, who moves to Beijing with his mother. While there, he draws the ire of some local martial arts students and eventually finds a mentor (and sensei) in a handyman played by the Shanghai Noon alum. The two leads had great chemistry and, based on Will’s tribute, it sounds like the pair developed a strong bond off camera. There have been instances when colleagues forge surrogate families and, if this lovely post is any indication, that was the case with this particular film.

If you’re like me, then it’s probably hard to believe that Jackie Chan has reached the big 7-0. But, of course, the seemingly ageless actor and martial artist gets older just as the rest of us do. To reach such an age is a true blessing, and it honestly warms my heart that the actor has reached such a milestone. And that’s especially true when I consider all of the massive (and somewhat dangerous) stunts Chan has performed over the years while entertaining the masses. 

Don’t think that the actor is going to be slowing down anytime soon, though, as he still has work ahead of him. Most notably, he’s starring in a new Karate Kid movie that will not only see him reprise his role as Mr. Han but will also feature Ralph Macchio in the role of Daniel LaRusso. That may not be the only other high-profile gig that the Police Story veteran may tackle over the next few years. Chris Tucker still wants to reunite with him for Rush Hour 4, and there’s always the possibility that the long-awaited sequel could finally come to fruition.

Yet, with everything he has going on, I’m just hopeful that the seasoned actor does take some time to enjoy his b-day. You only turn 70 once, and he certainly deserves some downtime and the chance to relish the start of this new year of life. At the same time, I hope that others join Will Smith in sending him some love throughout the remainder of the day. 

Those looking to celebrate Jackie Chan can seek out and stream some of his most notable films across various streaming platforms. Also, read up on some crazy facts about Chan that’ll give you a bit more insight into his life and career.

It’s still early days in the 2024 movie schedule, so there’s plenty of time for movies like the latest Karate Kid project to shape up. What we know about The Karate Kid 6 has the movie on track for a December release date, Jackie Chan and Ralph Macchio’s respective pieces of the franchise seeming to merge into a new cinematic spectacle. With the series recently finding its young lead in a Disney vet, another Mouse House actor has climbed aboard from The Mandalorian’s cast, as this cast continues to get seriously stacked.

The Karate Kid 6’s Cast Welcomes Ming-Na Wen

Not too long after The Karate Kid legacy-quel cast American Born Chinese star Ben Wang as its lead, Variety now reports that Ming-Na Wen is one of the latest additions. A Disney Legend who’s spanned several of the huge properties the studio deals in, Wen is probably best known for her role as Fennec Shand in the Star Wars universe. 

Additionally, Ms. Wen was also a fixture on the Marvel television series Agents of S.H.I.E.L.D., as well as the voice of the animated protagonist for 1998’s Mulan. As one would expect, there are no character details accompanying the casting of Ming-Na Wen. So if there was ever someone to place your bets on being connected in some way to Pat Morita's Mr. Miyagi, she might be your best wager.

Even More Additions To The Karate Kid Legacy-quel Cast Have Been Announced

While we still don’t have any major details on the plot at hand, including whether or not Cobra Kai’s universe will be included, we are starting to learn more about some of the characters that will be present. In another update from THR, The Karate Kid 6 was announced to have welcomed Dr. Death vet Joshua Jackson and Cruel Summer star Sadie Stanley into its growing cast as well. 

Jackson and Stanley will be playing father and daughter in this supposedly East Coast-based adventure. What’s more, Sadie’s character is being reported as the romantic lead for Ben Wang’s new Karate Kid protagonist. All of a sudden, fans are probably thinking about pop songs about fighting for someone's honor, and in this specific instance, that's reasonable. 

As we make our way towards the release of The Karate Kid 6, we’ll probably see a title change and some more impressive cast members boarding this legacy-quel in the works. We can probably expect the secretive nature of this project to persist for a while, even after announcing this latest wave of casting. 

However, you can brush up on your Karate Kid lore, as some of the classic installments reside in the same streaming home as the 2010 reboot. Which is to say if you have access to Starz, or a Prime Video subscription with the appropriate add-on, you’ll be ready to sweep the leg in the comfort of your own home. 

Some may have already forgotten that the 2024 movie release schedule does indeed have a new Karate Kid film slated to be released. While that picture isn't slated to be released until December, the merging of Ralph Macchio and Jackie Chan’s storylines in Sony’s famed cinematic IP has been watched with great interest. And now this mysterious project has landed what it needed most: our next Karate Kid; which I’m now hyped about, thanks to the casting of a promising Disney vet. 

According to reporting coming from THR, actor Ben Wang will be playing our unnamed mystery lead in the latest Karate Kid continuation. Wang was recently seen in the Disney+ subscription driver American Born Chinese, and in addition to having that credit on his resume, the young man apparently wowed the powers that be with an amazing audition reel. 

Director Jonathan Entwistle, whose credits include gigs directing Netflix series like I’m Not Okay with This, as well as Peter Rabbit writer Rob Lieber, are also attached to the project. Also, as of this moment, the potential story at large is still a mystery. However, among the details offered from the source report above, it seems that this new Karate Kid movie has a new setting. 

Apparently, somewhere on the East Coast will be where Ben Wang’s protagonist hangs his hat, and whomever his teacher may be will be waiting for him there. Wherever this new Karate Kid film takes place, let's hope this new setting isn't too far from any of Cobra Kai's graduating characters; as we still have no clue how/if the Netflix hit series will tie into this next, next, next kid's tale.

Which naturally leads to the major question about Cobra Kai Season 6 our own Mick Joest has been asking, as well as a slew of other concerns that rise from this film's intriguing story. Chiefly among those concerns is how the story of the in-production final season of creators Josh Heald, Jon Hurwitz, and Hayden Schlossberg's series will connect in the new and developing Karate Kid cinematic universe. 

For the moment, everything seems to add up to the conclusion that the latest chapter in the Karate Kid legacy looks to be in good hands. That would seem especially true thanks to Ben Wang’s casting, as he also possesses skills in multiple forms of Martial Arts and fluency in Mandarin. 

No matter what happens, at the heart of it all is Ben Wang, who will fight for honor, the glory of love, or whatever values this next chapter has to offer. What we know about The Karate Kid 6, or whatever your preferred title for this film should be, is that it's currently in training. As it should be, as in order to make its current release date of December 13, 2024, a lot of work still lies ahead. 

Whether it's doing stunts or just freak accidents, even the biggest Hollywood stars aren't immune to getting injured on set. While we mostly think of stars chilling in their posh trailers while their stunt people take the biggest risks, sometimes it's the celebrities themselves who get the worst of things. Here is our list of big stars who have been injured while filming, and what happened after. 

Daniel Craig 

You can't just pick one of the James Bond movies that Daniel Craig was injured during the filming of, because the truth is, he's been injured a lot. In No Time To Die, it was his ankle, which required surgery and he was off-set for a couple of weeks recovering. In Casino Royale, he knocked out two teeth filming a fight scene. In Quantum of Solace, he injured his shoulder, and in Spectre, it was his knee. It's easy to see why Craig has retired from the role, filming James Bond movies can be dangerous. 

Tom Cruise

Tom Cruise famously does many of his most intense and dangerous stunts himself. It's become his brand, but it doesn't mean he doesn't get hurt. In fact, while filming Mission: Impossible – Fallout, it was one of his more innocent stunts, jumping from building to building, that caused an injury when Cruise broke his leg landing the jump. Filming halted for a few months while Cruise recovered, but the footage was included in the movie. 

Harrison Ford

Harrison Ford has a long history of getting injured on movie sets. Maybe the most high-profile time was when a door fell on his leg while shooting Star Wars: The Force Awakens. He broke his leg and director JJ Abrams injured his back helping pull the door off the Han Solo actor. 

Sylvester Stallone

Sylvester Stallone is one of the premiere action stars of the last 50 years, and as such, he's been injured a few times on set doing stunts. The worst, according to Stallone, came while filming the boxing match with Ivan Drago (Dolph Lundgren) in Rocky IV. Lundgren hit him so hard in the chest at one point that it caused his heart to swell and he ended up in intensive care for eight days. 

Isla Fisher 

One of the best scenes in Now You See Me is when Isla Fisher's character performs the underwater escape trick. It wasn't so great for the actress though, as she nearly drowned during the filming. Luckily a stuntman was there to flip the safety switch and save her. 

Leonardo DiCaprio

One of the most intense scenes in Django Unchained is Leonardo DiCaprio's speech after dinner. He bangs his hand on the table and slices his hand on a glass. DiCaprio, ever the pro, kept going without missing a beat. It's so good, director Quentin Tarantino left that take in the final cut. 

Kristin Chenoweth

TV stars aren't safe either. Kristin Chenoweth was almost killed on the set of The Good Wife when part of the lighting rig fell on her. According to the actress, she had a "skull fracture and a rib issue and a hip issue" as a result. 

Bruce Willis

Like a lot of action stars, Bruce Willis has had his fair share of injuries in stunts gone wrong. In Live Free or Die Hard, the Hollywood legend suffered a serious cut above his eye that required stitches, after Maggie Q's stunt doubled kick him with high heels on. 

Mariska Hargitay

Sometimes, the extent of the injury isn't immediately understood, as was the case with Mariska Hargitay after a fall on the set of Law & Order: SVU. Hargitay performed a stunt that required her to land on some pads, but, in her words, something went wrong. She shook off the injury at first, but a few months later, she felt a sharp stabbing pain and ended up in the hospital with a collapsed lung. She recovered after surgery, though a second surgery was needed later. 

Charlize Theron

Æon Flux is not one of Charlize Theron's best movies, and it did almost leave her paralyzed. The actor fell on her neck performing a stunt and had she not been lucky and fallen just a centimeter differently, according to her, it could have been very bad. 

Malcolm McDowell

One of the more terrifying scenes in A Clockwork Orange is when Malcolm McDowell's character is "rehabilitated" by being forced to watch violent videos while his eyes are held open. For McDowell, it was even worse, as the setup caused his corneas to be scratched and he was blinded temporarily as a result. 

Brad Pitt

In the weirdest of coincidences, there is Brad Pitt in Troy. In the film, Pitt plays the Greek hero Achilles. Achilles is famous for one thing, his armor not covering that one tendon in a person's heel... Well, it just so happens that while filming Troy, Pitt tore his Achilles Tendon. 

Uma Thurman

During the filming of the Kill Bill movies, Uma Thurman crashed a car she was driving into a palm tree in Mexico and suffered injuries to her knees and a concussion. Years later she exposed what she claimed was a cover-up by the film's producers in an Instagram post. 

Orson Welles

The great Orson Welles really gave everything he had to make Citizen Kane. That includes chipping a bone in his ankle that forced him to use a wheelchair on set for two weeks while he directed. The injury occurred when he fell down some stairs while filming, and the scene made it into the final cut. 

Linda Blair

During the iconic scene in The Exorcist when Linda Blair's character, Regan, thrashes around as the bed levitates, the scream queen injured her back due to a mechanical default. The injury caused scoliosis, which still causes her problems today, though she's found ways to make it less painful. 

Jim Caviezel

The list of injuries that Jim Caviezel suffered while filming The Passion of the Christ has become the stuff of internet legend. Some injuries are hard to verify, but others aren't, the most notable of which is that as Caviezel prepared for the Sermon on the Mount scene, he was actually struck by lightning. That's got to be some sign, right?

George Clooney

The head injuries George Clooney sustained while filming the torture scene in Syriana were so debilitating that the actor says he even contemplated suicide. Eventually, doctors were able to alleviate the headaches after surgery, but in the meantime, Clooney called it "the most unbearable pain I've ever been through."

Orlando Bloom

There were a few injuries on the set of the Lord of the Rings movies, and one notable one was Orlando Bloom. Bloom broke some ribs when he fell from a horse while filming LOTR: The Two Towers. His fellow cast members gave Bloom a little...uh... ribbing in a behind-the-scenes video as well. 

Martin Sheen

There may be no more infamous Hollywood production than Francis Ford Coppola's Apocalypse Now. No one had it worse than the film's star, Martin Sheen. As told in the documentary about the filming, Hearts of Darkness: A Filmmaker's Apocalypse, Sheen not only suffered a near-fatal heart attack during production, but he also suffered a nasty cut on his hand. In the famous opening scene, Sheen punched a mirror and sliced his hand open and it bled badly. If you've seen the movie, you know what it looked like, because Sheen continued the scene and all the blood is very real.  

Michelle Yeoh

As an actor known for doing her own stunts, it's no surprise that Michelle Yeoh has been injured a few times on set. The most notable came when Yeoh tore her ACL during the production of Crouching Tiger, Hidden Dragon. She was flown from China to Baltimore where surgery was performed to fix the injury at Johns Hopkins. 

Tom Hanks

Sometimes the most innocent-sounding injuries can be the worst. Such is the case for Tom Hanks, who cut his leg filming Cast Away. While a cut doesn't seem all that serious, it caused sepsis and landed Hanks in the hospital, who almost died as a result of the blood poisoning. 

Buddy Ebsen

The Beverly Hillbillies star Buddy Ebsen could claim one of the weirder injuries on this list. Ebsen was the original actor cast to play the Tin Man in The Wizard of Oz and as part of the role, he was painted silver. The aluminum powder in the paint caused a reaction that landed Ebsen in the hospital due to breathing problems and he was recast by actor Jack Haley in the role. 

Winona Ryder

Accidents happen, even on movie sets of comedies, not action movies. Such was the case for Winona Ryder while filming Mr. Deeds with Adam Sandler. While filming the scene on the bike in Central Park, Ryder took a tumble off it and broke her arm in three different places. Ouch. 

Matt LeBlanc

Injuries even happen on sitcoms. Even the biggest ones. While filming a scene for Friends, Matt LeBlanc fell into a chair and dislocated his shoulder. Production was delayed briefly, but the evidence is still on the screen, as LeBlanc was seen wearing a sling for a couple of episodes as his shoulder healed. 

Michael J. Fox

One of the scariest injuries didn't happen during a proper stunt. In Back To The Future III, Michael J. Fox almost died in the scene where his character, Marty McFly, is hanged. A mishap meant that he was actually getting choked and at first no one noticed. He passed out before he was lowered to the ground. 

Ed Harris

Ed Harris was almost killed while filming The Abyss. In one of the many underwater scenes in the movie, Harris ran out of oxygen and no one else on set realized he'd signaled that he did. He passed out from a lack of oxygen, but luckily someone finally noticed and they got him some air. 

Vincent D'Onofrio

Marine boot camp is intense, even for actors just playing Marines. Vincent D'Onofrio, who played Private Pyle in Full Metal Jacket, injured his knee so badly during filming one of the training scenes that he ended up needing surgery to fix it. 

Melanie Griffith

One of the most notoriously dangerous movies ever shot is Roar by director Noel Marshall. In the 1970s, Marshall was married to Tippi Hedren, which also made him Melanie Griffith's stepfather. The movie filmed Hedren and Griffith (who was a kid at the time) living with lions. Real lions. According to legend, at least 70 people were injured by the big cats, including Griffith, who was "mauled near the eye" and needed plastic surgery to fix it. 

Jackie Chan

One actor you won't be surprised to see on this list is Jackie Chan. The martial artist and stuntman has pulled off some of the most insane stunts in film history, so it's no surprised he's been injured along the way. One notable time was while shooting Police Story. In one scene, Chan slides down a metal pole, which he did so quickly he suffered third degree burns on his hands. The shot was used in the movie. 

Al Pacino

Injuries can occur when actors don't quite make the best decisions. Take, for example the great Al Pacino. While filming a scene in Scarface, Pacino grabbed the business end of a gun that had just been fired and severely burned his hands. According to Brian De Palma, the actor was off for the next two weeks. 

Matthew Fox

Every now and then, one actor will injure another one, as is the case with Terry O'Quinn and Matthew Fox on the set of Lost. In a fight scene, O'Quinn stabbed Fox with a knife, which O'Quinn thought, incorrectly, was a prop knife, but it was very real. Thankfully, Fox was wearing a protective Kevlar vest that saved him from actually being stabbed. 

Dylan O'Brien

Dylan O'Brien was almost killed while shooting The Maze Runner: The Death Cure. While shooting a scene, the star of the movie was struck by a car. According to Vulture, O'Brien had a "concussion, facial fracture, and brain trauma among his injuries." Production on the movie was halted as he recovered, which, according to O'Brien, was one of the worst periods in his life. 

Dominic Purcell

Even without stunts and other action, injuries happen. Prison Break star Dominic Purcell broke his nose and had other facial injuries while filming for the show in Morocco. It was a freak accident as a lighting truss fell from the set and hit him. It could've been very scary, as those kinds of accidents have killed people, but luckily for Purcell, his injuries healed quickly and production on the show wasn't impacted.

Most of the time, when actors are injured on set, the injuries are minor, thankfully. Of course, that isn't always the case, and though deaths on movie sets are rare, they happen, so anytime someone is injured seriously, production is usually halted. Just looking through this list, you can see just how close some of these big names came to serious injury, and in a way, they're lucky (and we're lucky) that they are still around.   

A new movie in The Karate Kid universe is coming to theaters, and the timing couldn't be any better for The Karate Kid 6, which is set to release on the 2025 movie schedule. With Cobra Kai Season 6 on the way to those with a Netflix subscription and audiences eager for more adventures, the timing couldn't be better for another Karate Kid movie. 

Below, we've gathered all the information we know about The Karate Kid 6. While some details on this movie still have yet to be released, there's a good bit we do know that can be shared in regards to when it's coming out, who is in it and what the latest adventure in The Karate Kid franchise will focus on. Let's dive in and get into what this upcoming movie is all about. 

What Is The Karate Kid 6's Release Date

The Karate Kid 6 is on the way, and while there's still a lot to be revealed about this upcoming movie, we do know its release date. As was officially revealed by Sony Pictures, this new film in the franchise is slated to arrive on May 30, 2025. 

What Is The Story About?

According to THR, The Karate Kid 6 will feature the story of yet another teen being trained in the art of karate. The movie will reportedly head to the East Coast, which is actually where Daniel LaRusso was from before he moved to the sunny state of California. There's a note that a new teen character will come from China and find strength and direction from a wise mentor. Whether that mentor is Jackie Chan's Mr. Han, Ralph Macchio's Daniel LaRusso or both remains to be seen, though the THR article confirms both actors are on board for the film

One thing that seems likely is that the movie won't emulate The Karate Kid Part III, considering Ralph Macchio's low opinion of the movie. Personally, I'd love to see that Rocky crossover movie Macchio once heard pitched, but I highly doubt that's going to happen. 

Who Is In The Cast Of The Karate Kid 6

The Karate Kid 6 originally seemed  it was disconnected from the Netflix series Cobra Kai since the showrunners knew little about it, so it was strange when THR confirmed that Ralph Macchio would be joining the production alongside Jackie Chan. What's strange is that there was speculation that the original movies and reboots movies existed in separate universes, but given that Mr. Han and Daniel LaRusso will presumably both be in the upcoming feature, it would appear that they aren't. Macchio told CinemaBlend that he still had questions about the new movie ahead of his casting announcement, but perhaps all was made clear to him afterwards. 

Who Is Playing The Next “Karate Kid”?

A global casting search was put out searching for the next star of The Karate Kid, but there are some specific parameters actors needed to meet to be considered. Surprisingly, acting experience was preferred, but not a requirement. As for the look, the casting website said they were looking for a Chinese or mixed-race Chinese person who's 15-17 years old and fluent in English. Knowing Mandarin would be a good help, and apparently, they were searching for a male. It went without saying that if the actor had any martial arts experience, they would jump up in the list as well. After some time, it was finally revealed that actor Ben Wang won the role of the lead character, Li Fong. While the mid-twenties actor is a bit older than what the production was looking for, he already had some prestige in Hollywood and was fresh off the Disney+ series American Born Chinese.

Who Else Is New To The Karate Kid Universe?

In addition to Ben Wang, We’ve learned that actors Joshua Jackson, Shaunette Renée Wilson, Sadie Stanley, Ming-Na Wen, Aramis Knight, Wyatt Oleff, and Jennifer-Lyn Christie were cast as well. Of course, details are scant on who their characters are exactly, but we are still very excited to see The Karate Kid 6 cast in action. 

Who Is Directing The Karate Kid 6

The Karate Kid 6 has brought on director Jonathan Entwistle to tackle this movie, according to the previously mentioned THR article. Entwistle gained a lot of acclaim for his work on Netflix projects, though ironically, he never worked on Cobra Kai. Those with a Netflix subscription may best know Entwistle's work if they watched I Am Not Okay With This or The End Of The F**king World. Both movies were noted for their strengths as coming-of-age stories and incorporating dark humor, so it's interesting to hear Entwistle involved in The Karate Kid. I would definitely consider the franchise one that hits on coming-of-age quite heavily, but dark humor? That's a different story. 

Will Other Former Actors From The Karate Kid Franchises Appear?

At first, the only confirmed castings for The Karate Kid 6 were Jackie Chan and Ralph Macchio. With that said, both men hail from two different parts of the Karate Kid universe, and it seems logical that we'll see other characters from their respective universes appear in this movie. 

For example, it's possible that Jaden Smith's Dre Parker could spring up, or we may finally see Hilary Swank return after never getting an invite for Cobra Kai. Speaking of which, I'm sure there are a number of people who would love to see William Zabka or other stars from the Netflix series who helped make it a success. 

Of course, there are more details yet to be revealed about The Karate Kid 6. Chances are more details will be released as we get closer to the release date. It's even possible that Jackie Chan or Ralph Macchio might share a few more secrets along the way, as they seem to be the biggest ambassadors for the movie so far. 

The Karate Kid 6 is currently scheduled to release on May 30, 2025. That's still quite a ways away, so be sure to check out the previous movies on Netflix in the meantime and keep an eye out for what else may be announced. 

Over the last five years, the Karate Kid franchise has thrived thanks to Cobra Kai, the TV show that originally started out as a YouTube Red/YouTube Premium offering, and has been exclusive to Netflix subscribers since Season 3. However, remember that in 2010, a remake/reboot of the original Karate Kid movie was released starring Jackie Chan, but we never followed up on that corner of the franchise. Well, that’s now changed, as it’s been announced that these two corners will come together in the upcoming Karate Kid movie, but what does this mean for Cobra Kai?

Let’s get what we know for sure out of the way first. Jackie Chan and Ralph Macchio are set to respectively reprise Mr. Han and Daniel LaRusso in this 2024 movie release from Sony Pictures that has previously been described as “the return of the original Karate Kid franchise.” Jonathan Entwistle is directing the feature, Rob Lieberman is writing the script and Karen Rosenfelt is producing. Chan and Macchio also got together to announce a global casting search for who will play the young title protagonist in the new Karate Kid movie, as seen below (more details can be found at the Karate Kid casting website):

So that’s the big secret behind this movie: 2010’s The Karate Kid resides in the same universe as the original film series rather than in a separate continuity. Now I can’t wait to see how Daniel reacts when he learns that Mr. Han’s training techniques are awfully similar to the ones used by his late master, Pat Morita’s Mr. Miyagi. Shortly after this new Karate Kid movie was announced, Macchio said he had no information to share about the project, and by the following November, he still had a lot of questions about what this next Karate Kid chapter would entail. A year later, now we know he worked out a deal to star opposite Jackie Chan in this next movie, and according to THR, their paths will cross as part of the story chronicling a teen from China on the East Coast “who finds strength and direction via martial arts and a tough but wise mentor.”

It’s nice to have a clearer picture about what to expect from the new Karate Kid movie, but what does all this mean for Cobra Kai? Well, in the time since the movie was announced, the Netflix show was renewed for Season 6, but this will also be the final batch of episodes. So whether another Karate Kid movie was happening or not, the Cobra Kai saga was going to be wrapping up. 

Still, I can’t help but wonder if Cobra Kai’s final episodes will somehow lay the groundwork for this cinematic tale. If that’s the case, hopefully it’s not done in too cliffhanger-y a way, as no doubt the show’s fans would still live Cobra Kai’s ending to feel conclusive enough rather than simply as a tease for what’s coming to theaters. Furthermore, are Jackie Chan and Ralph Macchio the only familiar Karate Kid franchise faces who will appear in this movie? Could people like William Zabka, Jaden Smith and even Hilary Swank show up too?

It may be a while until these questions and more are answered, but for now, just remember that the new Karate Kid movie opens on December 13, 2024, the same date that The Lord of the Rings: The War of Rohirrim comes out. You should also look over everything we know about Cobra Kai Season 6 so far.

Every A-list actor had to start somewhere and all you have to do to find out what your favorite celebrity’s very first gig was is take a look at their profile on The Internet Movie Database. We sifted through the much celebrated site and found the first IMDb credit of some of today’s biggest stars. 

Tom Cruise (Endless Love)

As is often the case with many actors, Tom Cruise’s very first role is nothing like Maverick from the Top Gun movies, Ethan Hunt from the Mission: Impossible movies, or nearly anything else the Oscar nominee is known for for. He appears in Franco Zeffirelli’s 1981 romance, Endless Love — starring Brooke Shields and Martin Hewitt — as a student named Billy who describes the time he attempted arson at just 8 years old. 

Jennifer Lawrence (Monk)

While appearing on Conan to promote the film that earned her her first Oscar — 2012’s Silver Linings Playbook — Jennifer Lawrence recalled the embarrassing story behind her screen acting debut in an episode of Monk from the crime drama's fifth season called “Mr. Monk and the Big Game.” She thought she was playing a member of a high school basketball team that Tony Shalhoub’s title character helps take over, but would discover a little too late that she was playing their mascot.

Robert Downey Jr. (Pound)

It’s no wonder Robert Downey Jr. is such a confident and charismatic onscreen presence when you learn he has been in the game since he was 5, having debuted in 1970’s Pound. Written and directed by his late father, Robert Downey Sr., the bizarre, X-rated, avant garde drama stars a cast of characters who appear human, but are really dogs waiting to be adopted, including the future Academy Award nominee and Iron Man actor as a puppy. 

Zoe Saldaña (Law & Order) 

Years before she became one of the highest-grossing actors of all time, Zoe Saldaña’s career started when she appeared in the second half of a two-part Law & Order episode called “Refuge,” alongside Orange is the New Black cast member, Selenis Leyva, as her sister. Coincidentally, Saldaña would also appear in a Law & Order: Special Victims Unit episode in a different role years later.

Leonardo DiCaprio (Romper Room)

As he revealed to David Letterman in 1995, Leonardo DiCaprio made his show business debut at 3 on the children’s program Romper Room, but was so excited to be on camera, he had to be removed for disruptive behavior. He later appeared on shows like 1989's The New Lassie (pictured) or Growing Pains, paving the way for him to reach A-list status in the Titanic cast and win his overdue Oscar for The Revenant. His wild success today desperately makes us wish we could see his Romper Room footage, which may remain a lost relic, unfortunately.

Jenna Ortega (Rob)

At just 10 years old, Jenna Ortega proved she was destined to be a top Scream Queen when she made her debut on an episode of the short-lived CBS sitcom, Rob, called “The Baby Bug.” The future Emmy-nominated Wednesday cast member gets in (and wins) a fight against the title character — played by former SNL star, Rob Schneider — over a baby doll.

Nicolas Cage (The Best Of Times)

When his name was still Nicolas Coppola, the man who would be Nicolas Cage starred in a failed pilot for a coming-of-age ABC sitcom from 1981 called The Best of Times. The future Oscar winner’s scenes are a precursor to the iconic manic energy he would exhibit in movies like Vampire’s Kiss or Face/Off that every Cage fan should seek out if they can.

Margot Robbie (Neighbours)

Just like many other A-list Australian actors, Oscar nominee Margot Robbie got her start on a long-running soap opera called Neighbours when she was 17. The lead Barbie cast member actually appeared in one episode from 2022 to reprise her role as Donna Freedman.

Denzel Washington (Wilma)

Two-time Academy Award winner Denzel Washington is a living legend of the big screen, but made a name for himself on the small one. His very first gig was Wilma — a made-for-TV biopic about Wilma Rudolph that aired on NBC in 1977 — as the Olympic track sprinter’s then husband, Robert Eldridge.

Meryl Streep (Everybody Rides The Carousel)

Three-time Oscar winner Meryl Streep has done some great voice acting over the years, including an episode of The Simpsons, a Wes Anderson movie called Fantastic Mr. Fox, and her first job: Everybody Rides the Carousel. Originally airing on CBS in 1976, the animated film is inspired by psychoanalyst Erik H. Erikson’s “Eight Stages of Development” and Streep lends her voice to the “Stage 6” segment, which covers intimacy. 

Harrison Ford (Dead Heat On A Merry-Go-Round)

We’ve seen Harrison Ford play an intergalactic pilot in the Star Wars movies, a daredevil archaeologist in the Indiana Jones movies, and other intimidating professions, but it all started when he played a bellboy. He appears in one scene from writer and director Bernard Girard’s 1966 crime thriller, Dead Heat on a Merry-Go-Round, delivering a message to a “Mr. Ellis,” which is really an alias for the con man protagonist, Eli Kotch, played by James Coburn.

Scarlett Johansson (Late Night With Conan O'Brien)

When Scarlett Johansson appeared on Late Night with Conan O’Brien to promote one of the best 2000s movies, Lost in Translation, the host recalls that the future Marvel star’s first paid gig was a bit on his show from a decade earlier. She played a Spelling Bee champion who turns out to have a habit of missing a letter or two, as exposed by Andy Richter.

Robert De Niro (Three Rooms In Manhattan)

New York just happens to have been the setting for many great Robert De Niro movies, such as Taxi Driver, Goodfellas, and his very first gig — as an extra — called Three Rooms in Manhattan. You can very clearly see the two-time Oscar-winner in the background during a scene from the 1965 French drama about an actor’s romantic encounter with a woman in the Big Apple.

Amy Adams (Drop Dead Gorgeous)

The first time you saw Amy Adams might have been on The Office or in 2007's Enchanted or even in one of her many Academy Award-nominated performances — such as from Doubt or Arrival. However, her true introduction to the world was in an underrated ‘90s movie called Drop Dead Gorgeous — a mockumentary-style dark comedy in which she plays a contestant for a beauty pageant plagued by a murderous plot.

Brad Pitt (Hunk)

Fittingly, one of Hollywood’s most iconic “hunks” debuted in a movie called Hunk, in which a computer nerd’s deal with the devil makes him a looker. However, Brad Pitt is not the titular hunk of this 1987 comedy, but an extra who can be seen in the top right hand corner of the frame, enjoying some sun on the beach, for one scene.

Tom Hanks (He Knows You’re Alone)

In 2023, two-time Oscar winner Tom Hanks spoke to Jess Eagle about getting his SAG card for starring in a low budget slasher called He Knows You’re Alone as a psych student who befriends an engaged woman stalked by a killer. The Forrest Gump star would make a few other contributions to the horror genre, such as Joe Dante’s The Burbs, an episode of Tales from the Crypt, the Halloween special Toy Story of Terror, and as one of his best SNL characters, David S. Pumpkins.

Sandra Bullock (Hangmen)

The movie that skyrocketed Sandra Bullock to the A-list was one of the best action movies of all time, Speed. The Academy Award winner’s very first movie (and acting gig in general) was also an action flick from 1987 called Hangmen, in which she plays the girlfriend of a teen whose father must stay one step ahead of a terrorist organization that has infiltrated the CIA.

Ryan Gosling (The All New Mickey Mouse Club)

When he was 13, Ryan Gosling entered show business as a Mousketeer on Disney Channel’s variety series, The All New Mickey Mouse Club, where he introduced the world to his skills as an actor, singer, dancer, and comedian. He would later utilize these skills to much acclaim in the likes of La La Land and Barbie, but where he learned to be a stoic, intimidating action hero in other great Gosling movies like Drive and Blade Runner 2049 remains a mystery.

Julia Roberts (Crime Story)

Julia Roberts became America’s Sweetheart in the 1990s, but what officially launched her career was Crime Story — an Emmy-nominated 1960s-set detective drama that aired in 1980s, starring Dennis Farina and produced by Michael Mann. The Oscar winner appears in Season 1’s “The Survivor” — which you can check out with a Peacock subscription — as the teenager daughter of Farina’s character’s love interest, who is discovered to have survived a harrowing assault.

Ben Affleck (The Dark End Of The Street)

Ben Affleck’s career began when he played a young boy named Tommy in the 1981 drama The Dark End of the Street, which follows a teen couple whose information about a murder could save an innocent man’s life. That sounds like the kind of thriller that the Oscar-winning star and director of Argo could handle from behind the camera, too.

Michelle Yeoh (The Owl Vs. Bumbo)

Before becoming a martial arts movie legend, Everything Everywhere All At Once star Michelle Yeoh made her acting debut alongside martial arts legend Sammo Hung in this Hong Kong-based action-comedy. Kung also directed The Owl vs. Bumbo, in which two former thieves are forced to become mentors at a youth center.

Zendaya (Shake It Up)

Zendaya became an Emmy-winning actor for her role in the Euphoria cast as a troubled teen. However, when she was actually a teen, she got her start as a Disney Channel star on Shake It Up, in which Rocky Blue (Zendaya) and her best friend, CeCe Jones (Bella Thorne), land gigs as professional dancers on a hit variety show.

Jake Gyllenhaal (City Slickers)

Jake Gyllenhaal earned his first Academy Award nomination for playing a cowboy in one of his best movies, Brokeback Mountain. Somewhat coincidentally, the Spider-Man movie villain actor made his debut as the son of an aspiring cowboy (played by Billy Crystal) in the classic ‘90s comedy, City Slickers. 

Florence Pugh (The Falling)

Even before landing her Oscar-nominated role in 2019’s Little Women cast, Florence Pugh became an awards darling right out the gate with 2014’s The Falling. In fact, both she and Game of Thrones cast member Maisie Williams were nominated for Young British/Irish Performer of the Year at the London Critics Circle Film Awards for their performances in the coming-of-age period thriller.

Matt Damon (Mystic Pizza)

Years before reuniting with her in the Ocean’s Eleven cast, Matt Damon made his acting debut alongside Julia Roberts in Mystic Pizza. The future Jason Bourne movies star appears in a small role from a memorable dinner scene in the 1988 romantic dramedy.

Jamie Lee Curtis (Quincy M.E.)

Three years before landing her big screen debut in the first Halloween movie, Jamie Lee Curtis tried screen acting for the first time in a Season 2 episode of Quincy M.E.  Her small, but still memorable, role is a woman whom the titular medical examiner (played by Jack Klugman) accidentally walks in on at a department store changing room. This prompts her to tell him that he won’t find what he is looking for here with a level of spunk that would become signature for the Academy Award winner.

Johnny Depp (A Nightmare On Elm Street)

Wes Craven’s 1984 supernatural slasher not only saw the debut of classic horror villain, Freddy Krueger (Robert England), but also of one of the biggest celebrities of all time. Johnny Depp’s career began when he joined the A Nightmare on Elm Street cast as Glen Lantz, who, arguably, has the best death scene in the film at the hands of the razor-clawed, dream-infiltrating boogeyman.

Brie Larson (The Tonight Show With Jay Leno)

Eight-year-old Brie Larson launched her career by starring in a series of faux ads for The Tonight Show during its Jay Leno era. The now Academy Award winner for Room and Captain Marvel actor recalled the experience on Jimmy Fallon’s Tonight Show before showing a clip of her in a sketch called “Road Kill Easy Bake Oven.”

Ryan Reynolds (Fifteen)

Despite being known best today for his brazen sense of humor, Deadpool movies star Ryan Reynolds started his career in a most earnest way. He starred in 18 episodes of the Canadian coming-of-age drama Fifteen — which was also known was Hillside — in the role of Billy. 

Anne Hathaway (Get Real)

While her breakthrough role was the lead of Disney’s The Princess Diaries cast, Academy Award winner Anne Hathaway broke out in 1999 on a TV show called Get Real. The short-lived dramedy was also the debut of Hathaway’s Rio co-star, Jesse Eisenberg, and was an early gig for NCIS’s Eric Christian Olsen as well.

Jackie Chan (Big And Little Wong Tin Bar)

Fitting how one of the most quintessential kung fu movie actors, Jackie Chan, got his start in a movie from 1962 about the art itself called Big and Little Wong Tin Bar. You almost feel like you are watching the birth of a martial arts master as the future Rush Hour star plays a student of martial arts.

How does your first job compare to these?

Animated movies like Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles: Mutant Mayhem usually boast how they’ve scored an amazing cast of familiar voices you’ve heard. To say that director Jeff Rowe had achieved that same feat would be an understatement, as the voice talent for Paramount’s new reboot on the half shell is truly stacked. 

Whether you've seen the movie already or want to double check your assumptions on who's in the cast, we've got you covered. So if you thought you heard a familiar voice or two in this entry of the 2023 movie release schedule, then take a look at the list below and see if your instincts were right. 

Micah Abbey (Donatello)

With two episodes of Grey’s Anatomy, as well as the role of Leaf in Cousins For Life, under his belt, Micah Abbey landed the role of Donatello in the Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles family. Those experiences have helped Abbey’s portrayal, as his spot as the quick thinking genius of the group benefits from such performances.

Shamon Brown Jr. (Michelangelo)

Ever the prankster, Michelangelo is the class clown when it comes to these brothers in arms. Taking up that role is actor Shamon Brown Jr., who can be seen in the Showtime original series The Chi in the role of Papa. According to Variety, Brown will also be reprising his role as Michelangelo, along with his on-screen brothers, in the the upcoming series Tales of the Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles, which will serve as the connective tissue to a greenlit sequel to Mutant Mayhem. 

Nicolas Cantu (Leonardo)

Actor Nicolas Cantu’s collection of roles ranges from the voice of Charlie on Netflix’s Skull Island to Elton on The Walking Dead: Worlds Beyond. With guest spots on Family Guy, The Rookie, and 9-1-1: Lone Star also in the mix, Cantu’s role as the de facto leader and occasional “narc” in the family comes with a lot of experience behind it. 

Brady Noon (Raphael)

Ever the hot head, Raphael is the Ninja Turtle you’d most likely get into a fight with. It’s ok, because his anger totally isn’t a problem; especially when it comes to Brady Noon’s colorful performance! Previously seen on HBO’s Boardwalk Empire as young Tommy Darmody, Noon has recently been a fixture for those with a Disney+ subscription thanks to playing Greg in the animated Diary of a Wimpy Kid movies and Evan Morrow from Mighty Ducks: Game Changers.

Ayo Edebiri (April O'Neil)

You might recognize the voice of April O’Neill in Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles: Mutant Mayhem thanks to Ayo Edebiri’s previous voice work on Netflix’s Big Mouth. Or you might remember her as Sydney from FX’s The Bear. In either case, Ms. Edebiri has had an amazing run in her recent resume, preparing her to play the hard-hitting teenage journalist to great effect.

Jackie Chan (Splinter)

Traditionally, Splinter has been portrayed as both a master of martial arts and a concerned father. So tying those two factors together by casting Jackie Chan in the role is a pretty ingenious stroke when you think about it. A veteran of action/comedies like Rush Hour, Chan has also built a pretty impressive career in voice-overs through work in the Kung-Fu Panda movies, as well as The Lego Ninjago Movie. Though you may have also seen Jackie Chan in the flesh recently, thanks to the Netflix success of his movie Hidden Strike.

Ice Cube (Superfly)

It takes a villain as cunning, yet charming, as Superfly to terrorize the world of Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles: Mutant Mayhem. That’s exactly what audiences have gotten out of the experience thanks to rapper/actor Ice Cube playing this part with both of those qualities front and center. Cube made a name for himself through acting in the Friday and Barbershop franchises, as well as jumping in on the action/adventure thrill ride xXx: State of the Union. 

Giancarlo Esposito (Baxter Stockman)

Scientist Baxter Stockman isn’t as villainous as you’d think in Mutant Mayhem, as he doesn't turn into Superfly in this incarnation. (Despite that version of Stockman, from the 2012 Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles series, being pictured above.) This turn is just as shocking as learning that Giancarlo Esposito is the voice behind this fatherly presence. 

As Gus Fring on Breaking Bad and Moff Gideon on The Mandalorian, Esposito’s more menacing side got a true workout. However, there are more ruthless characters in this universe, some of which are connected to his work with “the ooze.”

Maya Rudolph (Cynthia Utrom)

Cynthia Utrom wants all of Baxter Stockman’s research, and she wants it now! The overarching antagonist who wants to milk the Turtles and capture all of Stockman’s creations, Cynthia’s unique voice comes from SNL vet Maya Rudolph. Also known for voice work in The Mitchells vs. The Machines' cast (which was co-directed/written by Mutant Mayhem’s Jeff Rowe), Rudolph is also notable for her role in Paul Feig’s comedy masterpiece Bridesmaids.

Seth Rogen (Bebop)

Speaking of Baxter Stockman’s experiments, they too have formed a superpowered family under the watchful eye of Superfly. One of the most iconic has to be Bebop, one half of a team that’s long terrorized the Turtles, but actually befriends them in Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles: Mutant Mayhem. Played by producer and co-writer Seth Rogen, this “permanent teenager” kicked off his acting career with Knocked Up, and has been in everything from Superbad to Steve Jobs since then.

John Cena (Rocksteady)

If you have Bebop, then you definitely need to have Rocksteady by his side. Completing this dynamic duo is an unlikely, but awesome scene partner: John Cena. Most recently seen in Barbie and Fast X, this WWE veteran is up for pretty much anything… even playing the live-action scene partner to Mutant Mayhem co-star Jackie Chan in that Netflix hit we discussed earlier, Hidden Strike!

Hannibal Buress (Genghis Frog)

Be it in his role as Coach Wilson in Spider-Man: Homecoming or as an exaggerated version of himself in The Eric Andre Show, Hannibal Buress is a fan favorite in the world of comedy. Taking on Genghis Frog is a perfect opportunity for his talents, as Buress’ deadpan delivery and comedic threats are a solid fit for this character’s role in Superfly’s gang.

Rose Byrne (Leatherhead)

An alligator with an attitude, Leatherhead is just as likely to threaten to bite you as she is to make you an onion-based treat that practically blooms on the table. Voiced by Rose Byrne, she’s yet another Bridesmaids cast member on the Mutant Mayhem team. Though you may have also seen her in live-action through the Peter Rabbit movies, as well as in Apple TV+’s Platonic with Seth Rogen.

Natasia Demetriou (Wingnut)

Depending on who you are, casting Natasia Demetriou as the batty Wingnut is either on the nose or clever casting. Thanks to her role as vampire/bat Nadja on What We Do In The Shadows, hearing a flying creature with Demetriou’s familiar voice is certainly going to have her fans recognizing her presence faster than you can say, “Bat!”

Post Malone (Ray Fillet)

Ray Fillet is a creature that loves to sing, and rightfully so, as Mutant Mayhem scored the talents of rapper Post Malone to give him those soulful melodies. Credited under his real name, Austin Post, Malone has also been featured in movies like Guy Ritchie’s Wrath of Man, as well as playing the role of Squeeb in the Netflix film Spenser Confidential. 

Paul Rudd (Mondo Gecko)

Don’t let the “introducing” credit fool you, as that scrappy up-and -omer Paul Rudd has been making a name for himself for some time. Appearing in various comedies like Clueless, and even Knocked Up with fellow mutant vocalist Seth Rogen, Rudd is probably best known as the MCU’s cinematic Ant-Man. Though, to be honest, Mondo Gecko’s vibes could put him in contest with Scott Lang for “best Paul Rudd role of all time.” 

With such a deep bench of talent in Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles: Mutant Mayhem, there are a lot of voices to recognize. So we’re glad to be able to help identify the lot, and keep you from racking your brain too hard over who’s who; as a lot of the lines throughout this exciting action/comedy were bound to ring some bells in the minds of all who have seen it. 

If you haven’t had a chance to experience the Mutant Mayhem for yourself, don’t worry. Turtle Power has returned to a theater near you, and will more than likely wind up as part of the perks to having a Paramount+ subscription at some point in the future. 

We truly don’t get to see Jackie Chan in major movies like we used to, but this week, the famed Hong Kong actor is actually in two high-profile Hollywood movies. He’s the voice of Master Splinter in this weekend’s Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles: Mutant Mayhem, and he co-stars with John Cena in Hidden Strike, which is currently No. 1 on Netflix. However, there seems to be a catch when it comes to the action release: not many people seem to like it. 

Hidden Strike was reportedly filmed back in 2018 after being announced the same year under the title Project X. That’s a long time between its production and release! After the movie hit theaters in some places overseas in early July, it was decided to ditch a theatrical release in many territories altogether and hit Netflix over the weekend. While the movie is No. 1 on the platform in the U.S. and among the top 10 movies in 73 countries, its Rotten Tomatoes score is rough. The critic driven Tomotometer is 17%, while the Audience Score is 57%. 

Per the rating aggregator, Hidden Strike is rotten on both fronts between reviews and thoughts from casual audiences. It looks like the fact that Jackie Chan and John Cena are the stars of Hidden Strike are seriously drawing in audiences this week, with Netflix counting 37.8 million hours viewed in its first two days on the streaming platform. 

The movie is about two ex-special forces soldiers who are called upon to escort a group of civilians along Baghdad’s “Highway of Death” to the safety of the Green Zone. The movie also stars Pilou Asbæk and is helmed by Scott Waugh, who previously directed 2012’s Act of Valor and 2014’s Need For Speed movie. 

In the rating section of Rotten Tomatoes, there’s definitely some mixed thoughts among audiences. While some comments called it “impressively terrible” and “an absolute crap fest,” other people defended the movie, saying it’s “quite decent” and a “low budget, fun to watch piece of escapism.” Bear in mind, only six reviews are actually counted for Hidden Strike. For many releases, over 100 critics’ reviews are accumulated to make up a Tomatometer score. 

Of course, one’s thoughts on a given movie are subjective, and we encourage you to check it out with a Netflix subscription and make your own assumptions about the quality of the film. Given the general consensus, this one’s not a big-budget action movie, nor is it likely to blow your mind. For those itching to see a Jackie Chan and John Cena team-up in a movie together, it certainly checks those boxes. 

While it may not be a critical-acclaimed movie, perhaps Hidden Strike's popularity can inspire another action movie starring the badass duo! 

Some legacy-quels can hang in there, no matter how long they take to get made. For years this has been true when it comes to the proposed Rush Hour 4 project, which is apparently still in active development. A potential reunion between Chris Tucker and Jackie Chan is so exciting! It’s also something that Tucker has recently hyped up himself, stating his excitement to get back to the franchise that provided both men with a massive hit. 

V-103’s Big Tigger Morning Show recently had Tucker on as a guest, and the good and the bad surrounding this action/comedy franchise came up. Not too far removed from when Tucker singled out Rush Hour 3 as a sub-par effort, the comedian took the time to talk about his future career plans thusly: 

This new update comes about five years after we were told that Rush Hour 4 was “definitely happening.” Since then, we’ve seen both actors popping up in new projects on the 2023 movie schedule; so it’s not like the boys have been sitting around the phone, waiting for this to happen. 

Chris Tucker was recently part of the impressive Air cast. The film directed by Ben Affleck told the story of Nike’s efforts to build the Air Jordan shoe line. Meanwhile, Jackie Chan will be heard in the cast of Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles: Mutant Mayhem, and he has a Netflix hit brewing with the new movie Hidden Strike. 

No matter where they go, or what new credits are added to their resumes, the subject of Rush Hour 4 always seems to follow them. Sixteen years after Rush Hour 3 was released there’s still a demand for this third sequel to bring Detective James Carter and Chief Inspector Lee back to the big screen. But somehow, movement has been sporadic at best, and prolonged at worst.

Despite being undoubtedly hyped about the potential movie, Chris Tucker sounded a little apprehensive. In that same interview he codified a statement by saying that “if” it happens, Rush Hour 4 won’t be as compromised as its predecessor. A lot of uncertainty is in the air, despite the best wishes keeping this franchise alive for almost 20 years.

Perhaps that same power of fandom and nostalgia will make it all happen in the end. We’re all just going to have to keep waiting for more Rush Hour 4 updates, however, it's important to stay optimistic. As we wait to see what happens with this movie, and we work to keep the hype alive, you can see Chris Tucker in Air with a Prime Video subscription; and you can check out Jackie Chan in Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles: Mutant Mayhem, which is currently showing at at theater near you.

How do you pick just one of the ‘80s movies for the biggest movie stars of the decade? It’s a challenging task, but we figure we’re up for the job. So if you find yourself only able to watch a single '80s film starring each of these icons, here’s the only list you’ll need. 

Tom Cruise - Top Gun

This one is obvious, right? Top Gun is the movie that made Tom Cruise a superstar and his career has never wavered since. It was such a cultural phenomenon at the time that not only did it make an astounding $357 million at the box office (against a $15 million budget), it became the best-selling VHS tape of all time, based on pre-orders alone! Everyone saw it that summer, and again when it was released on home video. He revived the franchise 36 years later and dominated at the box office again with Top Gun: Maverick. 

Steve Martin - Dirty Rotten Scoundrels

Steve Martin had a string of hits in the 1980s, but his best of the bunch was Dirty Rotten Scoundrels. It’s a perfect example of how varied Martin’s comedy could be. At times refined, at others completely physical and off the wall. Martin puts everything into this performance and it shows in the results. It’s just a brilliantly hilarious film. 

Whoopi Goldberg - Jumpin’ Jack Flash

Whoopi Goldberg burst onto the big screen in The Color Purple (more on that film in a minute). Her performance was lauded by critics, with Roger Ebert calling it “one of the most amazing debut performances in movie history.” It’s certainly a film worth watching for her Oscar-nominated performance, but if you really want to get a great idea of what Goldberg was all about in the ‘80s, check out  Jumpin’ Jack Flash. Goldberg is, after all, a comedian at heart, and she brings all her comedic skill to bare in this early tech/spy thriller. It’s another A+ performance from the star of The View.

Goldie Hawn - Overboard

Goldie Hawn was already a veteran in show business by the time the ‘80s started, but she saved some of her best performances for the decade. In her final movie of the decade, she teamed up with Kurt Russell for Overboard, and the chemistry between the two is right there on the screen for all to see. Both actors are amazing, and Hawn truly is one of America’s sweethearts. 

Morgan Freeman - Lean On Me

By 1989, Morgan Freeman had been steadily working in Hollywood for more than two decades, but it was that year that his career jumped to superstar levels. He starred in 4 films in the final year of the decade, including Driving Miss Daisy and Glory. Those two films garnered 14 Oscar nominations between them, including a Best Actor nod for Freeman. It was a third film though, Lean On Me that really lit the screen on fire. Based on the true story of a principal named Joe Clark who is charged with cleaning up a Paterson, NJ school. Freeman’s performance is powerful and set the stage for all that came after it in his career. 

Demi Moore - About Last Night

One of the actors to emerge out of the 1980s “Brat Pack,” Demi Moore forged a career that lasted well into the ‘90s and beyond, with some of her finest work coming in her first few films. One of those, About Last Night, holds up incredibly well. It’s a unique take on the rom-com and is at times much more serious than so many others from this era, due in large part to the grittier story it was adapted from (David Mamet’s play, Sexual Perversity in Chicago) and Moore’s excellent performance alongside Rob Lowe.  

Harrison Ford - Raiders Of The Lost Ark

Sure, there are a few movies that would fit here for Harrison Ford, like that one about the space wars or whatever it’s called. But for pure, distilled Ford, nothing beats Indiana Jones and nothing beats the OG Raiders of the Lost Ark. It’s Ford at his very best: snarky, charming, witty, and tough. No Nazi is safe with Indy after them. 

Oprah Winfrey - The Color Purple

Oprah Winfrey’s rise to all-powerful media queen began in the ‘80s and a very big piece of that was her acting performance in 1985’s The Color Purple. She was nominated for an Oscar in her film debut and almost four decades later, the film’s powerful message of overcoming abuse still resonates with audiences. It was nominated for 10 Academy Awards, though it shockingly didn’t win any, which is a shame. 

Chevy Chase - Fletch

Like Harrison Ford, you could go in a lot of directions with Chevy Chase, but, like Raiders, you need to go with the purest form of Chase and for that, there is nothing better than the original Fletch. He's at his sarcastic best as Irwin Fletcher. No one can quite be as charmingly condescending as peak Chase and no one is spared here. Order up a couple of steak sandwiches and some caviar; Fletch just hit a water buffalo.

Meryl Streep - Out Of Africa

In the 10 Academy Awards shows of the ‘80s, Meryl Streep was nominated seven times. She won her first (and only of the decade) for 1982’s Sophie’s Choice, but let’s get real, as amazing as she is in it, no one really wants to sit down with a bowl of popcorn and watch that one. Instead, consider a performance just as good, but slightly more upbeat (only slightly, though). Out of Africa is beautiful, as are Streep and Robert Redford in the lead roles, and the tragic story comes to life like magic with her performance. 

Geena Davis - Beetlejuice

Geena Davis made steady progress in her career in the early ‘80s but really found a new level in Beetlejuice. Her on-screen partnership with Alec Baldwin as two ghosts frustrated with the people living in their house is excellent, as they more or less play the “straight man” to Micheal Keaton’s titular character. It’s not an easy gig, but Davis is amazing. 

Jackie Chan - Police Story

Jackie Chan didn’t break big in the United States until the ‘90s and by then he was the biggest action star in Hong Kong. It was 1985’s Police Story that solidified his spot at the top and if you’ve never seen it, you definitely need to. While Chan has always been an amazing stuntman, it’s Police Story that brings all his skills to the forefront, from amazing fight scenes to the epic opening car chase with Chan hanging onto a bus with an umbrella as he pursues the baddies. It’s one of the most insane stunts in Chan’s history of insane stunts. 

Kathleen Turner - Romancing The Stone

Romancing the Stone is one of the great comedies of the 1980s and features some amazing performances from Michael Douglas and Danny DeVito, but Kathleen Turner’s Joan Wilder takes the cake. Or the bail of pot, as the case may be here. Walking that line between an intrepid explorer looking for her kidnapped sister and a damsel in distress, Turner shines. Her chemistry with Douglas and DeVito is so good, they made two more films together, the sequel Jewel of the Nile and the unrelated The War of the Roses, but it’s Stone that remains the best. 

Michael Douglas - Wall Street

Michael Douglas is great as Jack in Romancing The Stone, but it’s his portrayal of Gordon Gekko in Wall Street that makes for one of the greatest movie villains in cinema history. Of course, he won an Oscar for the performance, but it’s how quotable the movie and his character are that makes it one of the best of all time, even if those quoting don’t always understand the heavy-handed irony in each line. 

Edward James Olmos - Stand And Deliver

With Stand And Deliver, director Ramón Menéndez told the true story of math teacher Jaime Escalante who sought to raise the level of education single-handily in an East LA high school by daring to teach underprivileged Hispanic kids calculus. Edward James Olmos plays Escalante brilliantly, earning himself an Oscar nomination in the process. 

Tom Hanks - Big

Tom Hanks grew up with Big, literally and figuratively. It marks the point in his career when he jumped from a wild and wacky comedian to an actor who can take on any role, no matter how serious, and make it his own. There are the wilder moments, but there is also a real vulnerability to the man-child Josh Baskin that Hanks makes so authentic for the audience. It’s no wonder it earned him his first Oscar nomination. 

Daryl Hannah - Splash

Another Hanks movie also happens to be the great Daryl Hannah’s finest performance. Before Ariel, there was Madison, the mermaid who longed to walk on the land with humans and falls in love with an average Joe. Hannah’s performance magically convinces audiences that it’s exactly what a fish out of water would be like. 

Mel Gibson - Lethal Weapon

Back before Mel Gibson was a lightening rod for controversy, he played some pretty amazing roles and none more so that Martin Riggs in the Lethal Weapon series. From the very first scene, audiences see that classic “Mel Gibson Crazy Eyes” face and it sets the tone for the movie and the franchise, one that had remarkable life to it. That first scene is also why Lethal Weapon should be in the conversation for the best Christmas movie, alongside Die Hard. 

Arnold Schwarzenegger - The Terminator

The decade wouldn't be as big and as over the top as it was without Arnold Schwarzenegger. The Austrian bodybuilder took the movie world by storm and there are any number of enjoyable performances, but if you're looking at 1980s movies, you have to choose The Terminator. It launched him to superstardom, and it kicked off a franchise of Terminator movies that's lasted for decades. Sure, he only has a handful of lines, but no one could top his performance as a relentless killing machine that we all somehow fell in love with… later. 

Sylvester Stallone - First Blood

Not only did First Blood launch one of the most enduring franchises of the era, but it’s also just a really good film. It could be argued that it’s Sylvester Stallone’s best. His performance as a down-and-out Vietnam vet highlighted the plight of returning soldiers from that war. Brian Dennehy plays the antagonist perfectly as the angry sheriff that doesn’t take kindly to strangers in his town. A+. 

Michelle Pfeiffer - Scarface

Scarface really hasn’t aged all that well. Sure, the memes are fantastic, but as a film, it feels as dated as neon green headbands and electric typewriters. The lone exception is Michelle Pfeiffer’s performance. It’s still great, and made her one of the biggest stars of the 1980s. 

Molly Ringwald - Sixteen Candles

Molly Ringwald was once called John Hughes’ muse and it’s easy to see why she became such a mainstay in many of his hit movies from the era. Sixteen Candles is truly one of the funniest movies of the ‘80s, in part because of the side characters, but mostly it’s due to Ringwald’s fantastic performance as the girl the family forgot. 

Denzel Washington - Glory

Denzel Washington was nominated for his first Oscar for 1987’s Cry Freedom, but he won his first for 1989’s Glory. The cool thing about Glory is that it’s actually one of his most powerful performances, as audiences didn’t know him as DENZEL yet. The movie follows one of the few Black companies fighting for the Union during the Civil War and tells a story that had sort of been forgotten in the public consciousness at the time. The success of Glory and of Washington’s performance, especially in the scene where he is whipped, is one of the reasons that story will never be forgotten again. 

Jodie Foster - The Accused

The Accused is not an easy movie to watch. It begins with one of the most brutal rape scenes in cinema history and follows Jodie Foster’s character, Sarah Tobias, on the quest to get justice. The subject matter was so intense, the role was reportedly turned down by a number of A-listers at the time. It was fortuitous for Foster, who had struggled to re-ignite her career after attending Yale. Her performance won her an Oscar and the rest is history. 

Sally Field - Steel Magnolias

There are great Sally Field movies in every decade since she jumped from TV to the big screen in the mid-70s. For the ‘80s, you can’t go wrong with Steel Magnolias. It may be a tad melodramatic at times, but it stays grounded with the acting by Field and other stars like Julia Roberts, Dolly Parton, and Shirley MacLaine. 

Bill Murray - Ghostbusters

Bill Murray had so many great movies in the 1980s, it’s difficult to pick just one, but in the end, you have to go with Ghostbusters. His turn as Peter Venkman is so funny, so quotable, and so lovable, that without him, it would be a completely different movie. John Belushi in the role was the original plan, but after his death, Murray ended up in the role, and now we can’t imagine it any other way. 

Robin Williams - Good Morning Vietnam

Good Morning Vietnam was an important movie in Robin Williams' stellar career. It was the movie that truly showed audiences just how great his acting chops were. He was no longer just the frenetic comedian running around the stage inspiring laughs. Williams showed his dramatic side, especially after the bomb went off in his favorite cafe. Of course, there is plenty of off-the-wall zaniness from him that we all love, which makes it one of his most well-rounded performances. 

Glenn Close - Fatal Attraction

There are few more quintessential scenes from the 1980s than the boiling bunny in Fatal Attraction. Glenn Close’s performance as the unpredictable, jilted lover is just as iconic. Like the bunny in the pot, her character comes to a slow boil, getting more and more intense as the movie moves along. It’s a masterclass in acting from the legend. 

Micheal J. Fox - Back To The Future

No way we were going to leave Michael J. Fox off this list. Between Family Ties, and Teen Wolf, there is no actor that defines the decade quite like him. Of course, it’s no surprise that the essential movie for any Fox fan is the great Back to the Future. It’s a movie that has been introduced to, and loved by, countless people from Generation X and the following generations. It’s beloved by all. 

Jane Fonda - 9 To 5

Jane Fonda, like Sally Field, has decades of outstanding movies and performances, but when she teamed up with Dolly Parton and Lily Tomlin to make 9 to 5, she became an icon to a whole new generation. It’s been more than forty years since its release, but the chemistry between Fonda and Tomlin remains, as they proved last year with Moving On.

Eddie Murphy - Coming To America

Last, but certainly not least, we have one of the biggest breakout stars of the 1980s, Eddie Murphy. Like others, it’s hard to decide on just one, but in the end, it simply has to be Coming To America. It’s the quintessential Murphy film filled with memorable quotes and amazing performances from the entire cast, especially Murphy. 

This list could go on and on. The 1980s were a magical decade in theaters and crafting exhaustive list would prove to be impossible. Luckily, you can find the best ‘80s movies, and even '80s movies that don't get enough love if you need more. 

It's been almost a decade since the TMNT graced the silver screen, with the last movies to star the crime-fighting sewer dwellers being the poorly received Michael Bay-produced duology. But die-hard turtle fans can get excited because we don’t have much longer to wait for the reptile brother’s next big screen adventure. The heroes in a half shell are officially on the 2023 new movies schedule, with Seth Rogen’s animated reboot , Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles: Mutant Mayhem, right around the corner. And if that weren't exciting enough, Rogen just officially announced his cast, and it's putting heavy hitters like Jackie Chan and Paul Rudd in totally tubular roles. Cowabunga!

Producer and actor Seth Rogen took the stage on Saturday, March 4, during the Nickelodeon Kids’ Choice Awards, to introduce the world to the fresh-faced turtle team voiced by Micah Abbey (Donatello), Shamon Brown Jr. (Michelangelo), Nicolas Cantu (Leonardo), and Brady Noon (Raphael) while also revealing the major A-Listers set for key roles. It was confirmed that beloved Hong Kong actor and martial arts icon Jackie Chan is set to play the turtle mentor Splinter, Rogen will play the mutagen-injected warthog henchman Bebop, and the age-defying Paul Rudd will lend his voice to Mondo Gecko. For the complete cast list, see below:

• Nicolas Cantu as Leonardo
• Micah Abbey as Donatello
• Shamon Brown Jr. as Michelangelo
• Brady Noon as Raphael 
• Jackie Chan as Splinter 
• Ayo Edebiri as April O’Neil 
• Hannibal Buress as Genghis Frog
• Rose Byrne as Leatherhead 
• Seth Rogen as Bebop 
• John Cena as Rocksteady 
• Ice Cube as Superfly 
• Natasia Demetriou as Wingnut 
• Giancarlo Esposito as Baxter Stockman
• Post Malone as Ray Fillet 
• Paul Rudd as Mondo Gecko 
• Maya Rudolph as Cynthia Utrom

What’s notable about this casting announcement is the creative team’s decision not to include the most iconic Turtle villain, Shredder -- and to highlight some of the lesser-known foes, like Wingnut and Ray Fillet. And the inclusions of fun characters such the skateboard-loving Mondo Gecko will make this version of the Turtles stand out from past cinematic incarnations. Stars like Jackie Chan (who's perfectly cast), Ayo Edebiri and John Cena should also help to breathe fresh new life into some of the series' classic characters.

The casting news wasn’t the only exciting information from Rogen’s announcement. It was revealed that the teaser trailer for the highly anticipated film will premiere on the TMNT Movie Socials and Paramount Pictures’ YouTube channel this Monday, March 6. It’s going to be a good day for Turtle fans!

While the plot of the latest flick to center on the world’s most fearsome fighting team was relatively under wraps. What we now know for sure about TMNT: Mutant Mayhem (amongst other details) is that it will center around the team after years of being sheltered from the human world, setting out to win the hearts of New Yorkers until they bite off a bit more than they can chew. The teen ninjas will come face to face with a mysterious crime syndicate that unleashes an army of mutants for them to face off against.

If this cast wasn’t enough to get me excited, Seth Rogen, a self-proclaimed lifelong TMNT fanboy, said that the music has a Tony Hawk connection that gets me so pumped for this new interpretation of the team. It feels like Rogen and his collaborators have put a lot of thought into this production as evidenced by the castings and sweet Easter eggs. I can't wait to hear what he, Jackie Chan, Paul Rudd and co. have in store!

Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles: Mutant Mayhem was directed by one-half of the team that helmed the critically acclaimed Netflix feature The Mitchells vs. the Machines and is set to release in cinemas on August 4, 2023. While you wait for its release, check out our ranking of the Ninja Turtles movies.

Certainly, when it comes to the new Dungeons & Dragons movie, Honor Among Thieves, one expects the film will take the majority of its influence from the TTRPG that inspired it. In the first trailer for the D&D movie, which shows off stars Chris Pine, Michelle Rodriguez and more, we could see the party of heroes is made up of the various D&D character classes and there will be no shortage of D&D creatures to fight that come from the game. However, the new D&D movie also has some more surprising influences, like Jurassic Park and Jackie Chan movies. 

The directors and producer of Dungeons & Dragons: Honor Among Thieves sat down with CinemaBlend during the recent San Diego Comic-Con and revealed the movies that inspired the new film, not necessarily in content, but in style. Writer/Director John Francis Daley explained that the movie used Jackie Chan films as a model for filming its own action sequences, in trying to make them look as real as possible. This included using the actual actors whenever possible. Daley explained… 

Co-writer and co-director Jonathan Goldstein said that modern action movies have a tendency to get so close with the cameras, and so frequent with the edits, that it can be difficult for the audience to really tell what’s going on in an action scene. It was important in this movie not to do that. This is where Jackie Chan came in, because as Daley said, one can always see what’s going in those action sequences, and they work better because of it.

And practical sequences were an important part of Dungeons & Dragons: Honor Among Thieves outside of the action as well. While a movie full of magic and mystical creatures was certainly going to have a significant amount of digital effects, the filmmakers strived to find a balance between practical and digital effects, in the way that the iconic Jurassic Park did all those years ago. As Daley remarked…

Some of those practical shots in the new D&D film, like filming an actual volcano in Iceland, were more luck than planning, but they certainly worked out. Dungeons & Dragons: Honor Among Thieves is certainly taking from the best when it comes to inspiration. The movie also looks to be embracing the best parts of actually playing D&D, including the humor that frequently becomes part of the game. We’ll get to see just how well the film follows those that inspired it when it hits theaters next year.  

Everything Everywhere All at Once became the biggest surprise hit of 2022 so far. The film only scored a major box office milestone for A24, but achieved critical acclaim with star Michelle Yeoh being singled out for her performance. Looking at the multiverse comedy’s success would have any actor feeling left out of the madcap fun. That’s what happened as Yeoh revealed how she called out action legend Jackie Chan for passing up on her role in the film.

The martial arts legend missing out on the opportunity to star in the experimental action-comedy came up as the Crazy Rich Asian matriarch was interviewed by The Guardian. The film’s directing duo The Daniels revealed the Rush Hour actor was their first choice. Originally, Yeoh was cast as the wife with Chan set to headline the movie. But given the film icon’s busy schedule, he couldn’t commit to the film. Eventually the focus shifted from the husband to the wife, leading to the most acclaimed role of the actress’ decades-long career. But according to the Everything Everywhere actress, the actor was remorseful about passing up the film.

The Last Christmas actress had to rub the film’s success in her dear friend’s face. She was surprisingly blunt in her response, but you can do that when you’ve been friends for decades. Being two of Hong Kong’s top action stars, her response hinted at the competitive nature the two friends still share. It would’ve been nice to see two screen legends quell their alternate daughter’s multiverse takeover. But viewers won’t have gotten the return of onscreen husband Ke Huy Quan if the Hollywood veteran had signed on. Maybe the action star could pop up in a potential sequel.

Of course, Chan and Yeoh have starred in two seminal action movies. She served as the female lead to the Shanghai Knights actor in the cult classic Police Story 3: Super Cop. The sequel’s success led to the actress headlining the spinoff Super Cop 2, in which the Hollywood icon made a cameo. They first met on the set of a commercial in 1984. So, the two action stars have a long history together.

The acting legend has been acknowledging the indie film’s impact for some time. She acknowledged self-professed Everywhere Everything fan Andrew Garfield rocking the infamous hot dog fingers. The film even sparked a multiverse rivalry between the comedy and Doctor Strange 2. Co-star Jamie Lee Curtis has been calling out the Marvel film at every opportunity, including poking fun at greenscreen usage in the sequel. So, it appears everyone wants in on Everything Everywhere All at Once-mania.

Of course, the multiverse comedy is currently still pulling in and mystifying audiences in theaters. There are more upcoming indie films coming in 2022 for moviegoers to watch and support.

John Cena doesn’t seem like the type of person who would shy away from a challenge. After all, throughout his career, he’s taken on plenty of physically demanding roles. But it sounds like he may have taken on more than he bargained for with legendary martial arts star Jackie Chan. Because the workout that he put him through while they were filming a movie together led to a shocking and unexpected weight change for the Peacemaker star. 

There’s no denying that John Cena is ripped. Though he’s left his days as a professional wrestler behind, he has no qualms about showing off his strength on screen. But he told GQ that the way he works out has changed recently, and admitted he got off to a bit of a rocky start with one of his new exercise methods: 

John Cena probably isn’t the first person to find that exercises like yoga can transform the body in ways we don’t expect. While it sounds like it was a struggle for him at first, he pushed through and now seems to have found that his new routine is better for not only his body but his mind, too: 

While he’s not the first actor who’s found himself at the mercy of Jackie Chan’s intensive training methods, it sounds like he may have actually adopted it into his daily life. The cool thing about John Cena is that he seems like the kind of person who makes the best of life whenever possible. He sets a good example for others, because he’s not afraid to push himself into unfamiliar territory  – whether it’s a new workout, or a new career path, even if it means leaving behind a job he loves. 

As for Snafu, the movie he and Jackie Chan made, it sounds like it’s finally coming together after years of development. While there’s no official release date, there’s a good chance it could wind up being one of 2022’s new movie releases. We’ll keep an eye out for updates – and maybe give this whole stretching thing a try, too. 

Shang-Chi and the Legend of the Ten Rings finally provided the Asian-American community a spotlight as a first for the Marvel Cinematic Universe. Alongside Simu Liu becoming the first Asian big-screen superhero for the franchise, its director and a majority of the cast brought representation to the forefront with its casting, such as with stars like Awkwafina, Tony Leung and Michelle Yeoh. With a Shang-Chi sequel now on the way, it’s time to think about what Asian legends should join the MCU, and director Destin Daniel Cretton just dropped the perfect idea. 

CinemaBlend’s own Law Sharma spoke with the Shang-Chi director now that the film is available to stream on Disney+, rent and own on Blu-Ray. Destin Daniel Cretton said the following when asked what legendary Asian actor he’d like to cast in the upcoming sequel: 

Now that’s the GOAT right there. During the interview, Law Sharma proclaimed that we should all put that grand idea out into the universe, and Destin Daniel Cretton was all for it, continuing with this: 

It’s safe to say Shang-Chi and the Legend of the Ten Rings may not have been possible without the action star status of Jackie Chan before it. The Hong Kong actor first became a star in his home country before finding an abundant career in Hollywood from the ‘90s to the present day. Chan is, of course, well known for starring in hits like Rush Hour, Shanghai Noon and The Karate Kid remake. The actor really helped bring Hong Kong Action cinema to Hollywood following Bruce Lee’s own Hollywood breakthrough back in the ‘70s. 

Only so many actors have had the chance to break Hollywood barriers and lead Hollywood action films like Jackie Chan did, and undoubtedly the director and Simu Liu were influenced and inspired by Jackie Chan’s legacy. Liu even played tribute to Chan on the set of Shang-Chi with a specific move he pulled during the incredible city bus sequence early in the film.  

It would be amazing to see Jackie Chan be part of the Shang-Chi sequel, which was confirmed to be in the works last week with Destin Daniel Cretton once again directing. Chan has yet to join the Marvel Cinematic Universe, but these days, the 67-year-old is not really making American films like he used to. Last year, Chan shared that he is trying not to “repeat” himself and be seen as more than just an action star with his more recent roles. 

If the Shang-Chi director finds a really great part for Jackie Chan in the Marvel sequel, and the actor took the role, there would be no better way to bring his career full circle. Obviously we here at CinemaBlend will let you know if this happens.

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Shang-Chi and the Legend of the Ten Rings has finally arrived, and audiences seem to be pleased with the titular character’s Marvel Cinematic Universe debut. There’s plenty to love, including the layered story, awesome visuals and the sweet references to the greater MCU. Of course, there’s also the amazing action sequences, which may be some of the best the cinematic universe has ever offered up to this point. Amid lead actor Simu Liu’s amazing feats is a sweet tribute to martial arts legend Jackie Chan, and Liu has now explained how that move came about.

One of the Shang-Chi’s key scenes is a fight on a city bus, which pits the hero against several Ten Rings operatives. While dispatching the thugs, Shang-Chi utilizes his jacket in the brawl and skillfully puts it back on after taking down his opponents. Fans of martial arts movies will likely point out that a similar move was used by Jackie Chan in 1995’s Rumble in the Bronx. When CinemaBlend’s Sean O’Connell spoke with Simu Liu about the move, he confirmed that he was indeed paying homage to Chan and that it was the result of the Marvel movie’s behind-the-scenes connection to the veteran actor:

When it comes to stunt work, Brad Allan was a titan, contributing to a number of massive films over the course of his career. Rush Hour 2, Kingsman: The Secret Service and Wonder Woman are only a few of the credits that make up his vast body of work. The late stunt expert really outdid himself on Shang-Chi and the Legend of the Ten Rings, and Simu Liu spoke further about his impact on the film:

While the superhero influences in Shang-Chi are nice, it was definitely sweet to see just how much the film calls back to numerous films within Asian cinema. Fans who’ve yet to see the film may want to do themselves a favor and check out some classic films in order to prepare for it. Of course, at the same time, they can also get themselves ready by streaming past MCU movies on Disney+, which you can sign up for using this link.

Shang-Chi’s ending leaves the door wide open for a sequel and, hopefully, that becomes a reality so that we can see more impressive martial arts moves. Moving on without the great Brad Allan would likely be bittersweet for the cast and crew, but one would imagine that they’d make him proud and honor his extensive legacy as they move forward.

Shang-Chi and the Legend of the Ten Rings is now playing in theaters.

Don Cheadle is a rare Hollywood gem. He’s an actors’ actor, who seems just as at home on screen in a huge Hollywood blockbuster or a compelling indie drama. With a wide array of roles under his belt, he’s earned the right to be a little bit cocky. However, he may have gotten a little bit too confident when he squared off against international superstar Jackie Chan ahead of his iconic cameo in Rush Hour 2.

These days, Don Cheadle is busy sharing the screen with basketball legend Lebron James in Space Jam 2. But twenty years ago, he was better known for his work in movies like Boogie Nights and Out of Sight when he signed on to face off against another legend, in another sequel. The actor’s brief appearance in Rush Hour 2 remains one of his most uncomfortable. That’s mostly because his character Kenny, the owner of an L.A. Chinese food restaurant, not only shared some witty banter with Chris Tucker, but he also engaged Jackie Chan’s Inspector Lee in some hand-to-hand combat and it ended up in a draw. Not many people can say that -- especially those who aren’t professionally trained stuntmen.

Don Cheadle recently told Entertainment Weekly that when the cameo appearance was pitched to him, he was originally supposed to get his butt kicked. He says he agreed to do it as long as his character put up more of a fight. While that’s ultimately how it plays out on screen, it turns out that the preparation for the scene played out a little less in the actor’s favor:

It’s not a surprise that Jackie Chan took even his funniest scenes so seriously. He earned his status as one of Hollywood’s best action stars with decades of amazing stunt work to his name, after all. Still, it’s amusing to imagine Don Cheadle being unexpectedly faced with such an intense training session. You can check out the final product of their work down below:

While it sounds like the scene was a little more stressful than Don Cheadle expected, it also created an unexpected legacy. The actor told EW that when Kendrick Lamar referred to himself as Kung Fu Kenny in his Pulitzer Prize and Grammy-winning album, DAMN, the musician was paying homage to his Rush Hour 2 character.

Both Don Cheadle and Jackie Chan have done some amazing work in the years since Rush Hour 2. Cheadle joined the MCU -- and even earned an Emmy nomination for his two-minute stint in The Falcon and the Winter Soldier (He really is an expert at making the most of minimal screen time). Jackie Chan is still kicking butts, other than Don Cheadle’s, and doing his own stunts even as he’s well into his 60s.

Growing up, I was obsessed, I mean OBSESSED, with Jackie Chan and his unique blend of hard-hitting, defense-based action and the side-splitting humor that he brought to films like Rumble in the Bronx, Jackie Chan’s First Strike, and so many others. So, when I was given the opportunity to talk about the best Jackie Chan movies available, I couldn’t pass it up.

Seriously, there are few actors who have done more for the martial arts film genre than Chan, and his legacy is one that we’ll remember and talk about for decades to come. And with Karate Kid: Legends on the way, now seems like the perfect time to go back and revisit these cherished classics.

Rumble In The Bronx (1995)

What It’s About: A Hong Kong police officer travels to New York City to attend his uncle’s wedding only to find himself caught in the middle of a turf war between rival gangs.

What To Expect: On top of the story, there’s so much to love here, from Keung getting chased by motorcycles on a line of parked cars, the hovercraft barefoot skiing finale, and the traumatizing wood chipper scene.

• Rent/Buy Rumble in the Bronx on Amazon.

Jackie Chan’s First Strike (1996)

What It’s About: A police officer works with the CIA to bring down a black market arms dealer before uncovering a massive conspiracy involving a terrorist, shady businessmen, and the threat of nuclear war.

What To Expect: When people think of iconic Jackie Chan action sequences, the ladder fight scene in Jackie Chan’s First Strike (also known as Police Story 4: First Strike) is undoubtedly one of the first to come to mind. But let’s not forget the bonkers scene later on where Jackie fights an army of goons in suits and scuba gear, in perhaps the best underwater fight of all time.

• Stream Jackie Chan’s First Strike on Prime Video.
• Rent/Buy Jackie Chan’s First Strike on Amazon.

Rush Hour (1998)

What It’s About: A straight-laced Hong Kong detective works alongside a wisecracking Los Angeles detective to help find the kidnapped daughter of a Chinese diplomat. But the clash of cultures becomes the least of their worries in this buddy comedy.

What To Expect: The movie has everything you would want from a great buddy cop flick, including some electric chemistry between the leads, a fun take on Chan’s signature fighting style, and a few of the actor’s most quotable lines.

• Stream Rush Hour on Netflix.
• Rent/Buy Rush Hour on Amazon.

Police Story (1985)

What It’s About: An honest cop protects the girlfriend of a powerful Triad boss while also trying to clear his name after being framed for the murder of another officer.

What To Expect: With plenty of drama and insane fights – like that killer mall sequence – there’s a reason Police Story spawned multiple sequels and further propelled its star to the top of the genre.

• Stream Police Story on Max.

Drunken Master (1978)

What It’s About: After his mischievous ways pushes his dad to his breaking point, a young martial artist is forced to undergo training from a feared master with a history of crippling his students.

What To Expect: Throughout the kung fu comedy, we see wild fight scenes, a series of over-the-top villains, and the use of the Drunken Master style. A breakthrough for Chan, Drunken Master helped propel his career to new heights in the late 1970s.

• Stream Drunken Master on Prime Video.
• Rent/Buy Drunken Master on Amazon.

The Foreigner (2017)

What It’s About: A mild-mannered restauranteur goes down a dark path of revenge after his daughter is killed in a terrorist attack in London.

What To Expect: What follows is a cat-and-mouse game between the grieving father and a politician, which unravels the dark pasts of both. Dark, brooding, and filled with explosive sequences and great pain, The Foreigner isn’t your typical Jackie Chan movie and lacks his signature comedic style, which can be refreshing.

• Rent/Buy The Foreigner on Amazon.

Supercop (1992)

What It’s About: A successful Hong Kong police officer goes undercover in a Chinese prison in order to infiltrate a notorious drug cartel and bring it down from the inside.

What To Expect: Supercop (aka Police Story 3: Super Cop) features some remarkable choreography from Jackie Chan and Michelle Yeoh, who tears it up on the screen in one her best performances.

• Rent/Buy Supercop on Amazon.

Crime Story (1993)

What It’s About: Loosely based on a real-life 1990 kidnapping, this 1993 crime thriller follows a dedicated police detective who is tasked with tracking down the men responsible for abducting a wealthy businessman.

What To Expect: Though more serious than other Jackie Chan movies of the era, Crime Story still has the perfectly-choreographed fight sequences and signature charm we’ve all come to know and love.

• Buy Crime Story on Amazon.

The Legend Of Drunken Master (1994)

What It’s About: When a man and his friends uncover a plot by a British consul to steal priceless Chinese artifacts, he does the one thing he told his father he would never do: become the Drunken Master again.

What To Expect: Considered one of the best action movies of all time, the hilarious and hard-hitting The Legend of Drunken Master (or Drunken Master II) has everything you’d want in a Jackie Chan movie and then some.

• Rent/Buy The Legend of Drunk Master on Amazon.

Shanghai Noon (2000)

What It’s About: An imperial guard goes to the American West and teams up with a wild cowboy to track down a kidnapped princess.

What To Expect: Released after the success of Rush Hour, Shanghai Noon takes the “fish out of water” premise and sets it in the Old West. With comedy, action, and a great on-screen pairing with Jackie Chan and Owen Wilson, this 2000 Western is a fun watch.

• Rent/Buy Shanghai Noon on Amazon.

Jackie Chan’s Project A (1983)

What It’s About: A marine teams up with a navy admiral, a police captain, and a thief to take on a band of pirates who are getting assistance from corrupt government officials in 19th-century Hong Kong.

What To Expect: One of the films that would lay the groundwork for Jackie Chan’s high-stakes stunts in the years to come, Project A features one of the most daring of his career up to that point: the iconic clock tower fall with nothing more than two awnings for protection.

• Rent/Buy Jackie Chan’s Project A on Amazon.

Operation Condor (1991)

What It’s About: A secret agent is sent to the Sahara Desert to track down stolen Nazi gold and prevent the loot from falling into the wrong hands.

What To Expect: With logic-defying car chases that would make Xander Cage faint, and some of Chan’s most insane fight sequences up to that point, Operation Condor is a worthy addition to a Jackie Chan marathon.

• Rent/Buy Operation Condor on Amazon.

Wheels On Meals (1984)

What It’s About: A pair of cousins go from bumbling cooks with a mobile restaurant to reluctant heroes when they are forced to rescue a young pickpocket kidnapped by a violent gang.

What To Expect: Humor, drama, action, and so many hard-to-believe stunts can all be found in Wheels on Meals, one of Jackie Chan’s early hits.

• Stream Wheels on Meals on Prime Video.
• Rent/Buy Wheels on Meals on Amazon.

Mr. Nice Guy (1997)

What It’s About: A TV chef falls into a world of trouble after saving an investigative journalist while walking home from the market. The accomplished cook and fighter finds himself stuck in the middle of yet another battle between good and evil.

What To Expect: Mr. Nice Guy features some of Jackie Chan’s best work, especially when he acts like he doesn’t know what he’s doing while deflecting blow after blow.

• Stream Mr. Nice Guy on Prime Video.
• Rent/Buy Mr. Nice Guy on Amazon.

Jackie Chan has spent more than a half-century making some of the most unique action movies, comedies, and thrillers the world has seen and continues to do so even in his late ‘60s. Each of these is great in its own way…

Once upon a time, one couldn’t go a year without hearing about another Jackie Chan movie. When the Chinese actor was introduced to Western audiences in the ‘80s, he butterfly-kicked his way into some huge franchises between the Rush Hour films, the Shanghai films alongside Owen Wilson, and the 2010 The Karate Kid remake. But these days, the 66-year-old keeps a low profile... in Hollywood anyway.

In recent years, Jackie Chan has gone back to make more Chinese films, such as a new release called Tales of the Shadowhunter. The actor has the rare opportunity to float between two film industries, but there are specific reasons why the martial artist and actor does not make as many American movies. In his words to Brazilian site Filmelier:

It sounds like Jackie Chan found himself boxed in when it came to Hollywood action roles. He likes to jump into different roles, and moving over to Chinese productions has given him this. It’s true, over here we do see Chan as a beloved action star more than anything else, and it may not be easy for the actor to find completely different movies to tackle.

His latest Chinese film has the actor playing Pu Songling, an actual Chinese writer from the Qing Dynasty. Jackie Chan gets to be part of a fantasy tale in the foreign film, that is, taking the biopic in a completely different place than one might expect. Chan said following The Karate Kid, it took him seven years to choose another Hollywood film with 2017’s action-thriller with Pierce Brosnan, The Foreigner.

Jackie Chan said he has received loads of scripts over the years, but the roles are always for a “Hong Kong policeman.” He says he never actually left America, he just could not “find the right script.” Right now, he feels like he has achieved the ambitions he set out to do as an actor in terms of working in the action space and looks forward to more dramatic roles in his future.

The actor may reportedly come back to his Hollywood roots by reuniting with Chris Tucker on Rush Hour 4 and apparently returning for Shanghai Dawn with Owen Wilson. With that being said, these projects have been announced, but have not made major progress forward in development. Of course, it would be fun to see Chan make a cameo on the highly-popular Netflix series Cobra Kai and do more action movies like Fast & Furious. But we also look forward to dramatic work from him as well! Yes, pull an Uncut Gems, Chan! We’re ready.

I can recall a time in my elementary school days when Jackie Chan was the ultimate figure of aspiration. With his impeccable skills in martial arts, death-defying boldness, and slapstick sense of humor (a staple of his career from the Police Story movies to the Rush Hour franchise and so on), he was a real-life superhero whom everyone my age wanted to be.

Much to my surprise, there is so much more to the Chinese actor, producer, director, etc. (born Chan Kong-sang) than kick-ass kung fu moves that I would come to learn as an adult. From his life-changing, 10-year education in acting, acrobatics, and more at the Chinese Opera Research Institute to the fact that he has a hole in his head (more on that later), Jackie Chan is undeniably full of surprises.

I could write a book on all of the craziest things to know about Jackie Chan, but the man himself has already done that. So, instead, I will just sum up the most bizarre things I have come to know about him by narrowing it down to the six most fascinating facts.

The Lives Of Jackie Chan’s Parents Were Straight Out Of An Action Movie

Jackie Chan’s name is so closely associated with “danger” that you would think it was a world he was born into. Well, you could actually say he was and not be wrong.

The actor was born in Hong Kong on April 7, 1954, to parents Charles and Lee-Lee Chan. Jackie Chan grew up knowing his father to be an actor, even casting him in some of his own directorial features, but what he would be shocked to learn that Charles (real-name Fang Daolang) was secretly a spy for the Chinese Nationalist Revolutionary Army, not to mention he met Jackie’s mother when he arrested her for smuggling opium into China. It was not until far into his adulthood, and after his mother’s 2001 death, that Jackie would learn these deep family secrets.

Jackie Chan Created His Own Comic Book Character

A man of Jackie Chan’s repertoire seems tailor-made for his own comic book series, being the real-life superhero he is as I mentioned previously. He apparently agreed.

In 1997, Jackie Chan created a comic book called Spartan X, inspired by his character from the 1986 movie Armour of God character Asian Hawk, which ran under Topps Comics from 1997. That was only his first time being transferred into ink. Jackie Chan Adventures, his animated series on WB (now The CW) in which he voiced a fictionalized version of himself, had its own graphic spin-off series in the 2000s.

Jackie Chan Owns Many Secret Houses With Secret Rooms

When Jackie Chan appeared on Late Night with Conan O’Brien to promote Around the World in 80 Days in 2004, the host asked him to confirm if his home was imbued with secret passageways that leads to hidden rooms throughout the building, to which he replied with a grin, “Who told you this?” The actor’s response was not for snark. His house is a maze of mystery.

In fact, he has more than one, not that you would ever be able to find them on your own. Jackie Chan gave an interviewer from TLC a tour of one of his many homes hidden from the world in various locations, to achieve a more low-key lifestyle, each of which are equipped with various secret spaces from within as well. Just when you thought the man could not become more aspirational, he reveals his most badass secret yet.

Jackie Chan Has Been Injured Dozens Of Times On Set

OK, if I am really being honest, with well over 100 acting credits, Jackie Chan’s movie to injury ratio is not actually 1:1. However, in reality, it is still frighteningly close.

As far as my research goes (because who knows how many of his innumerable stunts have ended badly) Jackie Chan suffered through at least 70 on-set injuries by the time he turned 50. A good handful of these incidents would turn out to be near-death experiences, such as the time he got a permanent hole in his skull from a stunt in the Armour of God, but he has apparently not seen the last of the Reaper’s close company as he reportedly almost drowned on the set of his latest thriller Vanguard. Maybe the 65-year-old should look into doing something less potentially hazardous next - an Aaron Sorkin movie, perhaps?

The Silent Movie Era Had A Big Influence On Jackie Chan

Much of Jackie Chan’s filmography blends his brutal martial arts mastery with his cartoonish comedic stylings, most notably in the Rush Hour films opposite Chris Tucker or his pairing with Owen Wilson in Shanghai Noon and Shanghai Knights, and especially in films he directed himself, such as Police Story. You might think that it was a schtick he originated, but truthfully he has humorists of cinema earliest years to thank.

Jackie Chan has been subject of comparisons to silent film stars Charlie Chaplin and Buster Keaton for his pristine physical comedy chops, which he must wear as a badge of honor since, as he told the New York Times in 1995, “I wanted to be like a Chaplin or Buster Keaton, but all the martial arts directors I worked with wanted me to copy Bruce Lee.” It was also those legends’ own insistence to put themselves in danger for the sake of film that inspired Chan’s long legacy of personally performing his own stunts onscreen. Knowing this, maybe he can work out a deal that Chaplin and Keaton’s estates can contribute to his medical bills.

Jackie Chan Is A Popular Singer In Asia

DJs Tiësto and Dzeko’s remix of the Preme and Post Malone collaboration “Jackie Chan” was a smash for America in 2018. Of course, if you are only paying attention to U.S. radio stats, you would not know that the dance music song is not the closest that the actor has gotten to a chart-topping hit.

Jackie Chan’s talent as an artist goes beyond martial and into vocal as well, having released 20 albums since the mid-‘80s on which he sings in multiple languages. He is also known for recording songs for many of his own films, beginning with “Kung Fu Fighting Man” for 1980’s The Young Master and, later, the Cantonese-language main theme to his Police Story movies, “Hero Story,” which the Royal Hong Kong Police would use for recruitment advertisements in the 1994.

After a long career, Jackie Chan continues thrill us with his amazing work in film and his equally amusing personal life. Be sure to check back for more news on Hollywood's favorite living kung fu legend here on CinemaBlend.

As the world continues to deal with the ongoing outbreak of the COVID-19 Coronavirus, news and rumors seem to go hand in hand with this emerging health crisis. One such item from the more speculative side of the fence had stated that action superstar Jackie Chan was under quarantine after contracting the illness himself. However, a recent social media update from Chan himself has dispelled this rumor, as you’ll see below.

Apparently the rumors that Jackie Chan was ailing from the COVID-19 Coronavirus had some fans so concerned, it inspired them to send the Rush Hour actor protective face masks. But as mentioned on his own official Facebook page, those masks have been donated to organizations who could truly use them, as he is currently happy and healthy.

This recent health scare isn’t the first story that’s seen Jackie Chan’s health become a concern. Recently, during a stunt gone wrong while filming one of his latest films, Vanguard, an incident with a jet ski left Jackie Chan underwater and trapped under a rock. In an odd coincidence, that very film’s January premiere in China has been postponed indefinitely, due to the COVID-19 Coronavirus.

As a number of films have had to hold off on Chinese debuts due to the country’s closure of a huge swath of movie theaters, Vanguard is among the ranks of films like Dolittle, 1917 and the recently rescheduled No Time To Die that have affected by recent events. That’s the only film in Jackie Chan’s recent output that may be affected as well, as there are no release dates issued yet for the several Jackie Chan films that will be hitting theaters in 2020.

In addition to Vanguard, Jackie Chan will be seen in the action thrillers Project X-Traction, which happens to co-star F9 baddie/fellow action superstar John Cena, and Five Against A Bullet, which will be filming in Mexico at some point. Last, but not least, Chan can be heard as a member of the voice cast for the Sony Pictures Animation film Wish Dragon, alongside Constance Wu, Jimmy O.Yang and John Cho.

For a man who’s defied death quite a few times in his historic career, it’s good to know that Jackie Chan is not under quarantine and has been able to dispel said rumors through the power of his own internet presence. And once the uncertainty of this international medical concern has subsided, it looks like there’s going to be quite a few movies for fans of this action powerhouse to look forward to.

Should we obtain any other information pertaining to the delays mentioned above, we’ll report back through CinemaBlend with those updates as they occur.

Over the course of eight movies, plus a recent spin-off, the Fast & Furious franchise went from being a B/C-rate Point Break rip-off with cars to one of the most exciting, enthusiastic, and profitable movie franchises in modern cinema. That doesn't happen accidentally. It's through the persistence, talent, and willingness of the filmmakers to go balls-to-the-walls nutty that this franchise has kicked itself into high gear. That madness continues with this year's Fast & Furious 9 (i.e. F9), which could be the penultimate chapter in this prolonged car-friendly, action-oriented movie series. Should that be the case, then it should be the priority of the filmmakers involved to stack the cast of the tenth movie with a variety of major superstars.

There are a lot of acting legends who would be wonderful for this fast and furious series, and we've rounded up a list of 13 megastars who we think should be considered for the final installment. Certainly, the likelihood of some of these superstars appearing in the 10th Fast & Furious movie are slim. But can't we dream? This franchise is all about defying the odds. Without further ado, here's who we'd like to see inside the Fast & Furious franchise.

Keanu Reeves

Much like the Fast & Furious franchise, Keanu Reeves was once seen as kind of a joke in pop culture until he proved himself in a major way. While he was a seasoned action star with movies like Speed and The Matrix trilogy, it was the John Wick franchise that really pushed Reeves into superstar territory. He knows how to commit himself to impressive stunts and action choreography, and he has a good sense of humor about himself, as made evident by his years of making comedies. Plus, the John Wick series also proves that he knows how to drive stylish cars. It'd be an easy win for Reeves and the Fast & Furious franchise. I'd love to see the busy A-list actor find a way to make an appearance in the 10th Fast & Furious movie.

Zoe Saldana

In case you haven't noticed, Zoe Saldana has lent her talents to damn nearly every major, money-making movie franchise out there in the 21st century. Her involvement in Avatar, the MCU, and Star Trek have turned the actress into a very lucrative performer, and Saldana should continue this trend by appearing in the Fast & Furious franchise. The actress has the action chops to pull it off, as she proven in Colombiana and The Losers, in addition to the films mentioned above, and she would only be a blessing to a franchise that continues to bring in the dough after 10 movies. If she were able to make the time in her busy schedule to make it work, she'd certainly be a great addition to the family, and she would help to make the series only more success.

Nicolas Cage

At their best, the Fast & Furious movies are wild at heart and drive angry. They like to keep things bonkers and kooky, and who better to bring things up to another level than Nicolas Cage? The Academy Award-winning actor is a one-of-a-kind talent, and his signature blend of absurd brilliance shouldn't be dismissed (even though, admittedly, he has starred in a few not-so-great movies over the years). The man is a genius in the right role, and he's also more self-aware than he seems — much like the Fast & Furious franchise (before everyone caught on to its pumped-up energy). The sole practitioner of nouveau shamanic can really drive thing up a notch or ten, and it would play to Fast & Furious' ultimate benefit to get Cage in Rage mode. Possibly as a villain? There are certainly lots of possibilities at play with Nicolas Cage in the Fast & Furious films. Let's give a go and find out!

Danny Trejo

With 397 acting credits (and counting!) on his IMDb page, there's no denying that Danny Trejo is one of the hardest working actors in the moviemaking business. Yet, the Machete actor hasn't made an appearance in the Fast & Furious franchise. That's a shame because, if he were given the chance, it would be to everyone's benefit. The action actor is one of the roughest, toughest working actors out there, and he can be funny as can be as well. The actor is seemingly game for anything, and that would certainly work in F&F's favor. Whether it's a major role or a brief appearance, he would be a welcome presence.

Samuel L. Jackson

Samuel L. Jackson is one of the most famous, hard-working actors in Hollywood. He has appeared in a lot of big movies over the years, most notably the Marvel Cinematic Universe. It's rather surprising, then, that Jackson has not been courted (so far as we know, at least) for the Fast & Furious films. It would make a good deal of sense. The actor can command great gravitas, but he's also very self-aware and extremely funny. The Snakes on a Plane star should have no problem challenging the goofy tone of the long-driving series, though the Oscar-nominated A-list actor would need to limit his four-letter vocabulary in this PG-13 movie series. No matter. Even if he can't use his signature curse words, Jackson would kick a lot of ass in here.

Salma Hayek

A well-proven talent with a lot of experience in action and comedy to boot, Salma Hayek would make a wonderful addition to the Fast & Furious films. The performer has what it takes to sell any sort of role in the popular movie franchise, and she could lend her skills to any number of different roles. If the producers behind Fast & Furious were smart, they could have Salma Hayek be either a long-lost member of the family, a stealthy new member of the heist-loving team, or a villainous part. Or something else. Get creative! Certainly, Hayek has the range to ace any character she'd be given in here.

Dave Bautista

With the Fast & Furious franchise set to come to its rip-roaring end with its 10th installment (or eleventh, depending on whether or not you could the spin-off, Hobbs & Shaw), there are a lot of actors who want in on the pie. Nevertheless, Dave Bautista isn't one of them. When asked if he wanted to part of the franchise on social media, his response was, well ... less-than-enthusiastic. Yet, the professional wrestler/Guardians of the Galaxy actor has certainly surprised us in the past. With The Rock and John Cena involved in the series, it wouldn't be out-of-the-question to get Bautista involved. But it would probably take some convincing, which might be difficult. Nevertheless, if the muscle-bound actor gets involved, his mix of action experience and comedy chops would play to the franchise's advantage. Some folks want him to play a villain, but I'd rather see Bautista work his magic in the Toretto family.

Daniel Radcliffe

Ever since his finished his decade-long commitment playing the title boy wizard in the Harry Potter series, Daniel Radcliffe has used his celebrity and high profile to make some bold and audacious movies. Think Horns, the excellent Swiss Army Man, and the forthcoming Guns Akimbo. This is a clear sign that Radcliffe wants to push himself in weird and wild directions as an actor, and that would make him an excellent addition to the Fast & Furious franchise. The actor has publicly expressed interest in joining the series, though he made the caveat that he'd have to play a non-driving character in the films. That should (hopefully) not be a problem. The actor could play anyone from a mysterious tech villain or a comedic relief rider in the midst of the action. Certainly, Radcliffe has the range to play an assortment of different characters in the franchise. Hopefully, they will find a way to put him in.

Donnie Yen

A major international superstar, Donnie Yen finally got his overdue recognition stateside with Rogue One: A Star Wars Story, and the actor should be given another major American movie franchise to prove his talents. Enter Fast & Furious. While the action-comedy series excels at dangerous stunts and car-related mayhem, the action choreography can sometimes be lacking in comparison. But that certainly wouldn't be a problem should Donnie Yen should the scene. The martial arts star knows how to kick butt and takes names, and his talents would only benefit the money-making franchise. Most especially when it comes to its international appeal. Though, of course, with Yen involved, everyone wins, right?

Arnold Schwarzenegger

At his peak, Arnold Schwarzenegger was one of the biggest movie stars on the planet. The actor/politician has one of the most recognizable faces in the entertainment industry, and he's built his career not only from being a larger-than-life action star but owning up to his figure and atypical size with a good, knowing sense of humor. Those qualities would play wonderfully in the Fast & Furious movies. The series has only gotten better as it has gotten more tongue-in-cheek goofy, and Schwarzenegger's big, beefy presence would definitely play to the series' advantage. Can you imagine a fight sequence between Vin Diesel and Arnold Schwarzenegger? How awesome would it be to hear one of Schwarzenegger's signature catchphrases after he performs a (CG-created) high-speed action sequence? There are many great opportunities to be found with Schwarzenegger in these movies.

Jackie Chan

Jackie Chan is a legend. The martial arts superstar is one of the biggest movie stars in the world for a damn good reason, and the dedicated, proven superstar has whatever it takes to pull off the comedy, action, and dangerous stunts audiences expect to find in a Fast & Furious movie. He's gifted in every category, even as he gets older, and he would provide a lively, enthusiastic presence in this ultra-successful franchise. Get Jackie Chan in there!

Tom Cruise

Admittedly, the chances of Tom Cruise making time to appear in a Fast & Furious movie are not very high. The A-list actor is exceptionally busy with the last couple Mission: Impossible movies, and he might not want to play second-fiddle in an action-comedy ensemble that doesn't find him at the forefront. Nevertheless, should fate allow it to happen, Tom Cruise would make a great addition to the Fast & Furious franchise. The actor clearly loves to test fate with his dangerous stunts, and the superstar already proved back in1990's Days Of Thunder (and, more recently, in 2012's Jack Reacher) that he knows how to drive a slick and stylish car. Can you imagine if Fast & Furious found a way to go into Cruise Control? (You see what I did there?)

Meryl Streep

Hear me out: the Fast & Furious franchise has always prided itself on upping the ante and steering in ridiculous directions. It loves to put the pedal to the metal and go nuts at any given opportunity, whether it involves gravity-defying stunts, breaking any law of possibility, and casting some wild stars. In The Fate of the Furious, moviegoers were delightfully surprised to see Helen Mirren join the fun in an entertaining supporting turn. When it comes to the future of Fast & Furious, it would be in the franchise's best interest to add another high-caliber, Oscar-winning acting legend into the fold. Why not go big and ask Meryl Streep to join? After years of making serious-minded dramas (and the Mamma Mia movies), Streep could use this opportunity to cut loose and have fun. She deserves it, and it'd give the Fast & Furious series the pedigree that it deserves. At the very least, it would not hurt to ask.

Who are some acting megastars that you'd love to see lend their talents to the Fast & Furious franchise? Let us know in the comments below!

The list of injuries Jackie Chan has sustained during the course of his career is nearly as long as his extensive list of credits on IMDb. The action star, who famously spent much of his career doing his own stunts, has risked life and limb countless times and recently he may have had his closest call yet. That’s because Jackie Chan almost drowned filming stunts for his latest movie.

The incident occurred while Jackie Chan was working on his latest movie called Vanguard. According to CNA Lifestyle, the 65-year-old actor was filming a scene involving a jet ski and somehow he found himself trapped in the water under a rock. It’s unclear the exact nature of the scene or the stunt, but trapped underwater and unable to come up for air, Jackie Chan almost drowned. Thankfully, the film crew on Vanguard rushed to rescue the actor and he wound up being okay.

By the sound of things, it was a close call though and an incredibly scary situation, both for Jackie Chan who was trapped and running out of oxygen and for the assembled cast and crew who had to see what was happening and race against time to free the actor.

When Jackie Chan remembered the incident at a press conference in Beijing, he said that he just had to tell himself not to panic while he waited for help to arrive. But even for someone who has been in scary situations before like Jackie Chan, the near drowning proved quite traumatic, as he recalled:

Almost drowning is no doubt an incredibly traumatic experience so it’s totally understandable that Jackie Chan had this kind of reaction following the incident. The film’s director Stanley Tong also had a powerful reaction when Jackie Chan almost drowned. He told reporters that he burst into tears when he saw the actor safely come out of the water.

So this incident now goes on the harrowing list of the injuries and near-death experiences Jackie Chan has endured to deliver entertaining action to audiences. Jackie Chan has broken his nose, injured his spine and dislocated both his shoulder and his pelvis over the years. He also almost died filming 1986’s Armour of God when he fractured his skull during a fall.

It just goes to show how dangerous action filmmaking can be and why the job of stuntpeople is so difficult. Jackie Chan and Tom Cruise are clearly a different breed, a fact that Will Smith recently acknowledged.

Although he’s much older now and may have slowed down a bit, it’s clear that Jackie Chan is still putting it all on the line from time to time. The film Vanguard opens in China on January 25. The movie follows a group of security guards that have to rescue hostages from the clutches of an international mercenary organization. Vanguard reunites Jackie Chan with his Rumble in the Bronx director Stanley Tong.

Check out our 2020 Release Schedule to keep track of all this year’s biggest domestic releases and stay tuned to CinemaBlend for the latest movie news.

Who doesn't love Jackie Chan? The martial arts actor, stunt choreographer, producer, director, singer and man of all trades has been kicking ass and taking names for decades, and his success didn't happen overnight. It took a lot of hard work and persistence for Jackie Chan to become so famous.

So, how did Jackie become Jackie Chan? As it turns out, the actor/director has been in the entertainment business for almost his whole life. It was a combination of skill, talent, luck and unfathomable dedication to his craft that resulted in Jackie Chan becoming such a major martial arts phenomena.

Over the course of 65 years, Jackie Chan went from a child actor to one of the most famous men in Hong Kong's history. Let's take a look at Jackie Chan's legacy, and we'll discover the ways in which the veteran martial arts artist extraordinaire became the beloved, revered personality he is today.

Early Life And Child Actor Status

On April 7th, 1954 in Hong Kong, Jackie Chan was born Chan Kong-sang. He was the son of two Chinese Civil War refugees. Even from a young age, young Chan had a wealth of energy. Nicknamed Pao-pao, which translates to "Cannonball," he was always on the move and always rolling around. It appears that some things in life simply don't change. During his formative years, Chan lived near the French ambassador in Hong Kong, for whom his parents worked, in the Victoria Peak district. It was at the young age of five that Chan found himself in his first film, 1962's Big and Little Wong Tin Bar.

Throughout the following years, Jackie Chan appeared in small parts in films like The Love Eterne and Come Drink With Me. He also appeared in the film A Touch Of Zen, where the young actor signed Chu Mu's Great Earth Film Company. But during his film experience, Jackie Chan also worked hard as a student. Jackie Chan's first formative years of martial arts training came when the child was sent to the China Drama Academy, which is a Peking Opera School where Chan trained vigorously for the next decade. In addition to excelling in martial arts, the athlete was also a well-trained acrobatic.

It did not take long before Jackie Chan became part of the Seven Little Fortunes, which is a performance group made from talented students inside the school. It was during this period in his life that Chan Kong-sang earned his first stage name, Yuen Lo, in homage to his master. He would go on to study other forms of martial arts, including Karate, Judo, Taekwondo and Jeet Kune Do. He also continued to push himself as an on-screen performer.

Stunt Work and Early Lead Roles

At the age of 17, Chan Kong-sang worked as a stuntman for a pair of Bruce Lee pictures, Fist Of Fury and Enter The Dragon. There is a good chance you've heard of that latter one before. During his work on these celebrated films, Jackie Chan worked under the alias Chan Yuen Lung. It was later that year that Jackie Chan earned his first starring role in Little Tiger of Canton. The film only had a limited release in 1973. It was a bit of a rough patch for Jackie Chan shortly after that.

Having trouble finding stunt work, and due to the commercial failure of his earlier films, Jackie Chan starred in the adult comedy, All in the Family, in 1975. It was the only film that featured Jackie Chan not performing a single fight or stunt scene. It was also the first time Jackie Chan did a nude scene. In 1976, Jackie Chan briefly attended college at Dickson College, but that tenure didn't last long. Chan soon became a construction worker, where he earned the nickname of "Little Jack." Over time, it became "Jackie." While he didn't stay in the construction business, the nickname obviously stuck.

Things were starting to turn around for Jackie Chan. Later that year, Jackie Chan received a telegram from Willie Chan, who was a film producer in the Hong Kong film industry. He was impressed by Jackie Chan's stunt work, as you would imagine most people would be, and he offered him a film role. He was hoping to model Jackie Chan after Bruce Lee, and he gave him the film New Fist Of Fury. He went by the name Sing Lung, which translates to "becoming a dragon." Literally.

Evidently, Jackie Chan wasn't fully accustomed to Bruce Lee's expert level of fighting, and New Fist Of Fury was also a financial flop. However, Willie Chan was not deterred. He continued to produce films for Chan in this vein, but none of them made much of an impact at the box office or for movie lovers. Then, in 1978 Chan finally got a hit. After several attempts at making a name for himself, he found success with Snake in the Eagle's Shadow.

The Early Days Of Jackie Chan's Fame

Under a two-picture deal, Jackie Chan had a one-two punch with Snake In the Eagle's Shadow and Drunken Master later that same year. The films were successful for two very key reasons. One, Jackie Chan was given complete freedom when it came to his stunt work, finally letting him excel in his own specific way. Two, the films also established a comedic kung fu genre, which was considered refreshing for movie audiences at this time in Hong Kong. While Snake In The Eagle's Shadow was definitely profitable, it was ultimately Drunken Master that pushed Jackie Chan to stardom.

It was around this time that Jackie Chan made his directorial debut with The Fearless Hyena. It was clear that Jackie Chan was growing, and it was time for him to change things around. He began to work with Golden Harvest, a transition that didn't come easily from his former collaborator Lo Wei, but he continued to work with Willie Chan, who became Jackie's personal manager and firm friend, something that stayed true for over 30 years.

It was around this time that Jackie Chan became an international celebrity. In the 1980s, Jackie Chan appeared in American productions like The Big Brawl and The Cannonball Run in 1980 and 1981, respectively. It was through the latter film that Chan became inspired to include outtakes during the credits. There were a couple attempts by Jackie Chan to break big in the American market. Yet he decided to return to Hong Kong.

It was there where Jackie Chan's fame continue to excel, notably in East Asia, with hit movies such as The Young Master and Dragon Lord. It was during these big movies, in particular, that Chan's action style was evolving, with the actor/stunt choreographer incorporating more elaborate stunts.

It was around this time that Jackie Chan was propelling himself to make the movies that would define his career forever. These iconic movies would include Project A, Police Story and Armour of God, all of which were critically acclaimed, big commercial successes and award-winning productions.

Continued Success And Hollywood Breakthrough

By this point in time, Jackie Chan was a bonafide movie star. In the late '80s and early '90s, Jackie Chan would go on to make sequels to some of his biggest movies, which continued to propel their legacies. Those movies include Project A Part II, Police Story 2, Armour of God II: Operation Condor and Police Story 3: Super Cop. He also made Drunken Master II and Police Story 4: First Strike. These movies continued to make Jackie Chan both an award-winning actor/filmmaker and a big box office sensation. But these hit movies weren't making Jackie Chan a huge name in the United States yet.

Well, that would change soon enough. Jackie Chan was finally getting the attention he deserved from Hollywood producers, but the actor refused to be typecast into the villain roles he was being offered. It was when Chan appeared in 1995's Rumble in the Bronx that he found his early success in Hollywood. The movie found a cult following in the U.S. that was considered rare for Hong Kong movie stars. Rumble in the Bronx's warm response led to Police Story 3's U.S. release, where it was retitled Supercop. Then, Chan became a Hollywood star with 1998's Rush Hour, a buddy cop movie he starred in alongside Chris Tucker.

Jackie Chan's Megastar Status

From there, Jackie Chan was everywhere. A huge celebrity all around the world, the actor made his final movie with Golden Harvest, titled Who Am I? The actor was putting himself and his name in a variety of projects, including movies, video games, animated shows and more. His Hollywood success was also continuing with 2000's Shanghai Noon and its sequel, 2003's Shanghai Knights. He also found a great deal of fame with 2001's Rush Hour 2.

It was around this time that Jackie Chan tried some new movies, allowing himself to make movies with special effects like 2002's The Tuxedo, 2002's The Medallion and 2004's Around the World in 80 Days remake. These particular movies didn't quite capture the same commercial or critical success, but it was clear that by this point in time, Jackie Chan was in the height of his fame, He was considered "the most recognized star in the world" film scholar Andrew Willis in his book, Film Stars: Hollywood and Beyond, which was released in 2004.

While Jackie Chan was still a major celebrity and a true bonafide movie star, he was seemingly dissatisfied with the restrictions that Hollywood was giving him. He felt the roles were limited and he was frustrated by the lack of creative control he found in his Hollywood projects. Also, as he was getting older, Jackie Chan had more interest his pursuing dramatic roles, particularly as he felt it was time to do less physically-intensive roles. It was also clear that there were audiences willing to see Chan push himself as a dramatic performer, with movies like New Police Story, The Myth and Rob-B-Hood doing well.

Jackie Chan would continue to make Hollywood productions from time-to-time. He made Rush Hour 3 in 2007, and he made The Forbidden Kingdom with Jet Li in 2008. He also provided his voice for a role to Kung Fu Panda 1-3. But it was with The Karate Kid remake in 2010 that American audiences were first given a chance to see Jackie Chan's dramatic potential. This potential was seen more recently with Chan's lead role in 2017's The Foreigner.

From here, Jackie Chan has continued to work, but he's also experimenting with different projects he has in the works. He is currently in post-production on his latest film, The Diary, which he wrote and directed yet does not star in. This is extremely rare for Jackie Chan as a director, but it was clear that Chinese Zodiac, his 2012 film, was considered a bit of a last hurrah in terms of his stint as an action-comedy lead and director. While he still continues to make movies as an actor and he still does some projects behind-the-scenes, it's apparent that Chan is focusing on different efforts currently.

Thankfully, Jackie Chan is still keeping busy. He will next be seen in Project X-Traction, which is a big blockbuster that also stars John Cena. He also has other movies in the work in addition to the movies mentioned above. Also, it's worth noting that Jackie Chan recently received an Oscar for his Lifetime Achievements in the world of moviemaking. In my opinion, it's well-deserved. Hopefully, we haven't seen the last of Jackie Chan. It's clear that this incredible work ethic, mixed with talent, luck, skill and persistence, led to Chan's enormous success and good fortune — both here and abroad.

When it comes to the latest films with Jackie Chan and a whole lot more, you can always be sure to check back with us here at CinemaBlend.

Movie productions these days do everything they can to keep everybody safe at all times, but sometimes there's only so much that can be done. Case in point, we now have some freaky news from the set of Project X, the new film from action legend Jackie Chan. According to a blog post from the actor himself, shooting on location was meant to start this week, but now those plans have gone a bit sideways due to a massive mudslide.

Jackie Chan keeps a blog at JackieChan.com, allowing him to provide his fans with all the latest updates about his career sin December 2012 - and the most recent bit of news he's posted involves some seriously scary weather. According to the post, the crew of Project X was operating for a normal day and was all set up when the environment turned ugly fast. Quickly heavy rains and winds started to rock the set of the movie, and it looks like they even experienced some of their vehicles sliding around and getting stuck. Fortunately, though, as Chan wrote, they had the equipment to help fix things:

Ultimately it sounds like it was a pretty scary experience for the cast and crew making the movie, but thankfully there's no mention of any serious injuries. Instead, Jackie Chan simply expresses great gratitude to the production team for handling the situation with professionalism and expertise.

As for Project X, the film only went into production in the last couple of weeks, based on an original script by Arash Amel (Grace of Monaco). The movie is directed by Scott Waugh (Need For Speed), and is a two-hander action-adventure thriller that stars Jackie Chan opposite John Cena. The two stars will play ex-special forces soldiers who are tasked with escorting civilians through the "Highway of Death" in Iraq in order to safely make it to the country's Green Zone. It doesn't look as though the film has an official release date yet, or potentially even a domestic distributor, but we will keep you updated on details about the project as it continues to make its way through production. Hopefully there won't be any more delays - caused by weather or otherwise - and the feature will have a shot at hitting cinemas some time next year.

In the meantime, we're just thankful that everyone involved with the production and present during the mudslide is safe, and hopefully the rest of the making of Project X will go much more smoothly.

For any fan of action films, it is always cool when big action stars come together in a movie to kick more ass and blow more things up than they ever could on their own. As John Cena sees his star power continue to rise on the silver screen just like Dwayne "The Rock" Johnson before him, it was only a matter of time until he united in a movie with an action legend. He will soon do so when he teams up with martial arts and cinematic icon Jackie Chan for a new action thriller.

Act of Valor and Need for Speed director Scott Waugh will direct the film that was previously titled Ex-Baghdad, and is now under the working title Project X. As reported by THR, the action thriller, from writer Arash Amel, will see Jackie Chan's character as a private security contractor called in to extract the workers from a Chinese oil refinery in the Middle East when it comes under attack. Like in Die Hard, he discovers that these terrorists are really thieves who plan to steal the oil from the refinery. To thwart the dastardly plan to steal the liquid gold, Jackie Chan's contractor will team up with an American and former Marine played by John Cena. The wrestler and actor replaces action legend Sylvester Stallone, who was originally attached to play the character.

John Cena has been proving himself in comedy roles of late, so it will be interesting to see him get back to action in a co-lead role opposite Jackie Chan. Likewise, Jackie Chan has always excelled in fun comedic pairings with other actors, and while this film will not be a comedy, the dynamic between the two stars and their distinct and entertaining action styles are the main draw of this movie. As far as the premise of the movie, we don't get see action movies take place on oil refineries, so I'm excited to see all the creative ways Jackie Chan's character disposes of bad guys.

John Cena's next big role comes in December's Transformers spinoff film Bumblebee. He is also taking over for Dwayne Johnson in the role of Paul Janson in the Robert Ludlum novel adaptation The Janson Directive. Dwayne Johnson will remain on as producer, but we'll have to wait a little longer to see these two wrestlers, actors and human mountains onscreen together. As for Jackie Chan, he was last seen domestically opposite Pierce Brosnan in The Foreigner. Jackie Chan is also lined up to go on something of a greatest hits remix tour when he stars in Rush Hour 4 and Shanghai Dawn, which are both in development.

We'll keep you updated on all the latest from this dynamic action pairing and keep an eye on CinemaBlend for all of your movie news.

Perhaps it's our love for nostalgia or just Hollywood's current obsession with recognizable brands, but either way, many long dormant buddy cop franchises are revving up for possible comebacks. First it was Lethal Weapon, then it was 48 Hrs., then Bad Boys and now Rush Hour may be headed back to the big screen. The potential returns of old franchises can often be taken with a grain of salt, as they frequently never come to fruition or languish in the imagination or development hell. But it appears that Rush Hour 4 shall be a real thing, at least according to star Chris Tucker, who had this to say:

Well, that's certainly encouraging and it sounds like the franchise could be returning to close things out with a bang. Speaking to ESPN's The Undefeated The Plug podcast, Chris Tucker seems excited about returning to the successful and fan favorite action-comedy franchise. He also said that they are working on it now, so it's possible that Rush Hour 4 may hit theater screens sooner than we expect if the ball is already rolling. Part of what makes the actor's comments so encouraging is that we had previously heard that Chris Tucker's approval and agreement to be a part of the project was the final obstacle to Rush Hour 4 actually becoming a reality. Jackie Chan had said that they finally had a script worth making and if Chris Tucker signed on the filming could possibly start this year. The action-comedy genre misses more than it hits, so hopefully if everyone involved waited this long for a good script that bodes well for Rush Hour 4. The franchise has been commercially successful but, after the original, critical reception went downhill drastically.

The buddy cop formula is a huge crowd-pleaser when done well and people have a lot of fond memories of this franchise. As such, CBS tried to capitalize on this name value with a Rush Hour TV series a few years back. I can't attest to the quality of the show, although I have my suspicions, as it was cancelled after one season. The big difference is that part of what makes beloved buddy cop movies so memorable is the chemistry between the lead actors. Thus, without Jackie Chan and Chris Tucker, the series couldn't possibly live up to fan expectations. With Jackie Chan and Chris Tucker back on board as Lee and Carter for Rush Hour 4, audiences should expect that same dynamic from the first three films, with (hopefully) some fresh ideas this time around. The buddy cop and action-comedy genres are evergreen and so long as each new entry has two compatible leads and does something fun and new, it should find an audience.

We now patiently await the inevitable news of a Tango & Cash 2. For all the latest in movie news and understanding the words that are coming out of my mouth, stay tuned to CinemaBlend.