Jackie Chan’s best movies from the past 15 years demonstrate a surprising trend that proves he is so much more than a (legendary) martial arts actor. Most prominently known for his crazy martial arts stunts, Jackie Chan has featured in over 150 domestic and international movies in his 60-year career, breaking into Hollywood with titles such asRush HourandRumble in the Bronx. However,Jackie Chan’s recent moviesshow a different side of the famous actor and stuntman, as he has made a significant move into animation, starring as a voice actor in numerous roles.
FromMulanto theKung Fu Pandamovies, Chan has had a successful run in the animated movie medium, partly due to his popularity, yet mostly due to his incredible wit.Chan excels in action-comedy roles,having been an actor and stunt performer in the genre for the majority of his career,and this translates to his animated films. In fact, some consider movies likeKung Fu Panda 2andTMNT: Mutant Mayhemto be the bestof his work, illustrating Chan’s skills as a voice actor beyond his legacy as a martial arts actor.
Jackie Chan’s Best Movies From The Past 15 Years Are TMNT: Mutant Mayhem & Kung Fu Panda 2
Chan’s Animated Movies Were Commercial & Critical Successes
Jackie Chan has featured in many brilliantly entertaining movies, butKung Fu Panda 2andTeenage Mutant Ninja Turtles: Mutant Mayhemstand out because they are some of his most successful films. Despite being the second installment of the franchise,Kung Fu Panda 2is actually Chan’s highest-grossing movie, earning $665 million at the box office worldwide, surprisingly beating the likes ofThe Karate Kidand theRush Hourtrilogy. While it earned considerably less at the box office, Chan’sTMNT:Mutant Mayhemis the highest-ratedTMNTmovie of all time on Rotten Tomatoes.
$665,692,281
95% Tomatometer; 90% Popcornmeter
$181,848,832
Although the verdict on which Chan movies are his best is subjective, there is something to be said about his roles inTMNT: Mutant MayhemandKung Fu Panda 2. When Chan was cast as avoice actor for theKung Fu PandacharacterMonkey, he had not previously featured in an animated movie. However,Kung Fu Pandawas commercially successful enough to earn itself a franchise, andChan’s character appears in the sequel alongside the rest of the Furious Five, delivering a hilarious performancethat matched, if not improved, the emotional energy of the original movie.
Chan’s impact on TMNT: Mutant Mayhem movie was felt before he was cast due to the visual elements drawn from his movies and comedy.
Interestingly, most of Chan’s roles seem to center around martial arts, no matter the medium. In a 2023 interview withScreen Rant,TMNT: Mutant Mayhem’s Jeff Rowe talked about the movie’s fights and how Jackie Chan influencedthe film, even before he was cast as Splinter. According to Rowe, the creative team spent “hours looking at Police Story and Rumble in the Bronx and just being like, ‘What makes a Jackie Chan fight sequence work?'” Thus, Chan’s impact onTMNT: Mutant Mayhemmovie was felt before he was cast due to the visual elements drawn from his movies and comedy.
Jackie Chan’s Success As A Voice Actor Proves He’s Still Fantastic Without Martial Arts
The Stuntman Has Earned Much Praise For His Animated Roles
Chan’s success as a voice actor proves that he is more than just a stunt performer. The actor has taken on many visual roles over the years, so it was initially interesting to see him lend his talents to a speaking-only role. TheKung Fu Pandamovies first proved thatChan’s abilities go far beyond what he can offer visually with his incredible skills in martial arts,as Monkey feels like a well-rounded and funny character among the Furious Five. Since starring inKung Fu Panda, Chan has further proven his worth in voice-over roles.
Jackie Chan’s 10 Funniest Martial Arts Movies
From Police Story to Rush Hour, Jackie Chan has starred in some of the funniest martial arts films ever created over his decades-long career.
This allowed him to becast in the newTMNT: Mutant Mayhemas the turtles’ mentor and adoptive father, Splinter, adding even more authenticity to the movie already influenced by Chan’s work. Despite his relatively small role in the 2023 animated movie, Chan nails the calm and authoritative tone needed for the role of Splinter and delivers a memorable performance. With two of his best recent roles being voice-over work, it is evident thatChan has successfully expanded his range and shown how entertaining he still is outside the stunt work he rose to fame for.
Jackie Chan’s Versatility Has Been The Key To His Movie Career
Jackie Chan Has Evolved On-Screen
Jackie Chan’s best recent moviesshow that versatility has been the key to his successful career.Chan is synonymous with impressive martial arts featsthat no one would dream of trying to match. His level of control and willingness to take risks paid off in his movies, allowing him to impress a worldwide audience with his physical comedy. However, although Chan may have originally started out as a stunt performer, over the years the actor has shown a particular talent for the dramatic.
Jackie Chan will appear inKarate Kid: Legends,expected on June 12, 2025.
The move intothe animated genre was a good choice for Chan due to his memorable voice and previous experience in comedy roles. Having mastered physical comedy, Chan also showcased his comedic dialogue skills in iconic roles likeRush Hour, as well as his more serious acting chops in properties such asThe Karate Kid. By using martial arts knowledge and experience in comedy while branching out with other opportunities,Jackie Chanhas had a successful career across the board, and his popularity is unlikely to wane any time soon.
Jackie Chan
Jackie Chan is a Hong Kong actor, martial artist, and filmmaker known for his acrobatic fighting style, comic timing, and innovative stunts. He gained international fame through films likePolice StoryandRush Hour, blending action and humor, and is celebrated for his contributions to martial arts cinema.
