Top 5: Jackie Chan Performances

There's no denying that Jackie Chan is one of the best action stars of all time. A man who has truly suffered for his craft to give audiences hilarious and unique fight scenes and stunts since the late seventies on, Chan has long expressed a desire for more serious roles. Sadly, he's predominantly been a victim of his own success in America since films either want to make use of his martial arts proficiency, or his well-developed comedic timing. But that changes this weekend, as Chan will star in an R-rated revenge thriller from Martin Campbell called The Foreigner. So in honor of the Chan man, I've picked five of his most complete acting, not physical, performances.

Honorable Mentions

Jackie has turned in some solid dramatic work in lesser known movies like the gangster thriller The Shinjiku Incident, Little Big Soldier, Shaolin, and some true tragedy in New Police Story. The films themselves may not match his input, but he's solid never the less

#5 Wong Fei-hung in Legend of Drunken Master

Chan's second portrayal of Wong Fei-hung is a masterclass in physical comedy even if you remove the fight scenes. His attempts to hide his mistakes from his father, his drunken stumbling, and his child-like insistence. I think it's a highly underrated element of the film that the audience actually likes and cares about Fei-hung, and that investment pays dividends when the final fight starts.

#4 Charlie in Miracles (Black Dragon)

Try to imagine Jackie Chan as a tough gangster. Doesn't work? Good because this movie doesn't assume it will. Instead Chan plays a criminal with a heart of gold who's trying to do one truly good thing...with a whole world of rival gangsters and greed pitted against him. As usual he's funny and delivers great action, but there's a sincerity to it all that shows you just how much Chan cared about the film (he's often listed it as his favorite).

#3 Jackie in Dragons Forever

This is the slicket Jackie Chan has ever been. As a hotshot ladies man lawyer, and yes it works, Chan and his compatriots accidentally stumble upon a drug smuggling operation. What I like about this performance is the intensity. He's kinda a dick when things start but when he hits his final showdown with Benny "The Jet" Urquidez there's a hate behind his eyes that's hard to match.

#2 Chan Ka-Kui in Police Story

A great performance because it's multi-dimensional. The first in Chan's long line of police related action films, the first features the Jackie Chan staples of insane stunt work, physical comedy, and a likable lead character. What works so well here though is the contrast between his affable adventure trying to manage three corded phones, a bit that requires just as much effort and precision as his fights scenes, and his dramatic final throwdown in a crowded shopping mall finished off with one of the most dangerous stunts of all time.

#1 Eddie Chan in Crime Story

This film netted Chan the equivalent of a Hong Kong Oscar nomination and it's easy to see why. Unlike Chan's usual work the film is a character driven kidnap caper with Chan as the damaged cop trying to solve the case. There's a desperation to this performance that you simply don't see in his regular work. There's no joy when he fights, he's just exasperated by a world capable of cruelty. And it's probably the closest you'll get to his performance in The Foreigner.