Jackie Chan is an incredible, athlete, actor, and stuntman, and always a highlight in any film he cameos in. Jackie Chan has been a staple in Hollywood since the 90s, but his acting career goes back much further than that. His acting career began in the 60s with appearances in several movies produced in Hong Kong, which led to him becoming a stunt double and actor in dozens more films throughout the 70s and 80s. When Chan starred in Rush Hour in 1998 alongside Chris Tucker, he became an instant hit with audiences and his career exploded in Hollywood.
Chan’s physical performance, his sense of humor, and his ability to deliver emotional and touching dialogue alongside his martial arts prowess make Jackie Chanan incredibly versatile actor. Add that to the fact that he has been performing in Chinese films since the 60s and became a staple there prior to appearing in a film in the West, and the fact is, Chan is a real class act. In addition to his dozens of leading roles, Chan has also had plenty of cameo appearances in movies that stand out.
10 A Kid From Tibet (1991)
Unnamed Airport Passenger
This cameo in A Kid From Tibet is a wonderful blink-and-you’ll-miss-it moment when the main character, Wong La, arrives at the airport. Chan had already appeared in dozens of movies filmed in Hong Kong since the late 60s, and so he was an established presence in Chinese cinema. The reason this cameo makes it on the list is because it marks a moment when Chan’s fame had risen to a certain level, but he was yet to have a break-out role in American films.
9 The Climbers (2019)
Old Yang Guang
The Climbers is a Chinese film depicting a multi-generational story of a group of climbers who attempt to climb the world’s tallest mountain, Mount Everest. It’s also based on a true story. Jackie Chan shows a more serious side in this movie, which although brief, is highly impactful. He appears as an older version of the character Yang Guang in a post-credits scene that shows him scaling a mountain. This hopeful ending is a wonderful end to a very dramatic and emotionally taxing story, and Chan delivers that hope perfectly.
8 The Nut Job 2: Nutty By Nature (2017)
Mr. Feng
The Nut Job 2: Nutty by Nature is a fun, animated family film following Surly Squirrel as he attempts to save Liberty Park for all the animals that call it home. The Mayor has plans to bulldoze the park and turn it into a hit tourist attraction called Libertyland, but that would displace countless animals. Jackie Chan plays the leader of an army of mice who play a vital role in protecting the Park and helping Surly. Jackie brings his classic humor to the role, and he’s free to focus on the dialogue thanks to the animated style, which just proves how capable of a voice actor he is.
7 The Lego Ninjago Movie (2017)
Mister Liu
Chan technically plays two separate characters in The Lego Ninjago Movie, Master Wu who mentors young Lloyd, and Mister Liu, who appears in the beginning to tell the legend of Ninjago to the young boy in his store. While Master Wu is a significant character throughout, Chan’s cameo as the mysterious shop owner is brief and fun. When the boy almost breaks priceless items in the shop, Chan’s lightning-fast reflexes help him catch everything just in time. Then he uses his kind and soft nature to connect with the boy and begins telling an enchanting tale. Everything works together for this role, making it another wonderful cameo from Chan.
6 Winners & Sinners (1983)
CID 07
When five friends try to set their lives on the right track after finishing a stint in prison, Winners & Sinners is a comedy that sees this fantastic fivesome get into some pretty ridiculous situations. Chan plays a clumsy police officer, which gives him the perfect opportunity to deliver his exaggerated comical style with big gestures and car pile-ups caused by his accident-prone nature. The role is simple, but Jackie is the perfect man for the job and the film is all the better for having him in it.
5 Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles: Mutant Mayhem (2023)
Splinter
Another laugh-out-loud animated family film, Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles: Mutant Mayhem, follows a group of mutated turtles who fight to protect New York and gain acceptance. Chan plays the beloved, Master Splinter, who adopts the turtles and trains them in martial arts. As a loving father figure who highly values discipline, Chan has some shining moments as Splinter that capitalize on his comedy gifts.
4 Shaolin (2011)
Wudao
When a ruthless warlord seeks redemption for his former misdeeds, he finds a new home in a Shaolin temple where he learns a very different way of life. Chan plays a humble cook named Wudao in the Shaolin temple, who takes pity on the warlord, Hou. Chan does a great job stepping back from the spotlight and still manages to be a meaningful part of the story. His cameo makes use of his kind nature and leadership as he delivers a stellar performance that provides some wonderful moments in an otherwise fairly heavy movie.
3 Kung Fu Panda (2008)
Monkey
Kung Fu Panda stars Jack Black as Po, the chosen one, who must train to become the protector of the Valley of Peace. Under Master Shifu’s tutelage, Po refines his abilities and grows from a clumsy, hopeless oaf into a master of Kung Fu. Joining him on his journey are a few other students of Shifu who are masters of various martial arts. Chan voices Monkey, one of the Furious Five, who tends to use very few words. Chan delivers a great performance with a lean script that still manages to convey humor, gravitas, and intensity with each line.
2 The Heavenly Kings (2006)
Himself
The Heavenly Kings is a mockumentary that takes an introspective look at the film and music industries in Hong Kong. In the run-up to the film’s release, a number of publicity stunts and real-life performances happened in order to create the project. The result is a mix of real and fictional events that delivers a clear message about the ease of getting fame through spectacle, and how little talent is actually required. Chan appears as himself in another brief cameo that once again shows how popular and influential he is.
1 Enter The Dragon (1973)
Thug
One of Chan’s earliest projects sees him going toe-to-toe with Bruce Lee in Enter The Dragon. At this early stage in his career, his talent for martial arts and stuntwork was abundantly clear, but his star was still rising, so the cameo ended up being very brief. Lee dispatches Chan with relative ease and kills the character, but Chan’s proficiency and professionalism are easy to see even from his earliest projects.
