Jackie Chan, an iconic martial artist, and actor, has carved a legendary status in both the Eastern and Western film industries. Renowned for his incredible stunts, and impeccable comedic timing, Chan has become a global sensation and a beloved household name. With a career spanning over five decades, he has starred in numerous Hollywood blockbusters, captivating audiences with his distinct style.
But little did anyone know that the Police Story star took quite some failures to tap his audience in the American market. The breakthrough film which finally helped Chan to mark his presence in Hollywood was Rush Hour. Though the Drunken Master star revealed that he thought Rush Hour would completely end his Hollywood career, stating that it was a terrible movie.
Jackie Chan’s Struggle In Venturing Into American Market
Chan’s initial attempts to establish himself in Hollywood proved to be underwhelming despite starring in several projects like Big Brawl, The Cannonball Run, and The Protector. The Project A star revealed that people struggled to connect with him as he marked his struggle with the English language. The failure in the American market built to the level that Chan decided to never enter this market again.
“Nobody knew who this little Chinese guy was that spoke no English. I was disappointed [and thought], ‘No more American market’.”
Jackie Chan On The Surprising Success Of Rush Hour
However in the late 1990s, against his reservations, Chan decided to take one last shot at Hollywood with the project Rush Hour. Directed by Brett Ratner, the action-comedy paired Chan’s Hong Kong police inspector character with the wisecracking LAPD detective portrayed by Chris Tucker. Despite Chan’s initial skepticism about the film, which limited his fighting style and had language barriers, Rush Hour turned out to be an unexpected box office sensation.
Jackie Chan‘s pessimistic outlook on the movie was shattered when audiences responded with laughter and sheer enjoyment during the premiere. The film’s unique blend of action and comedy struck a chord with viewers, making it an instant hit. Rush Hour grossed a staggering $141 million in the U.S. and an impressive $244 million worldwide. It marked the beginning of an unexpected and highly successful franchise.
“That’s a terrible movie. They don’t allow me to do my own style [of action]. The English, I’m not good. Chris Tucker’s English, I don’t understand. Terrible movie! Why are they laughing, I just don’t understand.”
The success of Rush Hour and its subsequent successful sequels not only revitalized Jackie Chan’s career but also solidified his status as an international action star. With these successes, Chan got to know more about American culture and embraced it wholeheartedly to deliver other major hits.
Rush Hour is available on Netflix.
Source: Yahoo
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