Jackie Chan went from earning 80 cents a day as a stuntman in Hong Kong to millions as a Hollywood star. Chan has had an incredible journey. After Bruce Lee’s sudden passing, Chan succeeded him as the kung fu master of Hollywood. And just like Lee, Chan also captivated the audience. However, he struggled to make an impact at first.

Chan has been in films since the 1960s. However, he struggled to replicate the success he found in Hong Kong. The martial arts expert’s first ventures in Hollywood didn’t succeed at the box office. So when Rush Hour came out in 1998, Jackie didn’t expect the movie to do well at the box office. But, a phone call from his co-actor, Chris Tucker, changed everything.

A phone call worth millions

Even though Chan’s early Hollywood projects didn’t make a big name at the box office, fans loved his mix of martial arts and comedy. Unlike many before him, Chan could blend action set pieces in a way that incited laughter from the theatre audience. While the Asian superstar was still in doubt about his then-recently released film “Rush Hour,” a phone call from New York made him feel better. “I got a phone call. Brett Ratner and Chris Tucker call me from New York. They’re crazy,” said Chan.

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Chan received the call after a week had passed from Tucker and Ranter. “We were $70 million in the first weekend,” said Tucker and Ranter. Chan was so surprised he couldn’t even fathom the number. “For me, I don’t know how to count,” said the martial arts icon.

Rush Hour allowed Chan to experiment further with his style because co-star Chris Tucker played his partner in the movie. The original Rush Hour became a smash hit. Made with $33 million, the film earned a massive $244 million dollars worldwide. However, with Rush Hour 2, Jackie proved how bankable he had become.

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While Rush Hour 2 had a budget of about $90 million, it earned $100 million more. The sequel earned $347 million at the box office. And when Rush Hour 3 made 258 million, Jackie had become a household name to the American audience. Recently, Jackie and Chris announced Rush Hour 4.

Jackie Chan was more than Bruce Lee’s successor

While “Jackie Chan style” was unique, he differentiated himself from Bruce Lee in more ways than one. Chan remembers saying he was not Bruce Lee. “If Bruce kicked high; I kick low. Bruce fights like this. I do it the opposite,” said Chan. Jackie, who worked as a stuntman in two films with Bruce Lee, knew the Jeet Kun Do founder’s fighting style and didn’t emulate it.

However, like Bruce, Jackie continued to do his stunts and choreographed fights as a leading man in Hollywood. When talking about Rush Hour, are you a fan of this smash hit franchise? Share your thoughts in the comments below.

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