Top 10 Craziest Jackie Chan Stunts That Almost Killed Him
Top 10 Craziest Jackie Chan Stunts That Almost Killed Him
Jackie Chan is a living legend in the world of martial arts and action movies. Known for performing his own stunts and daring feats, Chan has built a career on pushing the limits of physical performance in ways that most people would never dare to try. Over the years, fans have marveled at his incredible fight sequences and death-defying stunts, but what most don’t know is that many of these stunts nearly cost him his life.
In this blog, we’ll look at 10 of the craziest Jackie Chan stunts that almost killed him, showcasing just how much the actor is willing to risk for his craft.
1. The Ladder Jump – Police Story (1985)
One of Jackie Chan’s most iconic stunts involved leaping from a high ladder onto a metal frame in Police Story—and it went horribly wrong. As he jumped, Jackie Chan’s hand missed the metal pole, causing him to crash through a sheet of glass. He ended up falling a considerable distance, landing directly on his back. The stunt left him with several injuries, including a serious back injury that required extensive recovery. But, true to Jackie’s spirit, he kept going, and the stunt remains one of his most memorable.
2. The Double Decker Bus Jump – Rumble in the Bronx (1995)
In Rumble in the Bronx, Jackie performed a stunt where he jumps from one moving bus to another. The two buses were traveling at high speed, and Jackie had to leap from one to the other while they were in motion. Unfortunately, the timing didn’t work out perfectly, and he missed the second bus, causing a severe leg injury. But Jackie didn’t stop there—he finished the scene, even with the pain.
3. The Tree Jump – The Protector (1985)
In The Protector, Jackie Chan’s character has to jump from a high tree onto a moving truck. But in real life, Jackie miscalculated the jump, landing directly onto the truck’s hard surface. The impact of the fall caused major internal injuries, including damage to his spine. Jackie later revealed that he couldn’t feel his legs for a while after the stunt, and his recovery was long and painful.
4. The Helicopter Stunt – Armor of God (1986)
While filming Armor of God, Jackie Chan had to jump onto a moving helicopter. The stunt was dangerous enough to begin with, but during the jump, Jackie missed his target and collided with the helicopter’s skids. The impact caused him to hit the ground hard, and his head struck the rocks. As a result, Jackie suffered a severe head injury and had to undergo surgery. Despite his injuries, he insisted on continuing the shoot and completing the sequence, which has since become a legendary action moment in film history.
5. The Clock Tower Fall – Project A (1983)
In Project A, Jackie Chan performed a stunt in which he falls from a clock tower and crashes onto a platform below. While the stunt was designed to look spectacular, things went horribly wrong when Jackie landed on a flagpole. The pole pierced his pelvis, and Jackie was rushed to the hospital. The accident led to him needing surgery and taking several months off to recover. This stunt is a prime example of Jackie’s risk-taking attitude when it comes to his action films.
6. The Train Fight – Railroad Tigers (2016)
In Railroad Tigers, Jackie Chan had to engage in a fight sequence on top of a moving train. Not only was the train moving at high speed, but Jackie also had to leap from one moving car to another while fighting off enemies. At one point, he was nearly struck by an oncoming train. Fortunately, Jackie’s expertise in stunts helped him avoid a disaster, but the risk involved made this one of his most dangerous stunt sequences.
7. The Bus Flip – Who Am I? (1998)
While filming Who Am I?, Jackie Chan performed a bus-flipping stunt that saw him jump onto the roof of a moving bus. However, things didn’t go as planned, and Jackie was thrown from the vehicle, leading to serious injuries. His shoulder was dislocated during the incident, and he had to undergo medical treatment before resuming filming. The stunt went down in history as one of his most intense, but also one of the riskiest.
8. The Helicopter Grip – Skiptrace (2016)
In Skiptrace, Jackie Chan had to perform a stunt where he grips onto a helicopter while flying through the air. The scene involved him holding onto the helicopter’s landing gear, which swung him around in mid-air at terrifying speeds. The high winds and danger of the maneuver meant that Jackie was in extreme peril. However, Jackie made it through the stunt without injury, but it was undoubtedly one of the most heart-stopping moments of his career.
9. The Car Jump – Rush Hour 2 (2001)
In Rush Hour 2, Jackie Chan performed a stunt in which he jumped from one moving car to another while it was speeding down the highway. During one of the takes, Jackie misjudged the timing, and the car he was jumping onto swerved just as he was airborne. He crashed into the car and was knocked unconscious. Thankfully, he recovered quickly, but it was yet another close call in a long history of risky stunts.
10. The Bike Flip – City Hunter (1993)
In City Hunter, Jackie Chan had to perform a stunt where he flipped a motorcycle onto its side while dodging an oncoming car. The stunt involved extreme precision and timing, but during one take, Jackie lost control of the bike and nearly crashed into a concrete wall. The risk of injury was immense, but once again, Jackie’s skills and experience allowed him to walk away from the near-disaster unscathed.
