Jackie Chan: My Story (1998)

Jackie Chan: My Story is special because it captures the man behind the legend with the same mix of warmth, humor, and jaw-dropping physical commitment that made his movies iconic. Instead of treating his career like a highlight reel, it lets you spend time with Chan as he moves between Hollywood and Beijing, speaking candidly about the work ethic, risks, and creative choices that shaped his one-of-a-kind style. The tone is breezy and personable, but it’s also quietly inspiring—like hearing a master craftsman explain how the magic is built, bruise by bruise. If you’re looking for a deep investigative biography you may want more, but as an entertaining, insightful primer on why Jackie Chan is Jackie Chan, it’s hard to resist.

Jackie Chan: My Story wants to be an intimate, behind-the-scenes portrait of a global superstar juggling Hollywood and Beijing, with plenty of admiration for his work ethic and daredevil stunts. The problem is it plays more like a glossy promo than a probing documentary, staying shallow, a bit dated, and occasionally misleading by framing the achievements as mostly a one-man show while sidelining the teams that make the magic happen. If you’re a longtime fan hoping for fresh revelations, nuance, or hard questions, you’ll likely feel shortchanged. Still, if you simply want an easy, upbeat Jackie sampler with some candid moments and career context, it can pass the time.