Jackie Chan’s ‘Shanghai Noon’ Action Western Changed His Career Forever

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Jackie Chan started his acting career in the early 1970s, but he became widely known in the 1980s for his incredible martial arts and daring stunts. Films such as Police Story, Armour of God, and Project A made him a star in China and around the world. In the 1990s, his amazing stunts and fighting abilities finally caught on with American audiences, thanks to popular movies like Supercop, Rumble in the Bronx, and First Strike.

I remember when Jackie Chan really broke through with American audiences – it was definitely Rush Hour in ’98! Pairing his incredible martial arts with Chris Tucker’s comedy was just magic. But for me, it was Shanghai Noon with Owen Wilson in 2000 that cemented his status as a major star. Seeing him do his thing in a Western was so unexpected, and it totally changed his career – he really proved he could lead a movie in any genre.

Jackie Chan Conquered the American West

In Shanghai Noon, Jackie Chan plays Chon Wang – a surprisingly good cowboy name, though his co-star’s character, Roy O’Bannon, quickly points out how it sounds like ‘John Wayne.’ The story follows Chon, an Imperial Guard from China’s Forbidden City, who journeys to the American Wild West to rescue a kidnapped princess (Lucy Liu). He teams up with Roy, a train robber, and the two form an unlikely partnership. The film also features Xander Berkeley, Walton Goggins, and Roger Yuan. Shanghai Noon successfully blends the action and humor that made Rush Hour so popular, delivering both exciting martial arts sequences and plenty of laughs, all driven by a charming pair of leads.

When Rush Hour came out in 1998, it was a massive success, earning $244 million worldwide on a $33 million budget. Shanghai Noon had a bigger budget – around $55 million – and almost doubled that at the box office, bringing in $99 million. While not as big a hit as Rush Hour, Shanghai Noon still proved Jackie Chan could attract American audiences as a funny leading man. The film showed he was just as good at making people laugh as he was at performing impressive stunts, suggesting a strong future for his comedic talent. It was also Chan’s first Western, and he handled the genre with ease, demonstrating his versatility as an actor.

‘Shanghai Noon’ Bolstered Chan’s Rising Star in the United States

The popularity of Rush Hour quickly led to two more movies, Rush Hour 2 and Rush Hour 3, which had even bigger budgets and continued to be box office hits. Fans have wanted a fourth film for years, but it hasn’t happened, though there have been hints it might. Beyond the Rush Hour series, Jackie Chan began appearing in many other American films, sometimes even as the main character, often featuring romantic stories and lots of humor.

Following the success of Shanghai Noon, Jackie Chan appeared in a string of action-comedies, including The Tuxedo, The Medallion, The Accidental Spy, and Disney’s Around the World in 80 Days. He consistently showcased his martial arts abilities and stunt work, notably in the fantasy film The Forbidden Kingdom, where he starred alongside Jet Li. Chan also demonstrated his comedic timing through voice work in the Kung Fu Panda films and The Lego Ninjago Movie, often without relying on physical fighting. He even took on more dramatic roles, as seen in the remake of The Karate Kid.

Chan first became famous for his daring stunts, frequently putting himself in danger to get incredible shots. He also gained recognition for his impressive fighting skills, which brought his martial arts to a global audience. However, it was the movie Shanghai Noon that really showed off his comedic talent and fighting abilities in a Western setting, opening doors to roles he might not have gotten otherwise.

Will There Ever Be a Third ‘Shanghai Noon’ Movie?


Buena Vista Pictures Distribution

While Jackie Chan was known for his successful action comedies, a follow-up to Shanghai Noon called Shanghai Knights was released in 2003. This new film reunited Chan with Owen Wilson, but moved the action from the American West to the streets of London. The movie performed reasonably well, adding to Chan’s string of hits and showcasing his talent for blending comedy with action. Like the Rush Hour series, fans have long hoped for another sequel, and a third film, tentatively titled Shanghai Dawn, actually got quite far into development – further than many people realize.

Many know Miles Millar and Alfred Gough as the creators of Wednesday, but before that, they wrote the Shanghai Noon movies together. Gough recently revealed that a third film was almost made, with Jackie Chan and Owen Wilson set to return. He explained that a script was developed with a new team of writers taking the lead. According to Gough, the third Shanghai Noon film could have been released years ago if Jackie Chan hadn’t decided not to participate. He then shared further details.

We almost got the project off the ground! It’s hard to remember exactly when, with everything disrupted by COVID, but I believe it was around 2017 or 2018. Jackie Chan and Owen Wilson had both expressed interest, but Jackie ultimately decided not to move forward. That’s as far as it got, really. About six or seven years ago, things were looking promising. We weren’t doing the writing ourselves; we were working with some newer writers, helping them develop the story and then letting them write the script. That’s the current status.

Gough also mentioned some potential plot points for the third movie. Apparently, the next Shanghai Noon film would move to a new setting – Hollywood during the time of silent movies – and Jackie Chan’s character would be working as a film professional, using his talents in movie-making. Gough then continued by saying:

The story revolved around Jackie, who was working in silent films – it was a time similar to the era of Tom Mix. Owen was in Mexico, possibly involved with revolutionaries, and Jackie had to rescue him. I don’t recall the specifics, but it definitely took place during the early days of Hollywood’s silent movie scene, which we all enjoyed creating.

Although a third Shanghai Noon movie hasn’t been officially announced, it’s still a possibility if everything comes together. The film proved Jackie Chan is a talented comedic actor, capable of success beyond just action roles. While action remains a major part of his career, Shanghai Noon showed fans his knack for comedy and solidified his appeal.




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2026-02-19 01:19