Jackie Chan’s Stunt Secrets Revealed

Jackie Chan’s best stunts seem to bend the fabric of physical possibility.

Chan knows stunts, he lives stunts, he’s got a lot of interesting things to say about the purpose of stunts and a ton of interesting details to share about what makes a stunt sell a moment, or fail to do so.

If you’re yearning for an undiluted immersion in his artistry of action, then prepare yourself for a little known doc from 1999: “Jackie Chan: My Stunts.’’

Now, let’s be candid. This isn’t a sleek, high-budget Hollywood affair. It’s a charmingly unpolished 90s doc that exists to promote the Chan brand. But beneath that surface, you’ll find: an intimate exploration of the philosophy of stunt work straight from the maestro himself.

In ‘My Stunts,’ he meticulously dissects his iconic work, revealing the painstaking planning, the grueling rehearsals, and the sheer audacity that fueled each bone-jarring collision, each gravity-mocking leap.”

You’ll witness how a simple fight scene, using everyday objects can become a ballet of controlled chaos, each prop an extension of the combatants’ bodies. You’ll learn the secrets behind those seemingly impossible escapes, and the tricks he uses to increase the visual, and visceral impact. What’s more, Chan sheds light on the ingenious and scrappy ways he surpassed Hollywood flicks within the tiny budgets of 90’s Hong Kong’s films.
Whether you’re an action junkie or just curious about the artistry behind the adrenaline, seek out ‘Jackie Chan: My Stunts.’ Catch it now, streaming on the Criterion Channel, and on YouTube.”