On April 7, 2025, Jackie Chan turned 71. Many people are used to seeing him as a cheerful fighter, bouncing between stools and fending off villains with a step ladder or a cooking pot. But his filmography includes a very different side — serious, dark roles, filled with pain and drama. Here are three films where Chan doesn’t make you laugh but instead makes you truly empathize — even cry.
The Foreigner (2016)
In the hard-hitting drama The Foreigner, Chan plays a father who loses his daughter in a terrorist attack. He’s not a superhero, a jokester, or even a friendly uncle — he’s a broken man who decides to take on the British system and seek justice by his own means.
Of course, this film about the clash between a former Chinese partisan and Irish mercenaries still features fights and stunts. But unlike most of Chan’s films, these scenes don’t make you laugh.
Shinjuku Incident (2009)
Perhaps the most atypical film in Jackie’s career. His character is an illegal immigrant from China searching for a lost love and a better life in Japan — but he ends up being pulled into the criminal underworld.
A crime drama with no signature moves or chases, but filled with a dark, heavy atmosphere and an unexpectedly powerful performance. Chan proves he’s capable of playing truly complex characters.
1911 (2011)
A historical film in which Jackie Chan appears not only as an actor but also as one of the directors. The story focuses on the Xinhai Revolution — one of the most significant moments in Chinese history. His character, General Huang Xing, is a revolutionary fighting for the country’s future. 1911 is meditative, restrained, and at times heavy — but that’s exactly what a story about revolution should be.
For most of us, Jackie remains first and foremost a stunt performer, someone who’s broken nearly every bone in his body. But he can also portray complex, dramatic, and conflicted characters. Though of course, he still shines in comedy too. We’ve also written about another actor known for his comedic roots whose dramatic performances are equally powerful and unexpected.
