Since Jackie Chan first hit the big screen, audiences have been entranced by his stunts and amazing martial arts skills. But what people may not know is that a blooper reel often precedes even Jackie’s most iconic scenes. As it turns out, this tradition started with a chance encounter between Jackie Chan and American editor John Cohen. In a 1984 interview, Cohen recounted how Chan was filming a fight scene and accidentally kicked an opponent in the head while they were both on the ground. The kick created a huge outcry, so Cohen stepped in to finish the scene. Rather than just cutting to the next take, he filmed Chan goofing off for the entire reel—resulting in one of cinema’s most memorable traditions.
What Began Jackie Chan’s Blooper Reel Trend
Jackie Chan’s blooper reel trend began with the release of Project A in 1982. The film features several unintentionally funny scenes, leading to a steady stream of outtakes and bloopers over the years. Today, Jackie Chan movies nearly always end with a blooper reel.
What started the trend is still disputed, but some attribute it to an incident during the filming of Project A. While shooting a fight scene, Chan accidentally hit his head on a metal bar while performing his stunt. As he lay in pain, crew members started recording footage for use in the scene. The resulting outtakes became popular among fans and eventually led to more intentional blooper moments throughout his films.
Blooper Reels Are In The Jackie Chan Film Formula
In most Jackie Chan movies, at least two blooper reels are included at the end. The first blooper reel is generally used to show off the humorous side of Chan’s persona. In contrast, the second reel is typically reserved for more embarrassing moments that were either shot during filming or happened naturally on set.
The blooper reel tradition began with one of Jackie Chan’s earliest films, Project A. Back then, there weren’t any video editing tools available, so the director had to use a stopwatch to time how long it took for each actor to screw up their lines. The reels ended up being quite lengthy (and hilarious).
Ever since then, every Jackie Chan movie has featured at least one blooper reel. Some of them have become so popular that they’ve even been incorporated into other films and television shows. So if you’re ever curious about what goes on behind the scenes of a Jackie Chan movie, make sure to check out those extra scenes at the end!
Who is Jackie Chan?
Jackie Chan is a globally renowned actor and martial artist who has appeared in over 150 films and television shows. He is known for his comedic and action-packed performances, which often feature elaborate stunts and quick-witted dialogue.
Chan’s career began in the early 1980s when he starred in a series of kung fu movies directed by the legendary Solon Lee. His breakthrough performance came in 1986 when he starred in “Drunken Master,” which brought international recognition to the Hong Kong film industry.
Since then, Chan has starred in dozens of successful films, many of which have become classic action movies. He has also made numerous appearances in Hollywood blockbusters, including “The Matrix” trilogy and “Rush Hour.”
Many of Chan’s famous blooper scenes began as improvisations during filming. One popular blooper involves Chan’s character stumbling while trying to jump over a fence; as a result, he ends up crashing into it head-first.