Once an international action movie icon, Jackie Chan now faces a harsh reality: his films are no longer working. In the past 9 years, his 13 latest releases have been critical and commercial failures, accumulating colossal losses.
Has the Jackie Chan Myth Crumbled?
« Ride On, » the latest film produced by and starring Jackie Chan, perfectly illustrates this decline. Released a month ago, it only grossed 80 million yuan (approximately $11.6 million USD) against a budget of 350 million yuan (approximately $50.7 million USD). Maoyan, a Chinese ticketing platform, estimated the film needed to reach 1 billion yuan (approximately $145 million USD) to break even. This means the film has lost at least 270 million yuan (approximately $39 million USD), not including marketing and other expenses.
This is even more alarming considering a film generally needs to earn three times its budget to be profitable, factoring in advertising, taxes, revenue sharing with cinemas, and other related costs.
A String of Box Office Disasters
The year 2015 marked a turning point in Jackie Chan’s career: the beginning of a losing streak he struggles to overcome. Critics are relentless, pointing to a decline in quality and repetitive storylines. « Kung Fu Yoga », despite the presence of Bollywood star Disha Patani, sank with 300 million yuan (approximately $43.5 million USD) in losses. « Railroad Tigers », meant to seduce audiences with its adventurous atmosphere, derailed at the box office with only 160 million yuan (approximately $23.2 million USD) in revenue for a budget of 350 million yuan (approximately $50.7 million USD).
Percy Jackson season 2: First Trailer of the…
Even international collaborations turn into nightmares. « Viy 2: Journey to China », a co-production bringing together Jackie Chan with stars like Arnold Schwarzenegger and Jason Flemyng, turned into a financial black hole with a meager $9.19 million in revenue for a $50 million budget. As for « Hidden Strike », it was released directly to video on demand, a sign of distributors’ lack of confidence. The result: barely $5 million in revenue, leaving Jackie Chan with a $70 million deficit.
A Style Past Its Prime?
Several factors explain this downfall. First, Jackie Chan’s style, based on a blend of humor and martial arts, now seems outdated. Audiences, accustomed to blockbusters with impressive special effects, are tiring of « old-school » stunts, even if the star insists on his age (70) and physical prowess.
Moreover, his film’s screenplays are often deemed predictable and lacking originality. Jackie Chan seems to focus on the action sequences at the expense of story and character development.
Frozen 3 Set to Premiere in 2027!
The End of an Era of Jackie Chan?
Jackie Chan’s fall from grace is all the more symbolic as he was once one of the most popular Asian actors in the world. He is also the only one to have received an Honorary Oscar for lifetime achievement.
Today, the observation is bitter. « Whether his films are good or bad, nobody cares anymore, it’s worrying, » says the QQ website. It remains to be seen if the star will be able to reinvent himself to win back the hearts of the audience.
Meta Description: Action movie icon Jackie Chan faces a string of box office bombs. His latest films have resulted in billions of yuan in losses, marking the end of an era?
Keywords: Jackie Chan, cinema, movies, flops, box office, losses, Ride On, career, China, Hollywood
Canonical URL: https://www.example.com/the-fall-of-a-superstar-jackie-chan