Jackie Chan Critiques CGI Stunts: “Safer, But the Danger Is Gone”

May 12, 2025: Action legend Jackie Chan has weighed in on the evolution of stunt work in Hollywood, expressing concern that modern visual effects may be diluting the thrill and authenticity that once defined action cinema.

In a candid interview with Haute Living, Chan reflected on the rise of CGI and wirework in today’s film industry, comparing it to his own era of physically demanding stunt performances.

“In the old days, the only option was to be there and jump. That’s it,” Chan explained. “Now with computers, actors can appear to do anything, but there’s always a sense of reality that you feel is missing.”

He described the shift as a “double-edged sword”: while technology makes stunts safer and more accessible for actors, it also removes the palpable sense of danger. “The concept of danger and limit gets blurred and the audience is numb to it,” he said. “But I’m not encouraging anybody to risk their lives to do the stunts like I did—it truly is too dangerous.”

Known for his daring, often death-defying stunts in classics like Drunken Master, Police Story, and Rush Hour, Chan has spent decades redefining action choreography. Now 71, the martial arts icon insists he still performs his own stunts and has no plans to slow down.

“Of course, I always do my own stunts. It’s who I am,” he said. “That’s not changing until the day I retire, which is never! And to be honest, when you’ve done it for 64 years straight, there’s no physical preparation anymore. Everything is in your heart and soul; it is muscle memory.”

Fans can next catch Jackie Chan in Karate Kid: Legends, set for release on May 30. The film reunites him with Ralph Macchio and introduces Ben Wang, with Chan reprising his role as Mr. Han from the 2010 reboot of The Karate Kid.