Film Name: 上海正午 / Shanghai Noon
In 1998, Jackie Chan released two films. While the quantity may not seem substantial, both were solid blockbusters. Notably, “Rush Hour” was a pure Hollywood production with a budget of $35 million and grossed a staggering $244 million worldwide.
The success of “Rush Hour” demonstrated Jackie Chan’s immense commercial value to international studios. Consequently, in 2000, Buena Vista Pictures partnered with Jackie Chan to release another film titled “Shanghai Noon.”
Given the outstanding performance of “Rush Hour,” the production budget for “Shanghai Noon” was increased to $50 million.
Directed by Tom Dey, “Shanghai Noon” starred Jackie Chan, Owen Wilson, Lucy Liu, and Yung-Kwang Yu. Set during the Qing Dynasty, the film follows Princess Pei Pei (played by Lucy Liu) who is kidnapped. Jackie Chan’s character, a royal guard, is dispatched by the Qing court to the United States with others to rescue her, leading to a series of thrilling adventures.
As Jackie Chan’s second venture into Hollywood, this film clearly demonstrates the efforts made by this representative of Chinese cinema. His ability to showcase Chinese cultural elements within a purely Hollywood-produced film underscores that, beyond commercial considerations, Chinese actors have significantly earned the respect of the global film industry.
Regarding the content of “Shanghai Noon,” it certainly pales in comparison to Jackie Chan’s earlier domestic films. However, Western audiences at the time were quite fond of movies featuring Chinese martial arts, so overall, this type of film primarily targeted Western audiences.
Director Tom Dey also enriched the film’s composition beyond Chinese martial arts, incorporating Western cowboys, Native American tribes, and racial themes. Jackie Chan handled the kung fu sequences while Owen Wilson delivered the gunfight scenes—their pairing worked well, paving the way for a sequel.
The film grossed nearly $57 million in North America and $99.3 million globally. While this may seem modest, it’s important to factor in the substantial home video market. Combined with theatrical earnings, the $50 million home video revenue ensured the film recouped its investment and turned a profit.
This film also significantly elevated Jackie Chan’s signature kung fu comedy style on the global stage.
Speaking of 1998, fellow Chinese film icon Jet Li also broke into Hollywood. Like Jackie Chan, he earned global respect through hard work, yet similarly faced the daunting challenge of balancing Eastern and Western audiences.
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