Jackie Chan isn’t holding back when it comes to his thoughts on how modern action movies are made, and spoiler alert, he’s not a fan of the CGI overload.
In fact, Jackie Chan’s CGI stunt concerns go deep. At 71, the legendary martial artist still does his own stunts, but now he’s opening up about why computer-generated action might be killing the true essence of the genre.
In a recent chat with Haute Living, Jackie admitted he’s worried that audiences are getting numb to danger because of how action scenes are done today. “In the old days, the only choice we had was to be there and jump. That’s it,” he said, pointing out how things were raw, real, and way more dangerous back then. Now? CGI can do the impossible, but to Jackie, it also makes the audience feel nothing.
And it’s not just about nostalgia. He explained that while tech helps actors look superhuman, it also blurs the lines between what’s real and what’s not. “There’s always a sense of reality that you feel is missing,” Jackie said. “It’s a double-edged sword.”
Still, don’t expect Jackie to suggest everyone should risk their lives for the sake of realism. “I’m not encouraging anybody to risk their lives to do the stunts like I did; it truly is too dangerous,” he added. This is the same guy who’s broken bones, fallen from rooftops, and kept rolling just to get the shot right. His concern isn’t about gatekeeping stunt work, it’s about preserving the soul of it.
Despite the industry shifting, Jackie isn’t changing his ways. “Of course, I always do my own stunts. It’s who I am,” he said. And retirement? Not even on the table. “That’s not changing until the day I retire, which is never!” For him, it’s all muscle memory at this point. Sixty-four years of flipping, kicking, and crashing have basically hardwired action into his system.
But there’s more to Jackie than bruises and broken bones. He’s tired of just being “the action guy.” In fact, he’s itching to branch out. “I want to do something outside of action,” he said. “I want to be an actor who can handle different roles.” It’s clear he’s done with being pigeonholed, he wants to act, not just jump through windows.
He also opened up about the balance between creativity and commercial success. While most of his work has leaned toward big-budget crowd-pleasers, Jackie says it’s always been about trying to innovate. “I would constantly brainstorm how to design an action sequence to make it more appealing to the audience.”
Jackie’s take on life and work is refreshingly real. He says he never aims to please everyone and prefers staying true to himself. “Cinema is an art of regret,” he said. “You always feel like you could do more, do better. But for me, as long I push myself to the limit, I can move on without regret.”
Jackie Chan’s CGI stunt concerns reflect more than just tech criticism, they’re a reminder of what makes action movies truly thrilling. When real pain, risk, and creativity collide on screen, that’s when the magic happens. Whether or not Hollywood listens is another story.
