Rumble in the Bronx (1996)

79% of critics liked it
(53 reviews)
62% of users liked it
(57,690 ratings)

After years as a major star in most of the rest of the world, Jackie Chan finally broke through to stardom in the United States with Rumble in the Bronx, a dubbed and re-edited version of Hung Fan Kui. Here Chan plays Keung, a police officer from Hong Kong who travels to New York to attend the… More After years as a major star in most of the rest of the world, Jackie Chan finally broke through to stardom in the United States with Rumble in the Bronx, a dubbed and re-edited version of Hung Fan Kui. Here Chan plays Keung, a police officer from Hong Kong who travels to New York to attend the wedding of his uncle, Bill (Bill Tung). Bill has just sold his grocery store to Elaine (Anita Mui), and Keung finds Elaine to be a pretty good reason to extend his visit to New York. However, a mean-spirited and fashion-challenged street gang has moved into the neighborhood and is demanding protection money from the local storekeepers. Elaine is ready to sell the store and move on, but Keung is determined to show the toughs that he's not about to be pushed around. Things get even more sticky when the hoods are on the trail of a lost cache of stolen jewels. ~ Mark Deming, Rovi

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Rating, Runtime: R, 1 hr. 29 min.
Directed By: Stanley Tong
Written By: Edward Tang, Fibe Ma
Genres: Action & Adventure, Art House & International, Comedy

In Theaters: Jan 21, 1995 Wide
On DVD: Sep 4, 2001
Studio: New Line Cinema

Critic Reviews

Jonathan Rosenbaum, Chicago Reader
It's light on plot and character, but the stunts are well staged.
Kenneth Turan, Los Angeles Times
For once a film's ad line has a whiff of truth about it: 'No Fear. No Stuntman. No Equal.'
Sean Means, Film.com
The fun of Rumble in the Bronx is watching Chan build up one inventive and off-the-wall action scene after another.
Bruce Reid, Film.com
Awe-inspiring.
Roger Ebert, Chicago Sun-Times
The whole point is Jackie Chan - and, like Astaire and Rogers, he does what he does better than anybody.
Susan Stark, Detroit News
More than a martial arts whiz, the 41-year-old Chan possesses the comic timing of a born clown, the grace of a Broadway hoofer and the daredevil bravado of an Evel Knievel.
Jeffrey M. Anderson, Combustible Celluloid
I've seen Jackie Chan movies in Cantonese with no subtitles, and it's easy to shake off the plot that you don't understand and just root for the good guys. The same goes here.
, Time Out
Chan's insistence on his own fallibility and vulnerability, taken with virtuoso scenes like the fight involving 101 domestic appliances, shows why he means more to his countless fans than six US action stars put together.
Robin Clifford, Reeling Reviews
Yes, the production values for support acting, dubbing, and photography are marginal, at best. But, the stunts and action sequences are a breath of fresh air when compared to the bloated, hi-tech Hollywood actioners we're seeing.
Michael Dequina, TheMovieReport.com
Great action strung together by the weakest of plots.
Rob Thomas, Capital Times (Madison, WI)
Some dizzyingly exciting action marks Chan's stateside debut.
, Film4
A daft, but hugely enjoyable gangster romp.
Dragan Antulov, rec.arts.movies.reviews
Whoever demands three-dimensional characters, thoughtful exploration of some important issues or even some semblance of plot from a movie should never watch Rumble in the Bronx.
Jeffrey M. Anderson, San Francisco Examiner
Great fun despite cheap, shoddy production and dubbing.
Widgett Walls, Needcoffee.com
It's Jackie Chan delivering tasty kung fu smackdown. As long as that's what you go in looking for, you won't be disappointed.
Rob Vaux, Flipside Movie Emporium
It's really complicated: see, there's these bad guys... and then Jackie Chan beats the crap out of them.
Luke Y. Thompson, New Times
Chan's U.S. breakthrough may not be his best, but it's up there.

Read all 17 critic reviews

Critic ratings and reviews powered by RottenTomatoes.com

Fresh (60% or more critics rated the movie positively)

Rotten (59% or fewer critics rated the movie positively)

Featured Audience Ratings

Anthony L

Had 2 good stunts in it but as always the best bit is the Jackie Chan blooper reel at the end!
Tsubaki S

Very average stuff for Jackie standards, good fights and stunts. This introduced the man to America, which ended up being a cursed bless in many ways.
danny d

this is one of my 2 or 3 favorite jackie chan flicks. it really turned me on to martial arts films and the action sequences were truly amazing. i liked chan better before he got too big in america.
Daniel H

Chan's first big American breakthrough is simply not well executed, and lacks much of the humor of his other work, and what comedy there is is a bit lowbrow for Chan (Mooning the audience, a lady sitting on a toilet being exposed, etc.), especially when you realize the… More
Chan's first big American breakthrough is simply not well executed, and lacks much of the humor of his other work, and what comedy there is is a bit lowbrow for Chan (Mooning the audience, a lady sitting on a toilet being exposed, etc.), especially when you realize the "Fist-Helmet-Wrench" sequence is much more his style. Still, plot and acting were never terribly important to Martial Arts films, and "Rumble in the Bronx" focuses on what people want to see: stunts. That, and running people over in hovercrafts.
Dean M

Jackie Chan rocks. Wow! What a non-stop fighting.
Khris N

One of the best of our times!! NO EQUAL!
xGary X

Far from his best work, it's still got some great set-pieces and Jackie flings himself around with the usual aplomb. The plot seriously stretches believability even by chop socky standards and the humour is a little crude, but it's inoffensive popcorn entertainment.
Burger S

This movie has me crying "Uncle" 10 minutes in.
Steven V

The movie that made Jackie Chan a superstar in the American market. Good movie. This movie focuses on what people want to see: stunts and running people over in hovercrafts.
Fascade F

Jackie Cahn's proof that he is one of the best martial arts stuntman in the game. Worthy of watching for his incredible stunts.
Deb S

This is a good, not great, Jackie Chan film, with all the incredible stunts and fight sequences one would expect from the great martial artist. Jackie Chan comes to the Bronx for his uncle's wedding and is roped into helping out an awkward young woman who has bought his… More
This is a good, not great, Jackie Chan film, with all the incredible stunts and fight sequences one would expect from the great martial artist. Jackie Chan comes to the Bronx for his uncle's wedding and is roped into helping out an awkward young woman who has bought his uncle's store He must face street thugs and mobsters in a series of out-of-this-world fights and death-defying stunts. Meanwhile, he befriends a young boy in a wheelchair who lives in his uncle's building. This boy's older sister happens to be a part of the gang, but she quits and the two of them become friends, much to the consternation of both the gang and Chan's new employer, the storekeeper who has set her sights on him. The best sequence is when Chan goes to the punks' hideout and challenges their leader to a fight; here, he gets to use his signature moves with anything at hand. It's definitely worth a watch for great stunts and absolutely amazing action sequences.
Joseph E

Oh, how some of this film was just stupid, but oh, how some of it, was sweet.
Curt C

This is the Jackie Chan one with the hovercraft.

Read all 13 featured audience ratings

Cast

Jackie Chan
as Keung
Anita Mui
as Elaine
Bill Tung
as Uncle Bill

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