Jackie Chan Criticizes Overuse of CGI in Modern Stunts, Vows to Keep Doing His Own

Los Angeles, May 12 – Martial arts legend and action icon Jackie Chan has expressed concern over the growing reliance on computer-generated imagery (CGI) in modern Hollywood stunt work, saying it lacks the raw realism that once defined the genre.

In an interview with Haute Living magazine, the 71-year-old actor reflected on how the landscape of action cinema has changed drastically. Chan, renowned for performing his dangerous stunts in classics like Drunken Master, Police Story, and Rush Hour, described today’s stunt environment as a “double-edged sword”.

“In the old days, the only (choice we had) was to be there and jump; that’s it. Today, with computers, actors can do anything, but there’s always a sense of reality that you feel is missing,” Chan said.

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While acknowledging that CGI allows actors to perform seemingly impossible feats, Chan pointed out that the sense of real risk is often lost, which audiences subconsciously pick up on.

“Actors become more and more capable of doing impossible stunts with the help of technology, and yet, on the other hand, the concept of danger and limit gets blurred and the audience is numb (to it),” he added.

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Despite his criticisms, Chan emphasized that he does not encourage others to replicate the high-risk stunts he has performed throughout his career.

“I’m not encouraging anybody to risk their lives to do the stunts like I did; it truly is too dangerous.”

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Known for pushing the boundaries of physical performance in cinema, Chan reaffirmed that doing his stunts remains a core part of his identity.

“Of course, I always do my own stunts. It’s who I am. 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,” he said.

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Jackie Chan is set to return to the big screen in Karate Kid: Legends, releasing on May 30. He will reprise his role from the 2010 reboot of The Karate Kid, starring alongside Ralph Macchio and Ben Wang.