Drunken Master

An unruly young man named Fred Wong ends up in trouble and is sent to train under Beggar So, a brutal, slovenly old beggar who guards a secret martial tradition. At first, Fred's bravado clashes with So's method and humor, but the old master pushes him through grueling drills that fuse unpredictability with precise timing. The core is the drunken fist style, a fluid, off balance way of fighting that turns weakness into surprising power. As training deepens, Fred learns to read opponents, control his breath, and choreograph spectacular flurries that blend slapstick with jaw dropping stunts. The friendship that grows hints at deeper loyalties beyond the sparring arena. The humor and action mix keeps the film feeling fresh today.

Released in 1978 and directed by Yuen Woo-Ping, Drunken Master stems from the ideas of Lung Hsiao and Ng See-Yuen. The film helped cement Jackie Chan as a star of kung fu comedy, merging pratfalls with daring athletic feats worldwide.

The film grossed $16,483,650 worldwide, reflecting solid interest in Chan's blend of comedy and stunt-driven action. Its returns helped cement Hong Kong cinema's global reach and demonstrated the market for cross border martial arts humor during the late 1970s era.

Drunken Master helped redefine martial arts cinema by pairing brisk physical comedy with risky stunt work and a flexible fight language. Jackie Chan's Drunken Fist persona became a blueprint for action humor influencing scores of later films, stunt choreography, and the way audiences expect martial arts on screen today worldwide.

Critics praised the blend of humor and hand to hand combat, noting inventive choreography and Chan's evolving screen persona. Themes center on mentorship and discipline, showing how a gifted apprentice grows through rigorous training, balance between risk and restraint, and the cultural power of practical, funny resilience in cinemas worldwide.