Rush Hour

When Hong Kong Inspector Lee flies to Los Angeles after a high-profile kidnapping, he's met with resistance from an FBI that doesn't want outside help. The LAPD assigns fast-talking Detective James Carter to keep Lee occupied, but Carter's bluster and Lee's quiet skill soon collide instead of cooperating. Reluctantly, the two form an uneasy partnership, following leads through L.A.'s underworld, trading cultural misunderstandings for mutual respect as they chase the people behind the abduction. The film keeps the focus on their evolving teamwork and a string of action set pieces and comic mismatches, without giving away how the case resolves.

Directed by Brett Ratner and created from a story by Jim Kouf and Ross LaManna, Rush Hour hit theaters in 1998, pairing Jackie Chan and Chris Tucker in a high-energy action comedy that mixed martial arts choreography with rapid-fire comic banter.

The movie was a strong commercial success on release, reaching wide international audiences and helping launch a franchise, with sequels following to capitalize on its popularity.

Rush Hour left a clear mark on pop culture, its pairing of an Asian martial-arts star with a loudmouthed American comic creating an instantly recognizable dynamic. Several scenes and lines entered the public imagination, and the film helped introduce Jackie Chan to a broader U.S. audience while boosting Chris Tucker's profile.

Critics were generally positive about the lead chemistry and the balance of stunts and jokes, with the film earning a solid audience score around 7 out of 10. Some reviews noted a thin plot and reliance on cultural stereotypes, yet most viewers responded to the film's energy, character rapport, and brisk pacing, which made it a go-to example of the buddy-cop action comedy.