Rush Hour 2

Lee and Carter head to Hong Kong expecting a break, but their plans diverge when Lee follows a lead on a Triad boss linked to murders at the American embassy while Carter chases nightlife and local attractions. Their separate interests collide when they uncover a large counterfeiting ring, pulling them into escalating fights, chases, and dangerous encounters. As clues point from Hong Kong back to the United States, questions about a bombing and the true motives of a charismatic customs agent complicate things. The film mixes high-energy fights with fish-out-of-water humor and neon-lit locales and casinos.

Released in 2001, Rush Hour 2 was directed by Brett Ratner as the follow-up to the 1998 original, with a screenplay by Ross LaManna and Jeff Nathanson, and it notably stars Jackie Chan, Chris Tucker, Zhang Ziyi and Roselyn Sánchez.

Rush Hour 2 was a major commercial success, earning strong returns worldwide and helping turn the pair into a bankable comedy-action franchise. Its box office performance encouraged further sequels and signaled audience appetite for action comedies centered on mismatched partners.

Chan and Tucker's easy, often abrasive chemistry became the movie's signature, and its action set pieces, many featuring Chan's inventive stunt work, left a visible mark on Hollywood action-comedies. Zhang Ziyi's appearance introduced her to Western viewers, and the film helped cement the buddy-cop template for later genre hybrids worldwide.

Critics gave mixed-to-positive reviews, applauding the leads' rapport and Chan's stunt choreography while noting a thin plot and occasional cultural stereotyping. Audiences responded more enthusiastically, attracted to the blend of comedy and action. The film keeps returning to themes of friendship, trust across cultures, and the fight against organized crime.