The Legend of Drunken Master

After a routine shopping trip, Wong Fei-Hong returns home with his father Wong Kei-Ying to a city simmering with trouble. Outsiders arrive seeking to cart away ancient Chinese relics in crowded streets and markets, while loyal locals insist the treasures stay put. Caught in the clash between profiteers and patriots, Fei-Hong steps into the fray with his signature drunken boxing, turning feints and chops into a lively defense of cultural heritage. His growing sense of responsibility clashes with his father's stubborn pride, forcing him to balance family respect with a call to stand up for what's right. The conflict escalates as he learns that courage can take many forms, including a clever, nonlethal approach to danger and a patient resolve.

Released in 1994, The Legend of Drunken Master was directed by Lau Kar-Leung, a veteran of martial arts cinema, with story by Edward Tang, Yuen Kai-Chi and Lai Man-Ting. The film amplifies Jackie Chan's blend of humor and bravura combat.

The film grossed about 34.3 million worldwide on a 10 million budget, underscoring strong international appeal. Word of mouth about Jackie Chan's kinetic action and sharp comic timing helped it perform well across Asia, Europe, North America and beyond worldwide.

As part of the Drunken Master lineage, the film helped shape how martial arts films mix humor with high risk stunts. Its Drunken Boxing sequences and kinetic set pieces inspired later action comedies and left a lasting imprint on pop culture worldwide. Fans still reference its fight rhythms in retrospectives.

Critics welcomed the film for its energy and stunt work, though some noted tonal swings between slapstick and danger. The story centers on tradition, family duty, and courage under pressure as Fei-Hung negotiates cultural guardianship with personal growth. The balance of humor and grit remains a hallmark of Chan's projects.