The Jackie Chan Lucky Stars Franchise is a lesser-known chapter in the iconic actor’s celebrated career, comprising a trilogy that launched in the early 1980s. Unlike Chan’s more famous standalone kung fu movies or franchises such as Rush Hour and Police Story, the Lucky Stars films developed from a supporting role Chan played in a comedy-martial arts hybrid that evolved into a multi-installment series. The films, though not front and center in Chan’s filmography, hold cultural value and showcase his expanding presence in Hong Kong cinema during that period.
The franchise began with Winners and Sinners in 1983, a movie featuring a group of friends who start a cleaning business after meeting in prison. Jackie Chan’s involvement was modest, but the series gained its own identity and extended beyond his participation with sequels and spinoffs. Despite the franchise’s secondary status relative to Chan’s other works, it remains a notable example of ensemble-driven martial arts comedy in Hong Kong.
Jackie Chan’s Supporting Role in the Original Winners and Sinners
Winners and Sinners was directed by and starred Sammo Hung, one of Chan’s frequent collaborators, centering on five men who form the Five Stars Cleaning Company after their time in prison. The film blends slapstick comedy with martial arts energy, following the antics of this group as they navigate friendship, romance, and accidental criminal entanglements.
In this film, Jackie Chan plays a brief but memorable role as Cop #7086, a martial arts-skilled but somewhat clumsy police officer who crosses paths with the protagonists during the pursuit of a suitcase containing counterfeit money. While he does not belong to the core group, his police character adds an engaging dynamic and injects some of Chan’s trademark fight sequences into the plot. This supporting role is quite different from Chan’s usual leading-man status during the 1980s, but still offers appeal for fans, blending his unique action style with comedy.
The Lucky Stars series also spawned a spinoff called Pom Pom, which starred two original Lucky Stars members, Richard Ng and John Shum, continuing the comedic martial arts tradition established by the films.
Expanded but Supporting Roles for Jackie Chan in the Lucky Stars Sequels
Jackie Chan’s involvement grew with the sequels My Lucky Stars (1985) and Twinkle Twinkle Lucky Stars (1985). These films shifted the franchise‘s title branding to focus on the Lucky Stars group but still featured Chan primarily as an ally rather than a full member of the team. In both movies, he played the character Muscles, a martial artist and police officer who shares a friendship with the core group.
In My Lucky Stars, Chan’s character plays a pivotal role in setting the story into motion and participates actively in the action-packed finale, solidifying his importance without overshadowing the group. The film capitalized on Chan’s rising popularity in the mid-1980s, while balancing ensemble storytelling.
The third movie, Twinkle Twinkle Lucky Stars, repeated this formula by involving Chan as Muscles once again, with several notable fight scenes and memorable moments, but without making it a Jackie Chan-centric production. This approach maintained the ensemble feel and kept the group of stars at the forefront.
The Continuation of the Lucky Stars Series After Jackie Chan’s Departure
Although many fans consider the trio of Winners and Sinners, My Lucky Stars, and Twinkle Twinkle Lucky Stars as the core trilogy, the Lucky Stars franchise extended beyond Chan’s direct participation. The series spanned from 1983 to 1996, continuing under the lead star Sammo Hung, who remained a constant presence even as the storyline and cast evolved. Hung’s behind-the-scenes influence shaped the series’ direction, but the later films showcased a shift in creative control.
The Lucky Stars later crossed over with the Aces Go Places film series in Lucky Stars Go Places, merging two popular Hong Kong comedic universes in the late 1980s. Subsequent instalments like Return of the Lucky Stars, Lucky Stars Ghost Encounter, and the concluding How to Meet the Lucky Stars in 1996 followed a return to the more traditional Lucky Stars style established in the beginning.
A Star-Studded Cast Beyond Jackie Chan
The Lucky Stars franchise featured a revolving ensemble of Hong Kong’s notable actors over its 16-year run. The original core group included Sammo Hung, John Shum, Richard Ng, Stanley Fung, and Charlie Chin, with Eric Tsang replacing John Shum from My Lucky Stars onwards. Hung, Ng, and Fung appeared consistently through all seven films, while Tsang remained a steady supporting presence.
While Jackie Chan was the most prominent guest star across the series, many other renowned figures joined the cast at various points. Stars such as Andy Lau, Michelle Yeoh, Rosamund Kwan, and Yuen Biao contributed guest performances, adding richness and star power to the franchise.
Jackie Chan’s involvement, though limited compared to his other franchises, is significant because of how it bridges comedy and martial arts in a multi-film collaboration with Sammo Hung and his circle of collaborators.
Key Performers and Their Roles Within the Lucky Stars Ensemble
The franchise’s original team featured Sammo Hung as Kidstuff or Fastbuck, Jackie Chan as Muscles or CID 07 in the sequels, Yuen Biao as Ricky, and Eric Tsang as Roundhead or Blockhead. John Shum played Curly, Richard Ng was known as Exhaust Pipe, and Stanley Fung and Charlie Chin contributed as part of the ensemble dynamic. This group of actors helped define the tone and character-driven comedy across the films, often playing off each other with physical humor and coordinated fight choreography.
Sammo Hung’s role in both performing and directing allowed the franchise to maintain a consistent feel despite cast changes and Chan’s eventual departure. Jackie Chan’s characters, though sometimes peripheral, brought his trademark martial arts skills and comic timing, creating memorable moments that distinguished the trilogy within the larger Hong Kong martial arts cinema landscape.
Our Reader’s Queries
Q. Why did Jackie Chan quit acting?
A. At the 2012 Cannes Film Festival, Chan mentioned he planned to stop doing action films because he was getting too old for them. Later, he explained he wasn’t quitting completely but would do fewer stunts to protect his health.
Q. Why did Jackie Chan stop acting?
A. Even though the Rush Hour and Shanghai Noon movies did well, Chan grew unhappy with Hollywood. He was upset about the few roles available and his lack of say in making films.
Q. Did Bruce Lee and Jackie Chan ever fight?
A. Fresh content is available at CBC Music. A young martial artist would find it a great privilege to act with Bruce Lee. Jackie Chan experienced this on the set of ‘Enter the Dragon’. However, everything didn’t go smoothly. Bruce accidentally struck Jackie on the head and felt really bad about it.
