Jackie Chan Played ‘Street Fighter’s Chun-Li First, 33 Years Ago

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A new movie based on the popular video game Street Fighter is coming to theaters later this year. The film features a large cast of characters from the game, including well-known fighters like Ryu, Ken, Cammy, Balrog, and Guile. Callina Liang will be playing Chun-Li in the adaptation.

Chun-Li is a hugely popular character from the Street Fighter series, and the latest actress to play her joins a line of well-known performers. Kristin Kreuk played Chun-Li in the 2009 film Street Fighter: The Legend of Chun-Li, and Ming-Na Wen played her in the 1994 movie. Although Wen was the first to portray Chun-Li in a dedicated Street Fighter film, she wasn’t the first to bring the character to life on screen. Before Street Fighter had its own movie, Jackie Chan actually dressed as Chun-Li in a 1993 action-comedy, making him the first actor to portray her in live-action.

Jackie Chan Was Weirdly Perfect as the First Live-Action Chun-Li

City Hunter is an action movie from 1993 inspired by the manga series of the same name. Jackie Chan stars as Ryo Saeba, a private investigator who’s known for his womanizing. The film begins with Saeba being asked by his dying partner to stay away from his sister, Kaori Makimura. Despite this request, Saeba hires Makimura as his assistant, and together they investigate the disappearance of a news tycoon’s daughter. The search leads them onto a cruise ship infiltrated by terrorists, providing the classic Jackie Chan blend of comedy and impressive action sequences. Throughout the film, Saeba struggles with his own selfish tendencies while battling villains, and a romantic connection develops between him and Makimura, forcing him to choose between his feelings and a promise he made to his late partner.

During a fight scene in the movie, Saeba is thrown into an arcade game, destroying it and giving him an electric shock that causes him to hallucinate. This leads to a playful sequence where the movie’s actors appear as characters from Street Fighter, battling it out as video game fighters. The film showcases distinct versions of Guile, Ken, E. Honda, and Dhalsim. But the biggest surprise is Chan, who humorously dresses up as Chun-Li, complete with her signature blue outfit and white hair bows.

https://youtube.com/watch?v=zIxETAx_61M

The fight scene is filled with references to Street Fighter, as Jackie Chan mimics Chun-Li’s famous poses and moves. The movie also incorporates music and sound effects from the game, enhancing the sequence. Viewers can spot Chun-Li battling Ken, E. Honda performing his signature Hundred Hand Slap, and even Guile briefly adjusting his hair. Though the fight is a hallucination within the film, it’s the first time many Street Fighter characters have appeared in live-action.

Comparing the upcoming 2026 Street Fighter movie to the 1993 film City Hunter, Cody Rhodes’ portrayal of Guile looks remarkably similar, right down to the hairstyle. Jackie Chan’s take on Chun-Li also feels surprisingly fitting, as he seems capable of matching the skills of the characters played by Liang and Wen. Although the 2026 Street Fighter still has surprises in store, City Hunter is often overlooked by even Jackie Chan’s fans, making now a great time to revisit this classic action comedy.




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2026-02-24 01:17