Rush Hour 4 Finally Gets the Official Update Fans Have Been Waiting On For Nearly 20 Years

by

The Rush Hour movies were hugely popular throughout the 2000s, largely thanks to the surprising but effective duo of comedian Chris Tucker (Friday) and martial arts icon Jackie Chan (Drunken Master). The films’ blend of Eastern and Western cultures appealed to audiences worldwide, making them international successes. The first and third Rush Hour movies each grossed about $250 million, while the second earned close to $350 million – impressive numbers for a buddy cop action-comedy featuring two actors from minority backgrounds at that time.

The rising production costs ultimately led to the end of the Rush Hour film series. The first movie in 1998 cost around $35 million to make, but Rush Hour 2 jumped to $90 million, and Rush Hour 3’s price tag was even higher, estimated between $125 and $180 million. Since ticket sales didn’t increase significantly, by the time Rush Hour 3 came out in 2007, the films were no longer the relatively inexpensive star vehicles they once were. This decline coincided with a downturn in the career of director Brett Ratner. However, a fourth Rush Hour film is now in development and aims to revive the franchise in 2025.

President Trump Gets Rush Hour 4 Greenlit

Believe it or not, Paramount is reportedly making another Rush Hour movie—the fourth one—because President Donald Trump asked them to. He apparently wants to see a new Rush Hour film, along with a remake of Jean Claude Van Damme’s Bloodsport. Director Brett Ratner, who has been close to President Trump recently—even following First Lady Melania Trump for an upcoming documentary—will be directing. This project is a big opportunity for Ratner, who has faced difficulties in Hollywood since accusations of sexual misconduct in 2017. His last major film, Hercules starring Dwayne “The Rock” Johnson, wasn’t successful back in 2014.

Rumors about a fourth Rush Hour movie with Jackie Chan and Chris Tucker returning have been circulating for a while, but no studio initially showed interest. Now, Warner Bros. and Paramount have apparently made a deal: Paramount will simply distribute the film for a fixed price, while Warner Bros.’ New Line Cinema (the original producer of Rush Hour) will receive a share of the box office revenue right away, before anyone else involved gets their money back. Reports indicate the reason other studios hesitated is due to director Brett Ratner’s involvement with the project.

Warner Bros. and Paramount are considering merging, but getting approval will likely require navigating politics. Paramount’s owner, Larry Ellison of Skydance Media, has donated heavily to President Trump, and Paramount (including its networks like CBS) seems to be actively trying to gain the president’s support through its choices of projects. A fourth Rush Hour movie appears to be a gesture in that direction – and a relatively safe one, as fans have been asking for it for years.

It will be fascinating to see how a potential Rush Hour 4 handles the series’ humor, which often revolved around racial dynamics, in today’s climate. Some believe simply making another Rush Hour film with director Brett Ratner involved will be seen as a win for those wanting to push back against what they perceive as overly sensitive cultural standards. However, the films’ jokes about Black and Asian cultures haven’t aged well. If Ratner can recapture his comedic touch, a Rush Hour movie that cleverly addresses cancel culture could actually be very successful.

Read More

2025-11-26 02:14