Jackie Chan at 70: how the Hong Kong action hero became a meme, coined a shampoo catchphrase, inspired The Matrix and moved into Chinese politics … but what is ‘the curse’ all about?
In recent years, his prolific film career has slowed as he’s turned more selective. He’s also taken to the political circuit and expressed interest in joining the Chinese Communist Party.
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To celebrate his 70th birthday today, April 7, we look at how Jackie Chan influenced culture, both on and off the silver screens, and where the legend is at today.
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How Jackie Chan became a meme
Anyone who’s spent time online will have come across many memes featuring Chan with both hands up next to his head, seemingly expressing confusion and disbelief. However, for audiences at home, the meme that often first comes to mind is him next to a bottle of shampoo from his appearance in a television commercial for Chinese-made brand Bawang. In the television spot, Chan delivers a monologue about why he was suspicious of the claims of the shampoo and how, upon trying it, he discovered his hair becoming darker, shiner and softer. Famously, he described the new-found bounce of his locks phonetically as “duang”, solidifying that particular snippet in the ad forever in memeland.
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What is the “Jackie Chan curse?”
Bawang company suffered significant losses in 2018, taking a hit like various other brands the actor vouched for, including Hong Kong Airlines, California Fitness and the Volkswagen Caddy. This led netizens to proclaim the phenomenon of the “Jackie Chan curse”.
Still, there’s no doubt Chan’s clout continues to sell products and make an impact in the market – his face can be seen in a number of ads, including for online marketplace giant Shopee.
Jackie Chan wants to be taken seriously
The action film veteran has been taking on the challenge of more dramatic roles over the years, scaling back from hard-hitting action he’s known for. The star has publicly stated that he’s consciously tried to take on projects that also challenge his acting. While Chan is mainly known for his ability to deliver punches, his role in 2010’s The Karate Kid remake, as a wise sensei, certainly put his acting range to the test.
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Jackie Chan is a proud unofficial ambassador of China
Born and raised in then-British-administered Hong Kong, the newly minted septuagenarian has long been passionate about promoting China. Even before he entered Hollywood with 1998’s Rush Hour, starring alongside comedian Chris Rock, Chan had toured Asia promoting his films and, in the process, Chinese cinema. In recent years, however, his focus has shifted from promoting Chinese film to a global audience to promoting general goodwill and samaritanism within the country.
In 2013, identifying as pro-Communist Party of China, he served two terms as a Chinese People’s Political Consultative Conference delegate.
Around a decade later, in 2021, he made known his desire to join the Communist Party of China – although online commenters were quick to mock the Hollywood star’s suitability for entering the political fray.
- Kung fung hero Jackie Chan is among the biggest Chinese names in global cinema, inspiring Hollywood productions and setting the stage for other Hong Kong actions stars like Jet Li and Donnie Yen
- While 2023 saw Chan star alongside John Cena in the action film Hidden Strike, he’s also a proud supporter of the Chinese Communist Party, and even served two terms in the Chinese People’s Political Consultative Conference