Jackie Chan Explains Why Rush Hour 3 Was Too Much and His Plea for a Faster Rush Hour 4

Jackie Chan, the beloved martial arts star, recently gave us his honest thoughts on the Rush Hour film series. He spoke about his least favorite entry and why he thinks it fell short. Chan was asked to rank the three films, which he made with Chris Tucker, and his answer was pretty telling. He initially hesitated, but then he laid out a simple truth about making Movies:

"I don’t know. You know what, the first one: little money, little time. We shot it like, ‘Go, go, go, go!’ The second one: a lot of money, a lot of time. The third one: too much money, too much time. Too much money is no good."

Chan’s feelings about the third film match up with how the movies performed. The first Rush Hour, which he clearly likes best, was made for $35 million and pulled in $244 million worldwide back in 1998. The second movie in 2001, with a $90 million budget, actually did even better at $347 million globally. But the third film in 2007, which cost a hefty $140 million, only made $258 million. The critics also did not like the third one as much. It seems Chan’s view that "too much money is no good" really explains things.

The original movie followed Chris Tucker’s character, Los Angeles detective James Carter. He had to team up with Jackie Chan’s Hong Kong detective Lee. Lee comes to the U.S. to find his friend’s missing daughter. In Rush Hour 3, the pair travels to Paris to look into organized crime. While the setting changed, the chemistry between Chan and Tucker was always what made these films fun. However, something was different with that third movie.

Jackie Chan Is Ready For Rush Hour 4 But He Has A Big Concern

The Martial Arts Legend Is Worried About The Clock Ticking For More Action

Even though it has been more than two decades since Chan and Tucker last worked together on a Rush Hour movie, Chan has said in recent years that a fourth film could still happen. He recently spoke about it, saying he was "talking about part 4" with the director during a film festival in Saudi Arabia in late 2022. He did not say who the director was, but it certainly got fans excited.

However, Chan has one big worry, and he is not shy about saying it out loud. He wants the studio and everyone involved to hurry up. He jokes that if they wait too long, he and Chris Tucker will be too old to do the kind of action fans expect. "I don’t know. Ask the director, ask the studio, ask the writer," Chan told ScreenRant. "Hurry up! Otherwise, Chris Tucker and me [will be] 100 years old. We’ll be old men doing Rush Hour."

It is clear that both Jackie Chan and Chris Tucker want to come back for a fourth Rush Hour movie. Chris Tucker has also said he is ready whenever the people in charge call. So, if the stars are eager, what is the hold-up? It seems like it is all about studio decisions and other behind-the-scenes problems. Before fans get too upset about studios not making the movie, there is a very important reason why Rush Hour 4 has been stuck for so long.

The Real Reason Why Rush Hour 4 Has Not Happened Yet Despite Star Interest

Serious Allegations Against The Original Director Have Stalled The Beloved Franchise

Brett Ratner was the director for the first three Rush Hour films. His presence is likely the biggest thing stopping Rush Hour 4 from becoming a reality. In 2017, six women accused Ratner of sexual misconduct and harassment. For example, he was accused of performing an inappropriate act in front of Olivia Munn and allegedly forcing Natasha Henstridge into oral acts. These are serious matters that go far beyond just business problems. Brett Ratner is the main reason why big studios like Sony and Paramount have stayed away from making Rush Hour 4, even though it seems like an obvious hit.

With these kinds of serious accusations still out there, it is not surprising that Rush Hour 4 has not been made yet. This is true even with the internet asking about the movie every few months. The constant stopping of production is not the most important part of this story, and it is definitely not the second most important. The weight of these allegations is immense, and studios are understandably cautious about working with people who have such serious claims against them. It is a tough situation for everyone involved, especially for fans who just want to see the beloved duo back on screen.

Still, the clock is ticking for both Jackie Chan and Chris Tucker. Jackie Chan is 71 now, and Chris Tucker is 53. This means every year counts, especially for Chan, who is known for his amazing stunts. So, if Rush Hour 4 is ever going to happen, someone needs to get things moving very quickly. The stars are ready, but the behind-the-scenes issues are clearly a huge roadblock. It is a shame that these outside problems are stopping a movie that so many fans want to see.

What Else Is Jackie Chan Working On And What It Means For Rush Hour's Future

Looking At Chan's Other Projects And The Likelihood Of The Fourth Film

Beyond his comments on Rush Hour 4, Jackie Chan has been busy with other projects. He is reprising a beloved role for Karate Kid: Legends, which is now in theaters. This shows he is still very active in movies. He also mentioned wanting to make a follow-up to his Shanghai Noon and Shanghai Knights films. The next movie in that series is set to be called Shanghai Dawn, and the script is still being worked on. It is good to know that Chan is still committed to making action comedies, even if Rush Hour 4 is taking its time.

Chris Tucker has also expressed his excitement about returning to the Rush Hour series. He told Audacy’s V-103 that fans will "see a lot of good stuff coming, but it’s going to be on a whole other level." He teased that "It’s not going to be what you’ve normally seen… Rush Hour 4, that’s something I definitely will probably drop in there because I love working with Jackie." This makes it clear that both stars are very much on board and ready to bring something new to the franchise.

Despite the challenges, the idea of Rush Hour 4 still excites many. The series has grossed nearly $850 million worldwide, showing how popular it is. It is a franchise that has brought a lot of joy to people. Whether the studio can find a new director who can bring the same energy and respect to the project is the main question. It is also important that they move quickly, as Jackie Chan said. We all want to see the duo back in action, but time is certainly of the essence.

I hope that the studio hears Jackie Chan’s urgent message. It would be a treat for fans to see him and Chris Tucker together again. They have a unique chemistry that makes their movies special. If they can sort out the behind-the-scenes issues and get a new director on board, Rush Hour 4 could still be a great comeback for the series. But as Chan said, they cannot wait forever. The sooner, the better, for everyone hoping to see this iconic duo once more.