Jackie Chan brought ‘Enter the Dragon’ back to life at Locarno

The Hong Kong and global film icon Jackie Chan reenacted his role in Bruce Lee’s Enter the Dragon at the 78th edition of the Locarno Film Festival in Switzerland.

Chan was honored with the Career Leopard award at the festival on Saturday night, Aug. 9.

The martial arts legend’s reenactment at Locarno wasn’t just nostalgia or a tribute to Lee’s movie, it was a reminder of Chan’s career, a blend of death-defying stunts and self-aware humor.

Chan, who played a small part in the momentous movie, has admitted that Lee accidentally hit him with a stick during a scene.

Though it didn’t stop him from completing the take, Chan admitted he was scared.

“I’m no Superman. I am scared,” he asserted. “Before a stunt, I go: ‘Am I going to die this time?’”

Chan’s stuntmanship marks a generational shift in action cinema, demonstrating the contrast between raw, risk-heavy stunt work and CGI-driven safety.

In a time when most stars skip the danger and prefer VFX, Chan remains one of the few whose willingness to own both the pain and the performance cements his legacy.

However, the global icon has created a legacy with a wide range of experiences throughout his career.

As he recalled at Locarno, during a masterclass at the Swiss fest, he talked about where he began.

“That’s a long, long story,” he said. “I was lazy, naughty, I didn’t want to study — that’s why my father sent me to martial arts school. I liked fighting when I was young. Later, he asked: ‘Did you like the school?’ Yes, very much. I could kick the teacher, punch someone — whatever I wanted,” he joked.

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