Police Story (1985 film)

The Royal Hong Kong Police Force is planning Operation Boar Hunt, a major undercover sting to arrest crime lord Chu Tao. Sergeant Chan Ka-Kui (or Kevin Chan in some versions) is part of the operation, along with undercover officers stationed in a shantytown. However, the criminals spot the officers and the shootout ensues between the two groups. Civilians either flee the town or are caught in the crossfire. Chu Tao and his men successfully flee in their car by driving through the town but crash it immediately after going downhill and escape on foot. Ka-Kui persists in his chase on foot as Chu Tao and his men attempt to escape in a double-decker bus. Ka-Kui manages to get in front of the bus and bring it to a halt by threatening to shoot the driver with his service revolver.

Later, Ka-Kui is reprimanded by Chief Inspector Raymond Li for letting the operation get out of hand, but is subsequently presented to the media as a model police officer to please the police brass. His next assignment is to protect Chu Tao's secretary, Salina Fong, who is pressured to testify in court about Chu Tao's illegal activities. At first, Salina insists that she does not require protection, but Ka-Kui has a fellow policeman break into her apartment and pose as a knife-wielding assassin. Ka-Kui and Salina fight him off and she agrees to be more cooperative. The two drive away in her car, but are ambushed by Chu Tao's actual hitmen, who are scared away when Salina threatens them with Ka-Kui's revolver.

When Ka-Kui arrives at his apartment with Salina, he is surprised to find his girlfriend, May, and her friends throwing a birthday party for him, but May becomes angry with Ka-Kui after seeing Salina only wearing lingerie and Ka-Kui's jacket. Ka-Kui eventually explains to May that Salina is a witness, but only after much bumbling and embarrassment. While he tries to apologize to May, Salina discovers that the attack at her apartment was a sham, and decides to record over her taped confession about working for Chu Tao. She sneaks away while Ka-Kui is sleeping and is not present at the trial the next day, which ends with failure for the prosecution because of Salina's absence and tampering with the recording.

Though Chu Tao is released on bail, he wants revenge against Ka-Kui. He captures Salina and threatens to kill her to ensure her silence. Ka-Kui finds and frees her, but is attacked by several of Chu Tao's men. When fellow Police Inspector Man arrives (Kam Hing Ying), he reveals that he had been working with Chu Tao and thus Salina's capture was merely a ruse to trap Ka-Kui. To Man's grim surprise, the plan is also to include Tao's men killing him with Ka-Kui's gun to frame him for murder. Now a fugitive cop killer, Ka-Kui must try to catch Chu Tao and clear his name. He returns to the police station to plead his case, but the Chief Inspector orders him to be arrested. Ka-Kui takes the Chief Inspector as a hostage in order to escape custody, though he soon lets his co-operative superior go free to continue his investigation.

Salina goes to Chu Tao's office at a shopping mall to download incriminating data from Chu Tao's computer system. Chu Tao notices this and he and his men rush to the shopping mall to intervene. Ka-Kui and May, who are monitoring Chu Tao's activities, follow. In the ensuing carnage, Ka-Kui defeats all of Chu Tao's henchmen (and destroys a good portion of the mall). The briefcase containing the computer data falls to the bottom floor of the mall, but Chu Tao and his men retrieves it after attacking May. Ka-Kui, at the top floor, slides down a pole wrapped in light bulbs to the bottom floor and catches Chu, but the rest of the police force quickly arrives and prevent him from further taking matters into his own hands. Salina attests to them that Chu had Sergeant Man killed and evidence of his crimes is in the briefcase. Chu's defense attorney shows up and accuses the police of misconduct, prompting a beating from an at-wit's-end Ka-Kui, who goes on to extend the beating to Chu Tao before being stopped by his friends.

• Jackie Chan as Sergeant "Kevin" Chan Ka-Kui ("Jackie" in new second, new third, and fourth English dubs) but in old English dubs of second and third movies Kevin name was used.
• Brigitte Lin as Salina Fong, Chu Tao's secretary aka Selina Fong (all English dubs) (as Brigette Lin)
• Maggie Cheung as May, Ka-Kui's Girlfriend
• Chor Yuen as Chu Tao, Crime Lord aka Tom Koo (first and second English dubs) / Joe Chu (third and fourth English dubs)
• Charlie Cho as John Ko, gangster aka John Chow (second English dub)
• Fung Hark-On as Danny Chu Ko / Danny Koo (first and second English dubs)
• Lam Kwok-Hung as Chief Inspector Raymond Li
• Bill Tung as Inspector "Uncle" Bill Chou / Inspector Wong (first and second English dubs) / Inspector George (third and fourth English dubs)
• Kam Hing Yin as Inspector Man / Sergeant Mao (first and second English dubs) / Sergeant Ming (third and fourth English dubs)
• Mars as Kim
• Lau Chi-wing as Lawyer Cheung
• Tai Po as Lee / Snake Eyes (first and second English dubs) / Sharkey (third and fourth English dubs)
• Kent Tong as Tak / Tom / Francis Tong (Japanese release version)
• Wan Fat as Mad Wing / Jacknife (1st and 2nd English dubs) / Crazy Wing (third English dub) / Psycho Wing (fourth English dub)
• Bowie Wu as Sha Tau Kok police officer
• Clarence Fok as Photographer
• Money Lo as TV reporter

• Chan Tat-kwong
• Johnny Cheung
• Danny Chow
• Fung Hak-on
• Benny Lai
• Rocky Lai
• Sam Wong
• Ben Lam
• Chris Li
• Mars
• Pang Hiu-sang
• Paul Wong

The film contained many large-scale action scenes, including an opening sequence featuring a car chase through a shanty town, Chan dangling from a speeding double-decker bus before stopping it with his service revolver, and a climactic fight scene in a shopping mall. This final scene earned the film the nickname "Glass Story" by the crew, due to the huge number of panes of sugar glass that were broken. During a stunt in this last scene in which Chan slides down a pole from several stories up, the lights covering the pole had heated it considerably and resulted in Chan suffering second-degree burns, particularly to his hands. Chan also suffered a back injury and dislocation of his pelvis upon landing.{{cite web|url=http://www.randomhouse.com/features/iamjackiechan/excerpt_aches.html|title=Jackie's Aches and Pains: It Only Hurts When I'm Not Laughing|author=Jackie Chan|author-link=Jackie Chan|publisher=Random House|access-date=19 December 2012|archive-date=18 February 2010|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20100218151637/http://www.randomhouse.com/features/iamjackiechan/excerpt_aches.html|url-status=live}}

Screenwriter Edward Tang said that he did not write this film the way normal Hollywood screenwriters work. Chan instructed Tang to structure the film around a list of props and locations, e.g. a shopping mall, a village, a bus, etc.{{citation needed|date=June 2024}}

In an interview with Chan, he discusses the stunt of sliding down the pole covered with lights. As with the clock tower stunt from Project A (1983), Chan described his fear at the thought of performing the stunt. During the filming of Police Story, there was the added pressure of strict time constraints, as the shopping mall had to be cleaned up and ready for business the following morning. One of Chan's stuntmen gave him a hug and a Buddhist prayer paper, which he put in his trousers before finally performing the stunt.{{cite video|title=Police Story, Jackie Chan interview, Bey Logan Audio Commentary (DVD featurette)|medium=DVD|publisher=Hong Kong Legends, UK|year=2001}}

Stuntman Blackie Ko doubled for Chan during a motorcycle stunt in which his character drives through glass towards a hitman.{{citation needed|date=June 2020}} In the double decker bus scene, Jackie used a metal umbrella because a wooden one kept slipping when he tried to hang onto the bus.

The film grossed {{HK$|26,626,760|link=yes}} at the Hong Kong box office,{{cite web |title=Police Story (1985) |url=http://hkmdb.com/db/movies/view.mhtml?id=6753 |website=Hong Kong Movie DataBase |access-date=6 December 2018 |archive-date=9 December 2018 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20181209124037/http://hkmdb.com/db/movies/view.mhtml?id=6753 |url-status=live }} becoming the third highest-grossing film of the year.{{cite web |title=【ジャッキーチェン興行成績】 第8回：香港での興行収入 |trans-title=(Jackie Chan Box Office Results) 8th: Box Office in Hong Kong |url=http://kungfutube.info/3129 |website=KungFu Tube |access-date=22 June 2020 |language=ja |archive-date=1 December 2018 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20181201093232/http://kungfutube.info/3129 |url-status=live }} In Taiwan, it grossed {{NTD|{{#expr:5861430+14688240}}|link=yes}} between 1985 and 1986,{{cite web |title=1985 Taiwan Box Office |url=http://cinema.nccu.edu.tw/box/3a/3a85.htm |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20010219163210/http://cinema.nccu.edu.tw/box/3a/3a85.htm |website=National Chengchi University |url-status=dead |archive-date=19 February 2001 |language=zh |access-date=30 November 2018}}{{cite web |title=1986 Taiwan Box Office |url=http://cinema.nccu.edu.tw/box/3a/3a86.htm |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20010219163210/http://cinema.nccu.edu.tw/box/3a/3a86.htm |website=National Chengchi University |url-status=dead |archive-date=19 February 2001 |language=zh |access-date=30 November 2018}} becoming one of the top ten highest-grossing films of 1986. In Japan, it was the eighth highest-grossing foreign film of 1986,{{cite web |title=1986年（1月～12月） |url=http://www.eiren.org/toukei/1986.html |website=Eiren |publisher=Motion Picture Producers Association of Japan |access-date=20 November 2018 |archive-date=1 April 2019 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20190401070008/http://www.eiren.org/toukei/1986.html |url-status=live }} grossing {{JPY|1.9 billion|link=yes}} at the Japanese box office.{{cite web |title=ポリス・ストーリー 香港国際警察／警察故事（1985） |url=http://kungfutube.info/5831 |website=KungFu Tube |access-date=6 December 2018 |language=ja |archive-date=26 April 2019 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20190426173106/http://kungfutube.info/5831 |url-status=live }} In South Korea, it was the third highest-grossing film of 1988,{{cite web |title=【ジャッキーチェン興行成績】 第10回：韓国での興行収入 |url=http://kungfutube.info/3156 |website=KungFu Tube |date=5 September 2010 |access-date=7 December 2018 |language=ja |archive-date=9 December 2018 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20181209165212/http://kungfutube.info/3156 |url-status=live }} with {{formatnum:{{#expr:191739+(692-104)}}|}} ticket sales in Seoul City.{{cite web|title=KOFIC 영화관 입장권 통합전산망|url=http://www.kobis.or.kr/kobis/business/mast/mvie/searchMovieList.do|website=Korean Film Council|date=September 2018|access-date=8 November 2018|language=ko|archive-date=25 December 2018|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20181225151904/http://www.kobis.or.kr/kobis/business/mast/mvie/searchMovieList.do|url-status=live}}

In Europe, the film sold 245,452 tickets in France (released 1987),{{cite web |last1=Soyer |first1=Renaud |date=4 February 2014 |title=Jackie Chan Box Office |url=http://www.boxofficestory.com/box-office-jackie-chan-c24779784 |website=Box Office Story |language=fr |accessdate=1 July 2020 |archive-date=30 June 2020 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20200630162522/http://www.boxofficestory.com/box-office-jackie-chan-c24779784 |url-status=live }} 846,700 tickets in Hungary (released 1988) and 65,700 tickets in Romania.{{cite web|title=«Полицейская история» (Ging chaat goo si, 1985)|url=https://www.kinopoisk.ru/film/22791/|access-date=9 November 2021|website=KinoPoisk|language=ru|archive-date=7 June 2021|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20210607193259/https://www.kinopoisk.ru/film/22791/|url-status=live}} In the United States, the film was screened in 1993 at the Hogg Memorial Auditorium in Austin, Texas, along with Police Story 3: Supercop, with both films well-received among Austin audiences at the time. The film later had a limited US release in 2019, grossing US$113,164.{{cite web |title=Police Story (Domestic) |url=https://www.boxofficemojo.com/release/rl2080998913/ |access-date=26 December 2020 |website=Box Office Mojo}}

|{{cite web |year=1985 |title=Official exchange rate (LCU per US$, period average) - Hong Kong |url=https://data.worldbank.org/indicator/PA.NUS.FCRF?end=1985&locations=HK&start=1984 |access-date=22 June 2020 |website=World Bank |archive-date=23 June 2020 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20200623051747/https://data.worldbank.org/indicator/PA.NUS.FCRF?end=1985&locations=HK&start=1984 |url-status=live }}{{Cite book |last=Chu |first=Yiu-Wai |url=https://books.google.com/books?id=mCOOHHDvV_wC&pg=PA102 |title=Lost in Transition: Hong Kong Culture in the Age of China |date=13 May 2013 |publisher=State University of New York Press (SUNY Press) |isbn=978-1-4384-4647-9 |location=New York |pages=102 |access-date=30 April 2022 |archive-date=18 January 2023 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20230118133400/https://books.google.com/books?id=mCOOHHDvV_wC&pg=PA102 |url-status=live }}

|-

| Taiwan

| 1985

|{{NTD|{{#expr:5861430+14688240}}|link=yes}}

|$578,048

| {{formatnum:{{#expr:90409+221836}}|}}

|{{cite web |date=31 December 1986 |title=Historical currency converter with official exchange rates (TWD) |url=https://fxtop.com/en/historical-currency-converter.php?A=20549670&C1=TWD&C2=USD&DD=31&MM=12&YYYY=1986 |access-date=22 June 2020 |website=fxtop.com |archive-date=6 August 2020 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20200806095442/https://fxtop.com/en/historical-currency-converter.php?A=20549670&C1=TWD&C2=USD&DD=31&MM=12&YYYY=1986 |url-status=live }}

|-

| Japan

| 1985

|{{JPY|1,900,000,000|link=yes}}

|{{US$|{{#expr:1900000000/168.52 round -5}}|long=no}}

| {{formatnum:{{#expr:1900000000/1118 round -4}}|}} ({{estimation}})

| {{cite web |year=1986 |title=Official exchange rate (LCU per US$, period average) - Japan |url=https://data.worldbank.org/indicator/PA.NUS.FCRF?end=1986&locations=JP&start=1985 |access-date=22 June 2020 |website=World Bank |archive-date=23 June 2020 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20200623062127/https://data.worldbank.org/indicator/PA.NUS.FCRF?end=1986&locations=JP&start=1985 |url-status=live }}{{Cite web |title=Statistics of Film Industry in Japan |url=http://www.eiren.org/statistics_e/index.html |access-date=19 April 2022 |website=Eiren |publisher=Motion Picture Producers Association of Japan |archive-date=5 May 2005 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20050505192057/http://www.eiren.org/statistics_e/index.html |url-status=live }}

|-

| France

| 1987

| {{Currency|{{#expr:245452*3.7 round -2}}|code=Euro|linked=yes}} ({{estimation}})

|{{US$|{{To USD|908200|EUR|year=1987|round=yes}}|long=no}} ({{estimation}})

| 245,452

| {{cite book |title=Cinema, TV and radio in the EU: Statistics on audiovisual services (Data 1980-2002) |date=2003 |website=Europa |publisher=Office for Official Publications of the European Communities |isbn=92-894-5709-0 |edition=2003 |pages=31–64 (61) |chapter=Cinema market |issn=1725-4515 |access-date=23 May 2020 |chapter-url=https://ec.europa.eu/eurostat/documents/3217494/5648553/KS-BT-03-001-EN.PDF/3758081d-5ae4-4e21-9d78-fca7bcc68d5c#page=67 |archive-date=7 June 2020 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20200607084819/https://ec.europa.eu/eurostat/documents/3217494/5648553/KS-BT-03-001-EN.PDF/3758081d-5ae4-4e21-9d78-fca7bcc68d5c#page=67 |url-status=live }}

|-

| South Korea (Seoul City)

| 1988

| {{Currency|{{#expr:192327*4000}}|KRW}} ({{estimation}})

|{{US$|{{#expr:769308000/731.468 round 0}}|long=no}} ({{estimation}})

| {{formatnum:{{#expr:191739+(692-104)}}|}}

| {{cite book |last=Park |first=Seung Hyun |url=https://books.google.com/books?id=ilEeAQAAMAAJ |title=A Cultural Interpretation of Korean Cinema, 1988-1997 |date=2000 |publisher=Indiana University |page=119 |quote=Average Ticket Prices in Korea, 1974-1997 [...] * Source: Korea Cinema Yearbook (1997-1998) * Currency: won [...] Foreign [...] 1988 [...] 4,000 |access-date=10 December 2018 |archive-date=28 June 2023 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20230628144601/https://books.google.com/books?id=ilEeAQAAMAAJ |url-status=live }}{{cite web |year=1988 |title=Official exchange rate (KRW per US$, period average) |url=https://data.worldbank.org/indicator/PA.NUS.FCRF?end=1988&locations=KR&start=1987 |access-date=7 December 2018 |website=World Bank |archive-date=22 June 2020 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20200622052937/https://data.worldbank.org/indicator/PA.NUS.FCRF?end=1988&locations=KR&start=1987 |url-status=live }}

|-

| Hungary

| 1988

| {{Currency|{{#expr:846700*1.1 round -2}}|code=Euro|linked=no}} ({{estimation}})

|{{US$|{{To USD|931400|EUR|year=1988|round=yes}}|long=no}} ({{estimation}})

| 846,700

|

|-

| Romania

| 1996

| {{Currency|{{#expr:65700*0.4 round -2}}|code=Euro|linked=yes}} ({{estimation}})

|{{US$|{{To USD|26300|EUR|year=1996|round=yes}}|long=no}} ({{estimation}})

| 65,700

|

|-

| United States (limited release)

| 2019

| {{US$|113,164|link=yes}}

|$113,164

| {{formatnum:{{#expr:113164/9.01 round 0}}|}} ({{estimation}})

| {{Cite web |title=How are grosses adjusted for ticket price inflation? |url=https://help.imdb.com/article/imdbpro/industry-research/box-office-mojo-by-imdbpro-faq/GCWTV4MQKGWRAUAP?ref_=mojo_cso_md#inflation |access-date=30 April 2022 |website=IMDb |publisher=Box Office Mojo |archive-date=27 March 2023 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20230327014449/https://help.imdb.com/article/imdbpro/industry-research/box-office-mojo-by-imdbpro-faq/GCWTV4MQKGWRAUAP?ref_=mojo_cso_md#inflation |url-status=live }}

|-

! Worldwide

!

! colspan="2" | {{estimation}} {{US$|{{#expr:3418069+578048+11300000+1048426+1051732+1101381+113164+113164 round -3}}|link=no|1985|round=-5}}

! 5,174,984 ({{estimation}})

!

|}

Upon release, the film received critical acclaim in Hong Kong. At the 5th Hong Kong Film Awards in 1986, it won Best Picture and Best Action Choreography, out of six nominations.{{cite web|title=List of Awardees of The 5th Hong Kong Film Awards|url=http://www.hkfaa.com/winnerlist05.html|publisher=Hong Kong Film Awards|access-date=11 December 2016|archive-date=14 April 2019|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20190414083703/http://www.hkfaa.com/winnerlist05.html|url-status=live}}

Overseas, the film initially received a mixed reaction in contemporary English-language reviews. Kim Newman wrote, in the Monthly Film Bulletin, that Police Story starts well with its car chase described as an "astonishing set-piece", but that "once the mix of realistic settings and fantasy action seems to have been established, the film falls back on Chan's clowning and turns into a slapstick comedy heavily dependent on cake-in-the-face jokes". The review concluded that the film "still lacks much of the aesthetic appeal and occasional comic grace of the more traditional period kung fu films such as Project A, Drunken Master, Snake in the Eagle's Shadow and Dragon Lord".{{cite journal|journal=Monthly Film Bulletin|title=Jingcha Gushi/Police Story|last=Newman|first=Kim|author-link=Kim Newman|volume=54|issue=637|pages=50–51|date=1987|publisher=British Film Institute|issn=0027-0407}} Vincent Canby wrote in The New York Times that at a screening of the film at the New York Film Festival Chan was promoted as a hybrid of Buster Keaton and Clint Eastwood, with Canby noting that Chan was "more like a scaled-down, oriental Sylvester Stallone, with energy and a willingness to smile fondly at himself". Canby also noted the excessive pie-in-the-face gags, and that Chan "participates in several elaborately staged gun fights and car chases" which were "mildly amusing" but not as amusing as the dubbed dialogue. Canby concluded that the film "is of principal interest as a souvenir of another culture".{{cite web|title=Film Festival; 'Jackie Chan's Police Story'|website=The New York Times|date=26 September 1987|url=https://www.nytimes.com/1987/09/26/movies/film-festival-jackie-chan-s-police-story.html|access-date=25 August 2015|first=Vincent|last=Canby|author-link=Vincent Canby|archive-date=11 October 2015|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20151011184203/http://www.nytimes.com/1987/09/26/movies/film-festival-jackie-chan-s-police-story.html|url-status=live}}

The film went on to receive wide acclaim in later reviews. Michael Zey reviewed the film in The Daily Texan and rated it three-and-a-half stars in 1993, calling it a "great action thriller" that leaves "most American action films in the dust." He praised the "absolutely stunning" action scenes, saying the "film must have set a new record for the number of people thrown through windows in a single action film" as Chan eventually "perfects another action scene" with his final stunt. He also praised Chan's unique humor with the "long complicated scenes of physical comedy" rather than the usual "awful one-liner your average hero spouts after wasting a bad guy." He called it "great action entertainment" but noted "many people" would "snub it because they'll have to read subtitles." He concluded that "Jackie Chan is the true last action hero."{{cite news |last1=Zey |first1=Michael |title=Action, physical comedy power 'Story' |url=https://newspaperarchive.com/austin-daily-texan-aug-02-1993-p-7/ |access-date=22 April 2022 |work=The Daily Texan |via=NewspaperArchive |date=2 August 1993 |page=7 |url-access=subscription |archive-date=22 April 2022 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20220422033829/https://newspaperarchive.com/austin-daily-texan-aug-02-1993-p-7/ |url-status=live }}

On review aggregator website Rotten Tomatoes, the film holds an approval rating of 93% based on 27 reviews, with an average rating of 7.57/10; among top critics, it holds a 100% approval rating based on 6 reviews, with an 8.3/10 rating. The site's consensus reads: "Blending brilliant physical comedy with thrillingly choreographed set pieces, Police Story makes a persuasive case for Jackie Chan as one of the all-time genre greats."{{cite web |url=https://www.rottentomatoes.com/m/police_story |title=Police Story (Ging chaat goo si) (Police Force) (1985) |work=Rotten Tomatoes |publisher=Fandango Media |access-date=20 November 2018 |archive-date=14 December 2004 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20041214164538/https://www.rottentomatoes.com/m/police_story |url-status=live }} On Metacritic, which uses a weighted average, the film received a score of 78 out of 100 based on 9 critics, indicating "generally favorable reviews".{{Cite web |title=Police Story (1985) Reviews |url=https://www.metacritic.com/movie/police-story-1985/ |access-date=2024-10-05 |website=www.metacritic.com |language=en}}

A review from the Time Out Film Guide stated: "In Jackie Chan-land vehicles are for trashing small buildings, while big buildings are for falling off or sliding down... The likeable and graceful Chan directs, sings and performs jaw-dropping stunts".{{cite web|url=http://www.timeout.com/film/reviews/71249/police_story.html|publisher=Time Out Film Guide|access-date=25 August 2010|title=Police Story Review|url-status=dead|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20111025194528/http://www.timeout.com/film/reviews/71249/police_story.html|archive-date=25 October 2011}} In advance of the film's 4K restoration release in 2018, Matt Zoller Seitz of RogerEbert.com gave the film four out of four stars, saying that Police Story "is one of the great 1980s action films. It is also one of the most 1980s action films", commenting its "cop-on-the-edge clichés" and synthesizer music. Seitz further wrote that "The entire film has the mentality of a master showman who wants to dazzle in every moment, big or small.... A stunt near the end gets repeated at full length three times, from three different angles; this would seem like a display of narcissism if it weren’t one of the greatest stunts in the history of movies, right up there with the collapsing house in Steamboat Bill, Jr. and the final fall in Sharky’s Machine".{{cite web|last1=Seitz|first1=Matt Zoller|author-link1=Matt Zoller Seitz|title=Police Story Movie Review & Film Summary (1985)|url=https://www.rogerebert.com/reviews/police-story-1985|website=RogerEbert.com|publisher=Ebert Digital LLC|access-date=8 March 2018|date=6 March 2018|archive-date=8 March 2018|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20180308231413/https://www.rogerebert.com/reviews/police-story-1985|url-status=live}}

In 2016, when Time Out polled 50 film critics, directors, actors and stunt actors to list their top action films of all time, Police Story was voted the fourth best action film of all time. Film critic Trevor Johnston wrote that "you have to go back to the silent-comedy era of Harold Lloyd and Buster Keaton to find the equivalent of Jackie Chan in his Hong Kong prime—a star who’d put life and limb at risk to get the shot he wanted"—and that "Chan’s ’80s peak delivers a whole other level of insanity." He praised "the exuberant blend of comic knockabout thrills and heart-stopping spills from this landmark cop flick," especially his "batshit crazy" final stunt which "has since become celluloid legend."{{cite web|url=http://www.timeout.com/newyork/film/best-action-movies|work=Time Out|title=The 100 best action movies|date=29 April 2016|access-date=21 April 2022|archive-date=6 November 2014|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20141106142045/http://www.timeout.com/newyork/film/best-action-movies|url-status=live}}

• 1986 Hong Kong Film Awards
• Won: Best Picture
• Won: Best Action Choreography (Jackie Chan Stunt Team)
• Nominated: Best Director (Jackie Chan)
• Nominated: Best Actor (Jackie Chan)
• Nominated: Best Actress (Brigitte Lin)
• Nominated: Best Cinematography (Cheung Yiu Cho)
• Nominated: Best Film Editing (Peter Cheung)

The film was released on VHS in the United States by the distributor Cinema Group under the title Jackie Chan's Police Force, using Golden Harvest's export version created for international distribution, and featuring a new music score by composer Kevin Bassinson. The export cut is shorter than the original cut by 13 minutes.{{cite book|url=https://books.google.com/books?id=T7jwCQAAQBAJ&q=%22kevin+bassinson%22+%22police+story%22&pg=PA248|work=John Charles|title=The Hong Kong Filmography, 1977-1997: A Reference Guide to 1,100 Films Produced by British Hong Kong Studios|date=25 June 2015|isbn=9780786443239|last1=Charles|first1=John|publisher=McFarland }}

New Line Cinema acquired the rights to the export version of the film, distributing it on VHS and Laserdisc on 4 August 1998, with a recycled soundtrack score from J. Peter Robinson replacing Bassinson's music. On 19 December 2006, The Weinstein Company released the film on Region 1 NTSC DVD (under their Dragon Dynasty label) with special features and deleted scenes; it was also released in Canada on 23 January 2007.

In late 2004, Hong Kong's Intercontinental Video Limited released a remastered anamorphic widescreen Police Story Trilogy boxed set in Region 0 NTSC format, featuring optional English subtitles and a choice of Chinese-language soundtracks. Hong Kong-based company Kam & Ronsom Enterprise released the first three Police Story films on Blu-ray Disc in June 2009. The first film was released on Blu-ray on 14 September 2009.{{Cite web |url=http://www.yesasia.com/us/police-story-blu-ray-hong-kong-version/1021189313-0-0-0-en/info.html |title=YESASIA: Police Story (Blu-ray) (Hong Kong Version) |access-date=18 September 2009 |archive-date=8 October 2009 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20091008233742/http://www.yesasia.com/us/police-story-blu-ray-hong-kong-version/1021189313-0-0-0-en/info.html |url-status=live }}

Shout! Factory released Police Story and Police Story 2 as a double feature on DVD and Blu-ray Disc on 16 April 2013.{{cite web|url=http://dailygrindhouse.com/thewire/shout-factory-bringing-more-bruce-lee-and-jackie-chan-classics-to-blu-ray-in-april/|title=Shout! Factory Bringing in Jackie Chan Classics to Blu-ray; Bruce Lee Classics to DVD|publisher=Daily Grindhouse|date=30 January 2013|access-date=2 April 2014|archive-date=18 January 2014|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20140118182648/http://dailygrindhouse.com/thewire/shout-factory-bringing-more-bruce-lee-and-jackie-chan-classics-to-blu-ray-in-april/|url-status=live}}

The Criterion Collection released both Police Story and Police Story 2 on Blu-ray on 30 April 2019 with 4K restoration on both of the films, as well as including the Hong Kong-release version of Police Story 2. The release also includes bonus features on Jackie Chan himself; new programs on his screen persona and action-filmmaking techniques, a stunt reel, and archival interviews with Chan and stuntman Benny Lai, as well as a 1964 TV program about Peking opera training that was akin to the education Chan received as a child.{{cite web|url=https://www.blu-ray.com/news/?id=24477|title=Criterion Announces April Titles|publisher=Blu-ray.com|date=15 January 2019|access-date=16 January 2019|archive-date=17 January 2019|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20190117070034/https://www.blu-ray.com/news/?id=24477|url-status=live}}

In the United Kingdom, the film (released as Jackie Chan's Police Story) was watched by {{Nowrap|1.2 million}} viewers on television in 2004, making it the year's fifth most-watched foreign-language film on television (below four other Hong Kong action films).{{Cite news |date=2005 |title=UK Film Council Statistical Yearbook: Annual Review 2004/05 |pages=74 |publisher=UK Film Council |url=https://www2.bfi.org.uk/sites/bfi.org.uk/files/downloads/uk-film-council-statistical-yearbook-annual-review-2004-2005.pdf |access-date=21 April 2022 |via=British Film Institute |archive-date=21 April 2022 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20220421232911/https://www2.bfi.org.uk/sites/bfi.org.uk/files/downloads/uk-film-council-statistical-yearbook-annual-review-2004-2005.pdf |url-status=live }} It was later watched by 800,000 UK viewers in 2006, making it the year's most-watched foreign-language film on Channel 5.{{Cite news |date=2007 |title=Statistical Yearbook 2006/2007 |pages=120 |publisher=UK Film Council |url=https://www2.bfi.org.uk/sites/bfi.org.uk/files/downloads/uk-film-council-statistical-yearbook-2006-2007.pdf |access-date=21 April 2022 |via=British Film Institute |archive-date=22 April 2022 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20220422015559/https://www2.bfi.org.uk/sites/bfi.org.uk/files/downloads/uk-film-council-statistical-yearbook-2006-2007.pdf |url-status=live }} Combined, the film drew a {{Nowrap|{{#expr:1.2+0.8}} million}} UK viewership in 2004 and 2006.

{{main|Police Story (film series)}}

{{Main|Police Story 2}}

Police Story 2 ({{zh|t=警察故事２}}), made in 1988, features many of the same actors reprising their roles from the original. The story picks up with Chan Ka-Kui demoted to traffic cop for causing so much damage in his apprehension of Chu. Chu has been released from prison on the pretense that he is terminally ill, and Chu and his clan continue to harass Chan and his girlfriend May as Chan gets reinstated to the detective unit when criminal bombers begin extorting money from businessmen.

{{Main|Police Story 3: Super Cop}}

Police Story 3 ({{zh|t=警察故事３超級警察, or Supercop}}) was made in 1992. Michelle Yeoh joins the cast, portraying a police officer from Mainland China. The story involves Chan and Yeoh's characters going undercover to break up a drug smuggling ring in Malaysia. The action moves from China to Kuala Lumpur, where Chan's girlfriend May is kidnapped. The film marks the last appearance of Maggie Cheung as May. Michelle Yeoh reprises her role in the spin-off, Project S (1993). Dimension Films released Police Story 3 in the US in 1996 under the name of Supercop with some edits to the film, the complete replacement of all music and sound effects, and English dubbing.

{{Main|Police Story 4: First Strike}}

Police Story 4 ({{zh|t=簡單任務 or Jackie Chan's First Strike}}), made in 1996, is the only film in the Police Story series made partially in English. The action shifts away from Hong Kong and East Asia, with a globe trekking espionage plot, lending the film the air of a James Bond adventure. New Line Cinema's US release contained several alterations. Filmed on location in Ukraine and Australia, the film also marks the last appearance of Bill Tung, who plays Chan's superior in the series.

{{Main|New Police Story}}

New Police Story ({{zh|t=新警察故事}}), made in 2004, is a reboot of the Police Story series. Chan portrays a disgraced detective named Wing, and acts alongside younger Hong Kong actors including Nicholas Tse, Charlene Choi and Daniel Wu. The story features a more dramatic focus, taking a darker and more serious tone.

{{Main|Police Story 2013}}

Police Story 2013 (Police Story: Lockdown in North America) is a 2013 Chinese-Hong Kong action crime film starring Jackie Chan in another reboot of the Police Story film series. The film is directed by Ding Sheng, who previously helmed Chan's Little Big Soldier. According to Chan, unlike the previous Police Story films where he portrayed a Hong Kong cop, in the new film he portrays a mainland Chinese officer. Like New Police Story, 2013 is a stand-alone installment with a darker tone than the previous installments, which were comedies.

• The shanty town chase inspired a similar sequence in Bad Boys II.{{cite book |last1=Donovan |first1=Barna William |title=The Asian Influence on Hollywood Action Films |date=2014 |publisher=McFarland & Company |isbn=9781476607702 |page=207 |url=https://books.google.com/books?id=ZE9fBgAAQBAJ&pg=PA207 |language=en}} A similar scene also appeared in the 2004 Thai film Born to Fight.{{cite web |title=Born to Fight |url=http://www.dvdbeaver.com/film2/DVDReviews30/born_to_fight.htm |website=DVDBeaver |access-date=9 December 2018 |archive-date=11 December 2018 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20181211010628/http://www.dvdbeaver.com/film2/DVDReviews30/born_to_fight.htm |url-status=live }}
• Jackie Chan fan Brandon Lee paid homage in his film Rapid Fire by filming a similar sequence from the mall fight scene, in which Jackie's character rams a villain with a motorcycle, through multiple layers of glass.{{cite web |title=THE BEST MOVIE YOU NEVER SAW: RAPID FIRE |url=https://www.joblo.com/movie-news/the-best-movie-you-never-saw-rapid-fire-611 |website=JoBlo |date=1 December 2017 |access-date=10 December 2018 |archive-date=11 December 2018 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20181211010201/https://www.joblo.com/movie-news/the-best-movie-you-never-saw-rapid-fire-611 |url-status=live }}
• The scene where Chan stops a bus inspired a similar scene in the Sylvester Stallone and Kurt Russell film Tango & Cash.
• Between 1994 and 2004, the Hong Kong TV series Police Report adopted the Police Story theme song sung by Jackie Chan, as its own theme. Since 2009, the same song is re-adopted as the theme song of Police Report, but sung by Hacken Lee. Televised job advertisements for the Hong Kong Police also adopted segments of the song.{{cite web |title=Police Story 1 & 2 — Blu-ray Box Set (2018) |url=https://kungfukingdom.com/police-story-1-2-blu-ray-box-set-movie-review/ |website=Kung-fu Kingdom |access-date=13 August 2018 |date=13 August 2018 |archive-date=13 August 2018 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20180813150158/http://kungfukingdom.com/police-story-1-2-blu-ray-box-set-movie-review/ |url-status=live }}
• According to film critic Danny Leigh of Financial Times, the film Uncharted (2022) has action scenes inspired by Police Story.{{cite news |last1=Leigh |first1=Danny |title=Uncharted — Tom Holland hunts treasure in game-turned-film |url=https://www.ft.com/content/2291dec4-2aef-453b-8b4e-1838c393237e |archive-url=https://ghostarchive.org/archive/20221211/https://www.ft.com/content/2291dec4-2aef-453b-8b4e-1838c393237e |archive-date=11 December 2022 |url-access=subscription |access-date=14 February 2022 |work=Financial Times |date=11 February 2022}} The film's lead actor Tom Holland confirmed that Jackie Chan was an inspiration for several action scenes.{{cite news |title=@UnchartedMovie stars @TomHolland1996 and @markwahlberg chat about crazy stunts, bonding on the golf course, and their favorite action heroes |url=https://twitter.com/IMDb/status/1494763872124874756 |access-date=20 February 2022 |work=IMDb |publisher=Twitter |date=18 February 2022 |archive-date=20 February 2022 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20220220043002/https://twitter.com/IMDb/status/1494763872124874756 |url-status=live }}{{cite news |last1=Ke |first1=Bryan |title='I hope I can work with Holland': Tom Holland, Jackie Chan exchange praise for 'Uncharted' action scenes |url=https://news.yahoo.com/hope-holland-tom-holland-jackie-205523617.html |access-date=17 March 2022 |work=Yahoo! News |agency=Yahoo |date=14 March 2022 |archive-date=17 March 2022 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20220317094422/https://news.yahoo.com/hope-holland-tom-holland-jackie-205523617.html |url-status=live }}

{{Portal bar|China|Hong Kong|Film|1980s}}

• List of Hong Kong films
• Hong Kong action cinema
• Jackie Chan filmography

{{Reflist}}

• {{IMDb title|0089374}}
• {{Rotten Tomatoes|police_story}}
• [https://www.criterion.com/current/posts/6325-police-story-and-police-story-2-law-and-disorder Police Story and Police Story 2: Law and Disorder] an essay by Nick Pinkerton at the Criterion Collection
• [https://www.movie-censorship.com/report.php?ID=117498 Comparison of the theatrical cut and the shortened export version]

{{Police Story|state=expanded}}

{{Jackie Chan}}

{{Best Film HKFA}}

{{Best Action Choreography HKFA}}

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