September 18: Rush Hour (1998)

Milestone Years

• 25th Anniversary: September 18, 2023
• 30th Anniversary: September 18, 2028

Inspiration Behind the Movie

The idea for Rush Hour came from a spec script by Ross LaManna, inspired by the idea of combining Eastern martial arts action with Western buddy-cop humor. It was greenlit after New Line Cinema saw potential in Jackie Chan’s popularity and Chris Tucker’s rising comedic appeal.

You Might Not Know

• Jackie Chan performed all his own stunts despite language barriers during production.
• Chris Tucker improvised many of his lines, adding to the film’s humor and spontaneity.
• The movie became a sleeper hit, earning over $245 million globally.
• It launched a successful franchise with two sequels and talks of a fourth installment.
• The scene where Chan says “Do you understand the words that are coming out of my mouth?” became iconic.

Food Ideas

• Dim sum platters
• Southern fried chicken sliders
• Kung Pao chicken bites
• Bubble tea with fun flavors
• Fortune cookies with funny quotes

Ways to Celebrate

• Host a buddy-cop movie marathon
• Recreate Jackie Chan stunts (safely!)
• Do a “Rush Hour” trivia night
• Dress up as Lee and Carter
• Make a themed playlist of 90s action movie soundtracks

Filming Locations

Rush Hour was primarily filmed in Los Angeles, including Chinatown and the Los Angeles Convention Center. The opening scene was shot in Hong Kong, setting the tone for the film’s East-meets-West energy.