The most important work of Jackie Chan’s career, Police Story saw him successfully transitioning from early Republic-era kung-fu comedies to contemporary police dramas and action films. Chan was director, writer, lead actor of the film while at the same time leading the choreography work of the Jackie Chan Stunt Team. Departing from the sound stage sets and the visual styles of his earlier studio productions, Chan embraced a more realistic-looking aesthetic, and the urban landscape of Hong Kong served as his inspiration and his playground. In addition, he freed himself from the influences of Sammo Hung and Yuen Biao, trading acrobatics and kung-fu comedy for large-scale action sequences featuring car stunts, explosions, gunfights, jumping off buildings and chases taking place in shopping malls. Every scene was thoroughly planned and choreographed, showing Chan’s knack for capturing and making use of bigger spaces (e.g. a squatter settlement, a major highway and a multi-storey shopping mall), as well as his ability to keep up with the times. Police Story was awarded Best Film and Best Action Choreography at the 5th Hong Kong Film Awards.

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