Bruce Lee Accidentally Hit Jackie Chan on Set — Here's What Happened
Synopsis
A resurfaced video shows Jackie Chan recounting the moment Bruce Lee accidentally hit him hard during a film shoot in Hong Kong. The injury earned Chan $250 in a single day — and Chan jokingly suggested Lee may have done it on purpose to help the young stuntman make more money.
Key Takeaways
Jackie Chan shared a viral anecdote about being accidentally struck by Bruce Lee during a long-take fight sequence on a Hong Kong film set in the early 1970s .
Bruce Lee was known for becoming so absorbed in action scenes that he sometimes lost awareness of his surroundings, according to Chan .
Chan earned $250 in a single day — a significant sum at the time — partly due to the injury compensation system for stunt performers.
Jackie Chan humorously speculated that Bruce Lee may have intentionally hit him to help the young stuntman earn more money.
The story highlights the physically dangerous and financially precarious conditions of stunt work in Hong Kong cinema during the 1970s .
Jackie Chan credits his early years working alongside Bruce Lee as foundational to his own philosophy of authentic, risk-taking action filmmaking.
Jackie Chan, one of the most iconic action stars in global cinema, once recalled a memorable and painful encounter with the legendary Bruce Lee on a film set in Hong Kong. In a resurfaced video that has gone viral on the internet, Chan described how Lee accidentally struck him during a fight sequence shot in long takes — a moment that ironically ended up being financially rewarding for the young stunt performer.
The Incident on Set
According to Jackie Chan, filming in that era was vastly different from today's multi-cut, quick-edit style. Scenes were captured in long, uninterrupted takes, demanding precision from every performer on set. Chan was positioned behind the camera, waiting for his cue to step into the shot.
Chan recalled: "When you say 'action', Bruce Lee used to forget who he was. I was waiting, waiting, waiting — because for one shot, it's not like it happens today with multiple cuts. One hit, then I just saw all the stars because he really hit me. Boom, then I lied down, I never moved. Even though I was very hurt."
He further described how Bruce Lee reacted the moment the director called cut — dropping everything and rushing to check on the young stuntman. Lee reportedly grabbed Chan and repeatedly apologized, saying "Oh, Jack, sorry, sorry."
How the Injury Turned Into a Payday
In a twist that highlights the unwritten code among stunt professionals, Jackie Chan explained that getting hurt on set entitled a stunt performer to additional compensation. Chan said, "It hurts — because when a stunt guy gets hurt, you get more money."
The same day, the production needed additional stunt work and Chan was asked to stay on. He earned a remarkable $250 in a single day — a significant sum at the time. Chan even speculated, with characteristic humor, that Bruce Lee may have hit him deliberately to ensure the young performer made more money that day.
He added: "I think at that time, he would do it on purpose, to let me make more money. In one day, I earned $250. That's a lot in those days. It was quite amazing."
Jackie Chan's Early Career as a Stuntman
Jackie Chan began his career in Hong Kong cinema as a child actor and later transitioned into stunt work before rising to global stardom. His early years on sets alongside legends like Bruce Lee shaped his philosophy toward action filmmaking — one built on authenticity, physical commitment, and personal risk.
Unlike most action stars of his generation and beyond, Chan became renowned for performing nearly all of his own stunts, accumulating a long list of serious injuries over his career including broken bones, dislocated joints, and concussions. His work ethic traces directly back to those formative years on Hong Kong film sets in the 1970s.
The era of Bruce Lee films, including classics like Enter the Dragon (1973), was a defining period for martial arts cinema globally. Stunt performers like the young Jackie Chan were the backbone of that industry, often working in dangerous conditions with minimal safety protocols by modern standards.
Bruce Lee's Legacy and His Impact on Jackie Chan
Bruce Lee remains one of the most influential figures in martial arts and global cinema history. His intense focus and physical immersion in every role — as described by Chan — were hallmarks of his legendary status. The anecdote shared by Chan paints a human portrait of Lee: a performer so consumed by his craft that he momentarily lost awareness of his surroundings, yet immediately demonstrated care and responsibility afterward.
This story also underscores the brotherhood that existed among stunt performers and action stars in Hong Kong's golden era of cinema — a culture of mutual respect, physical sacrifice, and camaraderie that defined an entire generation of filmmakers.
Jackie Chan has spoken about Bruce Lee on multiple occasions over the decades, consistently expressing deep admiration for the martial arts icon. As Chan continues to reflect on his remarkable career, stories like these offer rare, unfiltered glimpses into the behind-the-scenes world of a cinematic era that shaped action movies for generations to come.
Point of View
Unregulated world of Hong Kong stunt work in the early 1970s, where performers risked real physical harm with almost no safety net. The fact that Jackie Chan's biggest payday as a young stuntman came from being genuinely injured speaks volumes about how exploitative the system was, even when framed warmly. Bruce Lee's immediate remorse also humanizes an icon often mythologized beyond recognition. As Chan's own career later proved, the culture of performing dangerous stunts without adequate protection left lasting physical consequences — a systemic issue the global film industry is only now beginning to seriously address.
NationPress
3 May 2026
Frequently Asked Questions
When did Bruce Lee accidentally hit Jackie Chan on set?
The incident occurred during Jackie Chan's early career as a stunt performer in Hong Kong cinema in the early 1970s. Chan recounted the story in a viral video where he described being struck during a long-take fight sequence on a film set.
How much did Jackie Chan earn the day Bruce Lee hit him?
Jackie Chan earned $250 in a single day after being injured during the shoot, which was considered a significant amount at the time. He received additional pay because stunt performers were compensated more when they got hurt on set.
Did Bruce Lee intentionally hit Jackie Chan?
Jackie Chan humorously suggested that Bruce Lee may have hit him on purpose to help him earn more money as a stunt performer. However, Chan also explained that Lee was so deeply focused during action scenes that he often lost awareness of his surroundings.
What was Jackie Chan's role when he worked with Bruce Lee?
Jackie Chan worked as a stunt performer during Bruce Lee's films in the early 1970s in Hong Kong. He later rose to global fame as an action star known for performing his own dangerous stunts.
What films did Jackie Chan and Bruce Lee work on together?
Jackie Chan appeared as a stunt performer in Bruce Lee films during Hong Kong's golden era of martial arts cinema in the early 1970s, including work around the time of Enter the Dragon (1973). Chan has spoken about this period multiple times as a formative chapter in his career.
