Drunken Master - The Beginning

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Drunken Master - The Beginning

PG-13

1978

1h 47m

Action

Comedy

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Popcornmeter

81%

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21 Reviews

85%

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25,000+ Ratings

Unable to see eye to eye with his father, completely broke and with nowhere else to turn, young Wong Fei-Hung (Jackie Chan) grudgingly accepts the tutelage of Su Hua Chi (Siu Tien Yuen), a notoriously intoxicated martial arts master. Su Hua Chi teaches Wong the techniques of Drunken Boxing, an unusually fluid fighting style. Wong is then forced to put his new skills to the test when his father is targeted by deadly assassin Thunderleg (Jang Lee Hwang), who has never lost a fight.

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Nell Minow

Movie Mom

Rated: 4/5

Apr 4, 2003

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Joey O'Bryan

Austin Chronicle

Not unlike the silent films of Chaplin, Keaton, and Lloyd, or for that matter, the best pictures of Hong Kong's Seventies kung fu films, the genius of Drunken Master lies in its kinetics. Pure entertainment, and a true chop-socky classic.

Rated: 4/5

Jan 1, 2000

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Sean Axmaker

Stream on Demand

The infectious mix of slapstick sequences and amazing martial arts moves breathes new life into the old school of Hong Kong action.

Apr 6, 2024

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Matt Brunson

Film Frenzy

Fast and furious and frequently funny.

Rated: 3/4

Nov 7, 2021

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Mike Massie

Gone With The Twins

Setting the groundwork for Chan's subsequent pictures, this one boasts plenty of fast-paced kung fu.

Rated: 4/10

Aug 29, 2020

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Sebastian Zavala Kahn

Me gusta el cine

It shows why Chan deserved to become a world-class star. [Full review in Spanish]

Rated: 4.5/5

Apr 13, 2020

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Iman R

Great early Jackie Chan that introduced the western world to his fresh new, hilarious slapstick style of kung fu. It's all here already on full display.

Rated 5 out of 5 stars

02/08/25

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The M

The story involves an arrogant cocktail young martial artist that has caused one too many ruckus and is forced to train with his great uncle to mature and break out of his wicked ways. The martial arts is a great motion of battle between characters and natural. The story dialogue has some cheese but also humorous and entertaining and action driven. This is a cultural and feels real in comparison to Hollywood flash move based films. Jackie brings his own pain and drive to his side of character and demonstrates how much he endures as we see his practices. Character keeps you focused and shows that Jackie's character morphs from child to master. It is recommended to see along with Drunken Master 2 (Legend of Drunken Master) this film doesn't disappoint.

Rated 5 out of 5 stars

02/04/25

Full Review

Audience Member

Good fight sequences, the humor it's pretty goofy but it's entertaining.

Rated 3.5 out of 5 stars

01/15/25

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Liam D

The film that made Jackie Chan an international superstar. The writing is incredibly creaky but the fight scenes are great

Rated 3.5 out of 5 stars

12/12/24

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Brent A

50% rating ... Had its moments of comedy and decent action, but not quite enough for me.

Rated 2.5 out of 5 stars

03/01/24

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Matthew B

Best of Movies/TV Series Collection

Rated 5 out of 5 stars

12/19/22

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Woo-Ping Yuen

Director

Jackie Chan

Actor

Siu Tien Yuen

Su Hua Chi

Jang Lee Hwang

Thunderleg

Chin Chiang

Actor

Ging Man Fung

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Synopsis

Unable to see eye to eye with his father, completely broke and with nowhere else to turn, young Wong Fei-Hung (Jackie Chan) grudgingly accepts the tutelage of Su Hua Chi (Siu Tien Yuen), a notoriously intoxicated martial arts master. Su Hua Chi teaches Wong the techniques of Drunken Boxing, an unusually fluid fighting style. Wong is then forced to put his new skills to the test when his father is targeted by deadly assassin Thunderleg (Jang Lee Hwang), who has never lost a fight.

Director: Woo-Ping Yuen
Producer: See-Yuen Ng
Screenwriter: Hsiao Lung, See-Yuen Ng
Production Co: Seasonal Film Corporation
Rating: PG-13 (Martial Arts Violence|Language)
Genre: Action, Comedy
Original Language: Chinese
Release Date (Streaming): May 1, 2012
Runtime: 1h 47m
Aspect Ratio: Scope (2.35:1)

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