Snake in the Eagle's Shadow (1978)

"Snake in the Eagle's Shadow," the oldest picture on this list, earned its place for a variety of reasons. Sure, the plot is predictable — a young man is chastised and beaten until serious training transforms him into a fighting master — but it's still a ground-breaking film. It's not only Yuen Woo-directorial ping's debut, but it's also the first time Chan stops trying to be someone he's not and instead embraces his own style and attitude.

The barebones tale is essentially a framework on which to hang a showcase for both Yuen's choreography and Chan's physicality, both comical and vicious. As Chan's approach evolves to include genuine animal effects and motions, the result is an apparently effortless show of control and precision (to that point, stick with the international versions, as they trim a nasty little brawl between a cobra and a house cat). However, a hilarious segment in which Chan strives to keep the floor clean may be the action highlight.