On the final days of British rule in Hong Kong, Inspector Lee leads a raid against a triad gang and recovers valuable Chinese artifacts. Soon after, in Los Angeles, the daughter of the Chinese consul, Soo Yung, is kidnapped on her first day at school. Fearful that Lee's involvement could spark a diplomatic incident, American authorities hand him over to the Los Angeles police, effectively keeping him out of the investigation. He is assigned to Detective James Carter, a brash officer whom his colleagues find hard to stomach and who sees the case as a chance to prove himself. The two are soon forced to work together, despite their clashing methods and language barrier, as the investigation grows more complicated.

How it was made

The project began with an original script by Ross LaManna, which was first sold to Hollywood Pictures with Brett Ratner and Jackie Chan attached. After a long stretch in development limbo, the film was picked up by New Line Cinema, which already had a working relationship with Ratner and Chris Tucker from Money Talks (1997). Tucker was among the last major casting decisions, and the cast was complete by early 1997. Principal photography ran from November 1997 to January 1998, with locations in California, Los Angeles and Hong Kong. The film pairs Tucker's rapid-fire comedy with Chan's action choreography, building its appeal on the contrast between the two leads. Lalo Schifrin composed the score and Adam Greenberg served as cinematographer.

Reception and legacy

Rush Hour opened in the United States on September 18, 1998, through New Line Cinema. Critics responded positively, praising the chemistry and performances of Chan and Tucker. It was a commercial hit, grossing about 245 million dollars worldwide, and spawned two sequels, Rush Hour 2 (2001) and Rush Hour 3 (2007). Its formula helped popularize the mismatched cop buddy comedy and the Hollywood star vehicle for Asian martial arts actors.