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Parents' Guide to

Shanghai Noon

By Nell Minow, Common Sense Media Reviewer

age 14+

Engaging Jackie Chan movie for older teens and up.

Movie PG-13 2000 110 minutes
Shanghai Noon Poster Image

A Lot or a Little?

What you will—and won't—find in this movie.

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age 12+

Based on 4 parent reviews

CSMContentDefault
CSMContentDefault Adult
October 30, 2018
age 12+

The butt review

This is a very good Jackie chan film. Some sex when they are in the bathtubs and some bad language. A lot of violence and some drinking
reallybusy
reallybusy Parent of 16-year-old
July 15, 2010
age 10+

A classic buddy story with a very, very funny script.

Ok, including the silly Wild West brothel/saloon stuff, this movie is straight out of a bored school-boy's daydreams. But there's enough here to keep a mom laughing too, especially Owen Wilson's dead-on comic timing and Jackie Chan's weird ability to be a Kung Fu Master and a big goofball at the same time. Let's face it, there's nothing funnier than a sensitive train robber. The combination of Kung Fu action and a really nice "do the right thing" story make this a favorite.
See all 4 parent reviews

What's the Story?

Jackie Chan has his best American movie role so far as Chon Wang, an imperial guard sent from China's Forbidden City to Colorado's Carson City to rescue a kidnapped Princess (Lucy Liu) in the old West of 1881. Along the way he meets Roy (Owen Wilson) a smooth-talking robber and con man, and they have various adventures that provide many opportunities for humor and many, many opportunities for fight scenes that show off Chan's trademark fast, flashy, and funny footwork.

Is It Any Good?

Our review:
Parents say (4 ):
Kids say (11 ):

The fight scenes are sensational, as Chan uses anything he can get his hands and feet on to help him vanquish all the bad guys. And Liu is elegant and beautiful at home in the palace, spirited and honorable when she finds out that she has been kidnapped and that Chinese people are being used for slave labor.

In classic buddy movie fashion, Roy and Chon begin as antagonists, and it takes them a while (and Roy's finding out that there is gold involved) to figure out that they are on the same side. Chan and Wilson have a nice rapport and Wilson's easy-going surfer style works very well with Chan's more reserved approach.

Talk to Your Kids About ...

  • Families can talk about how Roy and Chong learn to trust each other and work together, how Chong uses quick thinking (and a good knowledge of basic physics) to use whatever he can find to help him fight the bad guys, and how people from many different cultures reacted to life in America.

Movie Details

  • In theaters: May 19, 2000
  • On DVD or streaming: October 10, 2000
  • Cast: Jackie Chan , Lucy Liu , Owen Wilson
  • Director: Tom Dey
  • Inclusion Information: Asian actors, Female actors
  • Studio: Touchstone Pictures
  • Genre: Comedy
  • Run time: 110 minutes
  • MPAA rating: PG-13
  • MPAA explanation: language, violence, sexual references and drug use
  • Last updated: October 4, 2023

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