After nearly two decades of silence, the unlikely duo of Inspector Lee and Detective Carter is back in action. Rush Hour 4, the long-anticipated sequel to the buddy cop trilogy, finally crashes onto the screen in 2026, reuniting Jackie Chan and Chris Tucker in a globe-trotting adventure that’s part throwback, part fresh reboot, and entirely outrageous.
The film picks up with Carter (Tucker), now semi-retired and hosting a podcast about his "glory days," and Lee (Chan), a respected security consultant for Interpol. Their peaceful lives are shattered when a mysterious international crime syndicate—linked to an old foe—launches a coordinated attack in Paris during a diplomatic summit. Caught in the crossfire and blamed for the chaos, the two are forced to clear their names while unraveling a plot that spans from Hong Kong to Berlin, and ultimately to New York City.
Director Destin Daniel Cretton (known for Shang-Chi) takes over the franchise from Brett Ratner, giving it a sleek visual upgrade while preserving the tone that fans love. The chemistry between Chan and Tucker is as infectious as ever. Tucker brings back his fast-talking, loud-mouthed charm, while Chan delivers incredible (if slightly slower-paced) stunts, still choreographed with inventiveness and heart.
The action sequences are energetic and comedic, including a memorable brawl in a German biergarten and a high-speed chase involving electric scooters and a runaway tram. But what stands out more than the action is the bond between the two leads. Now older, funnier, and a little wiser, Lee and Carter aren’t just partners—they’re family.
The film doesn’t shy away from addressing time’s passage. Jokes about aging, cultural shifts, and modern technology (Carter’s battles with facial recognition scanners are comedy gold) bring relevance and warmth to the story. Supporting cast members include Awkwafina as a sharp-tongued hacker and Daniel Wu as the syndicate’s smooth but deadly mastermind.
Rush Hour 4 may not reinvent the genre, but it respects its roots while gently evolving. It’s a fast, funny, and surprisingly heartfelt ride that reminds audiences why we loved this franchise in the first place.
