Jackie Chan Gets Warm Standing Ovation as He Makes Rare Appearance at Critics Choice Awards 2025

Jackie Chan got people on their feet!

The legendary actor, 70, received a standing ovation as he made a rare public appearance at the 2025 Critics Choice Awards on Friday, Feb. 7. 

Chan was introduced to the stage by three-time host Chelsea Handler, who referred to him as “a sexual icon.”

When the Rush Hour star stepped out to introduce the award for foreign language film, he was met with an extended standing ovation from his industry peers.

“Thank you,” he said to the passionate audience. “Thank you, wow!”

As a fan cheered in the audience, Chan lightly said, “Quiet, let me remember my dialogue.”

“Tonight, we’re celebrating movies,” the actor said. “They remind us that we may be from all different parts of the world, different walks of life, but we all laugh and cry and eat too much popcorn in the same way.”

After Emilia Pérez was named as the winner, director Jacques Audiard cheekily expressed at the top of his speech, “It’s a magnificent day. I just received a prize from Jackie Chan. I feel like I’ve died and gone to Heaven.”

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In November 2023, Ralph Macchio and Jackie Chan were announced to be reprising their roles in an upcoming Karate Kid movie that is set to hit theaters on May 30. Macchio, now 62, played teenage mentee Daniel LaRusso in the original 1984 film, a role that was later played by Jaden Smith in the 2010 reboot that co-starred Chan, 70.

The action-packed trailer for the upcoming flick, titled Karate Kid: Legends, debuted on Dec. 17, 2024, with newcomers Ben Wang, Joshua Jackson, Sadie Stanley and Ming-Na Wen in the cast.

“After a family tragedy, kung fu prodigy Li Fong (Wang) is uprooted from his home in Beijing and forced to move to New York City with his mother,” reads an official synopsis. “Li struggles to let go of his past as he tries to fit in with his new classmates, and although he doesn’t want to fight, trouble seems to find him everywhere.”

“When a new friend needs his help, Li enters a karate competition — but his skills alone aren’t enough,” the synopsis adds. “Li’s kung fu teacher Mr. Han (Chan) enlists original Karate Kid Daniel LaRusso (Macchio) for help, and Li learns a new way to fight, merging their two styles into one for the ultimate martial arts showdown.”

Chan, who won an honorary Oscar Award in 2016, was recently spotted at the Paralympic Games in August 2024. 

The actor took to the streets of Paris to carry the event’s iconic flame in his inimitable style ahead of the event’s opening ceremony.

Wearing a white tracksuit and his trademark black eyeglasses, the stuntman and martial artist waved enthusiastically to the crowd on both sides of the street as he walked through the historic city.

See PEOPLE’s full coverage of the 30th annual Critics Choice Awards as they’re broadcasting live on E! from Barker Hangar in Santa Monica. The show will also be available to stream the following day on Peacock.