The Forbidden Kingdom (2008) is a martial arts fantasy film directed by Rob Minkoff, starring Jet Li and Jackie Chan. The film blends elements of Chinese mythology and action-packed adventure in a story that follows a young American teenager named Jason Tripitikas (played by Michael Angarano), who is a fan of martial arts movies. One day, Jason stumbles upon a mysterious ancient staff in a pawnshop, which transports him to ancient China.

In this magical world, Jason discovers that the staff belongs to the legendary Monkey King (Jet Li), a powerful and mischievous deity who has been imprisoned by the evil Jade Warlord (Collin Chou).

To return home, Jason must join forces with a drunken kung fu master, Lu Yan (Jackie Chan), a silent monk (also played by Jet Li), and a skilled warrior, Golden Sparrow (Liu Yifei), to free the Monkey King and defeat the Jade Warlord.

The Forbidden Kingdom is known for its thrilling martial arts choreography, blending traditional kung fu with fantasy elements.

The film is celebrated for bringing together two of the biggest names in martial arts cinema—Jet Li and Jackie Chan—in a fun, action-packed adventure filled with stunning fight sequences and visual effects.

While the movie incorporates elements of Chinese folklore, it also delivers a family-friendly and accessible story about bravery, friendship, and self-discovery.