Jaden Smith had the kindest message for Jackie Chan for his birthday.
The two legendary actors starred in the 2010 film The Karate Kid, which followed Dre Parker (Smith), a 12-year-old boy who moves to China because of his mom’s job. Though he knows a little karate, his fighting skills are no match for Cheng (Zhenwei Wang), the school bully. Dre finds a friend in Mr. Han (Chan), a maintenance man who is also a martial-arts master. Mr. Han teaches Dre all about kung fu in the hope that Dre will be able to face down Cheng and perhaps win the heart of a pretty classmate named Mei Ying (Wenwen Han). Directed by Harald Zwart and written by Christopher Murphey, it served as the fifth movie in the Karate Kid franchise.
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Chan celebrated his 72nd birthday on Tuesday. The action star served as a mentor to Smith, who was just 11 years old, while they were filming and releasing The Karate Kid. Though it’s been 16 years since the release of the movie, Smith seems to still admire his co-star from all those years ago. He took to Instagram on Wednesday to share a heartfelt message to Chan, calling him “a legend, an icon and a leader.”
“@jackiechan I Love You, You Changed My Life & Taught Me Things I Will Never Forget,” Smith wrote as his caption. “I Could Never Be Who I Am Today Without You. You’re A Legend An Icon And A Leader. Happy Birthday See You Soon.”
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The post received more than two million likes just a day after it was shared. Many of Smith’s fans, friends and family commented on the post, marking its cultural significance and their first public reunion in years.
A fan pointed out, “Never thought of seeing them together again 😍.”
“Wow my childhood healed seeing this,” a pop culture account commented on X.
Photographer and creative director Alan Silfen wrote, “The dynamic duo !!!”
“I remember the days this movie was all I watched 😭😭,” a fan commented.
“THE CULTURAL SIGNIFICANCE,” Willow Smith, Jaden’s younger sister, commented.
“Never say never,” many commented, referring to the popular Justin Bieber song that Smith has a cameo on.
Even the official Grammys account joined the conversation, simply commenting, “🙏🏽.”
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The son of Jada Pinkett-Smith and Will Smith, Jaden Smith, continued acting and started a music career after The Karate Kid was released in 2010. He has since become an icon in the music, acting and even the fashion industry. Meanwhile, Chan has become one of the most iconic and influential martial artists in the history of cinema, with a film career spanning more than sixty years.
The Karate Kid can be streamed on Amazon Prime Video, or rented on Fandango at Home, Google Play Movies, YouTube or Apple TV for $3.99.
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