“In Many Ways, I Agree”: Jet Li Admitted Fans Had a Point About Romeo Must Die’s Disappointing Action

Romeo Must Die (2000) is an important film in Jet Li’s career. Not because it’s an incredible piece of filmmaking or genre-defining masterpiece, but because it was his first leading role in a Hollywood production after establishing himself as a superstar of Hong Kong action cinema. Li is back in the spotlight, too: after six years away from the screen, he returned in Blades of the Guardians (2026). Directed by Andrzej Bartkowiak, whose filmography includes movies such as Doom and Street Fighter: The Legend of Chun-Li, Romeo Must Die sees Li share the screen with the late singer Aaliyah in a radical retelling of Romeo and Juliet. While it received mostly negative reviews at the time of its release [34% on Rotten Tomatoes], it made $91 million from a budget of $25 million and went on to become a cult classic. Say what you want about it, but this movie features many violent delights. Li, though, was fully aware of the film’s initial reception and didn’t shy away from the criticism.

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