Comedian Chris Tucker was cast as the arrogant and annoying Detective James Carter, who was paired with Jackie Chan. After doing two more Rush Hour sequels, Tucker virtually disappeared from the public eye. He came back strong in 2012 with David O. Russell’s "The Silver Linings Playbook." The following year, Tucker the BET Awards in 2013. Tucker chooses his current roles carefully., After a seven years hiatus, he played sports marketing executive Howard White in Air, the story of how Michael Jordan reinvented the Nike brand. 

Jackie Chan, the martial arts virtuoso who portrayed the dignified yet action-packed Inspector Lee, has continued to astonish audiences with his gravity-defying stunts and endearing charisma. Post-"Rush Hour," Chan's career soared to new heights as he starred in numerous international blockbusters, including 2010's "The Karate Kid." In 2012, Chan said he would retire from acting films, saying his body could not endure the stunts. At 69, he is still working, just in action flicks. This year, he was the voice of Splinter in "Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles: Mutant Mayhem."

Tzi Ma, who brought Consul Solon Han to life in "Rush Hour," continued to shine brightly in Hollywood. His versatile acting skills led to appearances in a myriad of films and television series. Although he has several projects in the works, he can currently be seen in Hulu's comedy-drama "The Full Monty."

Ken Leung, who played the character Sang, has worked non-stop since "Rush Hour." His participation in major franchises such as "Star Wars" and his compelling roles in series like "Lost" solidified his place as a respected actor. He is currently in production for the highly anticipated reboot of "Avatar: The Last Airbender."

Brett Ratner, who skillfully orchestrated the buddy-cop magic in "Rush Hour," has maintained a prolific career in Hollywood. Though he's directed a variety of films post-"Rush Hour," including the "X-Men" series, Ratner remains eternally tied to the success and nostalgia of this iconic film. In 2016, he was an executive producer of the "Rush Hour" TV series on CBS.

In 2017, Ratner was accused of sexual assault by several people and Warner Bros. would eventually cut ties with the filmmaker. His last credited film was the 2019 crime drama "Georgetown."

Elizabeth Peña, who portrayed Tania Johnson, added her unique charm to the "Rush Hour" ensemble. Post-film, the veteran actress continued to grace both the big and small screens with her captivating performances. However, she tragically left us in 2014 at the age of 55. leaving behind a legacy of talent. Her cause of death was cirrhosis of the liver due to alcohol.