Chu once said in an interview that he is "not an artist," but rather "a movie factory that puts out products to match the season", and is compared to Hong Kong director Wong Jing.
Chu met difficulties until he established his own company and came back in 1987 with Bighead Brigade (also known as Naughty Cadets on Patrol in Hong Kong), a farce-comedy series about military drill.
Chu also began another series, The Kung-fu Kids, featuring child talents Yen Cheng-kuo, Tsuo Hsiao-hu and Chen Tsung-jung.
In 1985 Chu also made Seven Foxes starring Taiwanese pop singers Dave Wong, Tom Chang, and Samuel Tai, and actress Yip Chuen Chun.
In 2009 Chu ambitiously made The Treasure Hunter, an action film shot on location in Gobi Desert, starring Jay Chou and Lin Chi-ling.