Summary

• Statham’s versatility shines in comedic roles, showing audiences his range beyond action-packed blockbusters.
• Audiences can enjoy Statham’s superhuman feats in unexpected genres, enhancing the thrill of his films.
• Statham’s willingness to embrace different genres and roles ensures that his movies remain fun and exciting to watch.

Jason Statham had made his name in Hollywood starring in blockbusters and explosive action movies, but some of his most rewatchable projects fall in unexpected genres. Working with a variety of directors throughout his career, Statham has played heroes and villains alike, but what holds true about his characters is their ability to achieve superhuman feats of strength and skill. For audiences that have come to know and love Statham’s work, it’s easy to suspend their disbelief and go along for the thrill rides of his hilarious and exciting films.

Even lending his voice to animated projects on occasion Statham is a great sport willing to use every skill in his arsenal to ensure that his movies are the best they can be.

Outside of his usual genre, Statham has starred in non-action movies. Viewers are often surprised that his dramatic and comedic ranges are more expansive than expected. Even lending his voice to animated projects on occasion Statham is a great sport willing to use every skill in his arsenal to ensure that his movies are the best they can be. His films remain fun to watch today and get even better as time has passed. However, this isn’t just thanks to Statham’s talent. The success of these films is thanks to the entire team behind the productions.

10 The Meg (2018)

As Jonas Taylor

Viewers are transported to a world where the ancient and extinct giant shark, the megalodon, still exists within the Mariana trench.

Quickly followed by the box-office hit The Meg 2: The Trench, The Meg might not have the longevity of Jaws, but it makes the most of its unrealistic if thoroughly enjoyable oversized shark. With a strong cast and fun effects, The Meg never pretends to be something it’s not, allowing its audience to sit back and have a good time. Viewers are transported to a world where the ancient and extinct giant shark, the megalodon, still exists within the Mariana trench. Statham’s character, Jonas, is one of the few skilled enough to handle the beast.

Part of the reason The Meg did so well and warranted a high-profile sequel is that the story is just outlandish enough to work and lets the audience know the writers and actors are in on the joke. While humor is a key part of The Meg‘s success, it’s also thanks to the realistic water sequences and the strong sense of build-up the audience feels whenever the Meg approaches. Though the twist is easy to predict, that doesn’t make watching The Meg, or its sequel, any less fun.

9 Crank (2006)

As Chev Chelios

Crank is Statham and the action genre as a whole at its most outrageous. Part thriller, part comedy, and part satire, there are many aspects of Crank that wouldn’t get made today. However, this makes the entire project a time capsule of 2006, the year it was released. The premise is simple; Statham’s character, Chev, is an assassin who gets poisoned, and the only way to slow the poison down is to keep his adrenaline up. To do this, he goes to extreme lengths to keep his blood pumping to the shock of those around him.

Crank made Statham a recognizable actor and put him into outrageous situations, and despite its flaws, it remains influential in the action genre. Many directors cite it as a guilty-pleasure movie, and watching it almost twenty years later is a reminder of why Statham has become such a household name. The movie revels in its own issues and intensity and has become a cult favorite for those who are familiar with deep cuts of action-thriller films.

8 Wrath Of Man (2021)

As H/Patrick Hill

Wrath of Man sees Statham playing Patrick Hill, an expert marksman with ties to an armored car robbery. Told in four parts, Wrath of Man slowly reveals how Hill is connected to the crimes and what his motivations are, as the web of criminals implicated and their violent actions only grows. There is a strong sense of justice and a desire for revenge that lies underneath the entirety of Wrath of Man, and Statham’s cold and quiet demeanor is perfect for the tortured man at the heart of the film.

Part of him has outgrown the comedy and raunchiness of his early work by the time he was cast in
Wrath of Man
, and this is apparent.

Released recently in 2021, Wrath of Man indicated where Statham’s career was heading as he entered the 2020s and into the new phase of action stardom. Part of him has outgrown the comedy and raunchiness of his early work by the time he was cast in Wrath of Man, and this is apparent. Directed by Guy Ritchie, Wrath of Man isn’t Ritchie or Statham’s best work, but it’s compulsively rewatchable and pushes each artist to the limits of their abilities.

7 Fast & Furious Presents: Hobbs & Shaw (2019)

As Deckard Shaw

Though not Statham’s best iteration of the Fast & Furious franchise, Hobbs & Shaw was a star vehicle spinoff for himself and Dwayne Johnson. They play unlikely enemies turned allies in the loud and fast-paced movie that illustrates how much chemistry the pair have even when they’re pretending to hate each other. The stakes have never been higher than in Hobbs & Shaw, and it’s unsurprising, as the only way these two men would work together was if the fate of the world was on the line.

Despite being part of the Fast & Furious universe, Hobbs & Shaw is completely different. It stands on its own when compared to the other movies. Hobbs & Shaw 2 is reportedly confirmed, so audiences won’t have to wait too long before they see Statham and Johnson reunite. What Hobbs & Shaw does best is lean into the comedic overtones of the movie and recognize that at its core, the plot is one of a buddy-comedy. Beneath the masculine posturing of the two leads, there’s a slapstick duo in the making.

6 The Expendables 2 (2012)

As Lee Christmas

Next to Sylvester Stallone and Bruce Willis, it’s easy to forget that Statham is part of the film. That is until Statham makes his presence known…

After the impact of the first film in the franchise, The Expendables came the unexpected and star-studded The Expendables 2​​​​​​, which broke boundaries for the movie series. This isn’t a movie where Statham gets the majority of the screen time, as he’s joined by an enormous ensemble cast and even bigger action stars. Next to Sylvester Stallone and Bruce Willis, it’s easy to forget that Statham is part of the film. That is until Statham makes his presence known with incredible stunts and fight sequences.

However, it’s these big names that catapulted The Expendables 2 into a strong sequel that paved the way for the remaining movies. This includes the recent Expend4bles, where Statham returns as the mercenary Lee Christmas. Also boasting Arnold Schwarzenegger and Jean-Claude Van Damme, The Expendables 2 is the most memorable and important installment of the series. It will doubtlessly outlast the other films. The fact that Statham is in a movie with the most prominent action stars of his time speaks to how he will be remembered.

5 Furious 7 (2015)

As Deckard Shaw

Watching Furious 7 is bittersweet, as it was the franchise’s goodbye to the beloved star Paul Walker, who died while filming the movie. This resulted in a heartfelt tribute from the filmmakers and a marked shift in the trajectory of the franchise, as Walker was vital to the story. For this reason, Furious 7 goes down in the history of the Fast & Furious movies as a turning point and emotionally resonant action movie that strives to take itself seriously when it can.

However, it also saw Statham cementing himself as a franchise villain in the role of Deckard Shaw, the brother of Owen Shaw, an antagonist from a previous movie. After Dom (Vin Diesel) puts Owen in a coma, Shaw spends the movie trying to get his revenge, resulting in some incredible car chases. Though Shaw is put in prison by the end of the film, it’s obvious that he made his mark on the series and will be returning very soon.

4 The Mechanic (2011)

As Arthur Bishop

Bishop is a hitman, and as always, Statham gives nothing away behind his stony exterior, but the audience knows that there is a deeper emotional core within.

Though the 2011 version of The Mechanic is a remake of the film of the same name from 1972, Statham shines as Arthur Bishop and is an actor in his element throughout the story. Statham is highlighted as one of the best parts of the film, as are the action sequences. These moments are brought to another level by his performance. Bishop is a hitman, and as always, Statham gives nothing away behind his stony exterior, but the audience knows that there is a deeper emotional core within. However, in The Mechanic, these emotions are very deep down.

Watch
The Mechanic
on Paramount+.

The conceit of the film is that Bishop and his protégé, Steve (Ben Foster), are assassins whose area of expertise lies in making their killings look like accidents. This is a unique skill set and one that Bishop continuously takes advantage of, as he tricks Steve time and again even while he trains him. Serving up as many explosives as it does fights to the death, The Mechanic

3 The Bank Job (2008)

As Terry Leather

The Bank Job is a departure for Statham, as the movie leans further into the drama genre rather than pure action-thriller. However, there are still plenty of stakes and tension as Statham’s Terry Leather is manipulated into robbing a bank to ensure that compromising pictures of a prominent public figure don’t fall into the wrong hands. It’s remarkably realistic as the film’s plot is loosely based on the 1971 burglary of Lloyds Bank. While it’s ultimately fictional, The Bank Job is still an excellent adventure to experience.

The film was well-received by both critics and audiences. Its positive reviews might lead viewers to question why Statham didn’t leverage the success of this role into more serious work. However, even within a quieter and more time-sensitive project, Statham jumps off the screen and enjoys every moment of action available to him. His chemistry with costar Saffron Burrows is undeniable, and his bank-robbing skills leave the audience almost as speechless as his emotional appeals to the viewer.

2 The Beekeeper (2024)

As Adam Clay

Though he appears to be a mild-mannered beekeeper, in reality, Statham’s character, Adam Clay, is a former member of a secret group called the Beekeepers.

The Beekeeper was a stunning return to form for Statham, as he embarks on a good-old-fashioned quest for revenge after his landlady is scammed out of millions of dollars, resulting in her death. Though he appears to be a mild-mannered beekeeper, in reality, Statham’s character, Adam Clay, is a former member of a secret group called the Beekeepers. This group holds enormous weight with both the CIA and the FBI. However, like any good Statham movie, it comes down to Adam having to work outside the law.

The recent movie provides the perfect setup for a recurring character and many sequels, which is just what Statham needs during this part of his career. While he’s helmed plenty of action franchises, starting another as he enters a new chapter is the perfect next act for Statham. Though it isn’t his most critically acclaimed movie, The Beekeeper is fun to watch and incorporates the best effects that action movies have access to in the contemporary era.

1 Spy (2015)

As Rick Ford

Melissa McCarthy is inarguably the best part of Spy, but Jason Statham holds his own against the comedic veteran in the satirical film. While Spy makes light of the many genres that Statham made his name in, it does so lovingly and with the utmost respect for action, thrillers, and espionage stories. At first, Statham’s character, Rick Ford, and McCarthy’s Susan Cooper are at odds, but it soon comes to pass that they need to help each other to solve the case and save the world.

Spy made a mark at the box office thanks to the combined star power of McCarthy, Statham, and their co-star Jude Law. Audiences and critics were shocked at how well Statham did next to McCarthy and how willing he was to be made a fool of. However, for those who know his filmography, it was completely predictable. He is well-known for playing tongue-in-cheek roles, and as Spy gains notoriety with time, it will likely cement Statham as just as much of a comedic actor as an action star.