Jason Statham has starred in many action films throughout his career, carving a path for himself as one of Hollywood’s most trusted and recognizable faces in the genre. He rarely steps out of his comfort zone, remaining firmly planted in the action genre. In recent years, Statham has transitioned into producing some of his own projects, which gives him a much larger role in creating the film’s behind-the-scenes footage. Many of Statham’s upcoming films will also be produced by the actor.
Producing a film is completely different from starring in it, and this transition marks a major shift in Statham’s career trajectory. Having a lot more creative influence over your films is clearly a good thing, as no one understands the appeal of a Jason Statham movie like the actor himself. His recent film production track record has been going quite well, proving that he is up to the task. With several excellent Statham films in need of sequels, his contribution could also be a step towards those projects finally happening.
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Fast and Furious Presents: Hobbs and Shaw (2019)
Directed by David Leitch
Although it was not as well received as most other entries in the Fast and Furious universe, the spin-off starring Statham and Dwayne Johnson was a fascinating detour into the saga that proved there’s room for the series to continue once the main story ends. The film revolves around Deckard Shaw and Luke Hobbstwo colleagues of Dom Toretto’s best Fast and Furious films whose personal conflicts make them an unlikely duo in this action-packed thriller.
There has been much speculation about a potential Hobbs and Shaw 2 in recent years, with Fast and Furious 11 marking the end of the main saga, but it seems very unlikely given the poor critical reception of the first film. Despite Statham’s leading role, the pair’s hilarious on-screen chemistry, and worldwide gross of $760 million (via Mojo Box Office), the film did not leave much of a legacy.
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Meg 2: The Trench (2023)
Directed by Ben Wheatley
Meg 2: The Trench is a sequel to Statham’s infamous survival film Megboth follow protagonist Jonas Taylor as he battles prehistoric sharks that have survived for millions of years at the bottom of the ocean. It’s one of Statham’s most prolific roles in recent years, suiting all of his strengths, and the sequel went on to be a lucrative addition to the franchise that made the actor a lot of money.
Mega 2 was a commercial success that grossed nearly $400 million worldwide on a budget of just $30 million (Mojo Box Office), which constitutes one of the actor’s most considerable earnings from any of his recent projects. Although Mega 2 struggled to find the same success with critics, there’s no denying it was a big hit – potentially hinting at another sequel in the near future, possibly also to be produced by the lead actor.
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Expendables (2023)
Directed by Scott Waugh
THE Mercenaries the franchise is one of the most high-profile action series of all time – despite seeing a decline in the quality of its sequels – with names like Arnold Schwarzenegger, Sylvester Stallone, and Harrison Ford attached to the various installments. The films revolve around a group of ex-military mercenaries whose lives are put at risk to fight against threats considered too dangerous or unregistered for the United States Army. The fourth installment saw Statham and his co-stars attempt to prevent nuclear war in North Africa.
Although Mercenaries was not a total flop, grossing $37.9 million at the box office (Mojo Box Office), is certainly one of Statham’s least successful projects in recent years. His performance is among the film’s only saving graces, alongside the often dynamic action and fun soundtrack. THE Mercenaries Movies have a habit of wasting their stars, and that was certainly the case with actors like Stallone and Dolph Lundgren in Mercenaries.
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The Beekeeper (2024)
Directed by David Ayer
David Ayer The beekeeper is without a doubt Statham’s most original and interesting project in recent memory, telling the story of a former assassin belonging to a mysterious “Beekeepers“who keep world peace out of the shadows – a premise reminiscent of John Wickof the underground continental network of assassins. The story later unfolds into a dangerous conspiracy against the President of the United States, allowing Statham to fully unleash his action-packed persona.
Although The beekeeper Not a commercial success like some of Stathman’s other films, the project was still praised for its originality and commitment to an offbeat narrative style. It’s cheesy and predictable at times, but the film takes it seriously in a way that’s reminiscent of the over-the-top action films of the ’80s and ’90s. The beekeeper it also sets up a sequel at the end, which could be a hint that there’s more to come in this universe. If that’s true, this could easily become one of the most interesting franchises with the presence of Jason Statham.