Jason Statham and Guy Ritchie made five films together, but never surpassed their 26-year-old classic

Jason Statham and Guy Ritchie have made a total of five films together in more than two decades of collaboration, but they still haven’t surpassed their first film. Statham and Ritchie’s careers were intertwined from the beginning; they both started in cinema at the same time. When Ritchie was planning his debut film – the 1998 crime comedy Padlock, stock and two smoking barrels – he discovered Statham’s potential as an actor. At the time, Statham was known as a diver and model.

Ritchie felt that Statham’s history working on market stalls would make him perfect for the role of small-time con man Bacon in Lock, stock. Statham proved to be a natural in front of the camera and, after the success of Lock, stockhe became one of Hollywood’s biggest and most popular movie stars. Although Statham has conquered franchises like The Expendables and Fast and Furioushe continued to collaborate with Ritchie – but they still haven’t gotten over the first film.

Lock, Stock & Two Smoking Barrels is still Jason Statham and Guy Ritchie’s best collaboration, despite four more recent attempts

They’ve made other great movies, but none as good as Lock, Stock

After the success of Padlock, stock and two smoking barrels, Statham and Ritchie promptly reunited for the 2000s Snatchanother extensive criminal plot which acts as a kind of spiritual sequel to Lock, stock. In 2005 they made a simple action thriller Revolverwhich was widely panned by critics. After a long hiatus, the duo recently returned to work for 2021 actor Wrath of Man and the 2023 spy comedy Operation Fortuna: Ruse de Guerre. Some of these movies were great, but none of them were as good as Lock, stock.

Lock, stock has a frenetic pace and an energy that Snatch failed to recapture. While Revolver It’s more action-packed, not as exciting as Lock, stock. Wrath of Man It’s a solid action movie, but it’s not as well edited as Lock, stock. AND Operation Fortunealthough it’s a lot of fun, it’s a total mess. After 26 years of working together, Statham and Ritchie have yet to make a better film than Padlock, stock and two smoking barrels.

Why Jason Statham and Guy Ritchie Work So Well Together

Ritchie understands Statham’s appeal as a movie star

Ritchie is one of the filmmakers Statham keeps coming back to, because he understands Statham’s strengths as an actor and his appeal as a movie star better than most other directors. Ritchie always recognized Statham’s wry comedic skillswhich other directors often ignored and gave him hilarious material to work with. Padlock, stock and two smoking barrels established Statham’s on-screen persona – an authentic tough guy with a biting sense of humor – perfectly.