Jason Statham’s Action Thriller ‘The Beekeeper’ Is Streaming on Peacock

When it comes to Jason Statham action movies, one word you can’t use is ‘original.’ The Meg is a B-movie version of Jaws, The Italian Job is a rip-off of, well… The Italian Job, and many of his hardcore action movies, like The Transporter, are just The Equalizer with a new coat of paint. But his most recent carbon copy of a beloved action movie is far better than it has any right to be, and it has gained a second life on streaming.

In 2024, Jason Statham paired up with Suicide Squad‘s director, David Ayer, for a shameless knock-off of John Wick. Statham starred as a retired trained killer who used to be part of a secret underground world of vigilantes. When someone close to him is hurt by a rich, spoiled son of a billionaire, Statham unretires himself, stopping at nothing until he’s got revenge. That might sound like many of Statham’s action movies, but this particular one is The Beekeeper, and it’s now streaming on Peacock.

Alongside Statham as Adam Clay, the most cockney American special ops soldier in cinema history, The Beekeeper also starred Josh Hutcherson as said spoiled Millennial trust fund kid, Derek Danforth, as well as Emmy Raver-Lampman, Bobby Naderi, Minnie Driver, Michael Epp, and Jeremy Irons.

‘The Beekeeper’ Is Just ‘John Wick’ With Bee Puns

The Beekeeper might sound like a really dodgy horror B-movie, but it’s actually one of Statham’s best action movies in years. Is it a blatant rip-off of John Wick? Yes. Does it take itself just seriously enough while still embracing its bonkers plot? Of course, and that’s why it works so well.

As you’d expect, Jason Statham spends much of the runtime shooting bad guys in the face, hiding in the shadows, and throwing more high kicks than Jack Black. But when he’s not taking lives, he’s testing our patience with bee puns and references. “To bee or not to bee,” “I need to take care of the hive,” and, this writer’s personal favorite, “Sometimes when the hive’s out of balance… You have to replace the queen.”

Audiences were absolutely buzzing after watching The Beekeeper. Critics enjoyed the movie, giving it a 71% Rotten Tomatoes score. But audiences couldn’t get enough, bestowing The Beekeeper with a tremendous 92% audience rating.

‘The Beekeeper’ Is Getting a Sequel… Because, Of Course, It Is

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After getting vengeance in The Beekeeper, Jason Statham will return to protect the hive once again. Timo Tjahjanto is directing the sequel, and the movie is floating like a butterfly. But, its release date might sting like a bee. Fans will have to wait until Jan. 15, 2027, to see The Beekeeper 2 in theaters. Ayer’s movie grossed $162 million at the box office and was a sleeper hit in 2024. However, now that fans know what to expect, The Beekeeper 2 is estimated to drastically outperform its predecessor.