Jason Statham Plays Dirty as Underrated 2010s Action Thriller Resurfaces on Free Streaming

Jason Statham is playing dirty as one of his most underrated action thrillers is returning to free streaming. Despite appearing in more action franchises than most fans can count, Statham still has some poorly appreciated gems under his belt. Not everything he does spawns a multi-film series, but there are plenty of worthy one-off projects featuring the Stath. In fact, there is one that continues to dominate free streaming, featuring a character that actually returns in a new film this year.

Parker has returned to Tubi as of October 1. The action caper is free to stream on the platform, besides the occasional advertisement. The film follows Parker, a ruthless and genius thief who turns to vengeance after being betrayed by his gang of crooks. Joining him is Jennifer Lopez as Leslie Rodgers, a real estate agent who becomes an unlikely ally for Statham’s notorious crminal. Based on the book Flashfire by Donald E. Westlake, Parker is one of several adaptations that feature the titular thief.

The film was directed by Taylor Hackford (Ray), based on a script by John J. McLaughlin (Black Swan). In addition to Statham and Lopez, the cast of Parker features Michael Chiklis, Wendell Pierce, Clifton Collins Jr., Bobby Cannavale, Patti LuPone, Carlos Carrasco, Micah Hauptman, Emma Booth, and Nick Nolte. Armed with a 42% on Rotten Tomatoes, Parker was no darling with critics, but audiences are still finding reasons to click on the film as it returns to Tubi. Read the official plot synopsis:

Daring, ruthless and meticulous, Parker (Jason Statham) is one of the most successful thieves in the business. But when his latest robbery turns deadly because of a careless crew member, he declines to join crime boss Melander (Michael Chiklis) and his gang for another heist. The crooks turn on Parker and leave him for dead. Parker survives and vows vengeance, tracing the gang to Palm Beach. There, he joins forces with an unlikely ally (Jennifer Lopez) to hijack the gang’s next big score.

Parker Returns This Year in Mark Wahlberg’s Prime Video Action Caper

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As Parker arrives on Tubi once again, the titular character has returned in a brand-new film. Mark Wahlberg has taken on the role in Shane Black’s long-awaited return to directing, Play Dirty. The film, now available on Prime Video, stars Wahlberg as Parker and as his close friend Grofield, played by LaKeith Stanfield, alongside a crew of thieves attempting the biggest heist of their careers. The official plot synopsis:

An expert thief rolls out the biggest heist of his life in Play Dirty, an action-packed thriller from director Shane Black. Parker (Mark Wahlberg), along with Grofield (LaKeith Stanfield), Zen (Rosa Salazar) and a skilled crew, stumble onto a score that pits them against the New York mob in this gritty, clever caper.

In addition to Wahlberg and Stanfield, the cast of Play Dirty features Rosa Salazar, Keegan-Michael Key, Chukwudi Iwuji, Nat Wolff, Thomas Jane, and Tony Shalhoub. Like previous adaptations, Play Dirty has proved to be a divisive action caper, nabbing a 54% score on Rotten Tomatoes based on 28 critic reviews. The audience rating is a bit more positive at 62%, but it still seems the Wahlberg film struggles to live up to expectations.