Jason Statham started as a competitive diver before moving into modeling and music videos. Since then, he’s filled his resume with a variety of acting credits as thieves, tough guys, and traitors, making him a household name in action movies. Statham has had quite a few supporting roles in Lock, Stock and Two Smoking Barrels, The Expendables 2, and The Italian Job, which get honorable mentions here but do not make the list; he has an impressive filmography under his belt.
Statham has established himself as an action star on par with Sylvester Stallone and Arnold Schwarzenegger. He can steal the spotlight in big blockbuster franchises, low-budget films, and even comedies that showcase his lighter side. It also helps that he has an ongoing working relationship with Guy Ritchie, who has helped him land roles as the British tough guy in roles like The Transporter and Crank.
Statham shows no sign of slowing down, with several films currently in the works. It is hard to narrow down to just 12 titles, but these are his films that stand out among the best from the fan-favorite actor.
‘The Mechanic’ (2011)
The elite assassin genre is one of Statham’s fans’ favorites. The Mechanic is a thriller remake of the 1972 film centered around an assassin-for-hire who makes his hits look like accidents. Driven by a desire for revenge for the murder of his former mentor, Arthur Bishop also has to deal with his son wanting to follow the same career as him.
This is a perfect film for Statham’s talents, and when paired with the hotheaded trainee Ben Foster, he radiates the cool that the character needs. The plot twists in the movie were rather predictable, but with the loaded cast and exciting fight scenes, it was a fun ride and is one of the many films that made Statham great for the “January” movie, as he has done with films like The Beekeeper and Shelter.
‘Crank’ (2006)
One of Statham’s signature roles is assassin Chev Chelios in the high-octane movie Crank. After Chelios has been poisoned by a synthesized drug, he must keep his heart rate up in order to keep the poison at bay. This movie is an adrenaline-fueled ride as Chelios seeks revenge on the gangsters who did this to him while trying to stay alive by any means. The movie is “Speed, but in a person”.
The movie’s plot is a wild ride to begin with and only gets more chaotic as it goes on. Statham exudes charisma in this film, as he’s not only intense but also hilarious, with each new exploit becoming crazier. Crank, combined with his role in the Transporter series, cemented Statham’s abilities as an action star and his likability to audiences.
‘Safe’ (2012)
In Jason Statham’s films, audiences don’t see him interact much with kids. However, the plot of Safe depends on the bond between him and a young girl named Mei. Luke Wright (Stahtam) is contemplating ending his life until he sees a young girl being terrorized, and he attempts to save her from the Triad, Russian Mafia, and dirty New York City cops.
In Safe, Statham plays a character unlike any he has done before. Depressed and weak-willed at first, he transforms into the action hero audiences know him as, and it is impressive how well he portrays this transition. Entertainment Weekly described Statham’s performance as one of his most tender ones, in between him getting beaten up.
‘Cellular’ (2004)
While Statham is best known for playing tough-guy action heroes, he also has the intensity that makes him great for villains, and he excels in Cellular. The movie follows a science teacher (Kim Basinger) who, after being kidnapped by home invaders, calls a stranger (Chris Evans) for help. When he goes to the police to report the kidnapping, he soon discovers that the kidnappers are, in fact, LAPD officers led by Jason Statham’s character.
Cellular is a movie that could only be made in its moment, as it is very much a 2004 film, given how cell phones are both part of modern life and still relatively new. It is a throwback in not just that sense, but also in seeing a young, pre-Captain America Chris Evans. It also allows Statham to shine as a villain, a rare thing in his career, but one he does excellently.
‘Shelter’ (2026)
Director Ric Roman Waugh (Shot Caller, Greenland) teams up with Jason Statham for the first time in Shelter to tell the story of a former assassin, Mason (Statham), living a quiet life until a young girl, Jesse (Bodhi Rae Breathnach), unexpectedly comes into his life after a shipwreck. Taking care of the young woman, however, makes him a target of those who want her dead, forcing him to lean on his past skills to protect both of them from a series of escalating threats.
While the praise for the film has not been universal, with MovieWeb’s own Mark Keizer in his review calling Shelter “a generic and formulaic thriller that suggests the limits of Jason Statham as an action hero and an actor,” the latest movie landed favorably with critics overall, with many calling it a more tender vision of Statham backed by some phenomenal action. The movie is very much on brand for Statham, but that is not a bad thing, particularly when he is allowed to flex his acting chops in equal measure with action.
‘The Transporter 2’ (2004)
The Transporter 2 reprises the concept of the first film, in which Statham plays Frank Martin, a “transporter” who moves valuable cargo. In this sequel, Martin works as a chauffeur for a famous politician’s son. When the child gets kidnapped under his watch, he must investigate the crime and get the boy back, especially as he himself is being accused of the kidnapping.
The first film was a fun ride, but The Transporter 2 really finds its footing by putting Statham’s character in charge of protecting a young child, making him a hero. He drives around in the film that would make his Fast & Furious cast-mates jealous with his amazing precision, not to mention all the trash he takes out with all his beatings. The movie features the franchise’s best action. Frank Martin is certainly Statham’s most iconic character, and The Transporter 2 is the best film for the character.
‘Wrath of Man’ (2021)
In the crime thriller Wrath of Man, H (Statham) is a security guard for an armored cash-transportation company, and very little is known about him. During an attempted robbery on one of the trucks, H shows off his skills as a marksman, leaving everyone on the crew wondering why he’s working there.
The movie features some exciting scenes, especially the end shootout, which showcases Statham’s intensity. Wrath of Man has been particularly praised for its varied cinematography, intricate yet understandable plotlines that made it a success for Ritchie and Statham, and, finally, Statham’s measured acting in the film’s more serious scenes.
‘Furious 7’ (2015)
Fast & Furious 6 gave an end-credits scene showing the death of a beloved character and the introduction of Statham’s character, Deckard Shaw. Furious 7 follows Shaw, who wants to get revenge on Toretto’s crew after they put his little brother in the hospital, Owen Shaw from Fast and Furious 6. In contrast to other villains who have crews, Deckard Shaw is a one-man army who sometimes appears out of nowhere to get the jump on the heroes, leaving them barely able to survive.
In his first fully-fledged appearance in the franchise, Statham has no issues establishing that he can carry his own among an ensemble cast. Fans of Statham have seen him play the villain before, but making it about family gave his character a more emotional edge. Statham’s character appears like an unstoppable killing machine and is so villainous that the franchise has struggled to redeem him in later films. While later films might have made him a more heroic figure, Furious 7 is his best in the series, as it lets him truly be a terrifying villain.
‘Spy’ (2015)
The same year Statham played one of his most deadly villains, he also played one of his funniest roles. The movie Spy features Statham as a macho superspy who must protect his inexperienced colleague on her first mission as a field agent. The two have trouble seeing eye to eye, which leads to comedic moments, including a running joke in which Statham wants a Face/Off procedure and a series of mishaps despite his elite status.
A Melissa McCarthy comedy would not typically be a film audiences would see Statham in, but the action movie star definitely has the comedic chops, as he steals every scene he is in. It is rare for Statham to do comedies, but what works here is that he is such an intense actor that he is hilarious as the straight man. Statham really should do more comedies.
‘The Bank Job’ (2008)
In The Bank Job, Statham plays Terry Leather, a down-on-his-luck car salesman who gets approached by a mysterious woman, Martine, who offers him a chance to rob a bank to solve his financial troubles. This story is based on the real-life bank robbery in London in 1971. The film is a heist movie set in London, and Statham plays a classy gentleman thief, both playing into and subverting his movie-star image.
Though not Statham’s most well-known role, it is one where he gets to shine. The movie came along at an interesting time in his career. For years, he had fallen into starring in action movies that were not well-liked by critics, so his appearance here certainly shocked critics, as many who had written him off as just an action hero could see he had some seriously underrated acting talent. While Statham would certainly not stay away from over-the-top action movies, The Bank Job is a nice gem in his filmography.
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