Jason Stathamhas starred in many action movies over the course of his career, carving a path for himself as one of Hollywood’s most reliable and recognizable faces within the genre. He rarely steps outside his comfort zone, remaining firmly planted in the action genre. In recent years, Statham has made the transition to producing some of his own projects, which gives him a much bigger role in the film’s behind-the-scenes creation. Many ofStatham’s upcoming movieswill also be produced by the actor.
Producing a movie is completely different from starring in it, and this transition marks a huge change in the trajectory of Statham’s career. Having much more creative sway over his films is clearly a good thing asnobody understands the appeal of a Jason Statham movie quite like the actor himself. His recent track record of producing films has gone fairly well, proving that he’s up to the task. With several outstandingStatham movies that need sequels, his input could also be a step toward those projects finally happening.
4Fast & Furious Presents: Hobbs & Shaw (2019)
Directed By David Leitch
Although it wasn’t as well-received as most other entries in theFast & Furiousuniverse, the spin-off starring Statham and Dwayne Johnson was a fascinating detour for the saga that proved there’s room for the series to continue once the main story is over.The film centers around Deckard Shaw and Luke Hobbs, two of Dom Toretto’s colleagues from thebestFast & Furiousmovieswhose personal conflicts made them an unlikely duo in this action-packed thriller.
Fast & Furious Presents: Hobbs & Shaw
Cast
Fast & Furious Presents: Hobbs & Shaw marks a spin-off from the Fast & Furious franchise, uniting Dwayne Johnson and Jason Statham as adversaries-turned-allies. They confront Brixton, a cyber-genetically enhanced anarchist, whose dangerous plans imperil the world, leading the unlikely duo to collaborate in thwarting this global threat.
There’s been much speculation abouta potentialHobbs & Shaw 2in recent years, withFast & Furious 11marking the end of the main saga, but it seems very unlikely given the poor critical reception of the first movie. Despite Statham’s starring role, the pair’s hilarious on-screen chemistry, and the successful $760 million worldwide intake (viaBox Office Mojo), the film hasn’t left much of a legacy.
3Meg 2: The Trench (2023)
Directed By Ben Wheatley
Meg 2: The Trenchis a sequel to Statham’s infamous survival movieThe Meg, both of which follow protagonist Jonas Taylor as he battles against 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, suited to all his strengths, and the sequel went on to be a lucrative addition to the franchise that made plenty of money for the actor.
The Meg 2: The Trench
The Meg 2: The Trench is a followup to the 2018 Jason Statham-starring film about a giant Megalodon shark. The sequel is based on The Trench novel from Steve Alten and sees the return of Jason Statham and Cliff Curtis' characters from the first film. Ben Wheatley replaces Jon Turteltaub as the director for the sequel.
Meg 2was a commercial successthat made almost $400 million across the world on a budget of just $30 million (Box Office Mojo), which constitutes one of the actor’s most sizable profits on any of his recent projects.AlthoughMeg 2struggled to find the same success with critics, there’s no denying that it was a huge success— potentially hinting towards another sequel in the near future, possibly also to be produced by the lead actor.
2Expend4bles (2023)
Directed By Scott Waugh
TheExpendablesfranchise is one of the most high-profile action series ever — despite seeing a decline in quality with its sequels — with names like Arnold Schwarzenegger, Sylvester Stallone, and Harrison Ford attached to the various installments. The films center around a group of ex-military mercenaries whose lives are put on the line to fight against threats deemed too dangerous or off-record for the United States Army. The fourth installment saw Statham and his co-stars attempt to prevent nuclear warfare in North Africa.
Expend4bles
The Expendables 4 is the fourth entry in the action legacy-hero franchise, bringing together famous action-hero stars from the past and present to battle international terrorist threats. This fourth entry sees the mercenary group dragged into a catastrophic nuclear conflict between the United States and Russia, forcing them to intervene.
AlthoughExpend4bleswasn’t a complete failure, gathering $37.9 million at the box office(Box Office Mojo), it is certainly one of Statham’s least successful projects of the past few years. His performance is among the only saving graces of the movie, alongside the often dynamic action and fun soundtrack. TheExpendablesmovies have a habit of wasting their stars, and that was certainly the case with actors such as Stallone and Dolph Lundgren inExpend4bles.
1The Beekeeper (2024)
Directed By David Ayer
David Ayer’sThe Beekeeperis arguably Statham’s most original and interesting project in recent memory,telling the story of an ex-assassin belonging to a mysterious organization of “Beekeepers” who keep the world’s peace from the shadows — a premise that recallsJohn Wick’s underground Continental network of assassins. The story later unfolds into a dangerous plot against the President of the United States, allowing Statham to fully let loose into his action-packed persona.
The Beekeeper
The Beekeeper follows a man’s quest for vengeance that escalates to a national level when he is revealed as a former operative of a covert organization known as Beekeepers. The story intertwines personal motives with broader implications, highlighting the intricate web of secrecy and power within the organization.
AlthoughThe Beekeeperwasn’t as much of a commercial hit as some of Stathman’s other movies, the project was still praised for its originality and commitment to an eccentric narrative style. It’s corny and predictable at times, but the film takes this in its stride in a way that’s reminiscent of exaggerated action flicks from the ’80s and ’90s.The Beekeeperalso sets up a sequel in the ending, which could be a suggestion that there’s more to come in this universe. If that’s true, this could easily become one of the most interesting franchises boasting the presence ofJason Statham.
