Daniel Day-Lewis is celebrated as one of the finest actors in cinematic history, boasting three Academy Awards to his name. That's three more than the acclaimed English actor, Jason Statham. Yet, while Day-Lewis has never used casino chips to choke a man, knocked someone out with a coin, dispatched a foe with a spoon, or punched someone in the fist with their own head, Jason Statham managed all these feats in a single film. There's no comparison.
Statham has solidified his status as one of the most reliable action stars of the 21st century. With his latest release, A Working Man, we celebrate by revisiting our favorite moments from Jason Statham's action-packed and humorous career. After all, until the Oscars start recognizing feats like walking through fire, blindfolded water-skiing, or mastering the piano later in life, this is the least we can do.
The Best Jason Statham Movie Moments
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12. Homefront
Ever get the sense that Jason Statham's action heroes could take down three men with their hands tied behind their backs? In Homefront, Statham does just that, annihilating three opponents while restrained. It's an electrifying way to start our list.
The Beekeeper
While The Beekeeper might have been too lenient on some scam call center employees by allowing them to escape before blowing up their building, Statham makes amends by tracking down the manager, strapping him to his truck, and sending the vehicle off a bridge, dragging the villain behind it. They say bumblebees aren't the best fliers, but they outperform a 1967 Ford F-100.
What's the best Jason Statham movie?
Snatch
Crank
The Transporter
The Expendables
The Meg
Other (Tell us in the comments.)
AnswerSee Results10. Wild Card
Returning to the film mentioned in our introduction, Wild Card didn't perform well at the box office despite being directed by the mastermind behind Con Air and featuring Stanley Tucci with hair. Yet, it showcases some of Statham's finest fight scenes. In the climactic battle, Statham dispatches five armed goons with just a spoon and a butter knife, emerging unscathed. Truly, Jason Statham reigns supreme in the art of the "knifey spoony."
Death Race
Paul W.S. Anderson's history with video game adaptations might not be stellar, but he deserves recognition for the slightly campy yet thrilling 2008 film, Death Race. With a commitment to practical effects that rivals Mad Max: Fury Road, Statham outsmarts the Juggernaut by teaming up with a rival. The score stands: practical effects - one million, CGI - zero.
The Meg
No list of Jason Statham's memorable moments would be complete without his battle against a megalodon in The Meg. Statham not only slices the giant shark open but also rides it as it leaps, thrusting a spear into its eye. The prehistoric beast then meets its demise at the jaws of smaller sharks. As Statham proves, if it bleeds, you can kill it.
The Transporter
At number seven, we have Statham's iconic role as Frank Martin in The Transporter. The 2002 original is packed with action directed by Corey Yuen, making it hard to pick just one scene. Yet, the oil fight stands out, where Frank uses grease to slip through his enemies' grasp before delivering devastating spinning heel kicks.
The Fate of the Furious
Deckard Shaw's transition from villain to hero in the Fast and the Furious series was initially controversial, but his innocence in Han's death was later confirmed. One standout moment is his airborne rescue of Dom and Elena's baby in The Fate of the Furious, blending action with humor.
The Expendables
In Sylvester Stallone's Expendables series, Jason Statham's Lee Christmas stands out, from kicking Scott Adkins into a helicopter to firing a flare from a flying boat. His most memorable scene, however, is the swift basketball court beatdown of his girlfriend's abusive ex and his cronies. Christmas may only come once a year, but when he does, he delivers a brutal beatdown in record time.
Spy
In the hilarious 2015 film Spy, Jason Statham steals the show as Rick Ford, the indestructible agent with a penchant for self-made suits. His recounting of driving a flaming car off a freeway onto a train to Melissa McCarthy is a comedic highlight.
Transporter 2
How could we forget the iconic barrel roll from Transporter 2? With calm precision, Frank Martin flips his Audi to dislodge a bomb, showcasing the confidence of a man brushing off a speck of dust.
Crank: High Voltage
After surviving a fall from a helicopter, Chev Chelios faces a new challenge in Crank 2: his heart has been stolen. The hallucinatory fight at a power station, where Chev imagines himself as a giant kaiju wearing his own head as a mask, is unforgettable.
Snatch
Taking the top spot is Snatch, where Jason Statham, in his second film role, shines alongside Hollywood legends. With a treasure trove of quotable lines, Turkish's response to Tommy's gun in his trousers ("What is a gun doing in your trousers?" "For protection." "Protection from what? Zee Germans?") remains a standout. A safer choice than anything Brick Top would suggest.
