Best Jason Statham Movies: Top 10 Ranked (It’s a Tight Race for #1 & #2!)

Jason Statham’s career highlights his transformation from a little-known British actor into one of Hollywood’s biggest action stars. This list of the Best Jason Statham Movies showcases his journey, from his early collaborations with Guy Ritchie to his blockbuster hits. Following stints as a professional diver and a model, Statham’s acting career began with his first collaboration with director Guy Ritchie. From that point on, Statham’s compelling screen presence was undeniable, paving his way to stardom.

Statham has carved out a unique niche for himself with his crowd-pleasing action films, including recent hits like A Working Man and The Beekeeper. He also occasionally showcases other sides of his talents in less action-oriented roles and even some successful comedies. The best films of Statham’s career so far present a diverse mix of everything he has to offer.

10. The Expendables 2 (2012) – As Lee Christmas

Jason Statham’s status as a modern action star was cemented when he joined the genre’s most iconic names in The Expendables franchise. However, it was the second installment that truly delivered on its promise of an old-school, action-packed thrill ride.

The Expendables 2 sees Statham return alongside Sylvester Stallone and Dolph Lundgren in a sequel where they take on an arms dealer (Jean-Claude Van Damme) who killed one of their team members. Statham reprises his role as Lee Christmas, the second-in-command to Stallone’s Barney Ross.

The sequel features a larger scope and a bigger cast. It is especially enjoyable to see Bruce Willis and Arnold Schwarzenegger get expanded roles and actually join in on the action this time around. This makes for a fantastic throwback action movie for fans of the great films of the 1980s.

9. The Beekeeper (2024) – As Adam Clay

Despite Jason Statham sticking closely to his action movie formula for two decades, fans have not tired of it, as The Beekeeper proved. This standout entry in Statham’s “professional” collection of movies features him playing a quiet beekeeper who reverts to his more violent life to avenge a friend.

The premise is a simple setup for watching Statham dole out his own brand of brutal justice to bad guys who have it coming. Statham’s performance as this determined and relentless operative is key to the movie’s success; his portrayal makes it captivating to watch him work, even if it’s not always clear if we should be rooting for him. The fight scenes are hard-hitting and thrilling, while the world the movie builds is an intriguing one that will be revisited in the upcoming sequel.

8. Furious 7 (2015) – As Deckard Shaw

After being introduced in the fun post-credit scene of Fast and the Furious 6, fans were eager to see Jason Statham step up as the franchise’s next villain. Furious 7 sees Dominic Toretto and his family targeted by the relentless and dangerous operative Deckard Shaw after the heroes nearly killed Shaw’s brother.

The sequel continued to amp up the ridiculousness of its stunts, beginning to reach a point where they were too silly to take seriously. However, the film still has plenty of entertaining action, with Statham adding a lot to the mix. He has an especially fun fight scene with Dwayne Johnson.

As welcome an addition as Statham is to the Fast and Furious franchise, Furious 7 is most remembered as the movie that had to say farewell to Paul Walker’s Brian O’Conner following the actor’s tragic death. The difficult moment was handled wonderfully, creating the most emotional scene in the franchise.

7. The Transporter (2002) – As Frank Martin

While he was already establishing himself as a tough-guy actor by this point, The Transporter is the movie that truly launched Jason Statham’s career as an action star. Though the Transporter franchise has since included sequels, TV shows, and remakes, the original movie remains the best.

The film is a terrifically entertaining action ride, complete with car chases, shootouts, and some of the best fight scenes in Statham’s career. Statham plays a getaway driver with a strict set of rules who becomes a target of the dangerous people who hired him when he breaks one of those rules.

There’s an added thrill to the action in that Statham performs many of his own stunts. He brings a steely coolness to the character while also proving to be a hard-hitting action star. It’s no surprise that fans wanted to see Statham in more roles like this.

6. Crank (2006) – As Chev Chelios

The Crank movies make up Jason Statham’s most overlooked, yet wildest, franchise. Statham plays a hitman who has been poisoned with a drug that will kill him if his heart rate slows down too much. As he seeks revenge, he must constantly find ways to keep his heart pumping, including through sex, violence, and drugs.

The inventive premise sets the stage for an action movie that is no-holds-barred and relentlessly ridiculous. It also gives Statham a fantastic lead role that is different from his usual fare. Although he gets to play his typical tough-guy character, he also hints at his more hidden comedic talents. Part of the reason Crank works so well is that Statham plays the entire thing with a straight face, never giving in to the absurdity of what is happening around him. This film deserves to be on any Top 10 Jason Statham movies list.

You may also like:

• Live Action Anime Movies You Can’t Afford To Miss
• Top 6 Best Action Movies on Netflix 2022
• Best Female Action Movies For Women’s International Month

5. The Italian Job (2003) – As Handsome Rob

Before joining the Fast and Furious franchise, Jason Statham was in an even better movie about likable, globe-trotting thieves. The Italian Job stars Mark Wahlberg as the leader of a crew of thieves who are betrayed by their greedy teammate (Edward Norton). Years later, they track him down and plan their revenge with a new heist.

The cast brings a lot of charm to the movie, with Charlize Theron, Seth Green, and Mos Def among the band of noble robbers. Statham rounds out the team as the charismatic Handsome Rob, once again allowing him to be the coolest guy in the film.

While The Italian Job doesn’t hold a candle to the classic British crime caper it remakes, viewed as a new movie, it is a whole lot of fun. It maintains a breezy, light tone while infusing it with plenty of entertaining action.

4. The Bank Job (2008) – As Terry Leather

The Bank Job is a bit of a departure from Jason Statham’s usual work, which is perhaps why it is also one of his most underrated projects. The Bank Job is a riveting true-crime movie about one of the most audacious heists in British history. Statham stars as Terry, a former criminal struggling to go straight.

Terry ends up leading a group of criminals in robbing the safety deposit boxes of a prominent London bank. However, with some valuable items inside those boxes—including some material sensitive to the Royal Family—Terry and his friends make powerful enemies.

It is a slick throwback crime thriller that makes the aftermath of the heist and all the intrigue surrounding it even more exciting than the crime itself. Statham gives a reserved performance as the layered lead of the story. Terry is neither hero nor villain but a complicated everyman who is easy for us to root for.

3. Spy (2015) – As Rick Ford

Jason Statham is an actor who understands the kind of roles his audience enjoys and sticks quite closely to that formula. However, Spy proved how willing and effective he could be by poking fun at his own action-hero persona. The comedy stars Melissa McCarthy as a desk worker at a spy agency who must go out into the field. This is undoubtedly one of Jason Statham’s 10 Best Movies.

Spy has a 94% rating on Rotten Tomatoes.

McCarthy wonderfully blends comedy and action in the lead role, but to many people’s surprise, it is Statham who steals the show with the movie’s funniest performance. As Rick Ford, Statham plays a secret agent who acts like all of his tough-guy characters but is actually a bumbling fool who just makes things worse.

The movie is filled with funny performances from actors like Rose Byrne and Peter Serafinowicz, and a clever script that plays wonderfully on the tropes of the spy genre. However, there is no denying that it comes alive a little more whenever Statham is on screen.

2. Snatch (2000) – As Turkish

While Jason Statham was a regular in Guy Ritchie’s universe, Snatch saw him fitting into a larger ensemble and still standing out among the likes of Brad Pitt and Benicio del Toro. The crime movie follows various colorful characters as their lives overlap and intertwine in London’s criminal underworld, all centered around a valuable diamond.

Snatch excels with its expansive ensemble, but Statham is the closest thing to a lead character as Turkish, a small-time boxing promoter who finds himself in hot water with a vicious gangster. Statham gets to play his typical cool and calm customer, but it is also fun to see him as a bit of an underdog. Snatch sees Guy Ritchie perfecting his crime-comedy approach with a distinct voice and fun characters. It is fast-paced and enjoyable, with a gritty edge that makes it even more entertaining. It’s a key example of the Best Jason Statham Movies.

1. Lock, Stock and Two Smoking Barrels (1998) – As Bacon

It is rare that an actor’s debut movie is as good as Jason Statham’s was in Lock, Stock and Two Smoking Barrels. Not only that, but the film also launched the enduring friendship and collaborative relationship between Statham and director Guy Ritchie. The movie follows four friends who plan to rob their drug-dealer neighbors to pay off a gambling debt.

Statham’s role as Bacon, the smoothest of the group of friends, was created specifically for him by Ritchie. Even without any previous acting experience, Statham had a charismatic and compelling screen presence right from the start. He stands out in a fun cast that includes other frequent Ritchie collaborators. So, What is Jason Statham’s best movie? For many, this debut film remains the definitive answer.

The movie is a fun and wild ride that helped establish Ritchie’s signature style. There is plenty of humor mixed into the world of dangerous and immoral people. The hugely entertaining characters shape an exciting world that is a blast to spend time in. This film rightfully sits at the top of any list of the Best Jason Statham Movies.