For the past few decades, Jason Statham has dominated the world of action films, showcasing bold stunt work and fierce performances. With his distinct accent, brutish yet suave demeanor, and impressive physicality, very few actors can match Jason Statham‘s intensity.
Excelling in roles that put him in the heart of the action, be it through espionage, villainy, or absolute carnage, it’s clear that Jason Statham’s best movies are designed to get the heart pumping.
Jason Statham is best recognized for playing tough, gritty, or violent characters in action-thriller films (Credit: Julien Reynaud / Abaca Press / INSTARimages)
Hot off of his lead performance in the ridiculous summer action flick, Meg 2: The Trench, now is a great time to reflect on the best Jason Statham movies! At 56 years old, Jason Statham has already appeared in over 45 unique feature films, offering a sea of movies to choose from.
From high-stakes heists to high-octane blockbusters, let’s take a look at Jason Statham’s best movies and his career so far!
Before He Was a Star
Jason Statham was born in the small English town of Shirebrook, Derbyshire on July 26, 1967. After moving to the seaside Yarmouth, Norfolk in his youth, Jason began to study various disciplines of martial arts, including kickboxing, karate, and more.
In his teens, he began to explore the world of athletics and was particularly interested in both diving and football/soccer. For a while, it seemed like professional athletics was the career of choice for Jason Statham, but that quickly changed in the mid-1990s.
In 1996, Jason Statham began working as a model for several notable brands, including Levi’s, Tommy Hilfiger, and the UK-based French Connection. During one of his gigs for French Connection, Jason Statham met director Guy Ritchie, marking his entry into the world of cinema.
In 1998, Jason Statham made his feature film debut in Guy Ritchie’s Lock, Stock and Two Smoking Barrels, which almost immediately thrust him into the mainstream eye.
Jason Statham, pictured at the Transformers Rise of the Beasts London premiere, started out as a professional diver and model before transitioning into acting in the late 1990s (Credit: PA Images / INSTARimages)
Flashing forward to 2009, Jason Statham met the English model Rosie Huntington-Whitely at a party in London, and the pair instantly hit it off.
Although the couple got engaged in 2016, they haven’t gotten married yet and have stated in interviews that it’s not a high priority.
In the meantime, they lovingly look after their young children, Jack Oscar and Isabella James. That said, family life certainly hasn’t slowed down Jason Statham, as the 5’8” (174.6cm) tall actor continues to earn blockbuster roles with each passing year.
Jason Statham and Rosie Huntington Whiteley, pictured at the Hobbs & Shaw Los Angeles premiere in 2019, have been together since 2010 and now share two kids together (Credit: Sara De Boer / startraksphoto)
Our list of the top 10 Jason Statham movies is ranked by their Rotten Tomatoes critics score.
This score is an aggregate of hundreds of published reviews from around the world, written by professional critics, journalists, bloggers, and more. Movies where Jason Statham only briefly appears as a cameo have been omitted.
10. Wrath of Man (2021) – 67% Score
Directed by Guy Ritchie and inspired by the 2004 film, Cash Truck, Wrath of Man is an action thriller set in glitzy Los Angeles.
Broken up into four distinct acts, the movie details a series of intense heists executed by a tightly-knit group of thieves. However, all is not as it seems, as more clues reveal the intriguing bigger picture.
Jason Statham plays protagonist Patrick “H” Hill in the 2021 heist action thriller Wrath of Man directed by Guy Ritchie (Credit: MGM / Cover Images)
Acting front and center, Jason Statham stars as protagonist Patrick “H” Hill, a new cash truck driver working in L.A. A few days into the job, Hill stops an attempted heist by mercilessly killing the entire group of thieves, leading to his true past being slowly uncovered.
As always, Jason Statham excels in fight scenes and fast-paced action choreography, bringing excitement to every scene. This was also the actor’s fourth time working with Guy Ritchie on a film, so it makes sense that they’ve got it all figured out!
9. The Fate of the Furious (2017) – 67% Score
The Fate of the Furious is the eighth film in the long-running vehicular action franchise, starring Vin Diesel, Dwayne Johnson, Michelle Rodriguez, and more.
Continuing the story of the previous film, Furious 7, this sequel sees Dominic Torretto (Vin Diesel), abandoning his ragtag family to work with an international criminal known as Cipher (Charlize Theron).
As the gang attempts to track down Dom and reunite their family, insane stunts and action ensue.
Jason Statham and fiancée Rosie Huntington-Whiteley at the New York premiere of The Fate of the Furious on April 8, 2017 (Credit: Kristin Callahan / ACE Pictures / INSTARimages)
In the film, Jason Statham reprises his role as Deckard Shaw, the villain who was imprisoned at the end of the previous film. After Agent Hobbs (Dwayne Johnson) is forced to work with Deckard, the pair team up to take down Cipher and eliminate her illicit spy software.
It was during the filming of the movie that Dwayne Johnson and Jason Statham started to improvise with each other in comedic ways, eventually leading to the creation of a film that’s featured further down this list.
8. The Expendables 2 (2012) – 67% Score
The Expendables 2 is a blockbuster film that features a who’s who of action stars, including Sylvester Stallone, Arnold Schwarzenegger, Chuck Norris, Bruce Willis, and many more.
Directed by Simon West, the film is a direct sequel to the 2010 film The Expendables, leading a team of tough-as-nails mercenaries on yet another deadly mission.
This time, they run afoul of rival mercenary leader Jean Vilain (Jean-Claude Van Damme), who possesses world-destroying weaponry.
Jason Statham as Lee Christmas, Sylvester Stallone as Barney Ross, and Arnold Schwarzenegger as Trench in the 2012 action film, Expendables 2, which grossed over $310 million worldwide (Credit: Universal Studios / Lionsgate Entertainment / Millennium Films)
Reprising his role as the deft and cheeky knife wielder, Lee Christmas, Jason Statham soaks up the screen time and delivers plenty of awesome moments of action.
In fact, many may argue that Statham out-performs his more seasoned co-stars, ultimately carrying the film’s biggest action setpieces.
At the very least, Lee Christmas will go down as one of the actor’s most physically demanding roles, as The Expendables 2 is definitely worthy of inclusion on our list of the best Jason Statham movies!
7. Fast & Furious Presents: Hobbs & Shaw (2019) – 67% Score
Directed by David Leitch, Fast & Furious Presents: Hobbs & Shaw is a sort of “buddy cop” spin-off of the blockbuster Fast and Furious franchise.
Set following the events of The Fate of the Furious, this film sees CIA operative Hobbs (Dwyane Johnson) hesitantly teaming up with one of the series’ most dastardly villains.
As usual, a doomsday terrorist threatens the planet, this time one named Brixton Lore (Idris Elba), and it’s up to the unusual pair to stop it.
Dwayne Johnson and Jason Statham co-star in the buddy action comedy Fast & Furious Presents: Hobbs & Shaw, which grossed $760 million worldwide (Credit: Seven Bucks Productions / Universal Pictures)
Jason Statham co-stars in the film as Deckard Shaw, his long-running role from the mainline Fast and Furious films.
This is decidedly one of Statham’s more humorous performances, as the script occasionally breaks the fourth wall, with cheeky references to the actor’s previous works.
Both the general moviegoers and critics were equally pleased with this lighthearted tone, resulting in several Best Actor award nominations from respected outlets.
6. The Italian Job (2003) – 72% Score
The Italian Job was directed by F. Gary Gray and is a partial remake of the 1969 film of the same name, but with unique characters, plots, and twists.
The movie features a stacked cast of A-list actors, including the likes of Mark Wahlberg, Edward Norton, Charlize Theron, and more.
Packed with action and a bit of humor to boot, the movie tells an exciting tale about an intrepid group of thieves who look to reclaim their stolen loot.
Mark Wahlberg as Charlie Croker, Charlize Theron as Stella Bridger, and Jason Statham as Handsome Rob in the 2003 heist action film The Italian Job (Credit: Paramount Pictures)
Still somewhat early in his acting career, Jason Statham plays the charismatic getaway driver, “Handsome” Rob, who helps keep the group on track with his straightforward attitude.
In preparation for the vehicular action, Statham only received a couple of days of training but still managed to pull off the incredibly risky stunts.
To date, The Italian Job remains one of Statham’s most iconic films, and it further propelled his path into stardom.
5. Snatch (2000) – 74% Score
Written and directed by Guy Ritchie, Snatch is a comedic crime movie set in the grimy world of London organized crime.
Split between two distinct narratives, the film follows both a boxing manager who runs afoul of the wrong people and a band of robbers looking to recover a lost diamond.
Often viewed as a spiritual successor to his previous film, Lock, Stock and Two Smoking Barrels, Snatch shares many similarities but stands out on its own.
Jason Statham plays small-time boxing promoter, Turkish, alongside Brad Pitt as Mickey O’Neil and Stephen Graham as Tommy in the 2000 crime comedy Snatch (Credit: Columbia Pictures / Sony Pictures / TriStar Pictures)
In his second collaboration with Guy Ritchie, Jason Statham stars in the lead role as Turkish, a lowly boxing promoter who falls through on his agreement with a local crime boss.
Eventually, Turkish’s problems become intertwined with the hunt for the diamond, resulting in several twists and turns.
Interestingly, Brad Pitt was originally intended to play Turkish, but due to his shoddy accent, Statham landed the role instead.
4. Lock, Stock and Two Smoking Barrels (1998) – 75% Score
Lock, Stock and Two Smoking Barrels is a dark comedy and crime film set in London and follows the efforts of a small group of petty criminals trying to retrieve some stolen cash but wind up in much bigger trouble.
Produced with a shoestring budget of only $1.3 million, the film was an unexpected hit and became a cult classic over time. This film acts as both the directorial debut for Guy Ritchie and the film debut for Jason Statham.
Jason Statham marks his film debut in Guy Ritchie’s directorial debut Lock, Stock and Two Smoking Barrels, which also stars Nick Moran and Dexter Fletcher (Credit: Universal Pictures / PolyGram Filmed Entertainment / Summit Entertainment)
Fresh off of his years in modeling, Jason Statham effortlessly transforms into the supporting role of Bacon, a black-market vendor looking to make ends meet.
Funnily enough, this aspect of Bacon’s character was based on Statham’s brief stint as a street vendor in his teens.
Overall, while it’s not as fondly remembered as some of Jason Statham’s most popular films, Lock, Stock and Two Barrels played a major part in the formation of his early career.
3. The Bank Job (2008) – 80% Score
Based on an actual bank robbery in Westminster, London, circa 1971, The Bank Job is a thriller directed by Roger Donaldson.
Reportedly created to clear up conspiracies and cover-ups surrounding the real crime, The Bank Job was highly anticipated despite its liberties with the truth.
Mixing political intrigue with tried-and-true suspense, The Bank Job has received considerable critical acclaim.
Jason Statham stars as Terry Leather in The Bank Job, a 2008 heist thriller based on the real life 1971 burglary of Lloyds Bank safety deposit boxes in Baker Street (Credit: Mosaic Media Group / Lionsgate / Paramount Pictures)
Standing tall as the lead star in the film, Jason Statham plays Terry Leather, an automobile seller with a shady past. Coerced by an old friend, Terry must cobble together a crew and pull off a seemingly impossible heist.
Thanks to the deeper storytelling and empathetic performance, The Bank Job helped elevate Jason Statham into more complex roles in the coming years.
2. Furious 7 (2015) – 81% Score
As the title would imply, Furious 7 is the seventh film in the wildly unrealistic action franchise and was directed by James Wan.
Acting as a follow-up to Fast & Furious 6, this installment has Dominic Toretto (Vin Diesel) and his loyal family acting under the orders of the shadowy Mr. Nobody (Kurt Russell). Meanwhile, other trouble brews from villains yet uncovered.
Jason Statham as Deckard Shaw and Vin Diesel as Dominic Toretto in Furious 7 (Credit: MRC / Universal Pictures)
Returning after a brief cameo in the previous film, Jason Statham finally makes his big debut as Deckard Shaw. This incredibly deadly soldier will stop at nothing to gain vengeance for the grave injury of his brother, putting Dominic and his team directly in the crossfire.
Like the installments for it, Furious 7 pumps up the action and stunts, showcasing Statham in his prime.
1. Spy (2015) – 95% Score
Written and directed by Paul Feig, Spy is a tongue-in-cheek spy comedy starring Melissa McCarthy, Jude Law, and more.
Nominated for two Golden Globe Awards, the film follows Susan Cooper (Melissa McCarthy), an inexperienced CIA desk operative who thrusts herself into dangerous fieldwork to avenge a friend.
Susan’s consistently goofy and unconventional tactics make her a nuisance for her partners, leading to laughs aplenty.
Melissa McCarthy as Susan Cooper and Jason Statham as Rick Ford in the 2015 spy action comedy movie Spy (Credit: Twentieth Century Fox)
Out of all the intense action films in Jason Statham’s filmography, it’s quite a surprise that Spy manages to top this list. Falling neatly into a role that we’ve seen him in many times before, Statham plays Rick Ford, a gruff and pessimistic agent who doubts Susan’s abilities.
Although the actor puts on quite a show in terms of stunts, it’s his comedic timing and lighthearted quips that make this performance so memorable. According to critics, Spy is the highest-rated Jason Statham movie of all time.
Will any of his upcoming projects be able to top it? Only time will tell, and we look forward to finding out!