CLEVELAND, Ohio - Jason Statham doesn't reinvent himself with "Mechanic: Resurrection," the sequel to his 2011 film. But he does know how to turn up the bonkers meter even higher, this time with Jessica Alba on his arm.
Statham has made a career as the top choice for various hitman, protector and charmer roles. And he's done it while looking damn good. Let's go ahead and rank his films from worst to best. Warning: There's way more of them than you think.
Troy L. Smith, cleveland.com
Ranking Jason Statham's movies from worst to best
"The Mechanic," "Crank," "The Italian Job," "The Italian Job," The Expendables" and more.
(Photo: Summit Entertainment)
(Photo: Lionsgate)
The worst of the worst
35. ‘In the Name of the King’
34. ‘Turn It Up’
33. ‘13’
32. ‘London’
31. ‘Ghost of Mars’
30. ‘War’
29. ‘The One’
28. ‘Revolver’
27. ‘The Pink Panther’
26. ‘Killer Elite’
Instead of putting you through numerous breakdowns of some of Statham’s worst films, we’ve grouped together the part of the list. Despite having several action movies that are indecipherable from each other, Statham’s clear worst two films are “Turn It Up,” where he plays second fiddle to rappers Ja Rule and Pras, and “In the Name of the King,” a corny take on the Dungeon Siege video game franchise.
(Photo: Lionsgate)
Slight misses
25. ‘Wild Card’
24. ‘Mean Machine’
23. ‘The Expendables 3’
22. ‘Transporter 3’
21. ‘Parker’
20. ‘Blitz’
19. ‘Hummingbird’ (or ‘Redemption’)
18. ‘Mechanic: Resurrection’
17. ‘The Expendables’
16. ‘Cellular’
Statham found a nice niche with “The Expendables” franchise, serving as the series' second mainstay alongside Sylvester Stallone. It should also be pointed out that while “Mechanic: Resurrection” isn’t as good as the original, it is a worthy sequel.
(Photo: Open Road Films)
15. 'Homefront'
In 2013, Statham teamed up with James Franco for “Homefront,” a surprisingly engaging action thriller, even if Franco’s performance is a bit over the top.
(Photo: Universal Pictures)
14. 'Death Race'
Whether you consider 2008’s “Death Race” as a remake to the 1975 film or a prequel, it’s a high-octane take on a classic with Statham’s charming stare well-positioned behind the wheel of some pretty gnarly vehicles.
(Photo: 20th Century Fox)
13. 'Transporter 2'
“The Transporter” series was tailor-made for sequel upon sequel, reinventing the same premise over and over again. In that sense, it’s the ultimate Statham franchise. The second movie a bit more style over substance than the original, but we’re sure fans didn’t mind.
(Photo: John Baer)
12. 'Safe'
“Safe” might as well been another “Transporter” movie, as it contains a similar plot. What makes “Safe” standout is Statham’s ability to bond with his worthy child co-star. They’re a solid one-two punch.
(Photo: Summit Entertainment)
11. 'The Mechanic'
An added twist to assassin genre, in “The Mechanic” Statham’s character specializes in making his hits look like suicides or accidents. The same constant flow of movement and action is at the center of the film, but it gets an added boost from a thrilling soundtrack.
(Photo: Lionsgate)
10. 'Crank: High Voltage'
“Crank” was such a perfect Statham movie, it demanded a sequel. “High Voltage” was the appropriate one and leaves room for a potential third installment.
(Photo: Paramount)
9. 'The Italian Job'
“The Italian Job” is one of the few films Statham (aka Handsome Rob) hasn’t had to carry on his own, thanks to its all-star cast featuring Mark Wahlberg, Charlize Theron, Edward Norton and others. The movie is a remake of the 1969 British film of the same name with the added benefit in of a revenge storyline.
(Photo: Lionsgate)
8. 'The Expendables 2'
The best of “The Expendables” movies finds the right balance between a feasible plot and over the top action sequences. It also adds a big emotional component with at storyline involving Liam Hemsworth’s character.
(Lionsgate)
7. 'The Bank Job'
A subtle, yet fantastic addition to Statham’s filmography, “The Bank Job” is perhaps the action star’s smartest film, as it creates an elaborate bank robbery storyline that keeps you guessing.
(Photo: Universal Pictures)
6. 'Furious 7'
Statham makes his first appearance in the “Fast & Furious” franchise with a cameo at the end of the sixth film. But it’s in the seventh installment where he becomes a full cast member and the ideal villain to take on Vin Diesel and The Rock.
(Photo: 20th Century Fox)
5. 'Spy'
On paper, “Spy” kind of looked like a mess. But it turned out to be a great comedy from director Paul Feig. “Spy” shows a different side of Statham, who proves he can do humor and star in an exceptional buddy-cop movie.
(Photo: 20th Century Fox)
4. 'The Transporter'
It’s the movie that proved Statham was a big time Hollywood star. “The Transporter” wasn’t a blockbuster, but it took on a cult-like following with fans and set the stage for an entire career of stylish action thrillers.
(Photo: Gramercy Pictures)
3. 'Lock, Stock and Two Smoking Barrels'
Statham made his feature film debut in Guy Ritchie’s fantastic “Lock, Stock and Two Smoking Barrels,” a movie that proved to be a breakthrough for the director and its entire cast.
(Photo: Lionsgate)
2. 'Crank'
“Crank” might be the ultimate Statham movie because it’s premise is so straight-forward. He plays a hitman who is poisoned and must keep his adrenaline up to stay alive. Basically, “Crank” eliminates all the BS from other Statham movies and gives fans what they want – nonstop action.
(Photo: Screen Gems)
1. 'Snatch'
Statham owes a lot to Ritchie, who hired the actor again in what is a crime classic called “Snatch.” The film, which also stars Benicio del Toro, Dennis Farina and a never-better Brad Pitt, is the perfect vehicle for Ritchie’s style. And despite the other actors, it’s Statham’s character at the center of the film, as the perfect everyman and narrator amidst all the mesmerizing chaos.
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