Jason Statham has had an impressive career showcasing his fighting skills. Whether highlighting an eclectic array of martial arts talents in movies like The Transporter or delivering laughs in comedies like Spy, Statham has left an indelible mark with a range of memorable fights peppered throughout his filmography.
I spent quite a bit of time rewatching Statham’s best fights, looking for what makes them work. He’s mainly skilled in kickboxing, with additional training in karate and Brazilian jiu-jitsu, and often performs his own stunts. While his talent as a fighter is a key factor in the ranking, there are other considerations beyond the level of skill displayed. Some moments defy expectations, others are short and to the point, but they deliver extremely satisfying elements that can’t be ignored. There are even underrated movies that feature some of the action star’s best scenes, which deserve recognition. I also wanted to include one fight scene from each movie on the list to offer variety, since The Transporter movies alone could fill each slot.
With those criteria in mind, how do Statham’s best fights measure up?
Honorable Mentions:
- Mechanic: Resurrection (2016) deserves a shout-out for its impressive restaurant fight, where Statham burns someone’s face on a grill before making a daring, albeit comical, escape by hopping atop a hang glider.
- Death Race (2008) features a great fight, with Statham facing his wife’s killer in the prison’s car repair shop. It’s brutal, quick, and worth a watch.
12
‘Crank 2: High Voltage’ (2009)
Statham Does His Best Godzilla Impression
The Crank films are some of Statham’s most intense and over-the-top entries. While the first film saw him keeping his adrenaline pumping, the sequel saw his heart stolen, with the character forced to continually shock himself to charge the battery of his artificial heart. This comes to a culmination in a fight fueled by delirium, as Statham’s Chev Chelios pictures himself and his opponent in a giant Godzilla-like kaiju fight.
Admittedly, the kaiju battle in Crank 2: High Voltage isn’t an exceptional display of Statham’s fighting ability, but it is easily one of his most distinct fights ever put to screen. It’s a mix of homage, comedy, and pure enjoyment, making it something Statham fans need to experience. It’s challenging to place higher than other entries on the list, despite its undeniable originality.
11
‘The Expendables 2’ (2012)
“By the Power Vested in Me, I Now Pronounce You Man and Knife.”
In a franchise overflowing with action movie icons, Statham manages to shine in each installment of The Expendables. One scene that stands out as a great display of his martial arts ability and nails a stellar action-movie pun comes from The Expendables 2. Statham’s Lee Christmas is disguised as a priest when he steps up to several nameless foes.
After delivering his “man and knife” line, he sets about putting his skills to use, highlighting the character’s penchant for bladed weapons and Statham’s ability to incorporate his environment into combat. The scene is quick, being intercut with Sylvester Stallone and a few other characters fighting in separate locations. Still, Statham’s priestly ways easily make it one of his most memorable sequences in The Expendables films.
10
‘The Beekeeper’ (2024)
Statham Answers a Call to Revenge
The Beekeeper lets Statham cut loose, with the call center sequence being the film’s most satisfying moment. The actual fighting is brief, as he quickly dispatches a few severely outmatched employees, using the computers and the environment to full effect. It’s not the actor’s most technically proficient scene, but it makes a statement early in the movie as he burns the building to the ground. The Beekeeper’s call center fight earns its spot for being fantastically crowd-pleasing. The character is getting revenge for a friend who was scammed, with the audience completely rooting for the antihero at that moment, making the quality of the quick fight hard to deny.
9
‘Fast & Furious Presents: Hobbs & Shaw’ (2019)
Shaw Outshines Hobbs in Parallel Hallway Fights
Fast & Furious Presents: Hobbs & Shaw has several fights that could easily be highlighted. The finale, which sees Statham and Johnson team up against Idris Elba’s Braxton Lore, is pure enjoyment. Still, since I want to highlight Statham, one of his best displays in the film is a fight that underscores the characters’ stylistic differences.
While Johnson’s Hobbs leisurely walks through a hallway, even taking time to do push-ups between fighting, Shaw is forced to contend with several henchmen. There are laughs to be had, as the pair can see each other throughout, but Shaw’s speed and skill easily outshine Hobbs’ brute-force approach, making for an impeccable fight that shows his aptitude with martial arts, close-quarters combat, and weapons.
8
‘War’ (2007)
Jason Statham vs. Jet Li Nearly Saves a Crazy Plot Twist
War isn’t a great movie, and I’m not here to defend its ludicrous plot twist. However, the forgotten action movie features a climactic fight between Statham and Jet Li that deserves more recognition. Li is an iconic martial arts star in his own right, being a Wushu master who helped define kung fu cinema as audiences know it today.
Therefore, when audiences get a chance to see Statham and Li come to blows, it’s hard to pass up. With both stars known for their speed, the scene is fueled by rapid-fire hits, with the two incorporating all manner of found weaponry, like chains and a sledgehammer. As the two dodge blows and throw each other through walls, the only thing you’ll be upset by is the fact that the movie isn’t better.
7
‘The Fate of the Furious’ (2017)
A Skillful Mix of Action & Humorous Child Care
The Fate of the Furious sees Statham’s Shaw fighting his way into Dominic Toretto’s good graces and, ultimately, the family. Toretto asks Shaw to lend a hand in rescuing his infant child, leading to one of the film’s best scenes. Statham battles his way through several goons on a plane, delivering intense hits and firing his gun, dispatching death in every direction. What makes it work so well is that he’s simultaneously trying to keep Dom’s son calm, with humorous parenting moments peppered between the bloody gunshots. The humor is heightened with shots of the baby watching, including POVs of Statham as he reassures the child amid the chaos.
6
‘Furious 7’ (2015)
Hobbs vs. Shaw
Furious 7 features a memorable fight between Diesel and Statham that could easily have made the list, but the latter loses that bout. Thankfully, the action-packed sequel also offers the first fight between Hobbs and Shaw, which delivers in every way possible. Furious 7 has a distinct visual flair in its action, with director James Wan making his mark through unique camerawork as Hobbs and Shaw exchange blows.
The fight is an excellent display of Hobbs’ strength versus Statham’s speed, creating a lethal dichotomy. The explosive finale even blasts Hobbs out a window, sending him crashing into a car below, saving Elena in the process. The chemistry between Johnson and Statham is undeniable, with their first fight in Furious 7 beloved by audiences and serving as the impetus for their future pairing.
5
‘Transporter 3’ (2008)
Statham Attempts To Repair the Weakest Entry of the Trilogy
Transporter 3 is the weakest entry of Statham’s action franchise. Still, it features some fantastic action sequences, with the repair shop brawl being particularly dazzling. When he stops to fix one of his many problems, Frank Martin (Statham) faces numerous enemies intent on ending his mission. The following fight features an impeccable display of martial arts, showcasing every facet of Statham’s talent through fast hits and improvised weaponry throughout the garage. Frank even goes so far as to use his suit as a weapon, with the sequence ending when he drops a car on a few henchmen, who clearly regret their life choices.
4
‘Safe’ (2012)
A One-Way Ticket to Pain
Safe is another often overlooked gem in Statham’s filmography. While it delivers plenty of action and gunplay, it’s hard to pick a better sequence than the subway fight. Protecting a young girl from evil gangsters is no easy task, with Statham’s reluctant hero cornered in a subway car. The claustrophobic setting lends itself to unique choreography, with the confines coming into play throughout. The actor’s visceral, grounded fighting style shines, delivering intense brutality that also comments on the loss of innocence as the young girl he’s protecting watches it unfold.
3
‘The Transporter 2’ (2005)
The Fire Hose Fray
The Transporter 2 is another film that offers several impressive fights. While the brawl in the car garage and the finale on the plane are great, it’s the scene dubbed the fire hose fray that truly stands out. Statham’s character takes out numerous enemies, with much of the sequence feeling like an homage to Jackie Chan’s classic antics. While the garage scene sees him battling more people with a wider variety of weapons, the fire hose fight delivers greater originality through the use of found weaponry and impeccable choreography. Statham can use the hose for both defense and offense, continually tweaking his methods, ultimately turning it on for a powerful blast of water to finish things off.
This story originally appeared on Movieweb
