Need an appealing English actor to sink his teeth into the antihero role of your next action flick? Jason Statham has been your guy for years. Typecast as an antihero, the Derbyshire native is known for kicking butt in countless Guy Ritchie flicks and portraying tough, irredeemable, and Machiavellian characters. He is still a household name today, and we can’t wait to see him throw some more punches alongside virtually all the other modern action heroes in The Expendables 4.
Besides acting, Statham has also been a fashion model and black-market salesman. He wears many hats and has starred in a variety of films from different genres — not just action movies. Statham has also taken more dramatic turns with films like Parker (2013), which is available on Netflix. Some of the action star’s other popular films are also available on Netflix. Here’s a closer look at his best movies on Netflix.
Updated May 2023: If you enjoy action movies, especially those that feature Jason Statham then, you’ll be happy to know this article has been updated with additional content by Darren Gigool.
5 The Mechanic (2011)
Thrilling and action-packed this is one of the best Jason Statham flicks out there. The Mechanic is a contemporary reinterpretation of the 1972 Charles Bronson film bearing the same name. Director Simon West modernizes the original, which became a cult classic under the direction of Michael Winner. The 2011 version aspires to captivate a fresh audience of action movie aficionados.
In The Mechanic, Arthur Bishop is portrayed by Statham, a proficient and thorough assassin famed for making his targets’ demises appear accidental. Upon the murder of his mentor and friend, Harry McKenna (Donald Sutherland), Bishop assumes responsibility for educating McKenna’s rebellious son, Steve (Ben Foster), in the craft of killing. As they execute increasingly perilous tasks, Bishop and Steve discover the truth about McKenna’s death and confront the repercussions of their deeds.
Intense and physically adept, Statham infuses his signature style into Arthur Bishop’s role. His capacity to depict a frigid, calculating murderer while preserving a touch of humanity enriches the character. The relationship between Statham and Foster forms the movie’s core, as their on-screen chemistry propels the storyline and underpins the emotional basis for the high-risk action scenes.
Mixed reviews greeted the film after it hit the box office at the time, but most lauded Statham’s acting and the film’s action-packed components. The movie’s financial triumph reinforced Statham’s status as a top action star and paved the way for him to secure more prominent roles in action-driven franchises.
4 The Expendables (2010)
An explosive homage to the early era of action movies, The Expendables boasts an all-star cast of legendary action heroes, including director Sylvester Stallone, Jason Statham, Jet Li, and Dolph Lundgren. This ensemble action film captures the spirit of action movies from the ’80s and ’90s along with their signature excessive set pieces and spectacular stunts.
The Expendables, a team of elite mercenaries led by Barney Ross (Stallone), is contracted by an enigmatic CIA agent (Bruce Willis) to depose a heartless dictator (David Zayas) in a small South American country. Throughout their mission, the squad faces betrayal, peril, and surprising revelations that challenge their loyalty and compel them to reevaluate their work’s true nature.
As Lee Christmas, a former SAS soldier and knife expert, Statham displays his characteristic blend of martial arts skill and magnetic presence. His role adds depth to the ensemble cast and is essential to the film’s success. Statham’s on-screen rapport with Stallone injects dynamic energy into the movie.
The Expendables grossed over $274 million globally, garnering critical acclaim for its entertaining fusion of action and comedy and its star-studded cast’s undeniable allure. Statham’s portrayal of Lee Christmas reinforced his status as an action hero, resulting in his ongoing participation in the Expendables franchise and other notable action movies like Fast and the Furious franchise where he eventually became a staple and main lead of sort for those films
3 Homefront (2013)
From a screenplay by Sylvester Stallone that’s based on a Chuck Logan novel, Homefront follows a former DEA agent (Statham) who has gone through a crisis after his actions against a biker gang went horribly wrong, and it cost the life of his boss’s son. He is recently widowed and is left with a 9-year-old daughter. He decides to quit the turbulent and demanding life of the DEA for Maddy’s sake and retires to a small town. His daughter fights off a boy who is bullying her at school, and this sets in motion a round of events that end in his direct confrontation with the local Meth drug lord. His past with the biker gang also enters the arena, making matters more complex. But he has a mission in his mind to protect his daughter, and he is ready to pay any cost that it demands.
“All the characters in it have a great thing to do,” Statham said to Den of Geek. “Having a great script like that you get the attraction of people like James Franco and Winona Rider and Kate Bosworth, because there’s good parts for everybody, rather than there just being a couple of decent roles and the rest no good.”
Despite mixed views from viewers and critics, Homefront finished its theatrical run with a total gross of $51.7 million, against its $22 million production budget.
2 Parker (2013)
Statham had another movie drop in 2013. This one’s called Parker, an action thriller directed by Taylor Hackford and written by John J. McLaughlin. Starring Statham and icon Jennifer Lopez, the film is adapted from Flashfire, the 19th Parker novel.
Primarily set in Palm Beach, Florida, the film revolves around professional thief Parker (Statham), who is double-crossed by his crew. He sets out for revenge on them, helped by a real estate agent (Lopez) in a quest to steal what his former accomplices intend to rob at a jewelry heist.
“She was as sweet as they could ever be,” said Statham to Collider about working with Lopez. “She’s just a bundle of fun. We had great chemistry. We had a great time doing the job. The relationship between Parker and the character that Jennifer played was good because it was trying to be sexual. It wasn’t. Never could it get there. There was a lot of tension there. It was nice to play with that because she’s so playful anyway. It was most enjoyable.”
Parker marked a departure for Hackford, who hoped to make it his first film noir. The film, produced on a $35 million budget, was conceived following Westlake’s 2008 death when producer Les Alexander secured the rights to it. Like Homefront, reviews were generally mixed, with many critics feeling it was just another Statham sub-par action film. Others found Statham well-fitted for the role and praised Lopez for her comic relief. Parker grossed $46 million worldwide at the box office and premiered on Netflix soon after that. A week later the film was briefly the No.1 film on the streaming service.
1 The Bank Job (2008)
Business is slow for Terry Leather, a London car dealer, married with children. He’s an artful dodger, so Martine, a former model with a thing for him, brings him her scheme: a bank’s alarm is off for a couple of weeks, so let’s tunnel into the vault. Can Leather’s assembled team of amateurs pull it off?
The Bank Job is a 2008 heist thriller film directed by Roger Donaldson and based on the 1971 Baker Street robbery in central London, from which the money and valuables stolen were never recovered. According to the producers, the film is intended to reveal the truth for the first time, although it includes significant elements of fiction.
“He’s probably one of the most easy-going people you will ever get to meet and the fact he has made a bucketful of brilliant films gives us the ease to come on set and take direction without even questioning him because he’s such a great filmmaker,” said Statham to LondonNet about working with Donaldson. “He understands different characters, the storytelling aspect, and the look. He’s just one of the greatest directors I have ever had to work with so I feel very lucky on that side of things.”
The Bank Job received mostly positive reviews from critics and grossed $66 million worldwide. Therefore, let’s call this one Statham’s best of the best on Netflix.
Jason Statham’s movies on Netflix demonstrate his outstanding action prowess and extensive acting range. Over time, he has successfully transitioned from supporting roles to leading man in many action films, with his versatility and ongoing popularity securing his position as a Hollywood heavyweight. They include action-packed thrillers and dramatic movies that cater to a wide range of audience tastes. With an impressive body of work, from adrenaline-driven The Bank Job to the fast-paced Expendables series, viewers can readily delve into his movies.
For Jason Statham and action film enthusiasts, Netflix presents an expansive selection of his movies, guaranteed to entertain and captivate. As audiences continue to enjoy his work, Statham’s lasting popularity bears witness to his extraordinary talent, commitment, and influence on the entertainment industry.
This story originally appeared on Movieweb
