Jason Statham has established himself alongside legendary action stars like Arnold Schwarzenegger, Sylvester Stallone, and Keanu Reeves, demonstrating the charisma and toughness needed to anchor not just individual films but full-fledged action franchises. His career includes various movies where he has played either the lead or a major supporting role, contributing significantly to their success. While some franchises fizzled, such as Operation Fortune: Ruse de Guerre or The Italian Job, the bulk underlines Statham’s undeniable appeal in the world of Jason Statham action franchises.
Looking ahead, this list may grow as upcoming projects like The Beekeeper have confirmed sequels, and films such as A Working Man hint at future installments. To rank here, Statham must appear in more than one film of the series, which excludes franchises like Death Race, despite their spin-off sequels lacking his involvement.
6. The Mechanic: A Franchise Marred by a Weak Sequel
The Mechanic began as a lesser-celebrated early lead for Jason Statham, blending action and mentorship themes. While the original offered a more thoughtful tone interspersed with solid fight scenes, its follow-up, Mechanic: Resurrection, diverged sharply in style and substance. The sequel largely forsook depth for relentless action, save for an impressive skyscraper pool sequence, but cleaned up financially overseas, earning more than triple its $40-million budget.
Though neither film achieved widespread acclaim for entertainment value, their distinct approaches underline the franchise’s uneven trajectory. The franchise struggles to maintain cohesion due to stark tonal differences between entries.
5. Crank: Unapologetically Over-the-Top and Raw
The Crank duology stands as a testament to Jason Statham’s ability to carry wildly unconventional action films. Centered on Chev Chelios, a character as abrasive as the films are intense, these movies push boundaries with an extreme, unfiltered approach. The tone may alienate some viewers, but the films maintain a relentless energy that keeps audiences invested in Chelios’ survival despite his dark past.
Neither film approaches traditional cinematic polish, with Crank: High Voltage amplifying problematic elements to an even greater degree, yet they prove that Statham can essentially sustain a franchise solo. The series follows the same high-octane formula that cemented his reputation in earlier works like The Transporter.
4. The Expendables: Classic Action Legends and Mixed Results
The Expendables franchise ranks higher than The Mechanic and Crank largely because of the strengths in its first two entries. The 2010 debut was notable for its ensemble cast, uniting Sylvester Stallone, Jason Statham, Jet Li, Dolph Lundgren, Bruce Willis, and Arnold Schwarzenegger, delivering a throwback to ’80s-style action that felt fresh and vibrant at the time.
Its sequel built on that foundation, adding Chuck Norris and Jean-Claude Van Damme to the mix, with Van Damme’s portrayal of the villain Vilain standing out as particularly charismatic and intimidating. This second installment still had moments of lighthearted silliness that fit the franchise’s tone and was widely regarded as its peak.
However, The Expendables 3 marked a drastic downturn, with a PG-13 rating imposed to attract younger audiences backfiring by alienating long-time fans of the series’ intense roots. Its domestic box office was less than half of its predecessor, reflecting audience dissatisfaction with the diluted action. The subsequent Expend4bles only reinforced this decline, receiving poor reviews and failing to reignite interest, despite Jason Statham stepping into the lead role ahead of Stallone. This shift underscores the industry’s recognition of Statham as a new generation’s premier action hero.
3. The Meg: A Surprisingly Successful Modern Monster Action Series
The Meg films have carved out a successful niche as blockbuster summer shark thrillers, combining creature feature thrills with Statham’s star power. Despite opting for bloodless shark attacks to maintain a PG-13 rating, the films work well through a kaiju-style lens, appealing to broad family audiences without sacrificing excitement.
The 2018 original The Meg grossed over $500 million worldwide on a hefty budget of $178 million, securing its place as an unexpected hit. The sequel, Meg 2: The Trench, while not quite matching that success, still made nearly $400 million on a $139 million budget, sufficient to begin development on a third installment, even if momentum seems slower. These films confirm Statham’s unique ability to convincingly fight a gigantic prehistoric shark and emerge as the survivor.
2. Fast & Furious: Transforming Into a Franchise Anti-Hero
Jason Statham’s introduction into the Fast & Furious saga as Deckard Shaw marked a turning point for the franchise by providing a formidable antagonist who evolved into a fan-favorite presence. His character first appeared strongly in Furious 7, instantly convincing audiences he could challenge the powerful family at the heart of the series.
Over multiple entries, Deckard Shaw shifted from villain to reluctant ally, becoming an integral, though morally ambiguous, member of the extended Fast & Furious family. This evolution added new dimensions to the franchise, with Statham’s performance striking a balance between menace and charisma, solidifying his status as an action star capable of navigating complex roles.
1. The Transporter: The Breakthrough Franchise Defining Statham’s Career
The Transporter franchise stands as the cornerstone of Jason Statham’s career, beginning his successful leap from supporting roles in films like Guy Ritchie‘s Lock, Stock and Two Smoking Barrels and Snatch, to commanding lead status. The 2002 original introduced him as Frank Martin, a professional delivery driver skilled in combat and driving, showcasing his blend of intense physicality and subtle acting ability.
The film’s well-choreographed fight scenes, especially sequences where Statham faces multiple adversaries alone, demonstrate his core appeal as an action star. His chemistry in quieter moments, such as those shared with Shu Qi’s Lai Kwai, reveals a dimension rarely matched by many of his contemporaries in the genre. The Transporter sequels don’t quite reach the original’s high standard but continue to display his talents effectively, with speculation that his cameo in Collateral as Airport Man connects to the Frank Martin universe, adding an intriguing layer for fans.
This franchise laid the foundation for every Jason Statham action franchise that followed and remains the definitive example of his impact on the genre.
Each of these franchises exemplifies different facets of Jason Statham’s abilities as an action star, spanning thoughtful storytelling, relentless intensity, and charismatic ensemble work. As more projects develop, his legacy as a leading man capable of sustaining and elevating action franchises continues to grow, setting a new standard for modern action cinema.
