Daniel Day-Lewis is widely acclaimed as one of the greatest actors in film history, with three Academy Awards to his name. That's three more than his fellow Englishman, Jason Statham. However, has Day-Lewis ever managed to choke a man with casino chips, knock out someone with a coin, kill an adversary with a spoon, or punch someone in the fist with his own head? Jason Statham achieved all these feats in one film alone. There's simply no comparison.
Statham has solidified his status as a premier action star of the 21st century. The excitement surrounding his latest film, A Working Man, is palpable. To celebrate this release, let's dive into our favorite moments from Jason Statham's action-packed and often humorous film career. After all, until the Oscars start recognizing achievements like walking through fire, water-skiing blindfolded, or mastering the piano later in life, it's the least we can do.
The Best Jason Statham Movie Moments
13 Images
Homefront
Ever get the sense that Jason Statham's action heroes could take down multiple opponents with their hands tied behind their backs? In Homefront, Statham does just that, making it the perfect way to start our list.
The Beekeeper
In The Beekeeper, Statham's softer side was a bit of a sting, as he let some scam call center workers escape before blowing up their building because they apologized. Fans don't tune into Jason Statham films to see villains spared! Thankfully, he redeems himself by tracking down the call center manager, strapping him to a truck, and sending it off a bridge, dragging the scoundrel behind. While bumblebees might not be the most efficient flyers, they certainly outfly a 1967 Ford F-100.
Wild Card
Let's revisit the film mentioned in the introduction: Wild Card. Despite its box office failure, it was directed by the man behind Con Air, featured Stanley Tucci with hair, and showcased some of Statham's best fight scenes. In the climactic battle, Statham dispatches five armed men using only a spoon and a butter knife, emerging unscathed. Truly, Jason Statham reigns supreme in the realm of knifey-spoony combat.
Death Race
Paul W.S. Anderson's track record with video game adaptations may not be stellar, but he deserves credit for the slightly campy 2008 film Death Race. This movie showcased a level of practical effects and car-crashing commitment akin to Mad Max: Fury Road, years before its release. Statham's outsmarting of the Juggernaut with the help of a rival is the film's highlight, proving once again the superiority of practical effects over CGI.
The Meg
No list of Jason Statham's most memorable moments would be complete without his epic showdown with a megalodon in The Meg. After slicing the giant shark open, Statham rides it as it leaps into the air, stabbing it in the eye with a spear. As it falls back into the water, the prehistoric predator is devoured by its smaller descendants. Whether it's a terrestrial or aquatic threat, if it bleeds, Statham can kill it.
The Transporter
Landing at number seven is one of Statham's most iconic roles as Frank Martin in The Transporter. The 2002 original is packed with high-quality fight scenes directed by Corey Yuen. From the container fight to the bus fight, it's hard to choose, but the oil fight stands out. Frank slicks himself up to evade his enemies before using bicycle pedals and spinning heel kicks to take them down.
The Fate of the Furious
Deckard Shaw's transition from villain to hero in the Fast and Furious series was initially controversial, but with Fast 9 revealing he didn't actually kill Han, fans can now relish his past feats guilt-free. A standout moment is the airborne rescue of Dom and Elena's baby in The Fate of the Furious, blending gun-fu with humor in what might be Statham's best scene in the franchise.
The Expendables
Joining the ranks of Hollywood's toughest in Sylvester Stallone's Expendables series, Jason Statham's character Lee Christmas has had many standout moments. From kicking Scott Adkins into a helicopter to firing a flare from a flying boat, his most memorable is the basketball court beatdown of his girlfriend's abusive ex and his cronies. Christmas might only come once a year, but when he does, he delivers a swift, brutal justice.
Spy
In the uproariously funny Spy, Jason Statham steals the show as Rick Ford, the indestructible secret agent who's immune to 179 poisons and makes his own suits. His best moment is undoubtedly recounting his legendary exploits to Melissa McCarthy, including driving a car off a freeway onto a train while on fire.
Transporter 2
Who could forget the iconic barrel roll from Transporter 2? Frank Martin calmly flips his Audi to dislodge a bomb, demonstrating the cool composure of a man brushing off a speck of dust from his suit. It's a testament to the power of practical stunts and Statham's unflappable nature.
Crank: High Voltage
After surviving a fall from a helicopter, Chev Chelios finds his heart stolen by Chinese gangsters in Crank: High Voltage. In one surreal scene, he hallucinates a giant kaiju version of himself fighting at a power station, wearing a mask of his own face. It's a testament to the film's wild and unapologetic style.
Snatch
Topping our list is Snatch, where Jason Statham, in only his second film after Lock, Stock, and Two Smoking Barrels, holds his own against Hollywood heavyweights like Brad Pitt and Benicio Del Toro. The film is brimming with quotable lines, but Turkish's response to Tommy's gun in his trousers stands out: "What is a gun doing in your trousers?" "For protection." "Protection from what? Zee Germans?" A safer bet than anything Brick Top might propose.
