Every Jason Statham Movie From The 2000s, Ranked

The 2000s were an incredible time for Jason Statham; having only previously starred in Guy Ritchie’s Lock, Stock and Two Smoking Barrels in 1998, he hit the 2000s with a vengeance. Not following the typical acting career path, with more minor, supportive roles to build up a profile, Statham went in at the deep end, basically leading action films as the star since his first years. Known for his tough-guy persona, fighting skills, ripped physique, and witty delivery, he seemed destined to be an action star.

Statham has starred in a multitude of different genres, from martial arts films, gangster comedy dramas, and tenacious heist thrillers. Over the 2000s, his performances have continued to transcend the screen, delivering some of his best scenes that propelled him into pop culture; whether portraying the driver in The Transporter or a small-time promoter in Snatch, his roles always stand out from the norm. His unique film choices, combined with his confident demeanor and sense of comedic timing, have made him a fan favorite in the action genre.

21 In The Name Of The King (2008)

As Farmer (Camden Konreid)

In this fantasy action film, Statham plays the role of Farmer, a man happily living with his wife, Solana, and young son, Zeph. Farmer’s world is turned upside down by an invading force of animalistic creatures called ‘The Krug’, who are magically controlled by the evil Gallian. After the onslaught sees the village damaged and his son murdered, Farmer goes on a quest for revenge. Though Statham plays his role with dignity and commitment, the storyline felt too similar to other fantasy epics like Lord of the Rings, and it failed to deliver either critically or at the box office.

20 Turn It Up (2000)

As Mr. B

Statham stars as Mr.B, a drug dealer and gangster in this gritty hood action film about a young musician looking to come up in the industry while dealing with the perils of street life. Though the role of Mr. B isn’t the starring role, his part adds a lot of integral plot elements and drama that push the narrative forward. Not often remembered as a high point of his career, it gave a glimpse into the style of characters that Statham would go on to masterfully embody as his career progressed, the no-nonsense, hardened gangster who sails through the criminal underworld.

19 Ghosts Of Mars (2001)

As Jericho Butler

Ghosts of Mars is an American space Western action horror, set on Mars in the 22nd Century. Statham plays Sergeant Jericho Butler, a valued member of a police squad tasked to combat against inhabitants of a mining colony on the planet who have been possessed by previous elders. Statham’s role adds a layer of intrigue and intensity to the film as one of the more commanding officers who venture out to take risks. Though directed well with an interesting story, Statham’s full acting ability wasn’t on display in a more limited role compared to some of his other work.

18 The One (2001)

As Evan Funsch

In this sci-fi action film, Statham takes a backseat to Jet-Li, who appears in nine different roles across this multiverse, interdimensional traveling spectacle. Statham’s role as a Multiverse Authority Agent who wants to aid in the apprehension and arrest of Gabriel Yulaw (Jet Li) is, once again, an early precursor to some characters he would go on to play. He plays his role competently and showcases some of his athletic and martial arts abilities, but the film was widely criticized for its unimaginative action sequences. Still, Statham performed ably and was one of the highlights of the film.

While not being critically acclaimed,
The One
was a box office success, grossing $79.6 million on a $49 million budget.

17 13 (2010)

As Jasper

In the psychological crime thriller 13, Statham takes on this darker and more intense role, playing Jasper Bagges, the wealthy and violent British man who bets on the Russian roulette competitions that make up the plot of the film. Statham knows how to match the atmosphere of the film he is in, playing an aggressive and hardened character in a movie full of psychological suspense throughout. His role is integral to the film’s narrative and while it doesn’t include as much of the action-packed sequences that would help build his reputation, his scenes are still gripping and entertaining to watch.

16 Transporter 3 (2008)

As Frank Martin

In the final installment of the original trilogy, he again takes up his leading role as Frank Martin. Martin is a highly skilled and effective driver who takes on ‘less than legal’ work transporting packages for and to different clients. The Transporter series put Statham on the map as a legit, bankable action star. This third film continued to push the boat out with a more expansive concept for the film’s narrative and bigger and more explosive action stunts. Slightly less polished than the first two of the franchise, it still shows Statham at the top of his game.

15 Crank: High Voltage (2009)

As Chev Chelios

Statham once again reprises his role as Chev Chelios, an LA-based assassin with a need for high-octane action. In this film, Chev is injured in a helicopter fall and has his heart artificially replaced. Chelios is informed that he needs to keep his internal battery charged or else he will die, which he does so by a variety of means, including jumper cables, stealing ambulance batteries, and having sex on a racetrack. While the film’s plot was largely thought of as nonsensical, Statham’s performance was deemed captivating and genuine, proving he can provide solid acting in a less-than-stellar film.

14 Revolver (2005)

As Jake Green

For the first time since the cult classic Snatch, Statham teams up with director Guy Ritchie in this action thriller. Statham stars as Jack Green, a cockney gangster and gambler who has just been released from prison and is seeking revenge on the mob boss who put him behind bars. The film takes many twists and turns in its complex narrative, and Statham is able to effortlessly portray implausible scenarios in a believable way. His work with Ritchie continues to impress, with witty dialogue and fast-paced gangster action that the two would become famous for.

13 London (2005)

As Bateman

In the romantic drama film London, Statham portrays a banker who delivers cocaine to an acquaintance (Chris Evans) who invites him to a party, and the night descends into a drug-fueled, torrid, and violent affair. Statham, starring alongside Jessica Biel and Isla Fisher, steps out of his usual role and shows great chemistry with his co-stars. This film really helps solidify Statham as a solid, dramatic actor, and though he does have his fair share of fighting scenes, it’s his ability to portray a complex yet more subdued character in Bateman that helped him fully show his acting range.

12 War (2007)

As Jack Crawford

In what feels like a re-run of The One, with Statham and Jet Li starring in an action film with combat choreography by Corey Yuen. Statham plays an FBI agent who is hellbent on finding and taking down Li’s mysterious assassin character entitled ‘The Rogue.’ In their second collaboration, the two build on their chemistry from the previous film, and they work masterfully off each other, portraying genuine emotion and action in every sequence. The narrative was criticized for being too clichéd, but for Statham’s part, he continues to rack up impressive action roles with an emphasis on drama and tension.

11 Transporter 2 (2005)

As Frank Martin

In the second installment of the original Transporter trilogy, Statham once again returns to the character of Frank Martin, the expert driver who is given the mission of protecting a politician’s young child from an international drug cartel that wishes to kidnap him for ransom. Statham provides a beautiful balance of action star happy to dish out violence while adding in some vulnerable moments with the child and the emotions involved in his kidnapping ordeal. The action and storyline transition successfully from the first film, and Statham once again delivers a true powerhouse performance in another box office hit.

10 Chaos (2005)

As Quentin Conners

Statham portrays Detective Quentin Conners, a hardened and ruthless Seattle PD cop who, after being fired from the force, is brought back in to help negotiate and stop a bank heist. Chaos is a gritty and well-executed crime thriller, with Statham easily providing the driving force behind the film. It’s sometimes roles like this in lesser-known movies that can help an actor really find their feet and help them land the roles that would go on to change their career. Statham elevates what could have been a more run-of-the-mill bank heist story into something genuinely entertaining and fun to watch.

9 Death Race (2008)

As Jensen Ames

In this intense dystopian thriller, Statham plays Ames, a convicted prisoner who was wrongfully sent to jail after being set up for the death of his family. In this timeline, many prisons are now privatized, and they make money by organizing brutal televised car races that either end in death or freedom. The movie touches on themes surrounding the modern culture of the prison system and the exploitation of the inmates. Death Race has many excellent racing sequences, and Statham approaches his role with earnestness and dignity, which makes the emotional arc of the barbaric narrative really hit home.

8 Mean Machine (2001)

As Monk

In one of the best remakes of the classic 1975 film The Longest Yard, Mean Machine sees Statham play Monk, an extremely volatile and psychotic convict who happens to be a brilliant soccer player. This sports comedy really helps highlight the layers in Statham’s acting ability; while he does play a violent, maximum-security prisoner, he uses this character and the viewer’s preconceived notions to subvert expectations and deliver a lively comedic performance. His characters never shy away from brutality, but it’s performances in films like this that helped shape Statham into the leading man he was destined to become.

7 Cellular (2004)

As Ethan Greer

In another breakout role for Statham, he stars as a Detective gone rogue who leads a gang of dirty cops into kidnapping and holding a woman hostage. The film provides an outlet for Statham to show his darker and more menacing side and showcase his ability to play roles outside of his typical hero archetype. His role is perfectly played and matches the gritty and dynamic tone of the film. He nails the desperate detective who is forced to keep digging, and the desperation and tension he is able to elicit helps him command the screen with his presence.

Cellular
was written by Larry Cohen who was also the screenwriter of the 2002 thriller film Phone Booth.

6 The Expendables (2010)

As Lee Christmas

The Expendables is an action film with a who’s who of action stars and Hollywood’s elite, which follows the story of a group of elite mercenaries who are tasked with overthrowing a Latin American dictator. Statham plays the squad’s resident blade expert, Lee Christmas, and he provides much of the humor and emotion throughout the narrative as the wise-cracking, no-nonsense Brit. It’s a film that pays homage to the larger-than-life action movies of the 80s and 90s, and Statham shows his ability to more than hold his own with some of the biggest names in the industry.

5 The Transporter (2002)

As Frank Martin

In his first installment as Frank Martin, Statham, the driver with a strict code of conduct, finds himself embroiled in a plot involving human trafficking in which he must find a way out to exonerate himself. This is one of Statham’s first major starring roles, which launched him into pop culture and made him a household name. Expertly handling the hand-to-hand combat sequences in some of the best fight scenes of his career and gritty chase sequences put him on the map and made playing the hard-hitting yet witty protagonist his trademark.

4 Crank (2006)

As Chev Chelios

With a similar plot to its sequel, High Voltage, Crank follows the original story of Chev Chelios, an assassin from LA who gets double-crossed and is injected with a poisonous synthetic drug that will kill him unless he keeps his adrenaline pumping sky-high in a race against time to find the culprits. The high-energy premise of the film is matched by Statham’s onscreen presence, providing a grounding and electric intensity to a creatively crafted film. The action sequences are stunningly choreographed and performed, and Statham really shines in this offbeat, high-octane role.

3 The Italian Job (2003)

As Handsome Rob

Inspired by the 1969 British film of the same name, The Italian Job sees Statham play Handsome Rob, the wheelman and getaway driver for a crew of robbers who plan to steal a fortune of gold from a former business associate. Despite the ensemble cast, Statham shines in his more understated role with a heavily charismatic and memorable performance. The film’s plot and structure, combined with Statham’s chemistry with the entire cast, make this one of the jewels in his early filmography and set the stage for the rest of his career.

2 The Bank Job (2008)

As Terry Leather

In Statham’s most underrated film, he stars as Terry Leather in The Bank Job, which is a plot based on the 1971 burglary of Lloyds Bank safety deposit boxes in London. Leather is a small-time crook who believes he is committing a major bank heist but ends up getting involved in a government conspiracy. Statham gives one of his best performances. The film’s true-to-life plot, combined with Statham’s balanced and mature performance, gives it a genuine sense of realism. The intricate plot, intriguing characters, and Statham’s ever-present charisma elevate this to one of his most acclaimed films of all time.