Top 12 Jason Statham Movie Highlights

Daniel Day-Lewis is undoubtedly one of the most acclaimed actors in cinematic history, boasting three Academy Awards to his name. That's three more than his fellow English actor, Jason Statham. But let's face it, has Daniel Day-Lewis ever choked someone with a handful of casino chips, knocked out an opponent with a coin, killed someone with a spoon, or punched a man in the fist with his own head? Jason Statham did all these in the same film, and there's simply no competition.

Statham has solidified his status as one of the 21st century's most reliable action stars. With his latest film, A Working Man, now in theaters, we celebrate by revisiting some of the most memorable and entertaining moments from his career. After all, until the Oscars start recognizing feats like walking through fire, water-skiing blindfolded, or mastering the piano later in life, this is the least we can do.

The Best Jason Statham Movie Moments

13 Images12. Homefront

Ever feel like Jason Statham's action heroes could take down a trio of thugs with their hands tied behind their backs? In Homefront, Statham does exactly that, making it a perfect way to start our list.

11. The Beekeeper

In The Beekeeper, Statham shows a softer side by letting some scam call center employees escape before blowing up their building, simply because they apologized. However, he redeems himself by chasing down their manager, strapping him to a truck, and sending the vehicle off a bridge, dragging the villain behind it. They say bumblebees aren't great flyers, but they certainly fare better than a 1967 Ford F-100.

Returning to the movie mentioned in our introduction, Wild Card was a box office disappointment, despite being directed by the mastermind behind Con Air and featuring Stanley Tucci with hair. Yet, it boasts some of Statham's most thrilling fight scenes. In the final showdown, he takes down five armed goons using only a spoon and a butter knife, emerging unscathed. Jason Statham: master of the culinary combat.

9. Death Race

Paul W.S. Anderson's track record with video game adaptations may not be stellar, but he deserves credit for Death Race, his 2008 film that anticipated the high-octane action of Mad Max: Fury Road. Statham's cunning victory over the Juggernaut, thanks to a clever alliance with his rival, stands out as the film's highlight. The score: practical effects - one million, CGI - zero.

8. The Meg

No list of Jason Statham's greatest hits would be complete without his epic showdown with a megalodon in The Meg. After slicing the beast open from end to end, Statham surfs it as it leaps into the air, then impales it with a spear through the eye. As the giant shark falls back into the water, it's devoured by smaller sharks. If it bleeds, Statham can kill it, no matter the size.

7. The Transporter

Sliding into seventh place is Statham's iconic role as Frank Martin in The Transporter. The 2002 original is a non-stop showcase of Hong Kong-style fight choreography from Corey Yuen. From the container fight to the axe fight, and the bus fight, it's tough to choose just one standout moment. The oil fight, where Frank uses grease to slip past his enemies before attacking with bicycle pedals and spinning heel kicks, takes the cake.

6. The Fate of the Furious

Deckard Shaw's transition from villain to hero in the Fast and the Furious series was contentious, but with Fast 9 revealing he didn't kill Han, we can now enjoy his past heroics guilt-free. One unforgettable scene is the airborne rescue of Dom and Elena's baby in The Fate of the Furious, blending gun-fu and humor in a way that showcases Statham's best moments in the franchise.

5. The Expendables

In Sylvester Stallone's Expendables series, Statham's Lee Christmas holds his own among Hollywood's toughest. From kicking Scott Adkins into a helicopter to firing a flare from a boat, his moments are numerous. But the basketball court beatdown of his girlfriend's abusive ex and his cronies in just 16 seconds is his most memorable. Christmas comes once a year, but when it does, it comes with a vengeance.

4. Spy

In the hilariously funny Spy, Statham's portrayal of Rick Ford, the unkillable agent who's immune to 179 poisons and makes his own suits, steals the show. Among many comedic highlights, his recounting of driving a car off a freeway onto a train while on fire (not the car, himself) to Melissa McCarthy stands out as the best.

3. Transporter 2

How could we forget the iconic barrel roll from Transporter 2? Frank Martin flips his Audi upside down to dislodge a bomb with the calm of a man brushing off a speck of dust. Physics? Canceled.

2. Crank: High Voltage

After surviving a fall from a helicopter, Chev Chelios finds his heart stolen by Chinese gangsters in Crank 2. The film's surreal highlight is when Chev hallucinates a battle at a power station as a giant, kaiju version of himself, complete with a mask of his own face. Yes, this actually happened.

1. Snatch

Taking the top spot is Snatch, where Statham, in only his second film, holds his own against Hollywood heavyweights like Brad Pitt and Benicio Del Toro. His character Turkish delivers some of the film's most quotable lines, with the exchange about carrying a gun ("What is a gun doing in your trousers?" "For protection." "Protection from what? Zee Germans?") being a standout. A safer choice than anything Brick Top would suggest.