15 Action Heroes of Jason Statham Ranked from Weakest to Strongest
Summary
- Jason Statham excels in playing strong action heroes, showcasing incredible feats of strength and resilience in intense and thrilling roles.
- Statham’s characters vary from everyday tough guys to ex-special forces soldiers, hitmen, and mercenaries, each bringing a unique level of strength and skill to the screen.
- Whether he’s breaking rules as a cop, seeking vengeance as an ex-soldier, or battling giant sharks, Statham consistently delivers top-notch performances in action-packed spectacles.
Jason Statham has made a name for himself as one of today’s biggest action stars and has played countless incredibly strong characters. With a tough-guy reputation and a passion for intense action sequences, Statham’s most notable characters have pushed the boundaries of human resilience and often passed the threshold into a pure superhuman. This has always included incredible spectacles to witness. Whether Statham’s playing an everyday person or a ruthless killing machine, he has consistently brought his A-game to all his action hero roles.
The best Statham action movies typically consist of intense hand-to-hand combat, thrilling chase scenes, and over-the-top violent confrontations. While this meant many of Statham’s best heroes utilized brute force to achieve their aims, this was not the only kind of strength, as other heroes relied on intellect, stealth, and weapon skills to save the day. Statham has proved himself a major action star, and looking back on his best heroes, he’s played some truly strong characters.
15 – Detective Sergeant Tom Brant
Blitz (2011)
Jason Statham played the no-nonsense cop Tom Brant in the enjoyable crime thriller Blitz. Brant was not afraid to break the rules and showcase his violent side in his pursuit of the deranged cop killing serial killer Barry “Blitz” Weiss, played by Aidan Gillen, in a particularly menacing performance. While this made for some exciting entertainment, even if the story was a little bit by the numbers, the truth was that Brant lacked the superhuman feats of strength that categorized Staham’s strongest characters and, at his core, was just a regular guy.
Blitz
Blitz is a crime thriller set in London, following hard-edged detective Tom Brant, portrayed by Jason Statham. Brant is on a mission to track down and capture a serial cop killer known as Blitz, who is targeting police officers across the city. Directed by Elliott Lester, the film explores the relentless pursuit to bring the murderer to justice amidst the backdrop of urban tension and brutality.
14 – Joseph Smith
Hummingbird (2013)
Hummingbird capitalized on Jason Statham’s tough-guy reputation as he played the haunted, alcoholic ex-special forces soldier Joseph Smith. With a tendency toward violent behavior, Joseph infiltrated the world of organized crime and exacted his vengeance on a murderous city boy who had been beating and killing prostitutes. Once again, Statham’s character had a lot of sinister energy and was not shy of getting into a fight, yet he still remained in the realms of reality in terms of his strength and could easily be defeated by other Statham movie characters.
Hummingbird was released under the title Redemption in the United States.
Hummingbird (2013)
Hummingbird is a 2013 action drama starring Jason Statham as Joey Jones, an ex-special forces soldier navigating London’s gritty underworld. Directed by Steven Knight, the film follows Joey’s transformative journey from a homeless veteran to a vigilante hero after assuming a new identity and grappling with his tumultuous past and the criminal elements surrounding him.
13 – Nick Wild
Wild Card (2015)
Wild Card had all the elements of a classic Jason Statham action movie, yet it still managed to flop at the box office and grossed just $6.7 million against its $30 million budget (via Box Office Mojo.) Statham played Nick Wild, a troubled Las Vegas bodyguard with lethal skills who got in hot water with the mob due to his gambling addiction. While Nick has serious combat skills and had no problem taking out a litany of henchmen and criminals, Wild still paled in comparison to other, far more impressive Statham action heroes.
12 – Phil Broker
Homefront (2013)
A father who will do anything in his power to protect his daughter should never be underestimated, and this was proven by Jason Statham’s performance as Phil Broker in Homefront. Directed by Gary Fleder and written by Sylvester Stallone, Homefront didn’t break any new ground regarding action thrillers, yet Statham still proved the fortitude of his ex-DEA character. As a sinister meth lord put Broker’s daughter in the firing line, Statham unleashed hell and left a horde of beaten bodies in his wake.
Homefront
Homefront is an action and thriller movie directed by Gary Fleder and based on a screenplay by Sylvester Stallone. The 2017 release stars Jason Statham as a retired DEA agent responsible for busting a biker gang boss. After gang members find out he was the one responsible, they attempt to go after him for revenge.
11 – Danny Bryce
Killer Elite (2011)
The action thriller Killer Elite was a star-studded heart racer that featured not just Jason Statham but also other legendary performers such as Clive Owen and Robert De Niro. As the former mercenary Danny Bryce, Statham found himself in a killer-for-hire situation as he sought to protect his mentor and take out three former SAS troopers. In Killer Elite, Statham showcased skills that were more in line with his most outrageous characters, as his incredible feats of strength saw him leaping from buildings, jumping through glass windows, and easily surviving massive explosions.
Killer Elite
Killer Elite is a 2011 action thriller directed by Gary McKendry, starring Jason Statham, Clive Owen, and Robert De Niro. The film is based on the book The Feather Men by Sir Ranulph Fiennes and follows a retired special operations agent who is called back into service to save his mentor from kidnappers. The mission pits him against a covert group of assassins and a rival operative.
10 – Orson Fortune
Operation Fortune: Ruse de Guerre (2023)
The action comedy Operation Fortune: Ruse de Guerre utilized Jason Statham’s often underexploited comedic talent, and it was a treat to watch him play opposite stars like Aubrey Plaza and Hugh Grant. Statham played Orson Fortune, a spy orchestrating a plot to retrieve a stolen high-tech device before an arms dealer sold it to the highest bidder. With plenty of combat and shooting, there’s a sneaking feeling that the true limits of Orson Fortune’s skills were never fully seen, as he consistently surprised viewers with his strength and resilience.
Operation Fortune: Ruse de Guerre (2023)
Operation Fortune: Ruse de Guerre is an action-comedy film directed by Guy Ritchie. The movie stars Jason Statham as elite spy Orson Fortune, who must track down and stop the sale of a deadly new weapons technology. Fortune teams up with a group of operatives and enlists the help of a Hollywood movie star, played by Josh Hartnett, to infiltrate circles surrounding the deal. The cast also includes Aubrey Plaza, Cary Elwes, and Hugh Grant.
9 – Patrick Hill
Wrath of Man (2021)
Jason Statham made his acting debut in Guy Ritchie’s Lock, Stock and Two Smoking Barrels, and it’s been so thrilling to watch Statham and Ritchie reunite over the years. The pair’s 2021 collaboration Wrath of Man signaled the arrival of yet another unstoppable Statham action hero as he played Patrick Hill, simply known as ‘H,’ thwarting a robbery and facing off against criminals. Wrath of Man was a fun, action-packed spectacle with an impressively resilient protagonist, but as a film, it failed to live up to either Ritchie or Statham’s best work.
Wrath of Man
Wrath of Man is a crime thriller directed by Guy Ritchie, starring Jason Statham as H, a mysterious and cold security guard for a cash truck company. The narrative intricately weaves through H’s hidden motives and dark past as he uncovers the truth behind a series of high-stakes heists and personal vendettas. The film is based on the 2004 French film Le Convoyeur, also known as Cash Truck.
8 – Arthur Bishop
The Mechanic (2011)
In The Mechanic, Jason Statham played the professional hitman Arthur Bishop, who specialized in making his killings look like accidents. With a serious level of skill, the strength of Bishop’s character was not in brute force alone, as he had to use cunning and clever tactics to make his jobs look more like unfortunate mishaps or suicides rather than outright murder. This tendency to leave no trace and make his escape without being detected set Bishop apart from other run-and-gun-style action heroes that Statham often played.
The Mechanic (2011)
The Mechanic is a 2011 action thriller film starring Jason Statham as Arthur Bishop, a professional assassin known for his precision and efficiency. Directed by Simon West, the movie follows Bishop as he mentors Steve McKenna, played by Ben Foster, in the art of contract killing. When a personal betrayal emerges, Bishop’s skills are put to the ultimate test.
7 – Frank Martin
The Transporter (2002)
In the first installment of the long-running franchise, The Transporter, Jason Statham plays the highly skilled driver Frank Martin, who follows three strict rules: Never change the deal, no names, and never open the package. Once Frank broke his rules, all hell was unleashed, and he found himself in the midst of a human trafficking plot. With precision, efficiency, and the ability to handle high-pressure situations, Frank had the calm composure and brute strength needed to head one of Statham’s most notable franchises.
The Transporter
The Transporter is an action film directed by Louis Leterrier and Corey Yuen. The movie stars Jason Statham as Frank Martin, a highly skilled driver who specializes in transporting packages without questions. His carefully maintained code of conduct is jeopardized when he breaks one of his rules, leading to a dangerous series of events. Featuring high-octane sequences and elaborate car chases, the film explores themes of loyalty and professional ethics.
6 – Jonas Taylor
The Meg (2018)
As Jonas Taylor in The Meg franchise, Jason Statham played one of his most fascinating and fearless characters. As a deep-sea diver specializing in rescue missions, Jonas had no issue putting himself in perilous situations and turned out to be the perfect man to face against a megalodon, a giant prehistoric shark species previously believed to be extinct. While Jonas had all the physical characteristics of a typical Statham action hero, his knowledge and appreciation for marine biology meant his intellect was also one of his greatest strengths.
The Meg
The sci-fi action movie The Meg follows a group of scientists who encounter a living Megalodon while exploring the Mariana Trench. The cast includes Jason Statham as Jonas Taylor, Li Bingbing as Suyin, and Rainn Wilson as Jack Morris.
5 – Adam Clay
The Beekeeper (2024)
Jason Statham’s role as Adam Clay in The Beekeeper brought together everything that was great about Statham’s action movies. From ruthlessly taking out rooms full of phishing scammers to catapulting his enemy off a bridge like he was nothing, The Beekeeper was full of great action scenes. Statham played an unstoppable killer machine with a personal vendetta in The Beekeeper, although the film left things open for a sequel, and it felt Clay had the potential to take things even further in a follow-up.
The Beekeeper
The Beekeeper is a 2024 action-thriller film by director David Ayer. Jason Statham stars as “Mr. Clay,” a former member of a secret organization known as the “Beekeepers,” who steps back into the field after a close friend is wronged in a phishing scam. To set things right, Mr. Clay will wage a violent war as he discovers that the truth behind the scammers may be more sinister than he realized.
4 – Luke Wright
Safe (2012)
As an ex-cop, former cage fighter, and secret assassin, Luke Wright from Boaz Yakin’s action-thriller Safe was everything audiences could have asked for from a Jason Statham action hero. Wright proved himself one of Statham’s most formidable heroes as he protected a genius child from the Russian mafia, Chinese Triads, and corrupt NYPD officers. From fist fights, shootouts, car chases, and ruthlessly taking down endless enemies, Wright may look like an everyday man on the surface, but his actions showcased strength far beyond normal expectations.
Safe (2012)
Safe follows former elite agent Luke Wright, played by Jason Statham, who becomes the protector of a young Chinese girl with a valuable numerical code. As they evade multiple factions, including the Triads, Russian Mafia, and corrupt New York City officials, Wright finds himself reintegrating into his former life of violence. Directed by Boaz Yakin, the film encapsulates a high-stakes narrative of survival and redemption.
3 – Lee Christmas
The Expendables (2010)
It’s almost unfair to compare The Expendables to most other Jason Statham action movies, as this franchise was packed to the rafters with some of the strongest heroes ever assembled on the big screen. Joined by action legends like Sylvester Stallone, Jet Li, and Dolph Lundgren, Statham, as Lee Christmas, has proven himself one of the strongest members of Barney Ross’s unmatched team. From hand-to-hand combat to knife fights and even intense shootouts, Lee Christmas was one of the strongest characters Statham has ever played.
The Expendables
The Expendables is the first film in the action franchise that follows the exploits of a close team of mercenaries that complete dangerous jobs worldwide. Hired by a covert operator, the Expendables are tasked with heading to South America to deal with a dangerous dictator and liberate a country from his oppressive rule. However, they soon learn that the dictator is a front, leaving them caught in a dangerous mission with a threat higher up the chain than they could have imagined.
2 – Deckard Shaw
Hobbs & Shaw (2019)
While Fast & Furious viewers were first introduced to Deckard Shaw as the sinister villain of Furious 7, like many characters in this long-running franchise, he later became a reluctant hero. This was especially the case in Hobbs & Shaw when he teamed up with his once sworn enemy, Luke Hobbs, played by Dwayne Johnson. The limits of Shaw’s strengths appeared to know no bounds as he utilized his skills as a former British Special Forces and MI6 agent to blow viewers away with his limitless driving, firearm, and fighting skills.
Hobbs and Shaw
Fast & Furious Presents: Hobbs & Shaw unites the unlikely duo of Dwayne “The Rock” Johnson’s Luke Hobbs and Jason Statham’s Deckard Shaw in the Fast Saga’s first spinoff movie. The titular anti-heroes don’t cross paths with Vin Diesel’s Dominic Toretto this time. Instead, they fight Idris Elba’s artificially enhanced super soldier Brixton Lore with the help of Shaw’s sister Hattie and mother Magdelene, played by Vanessa Kirby and Helen Mirren, respectively.
1 – Chev Chelios
Crank (2006)
Perhaps more than any other action movie, Crank perfectly captured the look and feel of playing a video game as its high-intensity concept powerfully mimicked the Grand Theft Auto series. In the film, Jason Statham played Chev Chelios, a man injected with a poisoned drug, which meant he had to keep his adrenaline flowing constantly to keep himself alive. This meant that Chev was forced to be the strongest action hero Jason Statham had ever played. Chev could not let the intensity die down for even one second as he pursued over-the-top violence, excessive killing, and shocking levels of pure carnage.
