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- Jason Statham Had Six Consecutive Flops Before The Expendables 2
- How The Expendables 2 Restored His Winning Streak
As a movie enthusiast with a keen eye for action-packed films, I must say that Jason Statham’s career has been nothing short of captivating. His journey through the highs and lows of Hollywood is an inspiring tale of resilience and determination.
In the realm of action movies, stars such as Keanu Reeves or Tom Cruise might be the first names that spring to mind. However, it’s equally valid to consider Jason Statham a prominent figure in this genre. His career started with the Transporter trilogy, where he became famous for his seamlessly stylish martial arts moves. He has also been a part of various successful action series, including The Expendables, Crank, Fast & Furious, and The Mechanic.
It’s worth noting that while Statham achieved great fame in the Transporter movies, many people may not realize that he endured a lengthy, grueling decline in his career during the early 2010s. This period was marked by six consecutive films that failed to capture audiences’ interest. However, he managed to rise from these setbacks and once again claim the title of action hero, featuring in popular movies like Spy, Fast & Furious, and The Beekeeper. Now, one might wonder which film served as his comeback and provided him with a fresh start?
Jason Statham Had Six Consecutive Flops Before The Expendables 2
Jason Statham primarily gained fame through his action-packed performances in movies like “Crank” and “Transporter,” however, he’s also appeared in a variety of other films. Some of these projects solidified his status as a seasoned actor, while others fell short of fan expectations. The first part of the 2010s was a challenging period for Statham, as he faced a string of disappointing movies after the success of “Transporter 3” and “Crank: High Voltage.
Starting with the movie “13”, the actor made appearances in several films, including “Gnomeo & Juliet”, an animated comedy-fantasy, “The Mechanic”, one of his lesser-known action movies, “Killer Elite”, a thrilling action film co-starring Robert De Niro and Clive Owen, and lastly, “Blitz”, an action movie adapted from Ken Bruen’s novel. Regrettably, these films either flopped at the box office or received minimal critical acclaim, marking a challenging period for the renowned Statham, often hailed as one of the top action stars of the 21st century. For a succinct overview of their performance, here’s a table outlining the box office earnings and audience ratings:
| Movie | Estimated Budget | Box Office Gross | Rotten Tomatoes Audience Score |
|---|---|---|---|
| 13 | $20 million | $3.7 million | 34% |
| Gnomeo & Juliet | $36 million | $193.7 million | 54% |
| The Mechanic | $40 million | $76.3 million | 51% |
| Killer Elite | $70 million | $56.4 million | 42% |
| Blitz | Unknown | $15.8 million | 36% |
| Safe | $30 million | $40.6 million | 59% |
In the table provided, most films fail to impress both critics and audiences financially, except for Gnomeo & Juliet, which earned an impressive $193.7 million at the box office on just a $36 million budget. Interestingly, Jason Statham didn’t voice the main character in this film but instead portrayed Tybalt, Gnomeo and Benny’s arch-nemesis. Although Tybalt was a significant character, the movie wasn’t primarily attributed to Statham. This period of struggles led him eventually to his well-deserved success in The Expendables 2, a film featuring several top-tier actors.
How The Expendables 2 Restored His Winning Streak
Apart from the “Fast & Furious” and “The Meg” series, “The Expendables 2” stands as Jason Statham’s most financially successful film. In this production, he portrays a former SAS soldier who is deeply loyal to Barney Ross (played by Sylvester Stallone), the right-hand man of the Expendables team. The movie skillfully built upon the success of its prequel and elevated every aspect, including the action sequences that were more extravagant than ever and the nostalgic elements that contributed to both commercial and critical acclaim for the film.
In simpler terms, the action film “The Expendables 2” garnered a Rotten Tomatoes score of 68% (Tomatometer) and 67% (Popcornmeter), and made an impressive $315 million despite having a budget of just $100 million. This might appear to be a good return on investment, but it’s important to consider that big-name stars like Sylvester Stallone, Liam Hemsworth, Jean-Claude Van Damme, Jet Li, Chuck Norris, Randy Couture, Bruce Willis, Arnold Schwarzenegger, Scott Adkins, and Dolph Lundgren were part of the cast. Following his role in “The Expendables 2”, Jason Statham’s career took off, leading to roles in “Fast & Furious” and a return for “The Expendables 3”, both significant additions to the ongoing franchise.
Following his exceptional performances across various roles, he was presented with additional opportunities in similar projects, such as the blockbuster hit “The Meg” and the eagerly awaited fourth part of the “Expendables” series. Regrettably, “Expendables 4,” which has just been released, is receiving poor reviews, leading some fans to question if another film in the franchise will be produced due to Statham’s significant role in each installment. However, it’s being speculated that the franchise may have two more movies planned, with “The Expendables 5” split into two parts and serving as the final chapter.
While the first half could be released in 2025, the second is scheduled for 2027, though there may be production delays. Naturally, The Expendables 5 will feature an increasing number of action stars, just like The Expendables 4 did with Tony Jaa and Iko Uwais. Hopefully, The Expendables 5 will provide Jason Statham with another exhilarating start similar to The Expendables 3, especially given his fondness for action roles and a continuing string of disasters, like Meg 2: The Trench, Operation Fortune: Ruse de Guerre, and Fast X. The Expendables 2 is streaming on Sling TV.
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2024-11-13 05:31