As a cinephile with a penchant for gritty crime dramas and action-packed thrillers, I have had the pleasure of following Guy Ritchie’s illustrious career since his early days directing “Lock, Stock and Two Smoking Barrels”. Over the years, I have been captivated by his unique storytelling style, intricate plots, and the electrifying chemistry between him and his go-to leading man, Mr. Jason Statham.
Without a doubt, Jason Statham is one of the most dynamic and respected action stars on the big screen, often hailed as Hollywood’s leading choice for high-octane films. Known for his portrayal of tough and unyielding characters, Statham first graced the silver screen in Guy Ritchie’s highly praised black comedy crime film, “Lock, Stock and Two Smoking Barrels.” This debut marked not only the beginning of Statham’s successful career but also launched Ritchie into the limelight, setting the stage for a long-lasting professional bond between the two.
Since 1998, this legendary collaboration has produced five remarkable films that continue to captivate audiences. Their latest venture is the highly anticipated 2023 action comedy, “Operation Fortune: Ruse de Guerre.” Over the years, their collective cinematic ventures have earned over $270 million globally at the box office, solidifying their status as a formidable duo and garnering them a dedicated fanbase. As fans eagerly await their next joint project, let’s delve into their films and their respective box office successes.
5 ‘Revolver’ (2005)
$6.7 Million
In the action-packed movie titled “Revolver”, Jason Statham played the role of Jake Green, an ex-convict seeking revenge, who was wrongfully imprisoned for seven years and chose solitary confinement to serve his time faster. Upon his release, Green embarks on a quest for vengeance against mobster Dorothy Macha (Ray Liotta). However, he is shocked when he learns that he has only a limited time left to live.
A Critical & Commercial Misfire
The team-up between the acclaimed Hollywood pair, “Revolver,” was a significant box office flop, earning only $6.7 million against a production budget of $27 million. This suspenseful film was met with harsh criticism, being labeled as overly complex and pretentious by many critics. As a result, it was often considered the weakest work of director Ritchie, receiving a dismal 15% rating on Rotten Tomatoes. In fact, favorable reviews for “Revolver” were so scarce that its distributors even had to purchase a positive quote from The Sun to be featured on the film’s poster as promotional material.
4 ‘Lock, Stock and Two Smoking Barrels’ (1998)
$28.1 Million
In the globally acclaimed role that made Statham a household name, Jason Flemyng, Dexter Fletcher, and Nick Moran joined forces in the black comedy “Lock, Stock and Two Smoking Barrels.” This film marked the impressive directorial debut of Ritchie, with its success earning high praise. The story follows four friends, Eddie (Moran), Tom (Flemyng), Soap (Fletcher), and Bacon (Statham), who are small-time criminals, as they desperately try to repay a large gambling debt. In their attempt to do so, they plan to rob from robbers, setting off an unforeseen chain of events.
A Sensational Hollywood Debut
In simple terms, “Lock, Stock and Two Smoking Barrels” was the initial blockbuster collaboration between Statham and Ritchie, demonstrating their wide-reaching popularity and skills, not just as actors but also behind the camera. This movie, made on a low budget of $1.4 million, became a box office hit, earning $28.1 million. Critics praised it for its unexpected plot twists, clever script, and compelling performances. It even received a BAFTA nomination for Best British Film and is often listed among the greatest British films ever made, laying the foundation for Ritchie’s successful career.
3 ‘Operation Fortune: Ruse de Guerre’ (2023)
$49 Million
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Spotlighting an outstanding cast headed by Jason Statham, Aubrey Plaza, Hugh Grant, and Josh Hartnett, the comedic spy action flick “Operation Fortune: Ruse de Guerre ” revolves around the character Orson Fortune, a skilled secret agent, who finds himself tasked with gathering an unusual assortment of top-tier operatives. Their mission? To thwart the dissemination of a destructive weapons technology. As Fortune and his team join forces with movie star Danny Francesco (portrayed by Hartnett), they seek to distract its wealthy inventor, Greg Simmond (Grant). Predictably, side-splitting mayhem unfolds throughout their endeavor.
Production Is Plagued by Controversy
The movie “Operation Fortune” experienced several delays before premiering in March 2023, as its initial release date was postponed due to concerns about its portrayal of Ukrainian gangsters. The film’s villains were depicted as being of Ukrainian origin, which caused producers to reconsider its launch amidst the ongoing Russo-Ukrainian conflict, as it might have been seen as insensitive and inappropriate to depict “Ukrainian bad guys” at that time.
Following an initial postponement, the film “Operation Fortune: Ruse de Guerre” eventually hit both cinema screens and digital platforms, albeit a month later. Despite encountering numerous setbacks, the movie managed to rake in only $49 million globally, which was significantly less than its production cost of $50 million. However, audiences found the film delightful and gave it a B+ CinemaScore and 82% Popcornmeter rating, in stark contrast to its 51% Tomatometer score from critics. Viewers were particularly impressed by its exciting action scenes and amusing humor.
2 ‘Snatch’ (2000)
$83.6 Million
Known as one of Ritchie’s most notable film accomplishments, his crime comedy masterpiece “Snatch” unfolds through two intertwining narratives, chronicling the captivating tale of illegal boxing promoter and gambling den owner Turkish (Statham). Following a series of unfortunate events, Turkish finds himself at odds with vicious gangster Brick Top (Alan Ford) when his boxer Mickey (Brad Pitt) fails to fix a fight as arranged. Enraged by this betrayal, Brick demands that Mickey lose the next match, placing Turkish in a difficult position where he must persuade the obstinate fighter to comply.
Ritchie’s Beloved Cult Classic Knockout
In addition to its main plot, the movie “Snatch” features a subplot where several crooks compete to find an enormous 86-carat diamond, with the character Franky Four-Fingers (Benicio del Toro) entering London in pursuit of those who orchestrated the theft. This crime-comedy was made on a modest $10 million budget and reigned supreme at the box office, earning $83.6 million. It was a massive success both critically and commercially for Ritchie, solidifying his reputation while maintaining the distinct style from “Lock, Stock and Two Smoking Barrels.” With a 93% rating on Rotten Tomatoes’ Popcornmeter, it is widely regarded as Ritchie’s most cherished work among fans.
1 ‘Wrath of Man’ (2021)
$104 Million
Drawing inspiration from the French movie “Cash Truck,” Ritchie’s pulse-pounding action thriller, “Wrath of Man,” masterfully brings director and star Statham together once more. In this film, Statham gives a remarkable performance as a tormented father, driven by a quest for vengeance after the tragic death of his son. The character Statham plays is H, a mysterious and unnerving new cash truck security guard. H demonstrates exceptional marksmanship abilities and employs them to foil a robbery, all while concealing sinister intentions behind his actions.
Ritchie & Statham’s Dazzling Gamble
The film titled “Wrath of Man” made its debut during the peak of the COVID-19 pandemic, having initially been postponed due to the worldwide outbreak. The studio bravely chose to release it in cinemas despite the uncertainty, banking on the assumption that audiences who had recently received their vaccinations would be eager to return to theaters and enjoy the thriller.
In a stroke of luck, the movie “Wrath of Man” truly hit it big! It dominated the box office on its debut weekend, raking in a whopping $8.1 million in the U.S. and Canada alone. Over time, it managed to earn an impressive total of $104 million, all while sticking to a budget of just $40 million. Remarkably, this success was achieved even though it was exclusively streamed in the U.K. The film’s triumph clearly demonstrated that audiences were ready and excited to return to cinemas, craving thrilling and electrifying experiences.
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2024-11-27 04:32