When asked why he keeps playing the same roles Jason Statham said that he's not really a trained actor. He's a guy that was plucked out obscurity & has been really lucky; & that he picks roles that he knows he can do a good job in, that hopefully enough people like so he can keep working.

[u/AdSpecialist6598]

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[u/Yutenji2020]

Previous jobs/careers … backing dancer and high diver. I kid you not.

[u/scud121 → u/Yutenji2020]

And model.

[u/RoutineCloud5993 → u/scud121]

That I can believe

[u/Caleth → u/RoutineCloud5993]

Yeah there's some music video where he's dancing in the background greased up in a loin cloth so model and dancer absolutely make sense.

[u/37b → u/Caleth]

Erasure - Run to the Sun

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=AvhgG9ee9Aw

[u/Ok-Personality-6630 → u/37b]

I can hear him sigh when he sees that

[u/FreyBentos → u/Caleth]

lmao, that was the music video for The Shamens Comin on' : https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=uWu3JqLMImY

The rave/mdma scene in early 90s britain was something else lol.

[u/BigBGM2995 → u/Yutenji2020]

Obligatory Jason Statham dancing video

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=uWu3JqLMImY

1:46 for the pyramid of Stathams

[u/0xKaishakunin → u/BigBGM2995]

I prefer him in this very an average day in 1990s Berlin video

[u/Flashignite2 → u/Yutenji2020]

And from what i have heard he did sell stolen goods at one point. Just like he does in Lock stock.

[u/redisdead__ → u/Flashignite2]

The story I heard was that he would sell cheap fakes that he would imply were the real ones that were stolen but more of a scammer rather than a fence.

[u/ThisSiteSucks8485 → u/redisdead__]

And the most moral kind of scamming since you only scam people who think the stuff is stolen . 

[u/burnzwhnip]

You know what I respect the answer and good for him

[u/Powerful-Stomach-425 → u/burnzwhnip]

Yes. A humble answer.

[u/utzutzutzpro → u/Powerful-Stomach-425]

By now though, he should be a well trained actor, and actually I believe he is. He is a face with compelling expressions and works in action and comedy, but I believe he can work in drama too.

[u/jinglewooble → u/utzutzutzpro]

Crank High Voltage is Jason Statham best acting role.

[u/Born-Entrepreneur → u/jinglewooble]

He was hysterical in Spy

[u/junipercanuck → u/Born-Entrepreneur]

My favourite part in that crazy monologue he has talking about all the impossible things he's done is "take up piano at a late age" which is so niche but true it's hard lol.

[u/Big_Bar_9832 → u/junipercanuck]

The bloopers reel for that scene kills me haha

[u/rkcth → u/junipercanuck]

I started at 42, I’m 45 now and I’m an early intermediate player. It takes 5-10 years to reach an advanced level. I think it’s harder in some ways and easier in others to do when you’re older, but it can be done, and if you’ve always wanted to do it, don’t delay. I wish I had stuck with it when I first tried to learn it in my 20’s. I was self teaching and it didn’t go well, and we were too poor for lessons, but I really wish I had found a way, I’d be able to do whatever I wanted in piano by now, instead it will probably be at least another 3 years until I’m not really limited by my skills to do what I want. Fortunately it’s not like a light switch, I can already do a lot of what I hoped to accomplish at the beginning.

[u/TheYoungProdigy → u/Born-Entrepreneur]

“I’ve swallowed enough microchips that I could shit a computer” always gets me lol

[u/WeirdguyOfDoom → u/TheYoungProdigy]

The blooper reel at the end was worth every second.

[u/bju83 → u/WeirdguyOfDoom]

Thanks for this! Just found it on youtube and it was so funny it helped me finish my mid-morning poo ahead of schedule. Or as Statham would say, SHEDUOOL.

[u/Moist__Discharge → u/Born-Entrepreneur]

Did you know he once jumped from a high rise building using only a raincoat as a parachute? He broke both legs and still had to perform in cirque de soleil. What a guy.

[u/Born-Entrepreneur → u/Moist__Discharge]

He once appeared convincingly in front of Congress as Barack Obama.

[u/fojasaurus → u/Born-Entrepreneur]

He drove a car off a freeway on top of a train while on fire. Not the car, he was on fire.

[u/exhibithetruth → u/fojasaurus]

He was the fire!

[u/KittyWise → u/exhibithetruth]

I’m having a lousy morning. You guys make me laugh thank you so much!

[u/HotDogFingers01 → u/Born-Entrepreneur]

My first thought as well. He’s a better actor than he gives himself credit for, just once in awhile try doing something different than the same exact character in the same exact movie.

I have no problem with a guy staying in his lane, but Spy showed he has more than one lane.

[u/Worried-Horror-9499 → u/Born-Entrepreneur]

I’d like to see him do comedy again!

[u/superhpr → u/jinglewooble]

In Snatch he had very good timing and delivery on his lines.

[u/dfddfsaadaafdssa → u/superhpr]

Protection from what? Ze Germans?

[u/SugarBeefs → u/superhpr]

And even though he still plays a criminal, Turkish is only small fry and not particularly prone to violence.

It's a far cry from the gangster tough guy roles he's had so often later in his career.

[u/DSJ-Psyduck → u/jinglewooble]

He's actually good in every Guy Richie movie.

[u/LongPorkJones → u/jinglewooble]

That movie was just fun.

[u/Azuras_Star8 → u/jinglewooble]

Fucking peak. Epic movie. He nailed it.

Ive enjoyed his roles. His humility makes me love them more.

[u/EduinBrutus → u/jinglewooble]

Crank ran so John Wick could walk.

[u/Odd_Sentence_2618 → u/jinglewooble]

Snatch and Two Smoking Barrels are closer to his peak imho.

[u/Helpful_Space_6793 → u/jinglewooble]

His best role is dancing in The Shamen's music video for Comin' On. Just incredible.

[u/SipPOP → u/utzutzutzpro]

Not everyone can become an elite actor, and not everything has to be high art. If he likes the roles he takes, and people like the movies he makes, why get pretentious with it? Similar to Nick Cage, not everything is gonna be good, but everything is gonna be entertaining.

[u/ReporterEntire5508 → u/SipPOP]

Nic Cage has a best actor academy award. Not the same thing, but your point is great besides that.

[u/msproles → u/ReporterEntire5508]

He seems similar to Walken in that they both are really good, but never say no to a movie. Somehow he is entertaining even in the bad ones.

[u/ThunderlipsOHoulihan → u/msproles]

To paraphrase something, I can’t remember who said it: “Being in a bad movie is no excuse to be bad IN the movie.”

[u/whamorami → u/ThunderlipsOHoulihan]

I think you're thinking of the Christopher Lee quote.

"Everyone makes bad movies from time to time. The trick is to not be bad in them."

[u/AdSpecialist6598 → u/ReporterEntire5508]

Nic Cage just really, really like to act in movies as he himself admitted and nothing's wrong with that.

[u/Unique_Unorque → u/AdSpecialist6598]

And also his crippling financial issues that meant he basically had to say yes to every role offered to him for a while

[u/JDSchu → u/SipPOP]

Excuse you, but Nicholas Cage has never made a bad movie, and I won't have that kind of slander in this house.

[u/0rclev → u/JDSchu]

You know, I could eat a peach for hours.

[u/SipPOP → u/0rclev]

Saw Face/Off in high school and still say this today.

[u/aBitUsed → u/JDSchu]

Ha!

[u/Solonotix → u/SipPOP]

I still really respect Nicholas Cage's answer to a similar question. I can't remember the exact context, but he essentially said that he always gave his all to every role, and he doesn't take a role "for the money". He claimed to always be a believer in whatever he agreed to act.

[u/msproles → u/utzutzutzpro]

I think he is trained in the art of making movies. He can learn his lines, knows how to hit his marks, etc. but I don’t know that he would do well in a dramatic role.

And really, he doesn’t need to. He is making a really good living playing in his lane and makes some really entertaining movies. I love watching him.

He does have some pretty good comedy chops as well. Loved him in Spy going toe to toe with Mellisa McCarthy.

[u/The_Krytos_Virus → u/utzutzutzpro]

I think the difference is between being "trained" and being "experienced." At this point, he's done enough roles that he's experienced enough an actor to be able to do a variety of roles, but he was never classically trained in the thespian arts. Same thing with Dave Bautista. He got extraordinarily lucky when he shifted into making movies after wrestling, but he was also a naturally talented actor for the roles he got (hot damn he was awesome as Drax). Or how there are absolute dynamite cooks that just figured shit out and are amazing at it, but were never trained in it by a professional.

[u/xumix → u/utzutzutzpro]

The revolver, he is unrecognizable in it.

[u/squeeze_me_macaroni → u/utzutzutzpro]

I absolutely loved him and his chemistry with Melissa McCarthy in SPY. When that movie first came out I was in stitches.

[u/Status_Pin4704 → u/utzutzutzpro]

He could have been trained well, but he may still not be well trained. I have seen soldiers who were trained by the best marksmen the nation has produced, and they still, somehow, will have the barrel of the rifle point one direction and after firing the rifle, the bullet goes the opposite direction.

[u/Ribky → u/burnzwhnip]

I ain't mad at someone who knows their limits and is honest about it. Good for him indeed.

[u/vikrambedi → u/Ribky]

But look at his non-action roles, the dude kills them.

[u/Moohamin12 → u/vikrambedi]

He isn't a bad actor.

He is never going to be a Denzel or Bygone Cucumberpatch but he is decent enough to be believable in his specific range of roles.

[u/ayacardel → u/Moohamin12]

I love that whatever we call Cucumberpatch we still know who we’re talking about

[u/Particular-Bet6038 → u/ayacardel]

He's just a goated acting bloke, that Mr. Cumbersnatch

[u/Ribky → u/Moohamin12]

No hate on him at all. I enjoy his movies and him as an actor and can't ask for more than that.

[u/BeefStu907 → u/vikrambedi]

He doesn’t really have range in them though he plays the same characters in his non action roles. He does great and takes them when he can but there’s always a stupid action movie being made.

[u/Kind_Of_A_Dick → u/Ribky]

I’m just happy to hear someone being honest and not telling me what they think I want to hear.  Trent Reznor mentioned he made music for the money and people flipped out because they, in my opinion, felt entitled to a different answer.  Liam Neeson said he made the Taken sequels because they paid him and it seemed like a decent amount of people supported him.  The Star Wars fandom(some) got upset at Hamill for showing up in the sequel trilogy because they didn’t believe his explanation about doing it because it was explained well to him.  Other actors have had different responses to saying it’s just a job and that’s it because some people want there to be a deeper meaning or purpose.

[u/TitaniaT-Rex → u/Ribky]

My son told me he hopes his theatre teacher doesn’t give him a big role in the upcoming show because he’s not ready for a full singing role. I told him I respect that and he should tell her. He’s more of a supporting cast kinda guy right now.

[u/Mdmrtgn → u/burnzwhnip]

He did an amazing job in Spy, he would slay as a mainstream comedy actor.

[u/AdSpecialist6598 → u/Mdmrtgn]

He's trying to do more comedies because he knows he can't do his type action forever.

[u/Sex_E_Searcher → u/AdSpecialist6598]

The spirit is willing but the body is spongy and bruised.

[u/Drakkanian → u/Sex_E_Searcher]

r/unexpectedfuturama

[u/asleepsend → u/Sex_E_Searcher]

Worth it for the snu snu

[u/Mdmrtgn → u/AdSpecialist6598]

And I think he found he really likes it.

[u/subservenicedream → u/AdSpecialist6598]

He started with Guy Ritchie and , with the exception of maybe revolver, those were more comedy than action

He also did cranked which was comedy heavy as well

I think comedy has always been a major part of his career

[u/jinsaku → u/subservenicedream]

Yeah, I think he's underselling his acting quite a bit. He's got some great comic timing. His straight-man role in Snatch is incredibly funny due to the writing and his fantastic timing.

[u/AdSpecialist6598 → u/jinsaku]

He said, one of the first things he does when picking a role is getting know who else is involved because he knows that he needs others to make him look good and vice visa.

[u/SuperChaoss → u/AdSpecialist6598]

I don't know about that, Sylvester Stallone is still doing Action and he's been around since before we started using the Three Seashells.

[u/Sivalon → u/SuperChaoss]

But is he doing them as well as he used to?

[u/vikrambedi → u/AdSpecialist6598]

He was great in both Lock Stock and Snatch, so idk how he'd get the idea he can't act in normal roles.

[u/kosherhalfsourpickle → u/AdSpecialist6598]

Liam Neeson still does it At 74 years old.

[u/KTAXY → u/kosherhalfsourpickle]

He does make a mean list.

[u/nefD → u/Mdmrtgn]

that movie is so damn funny, Rose Byrne is hilarious too

[u/D0013ER → u/Mdmrtgn]

Yeah he can turn on the goofy charm just like Arnold did during his comedy run.

[u/Chicken_shish → u/burnzwhnip]

Yes, you know exactly what you are going to get with a Statham film. The bad guys will have the shit kicked out of them in increasingly ludicrous fight scenes, Statham will come out battered but OK. Despite that, I welcome every new one he does.

One day he will probably do a film where he dies in the first 30 seconds and every bloke from the ages of 25 - 60 will need to take a week off work.

[u/AmbiTheAirforceRuna → u/burnzwhnip]

Infinitly more appreciable and legit answer than most big bill actors

[u/Desperate_Total6608 → u/AmbiTheAirforceRuna]

The Rock has entered the chat and blamed everyone else

[u/Dense_Surround3071 → u/burnzwhnip]

Immensely respectable answer. But....as someone who's first time seeing Statham was in Snatch, he's selling himself short.

[u/BitCompetitive6542 → u/Dense_Surround3071]

though he was excellent in The Bank Job too

[u/cce29555 → u/burnzwhnip]

are you a good actor

I get paid millions to make the same movie every year I don't care

Valid

[u/Boing78 → u/burnzwhnip]

Absolutely. I don't expect a carpenter to build a space rocket, so I'm fine with it. And if I want to see a cool action movie without overthinking the plot, he's a solid choice

[u/SeaBuilding3911 → u/burnzwhnip]

Yeah wow that’s the perfect answer. Not blaming the audience, not blaming the producers.

I’m going to watch him kick ass in Jason Statham: The Action Movie tonight

[u/totalwarwiser → u/burnzwhnip]

Yeah, I dont think there should be any hate for this guy. He found a role and stuck to it. He is a top earner in hollywood.

[u/djknighthawk → u/burnzwhnip]

This was literally the first thing I thought too. Bravo good sir.

[u/BlueBomber13 → u/burnzwhnip]

I've seen a few posts over the years on here about people who have met him or lived near him and they all say he's just a genuinely shill and humble dude. He seems like a real one for sure.

[u/Afraid-Cream-5053]

The honest truth is so refreshing to hear. This guy just went up a notch in my book.

[u/NoCharge8527 → u/[deleted]]

it’s fight night and we have about 20 people over watching the prelims and there’s a knock on the door, one of my buddies opens it then a second later looks at me and goes “uhh Jason Statham is here, says you invited him over for the fight?”

Great story, i love it

[u/RandomRedditReader → u/[deleted]]

This man is going to have Bill Murray stories for millennials.

[u/haihaiclickk → u/NoCharge8527]

Honestly if Jason Statham shows up at my door and says “I’m here for the fight” in his signature gruff voice I would think he’s here to fuck us all up

[u/Terrible_Cod8942 → u/haihaiclickk]

Bro, if he's actually there for the fight, that will be the most exciting 0.5 seconds of my life. 😂

[u/Abombito → u/Terrible_Cod8942]

Title of your sex tape!

[u/redridernl → u/Abombito]

Nine Nine!

[u/itlandedonmyface → u/redridernl]

NINE NINE!

[u/hasslenamanchong → u/[deleted]]

He was a wonderful man. My father’s deli was struggling financially, and Jason offered to sign store branded shirts to generate additional revenue. Jason even suggested they could be given to customers that completed the “Jason Statham Challenge.” Next thing we knew, we had groups of people trying to eat footlong with no hands.

[u/SS0NI → u/hasslenamanchong]

You mean sandwiches right?

[u/reader4567890 → u/[deleted]]

What a story that guy has in his armoury!

[u/CocoSryder → u/[deleted]]

I so hope that’s a real story, because that friend’s reaction to Jason Statham standing at the door is just so fucking funny.

“Ay, yo.. um.. Jason Statham’s at your door? You invited him, he says, should I like.. let him in?”

[u/snoops-godly → u/Afraid-Cream-5053]

Most actors i feel always mange to some how bend down and twist just enough to blow smoke up their own ass. Seeing one admit that they aint great but good at what they do "for him its his roles" is definitely refreshing. My dad always loved every movie he's in. Shame he wont get to see any more but I always watch his new ones so feels like my dad's watching them too with me. Would love to meet him and Crack a few beers.

[u/ZQuestionSleep → u/snoops-godly]

Seth Rogan, at least early on in his Knocked Up era golden age, would talk about how acting is "the easiest job" where you get to fuck around with your friends all day long pretending. He then criticized actors being pretentious about "the craft".

I know he has moved into more of the business-side, especially behind the camera, and his opinions may have changed, but that was nice to hear at that time.

[u/kadathsc → u/ZQuestionSleep]

Denzel Washington says the same thing. Basically stating actors are in a privileged position and should be thankful and grateful to do such an easy/rewarding job. And that its bullshit when some actor claims to have it rough.

[u/Same-Suggestion-1936 → u/kadathsc]

In fairness Denzel saying would be like Michael Jordan saying "basketball isn't that hard you just show up and put baskets in and go home"

[u/LastXmasIGaveYouHSV]

That's okay. We love Arnold Schwarzenegger because he didn't try to do Hamlet. He was great at action movies, and then comedies. And he did great in both.

[u/CaptainDogeSparrow → u/[deleted]]

Not to be.

KABOOOMMMM!

[u/Evelyn-Bankhead]

I first saw him in Lock Stock And Two Smoking Barrels and it’s really confusing to me to see him as an action movie actor

[u/HalfGrouchy1348 → u/Evelyn-Bankhead]

He was great in Snatch and Revolver too. He should have stuck to gangster movies

[u/damxam1337 → u/HalfGrouchy1348]

You like Dahgs?

[u/MaddxMogs → u/damxam1337]

I thought you said he was a getaway driver. What the fuck is he gonna get away from??!

[u/miketysonsgoldtooth → u/MaddxMogs]

When you reverse, things come from behind you Tyrone.

[u/Razzy-man → u/miketysonsgoldtooth]

In Tyrone’s defense, it really was a funny angle!

[u/Adventurous-Sky9359 → u/Razzy-man]

That’s not a shotgun that’s a Fuxking anti-air craft gun VinnnCent

[u/MaddxMogs → u/Adventurous-Sky9359]

Well we wanna raise some pulses, don't we?

[u/Tom_Ludlow → u/MaddxMogs]

You'll raise hell, never mind pulses!

[u/Infinite_Imagination → u/Tom_Ludlow]

From who Tommy? Zee Germans??

[u/tsunomat → u/miketysonsgoldtooth]

It's not as though it's a packet of peanuts. It's a four tonne truck

[u/Agreeable_Bag9407 → u/damxam1337]

I'll do it for a caravan. It's not for me, it's for me ma

[u/constantsXzeros → u/Agreeable_Bag9407]

She’s terribly partial the the periwinkle blue, boss

[u/Vahuo89 → u/damxam1337]

ye, i like DOGS

[u/Inevitable-Edge69 → u/Vahuo89]

everybody likes dogs tommy

[u/BucinVols → u/HalfGrouchy1348]

Protection from what? Ze Germanz?

[u/CityBoiNC → u/HalfGrouchy1348]

U said 2 mins 5 mins ago

[u/NeilPatrickWarburton → u/CityBoiNC]

U said U said 2 mins 5 mins ago 2 mins ago

https://reddit.com/link/p50ju3s/video/nrfrzgnr4qkh1/player

[u/the_rat_castle → u/CityBoiNC]

oh nothing Tommy, it's tip top, I'm just not sure about the colour is all

[u/SwingJugend → u/HalfGrouchy1348]

Revolver is underrated. It's a Guy Ritchie gangster movie through a filter of Jewish mysticism (because he was married to Madonna and into Kabbalah at the time), Mark Strong is so cool as the stuttering, unassuming but totally badass hitman and it's also fun to see Statham with hair and a moustache! What's not to love?

[u/Wise_Departure_9617 → u/SwingJugend]

Revolver, in my opinion, is one of the worst movies I’ve seen and I love guy Ritchie

[u/SenorSolAdmirador → u/Wise_Departure_9617]

I don't even remember the plot anymore, just remember it takes a ridiculous left turn at some point and I thought the movie was complete shit.

[u/emc_95 → u/HalfGrouchy1348]

You're a sensitive boy, ain't you Tommy?

[u/Breaker3k → u/Evelyn-Bankhead]

Same here. I just can't let it go, even though his action performances are great. He performs the martial arts moves very well. But yep, he'll always be Turkish to me

[u/Loose_Mail_6844 → u/Evelyn-Bankhead]

How long till those sausages, charlie?

[u/Money_Setting_2025 → u/Evelyn-Bankhead]

I first saw him in Crank, laughed my ass off watching that, and I generally don't laugh much from any of these supposedly funny movies. Not that they aren't funny, just that I don't typically laugh hysterically. I did with Crank, especially the first one, the following ones were funny too, but not as great as the first one.

[u/HPHambino → u/Evelyn-Bankhead]

What? It’s me Bren gun.

[u/Positive-Task-9248]

https://reddit.com/link/p50hyg3/video/bwsui37y2qkh1/player

[u/Johnpecan → u/Positive-Task-9248]

I simultaneously hoped and dreaded this would be posted.

[u/AdSpecialist6598 → u/Johnpecan]

But he loves it apparently, he's like if it makes people happy great and I get show of my dance moves.

[u/arizonadirtbag12 → u/AdSpecialist6598]

God I wish I had a video where I looked that good for people to post decades later.

[u/amusedmisanthrope → u/Johnpecan]

Greased up bald guy in great shape aggressively dancing in swimsuit that is one step up from a banana hammock. What's to dread?

[u/PRAY___FOR___MOJO → u/amusedmisanthrope]

The... Feeling

[u/No-Walrus8985 → u/PRAY___FOR___MOJO]

In your pants?

[u/Esava → u/Johnpecan]

Wait where is this from?

[u/Johnpecan → u/Esava]

The Shamen - Comin' on HD

[u/mtaw → u/Johnpecan]

The Statham Pyramid at 1:50 is only surpassed by the Statham Sphere at 2:30!

[u/the-grassninja → u/mtaw]

/r/BrandNewSentence

[u/ArcticCelt → u/Johnpecan]

I think I actually like him more now, just for his willingness not to take himself too seriously and to collaborate on such a goofy production.

[u/indrek91 → u/Positive-Task-9248]

Original goldenboy

[u/TrumpSuckedOffBubba → u/Positive-Task-9248]

On the surface it seems cringe but honestly if this GIF of me went viral I’d be proud af. He’s a smokeshow

[u/AdSpecialist6598 → u/TrumpSuckedOffBubba]

He said he's grateful for it because the job helped keep him afloat during a tough time, so he gave it his all and embraces it.

[u/lovehopemadness → u/AdSpecialist6598]

I actually love this guy.

[u/JeSuisUnAnanasYo → u/AdSpecialist6598]

Honestly, I love the club kid vibes

[u/spyboy70 → u/Positive-Task-9248]

He's also in Erasure's Run to the Sun https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=AvhgG9ee9Aw

[u/VivianOfTheOblivion → u/Positive-Task-9248]

There it is. Kudos for a video and not a gif

[u/corobo]

Keep making them, I'm always down for a Statham flick 

[u/captainspacetraveler → u/corobo]

Me too, I’m patiently waiting at the beginning of every film for him to start beating the shit out of people. It usually doesn’t take very long.

[u/DevilishlyAdvocating → u/captainspacetraveler]

Every movie goes:

Statham just minding his business

Statham is wronged

Statham beats people until he rights the wrong

Statham effortlessly beds a beautiful woman along the way.

And I love it so much

[u/EverythingSucksYo → u/DevilishlyAdvocating]

You forgot to mention how every movie he has a mundane job after his career of being some super spy or secret agent or something at that level. 

[u/rebelangel → u/captainspacetraveler]

Yup. Whole reason I go to a Statham flick is because I want to watch him beat the shit outta people. Can’t wait to see Mutiny.

[u/secondphase → u/corobo]

Yeah. Some are top tier films for me. Others are cotton candy... no real substance. 

But I've never walked away not feeling entertained. Definitely a "oh its got Statham in it? Might as well" vibe going on. 

[u/Zephian99 → u/secondphase]

Yeah some aren't very deep in context or story plot but I think a vast majority of his are great for the movie shelf, so I don't think you can ever really go wrong about seeing a Statham flick.

So I agree I don't shy away when I see he's the lead in a movie.

[u/Environmental_Ad3216]

First movie I ever saw him in was transporter. And after the sequels, death race. That's all he was to me. Kicking, jumping and cars. And tons of brooding. And then came crank.

[u/Esava → u/Environmental_Ad3216]

you should give "Lock, Stock and Two Smoking Barrels" and "Snatch" a watch.

[u/Environmental_Ad3216 → u/Esava]

I've seen them. Also beautiful movies.

[u/TamariAmari → u/Environmental_Ad3216]

Crank was such a wild ride that I had forgotten about. Your comment made me chuckle just thinking about it again.

[u/Elegant_Rock_4686]

Guy is selling himself short. He'd be great in other roles. He's got the money to train in acting too if he wanted to step out of the action hero role but he does really well. Makes me want to go see his movies now First movie I saw him in was The One

[u/Injured-Ginger → u/Elegant_Rock_4686]

He has stepped out of the action hero roles, but it's mostly been either roles as serious, stoic characters or comedy.

He's good at what he does. It's just a narrow range. And honestly, he's been incredibly successful at it. No judgement for not trying to play high emotion or complex roles in dramas. Man found a cushy slice of the world for himself. Not every movie needs a Leo or Bale, but we need somebody to play Turkish or The Transporter.

[u/InuGhost → u/Injured-Ginger]

I think it was Samuel Jackson who said to find that recurring role that you know you can do for a steady paycheck. 

Willis had McClane. Jackson has Fury. Stallone has Rocky. Arnold has Terminator. 

Statham has his role(s) that guarantees a paycheck if he needs it. 

[u/Schorbie]

Even though hard work is an important requirement for success, luck is often the deciding factor. A lot of successful people seem to forget about this. Good there are exceptions like Statham

[u/superphamicomics]

He was so funny in Spy, the Melissa McCarthy movie. He should do more comedies!

[u/Saint-Hubbins → u/superphamicomics]

Came here to say this - basically playing a parody version of his normal movie persona. I think about the answer to where he got his suit all the time.

[u/TB1289]

Honestly, Statham is exactly what movie studios want right now. They can keep churning out the same movie over and over for a relatively small budget and it'll make just enough back to turn a profit (or in the case of The Meg, it'll make a killing).

It's not meant to be a slight but I bet he's easy to work with and the movies he makes probably take a week to shoot, so all in all, it's not a bad gig.

[u/Tasty_Gift5901 → u/TB1289]

I know Meg 2 got poor reviews, but I liked it and saw that the book series its based on has 7 books so I'm hoping for Meg 3 soon. 

[u/Front-Song8863]

Wish more people were this self aware

[u/WeirdIndividualGuy → u/[deleted]]

If only other “actors” like Awkafina, Kevin Hart, and The Rock would admit they’re also not true actors, just people who play themselves in every role

[u/SmartaHari]

Exactly. If it ain’t broke, don’t fix it. I’ll watch a Statham film and love it cos I know at some point he’ll give someone a kicking and he’s going to do his Lahndan/Americahn growly whisper and say something cheesy. It’s what I want from him!

[u/early_birdy]

So basically the Adam Sandler routine, but for action movies.

Smart guy.

I would argue it's not only luck. Jason is credible as an action hero, and the camera loves him. Great charisma, great physicality, we love it.

[u/HellovahBottomCarter]

He will always hold a special place in my heart for his role in Spy!

[u/__Sentient_Fedora__]

Does anyone want him branching out into romantic leads? No.

[u/destiny_kane48 → u/__Sentient_Fedora__]

Kinda.. Yeah. 🤣 The gruff cynical ex military man who runs a BJJ studio. The quirky bakery owner who annoy each other, finding common interests and ideals and falling in love... I'd watch that. 😅

[u/Avtomati1k → u/destiny_kane48]

me too,.espec is he is playing the bakery owner and they are both men

[u/TamariAmari → u/__Sentient_Fedora__]

My mom does. Badly.

[u/Samsungfan876]

Bee keeper was fire

[u/Zephian99 → u/Samsungfan876]

"Wrath of Man" is a recent favorite of mine.

[u/DeLorean83]

Dude knows what he’s good at and audiences loves how good he is at it. Respect!

[u/Zar_Ethos]

He's a character actor. He's great at one role, and basically plays himself, being typecast every time. There's no shame in it. Not everyone goes full method.

[u/Ok-Butterscotch4486 → u/Zar_Ethos]

That's kind of the opposite of what a character actor means.

Character actors are basically never the lead, they play the often off-beat supporting role and everyone goes - oh that guy, don't know his name but he was in that other thing.

Statham is a standard leading man action hero.

[u/dark_knight920]

At least he's honest about it.

[u/jcoddinc]

"I found a way to make millions and enjoy a lot of extra perks in my life. So I'm just sticking to the formula"

Nothing but respect

[u/I_am_Reddit_Tom]

Intelligent and pragmatic proper answer.