Jason Statham has become one of the biggest action stars in cinema over the last 30 years, with his box office earnings ballooning in the last decade. The actor began his career with small projects in the ’90s before finally landing roles in serious action movies in the early 2000s, like The Transporter. Since that time, his career has seen him go from strength to strength as one of the forefront actors in Hollywood, frequently appearing in action roles as a highly skilled fighter, assassin, or vigilante.
In fact, Jason Statham is now one of the biggest actors in action films of the last decade, popping up in dozens of action-packed roles. Statham’s skills and appeal are also reflected in the growing box office numbers for his films. From appearing in smaller independent and British projects to now leading action movies in Hollywood, Statham’s career has come a long way, and he has become one of the most bankable action stars in cinema.
Collateral (2004)
Box Office Total: $220,239,925
At the bottom of the list, Jason Statham’s tenth-highest-earning movie saw him in a more minor role. Collateral, starring Tom Cruise and Jamie Foxx, was one of the earliest Hollywood pictures that Statham was cast in, and he landed the part of “Airport Man.” Cruise plays a hitman who hires Foxx to drive him to multiple locations for a considerable payout, but as things start to get messy, Foxx realizes that he has gotten himself caught in the middle of something big. Statham’s role is minor, but it did get his foot in the door for larger projects to come.
Spy (2015)
Box Office Total: $235,666,219
Statham’s role in the action comedy movieSpy was much more prominent, but also a departure from his typical roles. Statham plays a field agent who comes into contact with Susan Cooper (Melissa McCarthy), as she tries to live out her dreams of having a job like his. Susan is typically deskbound in her position at the CIA, but when a mission calls for an unknown, she jumps at the chance to get involved. Statham’s Rick Ford has no confidence in Susan’s abilities and largely finds her a nuisance. Statham does well in his delivery of dry wit throughout the film.
The Expendables (2010)
Box Office Total: $274,470,394
The Expendables is an homage to action movies of the ’80s and ’90s, and Statham appears alongside some of the greats of the genre in this first entry. While the film received mixed reviews, the action sequences and performances of the stars were praised, and the movie was a significant financial success. The premise was simple and delivered on the promise of bringing familiar action heroes back into the limelight along with modern action stars for an explosive extravaganza. This was likely another turning point for Statham in his career as he progressed from action actor to action star.
The Expendables 2 (2012)
Box Office Total: $314,975,955
Just two years later, Statham returned to the role of Lee Christmas in The Expendables 2. The sequel went even bigger, pulling in a second team of action stars and seeing the two teams go head-to-head. As a result, The Expendables 2 easily overtook the first film in total sales. However, this was also the beginning of the end for the franchise, as the next fmovie earned far less, and the fourth entry would go on to be a huge financial disappointment. But The Expendables 2 continues to have fun with the concept of bringing so many action heroes together.
Meg 2: The Trench (2023)
Box Office Total: $397,700,317
Before Statham took up acting, he was a competitive diver, and those skills came in useful for his role as Jonas Taylor in this series about a giant Megalodon shark. The sequel takes place eight years after the events of the original movie and sees Taylor in a fatherly role, helping to raise the child of his deceased colleague, Zhang, while also fighting crime and continuing his research in the depths of the ocean. The film earned almost $400 million at the box office, which was a considerable drop-off from the first entry, but still a significant sum.
The Meg (2018)
Box Office Total: $529,338,515
The Meg stars Jason Statham as one of the first people to encounter the Megalodon which measures about 75 feet long, but other researchers refuse to believe his accounts. The film follows the exploration of the depths of the ocean, looking to unlock the secrets buried in the most unfamiliar parts of the sea. Statham is cast as the lead in this movie and does an excellent job delivering a convincing performance as a passionate actor, and also as the action hero who exerts every effort to rescue his crew, earning more than half a billion at the box office.
Fast X (2023)
Box Office Total: $704,875,015
The Fast & Furious franchise has changed a lot since the first movie was released in 2001. The films are now more action-packed and barely have any resemblance to the earlier entries, but when considering their success, the biggest increase came after this transition to more heroic action. Statham made his franchise debut in Furious 7, and his role in the series has continued to grow since then. Fast X is the lowest-earning entry from the franchise on this list, with Statham appearing briefly when Dominic Toretto (Vin Diesel) goes to London to ask for his help.
Fast & Furious Presents: Hobbs & Shaw (2019)
Box Office Total: $760,732,926
The first spin-off in the Fast & Furious franchise stars Statham and Dwayne Johnson as former enemies who turn reluctant allies to track down Brixton Lore, played by Idris Elba. The movie is action-packed and fits right into the Fast & Furious universe, which earned it a spot in the top three of Statham’s all-time highest-earning films. Statham has a leading role with his character’s name appearing in the title and, once again, he proves his abilities as an all-out action hero.
The Fate Of The Furious (2017)
Box Office Total: $1,236,005,118
The Fate of the Furious is the eighth installment in the mainline series and comes just a few movies into the format change, but it is also the mainline film where Statham’s character, Deckard Shaw, begins to show his change of heart.
Before The Fate of the Furious, Dom and Shaw were bitter rivals after Dom was involved in an altercation that hospitalized Shaw’s brother. This movie sees them settle their differences, and Shaw joins forces with Dom in order to take down an even bigger threat. This is also one of only two films in the series to earn over $1 billion, with Statham playing a significant role in the project.
Furious 7 (2015)
Box Office Total: $1,515,341,399
Continuing that tradition, the highest-earning film in the franchise, which raked in over $1.5 billion, is the movie that most prominently features Statham as the primary antagonist. It’s likely no coincidence that this movie is often regarded as the most favorable in the franchise, considering Statham’s talent for playing the rival, and vengeful brother of Owen Shaw. Jason Statham’s character puts Dom and his crew through their paces, becoming one of their most powerful and imposing rivals, before eventually finding common ground and settling their differences.