10 Greatest Opening Scenes in Jason Statham Movies, Ranked

Jason Statham has starred in over 50 movies throughout his career so far. He is known mainly for his star power in action, which is elevated by his mastery of martial arts, but the British actor started out in Guy Ritchie’s unique gangster films. He also has some experience in science fiction, comedy and animation as well. Statham may not be widely recognized for his acting talent, but he is one of the few male action superstars who have a solid acting range.

The opening scene in Jason Statham’s debut film, the 1998 crime comedy Lock, Stock and Two Smoking Barrels, was a great start to a great journey. In just a couple of minutes, the actor convinces the audience of his character’s personality. But this is not the only opening sequence in a Jason Statham film that stands out for its overall quality, and not only in terms of his acting. Others, like Spy, also start out with a fantastic moment, although Statham only appears for the first time later on.

10

Blitz Begins With Tom Brant Stopping a Car Theft

The Scene Establishes His Addictions

Blitz is a 2011 action thriller film based on the 2002 novel of the same name by Ken Bruen. Jason Statham plays Detective Sergeant Tom Brant, an unstable police detective desperately trying to catch a serial killer who is targeting police officers in South East London. To introduce this character, the movie opens by showing a group of criminals trying to steal a car in the middle of the night. From his apartment, Brant wakes up and hears the commotion down in the street.

Before connecting the two incidents — the crime being committed on the street, and DS Tom Brant waking up on the couch in his living room — the scene also brings important information about the protagonist: he’s an alcoholic. There are infinite ways to show, not tell, this fact about a character. Having him wake up in the middle of the night on the couch and immediately pour alcohol into a mug sitting on the coffee table is a great way to quickly establish this aspect of his personality. Brant then checks out his window and, seeing the robbery unfold, he immediately takes his bat and goes out to beat them up.

9

Transporter 3 Is the First in the Series Not to Begin With a Car Chase

Frank Martin Returns for Another Transportation

The Transporter film series is full of amazing action sequences with martial arts and car chases. In the third installment of the franchise, Jason Statham’s Frank Martin is once again behind the wheel to transport a package under dangerous circumstances, although not right away. This time, he needs to take a Ukrainian lady named Valentina and two mysterious packages from Marseille, France, to Odesa, Ukraine. But unlike the previous films in the series, this one doesn’t start with a car chase.

Transporter 3 begins with a parallel montage of Frank fishing while shady business transactions unfold in other places. The first proper scene then shows his apartment’s wall being completely destroyed by a car crash meant to send him a message. The man behind the wheel appears to be dead, and Frank identifies him as Malcolm. In a swift transition to the following scene, Frank hands over a piece of paper with Malcom’s name to an unknown man. This man tries to threaten him into a deal, believing that outnumbering Frank Martin would be enough. He then grabs Frank’s jacket, to which Jason Statham delivers the line: “I’ll give you 5 seconds to remove your hand.”

Transporter 3

Release Date

December 5, 2008

Runtime

104 Minutes

Director

Olivier Megaton

Writers

Robert Mark Kamen, Luc Besson

8

The Transporter Kicks off the Franchise in Style

The Opening Scene Has One of the Coolest Chases in the Series

Widely considered the best of the franchise, the first Transporter was released in 2002. Its opening sequence is one of the best car chase scenes from 2000s action movies. Immediately, when the hooded robbers enter Frank Martin’s car, it becomes clear who is really in charge. The robbers refuse to negotiate a new deal with the driver, who is then forced to flee the police before he can finish negotiating.

Not only full of action but also pretty funny, the scene established the more unserious tone of the film series when compared to similar action franchises. The car chase across the city is electrifying from beginning to end, but its climax is truly the best part about it. Jason Statham’s Frank makes an absurdly precise calculation and drives off an overpass bridge onto the only available slot on the top row of a car carrier truck.

7

Spy Took Jason Statham Back to Comedy

The Actor Plays a Satire of His Usual Roles

Spy is a 2015 action comedy film written and directed by Paul Feig. Melissa McCarthy stars as CIA remote agent Susan Cooper, and Jason Statham co-stars alongside Jude Law and Rose Byrne as field agents. Statham plays Rick Ford, the stereotypical ultra-macho spy who opposes Cooper’s involvement in their mission. He stands out in the role that satirizes the kind of character Statham himself became known for, proving once again his talent for comedy.

The opening scene of the film does not involve Jason Statham, but it still deserves a spot on the list. It introduces the audience to Susan Cooper and Jude Law’s Bradley Fine as they work together on a mission that goes incredibly well until it all goes incredibly wrong. It sets the tone of the film, which is a well-balanced mix between thrilling spy action and cheeky comedy gags.

Spy

Release Date

June 15, 2015

Runtime

120 Minutes

6

The Italian Job Features a Stellar Ensemble Cast

Statham Plays the Getaway Driver in the Gang

The Italian Job is a 2003 heist action film directed by F. Gary Gray, and inspired by the 1969 British film of the same name. The plot and the characters are not the same as the 1969 film, but the 2003 American version maintains the core tone. The director called it an homage to the British film. The American film begins in Venice, Italy, with a meticulously planned gold heist orchestrated by a gang of professional thieves. Alongside Statham, the film features Mark Wahlberg, Charlize Theron, Edward Norton, and many other stars.

This film wastes no time getting into the action. The opening scene finds the ensemble cast already performing the heist in Venice. Jason Statham plays Handsome Rob, the team’s getaway driver and a charming ladies’ man. He is waiting on the street outside alongside Mos Def’s Left Ear, the explosives expert. With the heist almost done, the scene culminates in a speedboat chase through the canals of Venice.

The Italian Job

Release Date

May 30, 2003

Runtime

111 minutes

Director

F. Gary Gray

Writers

Donna Powers, Wayne Powers

5

Death Race Depicts Dystopian Fight Between Prisoners

Jason Statham Plays a Falsely-Accused Inmate ​​​​​​​Turned Racer

Another fun Jason Statham movie that has a great opening sequence without him is Death Race. The 2008 dystopian action thriller film, written and directed by Paul W. S. Anderson, was reportedly imagined as a prequel to the 1975 film Death Race 2000, despite being marketed as a remake. Set in 2012, the story explores the horror of an overpopulated system of privatized prisons. In Terminal Island Penitentiary, the warden earns profits from broadcasting a “death car race” between inmates, where they race through lethal obstacles.

The film starts during one of these death races. The thrilling race establishes the overall rules of the game, in which cars are equipped with weapons to strike the other racers, and inmates have race partners as navigators who help them in finding paths, launching attacks and using defenses. The scene introduces Tyrese Gibson’s Machine Gun Joe, Natalie Martinez’s Case and the original Frankenstein, before the man behind his persona is replaced by Jason Statham’s Jensen Ames, a falsely-accused prisoner coerced to drive the death race.

Death Race

Release Date

August 22, 2008

Runtime

105 minutes

Director

Paul W. S. Anderson

Writers

Paul W. S. Anderson

4

Transporter 2 Has the Best Opening Scene in the Franchise

​​​​​​​The Sequel Begins With the Iconic Parking Lot Fight Scene

The opening fight scene in The Transporter 2 may just be one of the best in all the film series. The film begins with Jason Statham’s character, Frank Martin, sitting inside a car in an underground parking lot. A young woman, who may as well still be a teenager, knocks on his window and asks for his help to change her car’s tire. He refuses, so she points a gun at his head, revealing her true intentions. A gang of robbers sneaks out of their hiding, and tries going away with Frank’s car.

When the car doesn’t start because the key is coded, and Frank refuses to help, the gang tries to beat him up. They, of course, fail. This amazing fight scene shows some of Jason Statham’s talent as a martial artist, while also maintaining the comedic tone the film franchise always has. After quickly disarming, scaring away or knocking unconscious all the robbers, Frank asks the girl with the gun if she doesn’t have any homework to do. Scared, she drops the firearm and runs away.

Transporter 2

Release Date

August 3, 2005

Runtime

87 minutes

Director

Louis Leterrier

Producers

Luc Besson, Steven Chasman

• 

• 

3

Lock, Stock and Two Smoking Barrels Was Jason Statham’s Debut Film

​​​​​​​Statham Proves His Talent for Action and Comedy in the First Scene

Guy Ritchie and Jason Statham are a fantastic duo. Whenever they collaborated, great things were made. Statham’s debut in the 1998 Ritchie film Lock, Stock and Two Smoking Barrels remains one of the best examples of their creative partnership. This crime comedy follows a group of small-time criminals who become involved in business way above their heads.

The opening scene of Lock, Stock and Two Smoking Barrels is made to establish the personality of Jason Statham’s character, Bacon. He is a great salesperson, but selling stolen goods at a street corner is not good enough, with the police constantly chasing them out of their spot. The chase on foot is not only visually stunning, especially with the slow-motion drop of the merchandise towards the end, but it also helps the audience put themselves in Bacon’s shoes to better understand his decisions in the plot.

2

The Mechanic Begins With a Meticulous Assassination

Arthur Bishop Specializes in Making Hits Look Like Accidents​​​​​​​

Some Jason Statham action movies begin with a slow-burn exposition, like David Ayer’s The Beekeeper, and later escalate the tension. Others begin with a bang, keeping that energy high from beginning to end. And perhaps the most electrifying intro to any Jason Statham movie is the one in the 2011 action thriller The Mechanic. In this opening scene, the audience is taken to a luxurious home where they will see Bishop work. There are not only a lot of staff attending to the house, but a suspicious amount of security as well, hinting at the possibility that all this money comes from a questionable source.

Soon enough, the homeowner is seen stepping out of a bedroom and diving into an indoor pool. But Jason Statham’s character, Arthur Bishop, is already inside the pool. He lures the man to try to reach an object dropped at the bottom, and drowns him. That is already pretty exciting, but that is when the best part of the introductory scene begins. Bishop’s clever and well-calculated steps to leave the crime scene undetected are mesmerizing to watch, from moving the dead man’s arms in the pool to avoid suspicion, to jumping behind a passing boat while crossing a bridge after leaving the house.

The Mechanic

Release Date

January 28, 2011

Runtime

93 Minutes

• 

• 

1

Snatch Is One of the Best Jason Statham Movies Ever

​​​​​​​His Collaborations With Guy Ritchie All Have Great Openings

In Snatch, a fantastic 2000 movie directed by Guy Ritchie, Jason Statham plays the grumpy yet reliable Turkish. The opening scene is narrated by his character, and he explains his circumstances with a lot of philosophical rhetoric and genius one-liners. He speaks of everything in his mind, starting with how he was named after an airplane crash, and his partner in crime, Tommy, says he was named after a gun. But most importantly, he emphasizes he knows nothing about diamonds.

The opening scene goes on to show the diamond heist that kicks off the story. The energy suddenly goes up, the upbeat music kicks in, and the title Snatch appears in front of a gigantic stolen diamond. That is when the character introductions begin. Passing through the hands of each character, the diamond becomes the money that circulates among the film’s ensemble cast in this montage. Snatch has a complex narrative that involves many different agents acting on behalf of their own interests, so the opening scene helps to understand who they are and what their connections are. There could be other ways to present this information in the film, but this opening sequence speeds up the process, and it’s fun to watch.

Snatch

Release Date

January 19, 2001

Runtime

102 minutes

Director

Guy Ritchie

• 

•