Summary

Jason Stathamis one of the biggest action movie stars in modern Hollywood , yet the 56 - year - old ’s first foray into the literary genre 23 years ago in reality reveal another surprising aspect of his career – one that unknowingly spotlight a miss chance . Having featured in over 60 movies , Statham is a indorse industry ex-serviceman . Having helmed many of the biggest activity blockbuster of the preceding few decade , it ’s hard to reason that his life history has n’t been a huge success . Nevertheless , as with any actor , Statham still has some untapped electric potential – typified by his first - ever action motion picture .

Before establishing himself as an action motion picture whizz , Jason Statham rose to prominence through his collaborations with British filmmaker Guy Ritchie . EarlyRitchie and Statham projectsinclude the scummy - budget crime thrillerLock , Stock , and Two Smoking Barrels , and the more polished follow - upSnatch . While Statham ’s action prowess has become his hallmark , early work like the two pop Ritchie flick proves that he ’s much more than a one - whoremaster crib . In fact , this quality continued to be demonstrated withStatham ’s first - ever action movie , which surprisingly proved his aptitude for other genres .

Jason Statham has made his career with action film , from The Transporter series to the Fast & infuriated dealership and many more in - between .

jason-statham-every-action-movie-ranked

Ghosts Of Mars Is Jason Statham’s First Proper Action Movie

It Set The Trend For His Career

Although projects likeLock , StockandSnatchincluded action - conterminous component – let in critical , small-arm - centrical plots – both movies were close to comedies than the traditional natural process roles Statham has become known for . This intend that it was n’t until several years into his career thatJason Statham appeared in his first truthful action pic – John Carpenter’sGhosts of Mars . In the film , Statham plays the improbably - discover Sergeant Jericho Butler , who form part of a group of soldier sent to uncover the trueness behind a mining chance event , fighting possess miner along the way .

shade of Marsis available to rent on Apple TV+

Despite boast the fuse gift of theatre director Carpenter , Ice Cube , Natasha Henstridge , Pam Grier , and Statham himself , Ghosts of Marswas a commercial and critical dashing hopes . The movie made just $ 14 million against a $ 28 million budget and was panned by critics , scoring just 23 % on the recap aggregator Rotten Tomatoes . While it has since been reassessed by some sports fan and has developed a surprising cult follow , it ’s still easy for many observer to dismiss the movie as an inglorious genre debut for Statham . Beyond this consensus , however , Ghosts of Marsalso highlights a major missed chance for Statham .

Melissa McCarthy linking arms with Jason Statham in Spy

Jason Statham is considerably known for his action - packed role in iconic crime pic , but he also has starred in several comedy .

Ghosts Of Mars Is An Action And A Horror Movie

It Contains Multiple Genres

Part of what makesGhosts of Marsso difficult to appraise effectively is that it is not just a straightforward action blockbuster . While the movie take on on many of the characteristics associate with the genre , typified byStatham ’s arrogant , all - action patronise protagonist , the motion picture also comprise other cinematic tradition – notably , Westerns , sci - fi , and horror . While the movie ’s purpose of westerly and sci - fi figure certainly cook it intriguing , it is the horror constituent that make it a specially notable labor from Statham ’s perspective .

The movie ’s central premise of possessed miners on a distant extraterrestrial outpost echoes projects likePitch BlackandEvent Horizon …

Alongside deliver many more action - impenetrable sequences , Ghosts of Marsborrows heavy from revulsion throughout its narrative . The movie ’s primal premise of possess miner on a remote extraterrestrial outstation Echo projects likePitch BlackandEvent Horizon – albeit in a much more over - the - top storey . The formula of survivors ring together to face a terrifying outside threat can also be seen in after like works , such as Robert Rodriguez’sFrom Dusk Till Dawn . Yet while the movie ’s repulsion credentials are beyond doubt , what ’s surprising is that Jason Statham did n’t use this experience to make more horror motion picture later down the line .

Jason Statham as Ethan from Cellular and as Quentin-Conners from Chaos

Jason Statham Hasn’t Done A Horror Movie Since Ghosts Of Mars

Ghosts Of Mars Proved He Had Potential In The Genre

In what might be one of the big miss opportunities of his life history to day of the month , Jason Statham has not featured in another revulsion movie sinceGhosts of Mars – instead choosing to focus his attention on activity . consider his book of achiever , go democratic franchises likeThe Transporter , The Expendables , and latterlyFast and Furious , there ’s a sense that he has become something of a music genre specialist . EvenStatham ’s non - action moviesmake up a relatively small collecting , with many of them take up elements from the genre . Yet , asGhosts of Marsproves , it did n’t have to be this way .

The multitude of influence withGhosts of Marshighlights thatthere ’s no cause why Statham ’s specific skillset should be confined exclusively to action film . For example , the scene in which Butler ventures out by himself , key out a sick collecting of severed head and observe sinister rite of sacrifice and self - mutilation , represents one of the few social function on screen when a Statham character seems authentically shake up . Moments like this prove that Statham could be effective as a horror movie trail , despite his action at law background knowledge .

Jason Statham has established himself as an natural process moving-picture show Heron , but the British star has n’t always played the good guy in his various project .

Jason Statham as H from Wrath of Man in front of Ghosts of Mars poster

Custom image by Yeider Chacon

Horror Would Still Be A Great Direction For Jason Statham

He Could Yet Realize His Genre Potential

The fact that fans have n’t seen Statham in a repugnance - adjacent role since 2001 is disappointing . However , as his vocation continues to develop , there is still a hazard that he could ramify out into the genre . There ’s a case to be made thatcreature features likeThe MegandMeg 2 : The Trenchrepresent a move away from the more traditional action filmsthat Statham is most intimately associated with . While in no way horror movies , his succeeder withThe Megfranchise could betoken that Statham is increasingly uncoerced to explore different genre .

A further tip of consideration for Statham is that many of his contemporaries have experimented in the horror genre – with some success . HisFast Xco - starJason Momoa has punctuated his largely action - heavy life history with horror labor likeDebugandWolves – showcasing his adaptability and arguably leading to mainstream success beyond action movies in smash likeDune . Likewise , Statham’sExpendablescompatriot Arnold Schwarzenegger has also latterly experimented with horror in projects likeEnd of DaysandMaggie – not to cite the originalTerminator .

… the fact that he has only one genre course credit to his name and is a more various performing artist than his almost entirely action - centric career suggests means that more Jason Statham horror pic could be an intriguing possibility .

Jason statham Ghosts of mars

Given his continuing loyalty to action movies , it ’s unconvincing that Jason Statham will suddenly execute a everlasting career change and give himself to repulsion . However , the fact that he has only one genre credit to his name and is a more versatile performer than his almost entirely action - centric career intimate stand for that moreJason Stathamhorror movies could be an challenging possible action . As he get older , and arguably less believable as a pseudo - superpowered action man , it may be that revisiting his repugnance heritage becomes an interesting agency for the star to enlarge and pass his vocation .

John Carpenter’s Ghosts of Mars

Jason-Statham-as-Adam-Clay-from-The-Beekeeper

Custom image by Yeider Chacon.