In March 2025, Jason Statham’s new action movie, A Working Man, is set to premiere, which means this is the perfect time to watch (or revisit) his unexpected 2024 hit. Since the early 2000s, Statham has made a place for himself as a modern action hero. Appearing alongside legends like Sylvester Stallone and Arnold Schwarzenegger, Statham undoubtedly holds his own. Yet, much of Statham’s work has seen him be part of an ensemble, when he could easily be a leading man. Therefore, the upcoming release of A Working Man is even more exciting.

A Working Man follows Statham as Levon Cade, a former black ops agent who has left behind his successful military career to live a simpler life as a construction worker. However, when his boss’s daughter is kidnapped by human traffickers, Levon decides to step in. In doing so, he uncovers an entire world of crime and violence that he never expected to find in his regular suburban neighborhood. The movie is based on a novel called Levon’s Trade, written by Chuck Dixon. Alongside Statham, the cast of A Working Man includes David Harbour, Michael Peña, and Noemi Gonzalez.

A Working Man Reunites Jason Statham & David Ayer After Their 2024 Hit

Why The Beekeeper Was So Successful

A Working Man will not only see Statham in another much-needed leading role, but it will be a chance for him to reunite with David Ayer. Previously, Statham and Ayer collaborated on 2024’s The Beekeeper together, which ended up being a sleeper hit in the first month of the year. Somewhat similar to A Working Man, The Beekeeper stars Statham as an undercover intelligence agent who seeks revenge after his landlady is scammed out of all her money, leading to her death. Before The Beekeeper, Ayer led projects like The Fast and the Furious, Fury, and Suicide Squad.

Initially, The Beekeeper had several obstacles that seemed like they would keep it from succeeding. Movies released in January typically struggle at the box office, and The Beekeeper lacked any franchise connections or flashy lures besides Statham himself. In this way, Statham and Ayer had to hope that the premise alone would bring audiences to theaters. The chances seemed low. Yet, this is ultimately what happened, to the surprise of many. On a budget of $40 million, The Beekeeper made $162 million at the box office. It also earned a fantastic 92% audience score on Rotten Tomatoes.

Jason Statham Is On A Great Run Of Late

Statham Is Best When He Isn’t Too Serious

Another reason why A Working Man is so exciting (and why audiences should revisit The Beekeeper,) is because Statham has been on quite a roll lately. In the last few years, the actor has provided stunning action performances in just about every movie he has been in. The Beekeeper is a notable financial and critical hit, but even films that struggled with critics have been strong entries for Statham. He stands out even when the movie around him falls flat. This is shown by the surprisingly high audience scores on Statham last few movies.

Generally, what this trend proves is that Statham is at his best when he doesn’t take himself too seriously. Of course, he is known for being a tough action star, yet that doesn’t always mean he has to put on a serious facade. Many of Statham’s more recent movies have allowed themselves to be more campy and humorous, and in turn, Statham himself has had more levity in his performances. This dash of light-heartedness makes Statham’s projects more fun and even more entertaining than they would have been if they were pure action.

Jason Statham’s New Movie Could Replace His Lost Action Franchises

Statham Should Continue Being A Leading Man

One final benefit of A Working Man is that it could be the start of something really great for Statham. After the poor performance of 2023’s Expend4bles, the franchise is presumably done, at least for a while. Statham is also still part of the Fast & Furious franchise, though he plays a more supporting role, especially after the cancelation of the Hobbs & Shaw franchise. Essentially, this all adds up to the idea that A Working Man could be Statham’s new franchise. If it does well enough, Statham could finally lead his own blockbuster franchise.

Franchise or no franchise, the most important thing for Statham is staying in the role of leading man. Throughout his career, Statham has been sidelined in favor of other stars, but it is clear that he has what it takes to impress audiences all on his own. The Beekeeper proved it in 2024, and A Working Man will likely do the same. Hopefully, Statham can continue on this track, and give audiences even more films like A Working Man.