Jason Statham has become a recurring figure in the Fast & Furious franchise known for its ridiculous plots and stunts, but he was part of an even more ridiculous car-based action movie five years prior to joining the popular series. After establishing himself as a bankable action movie star, Universal’s Fast & Furious movies recruited Statham to be a major player in the franchise. He made his debut as Deckard Shaw in Fast & Furious 6‘s credits’ scene. Statham returned as the main villain in Furious 7 and has made four more appearances, including post-credits scenes.
By being part of the Fast & Furious franchise, Statham has been part of some pretty unbelievable action sequences. The Fast & Furious action scenes always push the limit of what audiences will accept, which is how the street racing series has graduated to cars in space and other ridiculous accomplishments. Through it all, there is still a level of realism in these movies based on their present-day, mostly real-life settings. There’s even some solid, practical action and family-centric stories, too. It all seems relatively tame compared to the ridiculous racing movie Jason Statham did before Fast & Furious 6.
Before Doing Fast & Furious, Jason Statham Got Behind The Wheel In 2008’s Death Race Remake
It Was A Remake Of A 1975 Movie
Jason Statham did an action movie involving cars early on his career with 2003’s The Italian Job, and he returned to the genre in 2008 with Death Race. The movie, directed by Paul W.S. Anderson of Resident Evil and Mortal Kombat fame, is a remake of the 1975 film Death Race 2000. The Death Race movies are about a ᴅᴇᴀᴅly race for fame set in a dystopian America involving a legendary prisoner known as Frankenstein, who is one of the drivers. Statham headlines the 2008 remake and plays the latest prisoner to take on the “Frankenstein” mantle and mask.
2008’s Death Race was not a major hit upon its release. The film made $75 million at the box office despite having a budget that was reportedly nearly as much. It also received mixed-to-negative reviews, resulting in the 41% critics score it has on Rotten Tomatoes nearly 17 years after its release. The reception to Death Race did not hinder Jason Statham’s action career. He had Transporter and Crank sequels that were released shortly after, and then he launched the Expendables franchise with Sylvester Stallone. A few years later, Fast & Furious came calling, and the rest is history.
Death Race Is Even More Ridiculous Than Jason Statham’s Fast & Furious Films
The Extreme Action Outdoes Anything Fast & Furious Offers
Jason Statham’s role in Fast & Furious may be more well-known, but Death Race is the more ridiculous action movie between them. I just watched Death Race for the first time and was struck by how extreme the action is compared to the Fast & Furious films. Don’t get me wrong, the latter has done its fair share of unbelievable moments, but Statham’s 2008 car movie is on another level. There’s a futuristic setting, highly weaponized cars, gruesome deaths, and more that all help elevate over-the-top moments Death Race puts to the screen.
The ridiculous nature of the action adds to the potential enjoyment factor
That isn’t necessarily a bad thing, either. Not everything in Death Race works, but the action and racing sequences delivered by Paul W.S. Anderson can be quite thrilling at times. The ridiculous nature of the action adds to the potential enjoyment factor. Death Race is not meant to be taken seriously, with the big reveal of a giant truck that feels ripped right out of Mad Max: Fury Road creating a combination of George Miller’s mind and Vin Diesel’s franchise.
Mileage may vary in terms of how much of Death Race‘s ridiculous elements you can handle, but it’s easier to accept with Fast & Furious in mind. It has the racing element that was key to early Fast & Furious movies combined with the ridiculous levels of action that later installments added. Plus, there’s the R-rated violence to push it over the edge. Death Race is absolutely ridiculous in its story, action, and direction, and remains the most unbelievable of Jason Statham’s car action movies even after six Fast & Furious appearances.
Jason Statham’s Death Race Predicted One Element Of His Fast & Furious Villain Role
It Was A Stealth Preview Of A Major Dynamic
The irony of watching Death Race after Jason Statham became part of a bigger car action franchise in Fast & Furious is seeing the similarities between them. His Death Race character even has a similar trajectory and rivalry to Deckard Shaw. This is largely due to Fast & Furious mainstay Tyrese Gibson also having a role in Death Race. They are at odds throughout most of the movie before teaming up at the very end to break out of prison and get their freedom.It definitely wasn’t intentional for Fast & Furious to parallel Death Race with how Statham and Gibson’s characters interact, but the similarity is there nonetheless. Statham’s Deckard Shaw and Gibson’s Roman Pierce are enemies initially in Furious 7, but they ultimately wind up working together briefly in Fast X. Even then, there’s a level of distrust between them, similar to the relationship their Death Race characters have. The biggest difference is Jason Statham being a villain turning good in Fast & Furious instead of remaining the hero throughout Death Race.
