Jason Statham Action Thriller Becomes Streaming Hit

Jason Statham has never been particularly interested in proving he can do everything. From The Transporter and Crank to The Mechanic, Wrath of Man, and The Beekeeper, the actor has built a career out of playing variations on the same basic idea. Give Jason Statham a dangerous man with a mysterious past, put some bad guys in front of him, and let him solve the problem with his fists.

Jason Statham knows it. In a 2017 interview, he was asked whether he ever wanted to take on roles that would push him far outside his usual action-hero wheelhouse. His response was essentially that he knows what he’s good at — and he’d rather keep doing that. Jason Statham has said he is “not really some thespian” who can transform into any character, and that his physicality gives his action roles a certain authenticity.

The result has been a list of certified thriller classics, alongside a handful of very similar films that did not make the cut for audiences at launch. Now, one of his most recent movies that was not a hit at the box office is topping streaming charts. This proves that audiences are still fans of the Jason Statham one-man army stories, even though they have seen them countless times. They just do not want to see them in theaters.

Released in theaters in August, Mutiny has climbed to No. 1 on both Amazon’s movie chart and the Apple TV Store’s movie chart, according to FlixPatrol. That is a pretty good turnaround for a movie that received a decidedly mixed critical reception.

What is Mutiny about?

Mutiny stars Jason Statham as Cole Reed, a former Royal Marine commando who works as security for a billionaire. When Cole Reed watches his boss get murdered, he is framed for the crime and forced to go on the run. His search for answers eventually takes him aboard a cargo ship, where he discovers that the murder is connected to a much larger international conspiracy.

Being trapped aboard a ship full of former mercenaries gives Cole Reed plenty of opportunities to do what Jason Statham does best: fight his way through increasingly dangerous situations while trying to figure out who is actually behind the conspiracy.

The critical response has been mixed. Mutiny currently sits at 50% on Rotten Tomatoes, with critics generally praising Jason Statham’s physical performance and the movie’s action while taking issue with its convoluted plot and grim tone.

That is not exactly a ringing endorsement, but Jason Statham’s movies have never required a unanimous critical consensus to find their audience. If the current streaming charts are any indication, Mutiny may have finally found the audience it was looking for.

Source: Polygon