Jason StathamandGuy Ritchiehave made a total of five movies together across more than two decades of collaboration, but they still haven’t topped their first film. Statham and Ritchie’s careers have been intertwined since the very beginning; they both got their start in movies at the same time. When Ritchie was plotting his debut feature — the 1998 crime comedyLock, Stock, and Two Smoking Barrels— he discovered Statham’s potential as an actor. At the time, Statham was known as a diver and a model.
Ritchie felt that Statham’s history of working at market stalls would make him perfect forthe role of small-time crook Bacon inLock, Stock. Statham proved to be a natural in front of the camera and, after the success ofLock, Stock, he went on to become one of Hollywood’s biggest and most popular movie stars. WhileStatham has conquered franchiseslikeThe ExpendablesandFast & Furious, he’s continued to collaborate with Ritchie — but they still haven’t topped that first movie.
Lock, Stock & Two Smoking Barrels Is Still Jason Statham & Guy Ritchie’s Best Collaboration, Despite 4 More Recent Attempts
They’ve Made Other Great Movies, But None As Great As Lock, Stock
After the success ofLock, Stock, and Two Smoking Barrels,Statham and Ritchie promptly reunited for 2000’sSnatch, another sprawling ensemble crime caperthat acts as a sort of spiritual sequel toLock, Stock. In 2005, they made a straightforward action thriller,Revolver, that was widely panned by critics.Following a lengthy hiatus, the pair recently reteamedforthe 2021 actionerWrath of Manand the 2023 spy comedyOperation Fortune: Ruse de Guerre. Some of these movies were great, butnone of them were as great asLock, Stock.
Every Guy Ritchie & Jason Statham Movie Ranked
Writer-director Guy Ritchie was one of the main contributors to making Jason Statham a movie star, and their collaboration has continued for decades.
Lock, Stockhas a frenetic pace and energy thatSnatchdidn’t quite manage to recapture. WhileRevolveris more action-packed, it’s not as exciting asLock, Stock.Wrath of Manis a solid action movie, but it’s not as tightly edited asLock, Stock. AndOperation Fortune, while it’s a lot of fun, is a total mess. After 26 years of working together, Statham and Ritchie still haven’t made a better movie thanLock, Stock, and Two Smoking Barrels.
Why Jason Statham & Guy Ritchie Work So Well Together
Ritchie Understands Statham’s Appeal As A Movie Star
Ritchie is one of the filmmakers that Statham keeps coming back to, becausehe understands Statham’s strengths as an actor and his appeal as a movie starbetter than most other directors.Ritchie has always recognized Statham’s wry comedic abilities, which other directors have often ignored, and given him hilarious material to work with.Lock, Stock, and Two Smoking Barrelsestablished Statham’s on-screen persona — an authentic tough guy with a biting sense of humor — perfectly.
Lock, Stock and Two Smoking Barrels
Cast
Lock, Stock and Two Smoking Barrels is a British crime film directed by Guy Ritchie. Released in 1998, the film follows a group of friends who become embroiled in the London underworld after a high-stakes card game goes wrong. Their attempts to repay a substantial debt lead them into intersecting criminal activities involving a variety of eccentric characters. The ensemble cast includes Jason Flemyng, Dexter Fletcher, Nick Moran, and Jason Statham.
