10 Modern Action Film Stars Who Failed To Meet Their Potential

6. Jason Statham

Jason Statham is actually a better actor than many people give him credit for, but has likely seen himself typecast for the remainder of his career thanks to a refusal to stray very far from the mid-budget action territory that has become his stock-in-trade. Which is a shame, as the English actor is a much more likeable and charismatic screen presence than a lot of the characters he has played on the big screen. Statham is at his best when he diverts away from his usual 'deadly serious ass-kicker' schtick, as seen in his early collaborations with Guy Ritchie and the two insane Crank movies. However, over the last decade the actor has starred in numerous interchangeable actioners that tend to repeat the same formula; War, Chaos, Death Race, The Mechanic, Killer Elite, Safe, Parker and Homefront to name but a few, all of which only earned between $40m and $75m at the box office. Despite being one of cinema's premier action stars, it has been a long time since Statham starred in a good movie. After three Transporters and three Expendables, Statham joined one of Hollywood's biggest franchises to play the big bad in Fast and Furious 7. This, along with a supporting role in upcoming Paul Feig/Melissa McCarthy comedy Spy, should give the actor a chance to show both villainous and comedic sensibilities in two high-profile projects for the first time in a long time.