Jason Stathamhas been involved in sometruly intense action movies, but there’s only one he described as gritty, real, and “f–cking hardcore.” That’s quite a statement coming from the star ofCrank,The Transporter, andThe Beekeeper, all of which offered action movie fans plenty of intensity andhigh-stakes stuntwork.
However, it was theFast & Furiousspin-offmovieHobbs & Shawthat Statham singled out for its intensity, as this highly anticipated cinematic event paired the former mercenary Deckard Shaw with the committed operative Luke Hobbs, played by Dwayne Johnson. As two fan-favorite characters,Hobbs & Shawallowed these supporting antagonists to step into the spotlightfor the first time.
Jason Statham’s Hobbs & Shaw Is A Streaming Hit (& Rightfully So)
Viewers Have Been Discovering Hobbs & Shaw On Peacock
Hobbs & Shawlanded on Peacock this July and has unsurprisingly become a global streaming success (viaCollider), as new and old viewers alike tuned into the buddy action comedy. Withgreat chemistry between Statham and Johnson, seeing how these mismatched opposites worked together to take down a deadly cybernetically enhanced terrorist made for exciting viewing.
Having already built up an audience through theFast & Furiousmainline series,Hobbs & Shawshowcased that there was room for different kinds of stories set in this cinematic world. Featuring the same over-the-top action sequences viewers have come to expect from the series,Hobbs and Shawgot the most out of the characters' hilarious animosity for one another.
With an admirable 67% score from critics and an impressive 88% from audiences on Rotten Tomatoes,Hobbs and Shawwas a hit and grossed an impressive $760 millionagainst its $200 million budget. As Peacock viewers now relive the excitement ofHobbs and Shaw,it’s clear that this spin-off can stand on its own two feet outside of theFastfranchise.
Jason Statham Called Hobbs & Shaw “F—king Hardcore” - Was He Right?
Statham And Johnson Deliver Genuine Thrills
When Statham spoke aboutHobbs & ShawtoColliderin the lead-up to its release back in 2018, he called the film “gritty, and real, and f–king hardcore.” While it is an apt description for many of Statham’s film projects, withHobbs & Shaw, it felt appropriate even if it’s clear he may have been using some hyperbole in order to build anticipation for his own film.
Yet,Hobbs & Shawdelivers on the intense thrills and even goes beyond what’s seen in manyFastmovies, offering more than just intense car chases. Considering the martial backgrounds of both Statham and Johnson,Hobbs & Shawwas able to lean into what the duo does best by delivering some intense fight choreography that could only be described as “hardcore.”
With Deckard Shaw thrown into the limelight, Statham was able to let loose with a gritty performance that embodied the character’s criminal background. Idris Elba added to this intensity as a genetically enhanced mercenary who acts as a formidable foe to the duo. While otherJason Stathamroles, likeCrank, may be more gritty,Hobbs & Shawlives up to this description.
