Summary

• Jason Statham's latest action thriller, The Beekeeper, has already achieved early box office success, grossing over $75 million worldwide.
• The Beekeeper's opening weekend totals exceeded those of Statham's previous film, Wrath of Man, showing his continued appeal as a leading man in the action genre.
• The positive reception of The Beekeeper from critics and audiences suggests the potential for future installments and a new franchise led by Statham.

Jason Statham's latest adrenaline-pumping action thriller The Beekeeper has proven to be an early box office success story in 2024. Statham had a productive 2023 as a leading man in several major Hollywood franchises including Expend4bles, Fast X, and Meg 2: The Trench, which collectively raked in a total of roughly $1.13 billion at the worldwide box office, most of which came from the latter two films alone. The Beekeeper has quickly grossed a worldwide box-office total of just over $75 million after releasing in theaters on January 12, 2024, via Miramax and Amazon MGM Studios.

With a sharp runtime of 1 hour and 45 minutes and an explicit R-rating, The Beekeeper impressively soared past the opening weekend totals of Statham's popular 2021 heist movie Wrath of Man. The Beekeeper racked up roughly $16.6 million in its opening weekend period compared to Wrath of Man's $8.3 million years ago. The Beekeeper's Rotten Tomatoes score has already broken a Jason Statham record that had nearly stood for two decades and is a great indication that there could be future installments of The Beekeeper franchise and birth a new Statham-led series down the road.

8 The Beekeeper Reaffirms Jason Statham’s Leading Man Appeal

Statham remains among the best actors in the action genre

If there was any doubt that Statham had lost his touch as a leading man in the action genre, it has been completely erased with the stellar box office performance of The Beekeeper. Statham's Adam Clay character in The Beekeeper is full of his typically irable grit and no-nonsense charm that has been displayed in dozens of his previous films including classics like The Transporter (2002), The Italian Job (2003), Crank (2006), The Mechanic (2011), and Spy (2015). It also demonstrates that general interest in the action thriller has not diminished in modern times.

7 The Beekeeper Has Collective Praise From Critics & Audiences

Critics and casual viewers have mostly applauded the Statham film

The best thing going for The Beekeeper following its mid-January 2024 release is the mostly universal praise that is offered by both critics and audience alike. Critics have applauded the film for displaying Jason Statham in top form and have commonly referred to The Beekeeper as wildly entertaining. Longtime fans of Statham will not be disappointed by The Beekeeper's relentless pace and sleek design that have become more or less staples of the ionic actor's overall brand. Statham proves he still has the action chops to give his fans exactly what they expect despite his increased age.

6 January 2024 Had A Relatively Non-Competitive Theatrical Market

Only a few major titles were released in January 2024

Another factor that could be playing a part in the success of The Beekeeper is the fact that there is simply not a lot of box office competition in January 2024. With just a handful of major titles being released, there was not a comparable anticipated action movie that would have conflicted with The Beekeeper which could have given it a run for its money. With virtually little to no competition from expected Mean Girls audiences, since they target such separate demographics, casual action fans might have been enticed by The Beekeeper simply due to the overall lack of other options in the limited theatrical marketplace.

5 The Beekeeper Is A Fresh & Original Concept (Rather Than A Franchise Sequel)

The Beekeeper laid the foundation for an interesting new universe

While a good part of 2023 featured Statham in his recurring franchise roles, The Beekeeper delivers a brand new concept and story world for Statham to expand on his impressive filmography. The mythos of The Beekeeper was completely created by screenwriter Kurt Wimmer and was not directly based on any existing intellectual properties of preexisting franchises. Fans of The Beekeeper and Statham are hopeful that The Beekeeper could become a new major franchise for the action hero, which has already shown many early indications of further development in the future.

4 The Beekeeper’s Story & Action Draw Similarities To John Wick Franchise

Statham in a John Wick-type role is a great combo

There are undoubtedly comparisons that will be drawn between The Beekeeper and the celebrated John Wick franchise, which has proven to be incredibly profitable and critically acclaimed over its four installments. With no clear indication that a John Wick: Chapter 5 is actually on the way at this time, The Beekeeper could have been strategically released in order to tap into the momentum of the John Wick franchise and feature a fresh yet familiar take with another bonafide action star in Statham as the face of the budding franchise. While John Wick cannot be replaced, The Beekeeper certainly took a few notes from Reeves' iconic movie series.

3 The Beekeeper Is ed By David Ayer’s Strong Directorial Approach

Ayer has years of experience in the action genre

No box office hit can be celebrated without acknowledging the director, who is always an incredibly integral part of the movie's impact and reception. The Beekeeper was directed by filmmaker David Ayer who is also a renowned producer and screenwriter in Hollywood. Ayer's previous directorial efforts include Street Kings (2008) starring Keanu Reeves, the gritty and powerful End of Watch (2012) starring Jake Gyllenhaal, and the impressive 2014 war movie Fury starring Brad Pitt. Ayer was a great choice in launching The Beekeeper franchise as its director and would be an exciting addition to a potential Beekeeper sequel either as director or producer.

2 The Beekeeper Has Natural Appeal For IMAX & Dolby Cinema Audiences

This factor greatly helped 2023's Oppenheimer and Mission: Impossible films

Another natural draw that could explain some of The Beekeeper's box office success is its appeal to see the film on the big screen, particularly in IMAX and Dolby Cinema formats. Simila to horror films, action movies are always the best viewed in theaters, unlike typical dramas that are sometimes preferred to be watched in comfort at home, especially if they are dealing with complicated, unsettling, or emotional themes. The Beekeeper is likely receiving some box office boost in the way that 2023's Oppenheimer and Mission: Impossible – Dead Reckoning Part One drew theatrical audiences based on the sheer magnitude of the film and action-packed sequences offered throughout the thrilling movie.

1 The Beekeeper Has A Great Cast Featuring Josh Hutcherson & Jeremy Irons

Hutcherson has a notable villain role in The Beekeeper

While Jason Statham makes for an outstandingly entertaining leading man in The Beekeeper, he is ed by a great ing cast that includes Josh Hutcherson as an antagonist who is enjoyable to watch onscreen. Hutcherson also naturally draws his own crowd based on his massive role in The Hunger Games franchise and the profitable Five Nights at Freddy's (2023). Legendary actor Jeremy Irons (Watchmen, Justice League, The Lion King) is also featured in The Beekeeper, adding to the robust cast of Bobby Naderi, Minnie Driver, David Witts, Michael Epp, and Taylor James. Emmy Raver-Lampman also draws attention as co-star Agent Verona Parker in the celebrated action thriller.