2024 has been a year that thus far has been dominated by sequels, includingDune: Part Two,Inside Out 2,Bad Boys: Ride or Die,Furiosa: A Mad Max Saga, andDeadpool & Wolverinefrom Marvel Studios. However,The Beekeeperproved to be one of the most pleasant surprises of the year, solidifyingJason Statham’s position as one of the greatest living action stars. While directorDavid Ayermay have struck out with his work onBrightandSuicide Squad,The Beekeeperproved he was capable of making an exciting action thriller.
Based on the film’s impressive box office performance,The Beekeeperclearly connected with viewers who were in search of an old-fashioned revenge film. Despite the shocking amount of brutality that Ayer managed to get away with, there’s also a strong component of satire and dark comedy withinThe Beekeeperthat makes it much more interesting than an average action film. Here are ten great movies to watch if you lovedThe Beekeeper.
16‘Run All Night’ (2015)
Directed by Jaume Collet-Serra
The Beekeepersucceeded because it offered an opportunity for Statham to return to the gritty revenge thrillers that he built his career on, ignoring some of the clichés common in modern action cinema. Although Liam Neeson has appeared in a few disappointing films since his breakout action role inTaken,Run All Nightis a thrilling crime thriller with some thoroughly brutal R-rated action.DirectorJaume Collet-Serrahas had a remarkably hot streak with Neeson that is comparable to Statham’s relationship with Ayer.
LikeThe Beekeeper,Run All Nightis a terrific throwback to classic action cinemathat has no intentions of being overly self-serious. Those who enjoy picking apart a film for logical details may find some flaws, but it should be more than enough of a good thrill ride for fans ofThe Beekeeperwho simply enjoy seeing some terrific gunplay.
Run All Night
15‘The Killer’ (2023)
Directed by David Fincher
The Beekeeperoffered a fresh take on the world of espionage that showed the burden that expert assassins experience when they attempt to retire from duty. While Clay intends to find a new life outside the spy world, he is drawn back into the action to take on a mission of revenge.The Killeris another great assassin movie that serves as an excellent character study of its unusual protagonist.Michael Fassbenderis pitch-perfect as a ruthless hitman who prides himself on his ability to never miss a mark.
LikeThe Beekeeper,The Killerhas a very dark sense of humor, which makes senseconsidering it’s aDavid Finchermovie.The notoriously perfectionist director spares no expense with some of the most impressive set pieces of his career, but a snarky sense of humor from the film’s voiceovers reminds the viewers to have a good time while watching it.
The Killer
14‘The Italian Job’ (2003)
Directed by F. Gary Gray
The Beekeeperhas been one of the biggest hits of Statham’s career, but it’s hardly the first time he’s proved his merits in an unusual action thriller.The original caper film starringMichael Cainemay be regarded as a classic, butF. Gary Gray’s 2003 version ofThe Italian Jobis one of the rare action remakes that tops the original. Statham joined an all-star cast includingMark Wahlberg, the lateDonald Sutherland,andCharlize Theronas a group of clever thieves that attempt to get revenge after they’re betrayed by their former ally (Edward Norton).
While he’s often thought of as strictly a serious actor,Norton shows his comedic abilities in bothThe BeekeeperandThe Italian Job.The hilarious banter that he shares withSeth Greenresults in some unexpected laughs that balance out the more serious heist sequences and car chases.
Watch on Paramount+
13‘Point Blank’ (1967)
Directed by John Boorman
Perhaps the mostgroundbreaking action film of the 1960s,Point Blankadded an element of existentialism and conspiracy thriller narrative into a brutal revenge drama.The film centers on an assassin (Lee Marvin) who is betrayed by his former allies, only to seek them out in order to attain vengeance. While the narrative may seem fairly straightforward, the stylistic impulses of directorJohn Boormansuggest that the character may be in an extended dream state.
LikeThe Beekeeper,Point Blanksucceeds in being so relentless in its pacingthat the audience is barely given the opportunity to look at the situation from an objective perspective, which would reveal how silly the whole thing is. Given some of the odd narrative choices that Ayer made inThe Beekeeper, it’s entirely possible that it will be remembered as a cult classic in the same way thatPoint Blankis now.
Point Blank
12‘Get Carter’ (1971)
Directed by Mike Hodges
A brilliant modern neo-noir that changed the British gangster genre as we know it,Get Carterperfected the revenge thrillergenre that would eventually inspireThe Beekeeper. The great Michael Caine sheds his typically charismatic persona to play a ruthless gangster who strikes out on a mission of revenge after his brother is killed. Similar to Statham inThe Beekeeper, he’s a character who wants to seek his own form of justice because the authorities don’t.
NeitherGet CarternorThe Beekeeperseemed afraid of pushing the audience’s boundaries, as both films contain some truly shocking moments of violence and torture. Nonetheless, having a heroic performance like the ones from either Statham or Caine certainly makes the action feel like it is necessary in order to bring the real culprits to justice. It’s an essential component of any good revenge film.
Rent on Amazon
11‘Rolling Thunder’ (1977)
Directed by John Flynn
One of the most compelling aspects ofThe Beekeeperis that it sheds a spotlight on a former special ops agent who was not given the appropriate resources by the system that he helped protect. Similarly,Rolling Thunderexplores the mistreatment of American military veterans in the aftermath of the Vietnam War. The film explores the former serviceman Charles Rane (William DeVane), who teams up with a fellow veteran (Tommy Lee Jones) to take down the criminals who murdered his family. As withThe Beekeeper, it’s exciting to see trained professionals use the plethora of skills that they’ve built through their experience in order to take down some truly dastardly villains.
BothThe BeekeeperandRolling Thundersucceed by turning their protagonists into underdogs who are fightingagainst a corrupt system, allowing each film to insert an element of social satire.
Rolling Thunder
Watch on Amazon Prime
10‘Hardcore’ (1979)
Directed by Paul Schrader
ScreenwriterPaul Schraderhas writtenmany classics likeRaging BullandTaxi DriverforMartin Scorsese, but he proved himself as an accomplished filmmaker in his own right with the haunting neo-noir action thrillerHardcore. The film starsGeorge C. Scottas a quiet family man who is forced to take the law into his own hands after he discovers that his daughter has been caught up in the adult entertainment world. LikeThe Beekeeper,Hardcorefocuses on a flawed protagonist who lashes out at a corrupt system that takes advantage of the most vulnerable membersof society.
BothHardcoreandThe Beekeeperfocus on untraditional protagonists who are called out of their presumed retirement in order to take on a mission that involves someone that they care about. This adds a level of sincerity that succeeds in getting the audience invested in the action sequences.
Watch on Criterion
9‘Revenge’ (1990)
Directed by Tony Scott
An aptly titled underrated gem from directorTony Scott,Revengeis a brutal action thriller that featuresKevin Costner in the darkest roleof his entire career.Costner stars as a former Air Force pilot who strikes out on a mission of vengeance after the woman he fell in love with is brutally murdered in Mexico. While Costner made a career out of playing charming heroes in films likeField of DreamsandBull Durham,Revengegave him the opportunity to show his dark side and play a relentless killing machine.
BothThe BeekeeperandRevengesucceed as works of action spectacle because of the vulnerability of their characters. Costner and Statham are both playing “lone wolves” who are not supported by anyone else, which puts even more pressure on them to unravel the truth of the situation.
Revenge (1990)
8‘Blown Away’ (1994)
Directed by Stephen Hopkins
The Beekeeperis heavily inspired by thebest action films of the 1990s, andBlown Awayis one of the most underrated gems of the greatest decade in the history of action cinema. The grounded espionage thriller fromPredator 2directorStephen HopkinsstarsJeff Bridgesas an explosives expert who is forced to take down a rogue Irish Republican Army terrorist (Tommy Lee Jones) who is intent on creating mass civilian casualties. Bridges is known mostly for his work as a dramatic actor, which added to the sense of realism that madeBlown Awayfeel so exciting.
BothThe BeekeeperandBlown Awayare gleefully ridiculous, yet don’t attempt to constantly overwhelm the audience with jokes in the same way that many Marvel films do. Oddly enough, it’s the self-serious tone that both Ayer and Hopkins strike that ends up making their action films feel more ironic in style.
Watch on Max
7‘End of Watch’ (2012)
Directed by David Ayer
The success ofThe Beekeepershouldn’t be a massive surprise, asAyer had proven himself as a filmmaker capable of making incentive action films with his 2012 masterworkEnd of Watch. Usingthe “found footage” genre to his advantage, Ayer told the story of two Los Angeles police officers (Jake GyllenhaalandMichael Pena), whose partnership is challenged when they uncover evidence of a drug conspiracy. The result is an immersive experience that allows viewers to understand the burdens that come with wearing a badge.
Ayer is often not given enough credit for his skills as a writer, asEnd of Watchsucceeds in showing what the cops’ lives and friendships look like outside of their work on the force. It’s an earnest examination of brotherhood, civil action, bravery, and community outreach that shows how deeply thoughtful Ayer can be as an artist.
