Comeback
Statham bounced back quickly from his previous cinematic disappointment by taking on a serious part in the indie film London in 2006. The film revealed a new, dramatic side to the action hero. However, despite his brief stint in drama, he continued to be cast in action films. In the same year, Statham starred as the lead in Crank, the black comedic action film for which he is best known. Crank: High Voltage, the sequel, was released four years later in 2009 and was slightly less impressive.
Exemplary performance
After the Crank films, Statham became an action movie star, appearing in practically every action film under the sun! The well-known American film critic praised Statham's performances and rise to stardom in action films. White lauded Statham's performance in Transporter 3 in 2008 as “a superb example of kinetic pop art.” Statham, according to White, has the “greatest track record of any current movie star.”