Jason Statham has firmly established himself as a leading figure in the action film genre, and his latest endeavor, A Working Man, appears to be yet another successful chapter in his career. Over the initial two weeks since its release, the film has amassed over $60 million at the box office, comfortably surpassing its $40 million production budget. Although the film has received lukewarm reviews, it possesses the potential to launch a new action franchise, stepping in to fill the void left by a similar series that has remained inactive for seven years.
The series in question is the well-known Taken franchise, which features Liam Neeson as the tenacious Bryan Mills across a trilogy of films, as well as a prequel television series that aired from 2017 to 2018. Despite its lack of significant impact and the diminishing returns of the trilogy—particularly evident by the third film—the inaugural Taken film is still regarded as one of the defining action movies of the late 2000s. Notably, the narrative and characters of A Working Man echo themes of the Taken series.
A Working Man: Jason Statham’s Version of Taken
Commonalities between the Two Franchises
While action films often share common narratives, the story arc of A Working Man bears notable similarities to that of Taken. The plot centers around a man fighting to save a kidnapped girl—a compelling resemblance to Taken‘s central theme, which involves a father’s quest to rescue his daughter from traffickers. Although Taken does not boast a revolutionary storyline, the connection between the two films is palpable.
|
Movie |
Rotten Tomatoes Score |
|---|---|
|
Taken |
60% |
|
Taken 2 |
22% |
|
Taken 3 |
13% |
|
A Working Man |
50% |
In A Working Man, Levon Cade’s mission does not focus on rescuing his daughter; rather, he attempts to save a girl kidnapped from a family he holds dear. Both Cade and Mills are portrayed as former military operatives, a common trope in action films. This connection enriches the storyline and positions A Working Man as a contemporary successor to the Taken franchise.
The Potential of A Working Man as a Franchise Exceeds Continued Taken Films
The Diminishing Impact of the Taken Franchise
While the Taken franchise remains a cultural touchstone, it may be more beneficial for audiences to let it rest rather than seek further installments or a reboot. The evolution of the trilogy saw diminishing quality, with the first film recognized as a solid action narrative, the second perceived as a lesser imitation, and the third regarded as a weak attempt to recapture its initial magic. A Working Man is not defined by groundbreaking ideas, yet it represents a fresher intellectual property, pushing the boundaries of the action genre and deserving a chance to thrive.