Stato (2025)

Genre: Action | Thriller | Espionage
Directed by: David Leitch
Starring: Jason Statham, Rebecca Ferguson, Scott Adkins, Giancarlo Esposito
Studio: Lionsgate | Thunder Road Pictures
Runtime: 1h 52min

Jason Statham is back in top form in Stato, a high-octane thriller that combines old-school grit with sleek modern style. Blending explosive action sequences with international espionage, this new release offers a satisfying adrenaline ride—and Statham doing what he does best: kicking down doors and taking names.

Stato follows Dominic Stato (Jason Statham), a former British intelligence operative who left the agency after a classified mission in Prague went catastrophically wrong. Living off the grid and haunted by the past, he's pulled back into the shadow world when a cryptic message reveals that a rogue agency has resurfaced—and they’ve targeted his estranged daughter for leverage.

With no official backup and a kill order on his head, Stato goes on a globe-trotting mission from London to Berlin to Marrakesh, racing to stop an international conspiracy and settle old debts. But as the truth unravels, he realizes the betrayal runs deeper than he ever imagined.

Jason Statham carries the film effortlessly with his signature blend of stoic cool, dry humor, and brutal efficiency. Whether he's fighting ten men in a Turkish bathhouse or interrogating a corrupt diplomat on a moving train, his physicality and screen presence remain unmatched.

Rebecca Ferguson plays a sharp, morally complex CIA liaison with her own agenda, bringing depth and tension to the dynamic. Scott Adkins, as the film’s ruthless mercenary antagonist, delivers bone-crunching fights with precision. Giancarlo Esposito adds intellectual menace as the shadowy mastermind pulling the strings.

Director David Leitch (John Wick, Atomic Blonde, Bullet Train) brings flair and clarity to the action. Stato is packed with choreographed fight scenes, gritty hand-to-hand combat, stylish shootouts, and thrilling chase sequences—especially a standout rooftop pursuit in Marrakesh and a subway brawl that feels straight out of The Raid.

The cinematography is slick, using cool tones and neon lighting to add a modern, spy-thriller aesthetic. The soundtrack, blending orchestral suspense with electronic beats, enhances the tension without overpowering.

• Redemption and loyalty in a world of betrayal

• The blurred lines between governments and criminals

• Fatherhood, regret, and second chances

• The cost of silence in intelligence work

While Stato doesn’t reinvent the genre, it offers enough emotional weight and political intrigue to elevate the story beyond a basic revenge tale.

• Jason Statham’s commanding lead performance

• Clean, practical action sequences with real impact

• Strong supporting cast and dynamic villain

• Fast-paced and tightly edited

• International settings add visual variety and depth

• Familiar action-thriller plot beats

• Emotional arcs could have been explored more deeply

• Some one-liners fall flat or feel forced

• Light on originality compared to genre classics

Stato is a slick, well-crafted action thriller that gives Jason Statham fans exactly what they want—intensity, grit, and satisfying mayhem. While it doesn’t revolutionize the genre, it executes its formula with precision and power, making it one of the more entertaining action films of the year.