At first glance, both Jason Statham and Gerard Butler seem to be facing significant box-office disappointments. Interestingly, their two most recent films — Shelter and Greenland 2: Migration — were released in the same month and directed by the same filmmaker, Ric Roman Waugh. While Shelter earned $53 million worldwide against a reported budget of $50 million, Greenland 2 made approximately $45 million worldwide against a reported budget of $90 million. However, producer Basil Iwanyk, known for the John Wick franchise, stated that every movie featuring Statham or Butler ultimately turns a profit.
During an appearance on The Ringer and Puck’s The Town podcast, Iwanyk discussed the financial aspects of Butler and Statham’s action films, revealing that the production costs for their movies typically range from $50 to $65 million. He also shared his key insight regarding their film business model: disregard the domestic box office. Iwanyk explained that Butler and Statham’s films perform exceptionally well on PVOD and streaming platforms, contributing to their long-term profitability. Acknowledging this, both stars command high salaries. Iwanyk remarked:
“They all make money. Those guys — Gerry and Jason — they get paid… Originally, Greenland was going to be with Chris Evans and Neill Blomkamp… We were supposed to come out in late June, then COVID happened. It did get released in a bunch of foreign territories. It became a huge hit on video; a huge ancillary hit. What I’ve learned from the economics of Gerry and Statham movies is that you truly must ignore the domestic box office. There are so many times when I’m like, ‘Oh my God, we’re going to lose so much on this movie’. But it’s so profitable in the afterlife. Even if a movie makes $14 million and it cost $55 million, it makes them money… These Gerry and Statham movies, the model that they have, they make money on every single one of them. I’m not kidding; every single one of them. That’s why they get paid.”
Collider Exclusive · Action Hero Quiz
Which Action Hero Would Be YourPerfect Partner?
Rambo · James Bond · Indiana Jones · John McClane · Ethan Hunt
Five legends. Five completely different ways of getting out alive — with style, with muscle, with charm, with luck, or with a plan so intricate it probably shouldn’t work. Ten questions will reveal which action hero was built to have your back.
Rambo
James Bond
Indiana Jones
John McClane
Ethan Hunt
FIND YOUR PARTNER →
01
You’re dropped into a dangerous situation with no warning. What do you need most from a partner?
The first few seconds tell you everything about who belongs beside you.
ASomeone who already has three contingency plans running and is calmly working through all of them.
BSomeone who reads the terrain instinctively and knows exactly how to use it against the enemy.
CSomeone who keeps their nerve and their sense of humour when everything is falling apart.
DSomeone who knows the history of wherever we are and what we’re walking into.
ESomeone with the right contact, the right cover identity, and the right exit already arranged.
You have to get somewhere dangerous, fast. How do you travel?
How you get there is half the mission.
AOn foot through terrain no one else would attempt — I move where vehicles can’t follow.
BOn a motorcycle, a cargo plane, or anything else that gets me there before I think too hard about it.
CIn something that belongs to someone else — borrowed, stolen, or improvised under fire.
DFirst-class, with a cover identity and a gadget that does something I won’t explain until it’s needed.
EBy whatever means are available — I’ve driven, flown, and once arrived by camel. The destination matters, not the method.
NEXT QUESTION →
03
You’re pinned down and outnumbered. What does your ideal partner do?
This is when you find out what someone is really made of.
04
The mission is paused. You have one evening to decompress. What does your partner suggest?
Who someone is when the pressure drops is who they actually are.
05
How do you prefer your partner to communicate mid-mission?
Good communication is the difference between partners and a liability.
06
Your enemy is powerful well-resourced has upper hand How should your partner approach them?
Things go badly wrong you’re captured What do you trust your partner to do?
Who someone is when you need them most is only thing matters.
CC ome in loud come in fast worry about collateral damage later I’d do same for them.
DUse every resource every contact bend every rule until I’m out they don’t leave people behind.
EC harm their way in somehow bluff through hard part still manage look good doing it.
‘NEXT QUESTION → ‘
’08’ ‘What does your ideal partner bring to table you couldn’t replace?’ ‘Great partner fills gap didn’t know had.’
‘ A ‘‘Technology shouldn’t exist yet training use under any conditions.’
‘ B ‘‘Survival instinct refined borders supernatural scars prove it’s been tested.’
‘C’‘Knowledge history language culture makes invaluable places where force useless.’
‘ D ‘‘Ability walk into any room world immediately become most trusted person it.’
‘ E ‘‘Stubbornness refuses accept situation hopeless improvisational skill back it up.’ ‘NEXT QUESTION → ‘
‘Every partnership has cost Which these can live with?’
‘No one comes without baggage Question whether can carry together.’
‘NEXT QUESTION → ‘
“It’s final moment Everything line What do you need from your partner right now?”‘
“Last question most honest one.”‘
<LABEL=="CBOPTIONBUTTON"'FOR=="CBQA"' A "<SPANS=="CBOPTIONLETTER"'One line Absolutely dry Delivered like world isn't ending Then we move."
<LABEL=="CBOPTIONBUTTON"'FOR=="CBQB"' B "<SPANS=="CBOPTIONLETTER"'Nothing said at all just look means we both already know what has happen."
“Rambo””Your partner doesn’t talk much doesn’t need assessed every threat immediate environment before you’ve finished first sentence John Rambo not man plans politics force nature shaped survival loyalty capacity endurance goes beyond anything training produce will not leave behind has never left anyone behind who deserved come home What you get Rambo most capable quietly ferocious partner imaginable one who been through things would broken anyone else chose keep going anyway You’ll never need ask if he has back You’ll just know.”
“James Bond””Your partner will arrive perfectly dressed perfectly briefed cover story convincing it’ll take moment remember what’s actually true James Bond most professionally dangerous person any room enters disarmingly charming which point operates world layers nothing appears every advantage used without apology You’ll never bored occasionally furious But matters mission genuinely line margin error collapsed nothing Bond exactly partner want He survived things have business being survivable does style That not nothing.”
“Indiana Jones””Your partner will know history language cultural context exactly why thing everyone else ignoring actually most important thing room Indiana Jones brilliant reckless occasionally impossible but also one resourceful genuinely knowledgeable partners could find yourself beside He approaches every situation scholar’s eye brawler’s instinct unusual combination remarkably effective He hates snakes gets personally attached objects historical significance which slow down least once doesn’t matter What Indy brings irreplaceable adventures you’ll have together will people write books about Assuming survive them.”
“John McClane””Your partner was supposed here does have right equipment right information approaching right odds sarcastic remark absolute refusal accept situation bad looks John McClane greatest accidental hero history action cinema man whose superpower stubbornness whose contingency plan improvisation capacity absorb punishment keep moving would alarming weren’t useful He complain entire time make significantly more chaotic needed be And absolutely unconditionally question come through counts Yippee ki yay.”
“Ethan Hunt””Your partner has already run seventeen scenarios time you’ve finished reading briefing plan he’s settled involves at least two things should physically impossible Ethan Hunt operates absolute edge human capability technically physically intellectually brings relentless precision protecting partners dismantling organisations shouldn’t exist He not easy know will never fully tell everything But carry weight mission completely absolutely job simply trust remarkable thing trusting always turns out be right call mission will impossible complete anyway.”
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Sarah Parker is a research analyst and content contributor with a strong interest in business strategy, organizational behavior, and social development. With a background in sociology and public policy, she focuses on exploring the intersection between research and real-world application. Sarah regularly contributes articles that bridge academic insights and practical relevance, aiming to foster critical thinking and innovation across sectors.
