Titled ‘The Beekeeper,’ this movie has surged to the top of the 2024 box office chart, raking in an impressive worldwide total of $150 million (£118 million). It comfortably surpasses Sony’s ‘Madame Web’ and Matthew Vaughn’s ‘Argylle,’ which stand at $77 million and $86 million, respectively.
Jason Statham takes the lead role of Adam Clay, a former beekeeper seeking vengeance after a retired schoolteacher tragically ends her life due to a phishing scam that drained her charity’s funds. The film also stars Josh Hutcherson, Emmy Raver-Lampman and Jeremy Irons.
Also Read: ‘The Beekeeper’: A Thrilling Tale of Justice, Vengeance and Killer Bees
‘The Beekeeper’ is helmed by David Ayer, renowned for his work on ‘Training Day’ as a writer and previously directing films like ‘End of Watch’ and ‘Suicide Squad.’ Kurt Wimmer, known for his contributions to ‘Salt,’ ‘The Thomas Crown Affair’ and ‘Expend4bles,’ penned the screenplay.
Critics have responded positively, awarding the film a 71 per cent rating on Rotten Tomatoes. The consensus praises its cheerful and enjoyable retrograde nature, affirming that Statham’s action-thriller prowess remains potent.
Ayer has hinted at the potential for a sequel to ‘The Beekeeper,’ acknowledging the rich mythology waiting to be explored. “We cracked the door a little bit into the Beekeeper world, and I would love to learn more about them,” he expressed in an interview. “It’s just an amazing mythology. There’s so much room to explore.”
In the second spot on the 2024 box office chart is the biographical film ‘Bob Marley: One Love,’ earning $120 million, followed by the musical adaptation of ‘Mean Girls’ at $103 million. Meanwhile, ‘Madame Web’ finds itself in fifth place, facing challenges after a disappointing opening week, marking one of the weakest performances for a Marvel character film.