Movies like Crank (2006) and its 2009 sequel, Crank: High Voltage, are not commonly seen in today’s film industry. These films are characterized by their explicit and outrageous nature, making it difficult to determine whether their outlandish action ideas were inspired by science fiction, Saturday morning cartoons, or something even more extreme. Available for streaming on Peacock, these movies intentionally prioritize immediate excitement over intricate narratives, and in that aspect, they unquestionably succeed.
Both movies feature Jason Statham in the role of Chev Chelios, a hitman who becomes the target of revenge plots by his underworld rivals in Los Angeles. In the first movie, “Crank,” Chev is injected with a rare substance that slows down his heart and will ultimately result in his death unless he keeps his adrenaline levels high. The sequel, “Crank: High Voltage,” takes the absurdity to even greater heights as Chev’s heart is replaced with an artificial device that requires periodic jolts of electricity to keep it ticking.
While neither “Crank” film achieved blockbuster success at the box office, they developed a devoted fanbase that appreciated their disregard for conventional movie standards and good taste, even by R-rated standards. Similar to the Farrelly brothers’ 1998 film “There’s Something About Mary,” the “Crank” movies delighted in pushing boundaries, including the audience’s willingness to suspend disbelief and enjoy Statham’s consistently energetic performances.
Is There Any Chance of a Third Craпk Movie Happening? Almost everyone involved in the production of the Craпk films, including Statham, has expressed interest in reviving the franchise with a third installment. However, discussions about a potential Craпk 3 have quieted down in recent years. Statham optimistically mentioned in a 2015 interview with Eпtertaiпmeпt Weekly that they have been talking about Craпk 3 for years, expressing his admiration for the writing and directing duo, Mark Neveldiпe and Briaп Taylor.
“The initial Crack experience was absolutely fantastic,” expressed Statham. “Working with such talented directors creates a whirlwind few weeks. There are no rules when it comes to the Crack movies. We just keep pushing the boundaries, constantly asking ourselves, ‘How can we take this to the next level?’ They have a rough concept for Crack 3, but the script hasn’t been written yet.”
More recently, Taylor discussed how the evolving entertainment culture poses challenges for a third Crack movie. While not impossible, it is certainly a more delicate proposition than in the past. “I don’t think you could create Crack in today’s climate,” he confided in 2018 to Comicbook.com. He highlighted the first two films’ “disrespectful, politically incorrect nature” as a tough sell in Hollywood. It’s worth noting that over a decade has passed since his original statements and the present.
“I won’t do something that is just a cheap, boring, toned-down version of the Crank movie,” he explained. “There have been opportunities to do that, and there have definitely been opportunities to make a version that I think Crank fans would find lame, purely for financial reasons. I’m just not going to do it. There are a lot of ideas for it, a lot of great ideas for a Crank movie, but it has to be cool. Everyone involved has to be in the right mindset. It has to be made for the right reasons. It has to be creatively driven.”
Since then, the flow of news about a potential Crank sequel has slowed down significantly. However, despite Hollywood’s recent reluctance to embrace entertainment without a safety net in place for shock value, Taylor has still managed to surprise fans with a few jaw-dropping moments. He directed Christopher Meloni through two seasons of SYFY’s wild adult comedy Happy! (2017-2019) while also writing or co-writing the majority of the series’ outrageously raunchy episodes.
For those looking to stream the first two Crank movies, they can be found on Peacock. It’s hard to top a sequel that featured a guy with a draining battery for a heart, but if Crank: High Voltage ends up being the last Crank film, at least it leaves the franchise humming at its highest possible frequency. Make sure to catch both Crank and Crank: High Voltage streaming now, and mark your calendars for May 19 when Statham will reprise his Fast Saga role as Deckard Shaw in Fast X (get tickets now!).
