Crank Movies: Release Order
The Crank series consists of two hyper-kinetic action films starring Jason Statham as Chev Chelios, a hitman thrust into increasingly absurd life-or-death scenarios. Directed by Mark Neveldine and Brian Taylor, these films are known for their frenetic digital cinematography, over-the-top violence, dark humor, and complete disregard for conventional action movie rules.
The first film introduces Chev as he's poisoned with a synthetic drug that will kill him unless he keeps his adrenaline constantly elevated. High Voltage picks up immediately after the original's ending, with Chev surviving a fall only to have his heart stolen and replaced with an artificial battery-powered device. The sequel amplifies everything from the first film to even more outrageous extremes.
Linear Timeline: Release Order = Story Order
Crank
A hit man discovers he's been poisoned and must keep his adrenaline pumping to stay alive while searching for an antidote in this high-octane action thriller.
Crank: High Voltage
Action hero Chelios must keep his artificial heart charged with electrical jolts while hunting down the Chinese mobster who stole his original organ.
Other Film Series
Extraction
Chris Hemsworth stars as Tyler Rake in Netflix's intense action franchise about a black ops mercenary undertaking dangerous rescue missions.
Grindhouse
An exploitation cinema tribute that began as a 2007 double feature and spawned multiple spin-off films from its fake trailers.
Ong Bak
Tony Jaa's martial arts showcase trilogy featuring spectacular Muay Thai action across different time periods and loosely connected stories.
RoboCop
A cyberpunk action series about a critically wounded police officer transformed into a cyborg law enforcer in dystopian Detroit.
The Joker
A collection of major live-action Joker portrayals across different Batman film universes.
The Punisher
Three completely separate reboot films featuring Frank Castle's vigilante crusade, each with different actors, settings, and interpretations of the character.