Before diving into the Statham-helmed trilogy, start with 2015’s “The Transporter Refueled,” which serves as both a reboot and a prequel with a younger Martin (Skrein) navigating the treacherous world of covert transport business. Skrein’s rendition of Martin marks a departure from Statham’s, as we approach his backstory from a fresh perspective, where he picks up a retired MI6 agent as part of his transportation duties, triggering a dark chain of events. A Russian mobster named Karasov is being targeted by four women, who feel grievously wronged by him and seek revenge, leading to a heist that Martin gets inexplicably involved in. “Refueled” explains why Martin has such strict rules for his service, although it certainly pales in comparison to its predecessors in almost every way.
Next, circle back to 2002’s “The Transporter,” where Statham’s Martin drives three bank robbers, but is asked to accommodate a fourth after the robbery, which leads to complications that botch the getaway plan and involve the police. Unfazed, Martin transports a series of packages that directly question his moral compass — a bound and gagged woman and a mysterious briefcase, which explodes while he stops for food. Sensing that a greater conspiracy is at play, Martin has to push against his own established rules to fight deep-rooted corruption that will only fester if he chooses to turn a blind eye.
Next up is 2005’s “Transporter 2,” where Martin temporarily switches careers and becomes a regular chauffeur. However, fate has other plans after he gets embroiled in a kidnapping and has to navigate situations tinted with personal stakes. Martin is forced to be more vulnerable than ever before, and this tender aspect is balanced out with exaggerated action scenes where the fun never ends.