Jason Statham is back as the titular character in The Beekeeper 2, because what’s a successful action movie without a sequel? The first film, directed by David Ayer, introduced us to a former assassin seeking revenge against scam artists, and now Statham’s character, Adam Clay, must take on the very organization that made him. Because, you know, that’s not a recipe for disaster.
The Beekeeper 2 is set to open in theaters on January 15, and the trailer promises more of the same action-packed thrills that made the first film a moderate success. This time around, the Beekeepers have decided to take over the U.S. government, because why not? It’s not like we’ve seen that plot before in every other action movie. The film also stars Jeremy Irons and Pom Klementieff, because when you’re making a sequel, you might as well bring in some big names to try and make it seem more interesting.
The Beekeeper 2: A Study in Unnecessary Sequels
The Beekeeper 2 is just another example of Hollywood’s annual Nostalgia Harvest, where studios dig up old intellectual properties and try to make them seem fresh again. It’s a tactic that’s been used time and time again, and it’s getting old. The Content Mines remain fully operational, churning out sequel after sequel, each one more unnecessary than the last. Somewhere a Focus Group earned another bonus for telling executives what they wanted to hear.
The film’s official synopsis reads like a laundry list of action movie cliches: “Pulled back into the fight when the Beekeeper organization goes rogue and sets its sights on controlling the government, Clay must take on the very group that made him.” It’s a plot that’s been done to death, and yet, here we are again. The Beekeeper 2 is just another cog in the machine of Hollywood’s franchise-driven economy.
The State of Action Movies Today
The Beekeeper 2 is just one of many action movies that have been released in recent years, each one trying to outdo the last in terms of explosive set pieces and macho posturing. It’s a genre that’s been dominated by the likes of Jason Statham, Dwayne Johnson, and Tom Cruise, each one trying to prove who’s the toughest guy in the room. But amidst all the testosterone-fueled bravado, it’s hard not to feel like we’ve seen it all before.
The Beekeeper 2 is scheduled to open in theaters on January 15, and it will likely do moderate business, just like its predecessor. The trailer has been viewed millions of times, and the film’s marketing campaign has been in full swing for months. It’s a well-oiled machine, designed to pump out sequel after sequel, each one more formulaic than the last. And we’ll eat it up, because that’s what we do. We’ll watch it, and we’ll forget it, and then we’ll do it all again next year.
As the credits roll on The Beekeeper 2, it’s hard not to feel a sense of exhaustion. Another action movie, another sequel, another franchise that will be milked for all it’s worth. The Merchandising Department has already approved the decision to make Beekeeper-themed merchandise, and the studio executives are no doubt rubbing their hands together in glee. It’s just another day in the office for Hollywood, where the only thing that matters is the bottom line. And so, the machine will keep on churning, pumping out sequels and remakes and reboots, until we’re all just numb to it all.
Finn McFrame, celebrated satirical mastermind and self-proclaimed “Emperor of Irony,” started his illustrious career as a cinematographer, where his expertise in capturing every single frame of a squirrel stealing a baguette earned him accolades at obscure film festivals.
Born in the glamorous town of Boring, Oregon, Finn grew up with dreams of being a Hollywood director until he realized that satire, not cinema, was his true calling—or at least the one that let him sleep until noon.
Finn McFrame: changing the world, one satirical lens flare at a time.
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