Jason Statham fans won’t have to shelter themselves from his latest thriller, which has debuted to generally positive reviews on Rotten Tomatoes. While Shelter doesn’t break the bold, it seems that action aficionados will be more than pleased with the latest explosive effort from the director behind the Greenland franchise. The film, which follows a former assassin protecting a young girl on a remote island, hits theaters on Jan. 30.
As of this writing, Shelter has a 65% on Rotten Tomatoes based on 17 reviews. The critic consensus thus far points to an average, low-key action film with Statham in good form. As Blur-ray.com notes, the film is “not particularly memorable,” but it also isn’t “goofy like many of Statham’s recent releases, making for a slightly more interesting viewing experience.” The Gate echoed this sentiment, concluding that the thriller “keeps things entertaining and refreshing by actually allowing its cast members to give well crafted performances amid some nifty action sequences.”
Our very own MovieWeb review provided one of the least favorable takes, calling Shelter a “cookie-cutter genre picture,” going as far as to say that it is “dangerously similar in broad strokes to 2012’s Safe, in which Statham plays an ex-cop who saves a child math prodigy from the Russian Mafia and Chinese Triads. ” Unfortunately, it also sounds like Statham’s approach to the role did not fit the narrative, which revolves around two “lonely people connecting on a meaningful level.”
“In Shelter, his efficient and minimalist style is exactly what is not needed to tell a story that depends on two lonely people connecting on a meaningful level as they’re chased around the UK by nefarious government forces. Statham has built up a lot of goodwill among action audiences — and with good reason. But Shelter consists of so many spy-movie clichés and ‘been-there-punched-that’ fight scenes that maybe it’s time for him to holster that Glock 17 and attempt something new. “
‘Shelter’ Crew, Cast and Plot Synopsis
Black Bear Pictures
Shelter, which just received a Fortnite map collaboration, is the latest directorial effort from Ric Roman Waugh, known for his previous work Snitch, Shot Caller, Angel Has Fallen, and, most recently, Greenland 2: Migration. His new action thriller follows Statham as Michael Mason, a former assassin who finds himself protecting a young girl when a storm hits a remote island. However, nature becomes the least of his problems when his violent past catches up with him, forcing Mason to face the music and find some redemption amidst the chaos. Read the plot synopsis:
On a remote coastal island, a reclusive man (Jason Statham) rescues a young girl (Bodhi Rae Breathnach) from a deadly storm, drawing them both into danger. Forced out of isolation, he must confront his turbulent past while protecting her, sending them on a tense journey of survival and redemption.
The cast of Shelter features Statham, Bodhi Rae Breathnach (Hamnet), Bill Nighy (Lazarus), Naomi Ackie (Mickey 17), and Daniel Mays (The Thursday Murder Club). The film hits theaters this weekend on Jan. 30, opposite the controversial documentary Melania, which is slated to make just over $1 million at the domestic box office. Shelter should be able to storm its way near the top, while following short of Sam Raimi’s Send Help. However, with a $50 million budget, the Black Bears Pictures release might have a steep hill to climb to become profitable.
Release Date
January 30, 2026
Runtime
107 minutes
Director
Ric Roman Waugh
Writers
Ward Parry
Producers
Greg Silverman, Jason Statham, Jon Berg, John Friedberg, Brendon Boyea
