The Transporter (2002)

Frank is hired to "transport" packages for unknown clients and has made a very good living doing so. But when asked to move a package that begins moving, complications arise.

Directors:

Louis Leterrier, Corey Yuen (as Cory Yuen)

Writers:

Luc Besson, Robert Mark Kamen

Stars:

Jason Statham, Qi Shu, Matt Schulze

Cast

Cast overview, first billed only:
Jason Statham	...	Frank Martin
Qi Shu	...	Lai (as Shu Qi)
Matt Schulze	...	Wall Street
François Berléand	...	Inspector Tarconi
Ric Young	...	Mr. Kwai
Doug Rand	...	Leader
Didier Saint Melin	...	Boss
Tonio Descanvelle	...	Thug 1
Laurent Desponds	...	Thug 2
Matthieu Albertini	...	Thug 3
Vincent Nemeth	...	Pilot
Jean-Yves Bilien	...	Little Thug
Jean-Marie Paris	...	Giant Thug
Adrian Dearnell	...	Newscaster
Alfred Lot	...	Cop 1

Storyline

Ex-Special Forces operator Frank Martin lives what seems to be a quiet life along the French Mediterranean, hiring himself out as a mercenary "transporter" who moves goods--human or otherwise--from one place to another. No questions asked. Carrying out mysterious and sometimes dangerous tasks in his tricked-out BMW, Frank adheres to a strict set of rules, which he never breaks. Rule One: Never change the deal. Rule Two: No names--Frank doesn't want to know whom he's working for, or what he's transporting. Rule Three: never look in the package. Frank's newest transport seems no different from the countless ones he's done in the past. He's been hired by an American known only as "Wall Street" to make a delivery; but when Frank stops along the route, he notices his package is moving. Violating Rule Three, Frank looks inside the bag, finding its contents to be a beautiful, gagged woman. Frank's steadfast adherence to his other two rules--which make up his basic code of survival--also ...

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Plot Keywords:

gunfight | mixed martial arts | tire iron | bar | human trafficking | 

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Taglines:

Pro no hakobiya, iraihin wa itsumo WAKE ari [Japan]

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Genres:

Action | Crime | Thriller

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Motion Picture Rating (MPAA)

Rated PG-13 for violent sequences and some sensuality

Details

Country:

France USA

Language:

English French Mandarin

Release Date:

11 October 2002 (USA)

Also Known As:

Transporter

Filming Locations:

Los Angeles, California, USA

Box Office

Budget:

$21,000,000 (estimated)

Opening Weekend USA:

$9,107,816, 13 October 2002, Wide Release

Gross USA:

$25,296,447

Cumulative Worldwide Gross:

$43,928,932

Company Credits

Production Co:

EuropaCorp,TF1 Films Production,Current Entertainment

Technical Specs

Runtime:

92 min

Sound Mix:

DTS-ES (original version) Dolby Digital EX (original version) SDDS DTS (Digital DTS Sound) (English version) Dolby Digital (English version)

Color:

Color

Aspect Ratio:

2.35 : 1

Did You Know?

Trivia

The crew used a giant tow truck to pull the big rig down the highway. It had cameras mounted to the outside. It's really Jason Statham hanging off the bottom of the truck. "I had a wire up my leg and they assured me I was quite safe. There was a lot of hanging on to do."

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Goofs

The BMW jumping off the bridge has tinted side windows.

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Quotes

[Lai has gun on Wall Street]
Lai: Ten seconds, two choices. One, the information; the papers or your brains on the desk. Now tell me I'm lying.

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Alternate Versions

Region 1 DVD features three extended fight scenes. All three are "Unrated" and Not Suitable For Persons Under 18 Years of Age due to violence and adult subject matter. The scenes were shortened due to time/pacing reasons, and mostly for a PG-13 rating. The scenes featured more brutal violence(blood splattering when people get shot, and stabbings with a knife, etc.).

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Connections

Referenced in Fearless (2010)

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Soundtracks

Transfighter
(Alexandre Azaria (as Replicant))
Orchestration and Conduction by Marie-Jeanne Serero
1st Violin Floriane Bonanni
Recorded and Mixed at Digital Factory by Didier Lozahic
©EuropaCorp. (SACEM) / D.R.
(p)2002 EuropaCorp.

User Reviews

Smooth Fun!

Jason Statham plays the Transporter, an ex-military man who will move anything that needs to be moved...no questions asked. He has three simple rules. But when he breaks his cardinal rule, no peeking, he opens a varitable pandora's box that he might not survive. Statham plays one cool character. I could see him as a serious action hero type. The project was spearheaded by Luc (The Professional) Besson and directed by Cory Yuen. The film has high energy and is a load of fun. The fighting scenes are cool and the beginning and ending sequences are a blast. Forget the Fast and the Furious use The Transporter 8/10