Parker

If you want a crime drama that treats its mystery as more than a puzzle, Parker is available in Australia on Lionsgate+ Amazon Channels, and in the US on USA Network right now. The length is exactly right for the story it is telling — nothing rushed, nothing dragged out. A 6/10 rating says what the writing already makes obvious: this one works. Watch Jason Statham work — the performance is a masterclass in restraint. Available now on Lionsgate+ Amazon Channels — press play and find out why people keep recommending it.

Part of the current wave of titles people are actually watching, Parker earns its spot. The plotting in Parker is tight enough that the twists feel earned rather than assembled. A thief with a unique code of professional ethics is double-crossed by his crew and left for dead. Assuming a new disguise and forming an unlikely alliance with a woman on the inside, he looks to hijack the score of the crew's latest heist. Credit to Jason Statham and Jennifer Lopez for grounding it — this is a cast that earns the twists. It hit screens in 2013. Parker is at its best in the quiet scenes between the plot beats, where the character work actually happens. It delivers reliably on what it promises, which is more than most of its competition manages.

Crime and mystery fans will find exactly what they are after in Parker. It rewards viewers regardless of what else is in their watch history. It is a manageable watch, easy to fit into a single evening. Jason Statham carries scenes that would sink a lesser production. The resolution feels inevitable rather than arbitrary, which is rarer than it sounds.