Summary
Audiences who have seenThe Beekeeperhave probably wondered if honey is as flammable as the movie claims it is. Jason Statham’sThe Beekeeperpremiered in January 2024 and introduced a new action hero to the canon: retired “Beekeeper” Adam Clay, a specially trained member of a secret clandestine order who protects America’s interests without any government oversight. It’s as action-packed and heart-pounding as one would expect, andJason Statham pulls off some awesome action scenes inThe Beekeeper.
The Beekeeperreceived a 71% onRotten Tomatoesand earned over $152 million at the box office (viaBox Office Mojo), a hefty sum for the current filmgoing era. It’s aquintessential Jason Statham moviewith all the high-stakes drama, secret organizations, andunbelievable physics and stunts viewers have come to expect. As an actual insect-tending beekeeper inThe Beekeeper, Statham even puts honey to explosive use in the movie, a moment that made some wonder if honey is actually flammable.
How Many Beekeeper Agents Exist In The Beekeeper?
The Beekeeper revealed some basic info about the organization, but some viewers may still be wondering how many Beekeepers are active at one time.
The Beekeeper “Honey Is Flammable” Theory Explained
The Honey Purity Test May Be A Myth
Made famous by virtue of being the final line in the first trailer forThe Beekeeper, Detective Lewis' (Baba Oyejide) quote, “It’s flammable as f**k, who knew”, is in response to a colleague’s question about a crime scene covered in honey. What they are referring to is the aftermath of a scene in the movie whereClay kills another Beekeeper by dousing her in honey and setting her alight with a match, as if she were covered in gasoline. That line and the scene itself got some people questioning if honey is indeed as flammable as the movie claims.
Hannah Shaw-Williams and Ryan Scott atSlashFilmput the claim to the test and tried their hand at burning a few varieties of honey. British Co-op brand clear honey, homemade American honey, and Good & Gather organic “raw & unfiltered honey” bought from Target all failed to be set alight, even when a flame was right on top of them. Some organizations, likeThe Scottish Bee Company, claim that pure honey is flammable, and that if a match dipped in honey lights up easily, it’s probably pure honey.
PerhapsSlashFilmwas not using pure honey andClay has access to much purer honey that is capable of catching fire. However, according to theNational Honey Board, the flame test is a myth, and purity doesn’t factor into whether honey catches fire or not. All that honey catching fire says about the honey is that it has a low moisture content, which has nothing to do with its purity in the way aficionados mean. Pure honey means honey that has no other ingredients added to it, like corn syrup (viaBig Island Bees).
Other Jason Statham Movies That Defy Science
Leaps Of Logic Are Why Viewers Love Statham Movies
Many other Jason Statham movies defy logic, so honey catching fire is on brand. In bothCrankfilms, Statham’s Chev Chelios is given a drug that forces him to keep his adrenaline up or die. In the climax, he jumps out of a helicopter and smashes into the asphalt, only to survive. InTransporter 2, Frank (Statham) drives a jet ski on a highway to chase down a bus. InFurious 7, Dom (Vin Diesel) and Shaw (Statham) crash their cars into each other head-first, and both drivers are unharmed. Statham’s characters should be dead in all instances.
These aren’t critiques. These are the reasons people love Jason Statham movies likeThe Beekeeper. Watching what ridiculous stunt Statham will do next is half the fun.IfBeekeeper 2happens, and it’s possible, considering director David Ayer said he would be interested in exploring more of the world, there’s sure to be more honey-related hijinks soon.
The Beekeeper
Cast
The Beekeeper follows a man’s quest for vengeance that escalates to a national level when he is revealed as a former operative of a covert organization known as Beekeepers. The story intertwines personal motives with broader implications, highlighting the intricate web of secrecy and power within the organization.
