A man left behind a decorated military career to work construction and be a good dad to his daughter. However, when his boss’s daughter vanishes, his search to bring her home uncovers a world of corruption far greater than he ever could have imagined. A film by David Ayer, starring Jason Statham, Jason Flemyng, Merab Ninidze, Maximilian Osinski, Cokey Falkow, Michael Peña, and David Harbour.

Levon Cade (Jason Statham) works as a construction foreman for Garcia & Family Construction, a business run by Joe Garcia (Michael Peña), his wife Carla (Noemi Gonzalez), and their teenage daughter Jenny (Arianna Rivas). While Joe and Jenny are arguing in the office about money she needs for a dinner celebration with friends to mark passing her first semester, Levon notices a suspicious black vehicle parking outside. His instincts immediately tell him trouble is coming.

Outside, Levon finds two thugs assaulting one of his workers and steps in to intervene. The situation quickly escalates into a fight, but Levon easily overpowers them using his military combat skills before threatening them to leave the premises.

Jenny witnesses the entire confrontation and asks Levon to teach her those techniques. Reluctant to invite more trouble, Levon insists she didn’t see anything. Nevertheless, he promises to have her back if she ever needs his help.

Later, Levon picks up his daughter Merry (Isla Gie) from her grandfather’s house. Her wealthy grandfather Dr. Jordan Roth (Richard Heap) disapproves of Levon, considering him unfit to raise Merry because of his military background and history of violent outbursts. Dr. Roth also holds Levon responsible for Merry’s mother’s death.

When Levon tries to fight for custody of his daughter, his attorney Matt Torrance (Jonathan Nyati) gives him a harsh reality check. Torrance explains that with his untreated PTSD and brain trauma from military service, Levon doesn’t stand a chance against Dr. Roth’s high-powered lawyers who will drain Levon financially until there’s nothing left of him.

That night, Jenny goes out clubbing with her friends, unaware that she’s being stalked by Viper (Emmett J Scanlan) and Artemis (Eve Mauro). The pair are scouting women for their mysterious client who’s searching for “The One.” Eventually, Jenny is forcibly abducted from a bar and dragged into a black van that immediately speeds away.

When Joe and Carla discover their daughter Jenny is missing, they immediately contact the police. After she fails to show up for her Sunday night piano recital, the couple grows increasingly worried that something terrible might have happened to her. Aware of Levon’s military background, they desperately ask him for help finding Jenny, offering $50,000 upfront plus $20,000 for expenses. Despite the generous offer, Levon politely declines, explaining that he’s left his violent past behind and isn’t that person anymore.

Levon visits his fellow ex-soldier Gunny (David Harbour), who is now blind and lives with his wife Joyce (Joanna DeLane) in their secluded mountain home. After sharing some nostalgic conversation, Gunny sarcastically tells Levon that he didn’t need to drive all this way, as Levon has clearly already made up his mind about rescuing Jenny and isn’t actually seeking his permission.

Levon traces Jenny’s last known location to Skip’s Bar, where he observes the bartender Johnny (David Witts) secretly dealing drugs to customers. Suspecting Johnny might have information about Jenny’s disappearance, Levon follows him back to his apartment.

During his interrogation of Johnny, two unexpected visitors arrive. When the gunfight’s smoke clears, Levon discovers that the men he’s just killed are members of a Russian crime syndicate.

Directed by American filmmaker David Ayer from a screenplay by Sylvester Stallone and Ayer, A WORKING MAN is an action thriller film following a former special operations soldier turned construction foreman trying to live a quiet life and to be a good father to his young daughter. The screenplay is based on the 2014 novel Levon’s Trade, the first book in Chuck Dixon’s action-packed Levon Cade series.

The story follows a fairly predictable formula, and the plot contains few surprises. The film tries to juggle too many subplots and introduces various characters that seem designed to build a larger universe for potential sequels, much like the John Wick franchise, should this first installment prove financially successful.

Unfortunately, the screenplay feels somewhat disjointed and forced, with stretches of unnecessary dialogue that make the film drag longer than it needs to.

Having never read the book, I must admit that when Viper mentioned his client was searching for ‘The One,’ I fully expected the big reveal to be a vampire or alien in disguise. That would have made for a much more compelling twist than simply another generic human villain.

The final act stands out as the most entertaining portion of the film, thanks to its comical timing, over-the-top choreographed fight sequences, and hilarious character behavior. This section feels more like a video game than a serious thriller, creating a notable tonal shift from the previous acts.

A WORKING MAN was theatrically released in the United States on 28 March 2025, by Amazon MGM Studios.