Lock, Stock and Two Smoking Barrels
A frenetic, darkly comedic cockney crime caper where desperation and chance collide, visually represented as a tangled web of overlapping criminal ambitions spiraling towards an explosive, yet humorous, climax.
Lock, Stock and Two Smoking Barrels
Lock, Stock and Two Smoking Barrels

"A Disgrace to Criminals Everywhere."

28 August 1998 United Kingdom 105 min ⭐ 8.1 (6,887)
Director: Guy Ritchie
Cast: Vinnie Jones, Jason Flemyng, Dexter Fletcher, Nick Moran, Jason Statham
Crime Comedy
Chance and Coincidence Incompetence in the Criminal Underworld Masculinity and Friendship The Allure and Dangers of Greed
Budget: $1,350,000
Box Office: $28,356,188

Lock, Stock and Two Smoking Barrels - Characters & Cast

Character Analysis

Eddie

Nick Moran

Archetype: The Overconfident Protagonist
Key Trait: Ambitious

Motivation

Initially motivated by the thrill of the game and the desire for a big win, his motivation quickly shifts to pure survival and the desperate need to pay off his debt to "Hatchet" Harry to save his and his friends' lives, as well as his father's pub.

Character Arc

Eddie begins as a confident and somewhat arrogant cardsharp who believes he can outsmart a major crime boss. His arc is one of humbling, as his overconfidence leads to a massive debt that endangers himself and his friends. He is forced to become more resourceful and desperate, ultimately relying on luck as much as skill to survive.

Bacon

Jason Statham

Archetype: The Street-Smart Pragmatist
Key Trait: Pragmatic

Motivation

Bacon's primary motivation is financial gain and self-preservation. He is always looking for an angle and is quick to point out the risks involved in any given situation. He is fiercely loyal to his friends and is willing to do what it takes to get them out of trouble.

Character Arc

Bacon is introduced as a street vendor selling stolen goods. He is the most cynical and pragmatic of the group, often questioning the morality and feasibility of their plans. His character doesn't have a significant arc, but he remains a grounding and realistic voice for the friends throughout their ordeal.

Tom

Jason Flemyng

Archetype: The Resourceful Entrepreneur
Key Trait: Resourceful

Motivation

Tom is motivated by the prospect of making money. He is the one who purchases the antique shotguns, not for their intrinsic value, but as a means to an end. His entrepreneurial spirit is what makes him a valuable, if sometimes reckless, member of the group.

Character Arc

Tom is the most business-minded of the group, always looking for a deal and a way to make a profit. His arc sees him move from dealing in questionable but relatively low-level goods to being involved in a high-stakes robbery and dealing with dangerous criminals. He is often the one tasked with procuring the necessary tools for their schemes.

Soap

Dexter Fletcher

Archetype: The Reluctant Criminal
Key Trait: Cautious

Motivation

Soap is motivated by a desire to stay out of trouble and live an honest life. However, his loyalty to his friends and the threat of violence from "Hatchet" Harry force him to participate in their criminal plans. He is constantly trying to minimize the risks and avoid violence.

Character Arc

Soap is the most morally conflicted of the four friends. He works as a chef and is hesitant to get involved in criminal activities. His arc is about his struggle to reconcile his desire for a clean life with his loyalty to his friends and the desperate situation they are in. He often voices his concerns and fears, acting as the group's conscience.

Big Chris

Vinnie Jones

Archetype: The Principled Enforcer
Key Trait: Protective

Motivation

Big Chris is motivated by his job and, more importantly, the well-being of his son. He is a professional who takes his work seriously but will not hesitate to turn on his employer if his son is threatened. His actions are often dictated by what is best for Little Chris.

Character Arc

Big Chris is a feared debt collector who works for "Hatchet" Harry. His arc is unique in that he is a ruthless criminal who also displays a strong sense of paternal love and a personal code of conduct. He is a man of contradictions, capable of extreme violence while also being a caring father to his son, Little Chris. By the end of the film, he has taken over Harry's money-lending business, suggesting a rise in his own criminal standing.

Cast

Vinnie Jones as Big Chris
Jason Flemyng as Tom
Dexter Fletcher as Soap
Nick Moran as Eddy
Jason Statham as Bacon
Steven Mackintosh as Winston
Nicholas Rowe as J
Nick Marcq as Charles
Charles Forbes as Willie
Lenny McLean as Barry the Baptist
Peter McNicholl as Little Chris
P.H. Moriarty as 'Hatchet' Harry Lonsdale
Frank Harper as Dog
Steve Sweeney as Plank
Huggy Leaver as Paul