It’s surprising that several popular actors – including Jason Statham, Mark Wahlberg, and Mel Gibson – haven’t been able to successfully portray the same character. They’ve all tried to bring to life the compelling career criminal created by author Donald E. Westlake, who also wrote under the name Richard Stark. Westlake began the series in 1962 with The Hunter, and went on to write 24 novels following the adventures of his tough, resourceful thief, Parker.
I’ve always been fascinated by Parker. He’s a criminal, plain and simple, and definitely not your typical hero. He commits these huge, daring crimes, but what draws me in is that he does have a code, even if it’s a bit twisted. He’s just so unapologetically himself. Honestly, the books feel like they’re built for a massive franchise – they’re just that good! But it’s strange, because the movies just haven’t clicked with audiences. They’ve even used big-name actors, but it hasn’t translated. It makes me wonder what’s missing – why does Parker work so well on the page, but not on screen?
Parker Has Tried Several Times To Connect With Audiences
FilmDistrict
Donald Westlake’s Parker novels have been turned into movies nine times. The first adaptation was the 1966 film Made in U.S.A., directed by Jean-Luc Godard and inspired by Westlake’s 1965 novel The Jugger. Interestingly, this version featured a female take on the character, named Paula Nelson. Lee Marvin was the first actor to play the male version of Parker, appearing in 1967’s Point Blank. Since then, several well-known actors have portrayed the character in different ways, including Jim Brown in The Split (1968) and Peter Coyote in Slayground (1983). Even Robert Duvall, an Academy Award winner, played a version of Parker in 1973’s The Outfit.
Mel Gibson first portrayed the character of Parker, under the name Porter, in the 1999 film Payback, where he sought revenge over a small amount of money. Jason Statham then played Parker in the 2013 movie Parker, which was the first film adaptation to actually use the character’s name. Most recently, Mark Wahlberg starred as Parker in the 2025 film Play Dirty, directed by Shane Black, known for his work on action comedies like The Nice Guys and Kiss Kiss Bang Bang.
Robert Parker, the author, apparently didn’t want his name used on film adaptations unless a full series was planned. This led filmmakers to use different names like Walker, Macklin, Stone, and McClain. Despite these adaptations, none of the nine films ever got a sequel, though Mark Wahlberg’s version might have a small chance. There was definitely a desire to create a franchise, particularly with the later movies. Given that stars like Jason Statham and Mark Wahlberg appeared in these films, it’s surprising they weren’t more successful. The question remains: are the Parker movies simply not good, or is the problem with the character himself?
| Movies Based on Donald E. Westlake’s Parker Series | |||
|---|---|---|---|
| MOVIE TITLE: | BASED ON: | CHARACTER NAME: | ACTOR: |
| Made in U.S.A. (1966) | The Jugger (1965) | Paula Nelson | Anna Karina |
| Point Blank (1967) | The Hunter (1962) | Walker | Lee Marvin |
| Mise à Sac (“Pillaged”) (1967) | The Score (1964) | Georges | Michel Constantin |
| The Split (1968) | The Seventh (1966) | McClain | Jim Brown |
| The Outfit (1973) | The Outfit (1963) | Earl Macklin | Robert Duvall |
| Slayground (1983) | Slayground (1971) | Stone | Peter Coyote |
| Payback (1999) | The Hunter (1962) | Porter | Mel Gibson |
| Parker (2013) | Flashfire (2000) | Parker | Jason Statham |
| Play Dirty (2025) | Not a Direct Adaptation | Parker | Mark Wahlberg |
Why Do Parker Adaptations Keep Failing?
Paramount Pictures
Overall, the movies based on Westlake’s Parker novels have received a varied response from critics and audiences. Some films stand out as particularly strong – Duvall’s The Outfit has an 80% rating on Rotten Tomatoes, Made in U.S.A. scores an impressive 85%, and Point Blank is a clear favorite among critics with 93%. However, other adaptations haven’t fared as well, with The Split receiving only a 32% audience score and Slayground being a clear low point at just 9%. More recent films featured well-known actors but received mostly average reviews, with Payback at 56% and Parker and Play Dirty both scoring 42%.
For decades, readers have enjoyed the Parker novels, and the movies based on them have shown potential. However, most of the films are inconsistent in quality and don’t quite capture what makes the books so appealing. Fans often feel the movies misrepresent the main character – for example, the film Play Dirty was criticized for casting Wahlberg in a role that didn’t fit, and for straying too far from the source material. Even films like Made in U.S.A., which critics praised, didn’t satisfy fans because they took too many liberties with the story. While the character is strong in the novels, the films haven’t been able to consistently capture that magic, making a successful franchise difficult. Perhaps the books simply work better as written stories.
Parker Needs to Headline a TV Series
Prime Video
The author believes Parker should learn from the success of the Jack Reacher adaptations. While the two Jack Reacher movies starring Tom Cruise received criticism for casting a shorter actor than described in the books, and ultimately didn’t lead to more films, the character found new life with the Prime Video series Reacher. Starring Alan Ritchson, the show was a hit because it accurately portrayed the character’s height, personality, and the qualities fans loved in the books.
Subscribe for Deep Reads on Why Parker Needs TV
Want richer perspective? Subscribe to the newsletter for in-depth analysis of adaptations, casting, and medium choices — focused reads that explore why characters like Parker stumble on film and how TV could change the game.
The Parker novels haven’t always translated well to the big screen, with issues ranging from casting choices to overall quality. A TV series would be a great way to do the character justice, allowing for more faithful adaptations of the books. Similar to the successful Reacher show, each season could cover a single novel. This format would also avoid the pressure of box office numbers, as TV is often a better fit for adapting books. While another Parker movie might happen eventually, it could be time to switch to a streaming series instead.
Found an error? Send it info@movieweb.com so it can be corrected.
Read More
- Прогноз криптовалюты APT: прогнозы цены APT
- The Mandalorian & Grogu Trailer Just Broke A 47-Year-Old Star Wars Rule
- Золото прогноз
- Прогноз нефти
- After Loving Glen Powell In The Running Man, There’s Another ’80s Action Franchise Reboot He Could Be Perfect For
- 3 Best Movies To Watch On Netflix This Weekend (Dec 20-21)
- Группа Аренадата акции прогноз. Цена акций DATA
- The Rising of the Shield Hero Season 4 Episode 6 Release Date, Time, Where to Watch
- Welcome to Derry Just Officially Confirmed Its Shining Connection (& It’s Perfect)
- Евро обгонит тайский бат? Эксперты раскрыли неожиданный сценарий
2026-01-23 15:38