The 51st State (also known as
Formula 51) is a 2001 Canadian-British action comedy film. The film stars
Samuel L. Jackson,
Robert Carlyle,
Emily Mortimer,
Ricky Tomlinson,
Sean Pertwee,
Rhys Ifans and
Meat Loaf. The film follows the story of an American master chemist (Jackson) who heads to
Britain to sell his formula for a powerful new drug. All does not go as planned and Jackson soon becomes entangled in a web of deceit.
The 51st State premiered in the United Kingdom on 7 December 2001. It was released worldwide under the name
Formula 51 in October 2002, where it grossed $14.4 million, just over half of the budget.