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.