There have been very few movies released in recent memory whose influence on their genre has been as immediately felt asJohn Wick.This gripping action movie spawned a whole wave of violent revenge thrillers that made use of the same fluid cinematography and detailed choreography, though many of these follow-ups applied the successful formula to entirely new stories.John Wick is among the best-ever movie assassins, but there’s been some real competition in recent years.
Thankfully, this also means that audiences who enjoyedJohn Wickdon’t have to look very far to find their next favorite project. Although many of thesemovies are just likeJohn Wick, they each have strengths of their own that make them worth watching, whether that’s their unique storytelling or distinct visual styles.
Wild Card
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Wild Card is an action thriller directed by Simon West, featuring Jason Statham as Nick Wild, a Las Vegas bodyguard with lethal skills and a gambling problem. The film follows Nick as he enacts revenge against a brutally violent thug and finds himself entangled with the mob. Wild Card explores themes of redemption and survival amidst the gritty underworld of Las Vegas.
Wild Cardcertainly isn’t the critical darling thatJohn Wickand its sequels ultimately became, but it’s still a very fun action movie that rode on the coattails of the former’s success. Simon West’s film tells the story of a recovering gambling addict who sets his sights on the criminals who assaulted his friend, looking for his own kind of justice.
But just likeJohn Wick, Statham’s protagonist bites off more than he can chew and stumbles into a criminal conspiracy. AlthoughWild Cardis rarely mentionedamong Jason Statham’s best movies,it’s a very obvious riff onJohn Wickthat somehow works.
Polar
Written by Jayson Rothwell and directed by Jonas Åkerlund for release on the Netflix streaming service, Polar is a Thriller and Action film starring Mads Mikkelsen and Vanessa Hudgens. The film follows an assassin looking to retire as he’s targeted by a former employer.
Polaris another movie thatdoesn’t often get ranked high among critics, but deserves credit for its ability to essentially copyJohn Wick: Chapter 2’splot while remaining wholly original and unique in its execution.
The messy screenplay is often saved by Mads Mikkelsen’s excellent lead performance and the sheer ambition of the many action sequences.
It’s the story of a powerful assassin who wants to retire from his violent work, but his employers have something else in mind for him - forcing him to prove that he’s still as strong as he once was. The messy screenplay is often saved by Mads Mikkelsen’s excellent lead performance and the sheer ambition of the many action sequences.
The Beekeeper
The Beekeeper follows a man’s quest for vengeance that escalates to a national level when he is revealed as a former operative of a covert organization known as Beekeepers. The story intertwines personal motives with broader implications, highlighting the intricate web of secrecy and power within the organization.
AnotherJohn Wick-esque action movie starring Jason Statham,The Beekeepermostly flew under audiences’ radars in 2024due to its awkward release window and lack of memorable marketing. But the film is a very fun and original action movie that follows a retired assassin whose personal vendettas bring him back into the business to protect the US President.
Like many recent Jason Statham movies,The Beekeeperworks because it never takes itself too seriously. The film is aware of how ridiculous its action set pieces are, much like theJohn Wickmovies, and it takes this in its stride.Jason Statham and David Ayer have collaborated multiple times, and their works offer a much-needed change of pace for the action genre.
Atomic Blonde
Based on a graphic novel, Atomic Blonde stars Charlize Theron as Lorraine Broughton, an MI6 agent who is attempting to locate a sensitive list of double agent spies before it is smuggled from East to West Germany, just before the collapse of the Berlin Wall. Theron is joined by a cast that includes James McAvoy, Sofia Boutella, and John Goodman.
With its neon colors and dynamic set pieces,Atomic Blondefeels like a very fitting companion piece to theJohn Wickfranchise.This movie centers around a female assassinnamed Lorraine (played by Charlize Theron,) who is tasked with procuring an important list from MI6’s enemies in 1980s Berlin.
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John Wick: Chapter 4
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It’s a very stylish and energetic film that drives its story forward with brutal action scenes and sharply choreographed fight sequences, which arevery reminiscent of Chad Stahelski’s directionin theJohn Wickmovies. Theron’s fierce lead performance is also a major source of familiarity, drawing from Reeves’ stoic performance.
Nobody
Bob Odenkirk stars as Hutch Mansell, an underestimated and overlooked dad, and husband, taking life’s indignities on the chin and never pushing back. However, when two thieves break into his suburban home, Hutch declines to defend himself or his family, hoping to prevent serious violence. His teenage son is disappointed in him, and his wife seems to pull only further away - but the incident triggers the underlying rage in Hutch, leading him down a path to become a dangerous man with brutal skills and the attitude to match.
Nobodyhas many similarities toJohn Wickthat really helped the film’s marketing strategy when it was first released in 2021, but it’s also very unique and distinct. The story follows an ordinary man named Hutch, whose home is broken into by burglars, and he’s spurred to revenge after they put his family in danger.
But his quest for vengeance brings him into the crosshairs of a dangerous crime family, and he’s forced to fight for his survival. Much likeJohn Wick,the entire movie is carried by its charismatic lead performanceand its subversion of the “everyman” action trope.
Extraction
Tyler Rake, a fearless black market mercenary, embarks on the most deadly extraction of his career when he’s enlisted to rescue the kidnapped son of an imprisoned international crime lord in Bangladesh. However, the mission doesn’t go according to plan.
Extractionhas a very different story from theJohn Wickmovies, but the two projects have a very similar visual style that uses extended long shots and sharp camera movements to suck the audience into these neatly choreographed set pieces.
Hargrave’s direction is seemingly inspired by Stahelski’s, and his movie feels like a perfect follow-up for those who enjoyJohn Wick.The story follows a dangerous mercenary, played by Chris Hemsworth, who is hired to extract the son of a wealthy crime lord from hostile enemy territory.
Bullet Train
Bullet Train: Released in 2022, Bullet Train follows unlucky assassin Ladybug as he seeks a peaceful mission amidst a web of globally connected and conflicting adversaries on the world’s fastest train. The film explores themes of fate and interconnected objectives, creating a tension-filled narrative in a high-speed setting.
David Leitch’sBullet Trainquickly gained notoriety for its fierce direction and mind-blowing choreography, which are made even more impressive by the fact that the majority of the film takes place on a train. One partSnowpiercerand one partTrain to Busan,this project is one of the most stylish and original action moviesin years.
Bullet Trainis filled with intense action sequences that fans ofJohn Wickwill surely enjoy.
Bullet Traintells the story of a professional assassin who is employed to retrieve an important briefcase while it’s being transported on a bullet train through Japan, but it soon becomes clear that he’s just one of several mercenaries on board the vehicle with the same objective.Bullet Trainis filled with intense action sequencesthat fans ofJohn Wickwill surely enjoy.
Deliver Us From Evil
Deliver Us From Evil is a crime horror film based on the true-crime book of the same name by Ralph Sarchie and Lisa Collier Cool. The film tells the story of a New York City police officer who joins forces with a renegade priest to battle supernatural forces in the Bronx.
Deliver Us From Evilis a dynamic South Korean thriller that follows a skilled assassin as he travels to Thailand in order to solve a time-sensitive kidnapping case. But when he arrives in the country,he’s quickly hunted down by a man whose sibling he supposedly killedduring a previous job.
Just likeJohn Wick, this gripping thriller is a back-and-forth story of violent revenge that’s filled with action set pieces while maintaining a strong narrative and sense of world-building that makes the world feel real and authentic.
The Accountant
Ben Affleck stars as Christian Wolff in the action thriller The Accountant, directed by Gavin O’Connor. A mathematical genius who connects more with his work than others, Christian freelances as a CPA for various criminal organizations to get by. However, when Christian starts to attract the unwanted attention of a Treasury agent, he attempts to go straight with a high-profile client – but his impeccable analytical skills uncover a financial discrepancy that dangerous people intend to keep hidden.
Not only isThe Accountantone of Ben Affleck’s most engaging roles in a long time, but it’s alsoone of the most shamelessly original action moviesof the 2010s. The project tells the story of a shady accountant named Christian Wolff, whose suspicious work catches the attention of the FBI and leaves him in the middle of a dangerous criminal conspiracy.
AJohn Wickspinoff titledBallerinawill be released on June 7th, 2025.
The Accountantis an essentially perfect movie forJohn Wickfans - it has gripping fight sequences, morally ambiguous action heroes, and a complex story that explores the corruption of the criminal underworld. WithThe Accountant 2releasing in 2025, there’s never been a better time to catch up with this modern action classic.
Monkey Man
Monkey Man is a 2024 action-thriller film directed by and starring Dev Patel. Following his release from prison, a man known as “Kid” makes a living by engaging in anonymous underground fights in a mask where he is beaten down each night. However, after witnessing greed and corruption consuming his city, Kid breaks into the upper echelon of society to find those who destroyed his life and take them down.
Despite claims that it’s too similar toJohn Wick, Dev Patel’sMonkey Manis an enormous cinematic achievement that deserves its consideration among the decade’s best action movies. Yes,there are some thematic similarities to theJohn Wickfranchise- but it has enough aesthetic and tonal distance to remain wholly original throughout.
Patel’s movie follows a young wrestler whose childhood trauma and social unrest cause him to act out against the city’s gluttonous elite, seeking revenge against the men who took everything from him. ThoughMonkey Manmay seem like anotherJohn Wick-esque revenge thriller on the surface, it’s actually a much more nuanced social commentary about those in society who must fight to have their stories heard.
John Wick
“John Wick” is a neo-noir action-thriller franchise centered around a retired hitman who returns to the criminal underworld to seek vengeance. Known for its intense and stylistic action sequences, the franchise has redefined modern action cinema with its choreographed gunfights, hand-to-hand combat, and intricate world-building. The series explores themes of loyalty, honor, and survival in a secret society of assassins.
