Movies like John Wick feature high-octane action, intense fight choreography, and revenge-driven plots. They often follow skilled assassins, ex-soldiers, or vigilantes seeking justice against formidable enemies.
With stylish gunfights, brutal hand-to-hand combat, and gripping storytelling, these films—like Nobody, The Equalizer, and The Raid—deliver relentless thrills, charismatic leads, and a world of underground crime and retribution.
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Nobody (2021)
- Score: 7.4/10
- Year: 2021
- Genre: Crime, Thriller, Action
- Director: Ilya Naishuller
- Actors: Bob Odenkirk, Connie Nielsen, Christopher Lloyd, Aleksey Serebryakov
- Duration: 92 minutes
Overview:
Hutch Mansell (Bob Odenkirk), an apparently normal family man who hides his history as a highly competent assassin, is the subject of Nobody. He goes on a vicious rage and uses his lethal skills following a home invasion. The movie has a surprisingly touching family angle, dark humor, and intense action scenes. Nobody, which was directed by Ilya Naishuller (Hardcore Henry), is similar to John Wick in that it is a revenge-driven film with sophisticated choreography. Due to Odenkirk’s unvarnished and powerful portrayal, Hutch is a sympathetic but lethal lead. Unlike other action thrillers, the film combines imaginative brutality, gun-fu, and bone-crunching battle with humorous moments. Additional charm is added by Christopher Lloyd as Hutch’s father, who is armed.
The Equalizer (2014)
- Score: 7.2/10
- Year: 2014
- Genre: Thriller, Crime, Action
- Director: Antoine Fuqua
- Actors: Denzel Washington, Marton Csokas, Chloë Grace Moretz, David Harbour
- Duration: 132 minutes
Overview:
After assisting a young woman (Chloë Grace Moretz) in escaping a vicious Russian mob, Denzel Washington characterizes Robert McCall, a quiet but lethal guy with a shadowy past who becomes a vigilante. Like John Wick, his combat and strategic prowess make him a one-man army. Antoine Fuqua, the film’s director, skillfully combines tense build-up and precision kills to create a gripping and rewarding vengeance tale. The film has a distinct methodical touch since, in contrast to Wick, McCall carefully prepares his kills and carries them out with brutal effectiveness.
Atomic Blonde (2017)
- Score: 6.7/10
- Year: 2017
- Genre: Spy, Thriller, Action
- Director: David Leitch
- Actors: Charlize Theron, James McAvoy, John Goodman, Sofia Boutella
- Duration: 115 minutes
Overview:
Set in Berlin during the Cold War, Atomic Blonde follows MI6 agent Lorraine Broughton (Charlize Theron) as she makes her way through a maze of spies, deceit, and intense action. The picture, which was directed by David Leitch, one of the creative brains behind John Wick, is full of slick battle scenes, fierce hand-to-hand fighting, and a neon-lit setting that pays homage to spy thrillers from the 1980s. With vicious battle scenes and an engaging spy story, Theron’s acting is captivating. The choreography is stunning and evocative of Wick’s fluid gunfight, particularly the clash on the stairway.
The Raid: Redemption (2011)
- Score: 7.6/10
- Year: 2011
- Genre: Action, Martial Arts, Crime
- Director: Gareth Evans
- Actors: Iko Uwais, Joe Taslim, Yayan Ruhian
- Duration: 101 minutes
Overview:
The Raid: Redemption, one of the most gripping action movies ever made, centers on a SWAT unit breaking into a high-rise run by a vicious drug lord. Using the vicious martial art of Silat, the main character, Rama (Iko Uwais), battles his way through waves of lethal opponents. There are long-take fight scenes that rival the choreography of John Wick, and the action is unrelenting. The mood is exciting due to the cramped space and the intense struggle for existence.
Man on Fire (2004)
- Score: 7.7/10
- Year: 2004
- Genre: Drama, Crime, Action
- Director: Tony Scott
- Actors: Denzel Washington, Dakota Fanning, Christopher Walken
- Duration: 146 minutes
Overview:
Creasy (Denzel Washington), a former CIA agent, accepts a position as a bodyguard in Mexico City. He embarks on a vicious quest for retribution after the kidnapping of the child he is guarding (Dakota Fanning). The picture has a strong emotional core, striking a balance between violent action scenes and heartbreaking drama.
Wrath of Man (2021)
- Score: 7.1/10
- Year: 2021
- Genre: Action, Thriller, Crime
- Director: Guy Ritchie
- Actors: Jason Statham, Holt McCallany, Josh Hartnett, Scott Eastwood
- Duration: 119 minutes
Overview:
Wrath of Man follows a mysterious and highly skilled security guard, known as H (Jason Statham), who takes a job at a cash truck company that moves millions of dollars around Los Angeles. Initially quiet and reserved, H reveals his deadly skills when he thwarts a heist with precision and brutal efficiency. As the story unfolds, it becomes clear that he has a personal vendetta tied to the criminal underworld. Directed by Guy Ritchie, the film features intense action sequences, a non-linear narrative, and a gripping revenge-driven plot. Similar to John Wick, Wrath of Man presents a protagonist with a hidden past, calculated vengeance, and a stylish yet gritty approach to action.
The Punisher (2004)
- Score: 6.4/10
- Year: 2004
- Genre: Crime, Action
- Director: Jonathan Hensleigh
- Actors: Thomas Jane, John Travolta, Will Patton
- Duration: 124 minutes
Overview:
Following the horrific murder of his family, Thomas Jane’s character, Frank Castle, turns into The Punisher. He takes on a whole criminal empire out of a desire for vengeance. The film features vicious killings and an unrelenting revenge-driven plot, despite not being as well-made as John Wick.
Hardcore Henry (2015)
- Score: 6.7/10
- Year: 2015
- Genre: Action, Sci-Fi
- Director: Ilya Naishuller
- Actors: Sharlto Copley, Danila Kozlovsky
- Duration: 96 minutes
Overview:
Hardcore Henry, a first-person shooter made into a motion picture, is an intense, nonstop action experience. If you enjoy Wick’s gunplay and fierce battles, this movie offers them in a distinctive, captivating way.
The Transporter (2002)
- Score: 6.8/10
- Year: 2002
- Genre: Crime, Action
- Directors: Louis Leterrier, Corey Yuen
- Actors: Jason Statham, Shu Qi, Matt Schulze
- Duration: 92 minutes
Overview:
Before one assignment transforms everything, Jason Statham’s character, Frank Martin, is a fierce boxer and expert driver. This movie is an early forerunner of the John Wick formula since it combines martial arts, fast-paced chases, and fashionable fighting.
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