One of the biggest action franchises out there is the John Wick series. Here are 10 great action movies that are similar to the “John Wick” series.
Hard Boiled (1992)
“Gun Fu” was invented by John Woo. When it comes to action flicks, the Hong Kong filmmaker is a virtuoso. To establish this portmanteau genre, John Woo combined the ingenuity (and occasionally humor) of kung fu action scenes with the bloodshed of gun battles. He tried it with “A Better Tomorrow” (1986) and “The Killer” (1989) before finding success with “Hard Boiled.” Woo, in contrast to the previously established practice of building gun battles, attempts to depict both the action and the reaction in a single shot. In contrast to the typical method of displaying one shot of the shooter discharging the gun, followed by another shot of the victim collapsing.
“Hard Boiled” had lots of such sequences, as well as a good tale. Chow Yun-Fat’s character “Tequila” is a rambunctious officer, and Tony Leung plays an undercover officer disguised as a Triad assassin.
The plot is intriguing. However, as previously stated, it is the action set pieces that will blow your mind. Particularly in the context of ‘Gun-Fu,’ which was unique at the time. I’d recommend John Woo’s entire body of work in general, but let’s stick with “Hard Boiled” for this list.
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Equilibrium (2002)
This cyberpunk science fiction film may not have appealed to as many people as it did to me. Even with the usual dystopian themes, the premise of this Christian Bale star will pique the interest of most viewers. “Equilibrium” depicts a society in which humans are punished for having emotions or aesthetic sensibility. When a law enforcement officer (Bale) begins to feel emotions, he embarks on a journey to escape the totalitarian society and understand how amoral the world is.
Wimmer’s writing delivers a well-intended homage to the aforementioned “Gun Fu” genre, which is why I would suggest this film for this list. The officers in this world of “Equilibrium” are skilled in a martial arts discipline known as “Gun Kata,” which pays homage to how “Gun Fu” was created. As a result, the action sequences in this film include situations in which firearms are used as close-combat weapons. As a result, we get “John Wick”-style fights.
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The Raid 2 (2014)
The Raid 2 is a high-octane sequel that far outperforms its predecessor in terms of quality and budget. It has been dubbed “the greatest action movie ever” by some. The same ensemble from The Night Comes for Us fully demonstrates their combat and stunt skills, which undoubtedly paved the road for these future projects.
Keeping this in mind, this film has been hailed as their best to date. There are plenty of action scenes and good side characters, but in the end, there’s only one guy who takes on a small army of adversaries on his alone.
The Night Comes For Us
Fans of the John Wick series are certainly no strangers to gore. Reeves’ Wick is an expert at gushing blood, whether with weapons, pens, books, or nunchucks. Most fans would be satisfied with Tjahjanto’s visceral “The Night Comes for Us” in that sense. In this film, we have two “Raid” veterans, Iko Uwais and Joe Taslim. Along with a slew of others.
This time, though, Taslim is the ‘hero’ of the story. Taslim’s character is similar to John Wick’s in that he is trying to change his ways after saving a young girl. Uwais, on the other side, is dispatched by the organization to bring Taslim and the young girl to justice. It’s a bloody ride the whole way.
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Dredd (2012)
This adaptation of the “Judge Dredd” comic, directed by Pete Travis and written by Alex Garland (“Ex Machina,” “Annihilation”), is a strong cocktail of sci-fi and action. In this dystopian future, law enforcement officers have the authority of judge, jury, and executioner.
These officers are referred to as judges together. Dredd (Karl Urban of “The Boys”) and his companion ‘the judge’ are tasked with restoring order in an area where a drug lord is in charge.
Based on this exciting premise, the film delivers electrifying action sequences with just the appropriate amount of special effects. Despite the fact that the film is centered (and named after) Karl Urban’s Dredd, it also features two badass female characters (which is not typically the case in male-dominated action films). Lena Headey’s drug lord character “Ma-Ma” is a terrific opponent, and Olivia Thirlby’s Judge Anderson is constantly elevated to the level of Judge Dredd.
Underworld (2003)
“Underworld” is the first of a series of films set in a world populated by vampires and werewolves. The series is not particularly popular among lovers of either of these monsters’ genres.
I wouldn’t deny that the series detractors have valid points. Even the fiercest critic would probably agree on two points about this picture (and possibly the series). And they: Kate Beckinsale is a fantastic action heroine, and the elegant fights are a lot of fun.
Selene, Beckinsale’s werewolf-hunting vampire character, is a skilled combatant, particularly with weaponry. Add to that a slew of heinous creatures at the end of her bullets. It has a pulpy texture and is shallow. Nonetheless, it’s entertaining. You might not want to stay around for the full franchise as you should for “John Wick,” but it’s worth a go.
Wanted (2008)
The story here, like in the “John Wick” trilogy, is essentially a concept to accommodate some truly joyous action sequences. When Wesley Gibson (James McAvoy), a disgruntled office worker, learns about his father’s membership in a secret organization of assassins, his life changes. Fox (Angelina Jolie), a crucial member of that organization, assists Gibson in learning the methods of assassins so that he might confront the killer of his father.
Assassins in this universe have superhuman talents as well, which opens up a new style of battle. The bent bullet sequences are absurd but distinctive. The insane action sequences in “Wanted” should not be missed. If you liked the John Wick franchise, you probably won’t mind “Wanted” at all.
The Man from Nowhere
If you liked John Wick 1 more than the other parts, the South Korean action thriller “The Man from Nowhere” would be the clear choice on this list. Wick was presented to us as a retired but prolific killer who goes on a rampage when the person dearest to him is taken away. Tae-Sik (Won Bin) leads a tranquil existence. When his only neighbor friend, the little girl So-Mi, gets into trouble, the former South Korean Army covert officer dons his killing suit.
The film also has a similar tone to Luc Besson’s “Leon: The Professional.” If you haven’t seen it yet, here’s another idea. “The Man from Nowhere” is an action thriller with a strong emotional plot that even non-action film fans will like. The action sequences are well-shot and clearly choreographed.
The Villainess (2017)
Another entry from Korea. Another film influenced by the works of Luc Besson. “La Femme Nikita” was listed as one of the inspirations for director Byung-Gil’s explosive action thriller “The Villainess.” If you like the intense action of the John Wick series, especially the third installment, you’ll probably enjoy “The Villainess.”
“The Villainess” is a furious murdering rampage with vengeance in mind, similar to John Wick. Byung-Gil doesn’t hold back, and the action sequences are far too engrossing to care about anything else. Unfortunately, Byung-Gil was unable to recreate the same magic in the Netflix caper “Carter.” I’d like to suggest it, but “Carter” is basically a bunch of unattractive fight sequences thrown together incoherently.
Kick-Ass (2010) and Kingsman: The Secret Service (2014)
Since this is the tenth and last item on this list, I’ve combined two different movies into one entry. That’s because Matthew Vaughn is in charge of the movie. “Kick-Ass” and “Kingsman: The Secret Service” are now both part of a series. What we love about the “John Wick” series is that the action scenes are over-the-top. And “Kick-Ass” and “Kingsman” by Matthew Vaughn are the best examples of going too far.
Both “Kick-Ass” and “Kingsman: The Secret Service” have fun and violent fight scenes. Young Chloe Grace Moretz swears and pops heads with bullets, and Colin Firth’s smooth British spy goes on a killing spree in a church. Add to that the spy world of “Kingsman,” which is a lot like Wick’s world in “High Table” and other movies.
I’d also like to talk about three other works. Technically, these are not the same as the “John Wick” series. But they have a few things in common and at least one great fight scene.
People often say that “OldBoy” (2003) by Park Chan-Wook is one of the best payback movies ever made. This beautiful and frightening (not just in action) movie is one that every movie fan should see. For action fans, the scene in the hallway where Choi Min-Sik goes crazy with a hammer is a must-see. The scene is one of the best pieces of realistic action.
Everyone loves the 2015 Marvel movie “Daredevil,” in which Charlie Cox plays the blind character. Why? There are good reasons. The beautiful arc of the show is finished in three great seasons. The show is known for both its great acting and its beautiful action routines. There are several one-take fight scenes that are very exciting.
In the 2004 movie “Collateral” by Michael Mann, Tom Cruise plays a cold-blooded hit guy with gray hair. Vincent as played by Cruise has a different feel to him. The movie is a great thriller, but it’s not really an “action film.” But there is a cool gunfight in a bar. Fans of John Wick know a thing or two about a death match in the middle of a party full of moving people.