The past decade of Hollywood has brought forward some amazing action movie plots. Yet, none of them came close to what ‘John Wick‘ had to offer. The stunning action choreography of ‘John Wick‘, featuring the unique ‘gun-fu’ style, was an instant hit among the fans.
‘John Wick‘ started as a story about simple revenge, transitioning into a much more grandiose scale, about a war against the underworld. The ‘John Wick‘ franchise has inspired many movies that followed it. So if you are a die-hard John Wick fan, then these are some movies you must watch.
10. Kate (2021)
Oh, the neon-lit Japanese atmosphere and visceral scenes of action against a time-sensitive plot. Tokyo is among the most exotic locations for an action film setting. ‘Kate’ is the story of a relentless assassin who gets poisoned and has only 24 hours to live. Her final wish is to hunt down every single one responsible; the carnage of bodies she leaves in her wake is very much similar to ‘John Wick’s‘ DNA.
Related:
9. The Guest (2014)
Sometimes, you don’t need an action movie to introduce a skilled protagonist. A mysterious soldier named David arrives at the home of a family, claiming to be a friend of their late son. While initially charming, it soon becomes clear that he is an unstoppable killing machine. The film is tense and humorous as it builds up to an explosive climax.
8. Extraction (2020)
If you call yourself a true ‘John Wick‘ fan, then there’s one movie you must watch. ‘Extraction‘ is the holy grail of modern action heroes. The non-stop, high-stakes action sequences and chaos make the perfect setting for this film. Chris Hemsworth stars as a black-market mercenary tasked with rescuing the kidnapped son of a crime lord in Dhaka, Bangladesh, and he will keep you hooked with his incredibly long-take action sequences.
7. Atomic Blonde (2017)
Directed by one of the co-directors of the first ‘John Wick‘, David Leitch, ‘Atomic Blonde‘ is essentially its Cold War-era sister film. The now-legendary “stairwell fight” is a single-take masterpiece of exhaustion and violence that rivals anything seen in the history of cinema. Charlize Theron is tasked with retrieving a list of double agents for the MI6.
Related: Top 10 Female-Led Action Movies You Must Watch
6. Equilibrium (2002)
‘Equilibrium‘ is the true predecessor of ‘John Wick.’ It is the story of a dystopian future where a top government officer (Christian Bale) has to turn against the system he used to serve. The film essentially introduced fans to ‘Gun-Kata,’ which is the precursor to the ‘gun-fu’ used in ‘John Wick.’
5. The Man from Nowhere (2010)
This South Korean thriller is a masterpiece of the genre and a huge inspiration for modern action films. What happens when you kidnap a girl who is the most important person for a man with a rather shady past? He goes on a brutal rampage. The film features a quiet, retired professional with a hidden, lethal skill set, much like John Wick
4. Hardcore Henry (2015)
First-person shooters are hailed for their realistic experience in video games. When it comes to movies, ‘Hardcore Henry‘ takes the crown for the same. It puts the viewers in the shoes of a cyborg super-soldier mowing down an entire army of mercenaries. The action is relentless, inventive, and completely immersive, creating a non-stop thrill ride.
In case you missed it: Top 25 Action Movies Of All Time, Ranked
3. Shoot ‘Em Up (2007)
Clive Owen stars as Mr. Smith, a mysterious man who finds himself protecting a newborn baby from an army of hitmen. The action is over-the-top, cartoonishly violent, and incredibly creative, with Smith using his surroundings (and even carrots) as lethal weapons. The level of action in the film is absurd, sometimes to the point of being ridiculous.
2. Nobody (2021)
From the writer of ‘John Wick‘, Derek Kolstad, comes a film that feels like its suburban cousin. This time, a retired government auditor is on the hunt after a home invasion. Bob Odenkirk stars as Hutch Mansell, a seemingly boring and overlooked family man. It bears similarity to the premise of ‘John Wick,’ where a retired professional with a legendary reputation faces a hidden world of dangerous figures.
1. The Raid: Redemption (2011)
For many action fans, The Raid is the gold standard of modern fight choreography. A rookie member of an elite SWAT team gets trapped in a high-rise apartment block run by a ruthless crime lord and must fight his way to the top. The film features jaw-dropping martial arts action for 90 minutes of brutal fighting. It set a new benchmark for the movies that followed.
