Harsh Vardhan
‘John Wick,’ directed by Chad Stahelski, is a relentless action thriller that stars Keanu Reeves as the titular character, a retired hitman seeking vengeance for the death of his beloved dog, a final gift from his deceased wife. When a group of Russian gangsters led by Viggo Tarasov (Michael Nyqvist) steals his car and kills his pet, they unknowingly awaken a force to be reckoned with. As John unleashes his lethal skills upon his enemies, he navigates through the criminal underworld, leaving a trail of destruction in his wake. With its stylish direction, intense fight choreography, and Reeves’ compelling performance, ‘John Wick‘ has become a modern classic in the action genre. If you’re craving action-packed thrillers, Netflix offers a selection of adrenaline-fueled films to satisfy your appetite, and here are eight movies like ‘John Wick’ on Netflix that deserve your attention.
12. Badland Hunters (2024)
In the vein of ‘John Wick,’ ‘Badland Hunters‘ is a gripping South Korean dystopian action film helmed by director Heo Myung-haeng. Starring Ma Dong-seok, Lee Hee-joon, Lee Jun-young, and Roh Jeong-eui, the movie thrusts viewers into a lawless wasteland post-earthquake, akin to the underworld John Wick navigates. The plot follows a fearless huntsman who embarks on a perilous mission to rescue a teenager abducted by a deranged doctor, showcasing intense action sequences and a relentless pursuit of justice amidst chaos. You can watch the movie here.
11. Jawan (2023)
Drawing parallels to the unabated action of ‘John Wick,’ ‘Jawan‘ is an Indian Hindi-language thriller directed by Atlee, marking his Hindi film debut. Starring Shah Rukh Khan in a dual role as a father and son, the film immerses viewers in a world of corruption and redemption. Like Wick’s quest for justice, Vikram, driven by a similar desire, sets out to rectify societal wrongs by confronting the villainous Kalee and demanding justice from the government. With electrifying action and high-stakes showdowns, ‘Jawan’ promises to deliver an adrenaline-fueled experience akin to the intensity of ‘John Wick.’ You can watch it here.
10. Rurouni Kenshin Part I: Origins (2012)
Directed by Keishi Ohtomo, ‘Rurouni Kenshin Part I: Origins’ is similar to the John Wick narrative and is set in 19th-century Japan. Like John Wick, Rurouni Kenshin (“Rurouni” means wanderer), AKA Hitokiri Battōsai (played by Takeru Satoh), is a reputed samurai who left his killing days behind. However, when a ruthless businessman, Takeda Kanryū (Teruyuki Kagawa), tries to lay his hands on the kendo that has given Kenshin shelter, the latter decides to help the owner, Kamiya Kaoru (Emi Takei), without compromising his hidden identity. Meanwhile, a mysterious person (Kōji Kikkawa) is going about killing cops using Kenshin’s abandoned katana. Considered an adaptation that remains true to the source material while giving it a worthy live-action flavor, ‘Rurouni Kenshin Part I: Origins’ effectively replaces Wick’s guns with Kenshin’s sword. You can watch the film here.
9. The Beast (2020)
‘La Belva’ (also known as ‘The Beast’) is an Italian action thriller directed by Ludovico Di Martino. The film stars Fabrizio Gifuni as a former soldier suffering from PTSD who becomes embroiled in a desperate race against time to rescue his kidnapped daughter. As he navigates the criminal underworld and confronts his own demons, he unleashes his inner beast to confront the adversaries threatening his family. Reminiscent of the intense action and determination seen in ‘John Wick,’ ‘La Belva’ delivers gripping suspense and heart-pounding sequences, showcasing the protagonist’s chase of justice and redemption amidst chaos. You can watch it here.
8. American Assassin (2017)
In the spirit of ‘John Wick,’ ‘American Assassin‘ is a high-octane action thriller directed by Michael Cuesta. Starring Dylan O’Brien as Mitch Rapp, the film follows a young CIA black ops recruit who seeks revenge for the death of his fiancée in a terrorist attack. Trained by Michael Keaton’s Cold War veteran, Rapp transforms into a lethal operative, navigating a treacherous world of espionage and betrayal. As he embarks on a mission to stop a mysterious operative intent on igniting global conflict, ‘American Assassin’ delivers pulse-pounding action and intense sequences reminiscent of the adrenaline-fueled journey seen in ‘John Wick.’ You can watch the movie here.
7. Redemption (2013)
‘Redemption,’ AKA ‘Hummingbird,’ stars Jason Statham as an ex-Special Forces homeless man who makes a living in London’s underbelly. After managing to escape an attack by some thugs, he breaks into an empty house and uses its resources to assume a new identity. Thereby begins his search for the killer of his homeless friend Isabel. As he scans through London’s criminal underworld, he gets involved in shady and illegal tasks, all of which test his morality. Will his actions come in the way of his search?
‘Redemption’ is directed by Steven Knight (‘Peaky Blinders’) and shares with ‘John Wick’ the cold and raw nature of the protagonist who is motivated by revenge for the death of a loved one. Statham is a treat to the eyes, and the gritty story itself makes for a great viewing experience. You can watch the film here.
6. The Shadow Strays (2024)
Timo Tjahjanto’s Indonesian action thriller ‘The Shadow Strays’ connects to ‘John Wick’ via its turning-on-the-master motif. In the film, a young, highly-skilled female assassin, code name 13 (Aurora Ribero), makes friends with an 11-year-old boy named Monji (Ali Fikry) after being exiled due to a botched assassination attempt. When Monj is kidnapped, 13 puts her still to the test, leaving no bloody stone unturned to rescue him, which includes going against her organization, Shadow, and her mentor, Umbra. ‘The Shadow Strays’ is packed with sword-fighting and martial arts, providing viewers with a visually stunning John-Wick-style killing spree that 13 goes on. It can be streamed here.
5. Polar (2019)
Like ‘John Wick,’ ‘Polar’ is a gritty action thriller that immerses viewers in a world of violence and vengeance. Directed by Jonas Åkerlund, the film follows Duncan Vizla (Mads Mikkelsen), a retired hitman known as the Black Kaiser, who finds himself targeted for elimination by his former employer. As he battles a group of ruthless assassins sent to kill him, Vizla unleashes his deadly skills and cunning to survive. With its stylish visuals, intense action sequences, and morally ambiguous characters, ‘Polar’ offers a thrilling experience in alignment with ‘John Wick.’ You can stream it here.
4. The Gray Man (2022)
This film is like ‘John Wick’ because its protagonist survives death despite numerous worst-case scenarios. Just like John Wick can’t die, or so it seems, Sierra Six, in ‘The Gray Man,’ can’t die either. Directed by Anthony Russo and Joe Russo, the film is based on the 2009 novel of the same name by Mark Greaney. It follows Courtland Gentry, aka Sierra Six, who finds compromising intel against CIA director Denny Carmichael and his corrupt practices. Now he has to go on the run while being followed by psychotic merc Lloyd Hansen, whom Carmichael has hired to kill Six and bring him the drive carrying the intel. The first step for Six towards bringing Carmichael to justice is to survive while taking on Hansen’s forces. ‘The Gray Man’ stars Ryan Gosling as Sierra Six aka Six and Chris Evans as Lloyd Hansen. Co-stars include Ana de Armas, Billy Bob Thornton, Jessica Henwick, and Dhanush. You can watch the film here.
3. Extraction (2020)
In a cinematic landscape reminiscent of ‘John Wick,’ ‘Extraction‘ emerges as a pulse-pounding action thriller directed by Sam Hargrave. Starring Chris Hemsworth as Tyler Rake, a fearless black-market mercenary, the film thrusts viewers into a world of danger and intrigue. Rake is tasked with rescuing the kidnapped son of an international crime lord, embarking on a treacherous mission through the criminal underworld of Dhaka, Bangladesh. As he navigates through deadly adversaries and harrowing obstacles, ‘Extraction’ delivers heart-stopping action sequences and visceral combat, showcasing Rake’s unwavering determination and lethal skills in a high-stakes battle for survival. You can watch the movie here.
2. Sentinelle (2021)
In the vein of ‘John Wick,’ ‘Sentinelle‘ is a gripping action thriller directed by Julien Leclercq. Starring Olga Kurylenko as Klara, a highly skilled soldier, the film plunges viewers into a world of vengeance and redemption. After a traumatic experience in Syria, she returns to her native France and joins the army’s anti-terrorism unit. When her sister is brutally assaulted, she embarks on a relentless mission to track down the perpetrators and deliver justice. Kurylenko is lethal as Klara and etches her name in the list of the best female actors who can do action. You can watch the movie here.
1. Ballerina (2023)
What makes Lee Chung-hyeon’s South Korean action thriller ‘Ballerina’ similar to ‘John Wick’ is that the former, like the latter, is propelled by revenge. While for Wick, it all begins with the murder of his dog, for Jang Ok-ju (Jong-seo), a former bodyguard, it is the suicide of her best friend Min-hee and a note she left asking for revenge. Ok-ju thus sets off on a killing spree, looking for the person who traumatized Min-hee to the point where she took her own life.
Other than the core of the story, the stylized action sequences and their brutality also make the movie similar to ‘John Wick.’ However, while the rage is not visible on Wick’s face, it is crystal clear on Ok-ju’s, and rightfully so. ‘Ballerina’ can be streamed here.
Read More: Is John Wick Based on a True Story?
