Anmol Ahuja
Among a slew of original films that Netflix is backing up this year, ‘Triple Frontier’ is the one that has got me the most hyped up in years. The cast is an absolute dream of an assembly: Ben Affleck, Oscar Isaac, Charlie Hunnam, Pedro Pascal and Garrett Hedlund play five ex Special Forces operatives who find themselves on the other side of the law as they plan a heist on a drug lord in a forsaken part of South America, with the heist leading to some unwanted consequences. The film remained in development hell for close to ten years, switching between studios, actors and directors, until finally getting picked up by Netflix for an early 2018 production. The reviews of the film are great. The film premiered in movie theaters on 8th March, 2019 and on Netflix on 13th March. In case you are interested in watching movies that are mix of suspense and action, much like Triple Frontier, you are at the right place. Here’s the list of movies similar to Triple Frontier that are our recommendations. You can watch several of these movies like Triple Frontier on Netflix, Hulu or Amazon Prime.
10. Pain and Gain (2013)
On the surface of it, this may look like the safest Michael Bay film, but be warned. Everything that he missed doing in the ‘Transformers’ films, including blood, gore, nudity, torture, and some over the top hilarity, he does here. Had the amount of blood and gore in this film not been presented in the cartoonish manner that it is, apparently played out for laughs, it would have given slasher flicks a run for their money. However, ‘Pain and Gain’s saving grace is the trio of bodybuilders at the centre of it, aspiring to the American dream, and in the process kidnapping a restaurateur that they intend to extort. Needless to say, things don’t go as planned and the hilarious Whalberg and Johnson commit botch up after botch up as they try to masquerade through a crime they didn’t have the brains to pull off, while brawns could only get them that far.
9. The Expendables 2 (2012)
We all know that the entire ‘Expendables’ franchise rests upon some heavy lifting action stars coming together in the ensemble of the decade, but I include the second instalment in this guilty pleasure franchise rather than the original one in this list, simply because even though it follows the same blueprint as the other two, it is better, more explosive and more entertaining by miles. Sylvester Stallone, Jason Statham, Jet Li, Dolph Lundgren, Terry Crews, Bruce Willis, Chuck Norris, Arnold Schwarzenegger, Jean-Claude Van Damme and basically anybody who has been in a hit Hollywood action flick has atleast one kickass action scene and a heavy dialogue to deliver in this action extravaganza.
8. Fast Five (2011)
Rewinding our clocks to where the Fast and Furious saga began. The first film was primarily about a cop (Paul Walker) who switches loyalties to the world of underground racing. While continuing more or less the same formula for four more films, the franchise was almost reinvigorated with ‘Fast 5’, wherein it entered the heist category of films, and the original team assembles an entire crew of specialists to steal the fortune of a Brazilian drug lord, as a law enforcement agent (Dwayne Johnson) is hot on their heels. Even eight years and three entries hence, and a spinoff already in development, ‘Fast Five’ still remains the best Fast and Furious film till date, the change of setting and motive proving to be a welcome break for the gang. Impressive set pieces, fast cars, pacey action sequences and an impossible heist at its centre. Pretty much the heart of the franchise.
7. The A-Team (2010)
As with the previous entry, if team ups of A-lister action stars on slightly impossible missions getting more than they signed up for are your thing, ‘The A-Team’ should be on your watchlist, absolutely. I strongly believe that there is a separate rating scale when it comes to movies like these: you simply cannot judge them with the same yardstick as the next Oscar contender. In that, ‘The A-Team’ is loud, unpretentious fun while it lasts, with a plot slightly more serviceable than your average run of the mill action blockbusters that get released by the dozens every year. While Liam Neeson was already on his way to becoming a bonafide action star following ‘Taken’ in 2008, the film also presents Bradley Cooper as a pleasant surprise in the role of a kickass Face in this potent remake of the 80s show. Just like the show, you either love it or hate it. And if you are hating it, you probably don’t get what it is trying to do: having some fun while blowing up things and making its leads look cool.
6. Ocean’s Eleven (2001)
It would almost be a blasphemy if we talk about heist films and none of the films from the ‘Oceans’ series feature on the list, and what better one than the film that started it, also undoubtedly the best of the lot? While more stylish and eclectic as opposed to the tactical and strategic manoeuvring in ‘Triple Frontier’, both films fulfil an essential aspect for the success of the heist, and by extended definition, the film, and that would be the team. Both the films boast of a sizeable cast of well-known faces and bankable actors, with their camaraderie and interactions forming an essentially endearing part of both the films. Not to be missed for a bit of dazzle in heist movies, if that’s your taste.
5. The Accountant (2016)
This one is strictly for Affleck fans. If you like Affleck kicking ass and taking names, you don’t have to go much farther than the 2016 Gavin O’Connor directorial ‘The Accountant’ about well, an exceptional accountant who runs audits and decrypts cases of frauds or embezzlements for large businesses and companies, illegally. As it so happens, the man is also a highly trained killer and as the Treasury Department begins closing in on him, he puts both his skills to use to find answers. To be fairly honest, the film didn’t live up to my expectations and that is probably because they were mammoth to begin with. The superbly well edited trailer for the film with ‘Everything in its Right Place’ really intrigued me for the film, and on softer judging grounds and repeat viewings, there is no denying but ‘The Accountant’ emerged far better from the action thrillers we are subjected to in the present day. Ben Affleck is the star of the film, performing rather efficiently as both the killing machine and the nerdy math savant accountant.
4. Dog Day Afternoon (1975)
While heist movies can be termed to belong to a genre of their own, there have been enough films made on the other side of it as well, to constitute a separate genre for heist gone wrong films. If ever there is such a genre to come to exist, we know its crowning jewel to be either Tarantino’s ‘Reservoir Dogs’ (also on the list) or this one. Also living proof of Pacino’s legend, ‘Dog Day Afternoon’ is a classic film in every right, and one of the best films ever made. If you need reasons to watch it, I can just hope that the list can give you one.
3. Narcos (2015-2017)
The only show on the list, and this high up being completely warranted, and you know what I am talking about if you have watched the show. Your masterclass on drug cartels, their businesses, the DEA’s crackdown on them and a foray into the southern parts of America, right here on Netflix. Few shows can boast of looking at the drug operations of the Colombian and Mexican cartels, their production processes, their revenue, organised crime, dirty money and the American war against drugs in pining detail, and proven to be this entertaining. The first season in particular should keep you hooked if special operations, crackdowns and raining hell are your choice of things.
Read More: Shows Like Narcos
2. Reservoir Dogs (1992)
The bible for films even remotely concerned with a heist gone wrong. Tarantino’s feature film debut, the film was an immediate cult classic while the world was introduced to the style and storm that was Tarantino, housing every quip and experiential bout you have come to expect from a Tarantino film over the years: including the exaggerated violence, the funny, extended pieces of eccentric dialogues and unflinchingly long takes. Even twenty seven years hence, the film remains almost as impactful as the first time you saw it, and just as much bloody fun.
1. The Hurt Locker (2008)
The shared history between ‘Triple Frontier’ and ‘The Hurt Locker’ goes way back. Before the film was condemned to development hell, it was all set to be directed by Kathryn Bigelow and written by Mark Boal, the duo responsible for ‘The Hurt Locker’. While Bigelow parted her ways from the project, Boal stayed on and is currently credited with the story and screenplay writer of the film. A lot of reviews state that the obvious similarities in screenplay are visible and for the positive, since that helps in creating the moody and tense environment that is important for the film. The aspect of military or special-forces servicemen having trouble in adjusting to civilian life is a common thread as well. While ‘Triple Frontier’ may not be as significant in its vision as the former Oscar winner, it is sure to be an entertaining watch.
Read More: Best War Movies
