10 Action Movies Like John Wick: A Ranked List

7 min read Post on May 11, 2025

10 Action Movies Like John Wick: A Ranked List

Top Tier: Matching the John Wick Intensity (Ranking #1-3)

#1 Nobody: A Suburban Man's Brutal Awakening

Nobody, starring Bob Odenkirk, is arguably the closest you can get to a John Wick experience. It expertly replicates the John Wick-esque action, showcasing a seemingly ordinary man who unleashes a torrent of unexpected violence when pushed too far.

Gun-fu mastery: Odenkirk’s character displays a surprising proficiency in hand-to-hand combat and firearms, mirroring Wick’s lethal efficiency.
Compelling character arc: The transformation from mild-mannered suburbanite to unstoppable killing machine is both believable and captivating, echoing Wick's own journey.
Substantial world-building: While not as expansive as the John Wick universe, Nobody hints at a complex underworld, fueling curiosity and hinting at further possibilities.
Revenge theme at its core: Like John Wick, the protagonist is driven by a powerful desire for revenge, propelling the narrative forward with relentless intensity.
Neo-noir elements: The film effectively utilizes shadowy visuals and a morally ambiguous atmosphere, adding depth and style reminiscent of the John Wick films.

#2 Atomic Blonde: Espionage with a Stylish Punch

Charlize Theron delivers a knockout performance in Atomic Blonde, an espionage thriller that shares a similar level of intensity and stylish action sequences with John Wick. The film's gritty, realistic fight choreography and stylish visuals are reminiscent of the John Wick franchise's signature aesthetic.

Stylish visuals: The film's color palette and cinematography are as striking as anything in the John Wick universe, adding a layer of visual excitement to the already intense action.
Close-quarters combat: The brutal hand-to-hand fight scenes are breathtakingly choreographed, featuring a similar level of detail and realism.
Strong female lead: Theron embodies a powerful and capable female protagonist, mirroring the strong character that John Wick himself embodies.
Espionage thrills: The film's spy-thriller plot provides a different backdrop but keeps the intensity and stakes high, similar to the intricate plots found in the John Wick saga.

#3 The Night Comes for Us: Indonesian Martial Arts Mayhem

Prepare for unrelenting brutality in The Night Comes for Us. This Indonesian action film delivers brutal action comparable to John Wick, showcasing incredible Indonesian martial arts and a dark, morally complex narrative.

Brutal action: The fight choreography is relentless and visceral, featuring some of the most intense and brutal fight scenes ever put to film, rivalling the raw power in John Wick.
Indonesian martial arts: The film showcases a unique and impressive fighting style, providing a fresh take on the action genre while maintaining the high-octane energy of the John Wick franchise.
Dark atmosphere: Similar to the gritty and morally ambiguous world of John Wick, The Night Comes for Us thrives on its dark and atmospheric setting.

Mid-Tier: Close Encounters with Wick-Style Action (Ranking #4-6)

#4 Gunpowder Milkshake: Stylish Female-Led Action

Gunpowder Milkshake offers a female-led take on stylish action, incorporating unique weaponry and impressive fight sequences. While not as relentlessly brutal as John Wick, it maintains a similar level of stylish visual flair and exciting action.

Female empowerment: The film features a strong ensemble cast of women who kick some serious ass, providing a refreshing change of pace from the typical male-dominated action landscape.
Stylish visuals: The film is visually stunning, employing a vibrant color palette and dynamic camera work, creating a distinct aesthetic not dissimilar from the John Wick aesthetic.
Unique weaponry: The film makes creative use of unique and inventive weaponry, adding to its stylish and fun aesthetic.

#5 Kate: Relentless Action and a Strong Female Protagonist

Kate features a relentless pace and intense action sequences driven by a powerful female protagonist. The film delivers a non-stop thrill ride similar to the high-octane energy of John Wick, though with a different narrative approach.

Relentless pace: The film wastes no time getting into the action, maintaining a high level of intensity from beginning to end, comparable to the brisk pacing of John Wick.
Intense action: The fight scenes are brutal and well-choreographed, showcasing the protagonist's fighting prowess with impressive skill.
Strong female protagonist: The lead character is a force to be reckoned with, providing a compelling and capable female lead similar to John Wick's determined and skilled performance.

#6 Haywire: Realistic Hand-to-Hand Combat

Haywire, starring Gina Carano, stands out with its realistic hand-to-hand combat and strong female lead. Though lacking the gun-fu aspects of John Wick, its focus on believable fight choreography offers a different flavor of intense action.

Hand-to-hand combat: The film is praised for its realistic and brutal hand-to-hand fight scenes, showcasing authentic fighting techniques, similar to the high level of skill present in John Wick's martial arts sequences.
Realistic fight choreography: The fight sequences are incredibly realistic, adding to the film’s gritty and intense atmosphere.
Strong female lead: Carano's performance is both powerful and captivating, featuring a compelling female character at the forefront of the narrative.

Honorable Mentions: Action-Packed Alternatives (Ranking #7-10)

#7 The Raid: Redemption: Non-Stop Indonesian Martial Arts

The Raid: Redemption is a relentless assault of Indonesian martial arts action, taking place almost entirely within a single building. The non-stop action and intense close-quarters combat make it an adrenaline-fueled ride.

Indonesian martial arts: The film showcases impressive Indonesian martial arts, presenting a different yet equally exciting style of fighting.
Close-quarters combat: The majority of the film takes place within a confined space, leading to intense and inventive close-quarters fight sequences.
Non-stop action: The film practically never stops, providing a thrilling and consistently engaging experience.

#8 Upgrade: Sci-Fi Action with a Unique Twist

Upgrade blends sci-fi and action into a thrilling package. The intense fight choreography combined with the unique cyberpunk elements creates a distinct and exhilarating cinematic experience, despite a different kind of action.

Sci-fi action: The film effectively blends science fiction elements with its action, creating a unique and engaging combination.
Intense fight choreography: The fight sequences are dynamic, creative, and intense, demonstrating a high level of skill.
Cyberpunk elements: The film's cyberpunk aesthetic adds a distinct visual and thematic layer to the narrative.

#9 Shoot 'Em Up: Over-the-Top Gunplay and Dark Humor

Shoot 'Em Up is a ludicrously entertaining action film packed with over-the-top gunplay and dark humor. While far removed from the neo-noir style of John Wick, its relentless action and inventive gunfights provide a unique kind of fun.

Over-the-top action: The film pushes the boundaries of action cinema, delivering absurdly violent and inventive sequences.
Gunplay: The film features creative and visually impressive gunfights, making up for its lack of hand-to-hand combat.
Dark humor: The film incorporates dark humor, creating a unique and entertaining blend of violence and comedy.

#10 Drive: Stylish Visuals and Neo-Noir Atmosphere

Drive, while not strictly an action-packed film, shares John Wick's stylish visuals and neo-noir atmosphere. Its focus on minimal dialogue and tense moments creates a gripping and stylish cinematic experience.

Stylish visuals: The film is visually stunning, employing a distinctive color palette and atmospheric cinematography.
Minimal dialogue: The film emphasizes visuals and atmosphere over dialogue, creating a tense and suspenseful experience.
Neo-noir atmosphere: The film expertly evokes the feel of classic neo-noir films, adding a layer of sophistication and mystery.

Conclusion

From the John Wick-esque action of Nobody to the brutal martial arts of The Night Comes for Us and the stylish espionage of Atomic Blonde, this list offers a diverse range of action movies that capture different aspects of what makes John Wick so compelling. Each film on this list provides its own unique brand of intensity, style, and compelling storylines, ensuring there's something for every action fan. So, grab some popcorn, settle in, and find your next favorite John Wick-style action movie! Share your thoughts and any other action movies similar to John Wick in the comments below!