Keanu Reeves’ John Wick has become one of the greatest action thriller heroes of the 21st century. The John Wick franchise has elevated the genre by providing a solid film series where each movie is better than the last. The dark, gritty, neo-noir approach to the action thriller genre also elevates John Wick, helping the franchise feel more stylish than many other movies in the space.
While the John Wick franchise has definitely created a new gold standard for action thriller films, it’s hard to argue that it’s the only great one out there. While few films truly live up to John Wick, there are a handful that can go toe-to-toe with the legendary Underworld assassin. This list will take a look at five movies that are just as good, if not better, than John Wick (2014).
Mission: Impossible — Fallout is the Best Movie In the Series
Mission: Impossible — Fallout (2018) is the sixth installment in the Mission: Impossible film series, and it is a direct sequel to Mission: Impossible — Rogue Nation (2015). The Mission: Impossible series is a spy and action thriller franchise that focuses on Tom Cruise’s Impossible Missions Force (IMF) agent, Ethan Hunt. The franchise is, admittedly, known for some seriously dangerous stunt work performed by Tom Cruise, like Dead Reckoning’s motorcycle jump, which has been dubbed the most dangerous stunt ever performed for a movie.
That said, Mission: Impossible is one of the go-to franchises for solid action thriller movies, and Fallout is, by far, the best of the best. Critics and fans agree that Fallout’s emotionally charged narrative and realistic, compelling villain make the movie’s story one of the most engaging and memorable scripts in the entire franchise. It doesn’t compromise the intense, heart-pounding action to deliver an emotional story, either, because some of Mission: Impossible’s best stunts appear in this movie. The helicopter chase scene and the bathroom brawl alone could rival any John Wick action sequence.
The Fugitive is an Action Thriller Masterpiece
The Fugitive (1993) is a classic action thriller that stars Harrison Ford as Dr. Richard Kimble and Tommy Lee Jones as Deputy U.S. Marshal Sam Gerard. With Ford and Jones taking center stage, it’s not shocking that The Fugitive turned out to be one of the best action thrillers ever made. The film follows Dr. Kimble after being framed for the murder of his wife. Kimble escapes custody and sets out to find his wife’s real killer, while U.S. Deputy Marshal Sam Gerard is fast on his heels.
There are plenty of reasons this movie is a masterpiece from start to finish, but most of the credit has to go to Ford and Jones. Ford’s portrayal of Dr. Kimble, a clever, likable, and sympathetic character, is the perfect complement to Jones’ determined and persuasive pursuer. The Fugitive also provides masterful pacing that quickly and efficiently introduces the characters, the situation, and Dr. Kimble’s escape in about 15 minutes. The audience is never bored, but they also never feel rushed or like they are missing critical information to understand what’s happening.
The Original Taken is Better Than People Remember
The Taken trilogy has become something of a meme in the action thriller universe because no one can really say why Taken 2 (2012) and Taken 3 (2014) even exist. Many critics and moviegoers asked the very understandable question: How does this situation keep happening? Sadly, that has overshadowed the success of the original Taken (2008), which is actually a strong action thriller about an ex-CIA officer tracking down his daughter after she was kidnapped by human traffickers.
Liam Neeson stars in Taken as Bryan Mills, the man faced with the reality that if he doesn’t save his daughter, Sam, she will be lost to him forever. The original Taken has it all, from an incredible revenge plot to a strong father-daughter relationship with huge emotional stakes, and fast-paced action that keeps the audience on the edge of their seats. Taken single-handedly reinvented Liam Neeson as an action movie star, it’s just a shame that the original film’s success led to two more less than stellar sequels.
Inception is One of the Smartest Action Thrillers Ever Made
Inception (2010) is probably the most unique film on this list because it focuses on a wild plot of professional thieves who can infiltrate the subconscious of other people to steal valuable information and secrets. Inception is one of Christopher Nolan’s most infamous movies, and it is one of the best heist movies ever made thanks to its ingenious, mind-bending concept. The film stars Leonardo DiCaprio as Dom Cobb, a professional thief who is offered a fresh start if he can infiltrate a specific target’s mind and implant someone else’s ideas into the target’s subconscious.
Inception is a true cinematic marvel with incredible action sequences that are as inventive as they are nail-biting. Since so much of the movie takes place inside a layered dream that allows the thieves to travel into various subconsciousnesses, physics doesn’t matter. The world can bend and shape in ways that don’t make sense, and Inception uses that endless potential to its advantage. It’s as fun to watch as it is to piece together what’s happening, and Inception also features one of the greatest ambiguous endings of all time.
Speed Proves that Only Keanu Reeves Can Truly Top Himself
Speed (1994) is an action thriller film directed by Jan de Bont, and it stars Keanu Reeves as Los Angeles police officer Jack Traven. Reeves is joined by the incredible Sandra Bullock, who plays Annie Porter. After Jack foils an evil scheme by Howard Payne (Dennis Hopper), Payne decides to rig a public bus with a bomb that will immediately explode if the bus drops below 50 mph. Jack is faced with the impossible task of saving the passengers on board (like Annie), as well as anyone in the surrounding area, should the bus explode.
Speed has been praised for its incredible, simple, yet high-concept focus of a bus rigged to explode, but that’s not the only reason Speed is an action thriller masterpiece. Keanu Reeves and Sandra Bullock deliver some of the best performances of their careers, which really helps emphasize the stakes, not just for their characters, but for everyone around them. The film also utilizes plenty of practical effects, which make it feel more authentic and realistic. John Wick may be Reeves’ new-age masterpiece, but Speed put Reeves on the map as an iconic action thriller hero.