Action movie fans have been clamoring for a new, blood-pumping film to fill the John Wick-sized void in the cultural stratosphere. After all, while films like War Machine and Nobody have been entertaining, there just isn’t anything quite like a martial arts action film. Thankfully, the answer fans have been asking for is finally here with Kenji Tanigaki’s The Furious.
With a staggering 100% on Rotten Tomatoes and near-universal praise, there seems to be no stopping this film from becoming an instant martial arts classic. But how did the film get to this point, and who helped bring it to this point?
What The Furious Is Actually About
There is a lot of talk about the technical prowess and choreography throughout The Furious, yet the actual plot details seem to unfairly go by the wayside. It is a shame, since it is just as interesting.
Wei (Xie Miao) finds that his daughter Rainy (Yang Enyou) has been kidnapped by a vast criminal enterprise. He goes to the police for help, but finds that they are corrupt and potentially under the influence of the very same kidnappers. It is as if nobody is on his side, except for one person: Navin, a journalist whose wife disappeared under similar circumstances. With the two of them allied together, they take on the syndicate and vow to find answers.
How is The Furious The Perfect John Wick Replacement?
One might immediately assume that there is some John Wick inspiration in The Furious‘s plot. However, it would be remiss to acknowledge that the first John Wick‘s story drew heavily from classic revenge thrillers, per screenwriter Derek Kolstad, some of which likely also inspired The Furious. However, it does scratch the itch in other ways.
The choreography is arguably some of the best that has come out in recent years. Just the trailers and television spots alone have showcased some incredible work that is rooted firmly in martial arts combat. This is highlighted wonderfully by its international cast of performers; The Furious is a Hong Kong film with a Japanese director and stunt performers, primarily filmed in Thailand. As fans recall, this kind of international showcase of combat talent was one of the best parts of the John Wick franchise, as assassins from all cultures and skill sets had their eyes set on the title character.
Finally, what might be great for John Wick fans is to see a new potential blockbuster from a cinematic lineage that contributed to the franchise’s existence. Hong Kong action movies carry a lengthy history behind them, with dozens of international stars and even more iconic movies coming from it. These movies have never gone out of style, but it is admittedly rare nowadays for one like The Furious to get such enthusiastic international backing. John Wick fans should use the opportunity they have to see a Hong Kong action film in theaters, and perhaps use it to explore a whole new world of action filmmaking.
Who Are The Stunt Talent Behind The Furious?
What makes The Furious such a fascinating and promising project is the talent behind it. Kenji Tanigaki, the aforementioned director, does not have many notable films to his name behind the camera, but he does have several under his belt in the stunts department. He assisted with the stunts on Blade II and served as fight coordinator on Snake Eyes. For anime fans, he also served as action director for the live-action versions of Rurouni Kenshin: Final Chapter Parts I and II.
Of course, Kenji is not the only notable name in stunts taking part in The Furious. Joe Taslim took part in the legendary modern martial arts films The Raid: Redemption and The Night Comes for Us, while actor Brian Le served as both fight choreographer and performer for Everything Everywhere All At Once. Le also did stunts for Bullet Train, Shang-Chi and the Legend of the Ten Rings, and Into the Badlands.
Finally, the actual action director for The Furious, Kensuke Sonomura, has worked on nearly a hundred projects. His work on stunts has ranged from the Baby Assassins series to Alice in Borderland and even the Resident Evil 3 remake.
What Are People Saying About The Furious?
When The Furious premiered at the 2025 Toronto International Film Festival in its Midnight Madness section, it immediately made waves. It has since maintained its 100% Fresh score on Rotten Tomatoes, with many critics praising its martial arts action and brutal violence.
However, it also received praise for how it valued simplicity in its plot over overcomplication, as after all, it’s ultimately about a father doing whatever it takes to reunite with his daughter. Everything else is an over-the-top martial arts setpiece, and that is something audiences need to see more of.
The Furious is now playing in theaters.
- Release Date
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June 10, 2026
- Runtime
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113 minutes
- Director
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Kenji Tanigaki