10 Best Action Movies Like ‘The Accountant’

The Accountant 2 is arriving almost a full decade after The Accountant was released. Starring Ben Affleck, Anna Kendrick, J. K. Simmons, Jon Bernthal, and John Lithgow, the first film was a box office hit, with Affleck receiving praise for his performance. It follows Christian Wolff, an autistic certified public accountant skilled in martial arts, especially pencak silat (an Indonesian technique). He makes a living cleaning the fraudulent financial and accounting records of major criminal and terrorist organizations around the globe that are experiencing internal embezzlement.

Finally, a sequel is here, and we have a rare case where the follow-up is better than the original. While the first film only had a 53% score on Rotten Tomatoes, The Accountant 2 sits high at 85%. That’s a massive improvement, and there is potential for a franchise. Ben Affleck has also expressed interest in developing a TV show set in the same world.

Here are a few other similar movies to watch for fans of The Accountant, many combining action and finance.

10

‘Midnight Run’ (1988)

Jack Walsh (Robert De Niro), a bounty hunter, is offered a job with the promise that it will be a ‘midnight run’ (simple gig). His task is to locate a mob accountant named “The Duke” (Charles Grodin), who has embezzled money, but once he finds him, he realizes the FBI and several gangsters are after him. A cross-country chase thus ensues in Midnight Run.

An Acting Masterclass

This charming actioner about the challenges of completing the job is a fun, tense affair under Martin Brest’s able direction. De Niro and Grodin have a playful rapport, Yaphet Kotto (better known for playing the Bond villain Mr. Big) is perfectly cast as the special agent, and Joe Pantoliano (Ralph from The Sopranos) is confident and wide-eyed as the bail bondsman Eddie Moscone. You won’t turn away from the screen for a single moment.

9

‘The International’ (2009)

In The International, Interpol agent Louis Salinger (Clive Owen) is determined to stop figures within a powerful bank funding terrorism. He joins forces with New York prosecutor Eleanor Whitman (Naomi Watts), but the more they dig, the more they become targeted by nefarious people. Will they see their mission through to the end?

An Unstoppable Clive Owen

This clever, fast-paced action thriller serves as an ideal showcase for two top stars in peak form. In the showier role, the confident Owen is like a string pulled to its elastic limit and ready to snap. The twitchier Watts seems like the nice one at first, but gradually we sense a pitiless, predatory bone in her. Inspired by the Bank of Credit and Commerce International (BCCI) scandal of the 1980s, The International also raises serious questions about the link between global politics.

8

‘Largo Winch’ (2008)

The Heir Apparent: Largo Winch

Release Date

December 17, 2008

Runtime

108

Director

Jérôme Salle

Writers

Julien Rappeneau, Jérôme Salle, Jean Van Hamme, Philippe Francq

Largo Winch opens with the murder of a tycoon inside his yacht. It’s then revealed that the man had a secret son, the destined heir of his company, the W-Group. Enter Largo Winch, who is about to face serious opposition in his claim to daddy’s riches (Tomer Sisley). But he is no walkover.

Inheriting Problems

Corporate wars have rarely been captured to more distressing effect, as tension and fear build progressively, almost imperceptibly. Many years after its release, Largo Winch remains a plush visual delight, from architectural views to its lush outdoor detail. Yet the beautiful scenery never drowns its stars. Tomer is radiant and deserved to be bigger in Hollywood.

Related

10 Action Movies Where You Notice Something New With Each Rewatch

These action movies are packed with great scenes that beg to be watched over and over again.

7

‘Jack Ryan: Shadow Recruit’ (2014)

Shadow Recruit is based on the character Jack Ryan, created by novelist Tom Clancy, but isn’t adapted from any particular novel. Events revolve around Ryan (Chris Pine), who gives the impression of an average Joe but has secretly worked for the CIA for years. Things get heated when he uncovers a conspiracy to crash the U.S. economy and trigger global economic chaos.

Far From the Books, but as Cool as Them

Released shortly after Clancy’s death, Shadow Recruit contains all the hallmarks that would have made the author smile: runs, shootouts, and twists. Ryan keeps surprising audiences by doing things he doesn’t seem capable of doing. Additionally, the film is filled with stark, striking visual set-pieces and boasts one of Pine’s spirited performances.

6

‘Assault on Wall Street’ (2013)

Prison Break’s Dominic Purcell reaches a breaking point in Assault on Wall Street. Here, he is Jim, an armored car driver and military veteran who struggles to care for his ailing wife. Rose, after losing his investments in the financial crisis of 2007–2008. Feeling guilty of the financial strain that her illness has put on Jim, Rose commits suicide. This prompts an angry Jim to go after people he believes are responsible for the global fiscal mess.

A Rare Gem From Uwe Boll

With most exteriors shot on location in and around New York City, the flavor of the chaotic corporate world is made pungent. Reputed for making subpar movies, Uwe Boll outdoes himself here while extracting a memorable performance from Purcell (whom he’d use again in two more movies). Today, this remains a complex and powerful film that’s more of a lesson in being cautious with what you invest in.

5

‘Safe’ (2012)

Safe

Release Date

April 16, 2012

Runtime

94 Minutes

In Safe, different mob factions are fighting over Mei, a young mathematical prodigy who can remember anything. They intend to use her as a mental calculator and storage to eliminate all digital financial footprints. Luckily, former cage fighter Luke Wright (Jason Statham) learns about all this and gets busy.

A Safe Pick

Of all Jason Statham’s movies from the 2010s, this is the cleverest. Israeli-American director Boaz Yakin deserves two claps (or more), and so does Statham, who tends to be excellent in roles requiring his character to protect a child or spouse. From time to time, Yakin circles back to genre basics, but is careful enough to infuse this high-octane actioner with his own particular vision.

4

‘Central Intelligence’ (2016)

Bob Stone (Dwayne Johnson) was once a timid and weak high-schooler, but at the reunion party, he shows up looking muscular. Calvin Joyner (Kevin Hart), on the other hand, was a popular athlete but is now an unhappy accountant. Well, Stone happens to be a CIA agent who needs Calvin’s numerical skills to help him solve a major espionage conspiracy. Will the two get along in Central Intelligence?

A Winning Duo

Dwayne Johnson and Kevin Hart make great movies together. It’s a shame they don’t collaborate more often. Gripping and extremely well-played by the two stars, Central Intelligence is an unforgettable outing for the ages. The film seamlessly blends action and comedy while hitting the eardrums with some of the silliest lines ever. The buddy flick’s brilliance earned it numerous award nominations, including two Critics’ Choice Awards.

3

‘Money Monster’ (2016)

Lee Gates (George Clooney) from Money Monster is a self-proclaimed Wall Street guru who recommends hot stocks to his viewers on the television show “Money Monster.” One day, during a live broadcast, a disgruntled investor arrives and takes Gates hostage. He claims to have lost everything because of advice he got from the show, and it is now up to Gates to get himself out of the mess.

Overflowing Talent

Money Monster’s plot might be something audiences have seen before, but the talented actors make everything feel fresh. Apart from Clooney, there’s Julia Roberts and Giancarlo Esposito, among others. Each of them performs as if their lives depended on it. The financial aspects are handled meticulously, too, so one is likely to enjoy the film if they know a thing or two about Wall Street.

Related

10 Dark Action Movies That Are Super Edgy

These movies feature all the staples of the action genre but take them into darker territory.

2

‘Creed of Gold’ (2014)

In Creed of Gold, college student Adam Smith (Taylor Lindsey) uncovers a trail of corruption linked to the U.S. Federal Reserve. As he works steadily backwards in time to solve the mystery, the people responsible start hunting him down. A few other figures also help (or distract) the student in his mind-bending quest. Under all the trying conditions, will Adam ever achieve his mission?

Killing Corruption

This nifty action thriller, a breakthrough for filmmaker Daniel Knudsen, strives to be distinct, and the effort mostly pays off. The film is twisty enough to command even the most inattentive viewer’s attention, and the action sequences are all neatly done. Warning: You may not fully understand everything that happens, but confusion has never been this much fun.

1

‘G20’ (2025)

G20

3
/5

Release Date

April 10, 2025

Director

Patricia Riggen

Writers

Noah Miller, Logan Miller, Caitlin Parrish, Erica Weiss

Producers

Andrew Lazar, Julius Tennon

​It’s always nice to have a president who can break bones. Luckily, we get on in G20. Here, former Australian special forces officer Edward Rutledge (Anthony Starr) takes world leaders hostage during the G20 summit in Cape Town, South Africa, hoping to create false endorsements from them to manipulate cryptocurrency markets. Unfortunately for him, President Sutton (Viola Davis) is an Army veteran who lives for times like this.

The President Will Handle It

A thrilling action thriller in the old-school mode, G20 lacks logic but works on several levels: as a one-man/woman-army picture, a family drama, and a frighteningly perplexing hostage story. The film asks tough, timely questions about geopolitics and the world economy while serving the usual run-and-shoot thrills. Great performances also turn the Prime Video release into a first-rate production that keeps you on your toes.