John Wick – the explosive action thriller that follows Keanu Reeves as the titular retired assassin as he returns to his old ways after a group of Russian gangsters steal his car and kill his puppy – exploded onto the big screen back in 2014. It’s fast-paced, intense, and highly stylized violence, featuring long single takes with brutal, choreographed, detailed action, is credited with revitalizing the action genre and reaffirming Keanu Reeves as a certified action superstar.
Drawing inspiration from classic revenge movies, Hong Kong action cinema, and neo-noir, it was a commercial and critical hit and has since spawned three sequels, the prequel television series The Continental, and the spin-off film Ballerina, as well as video games and comic books. In its wake came a new breed of action movie that revel in stylized combat, visceral violence, and sleek visuals. John Wick, as a character, also helped redefine the modern action protagonist, influencing and inspiring a generation of action heroes who are defined less by their towering presence and witty quips and more by precision, stoicism, and physical storytelling.
From Hollywood blockbusters and international thrillers to indie action flicks and modern-day exploitation cinema, the influence of John Wick on modern cinema is undeniable. Its world of hyper-competent lone assassins, strictly governed underworld mythologies and rhythmically choreographed ‘gun-fu’ sequences has left an indelible mark on the genre and altered the course of action cinema forever.
‘Kate’ (2021)
During her final mission, a deadly assassin known as Kate discovers she’s been poisoned and, with just hours to live, embarks on a brutal revenge mission while trying to establish who set her up. Kate is a solid, neon-soaked action assassin revenge story driven by relentless violence. Many have praised its screen-popping visuals and undercurrent of dark humor. However, many criticized it for feeling somewhat unoriginal and derivative, with some comparing it unfavorably to John Wick.
Similar in plot, tone, and its underworld-infused, stylized urban setting, there are times in which Kate arguably wears its influences a little too openly on its sleeve to really stand out as a memorable movie in its own right. Nevertheless, fans of hyper-violent, tightly-choreographed revenge stories will find more than enough to keep themselves entertained.
‘Atomic Blonde’ (2017)
Starring Charlize Theron as a spy who has to find a list of covert agents being smuggled into the West on the eve of the collapse of the Berlin Wall, Atomic Blonde swaps John Wick‘s modern underworld setting with Cold War paranoia, but its neon-soaked aesthetics and minimalistic dialogue bear more than a passing resemblance to that found in the Keanu Reeves hit.
Considering that David Leitch, who also co-directed John Wick, directed Atomic Blonde as well, it’s hardly surprising that Atomic Blonde is on this list. As a former stuntman-turned-coordinator, his passion and flair for the craft is evident, with each action sequence playing out like a brutal ballet – each punch, gunshot, thud, and cracking bone landing with intense precision, gorgeously choreographed yet painfully grounded.
Despite mixed reviews, Extraction quickly became the most-watched original film in Netflix’s history, with over 99 million viewers during the first four weeks, and has since spawned a successful sequel, with another and a spin-off reportedly in the works. It revolves around an Australian mercenary, played by Chris Hemsworth, who takes on a mission to save an Indian drug lord’s kidnapped son in Bangladesh.
What follows is a barrage of bombastic set-pieces peppered with the odd unexpected twist and double-crossing. While the globe-trotting narrative feels more grandiose compared to John Wick and its star lacks the restrained nuance of Keanu Reeves, the way in which it tackles its intense, close-quarters combat – precision-driven, stunt-led and built around extended takes that prioritize impact over spectacle – bears all the same hallmarks.
‘Hotel Artemis’ (2018)
Despite its intriguing premise and stellar cast, including Jodie Foster, Jeff Goldblum, Charlie Day, and Dave Bautista, Hotel Artemis failed to light up the box office like many had hoped and made just $13.3 million on its $15 million budget. It revolves around a nurse who runs a secret hospital for criminals in a dystopian interpretation of L.A. The potential for greatness was there, and while the rule-bound criminal world-building is clearly influenced by John Wick, the world is compelling in its own right. However, it’s also frustratingly thin, hinting at something deeper than is ever explored.
Leaning more into the neon-tinged noir side of John Wick, the violence is still there, but serves more as impactful moments of plot development rather than defining the movie’s identity. That said, it’s stylized and deliberate and echoes some of Reeve’s most memorable combat moments. Combined with both movies’ almost surreal urban aesthetics, it quickly becomes apparent just how much John Wick likely influenced Hotel Artemis.
‘Monkey Man’ (2024)
Critically acclaimed, Monkey Man is an underseen gem directed by Dev Patel, who also stars as the movie’s vengeful protagonist. Fully embracing John Wick‘s precision-driven, stylized action and mythic underworld ethos, it channels the same frenetic energy but layers it with its own cultural twist. Set in India, Dev Patel’s character’s motives are more socio-politically driven than Wick’s more personal tale of revenge. However, the result is the same: a heart-pounding barrage of brutal violence and highly stylized stunt work.
Despite the similiarites, Patel favors a more chaotic, shaky-camera approach to combat, making the violence feel more immersive and intense, and its unique Asian setting and the associated cultural influences give it a personality of its own, making it one of the few movies on this, that despite being influenced by John Wick, truly carved a path of its own.
‘Bullet Train’ (2022)
Taking on a lighter tone than John Wick, Bullet Train is an action comedy that unfolds within the confines of a high-speed Japanese ‘bullet’ train. Brad Pitt leads an ensemble cast that includes Sandra Bullock, Brian Tyree Henry, Aaron Taylor-Johnson, and Joey King, among others. The plot revolves around a diverse group of hitmen with conflicting agendas, who find themselves sharing the same bullet train. As the train hurtles towards its destination, tension escalates, and a deadly game of cat and mouse ensues.
John Wick co-director David Leitch also directed Bullet Train. Taking his trademark ultra-violent, stylized action and color-rich visuals and sprinkling in a healthy dose of Jackie Chan-style physical comedy and Tarantino-esque dark humor, pop culture references, and ensemble storytelling, Leitch delivers a wildly entertaining action romp. Although it’s not entirely original, it feels somewhat refreshing, if not for the fun factor alone.
‘Love Hurts’ (2025)
When successful real estate agent Marvin Gable learns that his life is in danger, he must revert to his former days as a professional hitman and use his skills as he is faced with old foes and new threats. Director Jonathan Eusebio clearly drew inspiration from John Wick in how he approaches the movie’s fast-paced, relentless, and creative combat scenes. However, it’s just one of his many influences.
This vast array of inspirations ranges from the earnest emotion of his previous film Everything, Everywhere All at Once and classic rom-com tropes seen in movies like When Harry Met Sally and The Proposal to old Hong Kong action cinema. Unfortunately, they never seem to blend cohesively, making for a hugely ambitious yet muddled and tonally inconsistent mess that flopped at the box office and was panned by critics.
‘Nobody’ (2021)
The third and final entry from director David Leitch on this list, Nobody is more in keeping with John Wick‘s darker tone, although there are certainly moments of comic relief littered throughout. It follows the (by now) familiar trope of a retired hitman forced to return to his old ways. In this case, Bob Odenkirk stars as a mild-mannered family man who must protect himself and his family after they become the target of a vengeful crime lord.
Utilizing the same long-shots, meticulously choreographed stunts and gun-fu combat found in John Wick, if anything, Nobody demonstrates Leitch’s evolution as a director. It has the visceral violence feeling every bit as, if not more, immediate, intense and captivating than that found in John Wick. Where Nobody differs, though, is in its protagonist. Instead of the distant stoicism of Wick, Odernkirk’s character is sarcastic and self-deprecating, making him feel more grounded and relatable. For many, this was a welcome change, and Nobody proved to be a critical and commercial hit.
Have you seen any of these John Wick-inspired action movies? Would you add any to our list? Let us know in the comments!
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