John Wick Chapter 4is set to be one of the biggest action movies of the year. Keanu Reeves and the team behind the movies have always managed to produce quality action in every installment. While many fans are hyped and will be re-watching the first three chapters in anticipation, there are other options.
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From comedic takes on the style to even better fight sequences, theJohn Wickfranchise has inspired and been inspired by many places and movies. If fans are looking for more of the great action style ofJohn Wick,beforeChapter 4brings out intense action scenes, there are definitely some films they will want to see.
7Nobody
Perhaps inspired directly byJohn Wick, Bob Odenkirk stars in this increasingly amusing deconstruction of the action genre. Despite being a more humorous version of a movie likeJohn Wickthough,Nobodyhas some fantastic action scenes which are not to be underestimated.
Odenkirk is the perfect man for this performance. Following his success inBreaking BadandBetter Call Saul, he has the perfect style for this uncommon man who appears to be common. Even going so far as to take on a Russian mob boss after a run-in with his relative,Nobodyis basically a spin-off of theJohn Wickfranchise in all but name.
6The Equalizer
This time around,Denzel Washington is the quiet leading manwho has a life of danger and incredible skills behind him. WhileThe Equalizerhas managed a franchise of its own with a third installment on the way, it hasn’t quite gained the worldwide notoriety ofJohn Wick.
Washington is an excellent star, who can still appear threatening and dangerous despite his advanced age. More, he’s still able to pull off great action sequences, although they aren’t as heavy on the hand-to-hand combat style into whichJohn Wickaction scenes often descend. Still,The Equalizeris a perfect movie for fans of theJohn Wickfranchise to check out, as well as its sequel.
5The Man From Nowhere
Another mysterious leading man, much likeJohn Wickhimself, is at the front ofThe Man From Nowhere. South Korean action movies have been lifting into the stratosphere of critical and commercial acclaim over the last decade, but this movie predates most of the renowned work that has made its way to the mainstream Western audience. Mostly,South Korean cinema is still known for horror movies.
The Man From Nowherestars Won Bin as a young loner who goes up against a group of criminals in a brutal and destructive style. Taking on the numbers without flinching and consistently providing amazing action sequences, this movie is another excellent watch in the style ofJohn Wick.
4Bullet Train
Another recent outing that has perhaps taken some of the style ofJohn Wickas part of the flair it has,Bullet Trainstars Brad Pitt and a great ensemble cast. Set in Japan, aboard a bullet train, Pitt stars as an operative recovering a briefcase from fellow assassins The Twins. When pushed into fighting for his life against a series of other assassins and thieves, he begins to wonder what conspiracy led them all to be aboard the same train.
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Bullet Trainis a fantastic exampleof how to blend comedy, even bordering on the madcap style, with the great action that movies likeJohn Wickhave been producing over the last decade. It would be surprising to see this not capitalized on with future installments because of how much fun everyone that appeared inBullet Trainseemed to be having on-screen.
3Man Of Tai Chi
This is simply a must-watch for Keanu Reeves andJohn Wickfans.Man of Tai Chiisn’t just the directorial debut of Keanu Reeves, but he also plays the leading villain against a young man who enters the world of Tai Chi. The martial arts focus is a throwback, purposefully due to Reeves’ history with that style.
A very fun movie, and an interesting look at how Reeves would differ in directing style from Chad Stahelski, who directs theJohn Wickmovies.Man of Tai Chiis a fun one and a fascinating look at Reeves as the villain as well, which is a role he doesn’t often delve into.
2Dredd
Karl Urban stars in the closest thing that the superhero genre has come to deliveringJohn Wick. Predating any of the Wick movies,Dreddwas released in 2012 and stars Urban as the equivalent of a policeman in a futuristic world. When a new drug operation is revealed and Judge Dredd is caught in a building with only one other officer against an army, he must fight his way to the top, brutally.
Dreddis no-nonsense, the same as theJohn Wickmovies, and it also has a frankness that fans of those movies will adore. Thestyle of action is efficient and brutal, andDreddis exactly the sort of character that fans ofJohn Wickwill appreciate to no end.
1The Raid: Redemption
One of thebiggest and best Indonesian moviesof all time, director Gareth Evans became known for bringing the Indonesian action style to the world throughThe Raid: Redemption. Sticking completely to the no-nonsense, minimal story style whichJohn Wickfans will love,The Raidstars Iko Uwais as a young cop who enters a 15-story building owned by a drug lord.
The surrounding team has only a little ammo and plenty of bad guys to take down, andThe Raidfollows their attempts to survive and take down everybody else. A thrilling example of how world cinema has laid the carpet for movies likeJohn Wick,The Raidis a great watch for any action fan.
