10 Modern Action Movies That Took Clear Inspiration From John Wick

10 Modern Action Movies That Took Clear Inspiration From John Wick

When John Wick burst onto screens in 2014, it changed action movies forever.

The film’s brutal fight scenes, stylish visuals, and deep criminal underworld inspired countless filmmakers to follow its lead.

From neon-soaked revenge tales to secret assassin societies, these movies wear their Wick influence proudly while adding their own creative twists.

1. Kate (2021)

Imagine having only 24 hours to live and spending every minute hunting down the people who poisoned you.

That’s exactly what happens in this heart-pounding thriller set against Tokyo’s glowing nighttime backdrop.

Mary Elizabeth Winstead plays an assassin racing against the clock, tearing through criminal hideouts with the same ruthless efficiency that made Keanu Reeves famous.

The movie delivers jaw-dropping gun battles in cramped Japanese apartments and brutal knife fights in crowded streets.

Every punch lands with bone-crunching realism, while the neon lights paint each scene in electric colors.

The film borrows heavily from John Wick’s playbook but adds its own Japanese aesthetic and ticking-clock urgency that keeps viewers glued to their seats.

2. Atomic Blonde (2017)

Cold War Berlin becomes a brutal playground for espionage in this bone-breaking thriller.

Charlize Theron delivers one of cinema’s most impressive action performances, battling through a crumbling apartment building in a single unbroken take that rivals anything from the Wick franchise.

Her character navigates betrayal and violence with icy determination, proving that stylish action isn’t just for the boys.

The fight choreography here is absolutely savage, with every blow looking genuinely painful.

Unlike typical spy movies with gadgets and quips, this one focuses on raw physicality and creative violence.

The neon-drenched visuals and pounding soundtrack create an atmosphere that feels both retro and modern, perfectly complementing the relentless action sequences.

3. Extraction (2020)

Chris Hemsworth trades his Thor hammer for guns and fists in this relentless rescue mission through the streets of Dhaka.

The movie features an astonishing 12-minute action sequence that flows seamlessly through buildings, across rooftops, and down crowded streets without a single visible cut.

This technical achievement rivals John Wick’s famous club scene while adding its own chaotic energy.

What makes this film special is how grounded everything feels despite the over-the-top violence.

Hemsworth’s character takes real damage, bleeds, and struggles through each fight rather than effortlessly gliding through enemies.

The hand-to-hand combat mixes brutal efficiency with desperate improvisation, creating fights that feel genuinely dangerous and unpredictable throughout.

4. Hotel Artemis (2018)

Picture a secret hospital where only criminals can check in, and strict rules keep everyone from killing each other.

This fascinating concept expands the assassin underworld idea that John Wick made famous, creating a pressure-cooker environment where dangerous people must follow a code of conduct.

Jodie Foster runs this underground medical facility during a city-wide riot, treating gangsters, assassins, and thieves under one neutral roof.

The film explores what happens when criminals need safe spaces to heal and regroup.

While the action isn’t as constant as other Wick-inspired movies, the tension never stops building.

When the rules finally break down, the violence explodes with creative brutality that honors its inspiration.

5. Monkey Man (2024)

Dev Patel didn’t just star in this revenge epic—he also directed it, pouring his passion into every brutal frame.

His character rises from underground fight clubs wearing a monkey mask, slowly climbing through criminal ranks to reach the corrupt officials who destroyed his life.

The personal stakes and methodical planning echo John Wick’s journey, but with distinctly Indian cultural elements woven throughout.

What separates this from typical revenge films is its raw, scrappy energy.

Fights happen in tight spaces with improvised weapons, feeling desperate rather than choreographed to perfection.

Patel brings emotional depth to the violence, making every punch feel earned and every victory bittersweet in ways that honor the genre’s best traditions.

6. Bullet Train (2022)

Five assassins, one speeding train, and a briefcase everyone wants—this recipe creates absolute mayhem.

Brad Pitt plays a supposedly peaceful hitman trying to complete a simple job while colorful killers keep attacking him in creative ways.

The movie takes John Wick’s stylized violence and cranks up the humor, creating a darkly comic tone that feels fresh while maintaining bone-crunching action.

Each assassin has a distinct personality and fighting style, from poisoners to martial artists to knife specialists.

The confined train setting forces characters into close-quarters combat that gets wildly inventive.

While lighter in tone than most Wick-inspired films, the choreography remains sharp and the violence beautifully brutal throughout this wild ride.

7. Love Hurts (2025)

Sometimes the past refuses to stay buried, especially when you used to kill people for a living.

This recent thriller follows a man trying to live peacefully until his former employers drag him back into the deadly game.

The setup mirrors John Wick’s reluctant return to violence, but adds layers of emotional complexity about aging, regret, and the impossibility of true redemption.

The action sequences blend elegance with efficiency, showing a fighter whose skills haven’t diminished despite years away from the life.

Choreography emphasizes experience over youthful energy, with smart tactical decisions replacing flashy moves.

Personal stakes drive every confrontation, making the violence feel necessary rather than gratuitous in this compelling character study.

8. Nobody (2021)

Bob Odenkirk plays perhaps the most underestimated man in cinema history—a boring suburban dad who’s actually a retired government assassin.

When thugs break into his home, he initially does nothing, facing mockery from his family and neighbors.

But when they push too far, he unleashes decades of pent-up violence in spectacularly creative ways that prove you should never judge someone by their minivan.

The bus fight scene alone justifies this movie’s existence, with Odenkirk battling multiple attackers using everything from seat handles to fire extinguishers.

Unlike Wick’s smooth efficiency, these fights are messy and painful, showing a rusty killer rediscovering his lethal instincts.

9. Ballerina (2025)

This film doesn’t just take inspiration from John Wick—it literally exists inside the same universe, expanding the mythology fans already love.

Following a young woman training to become an elite assassin, the movie explores the brutal preparation behind those seemingly effortless kills.

Elegant choreography meets savage violence as ballet training translates into deadly combat skills that feel both beautiful and terrifying.

The film deepens our understanding of the Continental Hotel network and the High Table’s operations.

Seeing the assassin world through fresh eyes adds new dimensions to familiar concepts.

With Ana de Armas in the lead role, the action promises to blend grace with brutality in ways that honor the franchise while carving its own identity.

10. Sisu: Road to Revenge (2025)

Some warriors become legends because they simply refuse to die.

This Finnish action epic follows a near-mythical fighter who survives impossible odds through sheer determination and unstoppable violence.

The title itself refers to a uniquely Finnish concept of resilience and courage, perfectly capturing the protagonist’s relentless momentum that mirrors John Wick’s most intense moments.

Set against harsh wilderness landscapes, the film delivers brutal combat with minimal dialogue and maximum impact.

Every fight feels like a struggle for survival rather than a choreographed dance.

The protagonist’s single-minded focus and refusal to quit despite horrific injuries creates the same compelling energy that made audiences fall in love with Wick’s vengeful rampage years ago.