Top 9 action-packed movies like John Wick on Netflix [July 2025]
John Wick didn’t just redefine the modern action film — it created a new language for storytelling through fight choreography, emotional drive, and the lonely path of vengeance. For viewers drawn to tales of elite assassins, criminal syndicates, and morally torn antiheroes, Netflix holds an arsenal of compelling alternatives.
Keanu Reeves in 'John Wick: Chapter 4.'
Courtesy of Murray Close/Lionsgate
Here are nine of the best movies like John Wick available on Netflix this July — ranked from #9 to #1.
9. Upgrade (2018)
Directed by Leigh Whannell, Upgrade is a brutal sci-fi action thriller set in a not-so-distant future. After his wife is murdered and he’s left paralyzed, Grey Trace (Logan Marshall-Green) is implanted with an AI chip that turns him into a weapon. The film’s inventive fight sequences, dark atmosphere, and cold-blooded revenge plot recall the precision and single-minded focus of John Wick.
Why it’s similar: Vengeance-driven plot, close-combat choreography, a lone protagonist turned weapon.
8. My Name Is Vendetta (2022)
In this Italian action thriller from Cosimo Gomez, a former mafia enforcer and his teenage daughter go on the run after old enemies resurface. Following a brutal home invasion that kills his wife and brother-in-law, Santo and Sofia embrace the shadows and strike back. The father-daughter dynamic adds emotional weight, while the calculated takedowns mirror the ruthlessness of the John Wick universe.
Why it’s similar: Personal loss as a trigger for revenge, underworld conflict, relentless execution.
7. Kate (2021)
Starring Mary Elizabeth Winstead, Kate follows a top-tier assassin who’s poisoned and has less than 24 hours to live. Racing against the clock through Tokyo’s neon-soaked streets, she eliminates everyone responsible for her slow death. The high-octane pacing and sleek action set-pieces strongly resemble the stylized violence and deadly efficiency of John Wick.
Why it’s similar: Timed revenge plot, stylized urban combat, solitary assassin on a mission.
6. Ballerina (2023)
Directed by Lee Chung-hyun, Ballerina tells the story of a former bodyguard who seeks justice for her best friend’s tragic death. With no backup and no mercy, Ok-ju slices through Korea’s criminal underworld, carrying the emotional weight of a promise. The film’s visual flair and thematic parallels to John Wick: Chapter 3 make it an emotionally charged revenge saga.
Why it’s similar: Silent fury, female-led revenge arc, visually intense combat.
5. The Gray Man (2022)
Ryan Gosling plays Courtland Gentry, also known as Sierra Six, a CIA operative who becomes the agency’s target after uncovering a dark secret. Pursued globally by a psychotic ex-agent (Chris Evans), Gentry must survive betrayal and non-stop pursuit. The cat-and-mouse tension and globe-trotting combat resemble the mercenary warfare of the Wick franchise.
Why it’s similar: Lone operative vs. global network, explosive action, elite skills under pressure.
4. Extraction (2020)
Chris Hemsworth stars as Tyler Rake, a black-market mercenary sent to rescue a kidnapped teen in Dhaka. Directed by Sam Hargrave, the film showcases long-take action scenes and close-quarters brawls that rival Wick’s infamous club scene. Rake’s haunted past and drive to protect his target create a familiar emotional arc.
Why it’s similar: High-stakes rescue, military-style combat, redemption through violence.
3. Polar (2019)
Based on the graphic novel by Víctor Santos, Polar features Mads Mikkelsen as Duncan Vizla, a retiring assassin who’s betrayed by his employer. With a contract on his head, he’s forced back into the killing game. The cold visuals, gory action, and theme of forced reentry into a violent world place it firmly alongside John Wick in spirit and execution.
Why it’s similar: Betrayal by the system, elite assassin comeback, stylistic ultraviolence.
2. Kill Boksoon (2023)
This South Korean thriller stars Jeon Do-yeon as Gil Boksoon, a revered hitwoman and single mother. She faces a crisis of conscience just as her contract is up for renewal. Navigating the deadly politics of her agency, Boksoon must fight to survive while protecting her daughter. The balance between personal life and professional death dealer feels strikingly familiar to John Wick’s complex duality.
Why it’s similar: Underworld codes, loyalty conflict, emotional depth in an assassin’s world.
1. The Equalizer (2014)
Denzel Washington’s Robert McCall is calm, methodical, and unforgiving — much like John Wick. After a teenage girl is brutalized by Russian gangsters, McCall comes out of retirement to clean house. With slick pacing and bone-breaking efficiency, The Equalizer stands as the closest thematic and tonal sibling to John Wick on Netflix.
Why it’s similar: Former killer reenters the fray, vigilante justice, unstoppable force of nature.
