Here are Cinephile Corner’s 10 recommendations for action movies like Nobody 2:
Novocaine
Novocaine works best as an entertaining genre exercise. It’s competently made, sometimes clever, and visually sharp. But it never quite reaches the heights it’s aiming for. It doesn’t reimagine the action-comedy or elevate its characters beyond the surface. Still, it’s a watchable 90 minutes, and for fans of Jack Quaid or high-concept thrillers with a soft edge, it’s worth a casual look.
Love Hurts
Love Hurts tries to blend genre tropes and high-octane action into something fresh, but instead delivers a movie that feels like it’s going through the motions. There are flashes of potential, but the film never rises above its derivative bones. Ke Huy Quan proves he can lead an action film in this vein, but the film ultimately doesn’t deserve his talents.
Wolfs
The appeal of Jon Watts’ Wolfs is obvious. The film serves as the long-awaited reunion between George Clooney and Brad Pitt. The two mega movie stars have shared the screen for a handful of projects over the years, most notably the Ocean’s franchise and Burn After Reading.
The Instigators
The Instigators features an occasionally entertaining set piece and an ensemble cast of industry mainstays (headlined by Matt Damon and Casey Affleck), but this Apple TV+ streamer has all the common tropes and vibes of streaming content, best enjoyed passively and without thinking critically.
Gladiator II
Gladiator II tries to follow in the footsteps of its predecessor, but often stumbles, feeling like a rehash of the 2000 original rather than something new. The story treads familiar ground, and the visual effects can be distractingly bad, as if Ridley Scott decided to embrace outdated CGI instead of pushing the boundaries of what’s possible today. It’s frustrating to watch a film with such potential settle for being a shadow of what came before.
Back in Action
Back in Action is another addition to the increasingly crowded realm of streaming-exclusive action-comedies, but unfortunately, it does little to distinguish itself from its predecessors like Ghosted, Lift, The Gray Man, and Wolfs. Falling squarely into the Netflix tradition of star-studded, formulaic blockbusters, this film feels more like an obligation to content quotas than a labor of creative passion. Despite the charm of its leads, Cameron Diaz and Jamie Foxx, the movie struggles under the weight of a generic plot, uninspired action sequences, and a script that rarely rises above mediocrity.
The Fall Guy
The Fall Guy is a mixed bag of ideas and execution, but the overall experience of seeing the movie is worth considering because of the sheer star power at play – notably Ryan Gosling and Emily Blunt. The film is humming best as it moves along, thanks to lengthened action sequences where director David Leitch squeezes every ounce of juice from the movie.
Argylle
Apple TV+ dumped Argylle early in the year for a reason. Although the cast is undeniably stacked, including a supporting cast of Samuel L. Jackson, Bryan Cranston, Henry Cavill, John Cena, and more, it comes off as hollow and drab as anything Matthew Vaughn has made. Skip over this, because the constant plot twists and straining humor is more exhausting than it is interesting.
Sisu
Sisu mostly capitalizes on the carnage that it promises – that Nazis won’t make it out of this thing. But outside of a few killer sequences, Sisu can’t quite match the stellar run of competing genre movies, resulting in one with clear influences.
John Wick: Chapter 4
In terms of contemporary action movies, John Wick: Chapter 4 (and the entire John Wick franchise, honestly) has separated itself from the pack. Each detail, idea, and set piece is perfectly crafted to build out a world that feels so fully realized. Somehow, Keanu Reeves and director Chad Stahelski continue to find new ways to keep the franchise fresh.
