Here are Cinephile Corner’s 10 recommendations for movies like Blackhat:
The Killer
The Killer is nothing short of a triumph for David Fincher and a treat for fans of his filmography. It may be the most Fincherian movie ever made, but far from devolving, it solidifies his mastery of the medium. A calm Michael Fassbender performance helps seal The Killer as on of the best movies of 2023.
Ferrari
Considering he hadn’t made a movie since Blackhat in 2015, Michael Mann’s long-awaited return to the big screen, Ferrari, is incredibly succinct and satisfying. It’s a scorching melodrama that burns with the intensity of its titular character’s relentless ambition. This isn’t anywhere near a sugarcoated biopic; it’s a raw, unflinching exploration of Enzo Ferrari’s inner demons, where the pursuit of automotive excellence takes a brutal toll on personal relationships and those around him.
Kimi
Kimi may be genre Soderbergh, but for him to pull this off only a year after No Sudden Move and stay operating during the COVID-19 pandemic is impressive. I’ve learned to just happily accept any Soderbergh projects and not take them for granted, and Kimi is another well above average outing from the director.
Drop
Drop is a thriller with a sharp hook and solid performances, especially from Meghann Fahy, but it never quite figures out what to do with its own setup. With stronger narrative dynamics and less time watching its lead react to a phone screen, it could have been something far more memorable. Instead, it’s a middling entry in the tech-thriller genre—watchable, but frustrating in execution.
The Game
Fresh off the success of Se7en, David Fincher used the opportunity to make a move that is deeply idiosyncratic and cynical, matching his personal interests with a story that breaks down the infrastructure of masculinity in a world of wealthy businessmen. The Game is not only a David Fincher movie, it feels like the most David Fincher movie, and amalgamation of common themes regurgitated with each film that follows.
Mission: Impossible – Ghost Protocol
Mission: Impossible – Ghost Protocol is not just one of the best entries in the franchise—it’s one of the best action films of the 2010s. It reenergized the series with a bold new direction by Brad Bird, brought in a fresh ensemble, and delivered set pieces that rival anything else in modern blockbuster cinema. Tom Cruise returns once again as Ethan Hunt.
Read our full review of Mission: Impossible – Ghost Protocol
Zodiac
David Fincher’s Zodiac remains an undeniable classic since its 2007 release, standing as a pivotal moment in the director’s historic career. In this crime drama, Fincher navigates the web of the Zodiac killer’s decade-spanning reign of terror, creating an atmospheric and compelling story that has only grown in cultural significance and critical acclaim over the years.
How to Blow Up a Pipeline
Daniel Goldhaber is a relatively new filmmaker developing projects that center on those being wrung out of the system. His film for Netflix, Cam, approached the ideas of webcamming and feeling vulnerable to the world from your own home, even if it is your own doing. How to Blow Up a Pipeline builds on characters feeling as if climate control has damaged their lives and completely taken over. Each of them have tried ways to cope with their issues, but it has led them all to more sever action – blowing up an oil pipeline to show the country that action can be for the right reason.
The Gray Man
When The Gray Man is working at its best, it has the wiseass-ery of Chris Evans at the center, even if it takes a decent amount of runtime for him to even enter the fold. Otherwise, Ryan Gosling barely ties this comatose Netflix action movie together.
Ambulance
I have a confession to make. I did not see Ambulance on the big screen and it is easily my biggest regret of 2022 so far in terms of film watching. Every moment of Michael Bay’s newest heist, getaway, cocaine-driven anxiety trip is worth the price of admission, VOD rental, and 4k blu-ray bundle all sandwiched together into one.
READ MORE: Blackhat (2015)
