If you loved the wild ride that was 2022’s Bullet Train, starring Brad Pitt as an assassin trapped on a high-speed train full of other deadly killers, you’re probably craving more of that high-octane action comedy. The unique style of Bullet Train set it apart, but there are plenty of other movies out there that deliver a similar vibe – fast-paced, funny, and full of over-the-top thrills.
Whether it’s more movies set on trains, stylish flicks about rival assassins, or just films with the same darkly comedic tone, here are 20 adrenaline-pumping movies like Bullet Train that you need to add to your watch list ASAP. Buckle up, it’s going to be a wild ride!
1. John Wick (2014)
One of the most obvious comparisons to Bullet Train is the John Wick franchise. Starring Keanu Reeves as the titular retired hitman, 2014’s John Wick reinvented the action genre with its slick “gun-fu” fight scenes and intricately detailed underworld of assassins.
After some thugs kill John Wick’s dog, a final gift from his deceased wife, he returns to his former life as the most feared contract killer and tears a bloody path through the criminal underworld to get his revenge. With a stacked cast including Willem Dafoe, Ian McShane, and Adrianne Palicki, John Wick is a must-watch for any action fan.
The movie was a surprise hit that launched a franchise, with three sequels so far: John Wick: Chapter 2 (2017), John Wick: Chapter 3 – Parabellum (2019), and John Wick: Chapter 4 (2023). A fifth film is already in the works, along with a spin-off TV series called The Continental. If you love Bullet Train‘s colorful world of eccentric assassins, then the John Wick movies are essential viewing.
2. Snatch (2000)
For another heavily stylized crime comedy with an ensemble cast of wacky characters, look no further than Guy Ritchie’s sophomore film Snatch. Starring Jason Statham, Brad Pitt, Benicio del Toro, and many more, Snatch weaves together multiple storylines all revolving around a stolen diamond and the London criminal underworld.
Turkish (Jason Statham) is a small-time boxing promoter who gets in over his head when he crosses paths with ruthless gangster Brick Top (Alan Ford). Meanwhile, Franky Four Fingers (Benicio del Toro) is trying to deliver an 86-carat diamond to his New York boss Avi (Dennis Farina), but the precious gem keeps getting stolen, leading to a chaotic series of double-crosses and misunderstandings.
With its rapid-fire dialogue, irreverent humor, and stylized violence, Snatch has a lot in common tonally with Bullet Train. It’s a crime caper that doesn’t take itself too seriously, and the sprawling cast of colorful characters, including Brad Pitt doing an over-the-top Irish accent, are a riot to watch. If you want another wild, funny action-comedy, Snatch is a great pick.
3. Smokin’ Aces (2006)
Smokin’ Aces is another action flick with a big ensemble cast playing a rogue’s gallery of assassins and criminals, much like Bullet Train. Ryan Reynolds stars as FBI agent Richard Messner, tasked with protecting Las Vegas magician turned mafia informant Buddy “Aces” Israel (Jeremy Piven). A $1 million bounty is put on Israel’s head, leading to a hotel full of eccentric hitmen all trying to take him out.
The assassins going after the bounty are the main draw here, and it’s a wild bunch – there’s a master of disguise played by Tommy Flanagan, a pair of deadly women played by Taraji P. Henson and Alicia Keys, a trio of crazed neo-Nazi brothers played by Chris Pine, Kevin Durand and Maury Sterling, and a torture expert played by Nestor Carbonell. Throw in appearances by Ray Liotta, Common, Jason Bateman, Matthew Fox, and a scene-stealing Ben Affleck as a bail bondsman, and you’ve got a powder keg of a movie.
Like Bullet Train, Smokin’ Aces fully embraces the inherent absurdity of its premise, delivering an action-packed, darkly funny, and totally over-the-top experience. It’s a blast to watch this group of trigger-happy oddballs try to one-up each other. For more assassin antics, there’s also a prequel, Smokin’ Aces 2: Assassins’ Ball.
4. Inglourious Basterds (2009)
Quentin Tarantino movies have a lot in common with Bullet Train – they’re stylish, ultra-violent, and often darkly hilarious. Inglourious Basterds is one of Tarantino’s best, an alternate history war film with an incredible cast led by Brad Pitt.
Set during World War II, Inglourious Basterds follows two separate plots to assassinate the Nazi German leadership. One involves a group of Jewish-American soldiers known as “The Basterds” who are dropped behind enemy lines to brutally kill Nazis. The other centers on a young Jewish French woman named Shoshanna (Mélanie Laurent) who seeks to avenge her family by burning down the cinema she operates during a Nazi movie premiere.
Brad Pitt is hilarious as the Southern-accented leader of the Basterds, Aldo Raine, but the real scene-stealer is Christoph Waltz in his breakout role as the villainous SS officer Hans Landa. Like the best Tarantino films, Inglourious Basterds deftly balances very dark subject matter with moments of humor and levity, leading to an explosive, unforgettable climax. It’s a must-watch for any fan of Bullet Train‘s mix of action and dark comedy.
5. Nobody (2021)
Bob Odenkirk may be best known for playing slimy lawyer Saul Goodman on Breaking Bad and Better Call Saul, but he proved his action chops in the 2021 film Nobody. Odenkirk stars as Hutch Mansell, a mild-mannered family man who seems content to fade into the background of his own life. But when his home is broken into one night, his long-suppressed skills as a former “auditor” – a government assassin – are reawakened as he tears through the Russian criminal underworld to protect his family.
Nobody was written by Derek Kolstad, creator of the John Wick franchise, so it shares a lot of DNA with those films in its depiction of a secret society of assassins with their own set of rules and customs. And like Bullet Train, it has a lot of fun subverting your expectations for what an action hero looks like. Odenkirk is fantastic as the soft-spoken Hutch, making his sudden turn into a ruthlessly efficient killing machine all the more surprising and satisfying to watch.
With slick, bone-crunching fight scenes and a good sense of humor, Nobody is a great choice for fans of Bullet Train‘s action-comedy vibe. Plus it has Christopher Lloyd playing against type as Hutch’s retired FBI agent father, and who doesn’t want to see Doc Brown kicking ass?
6. Atomic Blonde (2017)
If you like your action movies stylish, you can’t go wrong with Atomic Blonde. Charlize Theron stars as Lorraine Broughton, an MI6 agent sent to Berlin during the Cold War to investigate the murder of a fellow agent and recover a missing list of double agents. Teaming up with the untrustworthy station chief David Percival (James McAvoy), Lorraine embarks on a twisty, neon-drenched mission full of intense action.
Directed by David Leitch, one of the co-directors of the first John Wick (and a producer on Bullet Train), Atomic Blonde has some of the most impressive fight scenes in recent memory. Theron did many of her own stunts, and her dedication shows in the film’s centerpiece – a nearly 10-minute single-take sequence where Lorraine fights her way through an apartment building full of bad guys. It’s a jaw-dropping scene in a movie full of standout moments.
With its 80s setting, killer soundtrack, and slick cinematography, Atomic Blonde oozes cool in every frame. The convoluted plot can be hard to follow at times, but when the action looks this good, who really cares? If you want another stylish, neon-soaked action flick after Bullet Train, give Atomic Blonde a spin.
7. Deadpool (2016)
On the more comedic end of the spectrum, the Deadpool movies have the same irreverent, fourth-wall-breaking sense of humor as Bullet Train. Ryan Reynolds stars as Wade Wilson, a wisecracking mercenary who undergoes an experimental treatment for cancer that leaves him with accelerated healing powers and a horrifically scarred appearance. Donning a red suit and the alter ego of Deadpool, he sets out on a bloody quest for revenge against the man who nearly destroyed his life.
Deadpool gleefully mocks the conventions of superhero movies, with Reynolds constantly commenting on the clichés of the genre. It’s raunchy, gory, and laugh-out-loud hilarious, never afraid to push the boundaries of good taste for the sake of a joke. But it’s also got some great action beats, particularly in the highway fight scene and the climactic battle.
If you want a movie that leans more into the comedic side of the action-comedy equation, Deadpool is a perfect pick. Reynolds’ motor-mouthed mercenary would fit right in with the colorful characters of Bullet Train. And if you enjoy the first one, there’s also Deadpool 2, which amps up the scale and adds Josh Brolin as the time-traveling mutant soldier Cable.
8. Bullet Train (1975)
If you want to see the movie that partially inspired Bullet Train‘s premise, check out the 1975 Japanese thriller Bullet Train. Also known as The Bullet Train or Shinkansen Daibakuha, this film follows a railroad security guard who must stop a bomber from blowing up a high-speed “bullet” train. The twist is that the bomber has rigged the explosives to go off automatically if the train slows below a certain speed.
While the 1975 Bullet Train is a more straightforward thriller compared to the 2022 film’s action-comedy tone, it’s still a tense and exciting ride. The race against the clock to stop the bomber and the claustrophobic setting of the train make for a nail-biting experience. It’s interesting to see the same basic setup – a crisis on a high-speed train – played as a serious thriller versus Bullet Train‘s more comedic take.
The 1975 Bullet Train was a big hit in Japan, and even inspired an Indian remake called The Burning Train. It’s worth checking out for fans of high-concept thrillers set in transit, and to see how Bullet Train 2022 compares to its namesake. All aboard for a suspenseful journey!
9. Free Fire (2016)
Free Fire is basically one long shootout, and that’s meant as a compliment. Directed by Ben Wheatley, the film is set almost entirely in an abandoned warehouse where an arms deal between two gangs goes horribly wrong, leading to an extended gun battle as the crooks try to shoot their way out.
The stacked cast includes Brie Larson, Armie Hammer, Cillian Murphy, and Sharlto Copley, among others, and they’re all clearly having a blast chewing the scenery. The dialogue is packed with quotable quips and one-liners as the characters trade insults along with bullets. It’s a simple setup, but Wheatley milks it for all it’s worth, staging the action in increasingly creative and darkly hilarious ways.
Like Bullet Train, Free Fire takes a high-concept premise and just runs with it, fully committing to the bit. It’s a movie that knows exactly what it is – a stylish, funny, violent action flick – and delivers on that promise with gusto. If you want to see a bunch of trigger-happy idiots blasting away at each other with reckless abandon, Free Fire is the movie for you.
10. Hardcore Henry (2015)
Hardcore Henry is a movie that has to be seen to be believed. Shot entirely from a first-person perspective, it follows a cybernetic super-soldier named Henry as he tears through the streets of Moscow on a mission to save his wife from a telekinetic warlord. The catch is that Henry’s memory has been wiped, so he has to piece together what’s happening as he goes.
The first-person gimmick could have been just that, but director Ilya Naishuller uses it to create a truly unique and exhilarating experience. The action is non-stop and absolutely bonkers, with Henry engaging in shootouts, car chases, and hand-to-hand combat, all while the camera never leaves his point of view. It’s like watching the world’s most insane video game playthrough.
Hardcore Henry also has a streak of dark humor running through it, particularly in the form of Jimmy, a mysterious figure played by Sharlto Copley who keeps popping up in different guises to help (or hinder) Henry. It’s a wild, adrenaline-fueled ride that never lets up, much like Bullet Train‘s propulsive pacing. If you want an action movie that truly feels like nothing else out there, strap in for Hardcore Henry.
11. Guns Akimbo (2019)
Speaking of Daniel Radcliffe, the former Harry Potter star has been making some wild choices in his post-Hogwarts career, and Guns Akimbo might just be the wildest. He plays Miles, a nerdy video game developer who wakes up one day to find that he’s been forcibly entered into a real-life deathmatch by a sadistic online fight club known as Skizm. Oh, and he’s had guns bolted to his hands. Hence the title.
Miles’ main opponent in the deathmatch is Nix, a kill-crazy assassin played with manic glee by Samara Weaving. The two engage in a running battle across the city as Miles tries to survive long enough to figure out how to escape the game. Along the way, there’s plenty of dark humor, over-the-top violence, and a surprising amount of heart as Miles starts to question his passive, detached approach to life.
Guns Akimbo is a bit rough around the edges, but it’s got the same kind of go-for-broke energy and anything-goes attitude as Bullet Train. Radcliffe is great as the in-over-his-head everyman, and Weaving chews the scenery with abandon. If you’re in the mood for a goofy, gory, gleefully unhinged action-comedy, give Guns Akimbo a shot.
12. Crank (2006)
The Crank movies are essentially one long chase scene, and they’re all the better for it. Jason Statham stars as Chev Chelios, a hitman who wakes up one morning to find that he’s been poisoned with a drug that will kill him if his heart rate drops too low. The only way to stay alive is to keep his adrenaline pumping through increasingly dangerous and ridiculous means.
What follows is a frenetic, darkly hilarious thrill ride as Chev races through the streets of Los Angeles, getting into fights, having public sex, and generally causing all sorts of mayhem to keep his heart going. Statham is perfectly cast as the quippy, seemingly unkillable Chev, and the movie around him matches his manic energy at every turn.
Like Bullet Train, Crank fully commits to its absurd premise and just runs with it, never stopping to catch its breath. It’s a movie that’s constantly trying to top itself in terms of sheer audacity, and it’s a blast to watch.
13. Wanted (2008)
If you like stylish, over-the-top action movies, 2008’s Wanted should be right up your alley. Loosely based on the comic book series of the same name, the film stars James McAvoy as Wesley Gibson, a meek office worker who discovers he is the son of a legendary assassin. Recruited into a secret society of killers called The Fraternity, Wesley is trained to unlock his hidden potential by the group’s leader, Sloan (Morgan Freeman), and expert assassin Fox (Angelina Jolie).
Wanted fully embraces its comic book roots, with physics-defying action sequences like the famous “curved bullet” scene. The set pieces are inventive and exciting, with director Timur Bekmambetov bringing a unique visual flair to the proceedings. McAvoy is great as the in-over-his-head Wesley, and Jolie oozes cool as the deadly Fox. With a stacked cast that also includes Common, Thomas Kretschmann, and Terence Stamp, Wanted is a slick, adrenaline-fueled thrill ride.
14. Polar (2019)
Based on the web comic series of the same name, Polar stars Mads Mikkelsen as Duncan Vizla, aka The Black Kaiser, the world’s top assassin. When Duncan is set to retire from the business, his former employer puts a hit out on him to avoid paying his pension. What follows is a bloody, darkly comic tale of revenge as Duncan takes on a colorful array of assassins to survive.
Polar fully commits to its graphic novel aesthetic, with highly stylized violence and a neon-soaked color palette. Mikkelsen is perfectly cast as the grizzled, world-weary Duncan, and he’s clearly having a blast in the role. The supporting cast includes Vanessa Hudgens, Katheryn Winnick, and Matt Lucas, all chewing the scenery as Duncan’s eccentric foes. Polar doesn’t take itself too seriously, reveling in its own absurdity and ultraviolence. If you want a wild, blood-soaked good time, give it a shot.
15. The Boondock Saints (1999)
The Boondock Saints follows Irish American fraternal twins Connor (Sean Patrick Flanery) and Murphy (Norman Reedus) MacManus, who become vigilantes after killing two members of the Russian Mafia in self-defense. Believing they have a mission from God to rid Boston of evil men, the brothers embark on a violent crusade to take out criminals and corrupt officials, with FBI Agent Paul Smecker (Willem Dafoe) hot on their trail.
Written and directed by Troy Duffy, The Boondock Saints has become a cult classic thanks to its quotable dialogue, charismatic leads, and irreverent sense of humor. Flanery and Reedus have great chemistry as the MacManus brothers, and Dafoe is clearly having a blast as the flamboyant Agent Smecker. The film’s hyper-stylized violence and religious symbolism may not be for everyone, but fans of Bullet Train‘s darkly comedic tone should find a lot to like here.
16. Shoot ‘Em Up (2007)
Shoot ‘Em Up is essentially one long, gloriously ridiculous action scene, and that’s what makes it so much fun. Clive Owen stars as Smith, a mysterious loner who rescues a newborn baby from a hitman. Teaming up with a lactating prostitute named Donna (Monica Bellucci), Smith goes on the run from an army of mercenaries led by the ruthless Hertz (Paul Giamatti), all while trying to uncover why the infant is so valuable.
Writer-director Michael Davis clearly set out to make the most absurdly over-the-top action movie possible, and he succeeded with flying colors. The gunfights and chase scenes are deliriously creative, with Smith dispatching bad guys in increasingly improbable ways (including one memorable scene involving carrots). Owen plays the whole thing with a knowing wink, Giamatti gleefully chews the scenery, and Bellucci gamely keeps up with the insanity. Shoot ‘Em Up is a live-action cartoon in the best way, never slowing down to catch its breath. For sheer audacity and inventiveness, it’s hard to top.
17. Lucky Number Slevin (2006)
Lucky Number Slevin is a twisty crime thriller with a stacked cast including Josh Hartnett, Bruce Willis, Lucy Liu, Morgan Freeman, Ben Kingsley, and Stanley Tucci. Hartnett plays Slevin, a hapless everyman who is mistaken for his friend Nick and finds himself in the middle of a war between two rival crime bosses: The Boss (Freeman) and The Rabbi (Kingsley). Forced to assassinate the other crime lord’s son to pay off Nick’s debts, Slevin teams up with his cute neighbor Lindsey (Liu) and the mysterious hitman Mr. Goodkat (Willis) to try and get out of his predicament.
Director Paul McGuigan brings a lot of visual flair to the proceedings, with snappy editing and a colorful comic book aesthetic. The plot is gleefully convoluted, with double-crosses and hidden identities galore, but the game cast keeps things engaging even when it threatens to collapse under its own cleverness. Hartnett makes for a likably befuddled protagonist, Willis oozes cool as the deadpan Goodkat, and Kingsley and Freeman are clearly having a blast as the scenery-chewing crime bosses. For a stylish, twist-filled crime caper with a darkly comedic streak, Lucky Number Slevin is well worth checking out.
18. Grosse Pointe Blank (1997)
Grosse Pointe Blank is a unique blend of romantic comedy, action movie, and high school reunion drama, anchored by a charming performance from John Cusack. He plays Martin Blank, a professional assassin who returns to his hometown of Grosse Pointe, Michigan for his ten-year high school reunion. There he reconnects with his old flame Debi (Minnie Driver), all while trying to avoid a rival hitman (Dan Aykroyd) who has been hired to kill him.
Co-written by Cusack, Grosse Pointe Blank has a sharp, witty script that perfectly balances laughs, heart, and bursts of violence. Cusack and Driver have fantastic chemistry, selling both the romance and the comedy. Aykroyd is hilarious as Martin’s unhinged nemesis, and there are memorable supporting turns from Alan Arkin, Jeremy Piven, and Joan Cusack. With its killer soundtrack and deft mix of genres, Grosse Pointe Blank is an underrated gem of the 90s that deserves a wider audience.
19. The Losers (2010)
Based on the Vertigo comic book series, The Losers follows a black ops team who are double-crossed and left for dead by a mysterious villain known only as Max. Presumed killed, the team – Clay (Jeffrey Dean Morgan), Jensen (Chris Evans), Roque (Idris Elba), Pooch (Columbus Short), and Cougar (Óscar Jaenada) – set out to get revenge and clear their names, with the help of the mysterious Aisha (Zoe Saldana).
The Losers is a fun, breezy action-comedy that makes the most of its likable cast. Evans and Saldana are standouts, with crackling chemistry and charisma to spare. Jason Patric is also memorable as the gleefully over-the-top villain Max. Director Sylvain White keeps the action moving at a clip, with a number of inventive set pieces. While it may not reinvent the wheel, The Losers is an entertaining popcorn flick with a great cast and a tongue-in-cheek sense of humor.
20. Gunpowder Milkshake (2021)
Gunpowder Milkshake wears its influences on its sleeve, owing a clear debt to stylish action flicks like John Wick and Kill Bill. Karen Gillan stars as Sam, a second-generation assassin who works for a shadowy organization known as The Firm. When a job goes wrong, Sam must go on the run to protect an 8-year-old girl, teaming up with her estranged assassin mother (Lena Headey) and her lethal associates (Carla Gugino, Michelle Yeoh, and Angela Bassett).
While the plot is pretty thin, Gunpowder Milkshake more than makes up for it with style and attitude. Director Navot Papushado delivers one slickly choreographed action scene after another, with Gillan proving her action chops in the lead role. The supporting cast is stacked with badass women, and it’s a blast to watch them all bounce off each other. With its neon-drenched aesthetic, dark sense of humor, and inventive set pieces, Gunpowder Milkshake is a stylish and entertaining action romp.
So there you have it – 20 adrenaline-pumping, darkly funny, wildly entertaining action flicks to watch if you loved Bullet Train. From stylish assassin thrillers to over-the-top shoot-em-ups, these movies deliver a similar mix of high-octane thrills and irreverent humor. Whether you’re in the mood for gun-fu, sword fights, or good old-fashioned fistfights, you’ll find something to love on this list. So grab some popcorn, buckle up, and enjoy the ride!
