If you were captivated by the intense, suspenseful story of an autistic assassin-accountant in the 2016 film The Accountant, you’re probably craving more movies that deliver a similar adrenaline rush. Starring Ben Affleck as a math savant who uncooks the books for dangerous criminal clients, The Accountant stood out for its unique premise and heart-pounding action.
Luckily, there are plenty of other great films that offer the same mix of pulse-pounding thrills, complex anti-heroes, and satisfying vigilante justice. Whether it’s Liam Neeson’s retired CIA operative in Taken, Keanu Reeves’ legendary hitman in John Wick, or Denzel Washington’s one-man justice dispenser in The Equalizer, these movies prove that sometimes the most compelling heroes operate in a moral gray zone.
So if you’re ready for more electrifying, edge-of-your-seat action, check out this list of the 14 best movies like The Accountant. Filled with intense shootouts, bone-crunching fight scenes, and protagonists pushed to the brink, these films are sure to scratch that thriller itch. Let’s dive in!
1. John Wick (2014)
Keanu Reeves is a force to be reckoned with in this stylish, hyper-violent action flick.
After retiring from his career as a legendary hitman, John Wick (Reeves) is drawn back into the criminal underworld he left behind when a group of thugs steal his car and kill his beloved dog – a final gift from his recently deceased wife. With nothing left to lose, Wick embarks on a brutal rampage of revenge, showcasing the deadly skills that made him the most feared assassin in the business.
Expertly choreographed fight scenes and pulse-pounding set pieces make John Wick a must-watch for any action junkie. Reeves fully commits to the role, imbuing Wick with a palpable sense of grief, rage, and steely determination. Like The Accountant‘s Christian Wolff, John Wick is a man with a mysterious past who adheres to his own moral code – and heaven help anyone foolish enough to cross him.
2. The Equalizer (2014)
Denzel Washington dispenses vigilante justice with bone-crunching efficiency in this gritty, violent thriller.
Robert McCall (Washington) believes he has put his mysterious past behind him and dedicated himself to beginning a quiet new life. But when he meets Teri (Chloë Grace Moretz), a young girl under the control of ultra-violent Russian gangsters, he can’t stand idly by. Armed with hidden skills that allow him to serve vengeance against anyone who would brutalize the helpless, McCall comes out of self-imposed retirement and finds his desire for justice reawakened.
Like The Accountant‘s Christian Wolff, McCall is a loner with a shadowy history who uses his unique skillset to help those who can’t help themselves. Washington brings his trademark intensity and charisma to the role, anchoring the film’s brutal, stylized violence with a sense of righteous purpose. If you enjoy watching a brilliant tactician dismantle criminal enterprises piece by piece, The Equalizer delivers.
3. Jack Reacher (2012)
Tom Cruise brings Lee Child’s iconic character to life in this satisfying mystery-thriller.
When five seemingly random people are gunned down by an expert sniper, all evidence points to the suspect in custody. But during interrogation, the accused man writes a single note: “Get Jack Reacher.” A former Army Military Police officer who now wanders the country as a drifter, Reacher (Cruise) soon becomes embroiled in a deadly conspiracy that runs far deeper than he initially suspects.
While Jack Reacher has a more procedural feel than The Accountant, both films center on brilliant, justice-driven loners using their formidable skills to disrupt criminal activities. Cruise is well-cast as the hyper-competent, bluntly charismatic Reacher, and the film’s crunching fight scenes and taut mystery make for a gripping ride from start to finish.
4. Law Abiding Citizen (2009)
Gerard Butler and Jamie Foxx face off in this tense, thought-provoking vigilante thriller.
When a home invasion leaves his wife and daughter dead, Clyde Shelton (Butler) is devastated to learn that one of the perpetrators will receive a light sentence in exchange for testifying against his partner. A decade later, the men involved in the case begin dying under mysterious circumstances, drawing the attention of the brilliant prosecutor who made the deal (Foxx). Shelton soon reveals himself as the mastermind behind the killings – a man determined to take justice into his own hands.
Like The Accountant, Law Abiding Citizen grapples with complex questions of morality, justice, and vengeance. Butler is riveting as a grieving husband and father pushed to the brink, while Foxx proves a worthy adversary as the prosecutor racing to stop Shelton’s deadly plan. With nail-biting suspense and thought-provoking themes, this is a must-see for fans of smart, intense thrillers.
5. The Mechanic (2011)
Jason Statham delivers bone-crunching action in this remake of the 1972 Charles Bronson classic.
Arthur Bishop (Statham) is an elite assassin with a strict code and unique talent for cleanly eliminating targets. It’s a job that requires professional perfection and total detachment, and Bishop is the best in the business. But when his mentor and close friend Harry (Donald Sutherland) is murdered, Bishop is anything but detached. His next assignment is self-imposed – he wants those responsible dead.
The Mechanic shares The Accountant‘s focus on a skilled professional operating in a criminal world, bound by a personal code. Statham is in top form as the methodical, no-nonsense Bishop, and the film delivers a satisfying mix of intense action and double-crossing intrigue. If you enjoy watching hyper-competent loners navigate a world of violence and betrayal, The Mechanic is a rock-solid bet.
6. Taken (2008)
Liam Neeson became an unlikely action star in this gripping, gritty thriller.
Bryan Mills (Neeson), a former CIA operative, is trying to reconnect with his teenage daughter, Kim (Maggie Grace). Then his worst fears become real when sex slavers abduct Kim and her friend shortly after they arrive in Paris for vacation. With just four days until Kim will be auctioned off, Bryan must call on every skill he learned as a spy to rescue her – and wreak vengeance on her kidnappers.
Taken kickstarted a new phase of Neeson’s career as a tough-as-nails action hero, and it’s easy to see why. His commanding presence and “particular set of skills” make Bryan Mills a force to be reckoned with, and the film’s brisk pace and brutal action set pieces are undeniably thrilling. Like The Accountant‘s Christian Wolff, Bryan is a man with a dark past determined to use his abilities to protect the innocent at any cost.
7. The Equalizer 2 (2018)
Denzel Washington returns to deliver his special brand of vigilante justice in this hard-hitting sequel.
Robert McCall (Washington) has put his past behind him and lives a quiet life, working as a Lyft driver and helping the less fortunate in his community. But when his longtime friend Susan Plummer (Melissa Leo) is murdered in Brussels while investigating a kidnapping, McCall returns to his old ways to wreak violent vengeance on those responsible, unraveling a far-reaching conspiracy in the process.
The Equalizer 2 ups the ante on the first film’s stylized action, with Washington fully embodying McCall’s calm, calculated approach to justice. Like The Accountant‘s Christian Wolff, McCall is a brilliant tactician who uses his unique skillset to help the helpless, making him a compelling and sympathetic protagonist even as he employs brutal methods. If you’re craving more of Washington as an unstoppable vigilante, this sequel delivers.
8. John Wick: Chapter 2 (2017)
Keanu Reeves returns for another round of stylish, hyper-violent action in this explosive sequel.
Legendary hitman John Wick (Reeves) is once again forced out of retirement when a former associate plots to seize control of an international assassins’ guild. Bound by a blood oath to help him, Wick travels to Rome to square off against some of the world’s deadliest killers in an epic battle for survival.
John Wick: Chapter 2 expands the intriguing underworld established in the first film, immersing viewers in a stylized realm of honor, betrayal, and breathtaking violence. Reeves is even more commanding in the role of Wick, a man of few words and deadly skills pushed to his limits. With jaw-dropping fight choreography and a palpable sense of stakes, this sequel is a must-see for action aficionados.
9. A Walk Among the Tombstones (2014)
Liam Neeson stars as a world-weary private eye in this gritty, slow-burn thriller.
Matt Scudder (Neeson) is a disgraced former cop now working as an unlicensed private investigator. When a heroin trafficker (Dan Stevens) hires Scudder to track down the men who kidnapped and brutally murdered his wife, the detective soon finds himself embroiled in a deadly game of cat-and-mouse with a pair of ruthless serial killers.
Based on the novel by Lawrence Block, A Walk Among the Tombstones is a throwback to classic hardboiled detective stories, with Neeson’s world-weary Scudder a compelling guide through the grim underbelly of 1990s New York City. While more of a slow-burn mystery than a straight action film, the movie delivers suspense, atmosphere, and bursts of shocking violence. Like The Accountant, it’s a gripping thriller anchored by a complex, compelling protagonist.
10. The Bourne Identity (2002)
Matt Damon is a man on the run from his own past in this smart, propulsive spy thriller.
When a man (Damon) is discovered floating in the Mediterranean Sea with two gunshot wounds in his back, he wakes up with no memory of his identity or how he ended up there. As he tries to retrace his steps and uncover the truth about his past, he discovers he has a remarkable set of skills – including hand-to-hand combat and counter-surveillance techniques – that suggest a dangerous history. But with a group of highly-trained assassins on his trail, he’ll need all his abilities just to stay alive.
The Bourne Identity kickstarted one of the most successful and influential action franchises of the 21st century, and it’s easy to see why. Damon is perfectly cast as the amnesiac assassin, equal parts vulnerable and lethal, while director Doug Liman delivers a perfect blend of intrigue, suspense, and visceral action. If you enjoyed The Accountant‘s mix of brains and brawn, Jason Bourne’s adventures are a must-see.
11. Shooter (2007)
Mark Wahlberg stars as a elite sniper caught in a deadly conspiracy in this taut, action-packed thriller.
Bob Lee Swagger (Wahlberg), a former Marine Corps sniper, is pressed into service to help prevent an assassination attempt on the President. But when the shot is fired, Swagger is framed for the crime and must go on the run to clear his name and uncover the real culprits behind the conspiracy.
Based on the novel “Point of Impact” by Stephen Hunter, Shooter is a gripping, tightly-plotted thriller that makes great use of Wahlberg’s everyman charisma and action chops. Like The Accountant‘s Christian Wolff, Swagger is a highly-skilled professional drawn into a web of deceit and forced to use his abilities to seek justice. With pulse-pounding set pieces and a satisfying sense of righteous vengeance, Shooter is a rock-solid action flick.
12. The Punisher (2004)
Thomas Jane brings the iconic Marvel anti-hero to brutal, uncompromising life in this hard-hitting adaptation.
When undercover FBI agent Frank Castle’s (Jane) wife and child are executed by a ruthless criminal named Howard Saint (John Travolta), the devastated Castle decides to take justice into his own hands as a vigilante known as “The Punisher.” With an arsenal of weapons and a thirst for vengeance, Castle wages a one-man war on Saint and his criminal empire.
While The Punisher lacks the prestige of other Marvel adaptations, it makes up for it with raw intensity and unflinching violence. Jane is perfectly cast as the grieving, rage-fueled Castle, and the film pulls no punches in depicting his bloody quest for retribution. Like The Accountant‘s Christian Wolff, Frank Castle is a man with nothing to lose, driven by a personal code of justice that puts him at odds with the law. If you’re in the mood for a gritty, uncompromising vigilante thriller, The Punisher delivers.
13. Collateral (2004)
Tom Cruise is chillingly effective as a ruthless hitman in Michael Mann’s sleek, stylish neo-noir.
Max (Jamie Foxx) is a cab driver with dreams of starting his own limo company. One night, he picks up a sharply-dressed passenger named Vincent (Cruise) who offers him a large sum to drive him around Los Angeles for the evening. But Max soon realizes that Vincent is a professional assassin determined to carry out a series of hits, and he’s forced to continue chauffeuring him at gunpoint as the night spirals out of control.
Collateral is a taut, expertly-crafted thriller that subverts Cruise’s movie star persona to chilling effect. His silver-haired Vincent is a shark in human form, ruthlessly efficient and utterly amoral. Foxx is equally good as the in-over-his-head Max, and Mann’s direction is as sleek and stylish as ever. While it’s more of a neo-noir than a straight action film, Collateral‘s mix of suspense, dark humor, and bursts of violence should appeal to fans of The Accountant.
14. The Negotiator (1998)
Samuel L. Jackson and Kevin Spacey face off in this tense, twisty hostage thriller.
Danny Roman (Jackson) is a respected police hostage negotiator framed for murder and embezzlement. With no other options, he takes hostages in a federal building and demands to speak to a fellow negotiator (Spacey) to help prove his innocence. As the two men engage in a battle of wits, they uncover a web of corruption and deceit that goes far beyond Roman’s case.
The Negotiator is a smart, suspenseful thriller anchored by the crackling chemistry between Jackson and Spacey. Like The Accountant‘s Christian Wolff, Danny Roman is a skilled professional forced to use his unique abilities to clear his name and seek justice. With plenty of twists, turns, and tense standoffs, The Negotiator is a gripping ride from start to finish.
Honorable Mentions
While they didn’t quite crack the top 14, these films are also well worth watching for fans of The Accountant:
- The Next Three Days (2010) – Russell Crowe stars as a man determined to break his wrongfully convicted wife out of prison in this taut thriller.
- Shooter (2007) – Mark Wahlberg is a former Marine sniper framed for an assassination attempt on the President in this conspiracy thriller.
- The Game (1997) – Michael Douglas is a wealthy banker drawn into a mysterious, dangerous “game” that upends his life in David Fincher’s twisty thriller.
- State of Play (2009) – Russell Crowe investigates a political conspiracy that hits close to home in this smart, suspenseful adaptation of the BBC miniseries.
Conclusion
The Accountant struck a chord with audiences thanks to its unique premise, intense action, and compelling central performance from Ben Affleck. If you enjoyed watching an unassuming professional reveal a dangerous set of skills, these 14 films offer similarly thrilling journeys into worlds of crime, conspiracy, and moral ambiguity.
So the next time you’re in the mood for a pulse-pounding thriller with a complex hero at its center, give one of these Accountant-esque films a shot. With plenty of action, suspense, and surprises in store, they’ll keep you glued to the screen until the final shot is fired and the last body drops.
