With a sequel and spin-off already in the works, The Gray Man starring Ryan Gosling has become an undeniable hit for Netflix, and it’s a pretty good action movie too. It seems the Russo Brothers have secured themselves a franchise now that Disney decided not to invite them back for Avengers 5 and 6.
Since it’s likely going to be a year or two before we see a sequel or a spin-off come to the big-screen, here are 10 films to watch while you wait for the next entry in The Gray Man.
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10. Upgrade (2018)
Now here’s a sleeper hit if there ever was one. In Upgrade, an auto mechanic named Grey Trace (Logan Marshall-Green) receives a chip implant that allows his body to be controlled by an artificial intelligence named STEM. In addition to bringing back Grey’s ability to walk, STEM quickly demonstrates its value as an efficient killing machine during a journey that sees Grey enact revenge against those that murdered his wife.
In a movie that is part John Wick and part Venom, this adrenaline-inducing action film slid under the radar when it was released back in 2018. But it’s definitely worth giving a look if you enjoyed the action-packed thrill ride that is The Gray Man.
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9. Nobody (2021)
If you enjoyed Breaking Bad and Better Call Saul and have ever wondered what it would be like if Saul was secretly the most dangerous killer in the United States, then here is your movie. Nobody follows Hutch Mansell (Bob Odenkirk), an ordinary family man who gets called back to his old and dangerous lifestyle after he gets tangled up with some Russian thugs on a bus.
If you can get past the somewhat slow first act, then you’re in for a treat. Once the action starts in this one, it doesn’t let up until the credits roll and that’s a feat few movies can do effectively. Having been delayed for half a year due to COVID-19, Nobody released in theaters in March 2021 and helped prove theatrical runs can still be profitable post-quarantine. If you enjoyed the fight sequences in The Gray Man, you should definitely check out Nobody!
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8. Mission Impossible (1996)
Mission Impossible is a fast-paced and tech-centric spy thriller which follows inexperienced secret agent Ethan Hunt (Tom Cruise) after he goes on the run to avoid taking the fall as a mole within his organization. The film was so successful that it spawned five additional installments and even has two more sequels in the works.
Although it can be argued many of the Mission Impossible sequels are better than the original, none of the entries are more deserving to be on this list than the first film. After all, The Gray Man might not be perfect… but neither was Mission Impossible. Much like the performances of Ryan Gosling and Ana De Armas elevated The Gray Man, the original Mission Impossible was elevated to become one of the most iconic franchises in history due to the stellar stunt work and commitment to the craft that was demonstrated by the legendary (but mentally questionable) Tom Cruise. If The Gray Man follows suit, we could see each of its sequels get better and better.
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7. No Time To Die (2021)
In No Time To Die, Daniel Craig portrays his rugged version of James Bond for the final time and the film surprisingly is quite good when compared to the previous two films in the franchise. In this intriguing spy thriller, we follow James Bond after he leaves his short-lived retirement to help an old friend track down a mysterious villain armed with dangerous new technology.
With an eye-catching performance from Mr. Robot’s Rami Malek (as the film’s notorious villain), and a scene-stealing cameo from The Gray Man’s always-hypnotic Ana De Armas, No Time To Die is a satisfying conclusion to the Daniel Craig era of 007 and the film includes the type of intrigue and action-packed carnage any fan of The Gray Man would likely enjoy.
Where to Watch:
Rent Now, Buy Now, or Watch for Free (w/ Prime Video) on Amazon
6. Kingsman: The Secret Service (2014)
Kingsman: The Secret Service follows Gary “Eggsy” Unwin (Taron Egerton), a rebellious loner who is recruited into a secret spy organization called Kingsman. After excelling at all his training, Eggsy joins his mentor Harry Hart (Colin Firth) on a high-stakes mission to stop the villainous Richmond Valentine (Samuel L. Jackson) from mind-controlling the Earth.
When Kingsman: The Secret Service first released, it was easy to dismiss it as simply a James Bond clone. Even Samuel L. Jackson stated he only took on the role because he thought MGM would never hire him to play a James Bond villain! But the stellar writing, quirky performances, and top-notch world-building brought to this English spy-thriller helped Kingsman to become a household franchise like The Gray Man is trying to become.
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5. GoldenEye (1996)
The 17th film in the James Bond franchise, GoldenEye follows James Bond (Pierce Brosnan) years after a friend and fellow 00 agent (Sean Bean) is killed on a top secret mission. Still working for MI6, James Bond is called into action after a Russian crime syndicate steals a secret weapon known only as “GoldenEye.”
After a six-year hiatus in the James Bond series, GoldenEye revitalized the franchise and introduced the world to Pierce Brosnan as James Bond (and Sean Bean as a character that always dies) in a film that is arguably one of the best James Bond flicks of all time. Not to mention, the video game helped pioneer the first-person shooter genre. Any fan of The Gray Man would find the charm, chase scenes, and carnage of GoldenEye to be right up their alley!
Where to Watch:
Rent Now, Stream Now, or Watch for Free (w/ Prime Video) on Amazon
4. John Wick: Chapter 3 – Parabellum (2019)
Taking place moments after John Wick 2, John Wick 3 – Parabellum follows infamous assassin John Wick (Keanue Reeves) while he is on the run from countless assassins that wish to claim a $14 million bounty on his head. Joining John in this action-packed thrill-ride are ex-assassin Sofia (Halle Berry) and savior-of-the-homeless “The Bowery King” (Laurence Fishburne).
While John Wick 3 – Parabellum might not be quite as good as the original John Wick, it’s definitely worth a watch (especially since John Wick 4 and John Wick 5 are on the way) and it has earned its place on this list for having some similarities plot-wise to The Gray Man.
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3. Blade Runner 2049 (2017)
If you loved the on-screen charisma between Ryan Gosling and Ana De Armas, journey to the film that cast them alongside one another for the first time in Blade Runner 2049. Taking place 30 years after the original Blade Runner, this dystopian mystery plays out much like a hard boiled detective film and stars K (Ryan Gosling) as the (android) detective searching for answers. And while the pacing may move a bit slow at times, the film makes up for this with its style, tone, central mystery, effective world-building, and hypnotic performances from the main cast. Not to mention, it’s just a beautiful film to look at!
While fans of The Gray Man may wish for a slightly faster paced film, Blade Runner 2049 should not be overlooked. It likely paved the way for The Gray Man to even become a thing and it saw Harrison Ford reprise the role of Rick Deckard 35 years later. Plus, Jared Leto’s villain is really memorable. All this makes for a film that is truly one-of-kind.
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2. The Bourne Identity (2002)
The Bourne Identity follows a man named Jason Bourne (Matt Damon) after he is recovered from the ocean with amnesia and several bullet wounds. Upon discovering assassins on his trail, Bourne embarks on an action-packed mission to uncover the truth about his past. Any additional information about this film would ruin the mystery for newcomers.
While The Gray Man has class and some superb fight scenes, it doesn’t quite stack up to The Bourne Identity. Containing both mystery and a fast pace, The Bourne Identity launched Matt Damon’s career, spawned a legendary meme, and received three sequels for a reason. If you haven’t seen this film yet, what are you waiting for?
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1. The Suicide Squad
After releasing the awful Suicide Squad in 2016, Warner Bros clapped back at haters in 2021 with the release of a reboot, The Suicide Squad, which is surprisingly a top-tier film thanks to the directing of James Gunn (Guardians of the Galaxy) and some great performances by Idris Elba, Margot Robbie, Joel Kinnaman, and John Cena.
The Suicide Squad follows a ragtag group of convicts that are given the opportunity to ditch their jailcells to take on highly questionable missions led by a tyrannical bureaucrat. If this plot sounds similar to The Gray Man, that’s because it is. The only difference is The Suicide Squad is a comic book movie, and an extremely fun one at that! It delivers both emotionally and comedically, and set up one of the best shows of 2022 with Peacemaker. And while The Gray Man is a great iteration on the “Suicide Mission” trope, it doesn’t quite stack up to the colorful world built by James Gunn in this pulpy masterpiece. If you’ve been debating whether or not to give The Suicide Squad a try, stop. Watch it. It’s worth it. I promise.
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