15 Top Action Movies like Bullet Train

Bullet Train has only been out for a few months, and already, it is dominating most new movie lists similar to this one.

After seeing it, I can understand why. It is a fun enough movie, with a lot of action, interesting twists and developments, lots of comedy, and a high-speed train. What else could you want from a movie to relax with on a Sunday afternoon?

Well, you might want more. Bullet Train is one of those films that makes you excited about the plot, as well as about what will be next, and after the film ends, you are left wanting for more of that.

Luckily, there are plenty of others that have the same effect. In fact, I have created a list of 15 different films like Bullet Train that you should watch if you liked it. Here are my top recommendations.

Speed (1994)

This film works for the fans of Bullet Train as most of the plot takes place in a high-speed bus.

You have confined space, a deadly situation, pressure, speed, and lots of action. If you liked Bullet Train, you are going to love this 1994 classic. Appropriately named Speed, the film features a group of people trapped on a bus that will explode if it slows down.

As you can imagine, that makes things quite unpleasant for the passengers, as well as a brave cop who decides to join them.

The film stars Keanu Reeves, Sandra Bullock, Jeff Daniels, Dennis Hopper, and others.

Mr. And Mrs. Smith (2005)

If the part where a bunch of assassins are trying to get one another is what you found fun and interesting in Bullet Train, then Mr. And Mrs. Smith is definitely a must-watch.

The film has plenty of amusing moments, including the entire situation about two assassins being married to one another, each of which is blissfully oblivious about their spouse’s nefarious activities.

As you can imagine, the real fun begins when they figure out what the other one is doing when they aren’t looking.

The film stars Brad Pitt and Angelina Jolie.

John Wick (2014)

If you are a dog owner, then you likely know how far you would be willing to go to protect your pup. However, if you are a former hitman and someone kills your dog, which was the last gift from your deceased wife, then there are no limits to what you would do for revenge.

This is the situation in which John Wick finds himself in this movie. Needless to say, it is packed with action, shooting, fights, emotions, and more.

There is a reason why it became an instant classic, so if you haven’t seen it yet, definitely add it to the list.

The film stars Keanu Reeves, Laurence Fishburne, Ian McShane, Lance Reddick, and others.

Transporter (2002)

Frank Martin may have a past in Special Forces, but that life is behind him now. He still leads what most people would call an exciting life, working as a transporter of whatever you need transported, no questions asked.

However, he is a fan of certain rules of the job, and if you happen to break them and betray his trust, that will pretty much be the last thing you ever did.

Transporter is a great film for the fans of action where a one-man army defeats an actual army, so give it (and its sequels) a watch if you want more of that.

The film stars Jason Statham, Matt Schulze, Shu Qi, Amber Valletta, and others.

Kill Bill (2003)

Another film that puts assassins against one another is Kill Bill, a movie about martial arts, revenge, some amazing fight scenes, and a lot of blood being shed.

Kill Bill is a Quentin Tarantino movie, and like all other Quentin Tarantino movies, it was considered a classic as soon as it appeared. In fact, I would be surprised if you haven’t seen it yet, but if that is the case, then definitely give it a watch.

Even if you did see it, you would likely agree that rewatching it is in order.

The film stars Uma Thurman, David Carradine, Lucy Liu, Michael Madsen, and others.

Die Hard (1988)

Die Hard fans have spent more than three decades arguing whether or not this should be considered a Christmas movie, and the jury is still out on that. One thing that no one is questioning, however, is its quality.

One of the best and most famous Bruce Willis movies, Die Hard locks up one man and a small army of terrorists into a skyscraper just to see what happens, and the results are almost a work of art.

I cannot recommend this film enough if you like pitching one capable good guy against a bunch of bad guys.

The film stars Bruce Willis, Alan Rickman, Bonnie Bedelia, Reginald VelJohnson, and others.

Ocean’s Eleven (2001)

Before La Casa De Papel came out, people spent nearly two decades turning to Ocean movies for a good heist story, and Ocean’s Eleven is the one that started them all.

In it, master thief Danny Ocean, freshly out of prison, puts together a crew to rob a Las Vegas casino and win back his ex-wife along the way.

Ocean’s Eleven is an exciting and fun movie with some comedy and some drama, but it quickly became the crown jewel of all heist movies.

The film stars George Clooney, Julia Roberts, Brad Pitt, Matt Damon, Andy Garcia, and others.

Wild Target (2010)

Going back to assassins and their targets, we have Wild Target.

This is a fun British film featuring a professional gentleman-hitman, Victor Maynard. Maynard is a middle-aged, solitary assassin but also a professional. A calm and calculated killer who lives in his own world.

This is what makes it surprising even to him when he falls in love with one of his targets and is forced to become her bodyguard instead, just to prevent others like him from fulfilling the open contract.

The film stars Bill Nighy, Rupert Grint, Emily Blunt, Martin Freeman, and others.

V For Vendetta (2006)

I have seen a lot of excellent films over the years, but few share the poetic beauty of V for Vendetta.

Set in a fictional 1990s London, this is a movie about overthrowing a fascist government on the surface, but underneath, it is the movie about the fight for equality, respect, the right to live, to be free, and to be without fear.

Unfortunately, doing so sometimes requires a hammer, sometimes a scalpel, and sometimes a bit of both.

The film stars Hugo Weaving, Natalie Portman, John Hurt, Stephen Fry, and others.

The Fugitive (1993)

The Fugitive is an exciting and tense movie about a man who was wrongfully accused of murdering his wife. After he escapes the law, he goes off in search of the real killer on his own, all the while pursued by a determined detective.

The film also has a few secrets to uncover, and there is the constant feeling of being chased and only one wrong move away from being captured. While it is dramatic and sad, it is also packed with action and twists, so definitely give it a watch.

The film stars Harrison Ford, Tommy Lee Jones, Sela Ward, Joe Pantoliano, and others.

Source Code (2011)

Another very interesting and even mysterious story that takes place on a train is Source Code.

This is essentially a movie about a guy stuck in a time loop who needs to identify a terrorist among numerous passengers who are on the train with him.

If you ever played a game where you need to solve a complex puzzle while you have a very short time limit to do so, this movie will feel pretty similar.

It is enjoyable to watch and rewatch, so I expect you will like it if you liked Bullet Train.

The film stars Jake Gyllenhaal, Michelle Monaghan, and others.

Rat Race (2001)

As mentioned before, Bullet Train has a lot of comedy that works well with the plot, and those of you who liked that aspect of it will likely love Rat Race.

The concept is pretty simple, you have a bunch of people who need to get from point A to point B and get a small fortune for being first. There are no rules, and everything is allowed.

Let the race begin.

The film stars Rowan Atkinson, Whoopi Goldberg, Breckin Meyer, Jon Lovitz, and others.

The Professional (1994)

Going back to assassins one last time, we have a classic, The Professional.

This is a movie about a highly capable assassin who happens to be in the right place at the right time to save a life of a little girl, who then becomes his apprentice.

The movie is fun but also emotional, with a moderate amount of action, as well as some tension neatly spread throughout the film. I highly recommend it.

The film stars Jean Reno, Natalie Portman, and Gary Oldman.

Taken (2008)

If there is one thing that we have learned from films about highly-capable hitmen and former government operatives, that is not to mess with things that are dear to them.

Unfortunately, the bad guys from Taken did not get that message, and they made the mistake of kidnapping the daughter of Bryan Mills. Unfortunately for them, they will not have a chance to learn from that mistake.

The film stars Liam Neeson, Maggie Grace, Famke Janssen, and others.

The Maze Runner (2014)

Finally, we have The Maze Runner, a movie involving mystery and emotions, as well as a huge maze full of dangers that the heroes will have to navigate in order to escape. The alternative is to stay in relative safety but be confined to a small portion of land for the rest of their lives.

The first movie in a trilogy, The Maze Runner, features quick thinking, bonds of friendship, teamwork, and a lot of questions that only get partially answered by the end of the film. Good thing there are two more after the credits.

The film stars Dylan O’Brien, Thomas Brodie-Sangster, Kaya Scodelario, Ki Hong Lee, and others.