The Prime Video series Reacher is in its third critically acclaimed season, creating a star out of its talented lead, Alan Ritchson. The overwhelmingly popular role was adapted from the 2012 film about the enigmatic U.S. Army military police detective, Jack Reacher, starring Tom Cruise. While the film wasn’t a blockbuster success story, it did warrant an underwhelming sequel, Jack Reacher: Never Go Back, in 2016. For five years, there wasn’t much hullabaloo about an addition to a trilogy, so fanfare was limited when Prime Video announced the streaming series in 2021.
Interestingly, Jack Reacher is actually the focus of 29 books written by British author Jim Grant under the nom-de-plume Lee Child. Whether written in a fiction novel or an engrossing screenplay, this character’s journey has a particularly familiar model — uncovering mystifying clues in a grizzly murder, encountering bad guys with serious attitudes, and getting into cinematic fisticuffs that would make any mixed-martial arts highlight reel. That action formula works amazingly in Reacher, as well as many beloved action films that should appeal of the Prime hit series.
10 Taken Highlights the Wrath of a Protective Father
It’s a shame the original Taken was pounded into 80/20 ground beef with unwanted sequels, because the first film was a fantastic approach to the spy thriller genre. The revenge take about a retired CIA agent (Liam Neeson) was a classic the second that dialogue occurred on the phone. With his «certain set of skills,» Bryan Mills destroyed the Parisian countryside and every misanthrope evil guy in it to find his kidnapped daughter. On his way to locating the Albanian sex traffickers, brutal fight scenes came up every 20 minutes. When Neeson isn’t showing how to maul a bad guy, he investigates with precision to find what matters most to him.
9 Die Hard Features Great Detective Work
Reacher sprinkles in a couple of scenes for comic relief here and there, so the comparison with Bruce Willis’ classic film Die Hard may not connect completely. However, when Lt. John McClane (Willis) isn’t shooting up everything in the Nakatomi Plaza building, there is an appealing amount of detective work. That’s seen throughout the film by McClane but also by the magnificent Hans Gruber (Alan Rickman). Both have a goal and use their brains with instinct and exploration.
The similar utilization of detectives and critical thinking are exactly what connects Die Hard so closely with Reacher. At its core, Die Hard may be an iconic action movie, but watching the race between Gruber’s direction of strategy and McClane’s intention of thwarting it is equally gripping.
8 The Fugitive (1993) Reboots a Beloved TV Series
Adapted from a thrilling TV series in the 1960s, The Fugitive is a surprising film about Dr. Richard Kimble (Harrison Ford) running from U.S. Marshal Sam Gerard (Tommy Lee Jones) and a past accusation of killing his wife. Instead of running for his life, Kimble vows to save his wife’s legacy.
A nameless «one-armed man» killed her, and no one believed him. Dr. Kimble is convicted, but following a bus transport crash, he escapes, and the hunt begins. Both actors give powerful performances, but unlike Reacher, there isn’t much fighting. However, the depths of discovery that Kimble’s genius mind takes him to is the richest formula for a mystery thriller.
7 John Wick Became an Instant Classic Upon Release
Compared to some action films, the original John Wick is «all gas and no brakes.» The titular John Wick (Keanu Reeves) is the most feared hitman on the planet. He uses his deduction skills to determine what he needs to find his next target. Since the first film is all about revenge, there isn’t much finesse in the detective work.
However, the fight scenes in John Wick are legendary, becoming the new standard for action movies and high-profile TV shows like Reacher. The camera work and novel fashions to end someone’s life have never been on display for this rapid kind of innovation ever before. Wick’s instinct is what helps him navigate through a seedy underworld, but it’s his rage that causes him to succeed.
6 Jack Ryan: Shadow Recruit Highlights an Action Icon
Many years ago, Tom Clancy created a marvelous franchise around a single character, Jack Ryan. Without directing fans toward the 36 novels featuring Jack Ryan’s thrilling exploits, movies like The Hunt for Red October and Clear and Present Danger gave Hollywood another notable spy with skills in investigation and hand-to-hand combat.
Much like the senior predecessor, James Bond, Jack Ryan isn’t attached to a singular actor. Ben Affleck, Alec Baldwin, Harrison Ford, the current spy John Krasinski, and the Shadow Recruit Chris Pine have all portrayed the super spy, and all have been successful. Yet, something seems balanced in Shadow Recruit, which depicts the bold fighting moves with the keen detective ones.
5 Kingsman: The Secret Service Is the Culmination of Decades of Spy Films
Among the spy films released recently, the Kingsman franchise starring Colin Firth and Taron Egerton may be the most original. It has the most Bond-esque gadgetry and British intelligence, which gives it instant credibility. The plots and journeys depicted in the movies are fascinating, but the fight scenes could be perhaps the most unexpected.
The men who star in Kingsman‘s narrative wear bespoke, tailor-made suits and have the ability to take it to any bad guy. It’s a mix of a coming-of-age story, adapting a protégé to save the world and rid it of evil. The fact that the Kingsman organization is not connected to the government makes them that much more dangerous and exceptional at what they do.
4 The Equalizer Utilizes One of Hollywood's Greatest Stars
A spy franchise starring Denzel Washington sounded like a good idea; still, no one expected the convincing fashion he would command a screen, rule an evil empire, and outsmart anyone standing in his way. Robert McCall is a man of mystery who is doing his best to blend into society and not return to his dark ways as a highly specialized and trained operative.
The action scenes in The Equalizer are consummately developed, but much like Reacher, the film surprises you with how McCall can find things not easily revealed to the casual observer. Anything becomes his weapon, and everyone becomes a victim of this mesmerizing character.
3 The Bourne Identity Adapts Robert Ludlum's Beloved Novel
When The Bourne Identity came to theaters, it was considered to redefine the spy genre (even if its general premise had already been done before with The Long Kiss Goodnight). In the film, Jason Bourne (Matt Damon) is a deadly operative who has forgotten about his past despite being entrenched in espionage and action.
The Robert Ludlum novel franchise was world-renowned before the release of its cinematic adaptation, so when Doug Liman (Edge of Tomorrow, Jumper, Swingers) was given the reigns to adapt the initial thriller to film, anticipation became an understatement. Needless to say, it did not disappoint. To date, there have been five Jason Bourne movies, and each curries favor with prowess, possibility, and, above all, heightened action and performance.
2 Mission: Impossible — Fallout Highlights the Talents of a Different Jack Reacher Actor
Among all the Mission: Impossible pantheon, Fallout is arguably the most complete addition to Ethan Hunt’s bold and courageous world-saving journeys. Hunt and Jack Reacher have similarities outside the man who made them both famous, and in both spy projects, Tom Cruise brings gravitas to each role.
Though Cruise doesn’t have the size of Ritchson (5’7″ to 6’3″) or the burly physique (160 lbs vs. 235 lbs), the Mission Impossible franchise’s protagonist captures the most important thing about being a spy: having raw intellect and the ability to find a mountain of evidence. Both characters can dissect the minutia from a crime scene and ascertain what could be the cause and effect of what is being investigated. And, if that’s not successful, they are completely absent of fear of doing anything about it.
1 True Lies Utilizes a Similar Protagonist to Reacher
Among all the technology-defying, emotional roller coasters James Cameron has placed his thumbprint upon, many don’t consider the magnificent symmetry required to make the Arnold Schwarzenegger classic True Lies. It is equally compelling in comedy, action, and thrilling scenes to place any fan on the edge of their seat.
In Reacher, the brawny Alan Ritchson could be compared to an older Arnold. Although they both lumber through fight scenes, it’s the sheer force they use to convince anyone of the reality being experienced. Alongside Jamie Lee Curtis, Tom Arnold, Bill Paxton, and a splendid cameo by Charlton Heston, True Lies allows the spy genre freedom it’s never had prior or since.
