12 Movies Like Reacher You Need to Watch
Find 12 gritty action, crime, and thriller picks with the same tough energy, from Renegades and Death Kiss to The System and more.
If you want movies like Reacher, you’re probably after hard-hitting action, sharp crime stories, and a lead who solves problems with grit instead of speeches. This list brings together 12 picks that hit that same nerve in different ways, from the military tension of Renegades and the street-level edge of Death Kiss to the darker crime drama of The System. You’ll also find international and genre-bending options like Harina, the suspense-driven Lights Out, and the tense character work in Military Prosecutor Do Bae Man. Whether you want a brooding vigilante story, a procedural with teeth, or a thriller that keeps the pace moving, these choices give you plenty to queue up next.
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01
Renegades
action · crime · drama · thriller
When a retired Green Beret soldier is murdered by an Albanian drug gang in London, four of his veteran SAS comrades set out to avenge him, dispensing their own brand of justice on the streets of London.
Directed by Daniel ZirilliCast Nick Moran, Lee Majors, Ian Ogilvy, Patsy Kensit, Billy MurrayPeacock PremiumMore details on IMDb → -
02
Death Kiss
action · crime · drama
A vigilante with a mysterious past becomes a one-man army in a crime-infested town as he takes the law into his own hands, at the same time protecting a young mother and her daughter. He sets his sights on a local kingpin, setting up an action-packed and fateful confrontation.
Directed by Rene PerezCast Robert Bronzi, Daniel Baldwin, Richard Tyson, Eva Hamilton, Stormi MayaFreeveeMore details on IMDb → -
03
The Nowhere Man
action · drama · thriller
A traumatized ex-soldier is drawn back into a world of violence when he witnesses a home invasion and has no choice but to intervene.
Directed by Gareth Crocker, Fred WolmaransCast Bonko Khoza, Dineo Rasedile, Naturi Naughton, Nathan Castle, Greg KriekStarzMore details on IMDb → -
04
Harina
action · comedy · crime · mystery
The misadventures of Lieutenant Harina and his partner, Officer Ramírez, a very special police couple, who find themselves with the opportunity of a lifetime
Directed by Salvador EspinosaCast Memo Villegas, Verónica Bravo, Luis Fernando Peña, Dagoberto Gama, Luz AldánAmazon Prime VideoMore details on IMDb → -
05
Lights Out
action · thriller
A drifting ex-soldier turns underground fighter with the help of a just-released ex-con, pitting him against corrupt cops and hired killers now gunning for him and all those he cares about.
Directed by Christian SesmaCast Frank Grillo, Mekhi Phifer, Jaime King, Dermot Mulroney, Scott AdkinsAmazon Prime VideoHuluFreeveeMore details on IMDb → -
06
The System
action · crime
When a young soldier, newly returned from war, gets caught up in a drug bust, he is recruited by the authorities to go undercover in a notoriously dangerous prison in order to figure out what is really going on.
Directed by Dallas JacksonCast Tyrese Gibson, Terrence Howard, Jeremy Piven, Lil Yachty, Ric ReitzStarzMore details on IMDb → -
07
Military Prosecutor Do Bae Man
action · drama
An army prosecutor with ambitions of power and wealth finds his plans disturbed by an unyielding newbie with an agenda of her own.
Directed by Jin Chang-gyuCast Ahn Bo-hyun, Jo Bo-ah, Oh Yeon-su, Kim Young-min, Kim Woo-SeokNetflixAmazon Prime VideoMore details on IMDb → -
08
Northern Shade
crime · drama
A troubled Army veteran emerges from isolation when his younger brother is recruited by an extremist.
Directed by Christopher RucinskiCast Jesse Gavin, Titania Galliher, Joseph Poliquin, Alejandro Bravo, Romano OrzariAmazon Prime VideoMore details on IMDb → -
09
Shadow Detective
crime · drama · mystery · thriller
A veteran detective who is about to retire unfolds a breathtaking psychological warfare with a mysterious man who follows his path while hiding his identity.
Directed by Han Dong-hwaCast Lee Sung-min, Gyeong Su Jin, Lee Hak-joo, Ren Hanami, Steven LimHuluMore details on IMDb → -
10
The Old Man
2 Emmy nominations Outstanding Lead Actor in a Drama Series (2023)
action · drama · thriller
Dan Chase absconded from the CIA decades ago and now lives off the grid. When an assassin arrives and tries to take Chase out, the old operative learns that to ensure his future he now must reconcile his past.
Directed by Jet Wilkinson, Jon Watts, Greg Yaitanes, Steve Boyum, Uta BriesewitzCast Jeff Bridges, John Lithgow, Alia Shawkat, Amy Brenneman, Gbenga AkinnagbeHuluMore details on IMDb → -
11
Dragged Across Concrete
action · crime · drama · thriller
Two policemen, one an old-timer, the other his volatile younger partner, find themselves suspended when a video of their strong-arm tactics becomes the media's cause du jour. Low on cash and with no other options, these two embittered soldiers descend into the criminal underworld to gain their just due, but instead find far more than they wanted awaiting them in the shadows.
Directed by S. Craig ZahlerCast Mel Gibson, Vince Vaughn, Tory Kittles, Michael Jai White, Thomas KretschmannAmazon Prime VideoFreeveeMore details on IMDb → -
12
Graveyard
crime · drama · mystery · thriller
Police Commissioner Önem leads a special investigations unit that solves tough cases involving violence against women.
Directed by Abdullah Oguz, Ömer BaykulCast Birce Akalay, Olgun Toker, Şehsuvar Aktaş, Hakan Meriçliler, Sezgin UzunbekiroğluNetflixMore details on IMDb →
Wrapping Up
That mix of action, crime, drama, thriller, and even a little comedy makes this list useful whether you want something close to Reacher or just a new show or film with the same tough, fast-moving energy. Titles like The Nowhere Man and Reacher itself anchor the page, while the rest widen the range so you can match your mood. Bookmark this guide and come back when you want a fresh watch after finishing a gritty case-of-the-week run. The page is updated regularly, so the best new matches stay in one place.
Frequently Asked Questions
What makes these movies similar to Reacher?
These picks were matched by tone, themes, and story style using a similarity model trained on plot synopses, genres, and cast — not just shared genre tags — so the connection runs deeper than a simple category match.