2024’sWolfsbrings together Brad Pitt and George Clooney for a crime/comedy, drawing clear inspiration from many other movies like it. The Apple TV+ release sees Pitt and Clooney leading theWolfscastas two fixers, men who are brought on to clean up in the aftermath of violent crimes. This is a classic crime movie archetype that can be a ton of fun to mess around with, and Pitt and Clooney bring their humor and charisma to deliver a memorable take.
Aside from crime and fixer movies, films likeWolfsfeature narratives that rapidly develop with consecutively worsening events. As it builds toward theWolfsending, Pitt and Clooney’s characters continuously unravel deeper layers of a conspiracy, which Clooney’s character is fascinated by. Othermovies will feature Pitt and Clooney in similar roles or movies with buddy cop-like premisesthat match similar comedic tones.
Bullet Train
Cast
Bullet Train: Released in 2022, Bullet Train follows unlucky assassin Ladybug as he seeks a peaceful mission amidst a web of globally connected and conflicting adversaries on the world’s fastest train. The film explores themes of fate and interconnected objectives, creating a tension-filled narrative in a high-speed setting.
In the most complimentary way this can possibly be stated, Brad Pitt is unmatched when it comes to playing mildly daft movie characters. From his early days playing a stoner character inTrue Romanceto his role inBullet Trainto his recent appearance inWolfs, he’s a master at this genre of character.Bullet Trainsees Brad Pitt as a dumb assassin working his way through outrageous fight scenes and insane side characterson a moving high-speed train.
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For those who enjoyedWolfs because ofBrad Pitt’s ability to create alluring chemistry out of thin air or enjoyed the film because of its action and chase sequences,Bullet Traincould be the best option. It has high-octane action developed in the style ofJohn Wickmovies, though the tone is a bit lighter and less intense, offering more dialogue and character work than those films typically do.
The Nice Guys
Directed by Shane Black and starring Russell Crowe and Ryan Gosling, The Nice Guys tells the story of a private investigator and a hired enforcer who team up to investigate the disappearance of a young woman. Set in 1970s Los Angeles, the 2016 comedy thriller puts a modern spin on the noir genre.
Ryan Gosling and Russell Crowe are two of the only actors who can come together and offer chemistry on the level that Pitt and Clooney do inWolfs. TheLa La LandandGladiatorstars are known for their more dramatic roles, butThe Nice Guyssees them come together for dry, witty comedy.Similarly to howWolfsplays off tropes of the fixer genre,The Nice Guysoffers some satire on noir detective storiesset in Los Angeles when a young woman goes missing.
In terms of tone and pacing,The Nice Guysis probably the most similar toWolfs. It’s very dry, leaving a ton of room for its actors to play around with banter.Gosling and Crowe may not have the repertoire of past films to certify them, but their natural first-time chemistry is lightning in a bottle, and fans of this cult classic have been begging for a sequel for years.
Midnight Run
Midnight Run is a 1988 action-comedy film directed by Martin Brest. It stars Robert De Niro as a bounty hunter tasked with capturing and transporting a former mob accountant, played by Charles Grodin, across the country. The film follows their unpredictable journey, filled with comedic and thrilling moments, as they evade both the mob and law enforcement while forming an unlikely bond.
Robert De Niro is one of the greatest dramatic actors of all time, but he’s also an exceptional comedic actor. While the dynamic duo of movie stars inMidnight Runisn’t quite on the level of star power asWolfs, De Niro and Charles Grodin make for an exceptional pairing. It’s an outstanding “unlikely allies” movie about ahardened, comedic straight-man bounty hunter with trust issues and a snobby, out-of-his-depth mob accountant on a cross-country journey. Plot-wise, that’s hard to top.
Like inWolfs,Midnight Runfollows two characters who don’t know each other, forced into a dangerous situation where organized crime members pursue them. It’s incredibly funny, sharply written, and delivered through exceptional performances. For those who enjoyedWolfsfor its dialogue and character development,Midnight Runis an outstanding choice.
After Hours
After Hours is a dark comedy film directed by Martin Scorsese and released in 1985. The film follows Paul Hackett (Griffin Dunne), a word processor in New York City, who experiences a series of misadventures and increasingly bizarre occurrences during a single night out in the SoHo district after meeting a woman. As the night progresses, Paul finds himself entangled in a surreal, nightmarish series of events.
So, Martin Scorsese is arguably the most renowned director of crime films ever, and his only movie to appear here is one of his few non-crime entries.After Hoursis, however,the epitome of the “got lost in New York for a disastrous night from dusk until dawn” subgenre, withWolfsfollowing in its footsteps. It’s a film that exists solely in a pre-smartphone world, where a man goes out for an evening, loses his money, and suffers through every bad thing that could ever happen to someone.
WhileWolfsis a bit more direct, Pitt and Clooney’s characters are working in New York City on a crime that grows progressively worse and more abstract with every step. By the end ofWolfs, it’s still unclear who Pitt and Clooney’s boss was, what District Attorney Margaret had planned, and more. This purposeful confusion is consistent with the spirit ofAfter Hours, and the ’80s classic is one of Scorsese’s funniest.
Pulp Fiction
Quentin Tarantino’s classic tale of violence and redemption follows the intertwining tales of three protagonists: hitman Vincent Vega, prizefighter Butch Coolidge, and Vincent’s business partner Jules Winnfield.
The initial concept ofPulp Fiction, and the idea that’s made it such a prolific film, is that it takes several crime movie archetypes and tropes and merges them together. It’s got the boxer who has to throw another match, the criminal going out with the boss’s daughter, and, of course, the fixer. In the third act,veteran actor Harvey Keitel arrives as Winston ‘The Wolf’ Wolfe, a catchy name with a catchy tagline: “I’m Mr. Wolf. I solve problems.”
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Quentin Tarantino is on another level when it comes to taking classic film tropes and subverting them in fun new ways. While only a small portion of the movie relates toWolfs,Keitel’s performance is undoubtedly one of the most memorable and well-written fixer characters in films.
Ocean’s Eleven
A remake of the 1960 film and the first in a trilogy of movies by Steven Soderbergh, Ocean’s Eleven is an ensemble comedy-heist film that follows Danny Ocean and his friend Rusty Ryan who enlist the help of several specialized con men, safe-crackers, and experts to pull off a colossal heist of three casinos. Seeking revenge against the new husband of ex-wife Tess, Danny begins to tip-toe dangerously between the line of the job and revenge.
Brad Pitt and George Clooney have shared the screen in five movies, three of which are theOcean’ssaga. While the heist trilogy is more centered around its ensemble, the duo have their fair share of priceless moments together. For instance,there’s a scene in the third movie where Brad Pitt’s character walks in on Clooney’s character watchingThe Oprah Winfrey Show. Clooney is embarrassed at first, but they end up sitting down, getting enthralled by it, distracting them on a heist.
For fans of these two movie stars on screen together, theOcean’sfilms are hard to top.
TheOcean’smovies have their serious moments, but they work the best in their comedy. It’s entirely clear that the director and cast had a ton of fun making each installment, as the films are packed with bits and jokes that incorporate the stars' real-life personalities. For fans of these two movie stars on screen together, theOcean’sfilms are hard to top. Excitedly, during press forWolfs, Clooney announcedproduction onOcean’sFourteen.
Butch Cassidy and the Sundance Kid
Butch Cassidy and the Sundance Kid follows the exploits of two notorious outlaws as they navigate the challenges of a changing American West. Starring Paul Newman and Robert Redford, the film combines elements of adventure and buddy comedy, capturing their attempts to evade capture while maintaining camaraderie. Directed by George Roy Hill, it explores themes of friendship and survival against the backdrop of early 20th-century societal shifts.
Butch Cassidy and the Sundance Kidmay not have much immediately in common, but theWolfs’ending pays homage to the Western classic, making it worth a mention. Without spoilingButch and Sundance, the homage is pretty blatant. As for the 1969 Western’s plot, it similarly follows two companions, played byall-time great movie stars Paul Newman and Robert Redford, as gunslingers on the run from an oppressive force of lawmen.
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Similarly toWolfs,Butch Cassidy and the Sundance Kidsees circumstances continue to worsen for its protagonists. The main difference is that this film sports two gunslingers who are already acquainted with one another, and it’s much less comedic. However, Newman and Redford are terrifically charismatic, andtheir chemistry is on par with Pitt and Clooney’s. It’s a must-watch classic movie that still holds up by many modern standards.
The Killer
Based on the graphic novel by Alexis Nolent, The Killer is a Netflix film directed by David Fincher. Michael Fassbender stars as the titular character. This hitman experiences a near-miss on a mission and now must wrestle with his conscience and his employers as he begins to fight against his ways as an assassin.
David Fincher is one of the greatest contemporary filmmakers, and he’s made some of the strongest crime movies of the past few decades. This includes multiple collaborations with Brad Pitt on movies likeSe7enandFight Club, but his movie that’s most likeWolfsfeatures a different lead.The Killer, starring Michael Fassbender,follows a contract killer who believes himself to be exceptional at his work, only to screw up a job and find himself on the run.
The Killeris hilarious in a dry way, much likeWolfs. The film opens with a monologue voiceover scene where Fassbender’s character describes the level of discipline and mental tenacity to set up an assassination, all while preparing a sniper rifle to take out a target. The monologue is abruptly ended by Fassbender going, “Oh shit,” as he misses the shot and kills the wrong person. It’s not Fincher’s best, but it’s a fantastic next-watch for anyone who lovesWolfs.
Burn After Reading
Burn After Reading is a dark comedy thriller directed by Joel and Ethan Coen. The film stars George Clooney, Brad Pitt, Frances McDormand, and John Malkovich, revolving around a disc containing the memoirs of a CIA agent that inadvertently gets into the hands of two gym employees. Their misguided attempts to profit from their find lead to unforeseen consequences and entanglements with CIA operatives.
Burn After ReadingwasBrad Pitt and George Clooney’s most recent collaboration beforeWolfs, but here’s the catch: They barely appear together on screen in it. That’s not to say either character is without their movie star scene partner companions, as Tilda Swinton, Frances McDormand, and John Malkovich are just as engaging in their own ways. Plus, it doesn’t get any wittier than dialogue written by the Coen Brothers.
Pitt and Clooney aren’t in the movietogether, but they’re both extraordinary inBurn After Reading.Brad Pitt plays a dumb guy in what’s easily his funniest screen performance, while Clooney is also hilarious as a slick-talking womanizerwhose life is a house of cards. Just like inWolfs, Clooney’s character is overwhelmed by the suspicion of a larger conspiracy at work, which crucially plays into the movie’s themes and his character’s arc.
WhileMichael Claytonis a far cry fromWolfsin tone, it’s still likely the most comparable movie. The 2007 crime film has been critically acclaimed and is certainlyone of the best in the fixer genre, with Clooney playing the titular character. UnlikeWolfs, which revolves around a murder that’s already occurred,Michael Claytonfollows a fixer who works for a high-end law firm, helping them win cases by committing crimes and dealing with matters behind-the-scenes.
Clooney gives one of the best performances of his career in this movie, and though he isn’t as charming or nearly as funny as inWolfs, he’s even more enthralling.Michael Claytonis a true thriller that invites its viewer into the mind of the fixer as he embarks on a job and its moral consequences. It explores a man desperately in need of money to hold his life together, but whose morality is on the brink of collapse. It’s fascinating, sophisticated, and a must-watch for any fan of Clooney orWolfs.
