After watching Jeremy Saulnier’sRebel Ridge, many viewers might look for similaraction thrillers that feature badass protagonists.Fortunately, even thoughRebel Ridgebrings a unique spin on the action genre’s tropes, audiences can find many films that revolve around similar themes. One of these films was even directed by Jeremy Saulnier himself almost a decade beforeRebel Ridge.
Set in a fictional town, theNetflix action moviehooks viewers with its opening scene, where two police officers ram an ex-Marine’s bicycle and seize his money via civil forfeiture. Since the former Marine, Terry Richmond, intended to use the money to bail his cousin out of prison, he sets out on a torrid legal journey to get his money back before resorting to extreme measures. LikeJeremy Saulnier’s other movies,Rebel Ridgenever leaves a dull moment with its action and drama.Not all filmmakers can match Saulnier’s directorial forte, but some films dabble with ideas and themes similar toRebel Ridge.
Gran Torino
Cast
Gran Torino stars Clint Eastwood as Walt Kowalski, a Korean War veteran and retired auto worker who forms an unexpected bond with his Hmong neighbors. Set in a Detroit neighborhood, the film explores themes of racial tension, cultural exchange, and redemption. Directed by Eastwood, it delves into the complexities of aging, prejudice, and the search for connection in a changing world.
Produced anddirected by Clint Eastwood,Gran TorinofeaturesEastwood as a hardened Korean War veteran, Walt Kowalski, who moves into a new neighborhood full of poor Hmong immigrants and violent gang members. Although he initially minds his own business and even despises his kind neighbors, his attitude changes when his neighbors become the targets of gang members.
LikeRebel Ridge’s Terry Richmond, Walt realizes that depending on law enforcement will lead to nothing good. Therefore, he stands up for his neighborsby resorting to clever but non-violent methods. AlthoughGran TorinolacksRebel Ridge’s political depth, it presents an emotionally-charged story that will leave many viewers with a tear or two towards the end.
Gran Torinoalso starred Clint Eastwood’s beloved family retriever, Daisy.
While putting his directorial skills on full display, Clint Eastwood also convincingly plays an intimidating veteran who cannot stand injustice. LikeRebel Ridge,Gran Torinoalso landed in critics' good books and still hasa Rotten Tomatoes score of 81%.
You Were Never Really Here
You Were Never Really Here is a psychological thriller directed by Lynne Ramsay and starring Joaquin Phoenix. The film follows Joe, a traumatized veteran who makes a living tracking down missing girls. As he becomes entangled in a conspiracy, Joe’s brutal methods and personal demons threaten to consume him. Adapted from Jonathan Ames' novella, the movie delves deeply into themes of violence and redemption.
LikeRebel Ridge’s Terry Richmond,You Were Never Really Here’s Joe’s journey to find justice begins with the simple motive of looking for a young girl who went missing. However, the closer he gets to finding her, the more he learns about a dark conspiracy.
Based on an eponymous book by Jonathan Ames,You Were Never Really Herefailed to leave its mark at the global box office. Similar toRebel Ridge, though, it garnered immense critical acclaim upon its release.You Were Never Really Herecan get incredibly violent at times. However, likeRebel Ridge,it uses its action tactfully rather than senselessly.
Blue Ruin
A mysterious man’s quiet life is turned upside down when he returns to his hometown seeking revenge. Proving to be an amateur killer, he ends up in a brutal fight.
LikeRebel Ridge, Jeremy Saulnier’sBlue Ruinalso deconstructs the revenge thriller genre. AlthoughBlue Ruinachieves this in its own unique way and is far more graphic with its violence thanRebel Ridge,the film masterfully raises its tension with its raw and unflinching portrayal of complex human characters.
Similar toRebel Ridge,Blue Ruinriffs on several known tropes of the revenge thriller subgenre. However, the realism with which it captures these tropes makes it disturbingly immersive, forcing viewers to confront the unsettling realities of the protagonist’s tragic past and present actions.
Training Day
Denzel Washington and Alonzo Harris star in Training Day, an action thriller that follows the two stars as Los Angeles narcotics officers. Jake Hoyt is prepping on his first major training day for a promotion as he spends spend a tense twenty-four hours across several L.A. crime-ridden neighborhoods as Jake sees the danger and horrors of the job.
Denzel Washington’s Alonzo Harris inTraining Dayand Don Johnson’s Chief Sandy see themselves as heroes. However, as the ending arcs of both films reveal, they are both morally compromised law enforcers who care more about their self-interests and less about serving justice.
Training Dayis not as linear asRebel Ridgein structure, but itfocuses on similar police characters who walk a thin line between right and wrong, often dismissing the well-being of civilians in their pursuit of power and money. This makes it perfect for viewers intrigued byRebel Ridge’s portrayal of the loopholes in the legal system.
Serpico
An honest New York cop named Frank Serpico denounces corruption in the Force only to have his comrades turn against him.
Based on a true story,SerpicofeaturesAl Pacino as its titular character who is an idealistic New York cop.However, he finds himself surrounded by corrupt cops who are not too different from the ones featured in Netflix’sRebel Ridge.
LikeRebel Ridge’s main character, Terry Richmond, Serpico sets out to expose the police department by going public about their unethical activities. Interestingly,Rebel Ridgealso features a subtle reference to theAl Pacino movie, where the protagonist codenames an informant in the police department as “Serpico.”
Nobody
Bob Odenkirk stars as Hutch Mansell, an underestimated and overlooked dad, and husband, taking life’s indignities on the chin and never pushing back. However, when two thieves break into his suburban home, Hutch declines to defend himself or his family, hoping to prevent serious violence. His teenage son is disappointed in him, and his wife seems to pull only further away - but the incident triggers the underlying rage in Hutch, leading him down a path to become a dangerous man with brutal skills and the attitude to match.
From a thematic and narrative standpoint,Nobodyis nothing like Rebel Ridge because it revolves around a former assassin who decides to return to his life of crimes after an event. However, just likeRebel Ridge,Nobodytakes time to get to its first major action scenes.
Its main character is a skilled fighter, but, likeRebel Ridge’s Richmond, he holds himself back from unleashing his fury. When it does unfold its first action sequences, however,Nobodypresents one of the most realistic and entertaining fight scenesthat capture the gritty and raw nature of real-world combat.
Homefront
Homefront follows former DEA agent Phil Broker, who, after a tragic mission, retires to a quiet town with his daughter. As he faces off against a local drug lord, his past troubles resurface, leading to a high-stakes confrontation as he aims to protect his family.
LikeRebel Ridge’s Terry Richmond,Homefront’s Phil Broker finds himself in some serious trouble soon after he moves to a new small town. While Terry’s troubles arise when two police officers wrongly seize his money,Phil Broker finds himself facing his town’s criminalsafter his daughter gets involved in a fight with a local bully.
Both characters initially avoid getting involved in physical confrontations, realizing the legal consequences of being in the crosshairs of their respective towns' corrupt, influential forces. However, they are forced to put their abilities on full display when things go out of hand.
1973 & 2004
Walking Tall: The Payback
Walking Tall: The Payback (2007) is the sequel to the 2004 film Walking Tall. The story follows Nick Prescott, played by Kevin Sorbo, who returns to his hometown to find it overrun by corruption and crime. Determined to restore justice, he takes on the criminal elements head-on. Directed by Tripp Reed, the film delves into themes of justice, revenge, and the fight against corruption.
Both the originalWalking Talland its 2004 remake are biographical action movies that follow the story of a man who returns to his hometown and finds it ridden with corruption. To bring a new wave of change to the town,he decides to become the sheriff but ends up losing a lot in the pursuit of finding peace and justice.
Although the main character’s approach toward solving the overarching problem inWalking Tallis different compared to Terry Richmond’s inRebel Ridge, he, too, plays the long game by becoming the Sheriff instead of settling for short-term solutions to systemic issues.
2012
Jack Reacher
After a mass shooting takes place, homicide investigator Jack Reacher digs into the case to hunt down the sniper who committed the heinous act. Jack Reacher stars Tom Cruise as the titular character and was directed by Christopher McQuarrie. The success of the 2012 film led to a sequel, Jack Reacher: Never Go Back, releasing in 2016.
Many viewers and critics have comparedRebel Ridge’s Terry Richmond with Lee Child’s Jack Reacherbecause both characters are incredibly overpowered ex-military men who take a stand against injustice. Despite being outnumbered by their enemies, the two characters remain steadfast in their quest for justice, utilizing their exceptional military skills and training to unfold a darker conspiracy.
While Amazon’s TV adaptation ofLee Child’sJack Reacherbookshas better critical ratings than the movies, Tom Cruise’s firstJack Reacherfilm is an entertaining take on the “mysterious stranger” trope.
First Blood (1982)
Given howFirst BloodandRebel Ridgehave several narrative and thematic similarities, it is not surprising thatdirector Jeremy Saulnier drew inspiration from theRambomovie while penningRebel Ridge(viaPolygon). This makes the firstRambomovie the perfect follow-up for those who enjoyed watchingRebel Ridge.
UnlikeRebel Ridge, however,First Bloodis far more violent and features a straightforward portrayal of a character’s struggles against corrupt law enforcement. Both films focus on strong lone warrior characters, butRebel Ridge’s Terry is far more stoic than Rambo.
Rebel Ridge Ending Explained By Director
Director Jeremy Saulnier breaks down aspects of Rebel Ridge’s final confrontation, explaining how the tense action sequence came together.
