10 Best Movies Like Rebel Ridge

After watching Jeremy Saulnier’s Rebel Ridge, many viewers might look for similar action thrillers that feature badass protagonists. Fortunately, even though Rebel Ridge brings 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 before Rebel Ridge.

Set in a fictional town, the Netflix action movie hooks 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. Like Jeremy Saulnier’s other movies, Rebel Ridge never 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 to Rebel Ridge.

10 Gran Torino

2008

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Produced and directed by Clint Eastwood, Gran Torino features Eastwood 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. Like Rebel Ridge‘s Terry Richmond, Walt realizes that depending on law enforcement will lead to nothing good. Therefore, he stands up for his neighbors by resorting to clever but non-violent methods.

Gran Torino
also starred Clint Eastwood’s beloved family retriever, Daisy.

Although Gran Torino lacks Rebel Ridge‘s political depth, it presents an emotionally-charged story that will leave many viewers with a tear or two towards the end. While putting his directorial skills on full display, Clint Eastwood also convincingly plays an intimidating veteran who cannot stand injustice. Like Rebel Ridge, Gran Torino also landed in critics’ good books and still has a Rotten Tomatoes score of 81%.

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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.

Director Clint Eastwood Release Date December 12, 2008 Studio(s) Warner Bros. Pictures , Village Roadshow Pictures , Double Nickel Entertainment , Malpaso Productions Distributor(s) Warner Bros. Pictures Writers Dave Johannson , Nick Schenk Cast Clint Eastwood , Christopher Carley , Bee Vang , Ahney Her , Brian Haley , Geraldine Hughes , Dreama Walker , Brian Howe , John Carroll Lynch , William Hill , Brooke Chia Thao , Chee Thao , Choua Kue , Scott Eastwood , Xia Soua Chang , Sonny Vue , Doua Moua , Greg Trzaskoma , John Johns , Davis Gloff , Thomas D. Mahard , Sarah Neubauer , Cory Hardrict , Nana Gbewonyo , Arthur Cartwright , Austin Douglas Smith , Conor Liam Callaghan , Michael E. Kurowski , Julia Ho , Maykao K. Lytongpao Character(s) Walt Kowalski , Father Janovich , Thao , Sue , Mitch Kowalski , Karen Kowalski , Ashley Kowalski , Steve Kowalski , Barber Martin , Tim Kennedy , Vu , Grandma , Youa , Trey , Kor Khue , Smokie , Spider , Bartender , Al , Darrell , Mel , Paralegal , Duke , Monk , Prez , Daniel Kowalski , David Kowalski , Josh Kowalski , Dr. Chu , Gee Runtime 116 Minutes Budget $22-33 Million Main Genre Drama Expand

9 You Were Never Really Here

2017

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Like Rebel 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 Here failed to leave its mark at the global box office. Similar to Rebel Ridge, though, it garnered immense critical acclaim upon its release. It can get incredibly violent at times, but like Rebel Ridge, it uses its action tactfully rather than senselessly.

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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.

Director Lynne Ramsay Release Date April 6, 2018 Writers Lynne Ramsay Cast Judith Roberts , Alessandro Nivola , Vinicius Damasceno , Ekaterina Samsonov , John Doman , Alex Manette , Frank Pando , Joaquin Phoenix Main Genre Drama Expand

8 Blue Ruin

2013

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Like Rebel Ridge, Jeremy Saulnier’s Blue Ruin also deconstructs the revenge thriller genre. Although Blue Ruin achieves this in its own unique way and is far more graphic with its violence than Rebel Ridge, the film masterfully raises its tension with its raw and unflinching portrayal of complex human characters. Similar to Rebel Ridge, Blue Ruin riffs 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.

7 Training Day

2001

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Denzel Washington’s Alonzo Harris in Training Day and 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 Day is not as linear as Rebel Ridge in structure, but it focuses 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 by Rebel Ridge‘s portrayal of the loopholes in the legal system.

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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.

Director Antoine Fuqua Release Date October 5, 2001 Studio(s) Warner Bros. Pictures Distributor(s) Warner Bros. Pictures Writers David Ayer Cast Eva Mendes , Ethan Hawke , Denzel Washington , Scott Glenn , Cliff Curtis Runtime 122 minutes Budget $45 million Expand

6 Serpico

1973

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Based on a true story, Serpico features Al 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’s Rebel Ridge. Like Rebel Ridge’s main character, Terry Richmond, Serpico sets out to expose the police department by going public about their unethical activities. Interestingly, Rebel Ridge also features a subtle reference to the Al Pacino movie, where the protagonist codenames an informant in the police department as “Serpico.

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RBiographyCrimeDrama Director Sidney Lumet Release Date December 5, 1973 Studio(s) Artists Entertainment Complex , Produzion De Laurentiis International Manufacturing Company S.P.A. Distributor(s) Paramount Pictures , Columbia Pictures Writers Waldo Salt , Norman Wexler Cast Al Pacino , John Randolph , Jack Kehoe , Biff McGuire , Barbara Eda-Young , Cornelia Sharpe , Tony Roberts , Allan Rich Runtime 130 minutes Budget $3.3 million Main Genre Biography Expand

5 Nobody

2021

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From a thematic and narrative standpoint, Nobody is 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 like Rebel Ridge, Nobody takes time to get to its first major action scenes. Its main character is a skilled fighter, but, like Rebel Ridge’s Richmond, he holds himself back from unleashing his fury. When it does unfold its first action sequences, however, Nobody presents one of the most realistic and entertaining fight scenes that capture the gritty and raw nature of real-world combat.

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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. 

Director Ilya Naishuller Release Date March 26, 2021 Studio(s) Universal Pictures Distributor(s) Universal Pictures Writers Derek Kolstad Cast Paisley Cadorath , J.P. Manoux , Gage Munroe , Araya Mengesha , Bob Odenkirk , Christopher Lloyd , Humberly González , Aleksey Serebryakov , RZA , Connie Nielsen , Paul Essiembre Runtime 92minutes Budget $16 million Expand

4 Homefront

2013

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Like Rebel 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 criminals after 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.

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Homefront is an action and thriller movie directed by Gary Fleder and based on a screenplay by Sylvester Stallone. The 2017 release stars Jason Statham as a retired DEA agent responsible for busting a biker gang boss. After gang members find out he was the one responsible, they attempt to go after him for revenge.

Director Gary Fleder Release Date November 12, 2013 Studio(s) Open Road Films Distributor(s) Open Road Films Writers agustin alessio Cast James Franco , Jason Statham , Winona Ryder , Rachelle Lefevre , Kate Bosworth , Frank Grillo Runtime 100minutes Budget $22million Expand

3 Walking Tall

1973 & 2004

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Both the original Walking Tall and 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 in Walking Tall is different compared to Terry Richmond’s in Rebel Ridge, he, too, plays the long game by becoming the Sheriff instead of settling for short-term solutions to systemic issues.

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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.

Director Tripp Reed Release Date February 20, 2007 Writers Joe Halpin , Brian Strasmann Cast Kevin Sorbo , Richard Dillard , Gail Cronauer , Dell Johnson , A.J. Buckley , Bentley Mitchum , Yvette Nipar , Haley Ramm , Jenny Shakeshaft , Todd Terry Main Genre Action

2 Jack Reacher

2012

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Many viewers and critics have compared Rebel Ridge‘s Terry Richmond with Lee Child’s Jack Reacher because 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 of Lee Child’s Jack Reacher books has better critical ratings than the movies, Tom Cruise’s first Jack Reacher film is an entertaining take on the “mysterious stranger” trope.

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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.

Director Christopher McQuarrie Release Date December 21, 2012 Studio(s) Paramount Pictures Distributor(s) Paramount Pictures Writers Christopher McQuarrie Cast Tom Cruise , Werner Herzog , Jai Courtney , David Oyelowo , Rosamund Pike , Richard Jenkins Runtime 2h 10m Franchise(s) Jack Reacher Sequel(s) Jack Reacher 2 Budget 50million Expand

1 First Blood

1982

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Given how First Blood and Rebel Ridge have several narrative and thematic similarities, it is not surprising that director Jeremy Saulnier drew inspiration from the Rambo movie while penning Rebel Ridge (via Polygon). This makes the first Rambo movie the perfect follow-up for those who enjoyed watching Rebel Ridge. Unlike Rebel Ridge, however, First Blood is 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, but Rebel Ridge‘s Terry is far more stoic than Rambo.

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First Blood is an action-thriller film starring Sylvester Stallone as John Rambo, a Vietnam War veteran who drifts into Hope, Washington, in search of an old buddy. However, he is mistreated by the local sheriff, leading to a violent confrontation that sets off a chain of events, forcing Rambo to rely on his combat skills to survive.

Director Ted Kotcheff Release Date October 22, 1982 Studio(s) Carolco Pictures , Anabasis N.V. , Elcajo Productions , Cinema 84 , Orion Pictures Writers William Sackheim , Sylvester Stallone , Michael Kozoll Cast Sylvester Stallone , Richard Crenna , Brian Dennehy , Bill McKinney , Jack Starrett Runtime 93 Minutes Budget 15000000.0 Main Genre Action Expand