There’s nothing quite as satisfying as a well-executed revenge thriller — the kind where righteous fury meets unstoppable momentum and justice is delivered with style, grit, and maybe a little bloodshed. The genre thrives on epic showdowns, bruised honor and characters who simply refuse to back down.
Which is exactly why the arrival of "Sisu: Road to Revenge" feels like perfect timing. In this new chapter, Finnish commando Aatami Korpi (Jorma Tommila) faces off against disgraced Red Army officer Igor Draganov (Avatar’s Stephen Lang), a matchup between two battle-scarred forces of nature. As one character said of Korpi in the original film: “He’s not immortal. He just refuses to die.”
Korpi’s relentless pursuit of payback has us craving more tales of cold, calculated retribution. So here are some of the best revenge thrillers you can stream right now.
‘Léon: The Professional’ (1994)
When Matilda’s family is gunned down because her pops has been boosting drugs from corrupt DEA agents, she seeks refuge with an unassuming neighbour who turns out to have a penchant for hitmanning and horticulture. Léon reluctantly trains her in the ways of a silent assassin, while her 12-year-old apprentice begins to see him as the father she never had.
Oozing both substance and style, Luc Besson's “Léon” is a confident and action-packed thriller that throws together two unlikely yet likeable characters — sure, one’s a professional killer, but a gentle one with a code, at least — into this simple but compelling story of vengeance. Props to Natalie Portman, who, in her inaugural film debut, delivers a mature yet heartfelt performance as the hitman’s young protégé. Plus, special mention goes to Gary Oldman, who plays the unhinged DEA agent Stansfield with an often terrifying lack of inhibition.
Watch on Philo
‘Oldboy’ (2003)
This South Korean noir thriller tells the story of Oh Dae-su, an oafish businessman who is mysteriously imprisoned for 15 years by an unknown captor. On his release, he sets out to find his keeper and avenge his lost years, embarking on a violent journey of discovery that grows increasingly sinister with every step taken.
Revenge movies are often simplistic tales, but “Oldboy” showcases the futility of seeking someone’s comeuppance, with one act of careless cruelty causing a ripple effect of disastrous consequences for so many lives. Director Park Chan-wook holds up a mirror to humanity, highlighting the base, destructive instincts of our nature and what we might be capable of when the chips are down. A haunting, visceral and emotionally draining film that packs a gut-punch ending, “Oldboy” was among the first in a new wave of movies that thrust South Korean cinema into the world’s limelight.
Rent/buy on Apple TV or Prime Video
‘John Wick’ (2014)
Thriller movies are downright hazardous to pet health; just see "I Am Legend" and "Fatal Attraction" for proof. But if you want one man to avenge a murdered hound, there’s only one choice. Gifted from his late wife as a reminder of her, posthumous pooch Daisy is cruelly offed by dastardly gangster Iosef Tarasov, igniting Wick’s solo vengeance tour as he’s dragged into his past life, trading bullets, blades and beatdowns with deadly assassins.
“John Wick” was a surprise smash hit, and cinema-goers loved its standout action and gun-fu, with the choreography easy to follow (no shaky cam here) and thrillingly creative. Fans also loved the intricate and mythological world-building, as Wick further descends into the hellish criminal underworld with each kill. Many proclaim “Chapter 4” as the best in the series, but the first installment gets my vote for a franchise opener that came out of nowhere and delivered a brutally kinetic yet efficient actioner, just like its namesake.
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‘Promising Young Woman’ (2020)
After being haunted by her friend Nina’s sexual assault and suicide, Cassie drops out of medical school and starts targeting men on the prowl for vulnerable women. But after reconnecting with a former classmate and hearing that Nina’s perpetrator is getting married, she sets out to confront all those involved in the crime and subsequent cover-up.
“Promising Young Woman” is an arresting tale that’ll have you reeling from its bittersweet ending, while questioning society’s willingness to protect the male abuser and dismiss their victims. Carey Mulligan plays the would-be victim and warrior in a standout and provocative performance that earned her a second nod for the Best Actress Oscar. Plus, there’s some inspired casting by director Emerald Fennell, signing up likeable Hollywood actors in the predatory roles as a statement against the “nice guy” facade.
Watch free on Prime Video
'Kill Bill: Vol. 1' (2003)
In “Kill Bill”, a retired assassin, referred to as The Bride (Uma Thurman), awakens from a coma after her impending nuptials were brought to a bloody end by a cabal of former colleagues led by the eponymous Bill. Fueled by an all-consuming need for vengeance, The Bride sets out on a quest to bring those responsible for the attack to a bloody end. Tarantino’s love letter to martial arts cinema, “Kill Bill” is all about the style, and while it lacks the narrative chops of the filmmaker's best work, its non-linear structure is novel. - RM
Rent/buy on Apple TV or Prime Video
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