Sisu hits all the marks of a great action movie. It’s a period piece (not necessarily a requirement of being a great action movie, but it lends something extra), features revenge against Nazis, carries a Western-style grit even though it’s set in Europe, and has enough carnage to keep you on the edge of your seat. If you’re looking for films with a similar tone, here are our picks for the best movies like Sisu.
What are the best movies like Sisu?
For our list, we decided to focus on movies with similar themes and genres to Sisu. We also decided to leave off the recently released sequel, Sisu: Road to Revenge, just for the sake of giving you some other options. Please don’t come at us with, “Well, this one didn’t have Nazis or prospectors!” We ask you to keep an open mind and expand your film rolodex. Honorable mentions not included on this list go to Nobody (2021), First Blood (1982), and Eastern Promises (2007).
Blood & Gold (2023)
For Sisu super-fans, this film actually checks the boxes with a plot centered on Nazis and gold. Surprisingly, it was released just a year after Sisu, though it came from a completely different studio.
Set in the spring of 1945, as Nazi Germany nears its collapse, soldier‐deserter Heinrich (Robert Maaser) sets out to return to his daughter after years of war. Captured by some vicious SS troops, he was hanged and left for dead. Lucky for him, he’s rescued by Elsa (Marie Hacke), a young woman hiding on her farm with her vulnerable brother, Paule (Simon Rupp), who has Down Syndrome. Meanwhile, the SS unit led by the truly vicious Oberscharführer Dörfler (Florian Schmidtke) is scouring the local countryside for a hidden gold fortune that once belonged to a Jewish family. Heinrich and Elsa’s paths collide with the SS, triggering a bloody showdown.
The Equalizer (2014)
This one gives us Denzel in all his glory. Directed by Antoine Fuqua with a script by Richard Wenk, The Equalizer is a top-notch vigilante thriller that goes down in the action-movie hall of fame. Robert McCall (Denzel Washington), a former Marine and DIA/DCS operative, now leads a seemingly ordinary life in Boston. He works at a home improvement store but can’t seem to sleep, prompting him to spend his night at a late-night diner with some reading. He soon strikes up a friendship with Teri (Chloë Grace Moretz), a teenager we later learn is trapped in the Russian mob’s sex trafficking network. When Robert sees Teri being hit and shoved into a car, he takes matters into his own hands.
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John Wick (2014)
With a killer script from Derek Kolstad, John Wick is an entirely modern action movie with its revamped approach to the assassin genre. Kolstad, who had a hard time getting a script picked up in the early 2000s, finally found success, which put him on the map. He drew from some of his favorite action thrillers, including Alien, Predator, and Die Hard. But the film wasn’t complete without the neo-noir influence of Miller’s Crossing.
Keanu Reeves stars as our deadly protagonist, a retired hitman grieving the death of his wife. When a group of gangsters attack him, steal his 1969 Mustang, and kill his Beagle puppy, a final gift from his late wife, Wick returns to the world he left behind. What we get is a meticulously choreographed rampage against anyone in his path for vengeance.
Aside from the script being tons of fun, the film works brilliantly because of its approach to the violence. While many modern movies (particularly in the blockbuster 2010s era) rely on close-ups and quick cuts to move fight scenes along, director Chad Stahelski, also a stuntman, opted for long takes and meticulous choreography. Like Sisu and the other picks on our list, oof — they shouldn’t have messed with this guy. And they definitely shouldn’t have killed his dog.
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A History of Violence (2005)
Is there anything more satisfying than watching a regular ol’ diner owner take down a pair of killers? Maybe — but not much. Directed by David Cronenberg (that should tell you enough about how this movie is going to go), A History of Violence stars Viggo Mortensen as Tom Stall, a small-town father living a quiet, unassuming life. One night, when two spree killers attempt to rob his restaurant, Tom unexpectedly takes them out, instantly becoming a local hero. But the fame isn’t all good, as the story makes the news and catches the attention of people from a past he intentionally left behind.
Philadelphia mobster Carl Fogarty arrives in town, claiming Tom is actually a hitman named Joey. This puts a real wedge in his idyllic family dynamics. Despite his protests, we soon learn Tom’s got more to him than meets the eye, and his set of physical abilities is enough of a giveaway. Now, Tom must confront his violent past to protect the life and loved ones he holds dear. Like Sisu, A History of Violence is one of those action films featuring someone you’d really regret messing with.
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Inglorious Basterds (2009)
We couldn’t leave this off the list, mainly for the sheer satisfaction of a history-rewriting story featuring a group of unforgettable characters out to take down some Nazis. As a Quentin Tarantino film, Inglourious Basterds delivers precisely what you’d expect from a stylish, over-the-top vigilante-revenge story. We’d also say this one is the most comedic of our choices, which can be nice for lightening the mood of the Sisu theme. Set during World War II, the film follows a band of Jewish-American soldiers, led by Lt. Aldo Raine (Brad Pitt), on a mission to strike fear into the heart of the Third Reich.
Alongside their story, cinema-loving French theater owner Shosanna Dreyfus (Mélanie Laurent) plots her own revenge against the Nazi officials responsible for her family’s death. The intersecting paths of these characters culminate in an audacious climax that rewrites history with blood and plenty of cinematic flair. While we could have easily included Django Unchained or Kill Bill Volumes 1 & 2 on our list, this one earns its place for its perfect blend of dark humor and relentless vengeance. And of course, the heavy anti-Nazi theme.
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How we picked the best movies like Sisu
For our list, we thought about the movies that gave us the most satisfying justice-revenge stories featuring characters who have a far more interesting past than we may have thought. We also considered fan and critic feedback, because there are quite a few vigilante-revenge thrillers that lack substance and rely on spectacle. These picks give us the best of both.
