12 Movies like The Raid You Must Watch: We discuss 12 movies like The Raid You Must Watch. Add these well-recommended and highly-rated films to your watch list.
The Raid is the 2011 Indonesian action-crime film directed by Gareth Evans, starring Iko Uwais, Joe Taslim, Yayan Ruhian, and Donny Alamsyah.
The story surrounds a group of police officers who get trapped in a 30-storey safe house that belongs to a drug lord. They must do everything they can to survive and take down the drug lord Tama in the process.
The film is filled with suspense and action and has excellent martial arts fight scenes.
If you enjoyed The Raid, here is a list of similar films you should watch. There is also The Raid 2, the film’s sequel, which I have not added to this list.
12 Movies like The Raid
1. Headshot (2016)
This film shares the same star as The Raid, Iko Uwais, who finds himself washed up on the beach with no memory. He has no time to remember, as bad guys soon start hunting him down. The storyline is weaker than others, but it is filled with action, and you won’t be bored.
2. The Night Comes for Us (2018)
This film hails from Indonesia and is a crime-action thriller starring Iko Uwais. It tells the story of a gangland enforcer who is stuck in the middle of a treacherous and violent insurrection within this Triad crime family.
3. The Matrix (1999)
An excellent franchise everyone should watch once in their lifetime. There are four films in total in this cyberpunk media franchise. The Matrix has excellent martial arts fight sequences.
The story surrounds Thomas Anderson, a computer programmer, who is led to fight an underground war against powerful computers who have constructed his entire reality with a system called the Matrix. The cast includes Keanu Reeves, Hugo Weaving, and Laurence Fishburne.
4. The Man from Nowhere (2010)
His only friend called him ‘the man from nowhere’… Taesik, a former special agent becomes a loner after losing his wife in a miserable accident and lives a bitter life running a pawnshop. He only has a few customers and a friend named Somi, a little girl next door. As Taesik spends more and more time with Somi, he gets attached to her. Then Somi is kidnapped by a gang, and as Taesik tries to save Somi by becoming deeply associated with the gang his mysterious past is revealed…
5. Dredd (2012)
This film has a very similar plot to The Raid but is set in a dystopian future.
This action-sci-fi film tells the story of a cold policeman called Dredd and psychic rookie Cassandra who investigate three brutal murders in a tower block, and they stumble upon a drug den run by a notorious drug lord. It’s bloody, gory, thrilling, and full of action.
6. Ong-Bak: The Thai Warrior (2003)
“Ong-Bak: The Thai Warrior” is an action-packed martial arts film set in a small Thai village. The story follows Ting (Tony Jaa), a young and skilled martial artist, who is tasked with retrieving the stolen head of the sacred Ong-Bak Buddha statue. The village believes that the return of the stolen relic will bring them prosperity and protect them from harm.
Ting leaves his peaceful hometown and embarks on a dangerous journey to Bangkok, where he encounters a world of crime, corruption, and underground fighting circuits. He forms an unlikely alliance with a young woman named Muay Lek and a former street thug named George. As Ting delves deeper into the city’s seedy underbelly, he faces powerful adversaries and showcases his exceptional Muay Thai skills in a series of intense and breathtaking fight scenes. The film culminates in a thrilling showdown as Ting battles to recover the stolen Ong-Bak head and restore honor to his village.
7. John Wick (2014)
Another fantastic film franchise with a driven, compelling storyline and excellent acting. This film is a neo-noir action thriller media franchise created by Derek Kolstad and is centered on John Wick, a former hitman who is forced back into the criminal underworld he’d left after a group of Russian gangsters kills his puppy gifted to him by his late wife.
Keanu Reeves gives a stellar performance, and it’s no surprise this film is a fan favorite for action and drama.
8. Outrage (2010)
Outrage is a Japanese yakuza film directed by and starring Takeshi Kitano. The dramatic story concerns a yakuza henchman who gets caught up in an escalating mob war. There are three films in this franchise, so more to enjoy.
9. Mad Max: Fury Road (2015)
This dystopian fast and furious film has less gun action than The Raid but is still filled with action, suspense, excellent acting, and an engaging storyline. Max, a drifter and survivor, unwillingly joins Imperator Furiosa, a rebel warrior, in a quest to overthrow a tyrant who controls the land’s water supply.
The cast includes Tom Hardy, Nicholas H0ult, and Charlize Theron, who all give impressive performances.
10. Merantau (2009)
Similar to The Raid, this film comes from Indonesia and is directed by Gareth Evans. The story surrounds the story of a young man from the countryside who uses his skills in martial arts to survive the slave trade.
It may not be as action-filled and have as many impressive fight scenes, but it is one to watch to see some of Gareth Evans’s previous works.
10. I Saw the Devil (2010)
A film for thriller-horror fans. This South Korean film surrounds a trained secret agent who becomes obsessed with finding the person who murdered his fiance. Once he finds the culprit, things become even more twisted, and after letting them go, a fierce game of cat and mouse begins.
11. The Protector (2005)
“The Protector,” also known as “Tom-Yum-Goong” in its original Thai title, is a 2005 martial arts action film starring Tony Jaa. The story revolves around Kham (Tony Jaa), a young man raised in rural Thailand who shares a deep bond with his family’s pet elephant, Por Yai. When Por Yai is stolen and taken to Sydney, Australia, Kham embarks on a relentless and dangerous journey to rescue his beloved elephant.
As Kham delves into the criminal underworld of Sydney, he discovers a network of illegal activities involving human trafficking, smuggling, and underground martial arts fights. With his exceptional Muay Thai skills, he confronts numerous adversaries, from street thugs to corrupt businessmen. Kham’s quest to retrieve Por Yai leads to intense and acrobatic fight sequences, including a memorable one-take fight scene that showcases Tony Jaa’s incredible athleticism and martial arts prowess.
Throughout the film, Kham’s determination and devotion to his family’s honor are central themes, making “The Protector” an action-packed and emotionally charged martial arts spectacle.
12. Hardcore Henry (2015)
Hardcore Henry is a science fiction action film that’s quite unique and creative. Henry, a cyborg, is resurrected from the dead in order to save his creator and wife, Estelle. However, he soon learns he is up against a tyrant with telekinetic powers and an army of mercenaries.
It might not be everyone’s favorite, but it’s one to try if you enjoyed The Raid.
Do you have any other recommendations for movies like The Raid? Let us know in the comments.