Ad Vitam’s rising popularity may come as a bit of a surprise. Despite holding the spot for #1 trending movie on Netflix, Ad Vitam is not necessarily a critical favorite. On Rotten Tomatoes, the film holds a 36%, with reviewers arguing that the movie has minimal plot and a story that feels uneven. Thus far, the film has no audience score. Even with this disheartening feedback, though, Ad Vitam has clearly managed to captivate streaming audiences. A major part of this could be its compelling premise, which feels incredibly similar to the likes of John Wick.

How Ad Vitam Compares To John Wick

How John Wick Remains The Best Of The Best

The most obvious connection between John Wick and Ad Vitam is their general plot. Like Wick, Ad Vitam’s Franck is a man who used to be deeply entrenched in the world of law enforcement and justice, but has left it all behind for undisclosed reasons. However, once someone he cares about is harmed by this criminal underworld, he immediately returns to his old ways in order to save his wife and get revenge. Of course, Wick and Franck’s stories are not the same by any means, but they share common threads: trauma and revenge.

If Ad Vitam is so similar to John Wick, then many may wonder why it isn’t as critically successful. The biggest reason is quality. Ad Vitam may pull on the same strings as John Wick does, but execution is everything. Without a high-energy plot or compelling characters, Ad Vitam struggles to be as thrilling as John Wick. On top of that, John Wick has a very specific style that makes it all the more exciting. Ad Vitam may feel reminiscent of John Wick, but without a strong sense of self, it cannot reach the same heights as its inspiration.

Ad Vitam, Nobody, Beekeeper, A Working Man – So Many Action Movies Now Resemble In John Wick

The Allure Of John Wick Explained

As it turns out, Ad Vitam is far from the only action movie that has taken a page from John Wick’s book. In recent years, movies like Nobody, The Beekeeper, and A Working Man have all showcased storylines that feel akin to John Wick. The Beekeeper follows a secret agent who gets revenge for his landlady. Nobody centers on a regular man who unleashes his violent side when he fails to protect his wife and son from household intruders. Overall, these action movies are concerned with characters who are willing to do whatever it takes to protect the ones they love.

There are many reasons why John Wick’s influence has managed to seep so far into the action genre, but the most important is that these stories are relatable. In general, the action genre provides entertainment and satisfaction for viewers who are eager to see epic fights. However, John Wick goes even further by creating a story that audiences can put themselves into. Viewers imagine what it would be like if their own loved one was put in danger, and can easily relate to and root for heroes like Wick. The action is no longer a fantasy, but a reality.

Taken & The Equalizer Also Definitely Contributed To The “John Wick Effect”

The Future Of Action Movies Explained

In the same way that Ad Vitam is one of many John Wick followers, there are several movies that came before John Wick which likely amplified this need for revenge movies. For example, 2008’s Taken sees a very similar story where a father uses his skills to save his daughter from a criminal organization. Also released in 2014, The Equalizer is another example of this type of action flick. In this way, the action genre’s love for revenge movies has been a long time coming, and will probably last for many years to come.

Of course, not every successful action movie is a revenge movie, but there is little doubt that these types of movies will continue gaining popularity. Even with a low Rotten Tomatoes score, Ad Vitam has managed to gain traction on Netflix. Movies like The Beekeeper also became unexpected successes at the box office. In this way, John Wick continues to have an influence on action movies and their reception. Therefore, the action genre will continue to find new ways to tell revenge stories, and John Wick will understandably be the movie that started it all.