Gavin O’Connor’s The Accountant is renowned for its brilliant action sequences and sharp character work, with Ben Affleck’s protagonist remaining one of the actor’s most impressive roles to date. The film centers around a shady accountant named Christian Wolff whose criminal activities are quickly noticed by the police, forcing him to work alongside a legitimate client in order to throw off the trail. The Accountant is filled with interesting characters and complex dynamics that make it very easy for the audience to invest themselves in this story.

Thankfully, viewers won’t have to wait too long for their next taste of O’Connor’s dynamic filmmaking; a sequel to The Accountant is coming soon, with Ben Affleck returning in the lead role. While this follow-up took much longer to produce than most audiences were hoping for, it previewed to great reviews and should be a suitable sequel to the original story. However, for those who can’t even wait for The Accountant 2, there are plenty of other movies in a similar style to scratch the same itch.

10

Nobody (2021)

Directed By Ilya Naishuller

Bob Odenkirk’s Nobody is another movie whose sequel has recently been confirmed, and the original movie shares some major similarities with The Accountant. The story follows an ordinary man whose home is broken into by thieves, leading him down a dangerous trail of conspiracy that forces him to get his hands dirty.

Much like O’Connor’s film, Nobody works because of how ordinary and mundane its protagonist seems on the surface, just for those expectations to be immediately subverted when the action begins. It features plenty of inventive fight sequences, cementing Bob Odenkirk as an unexpected action hero.

9

The Gray Man (2022)

Directed By Joe & Anthony Russo

While their non-MCU projects often get a bad reputation, The Gray Man is a surprisingly entertaining movie from Joe & Anthony Russo that features a brilliant cast and some truly dynamic action scenes. The story follows two infamous CIA agents who enter a dangerous game of cat-and-mouse when one of them uncovers national secrets that put the American people at risk.

While it’s rarely mentioned among the Russos’ best movies, The Gray Man is a very fun film that has much of the same storytelling bravery and electric performances that make The Accountant so beloved.

8

The Equalizer (2014)

Directed By Antoine Fuqua

Antoine Fuqua’s The Equalizer features one of Denzel Washington’s fiercest performances to date, telling the story of an ordinary man with a violent past who finds himself dragged back to his old ways after witnessing a young girl’s kidnapping.

While their protagonists couldn’t be more different, the similarities between The Equalizer and The Accountant are obvious; from the bold camerawork to the dark, gritty storytelling, these two projects clearly have a shared audience. It’s the lead performances that make or break these films, and both Washington and Affleck really disappear into their roles with full commitment.

7

The Bourne Idenтιтy (2002)

Directed By Doug Liman

It’s hard to talk about modern action movies without touching on The Bourne Ultimatum, which launched one of the most profitable franchises of its time. While there are arguably better Jason Bourne movies, this first installment is the most similar to The Accountant thanks to its grounded, character-driven storytelling and realistic action sequences.

The story follows an ex-spy named Jason Bourne who wakes up without any memories of who he is, leading him down a dangerous road of self-discovery that opens his eyes to some life-changing secrets.

6

Kate (2021)

Directed By Cedric Nicolas-Troyan

Kate is one of the most underrated action movies in recent memory, blending a violent story about revenge and justice with some gorgeous neon-soaked visuals and atmospheric storytelling through the dark underworld of Tokyo. The film centers around a dangerous ᴀssᴀssin who must race against the clock to exact revenge on the criminal who slipped her a fatal poison on her final job. Kate features some of the bloodiest and most creative fight sequences ever, with Winstead’s powerful lead performance giving the film an irresistible energy. Like The Accountant, it’s a film about how far people will go to protect themselves.

5

Kingsman: The Golden Circle (2017)

Directed By Matthew Vaughn

The Kingsman movies have proven to be among the most successful action films of the past decade, with their voguish and often cartoonish portrayal of espionage making for some unforgettable fight sequences and equally memorable characters. The Golden Circle may not reach the heights of its predecessor, but it feels like a perfect companion to The Accountant thanks to its higher stakes and more international narrative. Although The Golden Circle’s mixed critical reception may have killed the series, it’s still an excellent movie that deserves more credit for Vaughn’s slick direction and visionary action choreography.

4

Olympus Has Fallen (2013)

Directed By Antoine Fuqua

Olympus Has Fallen may have a much higher-stakes narrative than The Accountant, but one clear similarity between the two films is their visual styles. The way Fuqua and O’Connor film their action sequences is very similar, valuing energy and realism above all else.

This film tells the story of a Secret Service agent who is ᴀssigned to protect the president following a dangerous storming of the White House by North Korean terrorists, forcing him to put his life on the line in service to his country. It features two brilliant performances from Morgan Freeman and Gerard Butler.

3

The Town (2010)

Directed By Ben Affleck

Six years before starring in The Accountant, Ben Affleck appeared in (and directed) another gripping crime thriller called The Town. The film tells the story of a group of robbers who take a bank manager hostage, eventually letting her go but keeping close tabs on her to keep her from going to the police.

However, during his observations, Affleck’s protagonist falls in love with their victim. It’s a very interesting exploration of crime, justice, and the blurred lines of morality that Affleck navigates masterfully, making The Town one of the best crime movies of the 2010s.

2

Léon: The Professional (1994)

Directed By Luc Besson

Léon: The Professional follows the unique partnership between a seasoned ᴀssᴀssin and the young girl he takes under his wing, exploring how this complex relationship impacts both characters throughout the course of the film. Much like The Accountant, the film is a very in-depth examination of the criminal lifestyle, exploring what drives people to break the law and how far these people will go to protect themselves. While it’s less action-packed than most films in the genre, Léon: The Professional is a very character-driven story that displays excellent writing and even more impressive performances from the entire cast.

1

John Wick (2014)

Directed By Chad Stahelski

Not only is John Wick a perfect companion piece to The Accountant thanks to its innovative fight sequences and grand-scale storytelling, it’s also among the most influential action movies of all time. Chad Stahelski’s film can be credited with breathing a new life into the revenge thriller genre, which has become increasingly popular in Hollywood ever since. The film centers around a retired hitman who returns to his violent lifestyle after his home is broken into by a crime family who also killed his dog. John Wick features some mind-blowing stunts that go even further than those in The Accountant.