This New Trending Movie On Netflix Just Proves How Much John Wick Has Changed Action Movies

There's a new action movie trending on Netflix at the moment, and after hearing what it's about, it is hard to deny the fact that the John Wickseries has significantly changed the action genre. Originating in 2014, John Wick is a neo-noir action franchise centering on the titular character, John Wick, who returns to his previous life as a hitman after gang members kill his puppy. Although this premise may seem somewhat silly, John Wick has managed to explode into a highly popular action series. Thus far, there are four main John Wick films and an upcoming spinoff, Ballerina.

Because John Wick has expanded considerably since 2014, it isn't entirely surprising that the franchise is still affecting the action genre. John Wick: Chapter 4 came out to incredible acclaim in 2023, and Ballerina is one of the most highly anticipated movies of 2025. However, even then, John Wick's influence has brought along some changes to action films that are just as surprising as they are interesting. It is easy to see when looking at some of the most popular action movies in recent years. John Wick has completely revived the revenge story.

Ad Vitam Is Trending On Netflix - What The Movie Is About

Ad Vitam's Popularity Explained

Image via Netflix

Currently, a French action movie called Ad Vitam is trending on Netflix. Based on its premise, it is easy to see how John Wick's popularity influenced the film. Ad Vitam tells the story of Franck Lazareff, a former member of the French military police who must dust off his old skill for violence when his pregnant wife is kidnapped. Although Franck thought he had left his traumatic past behind, it begins to catch up to him as he is plunged into a conspiracy that is much bigger than him or his wife.

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 Wickwill understandably be the movie that started it all.

John Wick

Created by

Derek Kolstad

Upcoming Films

Ballerina

Cast

Keanu Reeves, Ian McShane, Lance Reddick, Willem Dafoe, Michael Nyqvist, Alfie Allen, Laurence Fishburne, Anjelica Huston, Bill Skarsgard, Mel Gibson, Donnie Yen

TV Show(s)

The Continental

First Film

John Wick

Latest Film

John Wick: Chapter 4

"John Wick" is a neo-noir action-thriller franchise centered around a retired hitman who returns to the criminal underworld to seek vengeance. Known for its intense and stylistic action sequences, the franchise has redefined modern action cinema with its choreographed gunfights, hand-to-hand combat, and intricate world-building. The series explores themes of loyalty, honor, and survival in a secret society of assassins.

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