10 Action Movies Inspired By Jason Bourne, Ranked

The Bourne franchise includes some of the most beloved spy thrillers and one-man-army movies on the silver screen. Matt Damon stars as Jason Bourne, and audiences first met the character in 2002's The Bourne Identity. He was picked up from the water by a fishing boat, suffering from amnesia and gunshot wounds. At first, Bourne has no recollection of his past, but he quickly realizes he has an unusual set of skills that make him particularly dangerous. In the original movie, we learn about Bourne's origins as he discovers more about his past and his abilities as a highly skilled spy. Later movies expand the franchise lore, and the 2nd movie, The Bourne Supremacy, demonstrates the chilling consequences of trying to leave that life behind. The Bourne movies have a dedicated following. Fans enjoy the franchise for its intense spy-thriller stories, and its influence shows up in numerous other projects. Bourne movies are also known for their stylish yet raw action set pieces. Jason Bourne is a deadly fighter, but he's also human. That framing arguably changed audience expectations, moving away from leads who can defeat scores of enemies without a scratch. 10 Shooter (2007) Shooter shares a thematic link with the Bourne movies and was released during the same year as The Bourne Ultimatum. Mark Wahlberg stars as Bob Lee Swagger. He's a former military sniper recruited by Colonel Isaac Johnson (Danny Glover) to help prevent an assassination. Unfortunately for Swagger, a person at an event he is there to oversee is shot dead. He suddenly becomes the prime suspect in a murder he didn't commit and goes on the run as a powerful enemy closes in. Shooter tells an intense conspiracy thriller story as Swagger tries to uncover who framed him and why. He's not an invincible protagonist, though he is a gifted marksman, which comes into play numerous times throughout the movie. 9 Taken (2008) Image courtesy of MovieStillsDb Taken is a powerful action thriller, starring Liam Neeson as Bryan Mills, a former CIA agent. An organized group of human traffickers kidnaps his daughter, Kim (Maggie Grace), while she's on holiday with friends. Her father springs into action to bring her back by any means necessary. Mills relies on his specific set of skills to hunt the kidnappers and rescue his daughter. He's unassuming at first glance, though we quickly learn he's a combat specialist, and often the most dangerous man in the room. Taken is such a hard-hitting movie because the premise itself is so nightmarish. Mills may be a one-man army, but he's also clearly terrified for his daughter's safety as he realizes the extent of the criminal operation and what they are capable of. The movie also doesn't shy away from showing some horrendous scenes, making Taken uncomfortably gritty at times. 8 American Assassin (2017) American Assassin is a remarkable movie on this list because the filmmakers reportedly spoke openly about their love for Bourne. Per an interview with ShockYa, director Michael Cuesta even said he wanted to create a "new millennial, (Jason) Bourne-type guy." Dylan O'Brien stars as Mitch Rapp. He's a broken man after his girlfriend is killed by terrorists on holiday. He seeks revenge, but his actions draw the CIA's attention, and they recruit him for a grueling training program under Stan Hurley (Michael Keaton). Mitch is tasked with foiling a rogue operative's plan, though that operative may also be linked to Rapp's mentor. American Assassin is a fast-paced action thriller with a gripping conspiracy story. The combat is well-choreographed, and the movie puts its own spin on popular Bourne traits, even if the inspiration is easy to see. 7 Atomic Blonde (2017) Atomic Blonde is a brutal spy thriller starring Charlize Theron as Lorraine Broughton. She's an MI6 spy sent to Berlin to secure a list of undercover operatives in the region. Lorraine teams up with David Percival (James McAvoy), but is never sure she can trust him. As the list is so valuable, multiple parties are after it, and Lorraine finds herself in hostile territory surrounded by powerful foes eager to gain the upper hand. She's a highly trained spy, but she isn't invincible, which makes every encounter feel much more dangerous. Atomic Blonde tells a surprisingly complicated spy story with many moving parts. The movie has a similar theme to Bourne, though it makes the list for its raw, brutal action scenes. One particular encounter in a stairwell is unforgettable as it's shot as if it were a single take. There's no music or wild explosions, and the audience can feel every hit. 6 The Equalizer (2014) The Equalizer's roots predate Bourne, as it's based on an 80s TV show of the same name. However, the delivery is similar, featuring a man far more dangerous than he first appears. Denzel Washington stars as Robert McCall. He's a quiet man with a mysterious past working at a hardware store. McCall befriends Teri (Chloë Grace Moretz), but mobsters brutally beat her. He offers them money to leave her alone, and when they refuse, he springs into action with brutal efficiency, even if it has consequences. Fight scenes in The Equalizer are well choreographed, bloody, and visceral. His extraordinary combat skills immediately prove he's no regular store clerk, and the movie reveals details about his former life as an operative. McCall's story is also fleshed out across multiple movies, and the franchise is still active with new films reportedly in production. 5 Unknown (2011) Unknown is another great action movie headlined by Liam Neeson. He stars as Dr. Martin Harris and is involved in a car accident that puts him in a coma for several days. Harris wakes up, but his world is turned upside down when he realizes the life he once lived seemingly no longer exists. Multiple people in Harris' life, including his wife, Elizabeth (January Jones), appear to have no idea who he is. He starts piecing together what happened, but also learns he's no slouch in combat, with military-style instincts despite believing he is a doctor. Unknown shares similarities with the Bourne movies, including an espionage story. Like Jason Bourne, he's shocked to discover he has incredible combat skills and is surrounded by people who seem to know more about him than he does. 4 Salt (2010) Salt is an intense spy action thriller starring Angelina Jolie as Evelyn Salt. She works for the CIA and interrogates a Russian defector who tells the authorities that an agent will travel to NYC to assassinate the president. Salt's life is changed forever when the defector names her as that agent. Rather than submit herself for questioning, Salt escapes the CIA facility and goes on the run, determined to clear her name. Salt insists she is innocent, but the CIA pursues her as the authorities, and even the audience start to question her loyalties. Salt is another remarkable movie on the list because director Phillip Noyce reportedly acknowledged that spy thrillers had evolved, citing Bourne and Bond as contributing factors. 3 Mission: Impossible III (2006) The Mission: Impossible franchise is a mainstay of the spy genre, though Mission: Impossible III stands out for several reasons. It's arguably the darkest movie in the entire series, showing Ethan Hunt (Tom Cruise) at his most vulnerable. Hunt is an IMF agent attempting to keep his personal life separate from his work. He encounters one of his most intimidating adversaries in Davian (Philip Seymour Hoffman). He's a cruel, sadistic arms dealer unafraid to play dirty to get what he wants. Davian kidnaps Julia (Michelle Monaghan), Hunt's fiancée, putting our hero in an impossible situation. Mission: Impossible III is very different from John Woo's Mission: Impossible 2. The action is more grounded, and Hunt is less of a one-man army as the situation becomes much more personal. 2 The Gray Man (2022) The Gray Man is the most recent movie on the list, starring Ryan Gosling as Sierra Six. He's an elite agent working covert missions for the CIA and comes into possession of an encrypted drive containing incriminating evidence about the agency. Six is reluctant to hand over the drive, and the CIA turns against him. The agency also sends Lloyd Hansen (Chris Evans), another skilled operative, to track Six down. Lloyd's methods are destructive and brutal, and he becomes a constant problem for Six as he tries to uncover what's on the drive. The Gray Man is notably less grounded than the Bourne movies, with more sensational action scenes. Still, the plot about a corrupt intelligence agency going after one of its own arguably follows the modern spy-movie template popularized by Bourne. 1 Casino Royale (2006) Casino Royale marks Daniel Craig's first outing as Bond. Craig's portrayal of 007 differs sharply from Pierce Brosnan's take on the character. He's still a charismatic spy, but the 2006 movie is far more raw and grounded than Bond's previous outings. Bond participates in a high-stakes poker tournament as part of an MI6 plan. Their target is Le Chiffre (Mads Mikkelsen). He's a professional gambler, but he's also a private banker who funds terrorist organizations. The action around the table is intense, and almost as dangerous for Bond as the people he encounters away from it. Confrontations in Casino Royale are scrappy and messy. They feel like desperate fights for survival rather than one-sided battles where the super spy is sure to win. Craig's Bond is also multilayered. He's an efficient killer, but he's also human, and doesn't escape every encounter unscathed. We cannot say with absolute certainty that Bourne influenced this tonal shift for 007. However, it's the first movie in the franchise after Pierce Brosnan's Bond, and it came after two Bourne movies. 007 is still the brilliant spy we know and love in Casino Royale, but he no longer seems invincible. Movie(s) The Bourne Identity, The Bourne Supremacy, The Bourne Ultimatum, The Bourne Legacy, Jason Bourne TV Show(s) Treadstone First Film The Bourne Identity Genres Action, Thriller, Drama Cast Matt Damon, Jeremy Renner, Franka Potente, Julia Stiles, Brian Cox, Gabriel Mann, Chris Cooper, Clive Owen, Adewale Akinnuoye-Agbaje, Rachel Weisz, Joan Allen, Tommy Lee Jones, Alicia Vikander, Jeremy Irvine Character(s) Jason Bourne, Aaron Cross, Marie Helena Kreutz, Nicky Parsons, Ward Abbott, Danny Zorn, Alexander Conklin, The Professor, Nykwanna Wombosi, Dr. Marta Shearing, Pamela Landy, CIA Director Robert Dewey, Heather Lee, John Randolph The Bourne Franchise is an action-thriller series conceived by Robert Ludlum in the novel series. Film adaptations began with The Bourne Identity in 2002, with Matt Damon as Jason Bourne, a man who, after regaining his memories, learns that he was a top CIA assassin, with his former employer trying to kill him to tie up loose ends.