10 Movies & Shows Similar to The Contractor (2022)

Description: Similar to 'The Contractor' in its portrayal of a highly skilled operative navigating a world of espionage and betrayal. Both films feature protagonists who must rely on their combat and survival skills when they find themselves targeted by powerful organizations. The themes of identity, trust, and redemption are central to both stories.

Fact: Matt Damon trained extensively in martial arts for the role, including Filipino Kali and Brazilian Jiu-Jitsu. The film's car chase scene in Paris was shot without permits, using real traffic. It revitalized the spy thriller genre in the early 2000s.

Description: Parallels 'The Contractor' in its story of a former black ops soldier using his skills to protect the innocent while being pursued by dangerous enemies. Both films feature methodical, precise action sequences and protagonists with strict moral codes.

Fact: Denzel Washington insisted on doing most of his own stunts. The Home Mart setting was inspired by Washington's love of hardware stores. Director Antoine Fuqua used stopwatches to time action sequences for realism.

Description: Like 'The Contractor', this film focuses on a former special forces operative using his skills to protect his family and survive against overwhelming odds. Both protagonists are forced back into violent worlds they thought they'd left behind, showcasing brutal, efficient combat sequences.

Fact: Liam Neeson performed many of his own stunts despite being 56 during filming. The famous phone monologue was ad-libbed by Neeson. Originally written as a much younger character, the script was rewritten for Neeson.

Description: While more stylized, it shares with 'The Contractor' the theme of skilled operatives working in morally gray areas during the Cold War. Both films feature high-stakes missions with international consequences.

Fact: Henry Cavill and Armie Hammer did their own driving stunts. The film uses actual 1960s cameras for period authenticity. Guy Ritchie's direction gives it a unique retro-modern aesthetic.

Description: Like 'The Contractor', this features a highly skilled protagonist with military training who operates outside normal society. Both characters use their specialized skills when forced into violent confrontations, blending action with psychological depth.

Fact: Ben Affleck trained with Navy SEALs for the role. The autism representation was praised by advocacy groups. The painting featured is a real work by Jackson Pollock.

Description: Shares with 'The Contractor' the Cold War-era spy aesthetic and brutal, realistic fight sequences. Both feature protagonists who must navigate complex webs of betrayal while relying on their combat skills to survive.

Fact: Charlize Theron performed her own stunts, breaking two teeth during filming. The famous staircase fight was shot in one continuous take. Based on the graphic novel 'The Coldest City'.

Description: Shares with 'The Contractor' the theme of a retired killer dragged back into his old life. Both films feature intense, realistic action sequences and explore the underground world of professional assassins. The protagonists are similarly resourceful and lethal when pushed to their limits.

Fact: Keanu Reeves trained for four months in judo, jiu-jitsu, and gun-fu. The film's world-building created an entire assassin mythology. The pencil scene was inspired by a real-life special forces technique.

Description: While more of a thriller than straight action, it shares with 'The Contractor' the theme of morally ambiguous special operatives working in shadowy government programs. Both films explore the psychological toll of covert warfare.

Fact: Emily Blunt trained with real DEA agents for her role. The border crossing scene used real border patrol agents as extras. Roger Deakins' cinematography created the film's distinctive tense atmosphere.

Description: Shares with 'The Contractor' the theme of a military veteran using his specialized skills in civilian protection work. Both explore the psychological impact of combat experience and the challenges of reintegration into normal life.

Fact: Richard Madden trained with real SAS operatives. The opening train sequence was filmed in one continuous take. Became the BBC's most-watched drama in over a decade.

Description: Like 'The Contractor', this series features counterterrorism operatives making difficult moral choices under extreme pressure. Both explore the personal costs of life in special operations and the blurred lines between right and wrong in national security work.

Fact: The real-time format was revolutionary for television. Kiefer Sutherland won an Emmy for his performance. Many plotlines were inspired by real CIA operations.