As the only Marvel movie in all of 2024, Deadpool & Wolverine was guaranteed to be a major release. The movie, which ties in Fox’s biggest superhero franchises now that they are both owned by Disney, also promises to be something of a shakeup for a Marvel universe that seems to be in desperate need of it. If you saw the movie and are looking for something similar, we’ve got you covered — not with other Deadpool or Wolverine movies, because that would be a little too obvious, but with other movies that get at some of the same things that make Deadpool & Wolverine such a success. The only superhero movie on this list, Guardians of the Galaxy Vol. 3 has the exact same combination of mirth and heart that makes Deadpool & Wolverine so successful. The movie is a conclusion of sorts to the Guardians, and it really shifts its focus primarily to Rocket as we learn where he comes from and why his past is starting to catch up with him. Few movies of this scale manage to be this funny, this violent, and this genuinely emotional. The Guardians are very good friends, and that friendship is what carries you through all of the absurdity that makes up any entry in this franchise, but especially this third installment. Guardians of the Galaxy Vol. 3 is streaming on Disney+. If you just can’t get enough of Ryan Reynolds, Detective Pikachu is a great place to go next. While Reynolds doesn’t appear on screen (much) in this movie, his voice is all over it as a talking Pikachu in a world filled with Pokémon. The film follows a young man who is searching for his missing father, and discovers that a talking Pikachu is the perfect companion in his quest. For a movie about Pokémon, you’ll be surprised at how deft and light on its feet Detective Pikachu manages to be. This movie is smart, funny, and has a surprisingly engaging mystery. Detective Pikachu is streaming on Netflix. A more romantic movie with a similar sense of humor to Deadpool & Wolverine, The Fall Guy tells the story of a stunt man who retires following an accident, only to be called back into action when the leading man he often did stunts for goes missing. Along the way, he attempts to rekindle a romance he once had with an aspiring director who is trying to make her first major blockbuster. The Fall Guy packs a lot into its running time, but it runs on the sheer charisma of Ryan Gosling, and on the chemistry he shares with Emily Blunt. The Fall Guy also features some genuinely amazing stunt work, which is good, because the movie is above all else a tribute to stunt people and the work they do. The Fall Guy can be purchased on Amazon Prime Video.
The Railway Man (2013)
Training Day (2001)
King Kong definitely had nothing on Denzel Washington in Training Day, Antoine Fuqua’s crime thriller based on David Ayer’s script. Jake Hoyt (Ethan Hawke) is a rookie cop with the LAPD assigned to work with Detective Alonzo Harris (Washington), a veteran narcotics officer. Hoyt will likely get promoted if Harris gives him a good recommendation at the end of the shift.
Within a few minutes, Jake learns that Alonzo does not obey the letter of the law. Alonzo believes he is the law and takes advantage of his power. Jake witnesses Alonoz abuse his power but remains helpless for fear of demotion. The cat-and-mouse thriller culminates with the ultimate showdown of good and evil. Training Day is on Washington’s Mount Rushmore of characters, as his larger-than-life portrayal of a dirty cop led to the Oscar for Best Actor.
Stream Training Day for free on Tubi.
Jackie Brown (1997)
