We are preparing a selection of purely male films, where brutal showdowns, tense events and cold-blooded heroes are in the center of attention.
These films are full of brutality, harsh action and tough moral choices, where every step can be decisive. From hired killers to special agents, each hero faces obvious danger and is forced to act consciously in order to survive in a world without rules.
There is no room for unnecessary force here – only tough decisions, bloody battles and charismatic characters whose principles are tested to the limit.
If you love a traditional masculine atmosphere where strength and survival become active driving forces, this selection is for you.
1. The Jackal (1997)
Original title: Jackal
Genre: thriller, action, crime
Audience rating: ⭐️ 7.4 (KinoPoisk), ⭐️ 6.4 (IMDb)
Country: USA
Director: Michael Caton-Jones
Cast: Bruce Willis, Richard Gere, Sidney Poitier, Diane Venora, Matilda May
About what: During a special service operation in Moscow, one of the leaders of the Russian mafia is killed. His brother hires an assassin nicknamed the Jackal to take revenge. The FBI knows that the Jackal’s target may be someone from the White House leadership and is involved in the operation by Irish terrorist Declan Mulqueen, the only one who knows the killer’s face.
The film features an unexpected turn by Bruce Willis as a cold-blooded killer. The tense story of the confrontation between the Jackal and the FBI, with Richard Gere as the kingpin, is gripping in its dynamics.
Where to watch: Rutube
2. Accomplice (2004)
Original title: Pledge
Genre: thriller, crime
Audience rating: ⭐️ 7.5 (KinoPoisk), ⭐️ 7.5 (IMDb)
Country: USA
Director: Michael Mann
Starring: Tom Cruise, Jamie Foxx, Jada Pinkett Smith, Mark Ruffalo
About what: A taxi driver finds himself hostage when a hitman gets into his car and forces him to drive him around the Los Angeles nightlife from one victim to another. The new driver must not only save himself, but also stop the killer in order to protect his intended target.
The film impresses with a cold and merciless performance by Tom Cruise, who is not a hero here, but a ruthless killer. The action takes place over a single night, with a tense standoff between Cruise and Jamie Foxx, which creates an atmospheric production by Michael Mann and an impressive soundtrack.
Where to watch: Rutube
3. Shot into the Void (2025)
Original title: Shot Caller
Genre:
Audience rating: ⭐️ 7.7 (KinoPoisk), ⭐️ 7.3 (IMDb)
Country: USA
Director: Rick Roman Waugh
Starring: Nikolaj Coster-Waldau, Omari Hardwick, Lake Bell, Jon Bernthal
About what: After an accident that kills his colleague, successful stockbroker Jacob Harlon finds himself behind bars. In his natural state, he quickly adapts to the rules of cruelty and gains authority among the prisoners. As Jacob plunges into the criminal world, he realizes that his old life no longer exists.
This tense thriller explores self-sacrifice and human transformation in harsh conditions. Without unnecessary words or emotion, the film shows the difficult journey of the hero, overcoming both physical and mental challenges. Nikolaj Coster-Waldau brilliantly conveys the complex inner world of the character, whose actions and motives may not be fully understood by the audience.
Where to watch: Kinopoisk
4. You Were Never Really Here (2017)
Original title: You Were Never Really Here
Genre: thriller, crime
Audience rating: ⭐️ 6.6 (KinoPoisk), ⭐️ 6.7 (IMDb)
Country: UK, France
Director: Lynne Ramsay
Starring: Joaquin Phoenix, Ekaterina Samsonov, Alex Manette, John Doman
About what: Joaquin Phoenix, who plays the title role, won the Palme d’Or for his charismatic and dark performance. His character, a former FBI agent hired by a major politician to bring in his teenage daughter’s invitation, exposes important negotiations and collides with the outside world.
The thriller combines themes of loneliness and war in a manner that is reminiscent of films like Taxi Driver and Drive. Despite the dark atmosphere and a look that is more complex than it is, the story remains fairly simple: minimal dialogue, violence in almost every frame, and a lengthy soundtrack by the Radiohead guitarist create a tense and oppressive atmosphere.
Where to watch: Ivy
5. The Rippers (2007)
Original title: Repo Men
Genre: fantasy, thriller, action
Audience rating: ⭐️ 7.1 (KinoPoisk), ⭐️ 6.3 (IMDb)
Country: USA
Director: Miguel Sapochnik
Cast: Jude Law, Forest Whitaker, Alice Braga, Liev Schreiber
About what: In the near future, artificial organs are available to everyone, but if you can’t pay off your loan, the rippers will come for you – employees who remove organs without hesitation. Remy, one of these rippers, mercilessly does his job until one day he himself needs a new heart. Faced with the same system he served, his life changes.
This atmospheric action film with elements offers a cynical allegory on the modern credit system. Despite the modest budget, the film impresses with stylish scenes and brutal action, the finale to the tunes of “Unkle – Burn My Shadow” and “Moloko – Sing It Back” creates a luxurious, adrenaline-pumping climax.
The picture is composed for a mature environment and highlights social issues very well.
Where to watch: Ivy
6. The Killer (2015)
Original title: Sicario
Genre: thriller, action, crime
Audience rating: ⭐️ 7.7 (KinoPoisk), ⭐️ 6.8 (IMDb)
Country: USA
Director: Denis Villeneuve
Starring: Emily Blunt, Benicio Del Toro, Josh Brolin, Victor Garber
About what: The desolate wastelands on the border between Mexico and the United States are a chaotic zone where a war is raging between Mexican drug cartels and intelligence officials. FBI agent Kate Macer works in the border regions, striving to achieve her ideals, but gradually realizes that the law is powerless in this region.
The film is created by its viscous atmosphere and uncompromising heroes who attract attention with their powerful charisma. Victory Kate faces a choice: to preserve principles or to violate their radial survival, plunging into the ruthless world of drug trafficking and moral uncertainty.
Where to watch: Rutube
7. Killer 2: Against All (2018)
Original title: Sicario 2: Soldado.
Genre: thriller, action, crime
Audience rating: ⭐️ 7.2 (KinoPoisk), ⭐️ 7.1 (IMDb)
Country: USA
Director: Stefano Sollima
Starring: Benicio Del Toro, Josh Brolin, Isabela Merced, Jeffrey Donovan
About what: Tensions escalate on the U.S.-Mexico border when drug cartels begin smuggling terrorists into the U.S. Federal Agent Matt Graver is forced to once again turn to his most unlikely ally, Alejandro, to stop the deaths.
This 2015 sequel maintains the same dark atmosphere and uncompromising attitude, drawing attention to the charisma of the main characters. The film offers another harsh journey to Mexico and ends without result, leaving us to continue the story in a third part, which, apparently, we will never get.
Read Our review of the film.
Where to watch: Kinopoisk
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Source: Iphones RU
I am a professional journalist and content creator with extensive experience writing for news websites. I currently work as an author at Gadget Onus, where I specialize in covering hot news topics. My written pieces have been published on some of the biggest media outlets around the world, including The Guardian and BBC News.
