Netflix’s K.O. (2025), directed by Antoine Blossier, is a gritty French-language action thriller that delivers a potent mix of bone-crunching fight sequences, underworld drama, and a surprisingly emotional core. It follows Bastien (played by MMA fighter Ciryl Gane), a disgraced former champion haunted by a fatal mistake. When the widow of the man he killed reaches out for help finding her missing son, Bastien embarks on a violent journey of redemption alongside hard-boiled police captain Kenza (Alice Belaïdi). Set against the neon-soaked streets of Marseille, K.O. blends intense close-quarter combat with themes of vengeance, grief, and atonement.
If K.O. got your adrenaline pumping and you’re looking for more movies like KO, then you’re in luck. The following eight films—available on Netflix and other platforms—share the same DNA: relentless action, morally complex heroes, and stylishly gritty urban violence. Whether it’s ex-cons on a path to redemption, cold-blooded revenge plots, or intense martial arts showdowns, these movies will keep your fists clenched and your heart racing.
1. Brawl in Cell Block 99 (2017)
In Brawl in Cell Block 99, Vince Vaughn sheds his comedic image to deliver a brutal performance as Bradley Thomas, a former boxer who turns to drug trafficking after losing his job. When a deal goes south, he ends up in prison and is forced to commit acts of extreme violence to protect his wife and unborn child from a sinister criminal figure.
Much like Bastien in K.O., Bradley is a physically intimidating protagonist who is thrust into a world of violence because of his past choices. Both films follow characters seeking redemption while navigating corrupt institutions and brutal environments. If you’re looking for movies like K.O. that mix moral ambiguity with visceral hand-to-hand combat, this is a must-watch.
2. Revenger (2018)
Revenger is a South Korean martial arts thriller about a former special forces operative who infiltrates a remote prison island to avenge his family’s death. The island is ruled by criminals, and the film wastes no time diving into brutal, close-quarters action.
Much like K.O., Revenger thrives on stylized violence and a protagonist driven by guilt and loss. Both films feature characters who turn to violence not out of aggression, but as a form of justice. If you appreciated Bastien’s journey into the underworld of Marseille, this prison island survival thriller will feel very familiar—and equally thrilling.
3. Headshot (2016)
This Indonesian action film centers on a mysterious man (played by The Raid star Iko Uwais) who wakes up with amnesia after being shot in the head. As he begins to remember his past, he becomes entangled with a violent crime syndicate that forces him to confront his true identity.
Like K.O., Headshot explores the thin line between the hero and villain through non-stop action and emotionally charged stakes. Both films are unafraid to show their protagonists as flawed but ultimately redemptive figures. If you’re after movies like K.O. that mix personal trauma with relentless martial arts, Headshot should be on your radar.
4. Avengement (2019)
Scott Adkins stars as Cain Burgess, a hardened criminal who escapes prison and returns to the streets of London to exact revenge on the gang that betrayed him. Told through flashbacks, Avengement is raw, gritty, and loaded with brutal, bare-knuckle brawls.
This is one of those movies like KO. that leans heavily into physical storytelling. Like Bastien, Cain is a character trying to regain control over his life by facing his violent past. Both films feature grounded yet savage action sequences and protagonists who are more than just their fists—they’re men on the brink of moral collapse, trying to hold onto a sense of justice.
5. Sisu (2022)
Set in WWII-era Finland, Sisu follows a solitary gold prospector who stumbles upon Nazi soldiers while trying to transport his treasure across a war-ravaged land. What ensues is a blood-soaked odyssey where one man takes on an entire army using only his sheer willpower and brutal combat skills.
While K.O. is set in the neon-lit crime alleys of modern France, Sisu opts for a gritty, historical setting. Still, the themes are similar: one man against the odds, driven by vengeance and survival. If you’re looking for movies like KO. that celebrate raw physicality and minimalist storytelling, Sisu delivers in spades.
6. Taken (2008)
Taken follows Bryan Mills, a retired CIA operative whose daughter is kidnapped in Paris. Using his “very particular set of skills,” he cuts through the European criminal underworld to rescue her. The film redefined Liam Neeson’s career and launched a wave of gritty revenge thrillers.
Though more polished than K.O., Taken similarly features a protagonist trying to make amends through violent means. Bastien and Bryan are both men with violent pasts who are pulled back into action to protect the innocent. If K.O. struck a chord with you emotionally and physically, Taken is one of the definitive movies like KO you can’t miss.
7. Assault on Precinct 13 (2005)
A remake of John Carpenter’s cult classic, this action thriller sees a small group of cops and criminals banding together to survive a siege on a nearly abandoned police station. As corruption and betrayal mount, trust becomes the rarest commodity.
The urban setting, high stakes, and no-one-is-safe vibe feel very much in line with K.O.‘s climactic sequences, where enemies lurk around every corner. If you liked the sense of escalating danger and shifting alliances in K.O., Assault on Precinct 13 will offer you that same pulse-pounding paranoia.
8. Lost Bullet (2020)
This French action thriller follows Lino, a mechanic and ex-con who’s framed for murder. To clear his name, he must retrieve a bullet lodged in a missing car—evidence that could prove his innocence.
Lost Bullet shares several key elements with K.O.—from its French setting and stylized action to its redemption arc of a protagonist caught between crime and conscience. Both films offer fast-paced, grounded storytelling with explosive car chases and intimate fight choreography. For fans of movies like KO, this is a natural next step.
