7 action thrillers to watch if you loved Welcome to Sudden Death

Welcome to Sudden Death stands as a prime example of explosive action cinema, bringing non-stop excitement and combat sequences to viewers. A remake of the 1995 Sudden Death, this 2020 action flick features Michael Jai White, Gary Owen, and Michael Eklund, among others.

The premise of the movie follows Jesse Freeman, a security guard who must save his daughter during a deadly hostage situation at a basketball arena. White delivers a powerful martial arts scene and dramatic moments. Welcome to Sudden Death blends explosive action sequences with family drama as it examines themes of personal sacrifice and parental stress. The narrative unfolds in real-time, creating fast pacing throughout.

The movie keeps the audience on the edge with its hand-to-hand combat mixed with chase sequences and gunfights. For fans of Welcome to Sudden Death who appreciate its straightforward approach to action storytelling and family-centered motivation, other movies like Die Hard and Taken are a must-watch.

Welcome to Sudden Death is available on Netflix, Apple TV, and Amazon Prime Video to stream.

Disclaimer: This article is based on the writer's opinions.

Die Hard, Lockout, The Raid: Redemption, and four other action thrillers to watch if you liked Welcome to Sudden Death

1) Hard Target

A still from the movie (Image via Apple TV)

This movie delivers relentless action in the streets of New Orleans. The story's premise follows Chance Boudreauz (Jean-Claude Van Damme), a drifter who helps a woman looking for her missing father.

The search reveals a deadly hunting game where rich men pay to hunt homeless veterans for fun. Emil Fouchon (Lance Henriksen) is the main villain who runs this twisted operation. The movie features extreme chase sequences and suspense, and Van Damme displays his martial arts skills while escaping from armed men. The film also includes motorcycle stunts and explosive set pieces.

The director John Woo brings his signature style to American entertainment. The movie blends hand-to-hand combat effectively. Like Welcome to Sudden Death, it features a main lead protecting others from extreme criminals.

Hard Target is available for streaming on Amazon Prime Video and Apple TV.

2) Olympus Has Fallen

Olympus Has Fallen presents a thriller set in Washington, D.C. Gerard Butler stars as Mike Banning, a former Secret Service agent who must protect the President of the United States.

The story's premise follows North Korean terrorists taking over the White House during a diplomatic meeting. The attackers hold President Benjamin Ashe and his staff hostage in a bunker. Morgan Freeman stars as Speaker Trumball, who assumes leadership in the interim.

The movie demonstrates intense firefights throughout the corridors of the White House as Banning utilizes combat skills and stealth to attack the terrorists. The film features patriotic themes and intense action sequences. Like Welcome to Sudden Death, it involves a solo hero fighting overwhelming attackers in a hostage situation.

Olympus Has Fallen is available for streaming on Hulu, Amazon Prime Video, and Apple TV.

3) Die Hard

This action thriller revolutionized the genre with its specific, centered approach. The premise follows John McClane (Bruce Willis), a New York police officer visiting Los Angeles for Christmas, as he battles German terrorists led by Hans Gruber (Alan Rickman), who have taken control of Nakatomi Plaza during a company party.

McClane's wife, Holly, works for the company and becomes a hostage, and he must navigate the building while avoiding being detected by the criminals. The terrorists plan to steal bearer bonds from the confidential vault of the company. McClane uses wit and improvisation to survive encounters with the enemy.

The movie takes place entirely in a restricted part of the skyscraper. Clever dialogue and explosive sequences define the film's sequence. Like Welcome to Sudden Death, it features a regular person thrust into unprecedentedly dangerous circumstances.

Die Hard is available on Amazon Prime Video and Apple TV for viewers to watch.

4) The Raid: Redemption

This movie offers intense martial arts action within a confined modern setting. The story's premise follows an Indonesian special forces team raiding a Jakarta building led by crime lord Tama Riyadi. Rama (Iko Uwais), a rookie officer, becomes separated from his unit.

The building houses risky criminals and drug dealers on every floor. Rama must fight his way through several levels to survive the mission. The movie showcases Indonesian martial art pencak silat in extreme fight scenes.

The film features minimal dialogue, mainly focusing on the action choreographer. Additionally, stairwells and narrow hallways of the building transform into battlegrounds for intense confrontations.

The director Gareth Evans creates a claustrophobic tension throughout the movie. The protagonist encounters overwhelming numbers of enemies while trying to complete his task, similar to Welcome to Sudden Death's themes.

The Raid: Redemption is available on Amazon Prime Video and Apple TV for viewers to watch.

5) Lockout

Lockout blends science fiction elements with prison break action thriller concepts. The story's premise follows Snow (Guy Pearce), a government agent framed for espionage charges.

The President's daughter, Emilie (Maggie Grace), visits a maximum security prison for a humanitarian project. However, she is attacked by violent inmates, and Snow receives an offer to rescue Emilie for his freedom.

The movie includes chase scenes through the prison corridors and maintenance areas. Like Welcome to Sudden Death, it involves rescuing family members from a hostage situation in a confined setting.

Lockout is available on Amazon Prime Video and Apple TV for viewers to watch.

6) Assault on Precinct 13

This movie presents a captivating scenario within a Detroit police station, where Jake Roenick (Ethan Hawke) is a sergeant working at a part of the station scheduled for closure.

A crime boss named Marion Bishop (Laurence Fishburne) is scheduled to be transferred to another facility during a snowstorm, but some criminals and corrupt police officers surround the vicinity to kill Bishop before his trial. Roenick must protect the other civilians and Bishop trapped inside the station as the attackers cut all means of communication to isolate the building. Defenders have limited weapons and ammunition to fight the number of attackers.

The movie features gunfights and physical combats in offices, corridors, and holding cells throughout the precinct. Roenick forms an unlikely alliance with criminals to survive the night-long attack. The movie shares Welcome to Sudden Death's themes of ordinary people fighting professional assassins in confined places.

Assault on Precinct 13 is available on Amazon Prime Video and Apple TV for viewers to watch.

7)Taken

This movie follows a father's burning desperation to rescue his kidnapped daughter overseas. Bryan Mills (Liam Neeson), a former CIA operative with specialized combat training, learns that human traffickers are abducting his daughter, Kim.

Mills employs his particular set of skills to track down the kidnappers through criminal networks, systematically finishing the criminal organizations involved in the trafficking syndicate. Mills runs against the clock as traffickers plan to sell his daughter as fast as they can.

The film depicts tough interrogation techniques and combat scenes in various Paris locations. Similar to Welcome to Sudden Death, it features a protagonist willing to resort to extreme violence to save family members.

Taken is available on Amazon Prime Video, Apple TV, Hulu, and Disney+ for viewers to watch.

These are the seven action thrillers to watch if you liked Welcome to Sudden Death. Let us know in the comments section which is your favourite.

About the author

Mannjari Gupta is a Listicle writer in the entertainment division at Sportskeeda. She holds a Bachelor's degree in Journalism and Mass Communication and brings four years of experience in digital media, having worked with platforms like Pocket FM, Pepper Content, FilmyFiles, and BookGeeks.

Mannjari's passion for her field is driven by her belief that different genres fuel her imagination, enhancing her writing skills. She prioritizes thorough research and ethical reporting, ensuring that her articles reflect factual information rather than personal opinions.

Fascinated by powerful female-led empires, she admires figures like the Kardashians and Martha Stewart for their ability to redefine influence and build lasting legacies. If given a time machine, she'd delve into the Kardashian universe, not for the drama but to witness their ability to transform criticism into entrepreneurial success.

Outside of writing, Mannjari is a trained classical dancer specializing in Kathak. She also enjoys reading and relaxing during her leisure time.

Know More

Edited by Mannjari Gupta