Bob Odenkirk returns as Hutch in Nobody 2, a mild-mannered family man with a past as an assassin. In 2021’s Nobody, Hutch is forced back into action after a crime lord threatens his family.
In Nobody 2, Hutch’s family vacation is interrupted when he finds himself caught in the crosshairs of local corruption and a violent boss. If you love this type of family man with a secret past, there are lots of films that scratch this itch. We have eight excellent suggestions.
Wrath Of Man (2021)
If you love a crime-action film, you won’t do wrong with a Jason Statham film. Directed by Guy Ritchie, Wrath of Man follows a mysterious man working at a cash truck company. The new employee responsible for moving hundreds of millions of dollars around LA but surprises his colleagues when he unleashes new skills during a robbery.
Like the Nobody films, Wrath of Man also features a seemingly normal man who has a secret past and can more than hold his own against violent thugs. Both films also share DNA in their brutal fight scenes. While the Statham/ Ritchie collab is more violent and less character-focused, fans of revenge-driven action will love the multi-layered plot and fight choreography. If you’re a Jason Statham fan, there are plenty of other roles where he plays a similar reluctant hero, most notably in the recent The Beekeeper.
Man On Fire (2004)
The Denzel Washington-led Tony Scott film follows an alcoholic former CIA officer who goes on a violent revenge spree when the nine-year-old he now works as a bodyguard for is kidnapped.
Man on Fire and Nobody 2 both feature lead characters with hidden pasts on the warpath after their loved ones are threatened. Both films have very similar DNAs with one centered on a child being kidnapped and the other based on a home invasion. The outcome for both events is a man going on a targeted and violent campaign.
The Equalizer (2014)
The Equalizer may just be the ultimate every man with a hidden, violent past and paved the way for films like Nobody to be made. The Denzel Washington film and its sequels follows a former DIA officer who reluctantly springs back into action when it comes to protecting young women.
Washington’s well-choregraphed hand-to-hand combat was clearly an inspiration for Odenkirk in Nobody. If you are looking to watch a film about a skilled assassin coming out of retirement to protect the innocent, The Equalizer and Nobody 2 make the perfect double bill.
True Lies (1994)
Another classic family man with a hidden profession in the CIA, is Arnie’s True Lies. Arnold Schwarzenegger’s Harry Tasker is a government agent trying to live a double life and conceal his true profession from his family (a memorable performance from Jamie Lee Curtis).
There is no better watch if you like the double life trope than True Lies, especially of you are looking for something a little funnier. The Schwarzenegger is essentially a parody of the genre the spy genre, but it’s genuinely one of the best action films of the 1990s.
Old Henry (2021)
Tim Blake Nelson plays the titular character in this western action film. Henry is a seemingly subdued farmer who has outrun his past until an injured man with a satchel of cash arrives. Defending a siege of his homestead, this farmer reveals his secret gunslinging skills when his life is threatened.
Old Henry is a western take on the genre of nice man with hidden past. The film uses its alternate-history Western setting to follow the classic trope. Rather than focusing on vengeance like Nobody 2, Old Henry is more concerned with redemption and forgiveness.
Red (2010)
Red follows Bruce Willis’ former black-ops agent is forced to reunite with his old team to capture an assassin. With an all-star cast featuring Morgan Freeman, John Malkovich, Helen Mirren and Karl Urban, it’s a delight to see older stars misbehave with fast cars and weapons. Red is the perfect mix of playful action with witty dialogue, all delivered with a self-aware nod to the genre.
Red shares Nobody 2’s lead of aging assassin trying to escape the world of violence but failing when his life is under threat. Odenkirk’s performance in the two action flicks clearly takes inspiration from Willis’ on-screen persona.
The Man From Nowhere (2010)
This 2010 South Korean neo-noir action-thriller film follows a quiet pawnshop worker as he takes on a drug and organ trafficking ring in the hopes of saving a child he befriended. Starring Won Bin, his unassuming keeper is quick to unleash his hidden skillset when
Nobody 2 and The Man From Nowhere follow a similar narrative arc with a deceptively ordinary man who reveals themselves to be a trained assassin with a very useful set of skills. It's a top-tier entry into the genre of non-descript guy brutalizes those who wronged him.
A History of Violence (2005)
David Cronenberg’s Oscar-nominated crime thriller frequently lasts on lists dedicated to the best films of the 21st Century. Viggo Mortensen plays the owner of a small-town diner who swiftly manages to stop petty criminals from robbing him. When this makes the news, Ed Harris’ threatening stranger believes he could be a long-lost mobster.
A History of Violence is not quite the same bold action flick as Nobody 2, it’s much more a subdued character study. It is the perfect ‘you messed with the wrong guy’ only with a much more grounded tone. Instead of indulging in the violence of his past, Mortensen’s lead is more concerned with escaping his history.