‘Atomic Blonde’: This Intense Action Thriller Remains the Ultimate Female-Led John Wick Alternative

One of the most popular action series in Hollywood right now is the ‘John Wick’ franchise. It flourished in a market dominated by sequels and adaptations even though it wasn’t based on a well-known work of intellectual property. The films, which star Keanu Reeves, combine intense action with a convoluted assassin underworld that gets more complicated with each new release. ‘The Continental’, a spin-off that delves into the history of the notorious hotel and was made available on Peacock and Prime Video, is another example of how the franchise has grown.

Since Reeves was already well-known from ‘The Matrix’, the protagonist of John Wick adhered to a well-known action hero archetype, even though the film introduced the novel gun-fu fighting method. Other movies, like an action thriller with a female lead who is eight years old, have, nevertheless, taken more daring chances with their casting. It’s worthwhile to look back at earlier films that set the precedent as John Wick is ready to change its emphasis to a female-led production.

Image Courtesy: The New York Times

‘Atomic Blonde’, the almost ideal female equivalent of ‘John Wick’, is a good example. The movie, which stars Charlize Theron as MI6 agent Lorraine Broughton, takes place in the last days of the Berlin Wall and follows Lorraine as she sets out to retrieve a vital list before it ends up in the wrong hands. The film, which is based on the graphic novel ‘The Coldest City’, has a compelling Cold War atmosphere, lots of action, and unexpected turns.

Reeves’ preparation for ‘John Wick: Chapter 2’ was similar to Theron’s intense battle training, as both actors pushed themselves in physically taxing roles. Despite having a $30 million budget, ‘Atomic Blonde’ made $100 million in revenue. The character’s enduring appeal and the possibilities for female-led action movies are demonstrated by the years-long development of a sequel.

‘Ballerina’ has the potential to build on ‘Atomic Blonde’ success by expanding the ‘John Wick’ universe, demonstrating that action thrillers with a strong female lead can be successful at the box office.

–Farheen Ali