Long before Keanu Reeves donned the bulletproof suit, another assassin-centric action movie was making waves—and now, it's back in the spotlight. Wanted, the 2008 comic book adaptation that starred James McAvoy, Angelina Jolie, and a young Chris Pratt, has quietly become one of the most-watched films on Starz this week, according to FlixPatrol. The resurgence comes as the movie approaches its 20th anniversary and fans of the John Wick franchise eagerly await its fifth installment.
Directed by Timur Bekmambetov, Wanted was a stylish, over-the-top thrill ride that followed a meek office worker (McAvoy) who discovers he's the son of a legendary assassin and heir to a secret society that carries out hits based on instructions woven into fabric. The film's signature move—curving bullets mid-flight—became an instant visual icon, drawing comparisons to The Matrix and setting a new bar for action choreography.
For Chris Pratt, Wanted was a pivotal early role, coming before his rise to stardom in Guardians of the Galaxy and Jurassic World. He played a small but memorable part in the film, which also featured Morgan Freeman as the enigmatic leader of the Fraternity. Pratt's career has since taken him to action-heavy projects like The Terminal List, which recently returned for a second season after a four-year hiatus, and he's now a household name in the genre.
The movie was based on a comic book series by Mark Millar, who later created Kingsman, another franchise that found success with a similar blend of spy intrigue and over-the-top violence. Wanted itself grossed over $340 million worldwide on a $75 million budget, and while a sequel was discussed, it never materialized. Instead, the film developed a devoted cult following, and its recent streaming numbers suggest that audience is still hungry for its particular brand of chaos.
Critics were largely on board, with Wanted holding a 71% "Certified Fresh" score on Rotten Tomatoes. The consensus praises its "stylish, energetic" action and witty performances from Jolie, McAvoy, and Freeman, even while acknowledging the plot's absurdity. That blend of style and star power has proven enduring, especially as streaming platforms continue to mine the late 2000s for nostalgic hits.
For fans of John Wick, Wanted offers a different flavor of assassin fantasy—less grounded, more comic-book surreal, but equally satisfying in its set pieces. As the Wick universe expands with spin-offs and a fifth film in development, Wanted serves as a reminder that the genre has room for many kinds of killers.
If you're looking to revisit or discover Wanted for the first time, it's currently streaming on Starz, where it's climbing the charts. And for more on Chris Pratt's action career, check out our coverage of his return in The Terminal List and the show's theatrical event. Stay tuned to ShowtimeSpot for more updates on streaming trends and action movie nostalgia.
