Combining violence and comedy isn’t new, exactly, but it’s certainly a genre that has been tried and tested inside Hollywood.Nobodyand its sequel,Nobody 2, are two brilliant examples of the way that genre has continued to evolve and change, even as Hollywood has evolved right alongside it.
If you likedNobody 2, the sequel to Bob Odenkirk’s surprising action comedy, then we’ve got five other movies that are worth checking out. These movies all mix comedy and violence to interesting effect, although some lean heavier into one element or the other.
Novocaine (2025)
Jack Quaidhas proven to be a uniquely likable screen presence, andNovocaineis the perfect showcase for what he’s so good at. WhereasNobody is about a regular guy who turns out to have some surprising fighting skills,Novocaineis about a guy with very few fighting skills, but has the advantage of not being able to feel pain. When the girl of his dreams is kidnapped, he decides to use that skill to his advantage to take on the criminals who took her. Light on its feet, wildly violent, and featuring a remarkably game Quaid performance,Novocaineis the kind of movie we should want six of every year.
You can watchNovocaineon Paramount+.
The Instigators (2024)
In part because it was released straight toApple TV+,The Instigatorsdidn’t the recognition it probably deserved. Featuring an all-star cast that is headlined byMatt Damonand Casey Affleck, the film follows two unlikely allies, one a desperate father and the other a thief, who join forces to pull off a heist for money that both of them need. When things go wrong, though, they have to attempt to avoid capture. While it has a sense of real stakes,The Instigatorsis mostly light entertainment, the kind of movie that you’ll mostly find yourself delighted by as you breeze through it.
You can watchThe Instigatorson Apple TV+.
Hit Man (2023)
One of the great undersung movies of 2023,Hit Mantells the story of a philosophy professor who moonlights as a fake hit man for the New Orleans Police Department. When he meets a woman who wants a hit man to kill her husband, he begins to form a bond with her that extends well beyond his persona. Anchored by the remarkable chemistry betweenGlen Powelland Adria Arjona,Hit Manis a lightly philosophical movie that is a heck of a lot of fun. While it has its moments of violence, the movie is mostly a romantic comedy, and a delightful one at that.
You can watchHit Manon Netflix.
John Wick (2014)
The movie thatNobodyis most directly indebted to, the originalJohn Wicktells the story of a retired assassin who finds himself coming out of retirement after his dog is killed. This movie, which launched an entire franchise, is smaller than you might remember, but features some of the most remarkable, and remarkably violent action sequences in recent memory. Just as crucial, though, is Keanu Reeves’ central performance, which is both steely and more vulnerable than you might remember.
You can watchJohn Wickon Hulu.
Spy (2015)
Perhaps the best comedy thatMelissa McCarthyever made,Spytells the story of a CIA analyst who has spent her entire career behind her desk. When the agent she supports is assassinated, though, she wrangles her way into the field for the very first time, and a wide array of hilarity ensues.Spyis an out-and-out comedy, but it’s an exceptionally good one, and maybe the fullest example of her immense comedic talent. Just as great, though, is Jason Statham playing essentially a parody of the characters he normally plays, and a damn good one at that.
