Movies like Thug Life: 20 to watch next
If you loved Thug Life (2025) — a action, crime and drama film directed by Mani Ratnam — these 20 movies are the closest matches.
The first picks are what fans of Thug Life most often go on to watch; the rest share its genres and themes like gangster, father son conflict and waiting for revenge. 5 of them are streaming in India right now — each entry shows where.
Where to watch Thug Life →·Get picks for your whole taste →
- 1
Code of Silence 1985★ 5.9
Shares: Action, Crime
A Chicago cop is caught in the middle of a gang war while his own comrades shun him because he wants to take an irresponsible cop down.
Not on subscription streaming in India right now
- 2
The Perfect Weapon 1991★ 6.4
Shares: Action, Drama, Crime
Jeff, a young delinquent, is enrolled by his father in a kenpo school, in the hopes of teaching the boy some self-discipline. Years later, Jeff's mentor, Kim, is being threatened by one of the Korean mafia families. Jeff tries to help his old friend, but is too late to prevent Kim's death at the hands of an unknown hitman. Vowing revenge, Jeff takes on all of the families, using his martial arts skills to find the man who killed his friend.
Not on subscription streaming in India right now
- 3
State Property 2002★ 6.4
Shares: Crime, Action, Drama
A Philadelphia gang member becomes a drug kingpin and starts a feud with vicious rivals in his quest for the American Dream.
Not on subscription streaming in India right now
- 4
El padrino: The Latin Godfather 2004★ 7.2
Shares: Action, Crime, Drama
In the streets of East Los Angeles, Manny is a formidable drug dealer. Impressed by his extravagant lifestyle and prowess, his young son, Kilo, yearns to follow in his footsteps. Kilo resolves to learn how to prosper in the drug world, and his new life as a dealer begins. In a world where a man wants everything, he may end up with nothing.
Not on subscription streaming in India right now
- 5
Revenge of the Ninja 1983★ 6.3
Shares: Action, Crime, Drama
A peaceful ex-ninja's life shatters when his son's kidnapping forces him back into violence amid an American-Japanese criminal drug war.
Not on subscription streaming in India right now
- 6
Violent Ends 2025★ 6.2
Shares: Crime, Drama
A man raised in a violent crime family struggles to build an honest life with his fiancée but is dragged back into the criminal world after his cousin’s armed robbery leaves an innocent person caught in the crossfire.
Not on subscription streaming in India right now
- 7
The Forger 2014★ 5.8
Shares: Crime, Drama
A former child art prodigy and second generation petty thief arranges to buy his way out of prison to spend time with his ailing son, only to be forced to alter his plans and commit one more job for the man who financed his release.
Not on subscription streaming in India right now
- 8
180 2026★ 5.9
Shares: Crime, Drama
When an unexpected road rage incident puts his son in critical condition, an enraged father spirals down a dark path of emotional turmoil and vengeance.
Stream in India on Netflix
- 9
The Enforcer 2022★ 7.0
Shares: Action, Crime, Drama
A noir thriller set in Miami, the film follows an enforcer who discovers his femme fatale boss has branched out into cyber sex trafficking, putting a young runaway he’s befriended at risk. He sacrifices everything to save the young girl from the deadly organization he’s spent his life building.
Stream in India on Amazon Prime Video, VI movies and tv, Amazon Prime Video with Ads
- 10
Empire 2002★ 6.2
Shares: Crime, Action, Drama
Big time drug dealer Victor Rosa is looking to get out of the game and sees his chance with a big deal with a new friend who happens to be a Wall St. stockbroker. Thinking this will be his chance to go out on top, Victor soon finds out that he's been double crossed and his last option is to get revenge.
Not on subscription streaming in India right now
- 11
Fast Charlie 2023★ 6.3
Shares: Action, Crime, Drama
When his aging mob boss is whacked, Charlie Swift, a loyal friend and hired gun, will stop at nothing to destroy the upcoming crew that took him out.
Stream in India on Amazon Prime Video, Amazon Prime Video with Ads
- 12
Run 1991★ 6.0
Shares: Action, Drama, Crime
When a law student accidentally kills the son of a mob boss in a fight, he finds himself relentlessly pursued by the mob and the police.
Not on subscription streaming in India right now
- 13
Best of the Best 2 1993★ 6.0
Shares: Action, Crime, Drama
In an underground fight club, blackbelt Travis Brickley is killed after losing to the evil martial arts master Brakus. Travis' death is witnessed by Walter Grady, the son of his best friend Alex Grady. Alex and his partner, Tommy Lee, vow to avenge their friend's death by defeating Brakus and shutting down the fight club.
Not on subscription streaming in India right now
- 14
Ninja: Shadow of a Tear 2013★ 6.8
Shares: Action, Crime
Fight everyone and trust no one: it's the code of survival practiced by martial-arts master Casey Bowman after his life of domestic bliss is shattered by a savage act of violence. Vowing revenge, the fearless American stealthily tracks the killer from Osaka to Bangkok to Rangoon with the help of a wise and crafty sensei. His only clues: a series of victims whose necks bear the distinctive mark of strangulation by barbed wire. Fighting to avenge as well as to survive, Casey must sharpen his razor-like responses and take his battle skills to the next level, even using deep meditation to fake his own death. His target: the sinister drug lord Goro, who is flooding the streets with deadly meth cooked at his remote jungle factory. To prepare for his ultimate confrontation, Casey must finally become an invisible warrior worthy of the name Ninja. But just when his prey is cornered, an unexpected twist shows Casey that his battle is only beginning: he truly can trust no one.
Stream in India on Amazon Prime Video, Lionsgate Play, VI movies and tv
- 15
No Retreat, No Surrender 3: Blood Brothers 1990★ 6.8
Shares: Action, Crime, Drama
Two feuding brothers of differing political views, one a policeman, the other a martial artist, join forces to avenge the death of their father, a retired agent who was brutally murdered by the mafia.
Not on subscription streaming in India right now
- 16
Bunraku 2010★ 5.9
Shares: Action, Drama
In a world with no guns, a mysterious drifter, a bartender and a young samurai plot revenge against a ruthless leader and his army of thugs, headed by nine diverse and deadly assassins.
Not on subscription streaming in India right now
- 17
The Substitute 1996★ 7.0
Shares: Action, Crime, Drama
When an inner-city Miami schoolteacher gets her knee broken after standing up to the school's gang leader, her mercenary combat specialist boyfriend goes undercover as a substitute teacher to take down the punk. Soon he discovers a conspiracy of criminals at work, and must reassemble his team from his last jungle raid to stop them.
Not on subscription streaming in India right now
- 18
The Double 2011★ 5.8
Shares: Action, Drama, Crime
The mysterious murder of a US senator bearing the distinctive trademark of the legendary Soviet assassin 'Cassius', forces retired CIA operative, Paul Shepherson to team with rookie FBI agent, Ben Geary to solve the crime. Having spent his career chasing Cassius, Shepherdson is convinced his nemesis is long dead, but is pushed to take on the case by his former supervisor, Tom Highland. Geary, who wrote his Master's thesis on Shepherdson's pursuit of the Soviet killer, is certain that Cassius has resurfaced.
Not on subscription streaming in India right now
- 19
Silverton Siege 2022★ 6.3
Shares: Action, Crime, Drama
After a failed sabotage mission, a trio of anti-apartheid freedom fighters ends up in a tense bank hostage situation. Based on a true story.
Stream in India on Netflix
- 20
Colombiana 2011★ 6.7
Shares: Action, Crime, Drama
After witnessing her parents’ murder as a child in Bogota, Cataleya Restrepo grows up to be a stone-cold assassin. She works for her uncle as a hitman by day, but her personal time is spent engaging in vigilante murders that she hopes will lead her to her ultimate target: the mobster responsible for her parents' death.
Not on subscription streaming in India right now