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The Best 13 Movies Similar to Sicario that Are Worth Watching

While streaming Sicario from Amazon, I learned a couple of things.  

  • If I am visiting Mexico and someone mentions to me the word “sicario”, I should immediately turn the other way and get out of there as fast as I can.
  • Sicario means hitman in Spanish.  

Sicario, starring Josh Brolin, Benicio Del Toro, and Emily Blunt, is a film about how the United States government circumvents a few of the laws while fighting the war on drugs in Mexico. At times, the film can be a bit hard to follow as you aren’t quite certain if there is a “good side” to root for in the film, as there is a lot of killing and Mexican drug cartel scheming.

sicario

Movies Similar to Sicario

Denis Villeneuve’s Sicario does, however, provide you a good idea of just how things can operate in Mexico as everything is hardly ever on the up and up. On the bright side of things, my wife has been after me to take an all-inclusive trip to a resort in Mexico for a couple of years now. I believe this movie might have deterred her nagging persuading for at least a little while.  

While I enjoyed the Sicario franchise, there are other similar films out there that I have liked just as much if not more. I say “similar” because no two movies are exactly alike. (In fact, even remakes usually differ quite a bit from one to the other.) But here are 13 movies like Sicario that I believe you will appreciate if you were pleased with the screenplay by Taylor Sheridan and Denis Villeneuve’s Sicario.

Training Day (2001) 

movies like sicario - training day

Just like Emily Blunt’s character was partnered up with people she couldn’t trust fully, Ethan Hawke’s character in Training Day experienced kindred circumstances. Still, Sicario didn’t have an actor in it that had the star power of Denzel Washington. As Washington’s character shouted out in Training Day, “King Kong ain’t got shit on me!!” Very few people in Hollywood do.  

Where to Watch It:

Training Day currently is not available for free streaming on any service, but it is available to rent on Amazon (among others) if you wish. 

No Country for Old Men (2007) 

movies like sicario - no country for old man

Next on our list of movies like Sicario is No Country for Old Men. There is something about the possibility of finding millions of dollars in drug money that will make even the sanest person consider going to the dark side. After all, the drugs have already been sold and the cash is just laying there to be taken. Just like Sicario revolves around Mexican drug dealers and drug cartels and what happens when you cross them, No Country for Old Men does in a way as well.   

Interestingly enough, Josh Brolin stars in this film as well right along with Javier Bardem and Tommy Lee Jones. Who knew Brolin was going to be such a big star in films? The very first movie I remember him in was Goonies as he was playing the older brother. If you would have told me then that decades later he would be the breakout star from that film, I would have asked what happened to Chunk and Sloth.  

Where to Watch It:

No Country for Old Men is currently available on Starz or can be streamed from a variety of services.  

Breaking Bad (2008 to 2013) 

movies like sicario - breaking bad

I realize Breaking Bad is not a film. But it is one of the best television series of all time. Plus, it shows you just how much money is available in the drug business and how the cartels can really screw up your life if you cross them. Walter White learned the hard way, but he kept on kicking ass the entire time.  

Where to Watch It:

Breaking Bad is available to stream on Netflix.  

Rambo: Last Blood (2019) 

rambo

Del Toro’s character in Sicario has his need for revenge fueled by what had happened to his wife and daughter at the hands of the Mexican cartel boss. In Rambo: Last Blood, you see much of the same thing, however, it is his niece being subjected to a kidnapping/prostitution ring in Mexico.  

While Last Blood is a pretty horrible movie if you are looking for anything more than an action movie, I will admit that I would still shit my pants if Rambo (played by a 73-year-old Sylvester Stallone) arrived at my house in real life saying that I had done him wrong. It is probably the least likable Rambo film and I sure hope he does at least one more to take the bad taste out of my mouth, but if you enjoy blood and guts and seeing how things operate down in Mexico, you will find this movie at least tolerable.  

Where to Watch It:

Last Blood is available to rent on several streaming services.  

American Made (2017) 

american made 2017

I was glad to see Tom Cruise play a different role in American Made than a Mission Impossible type know-it-all badass. I’m all about suspending disbelief, but all of these Hollywood films that have a 5-foot 7-inch guy or 100-pound soaking wet woman kicking everyone’s ass all at once just leaves me shaking my head.  

American Made is based on a true story so you get to see exactly how our government operates in other countries and behind the scenes. They often put ordinary people at risk and then deny all plausibility when they are discovered to be as underhanded as any other country in the world. In American Made, Cruise’s character realizes just how lucrative the drug business can be and begins working with drug cartels along with the CIA. Sounds a bit familiar to areas of Sicario, doesn’t it? 

Where to Watch It:

American Made is available to rent on several streaming services.  

Alien (1979) 

movies similar to sicario alien

Speaking of films that have a tough actress leading the way, Aliens is one that perhaps you should check out. While Aliens’ synopsis is not a bit like Sicario, it doesn’t even happen on earth, it does have Sigourney Weaver who is perfectly believable as a female heroine.

While Blunt’s character in Sicario is supposed to be viewed as someone who is hardened by the world a bit, it doesn’t really come off as believable. However, if Weaver and I were battling it out with creatures from another planet, I would shut my mouth and listen to every word that she said. Plus, even though she is now 70 years old, she is still quite attractive. I would still ask her out afterward for a drink if we survived. I might even pick up the bill.  

Where to Watch It:

If you currently have HBO’s streaming app, Alien is available to be viewed. If you do not subscribe to HBO, don’t fret. You can still rent it from various streaming channels.  

The Mule (2018) 

the mule

Clint Eastwood keeps on getting better with age. He might as well have direct access to my bank account because I will watch any film he acts in or directs. He can pull off the role of a senior citizen that can split your skull or something a bit more on the humorous side as he did with The Mule. This film focuses more on the lighter side of drug dealing and is also based on a true story. Eastwood directed it as well.  

Where to Watch It:

Luckily for you, if you have the HBO app and have a subscription in place, you can view The Mule anytime you wish.  

Capricorn One (1978) 

capricorn one

Ever have the feeling that the government is less than honest with the American people? Some will call these feelings simply a conspiracy theory. But it is not a theory if it has been proven true over and over again. In Sicario, you watch as government agencies do not do things by the book and basically runs outside of the law without consequences.  

Remember when people used to trust NASA? Yep. Me neither. In Capricorn One, the U.S. government stages a phony Mars landing to receive more funding for NASA. How interesting is it that a percentage of people do not believe that we ever made it to the moon nowadays? This film could be based in reality more than we think. Elliott Gould stars as a reporter that is bent on cracking this case. Amazingly, Josh Brolin’s father, James Brolin, plays one of the astronauts in this film along with Sam Waterston and O.J. Simpson. Yes. That O.J. Simpson.  

Where to Watch It:

Capricorn One can be rented on Amazon if you are interested in seeing how the government can pull one over on its citizens. For those that believe the moon landing to be fake, this could be right up your alley.  

Traffic (2000) 

movies similar to sicario traffic

Another film starring Benicio Del Toro, Traffic walked away from the 2000 Academy Awards with a whole lot of recognition from the movie industry. Traffic focuses on how the drug war is affecting both Mexico and the people in the United States.

Many of them are ordinary citizens that you would not originally think could be caught up in the effects of the issues with drugs and the cartel. It is also amazing to see how much Michael Douglas has aged since then. Pretty soon he will somehow catch up to his father Kirk Douglas in age who seems to be coming close to 150 years old now.  

Where to Watch It:

Traffic is currently available to rent on several streaming services.  

Cartel Land (2015) 

Cartel Land

Rather than watch a film based on fiction or fitted for the big screen based on a few events that happened in real life, it might be a better idea to actually watch a great documentary about the difficulties with stopping the drugs coming from Mexico and across the border into the United States.

Cartel Land is absolutely real. The filmmakers were unsure if they would come out of some of these situations alive. Make no mistake, there are no Hollywood actors in this documentary. It is about as real as real can be.  

Where to Watch It:

Cartel Land can be rented on various streaming apps and is available to watch on Hulu and Netflix with a subscription.  

John Wick (2014) 

movies similar to sicario john wick

You might be wondering how John Wick is similar to Sicario. Del Toro’s character is driven by revenge just right Keanu Reeves’ character. The difference is one had his family murdered and the other had his dog killed. To tell you the truth, I don’t blame John Wick for wanting to kill everyone involved with the death of his dog. I would consider doing the same thing. You don’t mess around with another man’s puppy.  

Where to Watch It:

John Wick is available to be rented on several streaming services. The great thing is that if you love the movie, there are two other Wick films you can watch immediately after.  

Death Wish (1974) 

movies like sicario - death wish

There are very few actors that are intimidating on-screen than Charles Bronson was. If you enjoy movies where someone is seeking revenge against some thugs (and basically the world around them), Death Wish is a must-watch. I’m not talking about the horrible politically correct Death Wish starring Bruce Willis either.

Avoid that one at all costs. Interestingly enough, Sylvester Stallone wanted to do a remake a decade earlier but the film never got off the ground. Too bad. Stallone could have been perfect in the role of someone who just does not give a damn anymore.  Let Charles Bronson guide you into a world of destruction as he wages a one-man modern war against the criminal society.

Where to Watch It:

Death Wish is available for streaming on several streaming services.  

Snitch (2013) 

movies similar to sicario

Who here doesn’t have a crush on the Rock? Be you a man or a woman, the Rock (Dwayne Johnson) is just a very likable fellow. There is a reason he has been dominating Hollywood for the last few years and does not seem to be stopping anytime soon. He can do comedy, action, and he doesn’t seem to be like most Hollywood candy asses.  

In Snitch, he plays a businessman whose 18-year-old son gets caught with a package of illegal drugs. After getting handed a 10-year prison sentence because he wouldn’t name names or try to help nab others in the drug business, his father (the Rock) decides to implicate others for him.

It is quite interesting to see the Rock play a non-ass kicking businessman who is in danger the whole film from major players in the drug trade. Snitch does help to point out the inadequacies of our legal system in relation to drug sentences for the youth.  

Where to Watch It:

Snitch is available to rent through many streaming services.  

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