As one of the best action movie directors currently working, David Leitch is responsible for many action-packed movies. David Leitch has had a past in stunt work as a performer as well as stunt coordinator. Working on films like Fight Club, the Bourne movies, and Ninja Assassin. Leitch has been credited for being a stunt double for huge stars like Jean-Claude Van Damme, who he has doubled twice for, but most notably being Brad Pitt's stunt double five times. His stunt background led him to be nominated for many awards taking home the Outstanding Performance by a Stunt Ensemble in a Motion Picture at the Screen Actors Guild Awards 2007 for The Bourne Ultimatum. In 1997, Leitch opened an action design production company called 87Eleven, alongside fellow stunt performer, Chad Stahelski.
This all changed however, when Leitch took a try at filmmaking and has since delivered some of the best action movies in recent memory. From the likes of John Wick, Atomic Blonde and more recently Bullet Train. So with that, here is how we rank David Leitch's impressive filmography as a director.
5 Atomic Blonde (2017)
Charlize Theron demonstrates her impressive physicality and prowess as an action star, which has since led the actress to many more action-packed projects. While Atomic Blonde's story and narrative may fall a little flat, the stylish action sequences and amazing performances made Atomic Blonde an action movie hit.
The action is crafted to perfection, producing some of the best and most jaw-dropping action scenes in recent memory. The film is more particularly well-known for its impressive seven-minute-long one-shot fight scene in a stairwell. This scene is mind-blowing; the action is brutal, Charlize Theron is at her best, and the cinematography is stunning. David Leitch is a phenomenal action director and knows how to shoot spectacular scenes. In an interview with GQ David Leitch explains how all the phenomenal action in Atomic Blonde was shot.
Set during the Cold War, Atomic Blonde centers around Lorraine Broughton (Charlize Theron) an undercover MI6 agent who is sent to Berlin to investigate the murder of a fellow agent and recover a missing list of double agents.
4 Hobbs and Shaw (2019)
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This Fast and Furious spin-off is a fantastic addition to the now over-the-top franchise, and easily cements itself as one of the best movies of the franchise. Dwayne Johnson and Jason Statham hurl so many hilarious insults at each other, with the majority of them being improvised, resulting in a laugh-out-loud action comedy not to miss, whether you are a fan of the franchise or not. Similarly, the rest of the cast is phenomenal; Idris Elba gave an intimidating, but fun performance as the main antagonist of the movie. Vanessa Kirby hilariously bounced off Jason Statham and Dwayne Johnson as Hattie, the sister of Deckard Shaw. This movie has a surprising amount of side-splitting and jaw-dropping cameos, which only make the film even more entertaining and hilarious.
The action fits in perfectly with the over-the-top nature of the rest of the franchise, as David Leitch yet again directs more exciting scenes. Yes, this is still a Fast and Furious movie, so there are still plenty of car chases, but this movie excels in its hand-to-hand action scenes, as David Leitch allows "The Rock" and Statham to go ham on the bad guys and each other. This movie is filled with Leitch's style, and nowhere is this more apparent than in the impressive side-by-side morning routines of both Hobbs and Shaw.
Hobbs and Shaw focuses around Luke Hobbs (Dwayne Johnson) and Deckard Shaw (Jason Statham) as they must put their differences aside and work together to take down Brixton Lorr, a cybernetically enhanced soldier who attempts to get a hold of a deadly pathogen that could wipe out half of the world's population.
3 Deadpool 2 (2018)
Deadpool 2 delivers more hilarity, and zany action than the first, and with David Leitch's style, the film definitely lives up to its predecessor. While the action in the first Deadpool was memorable and exciting, Leitch doubles down to produce some of the best action in the franchise, with Deadpool's murderous tour around the world set to Dolly Parton's "9 to 5" being a standout scene.
The comedy is gut-busting, with Ryan Reynolds yet again being born to play the merc with a mouth, as well as the film's supporting cast, with the likes of Josh Brolin, Zazie Beetz, and Julian Dennison giving memorable and hilarious performances. But the stand-out scene of the film, includes Terry Crews, Bill Skarsgard, Lewis Tan, and Rob Delaney, as we finally see the much-anticipated live-action version of X-Force. We witness X-Force parachute out of a plane before all of them get picked off, one-by-one in truly horrific ways; all of these is before they even land on the ground. But the best gag in the scene is a blink-and-you'll-miss-it cameo from one Brad Pitt as Vanisher.
Deadpool (Ryan Reynolds) takes on a fatherly role as he protects a young mutant named Russell (Julian Dennison) from both the authorities and a time-traveling superhero known as Cable (Josh Brolin). However, we soon learn that the mutant Deadpool is protecting is responsible for a future apocalyptic event that wipes out all of mutant kind, including Cables family.
2 Bullet Train (2022)
With a fantastic ensemble cast, sidesplitting comedy, jaw-dropping action, and an awesome soundtrack, Bullet Train is one of the best action movies of 2022. This action comedy is jam-packed with David Leitch's style, mixing together styles similar to Guy Ritchie and Edgar Wright. Bullet Train feels fairly similar to that of Smokin' Aces, and fans of that film will have a great time with this action-comedy.
The cast in this film is impeccable, with Brad Pitt, Aaron Taylor-Johnson, Brian Tyree Henry, Joey King, Hiroyuki Sanada, and Sandra Bullock, just to name a few, not to mention the amazing cameos scattered throughout the film. Similarly, the characters of the film are incredibly enjoyable, sporting interesting backstories and awesome title cards as every new character is introduced, which only adds to the frenetic and fun nature of the film. David Leitch yet again delivers spectacular action scenes; while they all primarily take place on a train, Leitch manages to make every fight scene unique, especially with his amazing music chooses.
Bullet Train follows Ladybug (Brad Pitt), who after a simple grab-and-go mission gets horribly complicated, ends up getting stuck on a bullet train filled with deadly assassins, whose final stop is to meet the head of a deadly criminal gang, known only as The White Death.
1 John Wick (2014)
As Leitch's directorial debut, alongside co-director Chad Stahelski, John Wick was groundbreaking and paved the way for a new generation of action movies. This stylized action extravaganza quickly became of the best modern action movies, and cemented itself as among the best in the genre. While Leitch's name isn't anywhere on the film except for being a producer, Leitch certainly did have a hand in directing this action epic.
The action in this movie is truly phenomenal, because of the brutal choreography, explosive and exciting gun-fu, and beautiful cinematography. However, the action would not be as believable or as entertaining without the legendary Keanu Reeves in the lead role, performing 75% of his own stunts, and selling every single fight scene. John Wick is a film and a franchise that has to be seen to be believed, due to its engaging world-building and of course, its breathtaking action.
After the death of his wife, retired assassin, John Wick (Keanu Reeves) receives a dog as a gift from his wife before she dies. But when three criminals decide to break into his home, take his car and kill his dog, John turns back to the life which he previously left and seeks out his revenge as "The Baba yaga".