In his action movie “Kandahar,” director Ric Roman Waugh follows a CIA agent who is on the lam in a hostile foreign country. Along with Navid Neghaban, Farhad Bagheri, Nina Toussaint-White, and other actors, Gerard Butler is featured in the movie. Tom Harris, an undercover freelancer for the CIA, is placed in unimaginable peril while on an assignment in Afghanistan after his name and whereabouts are revealed. Tom tries to flee to a secure location with his dependable Afghani interpreter Mohammad “Mo” Doud while they are being pursued and targeted by armies of Iranian and Pakistani operatives.
With spectacular action and a gripping story, “Kandahar” is a compelling movie without becoming bogged down in its hardcore spy action film roots. Here is a list of suggestions for films that you might enjoy if you’re looking for works that have themes and characters that are similar to “Kandahar.” The majority of these films comparable to “Kandahar” are available on Netflix, Amazon Prime, and Hulu.
American Sniper (2014)
‘American Sniper’ follows Chris Kyle, a Navy SEAL who is one of America’s best snipers, and tells the tale of the horrors of war and its lingering effects. Chris Kyle, who served four tours of duty, becomes an unsung American hero and gains a lot of adversaries after saving thousands of lives. After the battle is over and Chris is reunited with his family, he realises that the war has altered something fundamental about himself and struggles to cope with his trauma.
The action drama movie “American Sniper,” starring Bradley Cooper, was directed by Clint Eastwood. This biographical movie, like “Kandahar,” shows the effects of war in an accurate manner. As a result, “American Sniper” is a must-see if you enjoy the genre and are searching for an action war movie with heart.
Extraction (2020)
The action movie “Extraction,” directed by Sam Hargrave, stars Chris Hemsworth as Tyler Rake, a skilled mercenary. Ovi Mahajan, the son of a convicted criminal leader, is abducted by his father’s foes after becoming entangled in the crossfire of the criminal underground. As a result, Tyler Rake arrives on the scene as a hired gun to rescue Ovi from a heavily protected city. Tyler Rake is endowed with remarkable skills and an obvious killing wish.
Rake’s story is similar to Harris’ from “Kandahar” in that it centres on the defence of another person. Both films also have a foreign setting that they use to further their plots. Similar to each other, both films rely heavily on action to keep viewers interested and captivated. ‘Extraction’ is undoubtedly exactly up your alley if you enjoy action pictures!
The Contractor (2022)
The Contractor, a thriller drama directed by Tarik Saleh, shares the same operative-on-the-run conceit as “Kandahar.” The story of “The Contractor,” which stars Chris Pine in the title character, centres around James, a former member of the US Special Forces. James chooses a task from an unreliable undercover military organisation, which puts him in a precarious predicament after he is unexpectedly given an honourable release from the army.
James finds himself being pursued and hounded after making a difficult choice and is then thrust into a massive conspiracy. With his amazing skills and unwavering moral principles, James, a fellow gun for fire, will remind you of Tom Harris. If you liked the fugitive-like chase seen in “Kandahar,” you will find a similar gripping tale in “The Contractor,” even though both films have their own distinct foundations.
The Covenant (2023)
‘The Covenant,’ directed by Guy Ritchie and starring Jake Gyllenhaal and Dar Salim, is an action thriller about the unusual friendship formed between two men during the Afghan War. After US Sargent John Kinley’s fatal fight with the enemy, an Afghan translator named Ahmed rescues Kinley by carrying him across arduous mountains. Later, after Ahmed and his family become trapped in Afghanistan while being pursued by the Taliban, Kinley learns the man to whom he owes his life is in danger. Kinley risks his life again and goes back to save Ahmed in an effort to reciprocate the generosity the latter showed him.
‘The Covenant’ and ‘Kandahar’ were both released in the same year and share a lot of similarities in terms of their central conceit. The interpersonal dynamics between a non-native agent and his fugitive interpreter are the central theme of both films. Similar to how facing an overwhelming enemy serves as the main conflict in both films’ plots. Even so, “Covenant” differs greatly from “Kandahar” despite packing a similar punch of action and having an emotional core to the plot.
Triple Frontier (2019)
J.C. Chandor’s action thriller “Triple Frontier” stars Ben Affleck, Oscar Isaac, Charlie Hunnam, and Pedro Pascal in the lead roles, among a strong supporting ensemble. Former Special Forces agents Tom, Santiago, William, Ben, and Francisco are the focus of the movie. The organisation finds itself in a difficult financial situation after years of defending their homeland. Santiago “Pope” Garcia consequently proposes a robbery expedition in South America, the home of a notorious drug lord. But as soon as things start to go wrong, problems start to surface.
Similar to “Kandahar,” “Triple Frontier” is a movie about surviving a perilous scenario that is full of twists, betrayal, and unforeseen challenges. Additionally, both films include character interactions that greatly contribute to the films’ foundation.
Turtles Can Fly (2004)
Bahman Ghobadi is the director of the Kurdish war drama movie “Turtles Can Fly.” The movie, which is set in a refugee camp following the 2003 American invasion of Iraq, centres on a little boy named Satellite who gathers a group of children to clear unexploded American minefields in exchange for selling them on the illicit market. Agrin, traumatised by the inhumane raid on her home, soon makes her way to the camp with her brothers Hengov and Riga. Besotted by Agrin, Satellite searches for ways for his society to follow the war’s developments as it unfolds. If you found ‘Kandahar’s’ portrayal of the horrors of war as experienced by refugees moving, you will like this film’s in-depth investigation of the same.
War Machine (2017)
In the Netflix comedy-drama “War Machine,” directed by David Michôd, Brad Pitt plays the title character. The movie is about the war in Afghanistan and follows a U.S. army General named Glen McMahon as he attempts to deal with the less-than-ideal circumstances of a protracted conflict. McMahon sets off on an impossible trip in an effort to “win” a war that his peers mostly believe is unwinnable. Similar to “Kandahar,” “War Machine” takes a sobering look at war and tries to bring forth its evil undertones. Fans of the action-packed “Kandahar” may relate to the themes in this film, despite how drastically different they are from it.
