‘John Wick’ Meets ‘Office Space’ in This Bonkers Action Movie That’s Free on YouTube
Polygon highlights the 2008 action film Wanted, directed by Timur Bekmambetov and adapted from the Mark Millar and J.G. Jones comic series, now available to watch for free on YouTube. The publication frames the film as a “bonkers” entry in the action genre that blends the kinetic, precise gunplay of John Wick with the absurdist workplace comedy sensibility of Office Space. The film starred James McAvoy as Wesley Gibson and became a cult classic largely due to its over-the-top action sequences and quotable one-liners, particularly the signature “curve the bullet” scene where characters bend bullets through the air in impossible trajectories. Bekmambetov’s stylish direction combines elaborate action set pieces with darkly comedic humor and satirical elements, creating a distinctive visual approach to the action genre. Nearly two decades after its theatrical release, Wanted endures in pop culture memory, with its most iconic moments—like the bullet-curving sequence—becoming shorthand for absurdist, high-concept action cinema among fans. The film’s availability on YouTube makes it accessible to new audiences and serves as a nostalgia hit for those who caught it during its original release, offering a reminder of early-2000s action cinema’s willingness to embrace spectacle and humor in equal measure.