One of Dwayne Johnson’s most underrated movies,Rampageis an extremely entertaining adventure that makes the most of the actor’s on-screen charm and blends the action and comedy genres in very fun ways. Directed by Brad Peyton, the film is loosely based on the video game franchise of the same name and follows Johnson’s protagonist, an ex-Special Forces soldier, as he’s recruited to bring home a gorilla that’s been exposed to an experimental virus.Rampagehas recently found success on streaming, allowing audiences to discover this story nine years after its release.
AlthoughJohnson never returned for a sequel toRampage,the film represents a very successful point in his career. It was released around the same time as movies likeSkyscraperandJumanji: Welcome to the Jungle, which were both huge hits for the Hollywood star. Thankfully,Rampageisn’t too dissimilar from many of the other entries in The Rock’s filmography- so audiences seeking their next fix of sensational action won’t have to look very far.
Monster Huntermay not be the most critically acclaimed movie in this particular subgenre, but it’s certainly one of the most ambitious and engaging. The film centers around a group of soldiers who are dragged into a world where monsters and humans coexist, forcing them to find a way home while surviving the deadly creatures that are hunting them down. It’s a very straightforward story, butthis simplicity works to the film’s benefit.
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There’s nothing revolutionary aboutMonster Hunter, but Anderson’s stylish direction and Milla Jovovitch’s commanding lead performance make it consistently fun to watch anyway.The monster designs are all interesting, and the story always moves in unpredictable directions. While it’s much darker and less comedic thanRampage, there are plenty of similarities in the way they depict the relationship between humans and dangerous animals.
Dwayne Johnson has appeared in plenty of large-budget, family-friendly movies over the past few years that all bear a similar style toRampage, but Disney’sJungle Cruiseis admittedly one of the best. Following the adventures of an eccentric researcher and her anxious brother in search of a mystical tree deep in the Amazon rainforest,the film is inspired by the Disneyland attractionof the same name.
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While it’sunconfirmed whether or notJungle Cruise 2will happen, there’s no denying that the first movie has been one of Johnson’s most successful properties over the past few years. The story may not be as captivating as some of the actor’s other films, but it’s fueled by the hilarious chemistry he shares with Emily Blunt’s lead character.This lively dynamic helps push the story forwardand allows for several great moments of comedy, elevating the film way beyond the fairly simple narrative on the page.
Much likeRampage, Jon Turteltaub’sThe Megis another large-budget monster flick that refuses to take itself too seriously. The film stars Jason Statham in the lead role, where he plays a deep-sea diver who is hired to protect a team of underwater researchers when their vessel is threatened by a deadly prehistoric shark.The Megreally commits to its exaggerated and cartoonish style, allowing Statham to carry this project on his shoulders with his brazen and stoic action personality.
The Megis one of Statham’s more family-friendly movies and was likely inspired by the films of a similar tone that Johnson was renowned for at the time.The story is extremely far-fetched and hard to believe(much like that of a virally mutated gorilla), but it’s played with a charming sincerity that really allows audiences to invest themselves in the world.The Megmay beJason Statham’s silliest movie, but it makes a nice change from the regular gritty thrillers that he’s known for.
Released in the same year asRampage,Skyscraperis another of Dwayne Johnson’s most implausible and action-packed stories yet. The narrative follows a disgraced security guard who comes across the perfect opportunity to reform his image and protect his family when his wife and children find themselves caught in a towering skyscraper inferno.The film plays to all of Johnson’s strengths as an actor, giving him the opportunity to play a very traditional action hero.
It’s Dwayne Johnson’s wheelhouse, and he thrives in these stories that easily could have been too corny and banal in anybody else’s hands.
AlthoughSkyscraperdidn’t perform too well with critics, it’s still the perfect follow-up for audiences who enjoyedRampage. The two projects are very similar in style, with their exaggerated stories and stereotypical characters that often poke fun at the action genre in general. It’s Dwayne Johnson’s wheelhouse, and he thrives in these stories that easily could have been too corny and banal in anybody else’s hands.
Deep Blue Seaalmost certainly served as inspiration forRampage, not just because of the similarities in their stories, but also because of the very stylish and creative ways these stories are relayed to the audience. Renny Harlin’s movie follows a team of biologists who experiment on the brains of sharks to find a cure for a deadly disease, buttheir experiments quickly turn sour when the sharks begin to fight backand develop new strengths.
Deep Blue Seahas an excellent castthat somehow manages to make this ridiculous story feel authentic and dangerous, which is something it has in common withRampage.Both movies have narratives that seem ridiculous on the surface, but it’s their recognition of this silliness and consequent acceptance of it that makes them so entertaining.Deep Blue Seais a perfect example of this.
While theJurassic Worldseries has developed a poor reputation thanks to its underwhelming sequels, the first movie in this trilogy remains a brilliant example of how to effectively blend action with sci-fi to create something fun and unique.The narrative clearly draws inspiration from its predecessorJurassic Park, following an escaped dinosaur at a theme park for prehistoric creatures that puts everybody’s lives in grave danger.
Jurassic Worldwas followed byJurassic World: Fallen Kingdomin 2018 andJurassic World: Dominionin 2022.
WhereRampagethrives due to its small-scale dynamic between Johnson’s protagonist and the gorilla he’s trying to save,Jurassic Worldsucceeds on a much larger scale thanks to the exceptional special effects and action set pieces that really bring this theme park to life on the big screen. It represents the peak of this sequel trilogy, and whilelater installments may have ruined the story in some ways, the upcomingJurassic World Rebirthis the perfect opportunity to rebuild this franchise.
Interestingly,Rampagewasn’t the first collaboration between Dwayne Johnson and director Brad Peyton.The pair had previously worked together onSan Andreas, which is widely credited as the project that kickstarted The Rock’s action movie career back in 2015. The film centers around a rescue chopper pilot who attempts to rescue his daughter in the fallout of a devastating earthquake on the San Andreas Fault.
San Andreasis much darker and more sincere thanRampage, allowing the family dynamic to take center stage and forge one of Johnson’s most relatable and likable protagonists to date. Despite the huge-scale storytelling,it’s still a very intimate story that speaks to the strength of fatherhoodand the familial bond. Even today,San Andreasis praised for its special effectsand progressive cinematography that helped push the action genre forward.
In addition to the obvious connection of being about huge monkeys,Kong: Skull Islandfeels like a natural progression fromRampagewith its huge storytelling and dynamic action. The story follows a group of military explorers who land on the mysterious Skull Island, where they discover that the local population lives in fear of an enormous ape called Kong. But upon further inspection, the team realizes that Skull Island houses much darker threats.
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Kong: Skull Islandis one of thebest movies in this Godzilla/Kong franchise- despite being the most unique and unconventional. It develops a whole new mythology for the iconic character, secluding him on a tropical island and reframing him as the misunderstood hero of the story. It’s a very interesting take on theKing Kongnarrative, bolstered by excellent performances from Tom Hiddleston and Brie Larson.
It’s fair to say that Steven Spielberg has influenced most of the action/adventure movies that are released today, with films such asJawscompletely redefining the term “blockbuster” through its use of tension and spectacle. However, Spielberg’sWar of the Worldsis another excellent example that deserves just as much credit.The film is an adaptation of H.G. Wells’ formative sci-fi novelof the same name, which follows a deadly alien invasion of Earth.
AlthoughRampagedoesn’t share much in common withWar of the Worlds, the two films are made for very similar audiences, and the latter is a perfect discovery for fans of Johnson’s movie.
AlthoughRampagedoesn’t share much in common withWar of the Worlds, the two films are made for very similar audiences, and the latter is a perfect discovery for fans of Johnson’s movie. They’re both very dramatic, action-packed stories with huge stakes that ultimately reveal themselves to be about something much more personal and grounded - inRampage, it’s the coexistence of human and animals, and inWar of the Worlds, it’s humanity’s place in the universe.
2014’sGodzillais the movie that kickstarted the so-called Monsterverse franchise, and it remains one of the most dynamic and engaging action movies of the past decade. Much likeRampage, the movie uses a dangerous and predatory creature to explore humanity’s innate biases towards animals.They are both stories about where we stand in the natural order, it’s just thatRampageexplores these themes in a much more family-friendly light.
Edwards’ movie is one of thebest Godzilla filmsin recent memory, using its neon-soaked color palette and sharp visuals to immerse the audience in this story and truly make them feel like they’re stuck in this crumbling world. It’s a much darker and less optimistic film thanRampage, but there are plenty of thematic similarities that make it perfect for an unconventional double bill.
