Before they brought chaos and charm to Deadpool, writers Rhett Reese and Paul Wernick penned G.I. Joe: Retaliation — a slick, explosive sequel that quietly outshone its predecessor.
The 2013 film trims the cast, amps up the action, and adds two heavy-hitting stars: Dwayne Johnson as Roadblock and Bruce Willis as General Joe Colton. With Cobra declaring the Joes enemies of the state, only a handful survive to fight back.
The plot is textbook action nonsense — in the best way. Johnson hauls giant weapons like gym equipment, Willis fires from the back of a truck, and ninjas fight while swinging off snowy cliffs. Director Jon M. Chu balances large-scale spectacle with comic-book flair, especially in a standout scene inspired by the wordless Silent Interlude comic — a rare homage done right.
Despite strong box office numbers, the film didn’t kick off a long-running franchise. But it remains a sharp, high-impact action ride — and now it’s streaming for free. If you missed it the first time, this might be the perfect excuse to catch up.
