A 'near perfect' action thriller has lead to debates about it being better than Taken or John Wick as it also leaves viewers 'crying every time'.

Man On Fire was originally released back in 2004 and some fans herald it as laying the groundwork for the more recent trend of revenge movies. Denzel Washington stars in the lead role as John, an assassin in Mexico who is hired as a bodyguard for a job he does not want to accept. He eventually agrees and promises to take revenge on the kidnapper of the child from the family he is protecting.

The cast is rounded out by Christopher Walken, Mickey Rourke and Dakota Fanning who was just 10 years old when the film came out. It was directed by the late British director Tony Scott, who also helmed the first Top Gun, True Romance and The Grey starring Liam Neeson to name just a few.

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It's also a remake of a 1987 film of the same name that starred Scott Glenn and Joe Pesci. Both releases are adaptations of the novel written by Philip Nicholson under the pseudonym A. J. Quinnell. Netflix ordered a television series version but there is no details on when it will be released.

Those who want to revisit the 2004 film for themselves, or perhaps even experience it for the first time can do so prettily easier. The titles is currently available to stream on Disney+ for those with a subscription to the service.

While it was a big hit at the box office, taking in $130 million, it was not warmly received by critics. Rotten Tomatoes lists it with a mere 38% rating with more than 150 reviews. However, fans still disagree with their verdict as the popcornmeter on the same site sits at 89%.

One fan sharing their opinion online commented: "I don't understand it's a near perfect film. How is it at 33%? This proves to me that this site has no idea what it's talking about." Sharing a similar sentiment, another posted: "Audience ratings are right and the critics got this wrong. These are characters whose relationship really develops in the first half so the revenge story which follows has some credibility. Amazing action scenes too." While a third simply said: "Makes me cry every time."

Support hasn't diminished even after similar action packed titles have been released over the years. The likes of the John Wick and Taken franchises are regularly compared to Man on Fire. As is the Equalizer trilogy which also stars Washington.

There is even a whole thread on Reddit where movie fans discuss which they believe of the films is the more superior. The original poster put forward the question for the community to put forward their opinions, and rate each against their story, character and use of action.

One person argued: "Man on fire was the better, most believable protagonist with the best story. Not exactly the best choreographed fighting or anything like that, but it was all very real, flawed, and an emotional journey." Another suggested: "The Christopher Walken scene describing what Denzel is about to embark on is by far the best single scene in that trio of films."

One fan, who had thought out the question responded: "I think Man on Fire ticks all of the boxes for characters, emotional depth, story, ending/climax, and personal impact. I like John Wick but there really isn't a whole lot to the character other than he loves dogs and his deceased wife, and he knows how to handle himself. I don't even remember the name of the character Liam Neeson played in Taken, it was that generic and interchangeable."

They continued: "John Creasy is a complicated individual, and we see his arc in the movie. We get an idea of his past, and we see his relationship develop with Pita. I also think that Denzel Washington is a master at his craft, but this is not just a mindless action flick I can throw on at any time. It definitely has rewatch value, but the entire film must be consumed in one sitting."

On the other hand, someone else put forward: "The Equalizer would make more sense for comparison. Man on Fire is the better movie. John Wick has the best action, cinematography and choreography. Taken is just classic fun."

Man On Fire is streaming on Disney+.