Wanted (2008)

Wanted (2008) is an American action thriller film helmed by Timur Bekmambetov, loosely based on the comic book miniseries written by Mark Millar and J.G. Jones. In the bustling city of Chicago, Wesley Gibson toils away in a mundane desk job under the tyranny of his boss. He struggles with panic attacks and relies on medication to keep them at bay. His abrasive girlfriend, Cathy, is unfaithful with his supposed best friend and colleague, Barry. Wesley’s world is turned upside down when a woman named Fox reveals that his father was actually an assassin who has recently been killed. The murderer, known as Cross, is now after Wesley. During a fierce shootout between Cross and Fox, Wesley flees in terror but is eventually aided in his escape by Fox. When he awakens in a factory surrounded by other assassins, their leader Mr. Sloan forces him to shoot the wings off flies at gunpoint, leaving Wesley stunned.

Sloan explains that his panic attacks are actually an uncommon gift that gives him extraordinary abilities such as superhuman strength and speed due to the production of excessive adrenaline. Wesley’s father and Cross both belonged to the Fraternity, a group of killers tasked with maintaining balance in the world. The organization operates out of an old textile mill. Sloan has his sights set on Wesley as a potential recruit to help eliminate Cross. Overwhelmed, Wesley flees the premises. However, the next day he discovers $3.6 million deposited into his bank account, boosting his confidence. This newfound assurance leads him to brazenly insult his boss and physically assault Barry with a keyboard. Under the harsh guidance of the Fraternity, Wesley trains diligently to master his abilities, including speed, marksmanship, hand-to-hand combat, explosives, and pain tolerance.