Top 50 Action Movies and TV Shows
1. the last of us (2023– ).
TV-MA | 50 min | Action, Adventure, Drama
After a global pandemic destroys civilization, a hardened survivor takes charge of a 14-year-old girl who may be humanity's last hope.
Stars: Pedro Pascal , Bella Ramsey , Anna Torv , Gabriel Luna
Votes: 259,332
2. The Mandalorian (2019– )
TV-14 | 40 min | Action, Adventure, Fantasy
The travels of a lone bounty hunter in the outer reaches of the galaxy, far from the authority of the New Republic.
Stars: Pedro Pascal , Carl Weathers , Chris Bartlett , Leilani Shiu
Votes: 507,531
3. Outer Banks (2020– )
TV-MA | 50 min | Action, Crime, Drama
On an island of haves and have-nots, teen John B enlists his three best friends to hunt for a legendary treasure linked to his father's disappearance.
Stars: Chase Stokes , Madelyn Cline , Madison Bailey , J.D.
Votes: 60,842
4. Ant-Man and the Wasp: Quantumania (2023)
PG-13 | 124 min | Action, Adventure, Comedy
Scott Lang and Hope Van Dyne, along with Hank Pym and Janet Van Dyne, explore the Quantum Realm, where they interact with strange creatures and embark on an adventure that goes beyond the limits of what they thought was possible.
Director: Peyton Reed | Stars: Paul Rudd , Evangeline Lilly , Michael Douglas , Michelle Pfeiffer
Votes: 81,710
5. Everything Everywhere All at Once (2022)
R | 139 min | Action, Adventure, Comedy
A middle-aged Chinese immigrant is swept up into an insane adventure in which she alone can save existence by exploring other universes and connecting with the lives she could have led.
Directors: Daniel Kwan , Daniel Scheinert | Stars: Michelle Yeoh , Stephanie Hsu , Jamie Lee Curtis , Ke Huy Quan
Votes: 350,918 | Gross: $72.86M
6. Attack on Titan (2013–2023)
TV-MA | 24 min | Animation, Action, Adventure
After his hometown is destroyed and his mother is killed, young Eren Jaeger vows to cleanse the earth of the giant humanoid Titans that have brought humanity to the brink of extinction.
Stars: Josh Grelle , Bryce Papenbrook , Yûki Kaji , Yui Ishikawa
Votes: 395,045
7. Peter Pan & Wendy (2023)
PG | 106 min | Action, Adventure, Comedy | Completed
Live-action adaptation of J.M. Barrie's classic tale of a boy who wouldn't grow up and recruits three young siblings in London to join him on a magical adventure to the enchanted Neverland island.
Director: David Lowery | Stars: Alexander Molony , Ever Anderson , Joshua Pickering , Jacobi Jupe
8. Star Trek: Picard (2020–2023)
TV-MA | 46 min | Action, Adventure, Drama
Follow-up series to Star Trek: The Next Generation (1987) and Star Trek: Nemesis (2002) that centers on Jean-Luc Picard in the next chapter of his life.
Stars: Patrick Stewart , Michelle Hurd , Alison Pill , Jeri Ryan
Votes: 76,715
9. Game of Thrones (2011–2019)
TV-MA | 57 min | Action, Adventure, Drama
Nine noble families fight for control over the lands of Westeros, while an ancient enemy returns after being dormant for millennia.
Stars: Emilia Clarke , Peter Dinklage , Kit Harington , Lena Headey
Votes: 2,135,090
10. Avatar: The Way of Water (2022)
PG-13 | 192 min | Action, Adventure, Fantasy
Jake Sully lives with his newfound family formed on the extrasolar moon Pandora. Once a familiar threat returns to finish what was previously started, Jake must work with Neytiri and the army of the Na'vi race to protect their home.
Director: James Cameron | Stars: Sam Worthington , Zoe Saldana , Sigourney Weaver , Stephen Lang
Votes: 312,845 | Gross: $659.68M
11. True Lies (2023– )
TV-PG | Action, Adventure, Comedy
An unfulfilled suburban housewife is shocked to discover that her bland and unremarkable computer consultant husband is a skilled international spy.
Stars: Ginger Gonzaga , Erica Hernandez , Steve Howey , Annabella Didion
12. Black Panther: Wakanda Forever (2022)
PG-13 | 161 min | Action, Adventure, Drama
The people of Wakanda fight to protect their home from intervening world powers as they mourn the death of King T'Challa.
Director: Ryan Coogler | Stars: Letitia Wright , Lupita Nyong'o , Danai Gurira , Winston Duke
Votes: 235,616 | Gross: $453.72M
13. All Quiet on the Western Front (2022)
R | 148 min | Action, Drama, War
A young German soldier's terrifying experiences and distress on the western front during World War I.
Director: Edward Berger | Stars: Felix Kammerer , Albrecht Schuch , Aaron Hilmer , Moritz Klaus
Votes: 161,585
14. The Rookie (2018– )
TV-14 | 43 min | Action, Crime, Drama
Starting over isn't easy, especially for John Nolan who, after a life-altering incident, is pursuing his dream of joining the LAPD. As their oldest rookie, he's met with skepticism from those who see him as just a walking midlife crisis.
Stars: Nathan Fillion , Alyssa Diaz , Richard T. Jones , Melissa O'Neil
Votes: 44,522
15. Operation Fortune: Ruse de guerre (2023)
R | 114 min | Action, Comedy, Thriller
Special agent Orson Fortune and his team of operatives recruit one of Hollywood's biggest movie stars to help them on an undercover mission when the sale of a deadly new weapons technology threatens to disrupt the world order.
Director: Guy Ritchie | Stars: Jason Statham , Aubrey Plaza , Cary Elwes , Hugh Grant
Votes: 13,101
16. NCIS (2003– )
TV-14 | 60 min | Action, Crime, Drama
The cases of the Naval Criminal Investigative Service's Washington, D.C. Major Case Response Team.
Stars: David McCallum , Mark Harmon , Sean Murray , Pauley Perrette
Votes: 151,565
17. Bullet Train (2022)
R | 127 min | Action, Comedy, Thriller
Five assassins aboard a swiftly-moving bullet train find out that their missions have something in common.
Director: David Leitch | Stars: Brad Pitt , Joey King , Aaron Taylor-Johnson , Brian Tyree Henry
Votes: 312,792 | Gross: $103.37M
18. The Boys (2019– )
TV-MA | 60 min | Action, Comedy, Crime
A group of vigilantes set out to take down corrupt superheroes who abuse their superpowers.
Stars: Karl Urban , Jack Quaid , Antony Starr , Erin Moriarty
Votes: 533,262
19. Top Gun: Maverick (2022)
PG-13 | 130 min | Action, Drama
After thirty years, Maverick is still pushing the envelope as a top naval aviator, but must confront ghosts of his past when he leads TOP GUN's elite graduates on a mission that demands the ultimate sacrifice from those chosen to fly it.
Director: Joseph Kosinski | Stars: Tom Cruise , Jennifer Connelly , Miles Teller , Val Kilmer
Votes: 542,649 | Gross: $718.73M
20. The Flash (2014–2023)
TV-PG | 43 min | Action, Adventure, Drama
After being struck by lightning, Barry Allen wakes up from his coma to discover he's been given the power of super speed, becoming the Flash, and fighting crime in Central City.
Stars: Grant Gustin , Candice Patton , Danielle Panabaker , Carlos Valdes
Votes: 351,476
21. The Unbearable Weight of Massive Talent (2022)
R | 107 min | Action, Comedy, Crime
In this action-packed comedy, Nicolas Cage plays Nick Cage, channeling his iconic characters as he's caught between a superfan (Pedro Pascal) and a CIA agent (Tiffany Haddish).
Director: Tom Gormican | Stars: Nicolas Cage , Pedro Pascal , Tiffany Haddish , Sharon Horgan
Votes: 103,049
22. 65 (2023)
PG-13 | 93 min | Action, Adventure, Drama
An astronaut crash lands on a mysterious planet only to discover he's not alone.
Directors: Scott Beck , Bryan Woods | Stars: Adam Driver , Ariana Greenblatt , Chloe Coleman , Nika King
23. Die Hart (2020– )
TV-MA | 8 min | Action, Comedy, Thriller
Kevin Hart - playing a version of himself - is on a death-defying quest to become an action star. And with a little help from John Travolta, Nathalie Emmanuel, and Josh Hartnett - he just might pull it off.
Stars: Kevin Hart , Nathalie Emmanuel , John Travolta , Jean Reno
Votes: 5,279
24. John Wick: Chapter 4 (2023)
169 min | Action, Crime, Thriller | Post-production
John Wick uncovers a path to defeating The High Table. But before he can earn his freedom, Wick must face off against a new enemy with powerful alliances across the globe and forces that turn old friends into foes.
Director: Chad Stahelski | Stars: Keanu Reeves , Donnie Yen , Bill Skarsgård , Laurence Fishburne
25. House of the Dragon (2022– )
TV-MA | Action, Adventure, Drama
An internal succession war within House Targaryen at the height of its power, 172 years before the birth of Daenerys Targaryen.
Stars: Rhys Ifans , Matt Smith , Fabien Frankel , Graham McTavish
Votes: 315,670
26. Creed (II) (2015)
PG-13 | 133 min | Action, Drama, Sport
The former World Heavyweight Champion Rocky Balboa serves as a trainer and mentor to Adonis Johnson, the son of his late friend and former rival Apollo Creed.
Director: Ryan Coogler | Stars: Michael B. Jordan , Sylvester Stallone , Tessa Thompson , Phylicia Rashad
Votes: 284,487 | Gross: $109.77M
27. The Flash (2023)
Action, Adventure, Fantasy | Post-production
Barry Allen uses his super speed to change the past, but his attempt to save his family creates a world without super heroes, forcing him to race for his life in order to save the future.
Director: Andy Muschietti | Stars: Sasha Calle , Ben Affleck , Michael Shannon , Michael Keaton
28. Andor (2022– )
TV-14 | 40 min | Action, Adventure, Drama
Prequel series to Star Wars' 'Rogue One'. In an era filled with danger, deception and intrigue, Cassian will embark on the path that is destined to turn him into a Rebel hero.
Stars: Diego Luna , Kyle Soller , Stellan Skarsgård , Genevieve O'Reilly
Votes: 124,796
29. Plane (2023)
R | 107 min | Action, Adventure, Thriller
A pilot finds himself caught in a war zone after he's forced to land his commercial aircraft during a terrible storm.
Director: Jean-François Richet | Stars: Gerard Butler , Mike Colter , Tony Goldwyn , Yoson An
Votes: 37,547
30. Star Wars: The Bad Batch (2021– )
TV-PG | Animation, Action, Adventure
The 'Bad Batch' of elite and experimental clones make their way through an ever-changing galaxy in the immediate aftermath of the Clone Wars.
Stars: Ming-Na Wen , Dee Bradley Baker , Michelle Ang , Noshir Dalal
Votes: 39,604
31. Vikings (2013–2020)
TV-MA | 44 min | Action, Adventure, Drama
Vikings transports us to the brutal and mysterious world of Ragnar Lothbrok, a Viking warrior and farmer who yearns to explore--and raid--the distant shores across the ocean.
Stars: Katheryn Winnick , Gustaf Skarsgård , Alexander Ludwig , Georgia Hirst
Votes: 544,273
32. Shadow and Bone (2021– )
TV-14 | 60 min | Action, Adventure, Drama
Dark forces conspire against orphan mapmaker Alina Starkov when she unleashes an extraordinary power that could change the fate of her war-torn world.
Stars: Jessie Mei Li , Ben Barnes , Archie Renaux , Freddy Carter
Votes: 90,505
33. The Woman King (2022)
PG-13 | 135 min | Action, Drama, History
A historical epic inspired by true events that took place in The Kingdom of Dahomey, one of the most powerful states of Africa in the 18th and 19th centuries.
Director: Gina Prince-Bythewood | Stars: Viola Davis , Thuso Mbedu , Lashana Lynch , Sheila Atim
Votes: 54,307 | Gross: $67.33M
34. Creed II (2018)
PG-13 | 130 min | Action, Drama, Sport
Under the tutelage of Rocky Balboa, newly crowned heavyweight champion Adonis Creed faces off against Viktor Drago, the son of Ivan Drago.
Director: Steven Caple Jr. | Stars: Michael B. Jordan , Sylvester Stallone , Tessa Thompson , Phylicia Rashad
Votes: 133,781 | Gross: $115.72M
35. The Book of Boba Fett (2021–2022)
TV-14 | 38 min | Action, Adventure, Sci-Fi
Bounty hunter Boba Fett and mercenary Fennec Shand navigate the underworld when they return to Tatooine to claim Jabba the Hutt's old turf.
Stars: Temuera Morrison , Ming-Na Wen , Frank Trigg , Collin Hymes
Votes: 158,943
36. The Batman (2022)
PG-13 | 176 min | Action, Crime, Drama
When a sadistic serial killer begins murdering key political figures in Gotham, Batman is forced to investigate the city's hidden corruption and question his family's involvement.
Director: Matt Reeves | Stars: Robert Pattinson , Zoë Kravitz , Jeffrey Wright , Colin Farrell
Votes: 680,036 | Gross: $369.35M
37. The Last Kingdom (2015–2022)
TV-MA | 60 min | Action, Drama, History
As Alfred the Great defends his kingdom from Norse invaders, Uhtred--born a Saxon but raised by Vikings--seeks to claim his ancestral birthright.
Stars: Alexander Dreymon , Eliza Butterworth , Arnas Fedaravicius , Mark Rowley
Votes: 145,557
38. The Lord of the Rings: The Rings of Power (2022– )
TV-14 | Action, Adventure, Drama
Epic drama set thousands of years before the events of J.R.R. Tolkien's 'The Hobbit' and 'The Lord of the Rings' follows an ensemble cast of characters, both familiar and new, as they confront the long-feared re-emergence of evil to Middle-earth.
Stars: Morfydd Clark , Ismael Cruz Cordova , Charlie Vickers , Markella Kavenagh
Votes: 323,190
39. Star Trek: The Next Generation (1987–1994)
TV-PG | 44 min | Action, Adventure, Sci-Fi
Set almost 100 years after Captain Kirk's 5-year mission, a new generation of Starfleet officers sets off in the U.S.S. Enterprise-D on its own mission to go where no one has gone before.
Stars: Patrick Stewart , Brent Spiner , Jonathan Frakes , LeVar Burton
Votes: 124,413
40. Chicago Fire (2012– )
TV-14 | 43 min | Action, Drama
The story of firefighters and paramedics in the city of Chicago, both on a personal and professional level.
Stars: Taylor Kinney , Christian Stolte , Eamonn Walker , Joe Minoso
Votes: 59,149
41. Magnum P.I. (2018–2023)
TV-14 | 43 min | Action, Adventure, Crime
An ex-Navy SEAL returns from Afghanistan and uses his military skills to become a private investigator in Hawaii.
Stars: Jay Hernandez , Perdita Weeks , Zachary Knighton , Stephen Hill
Votes: 14,718
42. Lockwood & Co (2023– )
TV-14 | 44 min | Action, Adventure, Drama
A tiny startup, run by two teenage boys and a newly arrived, supremely psychically gifted girl, a renegade trio destined to unravel a mystery that will change the course of history.
Stars: Ruby Stokes , Cameron Chapman , Ali Hadji-Heshmati , Jack Bandeira
Votes: 16,346
43. Demon Slayer: Kimetsu No Yaiba - To the Swordsmith Village (2023)
R | 110 min | Animation, Action, Adventure
All the Upper Rank Demons assemble at the Infinity Castle after Upper Six Demons' defeat.
Director: Haruo Sotozaki | Stars: Zach Aguilar , Kira Buckland , Griffin Burns , Ray Chase
Votes: 1,425
44. One Piece (1999– )
TV-14 | 24 min | Animation, Action, Adventure
Follows the adventures of Monkey D. Luffy and his pirate crew in order to find the greatest treasure ever left by the legendary Pirate, Gold Roger. The famous mystery treasure named "One Piece".
Stars: Mayumi Tanaka , Laurent Vernin , Tony Beck , Akemi Okamura
Votes: 133,608
45. Tom Clancy's Jack Ryan (2018– )
TV-MA | 60 min | Action, Drama, Thriller
Up-and-coming CIA analyst, Jack Ryan, is thrust into dangerous field assignments.
Stars: John Krasinski , Wendell Pierce , Michael Kelly , John Hoogenakker
Votes: 145,772
46. Sisu (2022)
91 min | Action, War
When an ex-soldier who discovers gold in the Lapland wilderness tries to take the loot into the city, Nazi soldiers led by a brutal SS officer battle him.
Director: Jalmari Helander | Stars: Jorma Tommila , Aksel Hennie , Jack Doolan , Mimosa Willamo
Votes: 1,227
47. Buffy the Vampire Slayer (1997–2003)
TV-14 | 44 min | Action, Drama, Fantasy
A young woman, destined to slay vampires, demons and other infernal creatures, deals with her life fighting evil, with the help of her friends.
Stars: Sarah Michelle Gellar , Nicholas Brendon , Alyson Hannigan , Anthony Head
Votes: 150,298
48. Top Gun (1986)
PG | 109 min | Action, Drama
As students at the United States Navy's elite fighter weapons school compete to be best in the class, one daring young pilot learns a few things from a civilian instructor that are not taught in the classroom.
Director: Tony Scott | Stars: Tom Cruise , Tim Robbins , Kelly McGillis , Val Kilmer
Votes: 465,155 | Gross: $179.80M
49. Shazam! Fury of the Gods (2023)
PG-13 | 130 min | Action, Adventure, Comedy | Completed
The film continues the story of teenage Billy Batson who, upon reciting the magic word "SHAZAM!" is transformed into his adult Super Hero alter ego, Shazam.
Director: David F. Sandberg | Stars: Helen Mirren , Zachary Levi , Grace Caroline Currey , Lucy Liu
50. The Gentlemen (2019)
R | 113 min | Action, Comedy, Crime
An American expat tries to sell off his highly profitable marijuana empire in London, triggering plots, schemes, bribery and blackmail in an attempt to steal his domain out from under him.
Director: Guy Ritchie | Stars: Matthew McConaughey , Charlie Hunnam , Michelle Dockery , Jeremy Strong
Votes: 351,355 | Gross: $36.47M
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Everything Everywhere All at Once
Marya e. gates.
Christy Lemire
The Lost City
Abby olcese.
Top Gun: Maverick
Tomris laffly.
Operation Fortune: Ruse de Guerre
Sheila o'malley.
Hidden Blade
Simon abrams.
Shotgun Wedding
Matt zoller seitz.
The Wandering Earth II
Brian Tallerico
Kids vs. Aliens
The Price We Pay
Robert daniels.
Shin Ultraman
The Old Way
Peter sobczynski.
Avatar: The Way of Water
Four Samosas
Violent Night
10 Fast-Paced Movies With Almost Non-Stop Action
Can't Stop, Won't Stop.
As obvious as it might be to say, action movies live or die based on whether they can successfully deliver one thing: action scenes. It can be disappointing to sit down to watch an action movie, only to come away from it feeling like it didn't deliver enough satisfying action. Whether it's through car chases, big explosions, sword fights, shootouts, or martial arts combat - or some/all of the above - action movie fans will want to have their fill of it, and arguably, everything else is secondary.
RELATED: The Greatest Martial Arts Movies of All Time, Ranked by IMDb Score
For those seeking movies with high-quality action in large quantities, the following titles are all worth watching. Each of them is well-paced and frequently exciting, providing action that either is non-stop or feels non-stop to the point where the downtime may well be non-existent. In all honesty, action junkies probably can't ask for much more than that.
1 'Hardcore Henry' (2015)
Few movies have as consistent a feeling of watching someone play a live-action video game as Hardcore Henry . It's honestly the best way to describe it, given that there are very few moments in the film that aren't part of some big action set piece, and also given the fact that it's all shot from the title character's point of view, much like a first-person shooter.
The plot also harkens back to the well-worn premise found all the way back in the original Super Mario Bros : the hero needing to rescue a loved one from an unambiguously evil antagonist. Along the way, viewers are treated to ludicrous action scene after ludicrous action scene, which may even prove exhausting to those not ready for something so relentless.
2 'John Wick: Chapter 3 - Parabellum' (2019)
Good action movie sequels know how to benefit from hitting the ground running. The hero, the world, the tone, and other supporting characters have all been established, so a sequel can deliver thrills right from the start, given all the narrative heavy lifting has already been done. This is something that John Wick: Chapter 3 - Parabellum does excellently.
Thanks to having a cliffhanger at the end of the second film in the series, the third John Wick starts crazy and just builds and builds. There's more action in the opening 20 minutes than many action movies have full-stop, and the pace hardly lets up after these early scenes, making John Wick 3 one of the best (and most over-the-top) action movies of the 2010s .
3 'Five Shaolin Masters' (1974)
Exploring the world of classic martial arts cinema is something every action movie fan owes it to themselves to do. And no studio's ever put out as many great martial arts movies as the Hong Kong-based Shaw Brothers Studio did, with 1974's Five Shaolin Masters being one of their best and most consistently action-packed titles.
RELATED: The Greatest Shaw Brothers Martial Arts Movies, Ranked by Letterboxd Score
It takes place immediately after a deadly attack on the famed Shaolin Temple leaves few survivors. Five young pupils who did make it out with their lives are on the run from enemy forces, eventually regrouping and leading a revolutionary counter-assault against those who wish them dead. That are enough action scenes in this 105-minute film to fill at least three to four slightly less insane action movies, making Five Shaolin Masters a thrilling and non-stop martial arts movie.
4 'Avengers: Infinity War' (2018)
10 years of MCU movies built up to Avengers: Infinity War in 2018, which saw the various heroes introduced over the past decade face their most difficult foe yet. His name was Thanos, and he was a giant purple alien who wanted to solve the universe's overpopulation problem by eradicating half of all lifeforms in an instant.
Thanks to having had so many movies worth of build-up, Infinity War was able to be all action nearly constantly, and with little downtime. Just about every character gets a chance to shine and flex their skills in combat, making for an explosive and exciting superhero movie that feels like a rollercoaster ride... maybe like the kind you'd find at a theme park , but like, a really, really good theme park.
5 'Planet Terror' (2007)
A throwback to the crazy exploitation cinema of the 1970s, Planet Terror is relentless, gory, intentionally trashy fun from start to finish. It's about a town that's hit with a highly infectious virus that essentially turns people into zombies, with those who don't immediately succumb having to fight their way to survival, escaping the hordes of infected at all costs.
It was directed by Robert Rodriguez and formed one part of the double feature known as Grindhouse , with the other film being Quentin Tarantino's Death Proof . Interestingly, that one also serves as an exploitation movie homage, but features far less action and more of a focus on dialogue (the climactic car chase is insanely impressive, though).
6 'Mad Max: Fury Road' (2015)
The Mad Max series began in 1979 with a film that wasn't quite an action movie. It was more of a revenge thriller in a post-apocalyptic setting, and only contained a small amount of action near its climax. Its sequel in 1981 bumped things up considerably in the action department, and from there, the series hasn't looked back.
It continued to build until 2015's Mad Max: Fury Road , the fourth installment in the series, the most action-packed of the bunch, and also the best Mad Max movie by a decent margin. Much of the movie is one extended chase sequence, filled with crazy stunts and huge explosions , all of it beautifully filmed and consistently visceral. There's indeed a strong argument to be made that it's one of the finest action films of all time.
7 'Godzilla: Final Wars' (2004)
Plenty of Godzilla movies are entertaining because of how crazy they get , but none are as gleefully crazy as 2004's Godzilla: Final Wars . Even if Godzilla himself wasn't in it, it would still be a wild sci-fi/action movie, with a plot about alien invaders that feels like a strange mash-up of Star Wars , X-Men , and The Matrix .
RELATED: The Best Chainsaw Movies That Aren't 'The Texas Chain Saw Massacre'
However, this was made to commemorate 50 years since the original Godzilla film, and so of course it delivers when it comes to the monster side of things. The titular kaiju gets to have a rematch with almost all the foes he faced in previous movies, leading to one crazy monster battle after another. It's exhausting stuff, but in the best way possible.
8 'Kill Bill Vol. 1' (2003)
Kill Bill might be intended to be one movie (and it does tell a single story), though it was divided into two volumes when released, with the first coming out in 2003 and the second in 2004. This ends up making each half feel linked when it comes to narrative, but wildly different in terms of genre, with Vol. 1 serving as a martial arts/samurai movie homage, and Vol. 2 feeling more like a modern Western.
It also ensures that the bulk of the action takes place in Vol. 1 . The quest for revenge may continue in Vol. 2 , but The Bride does most of her fighting in Vol. 1 , with a great deal of violent bloodshed and spectacularly over-the-top action playing out throughout much of Kill Bill Vol. 1's fast-paced 111-minute runtime.
9 'Shogun Assassin' (1980)
There are six movies in the original Japanese Lone Wolf and Cub series, with all providing excellent (and very bloody) samurai action. It's a series that follows a samurai whose wife is murdered and his life ruined by those he used to serve, so he goes rogue seeking revenge on the people who wronged him, taking his infant son along with him.
The first two movies in the Lone Wolf and Cub series were edited down into Shogun Assassin , with scenes given an English dub as well. While most viewers would be better off just watching the two original movies, Shogun Assassin is a decent re-edit, and given it ends up condensing two movies' worth of action scenes into one 85-minute movie, it ends up having almost non-stop fight sequences.
10 'The Raid' (2011)
Pure action movies done well are a wonderful thing, and action cinema doesn't get much purer or more straightforward than 2011's The Raid . It follows a squad of elite police officers who find themselves trapped in an apartment complex run by a crime lord. When the crime lord offers a large reward in exchange for the officers' lives, they need to fight their way out of the building to avoid certain death.
Once the action starts, it doesn't stop until the movie's over. It's filled with bloody, brutal, and impeccably choreographed hand-to-hand combat, and while some scenes may make even hardened action fans wince, it's worth it to see the remarkable martial arts on display.
NEXT: 'Unbreakable' & More Superhero Movies That Aren't Actually Action Movies
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The 20 Best Action Movies on Netflix Right Now
This list is frequently updated as titles leave and join Netflix. *New additions are indicated with an asterisk.
Netflix has made headlines by investing in highbrow dramas that win Oscars. But sometimes you don’t want that! Sometimes you just want to escape the increasingly insane world out there into an action movie. Netflix has made a few of their own , but the bulk of the best action films on their service are still Hollywood blockbusters from ‘90s modern classics to more recent box office hits to films that may have slipped under your radar. From Ridley Scott to Michael Mann, here are the best action movies currently on Netflix.
Year: 2022 Runtime: 2h 21m Director: Timo Tjahjanto
Have you seen The Night Comes for Us ? You would remember if you have because director Timo Tjahjanto is a maniac, a madman who choreographs and shoots action scenes like no one else in the world right now. He returned in late 2022 for his Netflix original about a group of assassins who are forced into action when someone kills their mentor. It’s kind of like a live-action Looney Tunes with bazookas.
*Bullet Train
Year: 2022 Runtime: 2h 6m Director: David Leitch It feels like this movie was actually a bigger hit on Netflix, where it popped up in the top ten for weeks after it dropped in December 2022. It makes sense because it’s the perfect fit for when you’re looking for something to turn your brain off to for a couple hours. Brad Pitt stars as an assassin who ends up on a train filled with fellow assassins, and, well, things get expectedly violent. It’s a goofy movie, but it works on Netflix.
Den of Thieves
Year: 2018 Runtime: 2h 20m Director: Christian Gudegast
As alpha male as movies get, this 2018 ensemble action orgy has already grown a pretty loyal cult following — so much so that a sequel is currently in development. Gerard Butler gives one of his best performances in the story of an L.A. Sheriff’s department that’s trying to stop a group of thieves planning to rob the Federal Reserve. With tense style and fun performances from O’Shea Jackson Jr. and Pablo Schreiber too, this is a movie that feels like it’s growing in popularity every year. See why for yourself.
Hardcore Henry
Year: 2015 Runtime: 1h 36m Director: Ilya Naishuller
Have you ever wanted to see a movie that replicated the feel of playing a first-person shooter video game? Then Hardcore Henry is the one for you. The plot doesn’t really matter—there’s something about experiments and lost memories and whatever—as this is all an exercise in style. Writer/director Ilya Naishuller straps viewers into the perspective of his increasingly powerful hero and then unleashes him on enemies who want to stop him. At its peak, it’s got some adrenaline-pumping lunacy that’s admirable.
The Harder They Fall
Year: 2021 Runtime: 2h 19m Director: Jeymes Samuel
The Harder They Fall came and went too fast in late 2021 and deserves to find a bigger audience on Netflix. The phenomenal Jonathan Majors stars in this stylish Western with tons of attitude, memorable characters, and brilliant set pieces. He’s joined by Idris Elba, Zazie Beetz, Regina King, Delroy Lindo, Lakeith Stanfield, Danielle Deadwyler, and many more in a film that feels like it will become bigger as its incredible cast become acting legends.
*The Hunger Games
Year: 2012 Runtime: 2h 16m Director: Gary Ross
Believe it or not, the franchise based on the books by Suzanne Collins aren’t commonly on streaming services, so take the chance to watch all four on Netflix while you can! The first is probably still the most beloved, the introduction of Katniss Everdeen, the teenager who changed the world. These movies really made Jennifer Lawrence a household name and they’ve held up better than you remember. It’s hard to believe the first one is already a decade old.
Year: 2005 Runtime: 3h 7m Director: Peter Jackson
Monster movies would never be the same after the 1933 King Kong debuted, a film that clearly inspired the sense of spectacle and wonder that Peter Jackson imbues into his blockbuster films. The remake with Naomi Watts, Adrien Brody, and Jack Black got some pretty mixed reviews, but it held up well, a movie that’s incredibly easy to rewatch if you’re looking for something larger than life on Netflix this weekend.
* The Lord of the Rings trilogy
Year: 2001-3 Runtime: 2h 58m Director: Peter Jackson
The Oscar-winning franchise by Peter Jackson bounces around the streaming services with alarming regularity, now finding its way to Netflix for an indeterminate amount of time. Watch the entire saga of Frodo Baggins, Samwise Gange, and the rest of the Fellowship while you can.
The Mask of Zorro
Year: 1998 Runtime: 2h 17m Director: Martin Campbell
Every now and then, an actor and a blockbuster role just make a perfect fit. That was certainly the case when Antonio Bandera’s was cast in Martin Campbell’s reboot of the legendary character of Zorro. Banderas is so charming here that the movie made enough money to produce a sequel in 2005, which is also on Netflix.
Minority Report
Year: 2002 Runtime: 2h 25m Director: Steven Spielberg
One of Steven Spielberg’s best modern movies is this adaptation of a Philip K. Dick story about a future in which crime can be predicted before it happens. Tom Cruise stars as a man who is convicted of a crime he has no intent of committing in a fantastic vision of a future in which the systems designed to stop crime have been corrupted. It’s timely and probably always will be.
Year: 2014 Runtime: 2h 30m Director: Gareth Evans
Gareth Edwards wrote, edited, and directed the insane follow-up to his breakthrough hit that takes everything he did with The Raid and turns it up to 11. Like incredible action choreography? Unbroken takes? Stunts that defy the laws of physics? The Raid 2 is quite simply one of the best action movies of the last decade, a thrill ride from beginning to end.
Reservoir Dogs
Year: 1992 Runtime: 1h 39m Director: Quentin Tarantino
One of the only Quentin Tarantino flicks on Netflix right now is his first effort, a movie that announced a major new talent as much as any debut of the ‘90s. Remarkably, unlike a lot of ‘80s and ‘90s debuts, Reservoir Dogs works just as well today. It would arguably be an even bigger hit if it came out in 2023. That’s how much QT influenced the form for three decades and counting after its release.
Year: 1989 Runtime: 1h 54m Director: Rowdy Herrington
As production on a remake of this cult classic (with Jake Gyllenhaal!) gets underway, why not go back and check out the original again? Patrick Swayze plays the bouncer at a totally average Missouri bar who ends up getting sucked into a violent world when he crosses paths with the wrong bad guy. Sam Elliott and Kelly Lynch star in a movie that feels like a perfect distillation of the many charms of Mr. Swayze.
Resident Evil
Year: 2002 Runtime: 1h 40m Director: Paul W.S. Anderson
It’s hard to believe that it’s been two decades since people started adapting the Capcom video games into feature films. Hot on the heels of the cancellation of the Netflix series of the same name, the streaming giant has re-added the first (and still best) film along with the first sequel (2004’s Apocalypse ) and the second-to-last (2012’s Retribution ). Yes, it’s random, but that’s how Netflix has always been with this franchise.
Year: 2022 Runtime: 3h 5m Director: S.S. Rajamouli
One of the biggest films in the world in 2022, this crazy action flick really took off in the United States when it dropped on Netflix. It’s hard to put into words just how much movie you get with RRR . It’s kind of all the movies — musical, romance, comedy, action, drama. Whatever you’re looking for, it’s in here. You’ll want to watch it twice.
Year: 2012 Runtime: 2h 23m Director: Sam Mendes
The Daniel Craig era of James Bond has come to a close and so now history can look back and appreciate his entire run. Is the best film of his five the centerpiece? Arguably. This epic unpacking of the history of 007 is gorgeously shot by Roger Deakins and perfectly directed by Sam Mendes. It features a strong villain performance from Javier Bardem and great supporting work from Albert Finney and Judi Dench. Heck, it even has a killer theme song.
Year: 1986 Runtime: 1h 49m Director: Tony Scott
Tom Cruise reminded everyone that he is really the last true movie star with the amazing success of this film’s sequel in 2022, a movie that’s likely to be a major player at the Oscars soon. Why not go back to the original and see how the story of Maverick and Iceman rocked the world over 35 years ago? A lot of Top Gun is pretty dated now, but in a way that makes the nostalgic ride even more fun (and will make you appreciate Maverick even more).
Triple Frontier
Year: 2019 Runtime: 2h 5m Director: J.C. Chandor
One of the most underrated Netflix originals, this early 2019 film was written by Mark Boal ( The Hurt Locker ) and directed by the man who helmed Margin Call . The great ensemble here includes Ben Affleck, Oscar Isaac, Charlie Hunnam, Garrett Hedlund, and Pedro Pascal in the story of a group of former U.S. soldiers who plan and (poorly) execute a heist in South America. This is an old-fashioned action movie with a great modern cast.
*The Wandering Earth
Year: 2019 Runtime: 2h 5m Director: Frant Gwo
One of the biggest movies of the last decade is a Chinese film that most people in the United States haven’t even seen. Making almost $700 million worldwide, this is the kind of blockbuster that the MCU kind of pushed out — a crazy, end-of-the-world disaster movie with a Roland Emmerich aesthetic and ridiculous special effects. It’s almost overwhelming in its onslaught of crazy but sometimes you just want to see things go boom on a massive scale. Note: There’s a sequel in theaters now that will hopefully be on Netflix soon too.
*The Woman King
Year: 2022 Runtime: 2h 14m Director: Gina Prince-Bythewood
Living legend Viola Davis stars in this retelling of the all-female warriors of the kingdom of Dahomey in the 19th century. She plays General Nansica, who trains young women to follow in her footsteps, and leads a rock star ensemble of future stars that includes Thuso Mbedu, Lashana Lynch, and Sheila Atim. You’ll know all their names soon enough.
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The best action movies on Netflix right now
In the last few weeks of winter, you might be itching for some nicer weather and a little more action in your life. But rather than running around in the icy rain, might we interest you in an action movie to provide your thrills instead? Netflix has a huge collection of action films, including both quality originals and classics from other studios.
But scrolling through the Netflix library is about as anti-action as it gets. To help you save time and get straight to the movie, we’ve rounded up the best action movies on Netflix right now.
We’ve also curated a guide to the best action movies on Amazon Prime , the best action movies on Disney+ , and the best action movies on Hulu if you’re looking for additional recommendations.
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With streaming costs fast catching up to cable, it's important to find affordable ways to get your content fix. Fortunately, YouTube is a place you can always go -- not just for short-form content, but for free movies, too. The leading video platform offers a host of ad-supported free movies and TV shows to all users. It's not always a good collection of free movies, but there are always a few worth your time if you look hard enough. And you don't have to work hard because we've already looked through the collection for you. These are the best free movies on YouTube right now. Looking for more stuff you can watch for free? Check out our guides to the best free shows on YouTube and the best sites for watching free movies online.
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If you’ve been digging around the bountiful world of streaming platforms in search of the best movies you can find, rest assured that Hulu is here to satiate any and all cinematic needs. Home to thousands of movies encompassing every genre, the collection is a trove of flicks that includes both platform originals and silver-screen classics -- and that's not to mention all the new movies coming to Hulu all the time.
We did say there are thousands of titles to choose from, which can make the act of actually pressing play far more of a chore than it needs to be. Luckily, your friends at Digital Trends have you covered. Here are the best movies on Hulu right now.
Apple TV+ tends to add more shows to its awesome curation of content than it does movies, but when a new flick arrives on the streaming platform, it’s usually something pretty tremendous. And while there’s only one new film premiering this March, it looks to be a doozy of a biopic. It’s called Tetris, it stars Taron Egerton, and we can’t wait to give it a watch.
Whether you want to check out one of Apple TV+’s newest movies or you’re looking to add a batch of top-notch films to your watchlist, we’ve put together this roundup to spotlight all of the best movies on Apple TV+ that you can stream right now.
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Top 50 Action Movies and TV Shows · 1. The Last of Us (2023– ) · 2. The Mandalorian (2019– ) · 3. Outer Banks (2020– ) · 4. Ant-Man and the Wasp: Quantumania (2023).
From John Wick and Die Hard to Mad Max and Atomic Blonde, these best action movies ever will thrill you and get the adrenaline pumping!
Fantasy Movies · Mowgli: Legend of the Jungle · Seventh Son · Troll · Labyrinth · Bleach · Monty Python and the Holy Grail · Dracula Untold · The Lord of the Rings: The
Action Movies · Everything Everywhere All at Once · The Batman · The Lost City · Top Gun: Maverick · Creed III · Operation Fortune: Ruse de Guerre · Hidden Blade.
10 Fast-Paced Movies With Almost Non-Stop Action · 1 'Hardcore Henry' (2015) · 2 'John Wick: Chapter 3 - Parabellum' (2019) · 3 'Five Shaolin
Action Movies ; The Spy Next Door · PG • Comedy, Action • Movie (2010) ; Witless Protection · PG-13 • Comedy • Movie (2008) ; Johnny English Strikes Again · PG •
The 20 Best Action Movies on Netflix Right Now · The Big 4 · *Bullet Train · Den of Thieves · Hardcore Henry · The Harder They Fall · *The Hunger
Action film is a film genre in which the protagonist is thrust into a series of events that typically involve violence and physical feats.
As insurgents overtake territories and kill civilians, the Nigerian Air Force is called in to bring peace to the area.
The best action movies on Netflix right now ; World War Z (2013) new. World War Z · 63 % ; Kick-Ass 2 (2013) new. Kick-Ass 2. 41 % ; Underworld (