There is nothing like a good action movie on Netflix. The wonderfully choreographed fight scenes that make you feel every punch and kick on screen; the shootouts that rain bullets and bodies hitting the floor; the powerful rush of adrenaline from watching the protagonist triumph over all odds, no matter how bruised and bloodied they get.
For those with Netflix, there is quite a selection of great action movies to pick from. This includes both the streamer’s original films and a collection of hidden gems and action classics. Here is the cream of the butt-kicking crop available on Netflix. You can also check out our list of the best action movies of all time for a wider selection.
John Wick (2014)
An endlessly entertaining, film noir style action-epic, John Wick will surely go down in history as one of the most iconic cult classics in recent history. After retired hitman John Wick’s (Keanu Reeves) dog is murdered and car stolen by an over-entitled son of a Russian mobster, he finds the motivation to come out of retirement and will stop at nothing to exact his vengeance, no matter how many stand in his path. All lovers of Keanu Reeves will love this movie, as it not only has him returning to his action star roots but also showcases his impressive talents as a real-life martial artist.
John Wick: Chapter 2 and John Wick: Chapter 3 – Parabellum are also available to stream on Netflix at this time.
Triple Frontier (2019)
Ben Affleck, Oscar Issac and Pedro Pascal have been the talk of the town due to their recent roles – Pascal in The Last of Us and The Mandalorian, Issac in Moon Knight, and Affleck returning to the director’s chair with Air. A Netflix original movie, Triple Frontier, managed to unite the trio together as former soldiers looking to seize $75 million in cash from the location in South Africa. This being an action movie, the group learns that there is more cash than expected – and not everyone’s on the same page regarding their ill-gotten gains. With the addition of Garrett Hedlund and Charlie Hunnam, this film boasts a solid ensemble as well as some well staged shootouts. It’s definitely worth a watch.
Bullet Train (2022)
Murphy’s Law puts forth the theory that if something can go wrong, it more than likely will. David Leitch puts this theory to the test in his latest action thriller Bullet Train, and the result is carefully choreographed chaos. Brad Pitt stars as unlucky assassin Ladybug, who takes a simple job moving a briefcase full of cash on a bullet train in Tokyo. But Murphy’s Law soon kicks in as a collection of assassins have all boarded the train – and Ladybug gets caught in the middle! Not only does the film feature Leitch’s expertly crafted action sequences (the battle in the refreshment car being an example) but it also has one of the most engaging ensembles in an action film. From Hiroyuki Sanada as an aged Yakuza member to Aaron Taylor-Johnson and Brian Tyree Henry as a scene-stealing pair of brothers, Bullet Train is packed with talent.
Pacific Rim (2013)
An absolutely over-the-top action film from Guillermo del Toro, Pacific Rim takes inspiration from all of its animated, mecha-suit predecessors and turns it into a wild, live-action epic of comic book proportions. Continuously under attack from giant monsters emerging mysteriously from the sea, the world’s militaries come together to create Jaegers–giant, nuerally controlled mecha-suits piloted by two humans to destroy all Kaiju that threaten humanity. While there is not much to be said about the actual narrative substance of the film, the all-out action sequences and occasional appearances from Charlie Day as a mad scientist make it very much worth the watch.
The Woman King (2022)
It’s rare for a action-packed period piece, let alone one with a predominately Black cast, to be greenlit. Yet The Woman King not only made it to theaters, but it continues to cement Gina Prince-Bythewood as one of the most dynamic action directors working today. Based on the real life story of the Agojie army, the film literally opens with an intense action sequence featuring the Agojie ambushing and slaughtering would-be slavers. And like Bullet Train, the film is packed with talent – chief among them Viola Davis, who delivers a tour de force performance as the Agojie’s leader Nanisca. It makes for a great double feature with Prince-Bythewood’s Netflix original The Old Guard.
Fury (2014)
A gritty, gruesome tale that cleverly shows its bleakness through makeup and cinematography, Fury shows a unique perspective from one of the most intense military factions to fight in World War II. Impossibly outnumbered behind enemy lines toward the end of the war (April 1945), Don “Wardaddy” Collier (Brad Pitt) leads his five-man crew in their Sherman tank on a mission with seemingly unbeatable odds to the core of Nazi Germany. Teeming with violently visceral action scenes and memorable performances from all involved, this claustrophobic take on humanity in the midst of war will leave viewers with secondhand shellshock.
Extraction II (2023)
Ramping up the over-the-top action sequences, Extraction 2 brings even more outrageously gratuitous violence and nearly non-stop action than its predecessor. After his miraculous survival from almost certainly fatal wounds in Dhaka, Bangladesh, Tyler Rake (Chris Hemsworth) accepts his next mission to infiltrate a maximum security prison and save the family of a crime syndicate leader trapped there. Coming from the same stuntman director Sam Hargrave, the stunts and action sequences are expectedly impressive though a bit dry as far as dialogue and story concreteness goes.
Day Shift (2022)
Vampire hunters have been a staple of action films. Who can forget the first time they saw Blade take out a nightclub full of vampires, or Buffy Summers staking the undead on a weekly basis? Day Shift puts a new spin on the subgenre, painting vampire hunting as a job – and Jamie Foxx’s Bud Jablonski is less concerned with saving the world than he is with making rent and getting his daughter the braces she needs.
Director JJ Perry brings his stunt experience from the John Wick and Fast & Furious films to his first ever film, resulting in some insanely inventive action sequences – a battle in a bowling alley has just the right amount of absurdity and bloodshed. Add in Dave Franco as a neurotic bureaucrat and Snoop Dogg as a vampire hunter (yes really) and you have a recipe for a great time.
The Gray Man (2022)
Joe and Anthony Russo are best known for their four film streak in the Marvel Cinematic Universe, beginning with Captain America: The Winter Soldier and ending with Avengers: Endgame. Now they’ve turned to the espionage genre with The Gray Man. Based on the novel by Mark Greaney, it follows Court Gentry/Sierra Six (Ryan Gosling), a highly skilled operative for the CIA who becomes embroiled in a game of cat and mouse with the psychopath Lloyd Hansen (Chris Evans).
The movie boasts a star-studded cast including Ana de Armas and Bridgerton breakout Rege-Jean Page, and action sequences that feel like a cross between The Winter Soldier and the Fast & Furious franchise. Case in point: A shootout in Prague escalates to include a runaway train that crashes headfirst into a building.
Spenser Confidential (2020)
Following a clear trend for this list, Spenser Confidential is an action comedy that leans toward heist with a bonus of funny Boston accents. Recently released from prison due to his history of violence and disregard for the law, ex-cop Spenser (Mark Wahlberg) and his newfound partner Hawk (Winston Duke) go on a rampage to serve some long-overdue justice to some dirty cops. Any fan of Wahlberg is sure to enjoy this movie as most Wahlberg movie elements are present, making for a safe, fun choice for a movie night.
Read our review of Spenser Confidential.
RRR (2022)
If I told you half of the things that happen in RRR, you probably wouldn’t believe me – and I wouldn’t blame you. Throughout the film’s three-hour runtime, co-writer/director S. S. Rajamouli keeps finding new ways to top himself. In perhaps one of the film’s most insane sequences, one of the main characters picks up a flaming piece of machinery and uses it to punch a tiger. And there’s also a dance off! Simply put, this is an action film that’s more than earned its rave reviews and one that has to be seen to be believed.
Code 8 (2019)
Stories of a superhuman race walking among mankind have grown in popularity over the years, whether it’s caped crusaders or films that walk off the beaten path like Push or Jumper. Code 8 follows in the latter films’ footsteps, following electricity manipulator Connor Reed as he gets swept up in a nest of criminal activity. The series boasts a pair of superhero veterans in Robbie and Stephen Amell, who previously starred on The Flash and Arrow respectively. Code 8 also features clever use of superpowers in addition to electromagnetism, including, telekinesis, and cryokinesis – which makes for some intense fight scenes.
Fistful of Vengeance (2022)
The Netflix Original Series Wu Assassins remains severely underrated, and a genius concept. Mixing mysticism, martial arts, and a predominantly Asian cast sounds like a recipe for success, but the series didn’t find its audience. Thankfully, that may change with the release of Fistful of Vengeance, which acts as a follow-up to the series’ first season. Not only does the film feature the return of Wu Assassins stars Iko Uwais, Lewis Tan, & Lawrence Kao but it features what may be some of the best martial arts sequences in a modern-day action film, courtesy of director Roel Reiné. Give it a watch if you loved Mortal Kombat or Shang-Chi and the Legend of the Ten Rings, and keep your eyes peeled for Halo on Paramount+ as Reiné is set to direct episodes of the video game adaptation.
The Harder They Fall (2021)
The Harder They Fall is a throwback to classic Westerns and a great movie in its own right thanks to director/co-writer Jeymes Samuel. Samuel said that he grew up watching Westerns and it shows: from the opening title to the shootout in the final act, there is plenty of Stetson and six shooting action to go around, and horses charging through the dusty plains. And that’s not even counting the film’s stacked cast, which includes the talents of Jonathan Majors, Regina King, and Delroy Lindo; Idris Elba is also a revelation as the villainous Rufus Buck.
The Old Guard (2020)
The world of comic books has led to a plethora of live-action film and TV projects, most notably from Marvel and DC Comics. However, indie publisher Image Comics has also dipped its toe into this pool, with the best effort being The Old Guard. Based on the miniseries by Greg Rucka and Leandro Fernandez, the film follows a group of immortal mercenaries who find themselves on the run from a Pharma Bro who wants to harness their abilities for profit. Really all you need to know is that KiKi Layne is a born action star and Charlize Theron wields a massive battle axe (and looks great doing it).
Extraction (2020)
Joe and Anthony Russo have made quite a career for themselves after their work at Marvel Studios, producing and directing multiple film and TV projects under their AGBO Films banner. One of the first projects they produced was the action film Extraction, starring Chris Hemsworth and directed by their longtime second unit director Sam Hargrave. As mercenary Tyler Rake, Hemsworth trades Thor’s hammer and golden locks for an action hero’s scowl and an assault rifle, engaging in gritty and gory action as he escorts a drug lord’s son through the city of Dhaka. The standout sequence is a 12-minute single take, as Rake moves thorough an apartment complex dispatching foes.
The Night Comes for Us (2018)
Adapted from a graphic novel of the same name, The Night Comes for Us is a great story based on the horrifying actions and events caused by the Triad: A Chinese crime syndicate that reigns supreme over a large number of countries around the world. The action is graphic yet entertaining with a mix of styles like Kill Bill and John Wick combined to create a bloodier yet slightly excessive sequence of events. The thing that makes it unique is that this story feels bleaker and more hopeless from the start, creating more of an art-house feeling that stays with you.
New Gods: Nezha Reborn (2021)
Mythology has been remixed over the years, leading to a wealth of stories on film and screen. One of the more recent tales is New Gods: Nezha Reborn, putting a superheroic spin on the titular god and the classic Chinese novel Investiture of the Gods. Protagonist Li Yunxiang even has somewhat of a standard superhero origin: he’s an ordinary young man who learns that he’s the reincarnation of a god, and even builds a suit of armor to contain his fire powers that looks like something a superhero would wear. Whether you’re fans of superheroes, mythology, or animation Nezha Reborn has something for everyone.
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