Action shows have been one of the most popular sources of entertainment for decades. Action TV series have been produced on a regular basis — some focusing on long-term, serialized stories of heroes while others have taken a shorter approach. But the genre is almost as popular on TV as it is in the movies.

The action genre has produced incredibly memorable shows that can hold their own with blockbuster counterparts like Tom Cruise’s Mission: Impossible franchise. The genre has also proven to be incredibly versatile and has experimented with a range of formats, including real-time seasons, anthologies, and merging with other genres. All of these have combined to create brilliant shows that have thriving fandoms years if not decades later.

Updated on April 24, 2024, by Robert Vaux and Ajay Aravind: Earlier fans of action television had to make do with simplistic Westerns and police procedurals, but the genre today is more diverse than ever. Blockbuster franchises have ensured that action-packed stories will continue to spill over into TV. As such, we’ve updated this article with some more relevant information, as well as adding five new entries covering every era of television history. The formatting has been adjusted to meet current CBR guidelines.

15 SEAL Team Is an Excellent Combination of Military Action and Personal Drama

SEAL Team, as its name indicates, follows an elite Navy SEAL unit in their missions against America’s overseas enemies. The Paramount+ drama balances the nature of being a SEAL with how that affects the soldiers at home, with entire episodes dedicated to the main characters’ personal lives. Yet it doesn’t skimp on the action, and can be reliably counted upon for at least one or two sharp set pieces most outings.

SEAL Team has benefited from brilliant, cinematic-quality effects and the use of practical effects to immerse audiences in the action. With a brilliant cast led by TV mainstay David Boreanz, it’s an excellent combination of military action and personal drama. The series proved so popular that it was moved to Paramount+ after initially debuting on CBS. In the process, it has helped define action television for the streaming era.

14 Miami Vice Reinvented Cop Shows for the MTV Generation

For thirty years and more, police shows followed the template set forth by the likes of Dragnet: dutiful cops performing their duties with workaday efficiency, sometimes with commentary on social issues such as racism and drug addiction. The formula worked, and it remained more or less unchanging for decades. Miami Vice changed that in a big way. Its two protagonists looked and acted like no TV cops ever had before, and the mean streets they inhabited felt as wild as a James Bond film.

In many ways, it was as shallow as it sounded: a neon-drenched fantasy about fighting crime while looking ridiculously cool in the process. But it shattered a very well-established mold in the process, and made the moribund cop show look exciting and new. Stars Don Johnson and Phillip Michael Thomas made the cover of Time magazine, and the show went on to define the decade.

13 Alias Combined Pulp Action and Spycraft

In many ways, J.J. Abrams never topped Alias, his breakout effort about a CIA agent working undercover in a global criminal empire. What begins as a post-feminist riff on James Bond takes on more pulp sensibilities in later seasons, as the central plot shifts towards the creations of a prophetic Renaissance inventor. The combination made for a breezy and engaging show, as well as making a star out of Jennifer Garner, who played protagonist Sydney Bristow.

In retrospect, Alias looks comparatively modest: an entertaining bit of spycraft with a strong original concept to set it apart from the pack. Abrams has subsequently been handed several vastly larger intellectual properties — including major entries in the Star Wars and Star Trek franchises — with largely middling results. Alias lacks those ambitions, and benefits immeasurably: allowing Abrams to get out of his own way enough to deliver a fun action series.

12 Xena: Warrior Princess Defined 90s Action

Fantasy series tended to struggle on television before the advent of CGI: simply too expensive to maintain over the long-term. Sam Raimi’s team scored a rare hit in the genre with Hercules: The Legendary Journeys, starting in 1995. It was quickly eclipsed by the spin-off series Xena: Warrior Princess, which caught — and in many ways embodied — the 90s surge of action shows featuring strong female protagonists. In retrospect, it’s far superior to the show that spawned it.

Lucy Lawless rocketed to stardom as the title character, a former villain seeking redemption in the show’s loosely mythical universe. Along with Renee O’Connor’s Gabrielle — who broke new ground with Xena for LGBT+ representation — and the wild stylings of producer Sam Raimi, Xena became a stand-out hit that holds up extremely well to repeat viewings.

11 Hawaii Five-0 Succinctly Modernizes Its Iconic Predecessor

Hawaii Five-0 was a reboot of the classic 1968-1980 TV series starring Jack Lord. It delivered a great modernization of the iconic setting and characters. While the show still followed Steve McGarrett’s elite squad of Hawaii-based cops, it had much more action. Its predecessor was much more of a police procedural, leaning on the tropical location instead of shoot-outs and car chases. The old show didn’t have access to the resources the new one does, however, nor could it compete with the kind of stunts and fights in place today. The new Hawaii Five-0 takes full advantage of the difference.

Hawaii Five-0 had numerous episodes that explored McGarrett’s roots as a Navy SEAL, sending him on missions against organized crime and terrorism. The setting in Hawai’i gave the series a unique backdrop for many of its action sequences. With actors like Alex O’Loughlin, Daniel Dae Kim, and Mark Dacascos, the show boasted a lineup of talented performers who could handle just about anything.

10 The A-Team Became The Template for ’80s Action TV Series

The A-Team became the template for 1980s action TV series: following a crack squad of fugitives who were accused of crimes they didn’t commit. They fled captivity and became soldiers of fortune and helped anyone they could. The series particularly focused on small, neglected communities, with the A-Team being the only people willing to help them against the likes of giant corporations and crime lords.

More importantly, The A-Team featured heroes who used their wits and skills to overcome their enemies, rather than just constant action sequences. The result was a series that was action-packed but also showcased ingenuity and resourcefulness. Hannibal, Face, B.A. Baracus, and Murdoch traveled the country, fighting criminals, gangs, and corrupt lawmen, while also working to clear their own names. The four characters became endearing as they bickered their way through various escapades, and often proved more compelling than the gunfights. Its winning formula made a star out of Mr. T and remains a staple of 80s nostalgia viewing.

9 Peacemaker Is a Surreal Comedic Antihero Story

There have been plenty of out-there superhero shows over the years, going back to the Adam West Batman series. None were quite as off-the-wall as Peacemaker, however: spun out of The Suicide Squad and giving fans a comedic antihero story that followed the titular character working against an alien invasion. Along with his squad of government operatives and his “friend” Vigilante, Peacemaker took on the aliens with an overly direct approach. The end result was a TV series that was constantly in the audience’s face, and viewers responded enthusiastically.

Peacemaker is a fantastic adaptation of the DC Comics character, and one of the creative turning points in James Gunn’s DC Universe, as it established what he could do with the DC brand. Whether it’s Peacemaker’s fight with a supervillain or the confrontation with his father, the series has fantastic action sequences. Yet all of those sequences have an underlying story point and at least one memorable moment.​​​​​​: a rarity even in the best superhero series.

8 Mission: Impossible Set The Stage for Tom Cruise

It seems hard to believe with the venerable Tom Cruise film series on screens for nearly thirty years, but Mission: Impossible began life as classic 1960s TV series. It stood out from the glut of post-James Bond spy fare thanks to its clever original concept, with Jim Phelps and his team of IMF agents tackling a new hair-trigger assignment every week. The evergreen theme song gets viewers in the mood right away, and the various pieces of deception involved in every episode play into some pretty amazing twists.

Modern viewers may be surprised at how comparatively tame it is, especially in light of the Cruise movies which take full advantage of their gargantuan budgets. But its labryinthine plots can be addictive, and the standard it set was strong enough to last for decades on their own before the property found its way to the big screen.

7 Chuck Offers Viewers a Real Stake in The Titular Hero’s Journey

Chuck combined comedy and action into the story of a retail tech support employee with government secrets downloaded into his brain. The series was effectively James Bond meets The Big Bang Theory, as mild-mannered Chuck was teamed up with government agents Sarah and Casey to battle enemies he was completely unprepared for. But that didn’t stop the show from creating a fun, upbeat atmosphere to let fly with a little mayhem.

Chuck used his enhanced cognitive abilities and skills to help Sarah and Casey with terrorism and espionage. The series also followed his friendships and his budding romance with Sarah, giving viewers a real stake in the hero’s journey. The NBC show proved to be the breakout project for future Shazam! star Zachary Levi and Emmy nominee Yvonne Strahovski. Chuck is a great example of action-based TV that doesn’t need to be ulta serious.

6 Nikita Is The Second Adaption of Luc Besson’s La Femme Nikita

Starring Maggie Q as its titular hero, Nikita was the second adaptation of Luc Besson’s French action thriller La Femme Nikita, and easily the best. The CW version followed Nikita Mears, a former operative for a secretive agency known as Division that carried out assassinations, espionage, and sabotage. Her primary goal throughout the series was to take down her former employer by any means necessary, which proved both elusive and dangerous.

Nikita changed its narrative significantly over its run, as the early seasons also showed the inner workings of Division and other recruits like Alex Udinov. However, Alex and Nikita’s former handler Michael quickly joined her mission. The final seasons saw Nikita assembling a whole group of rogue agents. No matter what the story, action scenes were always top-notch with actors like Lyndsy Fonseca, and Devon Sawa often playing a big hand.

5 Reacher Combines Thrilling Action Sequences with Dramatic Tension

Reacher, based on the Jack Reacher novels by Lee Child, centers on a former military police officer who drops off the grid. The show’s first season had the eponymous hero tackling a criminal conspiracy in a small town following the death of his brother. It proved to be so successful that Prime Video renewed Reacher for Season 2, with Alan Ritchson (Titans) returning in the title role.

Reacher has incredible fight sequences — not just for its main character but for everyone involved. Season 1 features a number of violent and breathtaking fights, with the series unafraid to rack up a body count. However, it also doesn’t rely solely on brute force. The show also includes a fair amount of Reacher’s detective skills and even some surprising humor. It’s all the more impressive considering that Tom Cruise — no slouch when it comes to action — made a pair of Jack Reacher movies whose success helped greenlight the series. The second effort has readily eclipsed the first.

4 The Unit Found Ways to Incorporate Action into Every Episode

The Unit documented the missions of an elite squad of U.S. military operatives. Starring Dennis Haysbert, Robert Patrick, and Scott Foley, it was a precursor to SEAL Team in the sense that both aired on CBS, and both split their focus between military action and home life. The Unit began with a strong emphasis on the soldiers’ wives and families, often giving them their own plotlines. This decreased somewhat in later seasons, but everyone was involved in some kind of action.

The Unit routinely had captivating plots, showcasing missions like hostage rescues, taking down hijackers, and preventing wars. The series found ways to incorporate action into every episode — whether it was a plane crash resulting in a battle for survival or a training mission that went wrong. An excellent cast also helped the show run for four seasons, without lowering the adrenaline levels in the process.

3 Strike Back Is a Shining Example of High-Octane Television Drama

Strike Back was one of the best examples of cinematic, high-octane drama brought to TV. It followed an elite unit of the British military known as Section 20 and the skilled military operatives it employed to tackle major threats around the world. The series made good use of its numerous filming locations, shooting in several different countries. It also relied much more on practical work than special effects.

Strike Back followed one overarching story every season, hitting its stride in the Showtime years that followed the characters of Damien Scott and Michael Stonebridge. They and their colleagues battled terrorists, arms dealers, and a wide variety of other factions. But every season had incredible action involving top-notch actors, including Oscar winner Michelle Yeoh, Hannibal‘s Richard Armitage, and The Walking Dead star Andrew Lincoln — just to name a few.

2 Netflix’s Daredevil Took the MCU to the Mean Streets

Netflix’s series of Marvel shows remain in an odd limbo, as the Marvel Cinematic Universe decides which parts it wants to include in its narrative. No one, however, will forget the impact of its inaugural series. Charlie Cox’s Man Without Fear wiped away all memory of the much maligned Ben Affleck movie, revealing a hero in progress who isn’t yet sure he wants to be a hero at all. Cox brought an innate sympathy to Matt Murdock throughout the show’s three seasons, which embodied a number of key storylines from the comics.

Its action scenes were second to none, topped by a brutal hallway fight in Season 1, Episode 2, “Cut Man” that still gets people topping. Against the comparative optimism of the MCU, it fully embraced Marvel’s darker side, and left a glowing legacy for the character regardless of what his future holds. (As befits the often-bewildering world of streaming services, the “Netflix Daredevil” is currently available on Disney+.)

1 24 Is Arguably The Best Action TV Series Ever Made

24 became not just the ultimate action series but one of TV’s most binge-worthy series thanks to its real-time format, with each episode following immediately after the previous one. Kiefer Sutherland starred as Jack Bauer, initially leading the Los Angeles office of the Counter Terrorist Unit — but his job description and the threats he faced changed constantly. Much of the tension involved giving him a seemingly impossible choice between two unthinkable options, then watching him claw his way to a third path through sheer force of will. That made the series feel fresh every season, to say the least,

The series lasted for almost a decade, including a TV movie, a follow-up miniseries, and a short-lived spin-off. Kiefer Sutherland’s performance as Jack Bauer brought an intensity to TV that had previously been lacking and remains the benchmark for the action genre. Years after its finale, viewers are still asking about the return of 24, which proves why it’s at the top of the action genre — and one of the best TV series in the modern era.