Bad Boys
What would a list of action movies be without Bad Boys? This classic stars Will Smith and Martin Lawrence as Miami-Dade County detectives Mike Lowrey and Marcus Burnett. When someone steals $100 million worth of confiscated heroin from their office, the two are asked to find the culprit. But they only have five days to do it. Oh! And their boss thinks it’s an inside job. Naturally, the investigation reveals the dark underbelly of the Miami PD.
Taken
Ever since my dad saw this movie, he’s lovingly texted, “Don’t get taken” whenever I’ve crossed state lines. Luckily, we watched it together, so I know what to avoid. (Thank you, Liam Neeson!) Here a young girl named Kim is kidnapped while vacationing in France. Luckily, her father, Bryan (Neeson), is an ex–government operative who will stop at nothing to find her. When Bryan learns that Kim is the victim of sex trafficking, he races against the clock to bring her home before she’s auctioned off.
Ocean’s 8
Rihanna, Sandra Bullock, Cate Blanchett, Mindy Kaling, Awkwafina, Sarah Paulson, Anne Hathaway, and Helena Bonham Carter in the same movie? Damn. In the action-packed Ocean’s 8, Debbie Ocean (Bullock) assembles a squad of thieving women to pull off a heist at the Met Gala. They’re hankering for a necklace that’s worth $150 million. To get it, they have to sneak in and out of the biggest party of the year without causing a stir.
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Die Hard
Is it a thriller or a Christmas movie? Both! Neither! Who cares about specifics when the story is this good? Officer John McClane (Bruce Willis) spends Christmas Eve with his estranged wife, Bonnie, and their two daughters. The night begins at Bonnie’s holiday party downtown. It starts off well, but things take a startling turn when a group of terrorists barges in. Don’t you just hate when that happens? To save his family, McClane fights the terrorists off—vigilante-style.
Freelance
If you missed Freelance in theaters, now’s your chance to tune in from home. The movie stars John Cena (!) as Mason Pettis, a former special-forces operative who winds up on desk duty. One day, he decides to take a freelance security position to protect a journalist while she interviews a dictator. Simple, right? Nope. A military coup breaks out during their work trip, forcing Pettis to tap into his special-ops training to keep them both alive.
Planet of the Apes
Planet! Of! The! F*cking! Apes! Even though the 2001 remake didn’t totally strike a chord with fans then, it’s a timely watch right about now. Astronaut Leo Davidson (Mark Wahlberg) lands on a planet where the aforementioned apes rule the world. When Davidson is captured, he finds solace in a kind ape named Ari, who protects him from General Thade, a malicious tyrant. Together, Davidson and Ari try to liberate the planet so that apes and humans can live in harmony.
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Predator
Arnold Schwarzenegger leads the film as Dutch, a skilled soldier who’s hired by the U.S. government to rescue a group of kidnapped politicians in Guatemala. Once he arrives, though, he notices some are things off. Like…really off. He spots a slew of dead bodies and discovers the culprit is a creature with superhuman strength. As if that weren’t bad enough. Dutch and his crew are the next targets.
Lights Out
Lights Out is a classic action film. Think: big explosions, bulging muscles, and a bunch of dudes kicking ass while techno music blares in the background. It’s great. Frank Grillo plays an ex-soldier (why are they always retired?) who becomes an underground agent. Who’s he fighting against? Oh, you know—the usual: corrupt cops, hitmen, and crime lords. What could go wrong?
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