2024 looks to be another year full of action blockbusters, as seen with the recent release of Monkey Man starring Dev Patel – who also directed, co-wrote, and produced the film. The film is already gaining traction to be one of the year’s standout action films and upcoming releases like Deadpool & Wolverine, Civil War, The Fall Guy, and Furiosa could follow suit.

2023 has already come and gone, but that hasn’t stopped it from being another successful year for action films. Whether original narratives or sequels to existing franchises, these films deliver with their action sequences, instantly hooking the viewers. From franchise films like John Wick: Chapter 4 and Extraction 2 to sleeper hits like Sisu, these are the best action movies to come out in 2023.

10 The Equalizer 3 Proved Denzel Washington Still Has The Skills

• IMDB Rating: 6.8
• Rotten Tomatoes Score: 76%
• Watch on Netflix

Even in his late 60s, Denzel Washington has proved that he still has what it takes to lead an action franchise. He’s also an actor one would not expect to make a sequel to one of his movies, let alone two. Nevertheless, The Equalizer franchise reached its third – and possibly final – installment in 2023. The Equalizer 3 follows Washington’s Robert McCall as he starts a new life in Southern Italy, which gets interrupted by ruthless crime bosses threatening his new friends.

Like the two movies that came before, The Equalizer 3 is an action film that requires patience from the viewer as Robert adjusts to a new lifestyle and setting. The film heavily focuses on Robert and the Italian sights while being an intense slow burn that carefully reveals moments of violent action. While more restrained and slow-paced than its predecessors, The Equalizer 3 still has some of the franchise’s most creative kills and further showcases Washington’s charismatic skills as an action star.

9 Guy Ritchie Broke Away From Familiar Territory to Direct The Covenant

• IMDB Rating: 7.5
• Rotten Tomatoes Score: 83%
• Watch on Prime Video

Guy Ritchie is a filmmaker who has recently and slowly been expanding his range after mostly directing crime films and dark comedies. The same man who made Snatch and Sherlock Holmes has been trying his hand at the action genre, with 2023’s The Covenant being a notable example. Set during the war in Afghanistan, The Covenant follows Sergeant John Kinley and his interpreter, Ahmed. After Ahmed carries him to safety across miles of land, Kinley races to save Ahmed and his family from getting killed.

While The Covenant is a story of heroism and bonding, it also has satisfying war action. Though the action only happens in The Covenant‘s first and third acts, the sequences viewers do get are full of gunfire and explosions to heighten the intensity. Whether it is the attack where Kinley gets injured or the final conflict of rescuing Ahmed and his family, the action comes together thanks to Ritchie’s versatility.

8 Polite Society is a Mix of Several Genres

• IMDB Rating: 6.6
• Rotten Tomatoes Score: 90%
• Watch on Prime Video

Polite Society was an underappreciated gem from 2023 and one that not many people were aware of. However, those who did take the time to see it were treated to something creatively fun. The film follows Ria Khan, who is learning how to become a martial artist and learns that her older sister, Lena, is getting married. Fearing that Lena might be in danger, Ria tries to pull off an outrageous wedding heist and save her sister.

Polite Society blends Bollywood elements, a heartfelt story about sisterhood, and well-choreographed action akin to Scott Pilgrim vs. The World. With those factors in mind, the film should have gained more traction, but it didn’t have strong box office numbers or word of mouth. Still, martial arts fans will find entertainment in watching Polite Society. The fight scenes are mesmerizing, as director Nida Manzoor took inspiration from pre-existing kung-fu films to create a new kind of Bollywood epic.

7 Creed III Further Elevated Michael B. Jordan’s Status

• IMDB Rating: 6.7
• Rotten Tomatoes Score: 88%
• Watch on Prime Video and MGM+

The Creed films have continuously become a worthy successor to the Rocky franchise. Adonis Creed’s story is still going strong with 2023’s Creed III. Michael B. Jordan does double duty as the leading star and a first-time director. In Jordan’s directorial debut, Creed III continues Adonis’ journey as he continues to dominate in the boxing world. However, his life gets turned upside down when his former childhood friend Damien returns from prison and challenges him.

Even with the absence of Sylvester Stallone’s Rocky Balboa, Creed III is a satisfying boxing film that proves Adonis is ready to move on from Rocky’s training. Jordan had a tough challenge directing and starring in this third film, but he delivers gripping work in front of and behind the camera. Both Jordan and Jonathan Majors are electrifying as Adonis and Damien, two friends who have a falling out and face off against one another in the ring. The boxing sequences are expertly filmed as Jordan used influential anime like Naruto and Dragon Ball Z to create the hard-hitting action, specifically in the final fight.

• IMDB Rating: 7
• Rotten Tomatoes Score: 79%
• Watch on Netflix

In 2020, Netflix’s Extraction thrilled at-home audiences at a time when movie theaters weren’t thriving as much. With its stellar filmmaking and action sequences, the Chris Hemsworth-led action extravaganza became a huge hit and spawned a 2023 sequel. Extraction 2 continues where its predecessor left off, where Hemsworth’s Tyler Rake recovers from his injuries to prepare for another mission. He is tasked with extracting his ex-wife’s sister and her two kids from a Georgian prison and away from a dangerous mob family.

Just like any action film sequel, Hemsworth and director Sam Hargrave knew how to make Extraction 2 more outlandish and violently entertaining than the first. While the film is light on plot, the high-octane action is enough to leave viewers hyped. Extraction 2‘s standout moment was the 21-minute one-take sequence in the first act. In the scene, Tyler and his team extract the family from a prison, which proceeds into a car chase and finishes on a train. Extraction 2 also has a city-wide gunfight in the second act and an explosive confrontation in the film’s finale to keep the plot and action moving.

5 Sisu Blends History With Bloody Action

• IMDB Rating: 6.9
• Rotten Tomatoes Score: 94%
• Watch on Starz

While Sisu had its premiere in 2022, it didn’t reach American audiences until April 2023. Marketed as a historical version of John Wick, Sisu centers on a prospector named Aatami who – during the last days of World War II – miraculously finds gold and travels to a bank to cash in his discovery. However, when he comes across a troop of Nazis, they attempt to take his gold, but he won’t go without a fight.

Once Aatami shows off his combat skills, the Nazis realize that he is more dangerous than imagined, and it leads to a bloodbath of epic proportions. As Aatami outruns his enemies and tries to hang on to the gold, he uses his surroundings to stay alive. Using knives, pickaxes, and even landmines to take down his opponents, Aatami finds new strategies to stay alive and strike fear into the Nazis, who all get what’s coming to them. From standoffs in a minefield to a final battle aboard a plane, Sisu is 90 minutes of fast-paced fun.

4 The Killer is an Unconventional Action Thriller

• IMDB Rating: 6.7
• Rotten Tomatoes Score: 85%
• Watch on Netflix

The Killer might be director David Fincher’s closest thing to creating an action film, as he’s gained a reputation for primarily making crime and neo-noir films. While not the most action-packed movie of 2023, The Killer does have a noteworthy fight scene and plenty of intense moments. Michael Fassbender stars as an unnamed yet methodical assassin who botches his latest job and travels internationally to take out his employers and other people involved in the mission.

From its opening scene, The Killer requires the viewers’ patience as it delves deep into the thoughts of its protagonist and then proceeds into the consequences of missing the target. From there, The Killer becomes an intriguing manhunt-type story broken into several chapters full of violent conflicts. One particular fight scene in the second act is very memorable for fans of The Killer, where the protagonist and a tough brute engage in a chaotic house fight. It’s a David vs. Goliath-like brawl where every hit is effective, the camera work is impressive, and it leaves the viewers breathless by the end.

3 Mission: Impossible Raised The Bar Once More in Dead Reckoning Part One

• IMDB Rating: 7.7
• Rotten Tomatoes Score: 96%
• Watch on Paramount+

Since 2011’s Ghost Protocol, the Mission: Impossible franchise has been on a winning streak and has consistently put out high-quality work. The most recent installment, Dead Reckoning Part One, continues to take the series to new heights. In this entry, Ethan Hunt and his IMF team engage in another international and high-stakes mission to take down a new foe and a dangerous AI weapon that could endanger the world.

While fans have argued if Dead Reckoning Part One is the best entry or if it’s Fallout that still reigns supreme, there’s no denying that the long-running Mission: Impossible franchise is still going strong with its seventh adventure. Dead Reckoning Part One is a crowd-pleasing blockbuster and one that touches on the relevant topic of AI. Furthermore, Tom Cruise continues to prove why he’s one of the best action stars around, thanks to his dedication and willingness to perform some of the craziest stunts of his career. The action sequences are marvelous, complete with popular moments like the Rome car chase, the final train fight, and Ethan riding a motorcycle off a cliff.

2 Guardians of the Galaxy Vol. 3 Has Some of The MCU’s Best Action

• IMDB Rating: 7.9
• Rotten Tomatoes Score: 82%
• Watch on Disney+

Expectations were high for Guardians of the Galaxy Vol. 3 as the superhero movie was both a farewell to the original group and James Gunn’s final project in the MCU. Thankfully, it wrapped up the trilogy in a beautifully bittersweet way, becoming one of the MCU’s best films in recent memory. Vol.3 follows the Guardians as they rally together for one last adventure to save Rocket Raccoon and defeat a new nemesis, the High Evolutionary.

Guardians of the Galaxy Vol. 3 has many emotional moments throughout, with some being traditionally humorous while others are tear-jerking for many fans. In addition, the explosive and colorful action the films are known for is present once more. From the opening, the anxiety-filled introduction of Adam Warlock made many people afraid that someone important was going to die. There are also several team fights spread across the final battle worth mentioning. Some famous examples are the Guardians landing final hits on the High Evolutionary and the incredibly shot hallway fight set to “No Sleep Till Brooklyn” by Beastie Boys.

1 John Wick: Chapter 4 is The Franchise’s Highest Peak

• IMDB Rating: 7.7
• Rotten Tomatoes Score: 94%
• Watch on Starz

John Wick is one of the rare franchises that carefully and consistently elevates itself with each installment, and it peaked once more with Chapter 4 in 2023. John Wick: Chapter 4 continues the titular hitman’s journey as he travels internationally once more to avoid the high bounty on his head and take down the High Table. Hoping to earn his freedom, he makes new alliances, confronts new enemies, and kills anyone standing in his way.

Even at almost 3 hours long, John Wick: Chapter 4 knows how to keep the audience interested for the entire runtime. A large part of that is the gorgeous cinematography and lighting and how unbelievably choreographed the action is. Whether hand-to-hand brawls or exquisite gunfights, Chapter 4‘s unskippable action is some of the series’ best. The nunchuck and sword fights in Osaka, the brutal nightclub beatdown in Berlin, and the non-stop gunfire sequences in Paris all help make Chapter 4 continually entertaining. John Wick: Chapter 4 is a movie that proved stuntwork deserves more award recognition – especially at the Oscars – and helped define the action genre in 2023.