There is nothing like a good action movie on Netflix. The perfectly choreographed fight scenes that let you feel every punch and kick on screen; the shootouts that see bullets and bodies hitting the floor; the sheer rush of adrenaline you get 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.
Please note: This list pertains to U.S. Netflix subscribers. Some titles may not currently be available on international platforms. This article is frequently amended to remove films no longer on Netflix and to include more horror films that are now available on the service.
The Gray Man
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.
RRR
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
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.
Four Brothers
John Singleton had a career that spanned two decades, helming films including Boyz N The Hood and the Shaft reboot that saw Samuel Jackson stepping into the role of the titular private eye. One of his more underrated films, however, has to be Four Brothers. True to its title, the film centers on four adoptive brothers played by Mark Wahlberg, Tyrese Gibson, Andre Benjamin, and Garrett Hedlund; they head back to their hometown of Detroit when their adoptive mother is killed in a botched robbery. Not only do the four actors actually act like brothers – they bicker, but ultimately have each other’s backs – they also have to deal with a local crime lord played by Chiwetel Ejiofor and a corrupt cop played by Josh Charles. Combine all those elements, and you get a modern crime epic.
Paper Tigers
You’ve probably seen a million variations on this story before: a martial arts prodigy learns that his master has been murdered by a malevolent force and seeks justice by using his skills. But The Paper Tigers flips the script to great effect: the prodigies are middle-aged men dealing with issues including fatherhood and midlife crises. Writer/director Bao Tran and the rest of his film team had to fight an uphill battle as major studios wanted to pursue a version without an Asian-American lead, which was part of Tran’s vision. He was eventually able to make the film he wanted with an Asian American lead in Alain Uy and a setting of Seattle, which paid homage to the late Bruce Lee. The end result is a hilarious, action-packed romp that’s definitely worth a watch.
21 Bridges
The late Chadwick Boseman brought his all to every role he played, whether it was playing T’Challa in Black Panther or historical figures like James Brown and Jackie Robinson. 21 Bridges is no exception, as Boseman plays Detective Andre Davis with a steely exterior and razor-sharp mind. Davis is drawn into a case involving a pair of criminals who find themselves pulled into a conspiracy, and decides to lock down all the bridges in Manhattan in order to trap them. Brian Kirk, best known for directing Game of Thrones, keeps the film moving at a steady clip and puncutates it with bursts of bloody violence. Add a cast that includes J.K. Simmons, Stephan James, Sienna Miller and Keith David, and you have a recipe for a solid Saturday night movie.
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 Take (2016)
Idris Elba’ latest films dig deep into the well of genre fare, including The Suicide Squad and the upcoming Sonic The Hedgehog 2. Netflix currently hosts one of his most underrated films, The Take, which even cracked its Top 10 list! Originally titled Bastille Day, the film follows CIA agent Sean Briar (Elba) and pickpocket Michael Mason (Richard Madden) as they race to stop a group of corrupt police officers from stealing half a billion euros from the French national bank under the guise of a terrorist attack. The film features shootouts and fights that have Elba using his muscle and height to pummel opponents into submission.
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 Last Samurai (2003)
Yes, the idea of “white man travels overseas and immerses himself in the culture” is a movie trope way past its prime. But The Last Samurai is still worth a watch, thanks to its cast, its exploration of samurai culture, and its expertly crafted fight scenes. From samurai attacking the British army in the fog to Nathan Algren (Tom Cruise) and Moritsugu Katsumoto (Ken Watanabe) launching their final assault on the Imperial Army, each action sequence is beautiful yet brutal – especially with Hans Zimmer’s rousing score playing in the background.
Ip Man (2008)
Donnie Yen is one of the greatest martial artists on the planet, and the Ip Man series puts his talents on full display. Based on the life of the Wing Chun grandmaster who eventually trained Bruce Lee, the first Ip Man features plenty of action sequences where Yen’s Ip Man defeats multiple opponents – including a scene where he takes on 10 black belts. Though the other men have the upper hand, they soon suffer massive injuries at the hands of Ip Man.
Desperado (1995)
Before he opened The Book of Boba Fett, Robert Rodriguez was best known for his “Mexico Trilogy” which follows the life of the gunman El Mariachi. The second installment, Desperado, not only places Antonio Banderas into the titular role, it also marks the Salma Hayek’s breakout role as Mariachi’s lover Carolina. Desperado also boasts a number of stylized shootouts, which eventually became Rodriguez’s trademark as bodies literally fly into the air and combatants whirl around with dramatic flair. It only makes the hubbub over Boba Fett’s finale especially baffling.
The Mask of Zorro (1998)
Antonio Banderas is best known for his role as Alejandro Murrieta in The Mask of Zorro. Diego de la Vega (Anthony Hopkins) takes Alejandro under his wing and trains him to be the next Zorro – like how Terry McGinnis became Batman in Batman Beyond. Alejandro also strikes up a romance with Diego’s daughter Elena (Catherine Zeta-Jones), who’s been adopted by Diego’s mortal enemy Don Montero (Stuart Wilson). The chemistry between Banderas and Zeta-Jones is immeasurable, whether they’re dancing together or locked in a sword fight. In fact their sword fight may be one of the sexiest moments ever put to the screen.
The Book of Eli (2010)
The Book of Eli, a post-apocalyptic film that was brought to the screen by Albert and Allen Hughes (Menace II Society) and screenwriter Gary Whitta (Rogue One). Denzel Washington’s Eli carries a book across the irradiated wasteland to an unknown destination, which puts him in conflict with the charismatic and callous Carnegie (Gary Oldman). From the very beginning, the film does not pull its punches when it comes to the fight scenes, with Eli makes short work of a pack of thieves and a group of marauders in a bar, using nothing but his fists and his trusty machete. Heads and limbs fly across the screen in an expertly choreographed and edited fight.
For more like this, take a look at our list of the best sci-fi movies on Netflix.
Enter The Warriors Gate
Though the merits of video game adaptations in film and television have been hotly debated over the years, stories where a protagonist finds themselves in a video game world are still a grand source of entertainment. Enter The Warriors Gate is a film that plays the hits. Written by Taken’s Luc Besson and Robert Mark Kamen, the film has avid gamer Jack (Uriah Shelton) taking home a mysterious artifact. That artifact is the Warriors Gate, and it opens a portal to Jack’s favorite video game – where he has to rescue a princess and battle fearsome enemies. The film features similar vibes to The Last Starfighter and The Forbidden Kingdom, and even features an appearance from Guardians of the Galaxy alum Dave Bautista as a barbarian king.
New Gods: Nezha Reborn
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.
Olympus Has Fallen (2013)
Gerard Butler managed to launch a whole franchise with Olympus Has Fallen. As Secret Service Agent Mike Banning, Butler fights hordes of terrorists to save the president (Aaron Eckhart), who’s being held hostage in the Oval Office. The film also highlights the talents of Antoine Fuqua; though he’s best known for Training Day, Fuqua knows how to shoot an action sequence and injects Banning’s infiltration of the White House with just the right amount of suspense.
The One (2001)
Movies that explore the concept of the multiverse are all the rage these days, from Doctor Strange and The Flash’s upcoming big screen adventures to two different Spider-Man movies. However, Jet Li beat them all to the punch – quite literally – with The One. Li pulls double duty as LAPD officer Gabe Law and interdimensional renegade Yulaw, with the latter convinced that killing every version of himself across the multiverse will make him “The One”. As befitting a Jet Li film, there’s plenty of sequences where he delivers blows fast and furious, and the final fight between Gabe and Yulaw is worth a watch for the craft involved.
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