10 Critically-Acclaimed Action Movies You’re Missing Out On (2024)

In a world where action films often follow familiar formulas, some stand apart by pushing boundaries, telling unexpected stories, and delivering thrills that resonate beyond the screen. These films, all boasting scores above 90% on Rotten Tomatoes (Certified Fresh), are celebrated by critics and cherished by fans, offering something unique—whether through inventive storytelling, groundbreaking fight choreography, or untold narratives that enrich the genre.

Widely available on streaming platforms, these understated gems have earned their place in the action film canon, not just for their high-octane sequences but for the deeper human stories they tell. If you’re looking to discover action films that surprise, inspire, and captivate, this list is your starting point.

11 '13 Assassins' (2010)

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13 Assassins

R

Adventure

Drama

Action

Release Date

September 9, 2010

Runtime

141 Minutes

Cast

Kôji Yakusho, Takayuki Yamada, Yusuke Iseya, Gorô Inagaki, Kazue Fukiishi

Takashi Miike’s 13 Assassins boasts a 95% Rotten Tomatoes score for good reason: it’s not just an action film, but a philosophical meditation on honor and the cost of sacrifice. The film begins with a slow build, immersing the audience in the quiet menace of feudal Japan, as a group of samurai assembles for a suicide mission against a sadistic warlord. By the time the climactic 45-minute battle erupts, the tension has been stretched to its breaking point.

Honor, Sacrifice, and Controlled Chaos

What makes 13 Assassins special is Miike’s ability to balance brutal, kinetic violence with moments of reflective stillness. The action is unflinching, chaotic, and devastating, but every blow feels purposeful, imbued with the weight of the characters’ moral dilemmas. The film’s resonance lies in how it captures the inevitability of sacrifice, both on the battlefield and in life, leaving audiences exhilarated and deeply moved.

10 'Shadow' (2018)

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Shadow

PG-13

Action

Release Date

September 30, 2018

Runtime

116

At 94% on Rotten Tomatoes, Zhang Yimou’s Shadow is a visual tour de force that redefines the Wuxia genre. Filmed in a muted, monochromatic palette, the movie feels like a living ink painting, every frame meticulously composed to evoke a sense of both beauty and foreboding. Set during China’s Three Kingdoms period, the story revolves around power struggles, doppelgängers, and deadly duels, weaving a narrative as intricate as its visuals.

A Masterpiece of Monochrome and Deception

The fight choreography, featuring weapons as unconventional as razor-sharp umbrellas, is as innovative as it is breathtaking. But Shadow is more than a display of technical brilliance—it’s a meditation on identity, duality, and the lengths people will go to secure power. By pairing its stunning aesthetics with a layered narrative, Shadow transcends genre conventions, standing as both a work of art and a deeply engaging action film.

9 'The Night Comes for Us' (2018)

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The Night Comes For Us

R

Action

Crime

Thriller

Where to Watch

• stream
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Not available

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*Availability in US

Release Date

October 5, 2018

Runtime

121 Minutes

Cast

Joe Taslim, Iko Uwais, Julie Estelle, Sunny Pang, Asha Kenyeri Bermudez

At 92% on Rotten Tomatoes, Timo Tjahjanto’s The Night Comes for Us is a dazzling, unapologetically brutal exploration of loyalty and redemption. The film follows Ito, a former triad enforcer turned protector, as he faces an onslaught of assassins while trying to save a young girl. From the opening sequence to the jaw-dropping finale, the film refuses to let up, delivering some of the most inventive and violent fight choreography in modern action cinema.

A Blood-Soaked Spectacle with Heart

What sets this film apart isn’t just its unrelenting pace, but the emotional weight behind the carnage. Every punch, stab, and bone break carries the weight of Ito’s moral struggle, making the violence feel purposeful rather than gratuitous. For fans of The Raid, this film is a natural progression—more stylized, more chaotic, but equally grounded in its exploration of humanity amidst the bloodshed.

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Crouching Tiger, Hidden Dragon

PG-13

Action

Adventure

Drama

Fantasy

Release Date

December 8, 2000

Runtime

120 Minutes

Cast

Chow Yun-Fat, Michelle Yeoh, Zhang Ziyi, Chang Chen, Lang Sihung, Cheng Pei-pei

With an extraordinary 98% on Rotten Tomatoes, Ang Lee’s Crouching Tiger, Hidden Dragon transcends the traditional boundaries of action cinema. The film, at its core, is a tale of repressed love, loyalty, and destiny, but it executes this narrative with poetic martial arts sequences that seem to defy the laws of physics. Each fight scene, choreographed by the legendary Yuen Woo-ping, is not just a visual spectacle but an extension of the characters’ emotional struggles, a stunning interplay of grace and fury.

Epic Choreography Meets Profound Emotional Depth

What sets this film apart is its ability to fuse profound storytelling with the spectacle of Wuxia—a genre often relegated to cult appreciation in the West. The wire-fu action sequences, with characters gliding across treetops or engaging in balletic duels, became an international phenomenon, influencing everything from The Matrix to contemporary superhero films. Beyond the fights, the film’s deeply human story, led by iconic performances from Chow Yun-fat and Michelle Yeoh, cements its place as a cinematic masterpiece.

7 'Sicario' (2015)

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Sicario

R

Drama

Crime

Action

Where to Watch

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Release Date

October 2, 2015

Runtime

121 Minutes

Cast

Benicio Del Toro, Emily Blunt, Josh Brolin, Jeffrey Donovan, Jon Bernthal, Victor Garber

Before Dune and Dune: Part 2, Denis Villeneuve’s Sicario delivers a heart-pounding exploration of moral ambiguity in the war on drugs. With a 92% on Rotten Tomatoes, the film follows FBI agent Kate Macer (Emily Blunt) as she joins a shadowy government task force, uncovering the murky ethics behind their operations.

Tension-Fueled Precision in the War on Drugs

What makes Sicario extraordinary is its relentless tension, heightened by Roger Deakins’ cinematography, which captures every shadow and silhouette with haunting precision. The action sequences are grounded and methodical, with Villeneuve choosing to build suspense through anticipation rather than spectacle. From the infamous border crossing scene to the chilling finale, every moment feels like a masterclass in pacing. Beneath the action lies a scathing critique of institutional corruption and the human cost of unchecked power, making Sicario as thought-provoking as it is thrilling.

6 'RRR' (2022)

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RRR

Action

Drama

History

Where to Watch

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Release Date

March 24, 2022

Runtime

185 Minutes

Cast

S.S. Rajamouli, Ram Charan, N.T. Rama Rao Jr., Ajay Devgn, Alia Bhatt, Ray Stevenson

At a 96% on Rotten Tomatoes, S. S. Rajamouli’s RRR redefines the possibilities of action cinema. This Indian epic tells the fictionalized story of two revolutionaries, Alluri Sitarama Raju (Ram Charan) and Komaram Bheem (N. T. Rama Rao Jr.), whose friendship and missions collide in spectacular ways.

A Blockbuster with Heart, Spectacle, and Revolution

What sets RRR apart is its unapologetic embrace of over-the-top action sequences, which include gravity-defying stunts, breathtaking slow-motion shots, and jaw-dropping moments of heroism. But beneath the spectacle lies an emotional core that drives the story forward—this is a film about friendship, sacrifice, and the fight for freedom. The musical numbers, including the viral hit “Naatu Naatu,” add another layer of exuberance, making RRR a celebration of both action and storytelling on the grandest scale.

5 'Edge of Tomorrow' (2014)

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Edge of Tomorrow

PG-13

Sci-Fi

Action

Thriller

Adventure

Where to Watch

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Not available

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*Availability in US

Release Date

June 6, 2014

Runtime

1h 53m

Cast

Tom Cruise, Emily Blunt, Bill Paxton, Brendan Gleeson, Noah Taylor, Kick Gurry, Dragomir Mrsic, Charlotte Riley, Jonas Armstrong, Franz Drameh, Masayoshi Haneda, Tony Way

With a 91% on Rotten Tomatoes, Edge of Tomorrow combines a clever narrative structure with pulse-pounding action. Directed by Doug Liman and starring Tom Cruise and Emily Blunt, the film follows Major William Cage, a reluctant soldier who gains the ability to relive the same day every time he dies during a brutal alien invasion. This Groundhog Day-inspired mechanic elevates the storytelling, creating a unique blend of high-concept sci-fi and relentless combat sequences.

Time-Looping Brilliance Meets Relentless Action

Emily Blunt’s portrayal of the battle-hardened Sergeant Rita Vrataski, also known as the "Full Metal B*tch," is a standout, bringing depth and resilience to the genre’s archetype of a female action hero. Her chemistry with Cruise adds emotional stakes to the time-loop chaos, ensuring the story resonates beyond its explosive set pieces.

Praised for its sharp wit, inventive premise, and immersive battle scenes, Edge of Tomorrow is an action gem that balances blockbuster thrills with narrative ingenuity. Its ability to turn repetition into a source of tension and excitement has made it a modern classic in the sci-fi action genre.

4 'Hard Boiled' (1992)

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Hard Boiled

R

Action

Crime

Thriller

Release Date

April 16, 1992

Runtime

2hr 8min

Cast

Chow Yun-Fat, Philip Chan, Tony Leung Chiu-wai, Phillip Chung-Fung Kwok

With a 92% Rotten Tomatoes score, John Woo’s Hard Boiled is an iconic piece of Hong Kong action cinema that redefined the genre. Chow Yun-fat stars as Tequila, a cop on a mission to dismantle a mob syndicate, and his journey leads to some of the most inventive shootouts ever put to film.

A Ballet of Bullets and Chaos

What makes Hard Boiled legendary is Woo’s unparalleled ability to turn gunfights into cinematic poetry. The hospital shootout, which spans nearly 30 minutes, is a masterclass in tension and choreography, blending slow-motion carnage with emotional stakes. Woo’s direction imbues every scene with a sense of operatic grandeur, and Chow Yun-fat’s charisma anchors the chaos with a sense of humanity. Hard Boiled isn’t just an action movie—it’s a visceral, unforgettable experience that continues to influence filmmakers worldwide.

3 'Snowpiercer' (2013)

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Snowpiercer

R

Action

Drama

Sci-Fi

Where to Watch

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Not available

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Release Date

July 11, 2014

Runtime

126 Minutes

Cast

Chris Evans, Jamie Bell, Tilda Swinton, Ed Harris

Main Genre

Sci-Fi

With a 94% Rotten Tomatoes score, Bong Joon-ho’s Snowpiercer is as much a searing critique of class systems as it is a high-octane action thriller. Set aboard a perpetually moving train carrying the last remnants of humanity after a climate catastrophe, the film turns its confined setting into a microcosm of societal inequities.

Social Commentary on a Moving Battlefield

Each train car represents a different layer of society, and as the protagonist, Curtis (Chris Evans), leads a rebellion from the back of the train to the front, every battle becomes a symbolic fight against oppression. The action sequences are both visceral and inventive, from a brutal axe fight in near darkness to a high-speed shootout. Bong masterfully combines these gripping set pieces with moments of quiet introspection, making Snowpiercer not just a visually arresting spectacle but a profound meditation on survival, humanity, and the cyclical nature of power.

2 'Prey' (2022)

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Prey

R

Sci-Fi

Action

Horror

Drama

Where to Watch

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Release Date

August 5, 2022

Runtime

1hr 39min

Cast

Amber Midthunder, Dane DiLiegro, Harlan Blayne Kytwayhat, Dakota Beavers

With a Rotten Tomatoes score of 94%, Prey breathes new life into the Predator franchise by setting it in 1719 and centering the story around a young Comanche warrior, Naru (Amber Midthunder). Director Dan Trachtenberg strips away the bombast of modern blockbusters, instead delivering a lean, visually stunning survival thriller that emphasizes character over spectacle.

A Predator Reimagined with Intensity and Introspection

What makes Prey unique is its focus on indigenous representation and its grounded approach to storytelling. Naru’s journey, from an underestimated hunter to a resourceful and determined warrior, mirrors the tension and stakes of the larger narrative. The film’s breathtaking cinematography captures the stark beauty of the wilderness, while its stripped-down action sequences feel immediate and raw. By combining cultural authenticity with visceral thrills, Prey becomes a standout in both the action and sci-fi genres.

1 'The Woman King' (2022)

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The Woman King

PG-13

Action

Drama

History

Where to Watch

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*Availability in US

Release Date

September 16, 2022

Runtime

2hr 15min

Cast

Viola Davis, Thuso Mbedu, Lashana Lynch, Sheila Atim, John Boyega

At 94% on Rotten Tomatoes, The Woman King is a monumental achievement in action cinema. Directed by Gina Prince-Bythewood and inspired by true events, the film follows General Nanisca (Viola Davis) as she trains the Agojie, an all-female warrior unit, to defend their African kingdom of Dahomey.

Empowering Action Rooted in History

What makes The Woman King exceptional is its ability to balance thrilling battle sequences with deeply human storytelling. The fight choreography is raw and visceral, showcasing the Agojie’s strength and discipline, but the film also delves into themes of identity, resilience, and the bonds of sisterhood. Viola Davis delivers a powerhouse performance, infusing every moment with emotional depth and gravitas. The Woman King is more than an action film—it’s a triumphant celebration of Black womanhood and the untold stories of history.