15 Best Netflix Action Movies of All Time
As one of the largest streaming platforms in the world, Netflix seizes every opportunity to collaborate with various production houses to release high-quality original movies. These movies come with a variety of genres to attract the attention of its users.
One of the most popular genres is action. Many action movies on Netflix have garnered acclaim comparable to box office hits due to their gripping stories, intense shootouts, and thrilling action choreography.
Showpoiler has compiled a list of the best action movies available on Netflix. Curious to know which ones made the cut? Read on to find out!
1. A Cop Movie
| Year | 2021 |
| Genre | Action, Crime, Drama |
| Director | Alonso Ruizpalacios |
| Cast | Mónica Del Carmen Raúl Briones Tari Ceballos |
Originally titled Una película de policías, A Cop Movie is a Spanish docudrama directed by Alonso Ruizpalacios, starring Mónica Del Carmen and Raúl Briones in the lead roles.
Teresa (Mónica Del Carmen) is a police officer in Mexico City. One night, she is assigned to a solo patrol and responds to various emergencies, including helping a woman in labor despite lacking proper training. She handles these situations because it is her duty.
Teresa became an honest cop and served the community. Unfortunately, her efforts are overshadowed by widespread corruption and systemic dysfunction within the Mexican police force.
2. All Quiet on the Western Front
| Year | 2022 |
| Genre | Action, Drama, War |
| Director | Edward Berger |
| Cast | Daniel Brühl Albrecht Schuch Felix Kammerer Moritz Klaus Aaron Hilmer |
This German war film, a critical and commercial hit, has garnered an impressive 55 awards, including 4 Oscars. It vividly portrays the grueling experiences and sufferings of a young German soldier on the Western Front during World War I.
The film centers around Paul Bäumer (played by Felix Kammerer) and his friends Albert (Aaron Hilmer) and Müller (Moritz Klaus). In the spring of 1917, filled with youthful enthusiasm, they voluntarily help the Imperial German Army, only to be stationed in Northern France.
However, the reality of being soldiers is far from what they had imagined. The young men are thrust into relentless combat, driven not by their own motivations but by the higher-ups' relentless pursuit to end the war against the German invasion. How will Paul and his friends cope with the relentless conflicts and challenges of war?
3. The Killer (2023)
| Year | 2023 |
| Genre | Action, Adventure, Crime |
| Director | David Fincher |
| Cast | Michael Fassbender Charles Parnell Kerry O'Malley Sala Baker Sophie Charlotte Tilda Swinton |
Based on the French graphic novel series by Alexis "Matz" Nolent and illustrated by Luc Jacamon, the movie follows a hitman (Michael Fassbender) who is assigned to kill someone but fails.
His failure makes his boss, Hodges (Charles Parnell), furious, so he asks his men to look for the hitman who escaped to the Dominican Republic. Unfortunately, the killer's girlfriend was caught first and tortured.
Fueled by fury and a desire for revenge, the hitman sets out to eliminate everyone involved, including Hodges. With the help of Hodges' secretary, he uncovers the identities of those who tortured his girlfriend.
When the hitman finally tracks down Hodges' men in New York, a fierce battle ensues. After eliminating everyone involved, the hitman retires, aiming to live a peaceful life with his Dominican girlfriend.
4. El Camino: A Breaking Bad Movie
| Year | 2019 |
| Genre | Action, Crime, Drama |
| Director | Vince Gilligan |
| Cast | Aaron Paul Jesse Plemons Krysten Ritter Charles Baker |
Jesse Pinkman (Aaron Paul) is finally free from the torture and slavery he was subjected to by his own colleagues and family. He runs as far as he can to avoid the perpetrators of these crimes. Jesse asks his friend, Mike (Jonathan Banks), for advice on where to go.
Mike suggests Alaska as a possible destination, but warns that the escape will be challenging. Jesse needs to change his identity and other aspects of his life to make a fresh start. Fortunately, he knows about a man named Ed Galbraith (Robert Forster) who can help with these arrangements, though his exact whereabouts are unknown.
Pressed for time, Jesse must find Ed and gather the money needed to pay for his expensive services. Will Jesse's escape plan succeed, allowing him to start a new life in Alaska as he hopes?
5. Athena
| Year | 2022 |
| Genre | Action, Drama, Thriller |
| Director | Romain Gavras |
| Cast | Dali Benssalah Sami Slimane Anthony Bajon |
Chaos breaks out in the Banlieue neighborhood of Athens as residents clash with police officers. It all begins when Lt. Abdel (Dali Benssalah), an Algerian-French soldier, holds a press conference after the death of his 13-year-old brother.
His brother's death is believed to have been the result of a police beating. Lieutenant Abdel expresses his sadness and disappointment peacefully, but Abdel's other brother Karim (Sami Slimane) cannot control his anger. He and his gang storm the police station and steal weapons, leading to chaos.
Who is to blame in this scenario? Abdel for initiating the press conference, or Karim for inciting violence with the police? The incident results in losses for many parties. Watch the gripping story in director Romain Gavras' Athena on your favorite streaming platform!
6. The Old Guard
| Year | 2020 |
| Genre | Action, Fantasy, War |
| Director | Gina Prince Bythewood |
| Cast | Charlize Theron KiKi Layne Matthias Schoenaerts Marwan Kenzari Luca Marinelli |
The Old Guard is an action movie with a superhero premise starring Charlize Theron as the main character. Charlize plays Andy, a centuries-old soldier with the ability to heal rapidly.
Andy isn't the only one with this power; several of her colleagues share the same ability. They survive by working as mercenaries, which catches the attention of CIA agent James Copley (Chiwetel Ejiofor). Curious about the origin of their powers, James has Andy and her team kidnapped.
James collaborates with pharmaceutical executive Steven Merrick (Harry Melling) to uncover the secrets of their immortality. However, James's perspective changes when he realizes that Andy and her team use their powers to protect people. Now, James joins forces with Andy to rescue her team from Merrick's experiments before it's too late.
7. The Harder They Fall
| Year | 2021 |
| Genre | Action, Drama, Western |
| Director | Jeymes Samuel |
| Cast | Jonathan Majors Idris Elba Zazie Beetz Regina King Delroy Lindo |
Rufus Buck (Idris Elba) is a high-profile criminal responsible for numerous thefts and murders, including the killing of Nat Love's (Jonathan Majors) parents when Nat was a child. As he grows up, Nat becomes determined to take revenge on Rufus and his gang.
Nat learns that Rufus has been arrested for his crimes, but his relief is short-lived as Rufus is pardoned and released. Fueled by anger and restlessness, Nat sets out to hunt Rufus down with the help of his gang members.
Aware of Nat's intentions, Rufus assembles his own formidable crew, including the fearsome Trudy Smith (Regina King) and the deadly Cherokee Bill (Lakeith Stanfield). The showdown between these groups promises to be intense. Will Nat and his gang succeed in bringing Rufus to justice? Find out in The Harder They Fall.
8. Triple Frontier
| Year | 2019 |
| Genre | Action, Thriller |
| Director | J. C. Chandor |
| Cast | Ben Affleck Oscar Isaac Charlie Hunnam Garrett Hedlund |
Triple Frontier, released in 2019, is directed by J.C. Chandor and features several Hollywood actors known for action films, including Ben Affleck, Oscar Isaac, and Pedro Pascal.
The story follows five former US Army Special Forces members who reunite for a mission. Unlike their previous heroic missions, this mission is a robbery in a sparsely populated multi-border zone in South America. They're in it for themselves and not for the country.
Their target is a drug kingpin, Gabriel Martin Lorea (Reynaldo Gallegos), and they aim to steal $75 million from him. However, the mission did not go smoothly, as they faced many challenges and casualties in this risky endeavor.
9. Outlaw King
| Year | 2018 |
| Genre | Action, Biography, Drama |
| Director | David Mackenzie |
| Cast | Chris Pine Aaron Taylor-Johnson Florence Pugh Billy Howle |
Are you a fan of movies with a historical twist? If so, Outlaw King might be just the film for you! Directed by David Mackenzie and released in 2018, this film brings to life the story of a 14th-century Scottish king who bravely stands up to England's control.
The story is set in 1304, during a time when Scotland is locked in a fierce war with England. England's overwhelming power forces two Scottish leaders, Robert Bruce (played by Chris Pine) and John Comyn (Callan Mulvey), to surrender to King Edward I of England. This turn of events unexpectedly leads Robert to marry Elizabeth (Florence Pugh), the goddaughter of King Edward.
However, their marriage is quickly overshadowed by chaos in England. King Edward sees Bruce as a traitor for secretly being crowned as the King of Scotland, which he considers a sneaky move. This accusation sparks a massive battle. In an impressive display of strategy, Robert Bruce uses guerrilla warfare tactics and manages to win the battle against all odds.
10. Extraction
| Year | 2020 |
| Genre | Action, Crime, Thriller |
| Director | Sam Hargrave |
| Cast | Chris Hemsworth Bryon Lerum Ryder Lerum Rudhraksh Jaiswal Shivam Vichare |
Directed by Sam Hargrave and written by Joe Russo, the movie is based on the graphic novel Ciudad. It follows Tyler Rake (Chris Hemsworth), an Australian mercenary on a mission to rescue the kidnapped son of an Indian drug kingpin.
Tyler Rake is tasked to rescue Ovi (Rudraksh Jaiswal), the son of India's most notorious drug lord, who has been kidnapped by rival gangsters.
Teaming up with Ovi's bodyguard, Saju (Randeep Hooda), Tyler faces numerous challenges, including corrupt cops and rival criminals.
After a fierce battle, Tyler sacrifices himself so that Ovi can escape and move on with her life. Ovi is devastated that Tyler has been presumed dead. However, signs that Tyler is still alive are slowly surfacing. Is it true that Tyler survived all the deadly obstacles?
11. Extraction 2
| Year | 2023 |
| Genre | Action, Thriller |
| Director | Sam Hargrave |
| Cast | Chris Hemsworth Daniel Bernhardt Golshifteh Farahani Sinead Phelps Tinatin Dalakishvili Adam Bessa |
After the mission that nearly cost him his life in the first Extraction movie, Tyler Rake retired to live peacefully in his cottage. However, his peace is short-lived when a man urgently begs Tyler for help with another dangerous job.
Initially, Tyler refuses, but he changes his mind upon learning who needs his help. He is asked to rescue his ex's sister-in-law, Ketevan, who is being held hostage by her own husband, Davit Radiani, a ruthless mafia chief.
Despite Davit's imprisonment, his criminal syndicate remains active and poses a threat to Ketevan and her two children. Tyler and his team embark on the rescue mission, traveling to the Georgian prison where Ketevan is held.
During the rescue, Davit is killed. Davit's loyal men are furious and gather other gang members and Davit's family for revenge. Now, not only Ketevan and his two children are wanted, but Tyler and his team are also on the hunt.
12. Army of the Dead
| Year | 2021 |
| Genre | Action, Crime, Horror |
| Director | Zack Snyder |
| Cast | Dave Bautista Ella Purnell Omari Hardwick Ana de la Reguera Theo Rossi |
Director Zack Snyder brings us a post-apocalyptic zombie movie about a casino heist carried out by mercenaries during a zombie outbreak. Starring Dave Bautista in the lead role, the movie was so successful that a sequel is already in the works.
The story kicks off with an incident at Area 51, where a military convoy accidentally releases zombies in Las Vegas. The city quickly descends into chaos as people infect each other, leading the government to quarantine the entire area.
Six years later, billionaire casino owner Bly Tanaka (Hiroyuki Sanada) realizes he left $200 million in Las Vegas. To get his money back, he hires mercenary Scott (Dave Bautista) and his team to retrieve it before the government nukes the city.
Scott's journey is filled with challenges, from battling zombies to facing betrayal. Will Scott survive and complete his mission?
13. Black Crab
| Year | 2022 |
| Genre | Action, Adventure, Drama |
| Director | Adam Berg |
| Cast | Noomi Rapace Aliette Opheim David Dencik Jakob Oftebro Dar Salim |
"Black Crab," a Swedish action movie, brings a surge of excitement to the international film scene. Featuring Noomi Rapace in the lead role, this film narrates the perilous journey of a group of soldiers tasked with delivering a mysterious package to one of the world's most frigid regions.
Private Caroline Edh (Noomi Rapace) is assigned to a daunting mission. She and her team traverse the ice-laden Stockholm Islands to transport some canisters to a research base known as Ödö, with no clue about the contents of their cargo. Despite the uncertainty, they embark on the journey.
Initially, Caroline is hesitant because she's aware of the mission's life-threatening risks. However, the promise of reuniting with her daughter at a refugee camp compels her to proceed.
As they progress, Caroline and her team encounter treachery, ethical quandaries, and the necessity for personal sacrifice. The tension escalates when Caroline discovers what the canisters actually contain. But what is inside them?
14. Beckett
| Year | 2021 |
| Genre | Action, Crime, Drama |
| Director | Ferdinando Cito Filomarino |
| Cast | John David Washington Boyd Holbrook Vicky Krieps Alicia Vikander |
What started as a vacation with his partner quickly ended up into chaos for an American tourist named Beckett (John David Washington), due to suspicions of a political conspiracy.
Beckett had traveled to Greece with his girlfriend, April (Alicia Vikander). Tragically, during their journey to the hotel, they get into an accident that kills April. As Beckett tries to get out of the car, he spots a child being chased by a blonde woman from a nearby house. Sensing something was wrong, he reports the incident to the police when they arrive to assist with the accident.
The officer on duty, Xenakis (Panos Koronis), investigates the house but finds it uninhabited. Unsatisfied with this explanation, Beckett begins his own investigation. Unfortunately, his inquiries make him a target of the blonde woman, drawing him into a dangerous political conspiracy.
15. Lou
| Year | 2022 |
| Genre | Action, Crime, Drama |
| Director | Anna Foerster |
| Cast | Allison Janney Greyston Holt Marci T. House Toby Levins Jaycie Dotin |
Lou (Allison Janney) is an old woman living alone in an isolated area of Oscar Island. She spends her old age hunting and engaging other activities together with her pet dog, Jax.
Not far from Lou's home, a single mother named Hannah (Jurnee Smollett) lives with her daughter, Vee (Ridley Bateman), in a small rented house. Despite their financial struggles, particularly with paying rent to Lou, they are happy with their simple life.
One night, as Lou is about to commit suicide, Hannah rushes to her, desperate for help. Vee has been kidnapped by her father, Phillip (Logan Marshall-Green), whom she believed had died in the war. Together, Lou and Hannah embark on a mission to rescue Vee and bring her back home. Together, Lou and Hannah pursue Phillip to bring Vee back home.