The 10 best action movies on Netflix

What is the definition of an action movie? Can there even really be a complete explanation of the genre? Some feature the kinds of stunts that no mere mortal would ever dare to attempt, while others attempt to be more grounded. Still others have outlandish premises that take us to new, far-off worlds. It’s a genre that contains multitudes, but what makes an action movie great is its ability to thrill and captivate its audience. Over the course of its history as a streaming service, Netflix has been home to a number of great action titles. Some are funny, and others are deadly serious. The only thing we know for sure, though, is that the best action movies on Netflix are sure to please. We’ve also rounded up some of the best action movies on Amazon Prime worth watching if you’ve seen all of these, as well as a few great action movies available on Hulu.

Looking for even more films to stream online? We’ve found the all-around best Netflix movies, Amazon Prime movies, Disney+ movies, and movies on Hulu to watch this month.

Uncharted (2022)

Genre Action, Adventure

Stars Tom Holland, Mark Wahlberg, Sophia Ali

Directed by Ruben Fleischer

watch on Netflix

Video game adaptations aren’t always well-received, but this Tom Holland vehicle based on the popular Naughty Dog franchise is actually very fun and exciting. Holland plays the adventurous Nathan Drake, an explorer with a penchant for sarcasm and heroics. Mark Wahlberg supports as Victor Sullivan, Drake’s longtime mentor. This film is a nice addition to Holland’s non-Marvel exploits and will strengthen his resume in the action genre.

Mute (2018)

Genre Science Fiction, Mystery, Thriller

Stars Alexander Skarsgård, Paul Rudd, Justin Theroux

Directed by Duncan Jones

watch on Netflix

Mute has all the pieces of a great sci-fi action movie, and while it’s far from perfect, it’s still pretty fun. Thanks to a great cast, some solid settings, and an above-average plot, it’s the kind of movie that might surprise you. The story follows a mute bartender who ends up taking on the city’s gangsters in an attempt to track down his missing partner. Oh, and did we mention it has Paul Rudd?

The Irishman (2019)

Genre Crime, Drama, History

Stars Robert De Niro, Al Pacino, Joe Pesci

Directed by Martin Scorsese

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This story follows Frank “The Irishman” Sheeran (Robert De Niro), a former labor union official and hitman as he tells the complicated story of his own past. With an emphasis on the disappearance of Jimmy Hoffa (Al Pacino), this biographical crime drama is tremendous, sad, and exceedingly violent at times. The Irishman was nominated for 10 Academy Awards in 2020, and it deserved every one of those nominations.

The Manual streaming roundup

The Night Comes for Us (2018)

Genre Action, Thriller, Crime

Stars Joe Taslim, Iko Uwais, Asha Kenyeri Bermudez

Directed by Timo Tjahjanto

watch on Netflix

This relatively recent neo-noir action flick comes from Indonesia. The film follows Ito, a deadly and powerful gangster, as he has a 180-degree change of heart after he rescues Reina, a young girl, from the remains of her massacred village. The resulting carnage — and there’s a lot of carnage — revolves around one man who battles his former compatriots to save one girl and, in some ways, himself.

Triple Frontier (2019)

Genre Action, Thriller, Crime, Adventure

Stars Ben Affleck, Oscar Isaac, Charlie Hunnam

Directed by J.C. Chandor

watch on Netflix

This action-adventure movie follows a crew of ex-military Americans who plan on robbing a known cartel member in order to set themselves up for retirement in a way that their government work never could. It’s filled with great action, but what makes Triple Frontier most interesting is how sad it can often feel as we see its ensemble cast wrestling with their most violent and greedy impulses.

Da 5 Bloods (2020)

Genre War, Drama

Stars Delroy Lindo, Jonathan Majors, Clarke Peters

Directed by Spike Lee

watch on Netflix

One of Spike Lee’s latest tells the story of four Black veterans who return to Vietnam decades after the war. Battling the elements, the group sets out in search of the remains of their fallen squad leader and the promise of buried treasure, and wind up battling one another as well as external enemies who are also after the gold.

Extraction (2020)

Genre Drama, Action, Thriller

Stars Chris Hemsworth, Rudhraksh Jaiswal, Randeep Hooda

Directed by Sam Hargrave

watch on Netflix

Filled with plenty of violence of explosions, Extraction is a whole lot of fun and one of the best-choreographed action movies of the past decade. When black-market mercenary Tyler Rake (Chris Hemsworth) is hired to save an imprisoned warlord’s son, the stakes rise exponentially as more and more local gunrunners and traffickers learn of the situation. This is easily one of the best Chris Hemsworth movies outside the Marvel Cinematic Universe, and its stunt choreography stands in sharp contrast to what we often see from that franchise.

6 Underground (2019)

Genre Action, Thriller, Comedy

Stars Ryan Reynolds, Mélanie Laurent, Manuel Garcia-Rulfo

Directed by Michael Bay

watch on Netflix

No need to add this to your list of best Ryan Reynolds movies, but 6 Underground offers plenty of visual spectacle the likes of which you’ll rarely see outside of Michael Bay’s filmography. Following six individuals with exceptional skills who are handpicked to delete their past and devote their lives to foiling the intent of supervillains, free from the restrictions of typical well-doers, 6 Underground is over the top, but it’s a great movie to watch if you want to turn off your brain.

The Old Guard (2020)

Genre Action, Fantasy

Stars Charlize Theron, KiKi Layne, Matthias Schoenaerts

Directed by Gina Prince-Bythewood

watch on Netflix

The Old Guard is a sci-fi movie dashed with plenty of action that’s worth watching. The story follows a warrior named Andy (Charlize Theron) and her covert group of immortal mercenaries who have been protecting the mortal world for centuries. When they recruit a new immortal to work among them, it forces a reckoning within the group over their long shared history.

Ip Man (2008)

Genre Drama, Action, History

Stars Donnie Yen, Simon Yam, Lynn Hung

Directed by Wilson Yip

watch on Netflix

The Ip Man series is the story of the real-life Chinese martial artist, Ip Man (also known as Yip Man), who is credited with bringing the practice of Wing Chun to the global stage. This is actually a trilogy of movies, and each of the three movies highlight different parts of his life, from his education in Wing Chun to the legacy of his own teaching in Hong Kong (which included Bruce Lee as one of his pupils). The Grandmaster (2013) is another interesting take on the legend of Ip Man and Ip Man 4: The Finale hit theaters in December 2019. For more like this, check out our list of the best fighting movies of all time.

The 10 best action movies on Netflix

These binge-worthy action movies are waiting for you

Uncharted (2022)

Mute (2018)

The Irishman (2019)

The Night Comes for Us (2018)

Triple Frontier (2019)

Da 5 Bloods (2020)

Extraction (2020)

6 Underground (2019)

The Old Guard (2020)

Ip Man (2008)

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