by Pete Volk and Austen Goslin
If you purchase something through a Polygon link, Vox Media will possibly earn a commission. Check out our ethical statement.
The action genre had a great 2023, with strong additions to notable franchises and exciting one-off films from established and upcoming creators.
2024 picks up where its predecessor left off. Countries around the world have already made notable contributions to the genre, with big-budget exhibitions and low-budget clinical projects providing the pleasure of impactful action.
Here are the most productive action videos of 2024 so far. They are classified into two sections: the most sensible level, the essential videos of the year and the most productive of the rest. This list will remain updated throughout the year and will be kept in reverse chronological order, so that the newest films appear first. Our most recent update added Twilight of the Warriors: Walled In and Bad Boys: Ride or Die.
Where to watch: In the cinema.
A martial arts epic set in the walled city of Kowloon is a must-see for any action film fan. If we add to this the director of SPL 2: A Time of Consequences, Soi Cheang, it becomes a must-see for any film buff. Twilight of the Warriors: Walled In lives up to the hype and is simply the most productive action movie of the year.
Cheang makes the most of Kowloon’s walled city as a setting, with clever uses of the area reminiscent of the tight quarters of something like Snowpiercer (but executed at a much higher level). The characters move vertically, horizontally and diagonally through the narrow corridors of the city, locating corners in which to hide or pass. The combat choreography combines elements of wuxia and parkour with elements of more fashionable martial arts films, all of which is layered over a Johnnie To story of gangster drama and generational divides.
Raymond Lam plays a refugee who flees to the walled city of Kowloon after an altercation with a Hong Kong crime lord (played by the legendary Sammo Hung). In the walled city, he forged an almost familial relationship with Cyclone (a common collaborator of Johnnie To, Louis Koo), who was the de facto leader of the network who lived in the walled city. But before Hong Kong passed into Chinese hands, the British agreed to demolish the city, and big players are plotting to take over most of the city. payment of eviction as possible. As the specter of the city’s impending destruction looms over the action, the population cannot escape the chaos that lies ahead. With its incredible choreography, gripping crime drama, and use of an exclusive setting, Twilight of the Warriors: Walled In is another masterpiece of Cheang’s modern martial arts. –Pete Volk
Where to watch: For virtual rental/purchase on Amazon and Apple TV
Kill rewrites the Bollywood playbook, bringing in a touch of brutality and gore rarely noticed in Indian cinema. The film follows an Indian army commando who sneaks away on an exercise to Delhi in an attempt to prevent the arranged marriage to which the love of his life is forced. But when the bandits attack the exercise, he and his friend are forced to act, resulting in some of the year’s action sequences and an unforgettable instant harvest for fans of the genre.
Director Nikhil Nagesh Bhat made Kill after being encouraged by The Raid and a real-life experience he had at an exercise robbery. Veteran action choreographers Oh Se-yeong (Snowpiercer) and Parvez Shaikh (who worked with Oh on the Bollywood blockbuster War). have made some of their most productive paintings to date, especially in the violent moment portion of the film, where things speed up significantly. This division between the first part of the film and its moment also allows Kill to have interaction in the modes of action. telling stories, showcasing Lakshya’s skills as a martial artist and actor, and allowing variety in the experience. —PV
Where to watch: For virtual rental/purchase on Amazon and Apple TV
Thelma would possibly be banking on a 94-year-old Oscar nominee, but don’t let that fool you into thinking this is anything less than one of the most productive action movies of the year. Like the film on this list, Thelma is about an older woman (June Squibb) who is conned by a telephone scammer. But unlike The Beekeeper, where revenge falls on Jason Statham, in this film, Thelma herself embarks on the path of revenge, although in a much less bloody way.
Thelma’s quest to get her money back is steeped in action movie vocabulary, drawing explicitly on Tom Cruise’s Ethan Hunt in several scenes. But while it might come across as mean-spirited or seem like a joke about Thelma, director Josh Margolin manages to keep the tone gentle. and funny, framing genuinely exciting action at a speed that suits the film’s nonagenarian characters. In this way, Thelma is a formidable addition to the non-traditional action canon. High-speed chases take place on deceptively fast scooters, falls look damaging. As the guns and explosions take on a more measured scale than in other films, Margolin still manages to place the tension in those moments. —Austen Goslin
Where to watch: For virtual rental or purchase on Amazon, Apple and YouTube
To fall in love with this micro-budget action mystery from Australian stuntman, writer, director, and star Bren Foster, you have to be the kind of user willing to watch videos made on a relatively zero budget, knowing that some elements won’t. as subtle as what you might see in theaters. Not all viewers are willing to see it, and it doesn’t have to be. But those who are, will be able to enjoy one of the most productive action videos of the year, made for only a fraction of the charge of all the other videos on this list.
In Life After Fighting, former MMA champion Alex Faulkner (Foster) is now a low-key martial arts instructor. When two of his young students are kidnapped through a human trafficking ring, it’s up to him to save them and bring the perpetrators to justice. It’s a pretty undeniable formula for direct-to-video action: Whether that’s smart (I like my simple, undeniable virtual TVs) or not is up to you. And while Life After Fighting has barely attracted villains, inconsistent performances, and confusing narrative and character choices, it’s all in service of Foster’s stellar action and compelling functionality as Alex. For me, everything worked, flaws and all.
Foster (The Last Ship, Mad Max in the 2015 video game) is a longtime stuntman and action actor who comes out of the shadows and finds himself in the spotlight for the first time in the lead role and as a director. Sense of Action: Life After Fighting uses the martial arts school concept to preview the techniques used in long-duration fights and offers a solid combination of taekwondo and fighting. The action scenes use somewhat dramatized yet realistic choreography, are relentlessly fast, and Foster’s camera makes sure to capture all the beauty and detail of the methods exposed.
While they look like two poorly matched fake DTV videos (there’s no reason why this one deserves a full two hours of length), Life After Fighting is a clear standout in the 2024 DTV crop of action and a must-see for fans of the genre. Array’s final act in particular is a continuous marathon of perfect matches, demonstrating Foster’s incredible skill as a fighter and acrobat. His roundhouse kicks are mesmerizing for their mix of speed, strength, and grace, and it’s a joy to watch him battle one moron after another. We hope he gets another chance as a lead actor and director, maybe next time with a little more money to play with. —PV
Where to watch: For virtual rental or purchase on Amazon, Apple and Vudu
The Fall Guy is a love letter to action videos and stunts that make them special without making them dangerous. It’s also one of the funniest romantic comedies of the year, led with infinite charm by Ryan Gosling and Emily Blunt. These two mixes of genres may seem a bit contradictory, but the film combines them exceptionally well, thanks in large part to its diversity of stunts and action scenes, and that’s precisely how it makes this list.
The film follows Colt Seavers (Gosling), a stuntman who is injured on the task and disappears from Hollywood, and his girlfriend, cameraman Jodie Moreno (Blunt). When in Jodie’s first film he wants an emergency double, Colt jumps at the chance, but discovers himself immersed in a murder mystery about the star he’s dubbing for.
There’s a combination of entertaining and creative fights, ridiculous car chases, destruction all over the city, and of course, plenty of massive stunts. Each scene is imbued with an authentic love of silly cinematic magic and an apparent fondness for what it means to take a fake punch in the face and light a real fire. The Fall Guy is inspired by Jackie Chan’s old films, without the audience being able to enjoy the trick precisely because of the number of paintings involved, instead of looking for both to be perfect. It’s an endearing and outdated technique that gives the film a lot of center and makes it clear how one and both punch, kick and shoot is an arduous labor of love for both involved. In fact, the film even ends with a montage of stunts in the credits. And if that doesn’t form the basis for a list of the most productive action movies, then nothing is. —AG
Where to watch: For rental or virtual acquisition on YouTube and Vudu
The first Baby Assassins was a delight, and the sequel lives up to the highest expectations the franchise has already set. It’s another wonderful combination of murder mystery and slice-of-life comedy, and stars Saori Izawa and Akari Takaishi deliver once again. This time, Joey Iwanaga and Tatsuomi Hamada team up to form a duo of rival young assassins, chasing our leads in an attempt to take their jobs.
But enough story: we’re here for the action, and Baby Assassins 2 takes care of that. Master combat choreographer Kensuke Sonomura is back with scarier action sequences that range from extremely silly battles (girls fighting in full pet costumes) to desperate ones. battles of life and death. Izawa, in particular, shines once again and continues to prove his bona fides as one of the world’s most promising action stars. I would gladly watch 20 more. —PV
Where to watch: Netflix
Sixty Minutes, a low-key German film, has a funny cast, a tight storyline, and a gimmick.
As he prepares to step into the ring for his next big match, professional wrestler Octavio (former German national karate champion Emilio Sakraya) discovers that if he doesn’t make it to his ex-wife’s space in the next 60 minutes, she will. asking for sole custody of his daughter. He decides to abandon their fight and book it there, angering the underworld elements who had a lot of money to make. The film plays out in real time for 60 minutes, as he runs and makes his way. via Berlin to his daughter (and necessarily seeks to escape from the film he is in).
Sakraya excels in this role, in a truly stellar performance. She manages to make it clear that Octavio has been an absent father (this ultimatum doesn’t come out of nowhere), but that he actually cares about his daughter and has now made the decision to do anything for her. He’s also an excellent fighter, and while Sixty Minutes rarely cuts the fight scenes too short for my liking, the choreography is solid and Sakraya delivers in those moments. —PV
Where to watch: Netflix, virtual rental or purchase on Amazon, Apple TV and Vudu
In 2021, director James Nunn and star Scott Adkins teamed up for an experimental action film, One Shot. He combined the trick into a single shot of videos like Birdman and 1917 (note: One Shot written before 1917, but came out later). with the wave of post-John Wick tactical action videos, all in one exciting package that surely seemed exhausting for its star. So, of course, they came back to do it three years later, and this time they did it even better.
One More Shot’s most productive upgrade from the original is its setup. The first was set in a Guantanamo-style military criminal, an environment that made sense for the film, but was boring all things considered. One More Shot was able to film in a real foreign airport, giving audiences instant familiarity with the surroundings and allowing for even safer use of the device and real-time movement through space.
Adkins is fantastic again, as the film makes the most of his abundant skills as an actor and athlete, and this time action legends Michael Jai White and Tom Berenger support him in the cast. But the most productive fight is between Adkins and Aaron Toney (Chadwick Boseman’s Black Panther stunt) in a motion race that ran 30 miles per hour. It makes fantastic use of space, particularly exercise poles, as movement and violence equipment. Like much of the rest of the film, the truth is tangible and makes total delight shine. —PV
Where to watch: Prime Video, or hire or purchase digitally on Amazon, Apple TV and Vudu
David Ayer brought back the ironic actor of the ’80s and early ’90s with The Beekeeper, a surely ridiculous and over-the-top Jason Statham vehicle, designed for the star to present a bee-themed one. Liner after a bee-themed one-liner.
If it were just Statham’s charisma, the bees’ silly antics, and the gold-toned cinematography (Yesterday he told Polygon that he was meant to summon honey), that would have been enough for The Beekeeper to appear on this list. But the film went ahead and hired Jeremy Marinas (John Wick: Chapter Four) to direct the second unit and choreograph the combat sequences. He’s one of the most productive in the business and is helping to take The Beekeeper to the next level of action movies with fast-moving choreography that makes wonderful use of props. Buzz buzz, sign up for the hive. —PV
Where to watch: AMC Plus, or virtual rental or purchase on Amazon, Apple TV and Vudu
A brutal masterclass on how to choreograph and frame the action of some of the Gangs of London spirits, the French mystery Mayhem!(aka Farang) is a must-see delight for fans of the action genre.
A revenge mystery about a working-class fighter (former French national kickboxing champion Nassim Lyes) who hopes to avenge the loss of a loved one at the hands of unsavory people, Mayhem! It stands out from other narratives by adding main points and desires to lives. of their characters.
But chaos! In fact, it excels in combat sequences. Second unit director and combat choreographer Jude Poyer comes from Gareth Evans’ school-driven camera movement (Poyer worked with Evans on Gangs of London), and uses the camera in conjunction with choreography to increase the effect with each stroke. Add in a top-caliber fighter like Lyes and one of the greatest elevator combat scenes of all time, and a new generation of action has been officially created. —PV
Where to watch: For virtual rental or purchase on Amazon, Apple and YouTube
In many ways, the two halves of the Bad Boys tetralogy are mirror images: succeed where the other fails and fail where the other succeeds. Which one you prefer depends entirely on your tastes and preferences. I’m lucky enough to love all 4 Bad Boys movies and Ride or Die is no different.
Although Adil’s Bad Boys movies
But what makes Ride or Die a painting is Martin Lawrence’s performance as Marcus Burnett. In each of the Bad Four films, Marcus comes up with anything that fits his dates with the rest of the film: impersonating Will Smith’s Mike Lowrey in the first, or accidentally stumbling into ecstasy in the second, or taking a vow of non-violence in the third. In Ride or Die, Marcus has a near-death experience and necessarily realizes that he is the protagonist of an action movie and that he cannot die. This leads him to take great risks (much to Mike’s dismay): running into traffic or finding himself in the middle of an intense firefight. He’s a smart piece, and Lawrence is more than just a game to get lots and lots of laughs. –PV
Where to watch: Netflix
I went into this Netflix original with modest expectations, having been disappointed several times with some of Netflix’s action offerings. But I was pleasantly surprised with this budget action thriller, which has an intriguing central narrative, plenty of compelling characters, and solid action design.
Jessica Alba plays Parker, a special forces commando who returns to her home in the Southwest after the sudden death of her father. There, she uncovers a conspiracy in her hometown involving a violent gang. Underrated by men who knew her when she was younger (and don’t know how terrible she is now), she is an attractive setting for motivated action. Director Mouly Surya, best known for his Indonesian dramas, captures some strangely evocative images for a Netflix movie, giving the film an extra touch of flavor. I’m not entirely convinced by Alba’s performance, especially when the film needs her to explain her pain, however, it’s precisely the kind of low-budget genre training that she wishes Netflix would do more of. —PV
Where to watch: Theaters
Few action franchises are as reliable as Ma Dong-seok’s The Roundup films. Its coherence is discovered in its premise (Big Cop Punches And Slaps Bad Guys Hard), its positive qualities (everything the incredibly charismatic Ma does in those films), its negative qualities (comic jokes about police brutality that make you cringe. shudder) and his performance. . with the public, dominating the Korean box office.
This time, Ma and the gang take on a cybercriminal organization, leading to many jokes about Ma’s lack of technological knowledge, adding constant confusion about what “the cloud” is. If you liked any of those movies, you’ll like them all, and Punishment is no different. —PV
Where to watch: Hulu, or virtual rental or acquisition on Amazon, Apple and Vudu
Direct-to-video action star Jesse V. Johnson (Avengement) here has a chance to star in a low-budget Bond movie, starring Aaron Eckhart, who finds himself in an era of the DTV action star. Chief of Station is a spoofed spy mystery that brings back many recognizable faces from some of JVJ’s most productive films (Daniel Bernhardt, Olga Kurylenko, Nick Moran, Nina Bergman). He doesn’t rewrite the spy genre and has a fairly bland script (if sharp discussion and clever plotting are vital to you, keep going), but Johnson’s films are entertaining and he has a willing sense of action and tension.
Chief of Station has less action than most of the videos on this list, but it features a close fight between Eckhart and Bernhardt, reliable. It’s the better of Eckhart’s two action cars this year (in Renny Harlin’s The Bricklayer). Photovoltaic
Where to watch: Netflix
Part action comedy and part sex comedy, City Hunter is the new adaptation of the manga series about the world’s personal investigator. Jackie Chan had already embarked on it in 1993, after a poll among his Japanese enthusiasts chose the excited detective Ryo Saeba as the character they would most like to see him play. While this adaptation lacks some of the jaw-dropping stunts of this version, it’s still a funny and extremely silly time, with clever action sequences and a relentless barrage of immature humor. description, I bet you know where to find this one. —PV
Where to watch: for virtual rental or purchase on Amazon, Apple, and Vudu
Basically Guy Ritchie’s edit of an actual issue of Inglourious Basterds, War Office Ungentlemanly is precisely as smart, gory, and fun as that premise implies. The film follows a band of British spies sent into World War II on a project to disrupt the Nazi submarine blockade. In reality, the movie is just a few minutes away from its next impressive action set piece, whether it’s a wonderful ship fight, the explosion of an enemy camp, or the infiltration of a fortress. All that action beats are punctuated through their own massive moments that keep everyone feeling fresh, while Ritchie’s iconic peppy camera helps keep everything moving at a steady pace. But what stands out here are the actors, with the band led by Henry Cavill employing his same old charm and knack for sarcasm, and Reacher’s star turn via Alan Ritchson. Ritchson is the genuine lead, as a hulking Swedish assassin device who pulls off some of the film’s most productive fights and coolest moments. —AG
Where to watch: For virtual rental or purchase on Amazon, Apple and YouTube
Inspired by films like Gladiator and Raiders of the Lost Ark, Martin Bourboulon’s best-selling two-part adaptation of Alexandre Dumas’ ancient novel brings back pieces of the era of big-budget action-adventure. The costumes and sets are very good (Milady won the Best Design Award at the César Awards, one of the film’s six nominations), the actors are excellent as some of the most recognizable fictional characters (especially Eva Green as Milady and Louis Garrel as Rey). Louis XIII, but the whole cast is great), and the action sequences trade sword fights and punches with aplomb.
Be sure to start with the first movie: The Three Musketeers: D’Artagnan. I prefer it a bit to this new installment, but they’re the kind of multi-genre blockbuster adventure story we’ve been missing from American theaters since the Pirates of the Caribbean movies went out of style. There’s action, there’s romance, there’s drama, there’s comedy. The Three Musketeers actually have it all, just as they do. —PV
Where to watch: Peacock, or purchase or purchase digitally on Amazon, Apple, and YouTube
We hope Dev Patel’s directorial debut will mark the beginning of an action film career for the taekwondo black belt and former bronze medalist at the 2004 AIMAA World Championships. He directed, co-wrote and starred in Monkey Man, the story of a damaged guy in India. who undertakes a quest for revenge. But, in a classic action story, his path to revenge modifies his revenge motivation to do the right thing, and he discovers a web along the way.
Where videos like John Wick about an incredibly competent person, Monkey Man emphasizes the importance of the network in solving problems, even in the face of violence. I found the film to be flimsy and blurry in its first part, but the second part exhausted me: it’s an ending forged with wonderful action sequences that bring home the character and themes of the film. I can’t wait to see what Patel does next. —PV
Where to watch: Prime Video, free with a library card on Hoopla, free on Tubi, or for virtual rental or purchase on Amazon, Apple TV, and Vudu.
One Percenter (aka One Percent Warrior), a quirky meta-actioner with amazing combat choreography, is one of the more outlandish entries on this list. True cult action hero Tak Sakaguchi (Versus) plays a character who is just an edition of himself. : Takuma Toshiro, a serious action star who invented his own martial arts strategy and achieved a cult following a few years ago. One Percenter tells the story of Toshiro’s quest to make a “pure action” movie: he is tired of the dance scenes. genre and wants something a little more dangerous. While on location for an independent project, he stumbles upon a yakuza dispute, which is the best chance for him to get footage for his film. Then Toshiro takes out dozens of gangsters with his Wave. strategy, dodging bullets and unloading on poor fools.
Sakaguchi, an underground street veteran who is one of the biggest action stars of his generation, is hypnotic like Toshiro and employs his Wave strategy to wonderful effect. Sakaguchi’s pairing with combat choreographer Kensuke Sonomura (Baby Assassins), perhaps the most productive in the industry. What he does is a dream. The two men have teamed up several times in the past, most recently in the very clever Bad City, and it’s a treat to see their talents working in combination again.
One Percenter gets a little stuck in its own narrative tricks towards the end, but it’s a fun time for fans of the genre that has an all-time choreographer-star duo (and an extended combat scene just a flashlight that sees Sonomura innovate once back into cinematic expression through action).
A note before watching: The Japanese theatrical release of One Percenter has been canceled twice after sexual assault allegations against Sakaguchi, who in the past had admitted complicity in a sexual assault committed through director Sion Sono. —PV
Where to watch: Netflix, virtual rental, or purchase on Amazon, Apple TV, and Vudu
Land of Bad pairs the other two Hemsworths (Luke and Liam) with Russell Crowe in a well-executed military mystery from Underwater director William Eubank. It doesn’t reinvent the wheel of genre, and it’s not the kind of thoughtful war task that spends time wondering about the meaning of all this conflict. Rather, it’s a high-octane action movie with a relatively low budget that offers constant thrills and a lot of tension, and with plausible characters. Crowe specifically shines as a drone pilot sitting at his desk, desperately seeking to get his fellow officials to stop watching March Madness and help him supply remote control to the surface team. —PV
Where to watch: Netflix
There are few joys as consistent as Ma Dong-seok beating up some guys.
Badland Hunters, a (tonal) sequel to the much more serious drama Concrete Utopia, is set in a post-earthquake apocalypse, where an organization of survivors tries to save a kidnapped teenager from a mad scientist.
Badland Hunters may not succeed in the heights of Ma’s Roundup movies, however, it is a very funny genre film that places the burly action star in the middle of a sci-fi story and allows him to do his job. Directed by former stunt coordinator Heo Myeong-haeng (who directed the fourth Roundup movie), Badland Hunters features action scenes forged with other fighting styles for the 3 main protagonists. But the star of the show, as always, is mom and her strong fists. Wherever they are, go, I’ll stick to them. —PV
Where to watch: For virtual rental or purchase on Amazon, Apple TV, and Vudu
The three films in director Kim Han-min’s trilogy about the mythical Korean admiral Yi Sun-sin are dense ancient dramas. But they achieved it thanks to the attention to detail in their intense naval battles and the top-notch production design in the works of the period. Noryang: Deadly Sea, the newest film in the series, is no exception.
Each of the 3 films has had another notable Korean star, Admiral Yi; this time it’s Kim Yoon-seok (Escape from Mogadishu), as well as Choi Min-sik (Oldboy) and Park Hae-he (Decision to Leave). ) of the first two. All three are very capable of bringing the headstrong but brilliant Admiral Yi to life, but those films shine when they take a step back to show off naval tactics.
The battle sequences are occasionally shown from a bird’s-eye view to better get across the tactics from both sides, which is thrilling. When you add in measured use of one-take sequences that bring out the carnage of war, these movies do a great job of showing the combination of deep calculation and chaos inherent to these battles. And you better be in for that if you watch these movies: The last 90 minutes of Noryang is essentially one long naval battle. —PV
The best of Polygon in your inbox, every Friday.
The best of Polygon in your inbox, every Friday.
© 2024 Vox Media, LLC. All rights reserved