Let’s be honest—action movies are in a golden stretch right now. And it’s not just the usual Hollywood tentpoles. From gritty low-budget brawlers to globe-spanning martial arts epics, the last two years have given us an insane lineup of films that push the genre in wild new directions. Whether you’re into bone-breaking hand-to-hand combat, over-the-top stunts, or just the satisfaction of watching bad guys get wrecked, this list has something for you. Here are the 10 best action movies of 2024–2025, counting down to the absolute champ.
10. The Shadow Strays
Timo Tjahjanto again demonstrates why he’s the master of martial arts carnage. The Shadow Strays tracks a teenage assassin known as “13”, sent to Jakarta following a mission gone wrong, to wreak complete havoc when her childhood friend is kidnapped. Gory choreography, atmospheric visuals, and a frenzied pace make it a spiritual heir to The Night Comes for Us. It’s savage, stylish, and unforgettable.
9. Life After Fighting
Australian stuntman Bren Foster transitions from off-screen to on-screen with this bare-knuckle thriller. Cast as a martial arts instructor who becomes a vigilante to save his students, Foster doles out raw, unfiltered action with each punch, spin, and kick. The bad guys are forgettable, yes, but the action scenes make up for it in spades. This one is proof that you don’t require a big budget to pack some of the year’s finest action.
8. The Killer
John Woo is back in Hollywood, and The Killer is a stylish reminder of why his name is legendary. This isn’t a remake of his 1989 classic, but a new story built around Nathalie Emmanuel as a conflicted assassin. With elegant combat, bullet ballets, and Woo’s trademark flair for drama, it’s both a character showpiece and a masterclass in action filmmaking.
7. Mayhem! (Farang)
French action film kicks into high gear with Mayhem!. Nassim Lyes, ex-kickboxer, leads the cast, but the real hero is Jude Poyer’s fight choreography, which creates raw, kinetic fights that are pulsing with energy in every camera move. From the close-space brawls to the creative set pieces such as the elevator fight, this movie illustrates how far and wide European action has developed.
6. Kill
Bollywood goes big with one of its most violent and frenetic action movies so far. Kill is about a soldier getting onto a train to prevent his lover’s forced wedding, then getting caught up in a ferocious bandit attack. The first half sets things up for tension, then the second half explodes into raw mayhem with creative martial arts carnage. It’s violent, brutal, and takes Indian action cinema into new, bold places.
5. One More Shot
Scott Adkins is back here in this real-time airport thriller, taking the “one-take” gimmick to thrilling limits. Each fight and chase is desperate, but the pièce de résistance is a fight on a train speeding at 30 mph. Adkins and stunt veteran Aaron Toney transform the environment into a violent playground. This is action filmmaking in pure immersive mode.
4. Twilight of the Warriors: Walled In
Set within Hong Kong’s fabled Kowloon Walled City, this wuxia gangster epic takes full advantage of its tight, vertical environment. Soi Cheang directs with panache, mixing wuxia, parkour, and hard-boiled street fighting. Featuring a heavyweight cast (which includes Sammo Hung) and a tale of loyalty, treachery, and survival, it’s as much a drama as it is an action spectacle, and both pay off hard.
3. Baby Assassins 2
This Japanese sequel doubles down on the unlikely combination of slice-of-life comedy and assassin thriller. Saori Izawa and Akari Takaishi are excellent as cringeworthy teenage assassins whose competition with a rival pair escalates to absurdity. Mascot brawls, choreographed frenzies, and Izawa’s star-making turn make it a laugh-out-loud but tough-as-nails ride.
2. The Fall Guy
Ryan Gosling and Emily Blunt enliven this mix of action and romantic comedy, showcasing doubles as a love letter to stunt actors. Full of crazy car stunts, bone-crunching fights, and huge stunt falls, it’s fun and emotional. The stunt reel at the conclusion is a lovely reminder that behind each punch and detonation are actual humans risking everything.
1. 100 Yards
Snagging the crown is 100 Yards, a vintage martial arts epic that takes place in 1920s Tianjin. Directed by the Xu brothers, it’s steeped in atmosphere, stunning costumes, lushly filmed, and unforgettable fight choreography. Each of the characters has his or her own fighting style, so every confrontation becomes not only action, but storytelling in action. Hilarious, intense, and stunningly shot, this film is the whole package.
Action cinema has never been livelier. It’s globe-trotting martial arts epics, indie punchfests, or Hollywood blockbusters that glorify the stuntmen themselves. The past two years have been a banquet for enthusiasts. What’s certain is that this is where action movies are going; buckle up.