Good Action Movies on Netflix Right Now

Whether you’re in the mood to weave through busy city streets at top speed, break the bones of every henchman in the warehouse, or exact revenge on the big boss that killed your dog, Netflix has countless training videos … I mean action flicks … for you to enjoy. Your mission, should you choose to accept it, is to discover which among them is the right one for you. Thankfully, we’re here to help and have assembled a rotating list of Good Action Movies on Netflix.

NOTE:  The following titles are streaming on the U.S. version of Netflix.

The Adam Project (2022)

It is an outstanding combination when Shawn Levy (Free Guy, Stranger Things, Deadpool 3) and Ryan Reynolds get together. Feeling like a throwback to science-fiction films of the 1980s, The Adam Project is one part Star Wars and one part Back to the Future, with plenty of Spielbergian action and flare. While The Adam Project starts quietly enough as it builds the chemistry between its main characters (played by Ryan Reynolds and Walker Scobell), the film soon explodes into an all-out action showcase of laser swords and stylish hand-to-hand combat, quickly making it one of the best action movies Netflix has to offer.

If you’re concerned about the consequences of time travel and how interacting with yourself can do irreparable damage to the timestream, have no fear because this movie throws all the rules out the window. Once you set your trepidation aside and accept the terms as they are, The Adam Project amounts to one of the most enjoyable films of 2022 so far and a great action flick for viewers of all ages. If you’re looking for a film that packs punches in both visual and emotional capacities, The Adam Project will bring a smile to your face while fueling the fires of your action-loving heart.

All Quiet on the Western Front (2022)

Edward Berger’s remake of Lewis Milestone’s 1930 war drama is a hauntingly beautiful depiction of conflict and how being sold the dream of becoming a hero isn’t always what it’s cracked up to be. Based on the 1929 novel ‘Nothing New in the West’ by Erich Maria Remarque, this emotional and action-packed spectacle tells the classic WWI story about a German schoolboy named Paul (Felix Kammerer) and his school friends who enlist in the army. While fighting the good fight, the group finds themselves as little more than targets for a seemingly endless barrage of violence and suppression.

For obvious reasons, the action in All Quiet on the Western Front is more realistic than most other movies on this list. The visceral combat is intense and plays bigger than you’d expect, given the film’s straight-to-streaming release structure. Berger’s film expands on the original story, lending more weight to Paul’s journey and confrontation with disillusionment and fatalism about being led to an early grave. Suppose you can handle realistic action that hits harder than fictional fare. In that case, All Quiet on the Western Front is a bold exploration of war, the destruction of the spirit, and the lies we tell ourselves to overcome adversity.

Army of the Dead (2021)

Your mileage for Zack Snyder’s unique film style may vary from one film to another, but the man sure knows how to make a zombie action movie. Following a zombie outbreak in Las Vegas, Army of the Dead finds a group of mercenaries infiltrating Sin City to attempt the ultimate gamble. Located at the epicenter of a zombie-infested quarantine zone is $200 million in cold hard cash, but getting to it won’t be easy.

Army of the Dead stars Dave Bautista, Ella Purnell, Ana de la Reguera, Omari Hardwick, Theo Rossi, Matthias Schweighöfer, Nora Arnezeder, Hiroyuki Sanada, Tig Notaro, Garret Dillahunt, and more. I wouldn’t get too attached to any of them. Army of the Dead is ruthless, and not everyone will escape this trip to the City of Second Chances. Why? It might have something to do with the zombie tigers, undead hordes, and back-stabbing criminals lurking around every corner. Feel free to cash in your chips for a great time with this action-packed zombie romp that launched a new franchise if that sounds like a good time.

The Big Four (2022)

Timo Tjahjanto, the Indonesian filmmaker behind Headshot and The Night Comes For Us , is a favorite here at JoBlo. When Tjahjanto is behind the camera, he makes movies that send shocks through your system and creates combat sequences that leave a lasting impression. In The Big Four , Tjahjanto mixes realistic violence with a goofier energy. If I had to compare it to something, I would point you toward Jackie Chan’s extensive library of films or Stephen Chow’s Kung Fu Hustle .

The Big Four tells the story of an elite assassin that murderous gangsters target after sparing a girl’s life during a massacre. With cat-and-mouse elements akin to some of cinema’s zanier martial arts films, Tjahjanto’s latest roller coaster takes his signature style to new heights while making you clutch your sides and double over in pain.

Carter (2022)

Amnesia is a pain in the ass. You can’t recall vital parts of your personal history, and the pieces of your identity become locked behind a mystery difficult to unravel. What if you lost your memory during a deadly pandemic? What if a voice in your head told you a bomb implanted in your mouth would blow if you didn’t follow explicit directions? In Carter , a man (Joo Won) must escape death while trying to figure out who he is, how he ended up in an apocalypse, and who the voice in his ear is telling him where to go to survive.

Byung-gil Jung wrote and directed Carter , starring Joo Won, Kim Bo-Min, Sung-Jae Lee, and Camilla Belle. As one of the more brutal action films on Netflix, Carter spills enough blood and guts to make any film fan squirm in delight. The movie is a fast-paced thriller with over-the-top action sequences, death-defying physics, questionable camerawork, and enough bodies hitting the floor to make Drowning Pool jealous. Scenes in this film are not for weak-stomached cinephiles. There’s one scene of a guy getting his face pushed into the pavement while hanging out of a speeding van that’s gnarly AF. I watched it twice. If you don’t mind CGI muzzle flare and love hand-to-hand combat and startling action, Carter is a roller coaster of violence on Netflix.

Day Shift (2022)

When was the last time you watched a vampire action movie that knew how to kick ass without taking itself too seriously? J.J. Perry’s Day Shift is a comedic roller coaster of unearthly delights, with Jamie Foxx, Dave Franco, and Snoop Dogg taking center stage for a vampire hunter thrill ride. From the film’s first encounter with an agile vampire, Day Shift establishes a tongue-in-cheek approach to taking bloodsuckers off the map by any means necessary. In Day Shift , Foxx plays a vampire hunter on the verge of losing his family unless he makes a big score while vanquishing the undead. Franco stars as Seth, a pencil-pushing narc with a bizarre fate I won’t spoil here. Snoop Dogg plays Big John Elliot, a seasoned, blunt-smoking vampire hunter dripping with charisma. Together, the team uncovers a plot for vampires to expand into new territory, which would suck.

With lots of over-the-top action, witty banter, gore, and chemistry between Foxx and Franco, Day Shift could surprise you. I think it’s one of the better vampire films of recent years and one of the better action movies on Netflix.

Da 5 Bloods (2020)

Spike Lee’s Da 5 Bloods isn’t your typical action movie. The film follows four veterans and friends on an emotional journey to close a horrific chapter in their lives and reclaim a treasure they left behind. Starring Delroy Lindo, Clark Peters, Norm Lewis, Isiah Whitlock Jr., Jonathan Majors, Chadwick Boseman, Mélanie Thierry, and Veronica Ngo, Da 5 Bloods blends intense firefights with nail-biting hostage negotiations and shattered egos.

Lee brings his signature style to this gripping war-related drama, paving the way for inspiring shots and powerhouse performances from the cast. War will take more from the group before their mission is complete, and the group will need to push themselves to physical and emotional limits before they can rest. Among many action movies on Netflix, Da 5 Bloods includes a delicate balance of heroism and scenes of growth and strength of character. If you dig action with a loaded clip of catharsis and closure, check out Da 5 Bloods.

The Forgotten Battle (2020)

We’re going back in time and across the pond for this one, folks. The Forgotten Battle is a Dutch war film focusing on World War II, specifically the Battle of the Scheldt that raged in 1944. Matthijs van Heijningen Jr. directs this intense display of brutality, starring Tom Felton ( Harry Potter franchise, The Flash ), Gijs Blom ( The Letter for the King , Dead & Beautiful ), Jamie Flatters ( Avatar: The Way of Water , The School for Good and Evil ), Susan Radder ( Spring , The Takeover ), and more. Paula van der Oest wrote the screenplay, focusing on a British glider pilot (Flatters), a Dutch boy fighting for the Germans, and a Dutch female resistance member fighting for freedom as hellfire rains down around them.

Focusing on the complicated lives of the main cast, The Forgotten Battle explores the harshness of war, the sacrifices soldiers make to achieve victory, and how strength in numbers guarantees nothing without blood to line the path toward peace. The Forgotten Battle is quiet until everything goes wrong, and war takes its toll. The film features impressive performances, intense battle sequences, nail-biting aerial combat, and a disturbing body count that reminds us of what conflict takes from those involved.

Glass Onion: A Knives Out Mystery (2022)

Rian Johnson ‘s sequel to 2019’s Knives Out is already dominating the Netflix charts, quickly becoming the streaming platform’s sixth-biggest movie. While Glass Onion is light on action, the film engages your inner Sherlock Holmes and works your brain meats like an overzealous trainer who delights in causing pain. Daniel Craig, Edward Norton, Kate Hudson, Dave Bautista, Janelle Monáe, Kathryn Hahn, Jessica Henwick, Leslie Odom Jr., and Madelyn Cline create the star-studded cast, with Glass Onion offering a twisty mystery in a posh island setting with colorful characters.

Glass Onion places a new spin on what made the original Knives Out so much fun. The unique setting gives the whodunit a fresh coat of paint and presents Craig’s Benoit Blanc with more opportunities to shine as a Kentucky-Fried detective with an eye for detail. Once the mystery gets going, the film becomes a non-stop thrill ride of suspicion, intrigue, and action as the characters turn on each other while searching for the truth.

The Gray Man (2022)

The Gray Man features solid performances from the film’s leading players, including Ana De Armas, Billy Bob Thornton, Jessica Henwick, Alfre Woodard, Regé-Jean Page, Dhanush, and more. The film also boasts balls-to-the-wall action sequences of which Netflix spared no expense. As bombastic as any theatrical blockbuster, a sequel and spinoff in The Gray Man universe have already been greenlit. Get on the ground floor by watching the first film in the franchise right now.

What do you get when you pair two of Hollywood’s biggest stars with a brotherly duo at the top of the filmmaker food chain? The launch of The Gray Man universe! Exploding onto Netflix this month, The Gray Man stars Ryan Gosling and Chris Evans as CIA operatives on opposite sides of the spectrum. Based on the 2009 novel of the same name and helmed by The Russo Brothers, The Gray Man tells the story of an agent whose true identity is known to none uncovers sark agency secrets, and a psychotic former colleague puts a bounty on his head. A global manhunt ensues, resulting in action, deception, and a mustache on Evans’ face you won’t soon forget.

Lesson Plan (2022)

If you enjoy movies like Dangerous Minds or The Substitute , you might want to enroll in Netflix’s Polish revenge thriller Lesson Plan . Daniel Markowicz directs from a script by Daniel Bernardi about a former cop (Piotr Witkowski) who, after a teacher dies, takes a job managing a classroom of toughs to get close to the heart of the crime. The closer the former cop gets to his students, it becomes clear the institution is where some of the city’s young and notorious criminals gather to terrorize beyond the schoolyard.

Lesson Plan is unique among most Netflix action movies in that the violence is slightly more realistic than one might expect. The hits land hard. However, there’s little in the way of outrageous sound effects and exaggerated contortions to push things over the top. Sometimes, simple is better or entertaining enough to warrant a portion of your Friday night chill time. I like giving foreign action movies a chance and expanding my horizons. If you can forgive a modest budget and some telegraphed fight choreography, Lesson Plan will teach you a few things about action movies. Oh, and yes, there is an English-language dub.

Lost Bullet (2020)

Take your beret out of the closet and order a baguette with your next meal because we’re going to France for the French action thriller Lost Bullet . Guillaume Pierret directs from a script co-written by Pierret, Alban Lenoir, and Kamel Guemra. Lost Bullet focuses on Lino (Alban Lenoir), a street-savvy ex-con and getaway driver who engineers vehicles for cops in charge of cleaning up the streets. When his mentor dies at the hands of dirty cops, Lino must use his skills to outrun those trying to silence him and place him behind bars for their crimes.

If car chases and crashes are your jam, you’ll want to punch Lost Bullet ‘s gas pedal. The movie might not be as stylish as Baby Driver or defy gravity like the Fast and the Furious franchise, but there’s plenty of destruction and derring-do to be had. Before you ask, yes, there is an English-language dub.

Lou (2022)

Make way for Allison Janney to join the ranks of action badasses like Sigourney Weaver and Jamie Lee Curtis! In Lou , a storm rages. A young girl gets kidnapped, and her mother teams up with a mysterious woman for a thrilling and emotional rescue mission. Hailed as a throwback action movie circa the 1980s or 1990s, Lou surprises action fans. Janney shines as Lou, a take-no-prisoners recluse with demons squirming beneath her skin. Wrecking shop as much as John Wick, Lorraine Broughton, or Joey King’s Princess, Lou’s situational awareness is off the charts, and Janney goes above and beyond, delivering a brutal and believable performance. Lou’s companion, Hannah (Jurnee Smollett), also brings pain in this gripping action movie. Both women are out for blood because hell hath no fury as a mother scorned. Whoever took Hannah’s daughter is in for a world of pain.

My Name Is Vendetta (2022)

If killing a person’s wife is enough to brand you with a death wish, how will that person react when you kidnap their daughter too? Unfortunate souls will find out in Cosimo Gomez’s My Name Is Vendetta . Alessandro Gassmann, Ginevra Francesconi, and Alessio Praticò star in Cosimo’s Italian crime thriller about a former mafia enforcer and his daughter, who flee to Milan to plot their revenge against the criminals who killed their wife and mother, respectively.

My Name Is Vendetta brings a nasty bit of business to Netflix with a revenge tale soaked in blood, close calls, and unthinkable acts of violence. It’s a father-daughter action film, and only the young woman in the movie is a stealthy car thief and nasty with a blade. If you find yourself in Santo and Sofia’s path, it’s been nice knowing you.

The Night Comes For Us (2018)

Undoubtedly the most brutal film on this list, The Night Comes for Us takes everything you love about Indonesian martial arts movies and cranks those elements to eleven. To be blunt, this movie makes Gareth Evans’ The Raid series look tame by comparison. Directed by Timo Tjahjanto ( May the Devil Take You ), and starring Joe Taslim ( Mortal Kombat , The Raid: Redemption ) and Iko Uwais ( Snake Eyes , The Raid: Redemption ), The Night Comes for Us is a relentless ballet of brutality that presents audiences with more broken bones than an ICU full of failed daredevils. I recently watched this movie for the first time and have no shame in admitting that I spent much of the film with my fist in my mouth, my teeth gnawing on knuckles, and nearly breaking the skin.

The Witcher: Nightmare of the Wolf (2021)

While we’re waiting for Henry Cavill to return as Geralt of Rivia for The Witcher Season 3, there’s The Witcher: Nightmare of the Wolf , an animated spin-off focusing on the origin story of Geralt’s mentor and friend Vesemir. Featuring the magic, creatures, and fantasy action that makes The Witcher a hit with fans of the beloved franchise, Nightmare of the Wolf finds Vesemir escaping poverty to become a slayer of monsters for coin and glory.

Kwang Il Han directs from a script by Beau DeMayo, The Witcher: Nightmare of the Wolf stars Theo James ( Divergent , How It Ends ), Lara Pulver ( Sherlock , The Alienist ), Mary McDonnell ( Battlestar Galactica , Donnie Darko ), Graham McTavish ( Rambo , The Hobbit trilogy), and Tom Canton ( Wasted , Death Comes to Pemberley ). The story explores Vesemir’s past while confronting a new evil alongside a new cast of enigmatic characters. The series is perfect for fans of Netflix’s Castlevania , with stylish art, bloody action, and devastating spells creating a visual spectacle fantasy fans will love. Sharpen your sword, prepare to carve through the hordes, and toss a coin to a different kind of Witcher!