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Action television has evolved far beyond simple explosions and car chases. The best action shows of recent years combine visceral fight choreography with compelling characters, tight plotting, and emotional stakes that make every punch land. Beyond that, actors are asked to deliver in every way—to emote despite the violence, to be physically fit enough to handle it all, and to embody characters who people are willing to cheer for and follow into battle.
Because of that, we’ve been given some amazing action series over the course of a decade or so; it’s no longer simple brutality and violence, but intense storylines with high stakes. From brutal martial arts epics to high‑stakes espionage thrillers, these are the action shows that will keep you hooked from start to finish—and maybe even make you want to do an instant rewatch.
‘Reacher’ (2022–Present)
Alan Ritchson plays Reacher, a towering, lethal, and unexpectedly witty former U.S. Army member. Each season of Reacher adapts one of Lee Child‘s acclaimed novels, providing a self-contained mystery with plot twists and thrilling action. The show does a great job of showing Reacher at his best when he is underestimated; watching villains learn this lesson feels endlessly satisfying. There is no filler in any of the tightly written and directed episodes, only relentless momentum and a hero who always finds a way to win. Ritchson became synonymous with action television after landing this role, but he’s since expanded into a more diverse range of roles.
Reacher follows Jack Reacher, a former United States Army Military Police Major who (in the first episode) wanders into the small town of Margrave, Georgia, only to be arrested for a murder he did not commit. Following his release, he joins forces with two local cops to expose a massive conspiracy involving corrupt cops, a wealthy businessman, and his own mysterious past. The series follows Reacher as he uses his military training, analytical mind, and brutal physicality to dismantle criminal networks, showing why they shouldn’t mess with him. The show is going strong, premiering its fourth season soon and getting a Season 5 renewal.
‘The Boys’ (2019–2026)
The action in The Boys is explosively creative, with superheroes being destroyed by their own powers and super-strong villains receiving their punishment in gloriously disgusting ways. But the real draw is the tension, especially when Homelander (Antony Starr) appears. Homelander is one of the most terrifying villains ever written, but it’s not just the penmanship that makes him so terrifying—Starr expertly creates tension with his mannerisms and cold delivery. Combined with the show’s willingness to kill off major characters, The Boys keeps the stakes high, both emotionally and physically. The fight scenes are brutal and relentless, and the plot takes viewers on a rollercoaster ride.
The Boys is based on Garth Ennis and Darick Robertson‘s comic book of the same name, and it takes place in a world where superheroes (known as Supes) are corporate celebrities who abuse their powers. When a group of vigilantes known as The Boys rebel, led by Billy Butcher (Karl Urban), a vengeful former CIA operative, they target the corrupt Supes of the Vought corporation, including the egomaniacal Homelander (Starr). The series is a brutal, satirical deconstruction of the superhero genre, featuring shocking violence, dark humor, and biting social commentary. The most recent season hits that final point a little too well at times, but it is also the show’s final season, and it obviously intends to go out on a high note.
‘Into the Badlands’ (2015–2019)
Into the Badlands is a largely forgotten show that features a visual feast of martial arts choreography. Into the Badlands, produced by legendary fight choreographer Stephen Fung, features wire-fu action that rivals classic Hong Kong cinema. Each episode includes at least one extended, beautifully shot fight sequence that highlights the lead, Daniel Wu, and his incredible physicality. There is a lot of worldbuilding and often surprising plot twists. With only 32 episodes spread over three seasons, it’s a tightly woven binge that never outstays its welcome.
Into the Badlands takes place about five centuries after an apocalyptic event; a feudal society has emerged in the American South, divided into seven territories ruled by barons. Sunny (Wu) is a “clipper”—a deadly regent and assassin—who works for the powerful Baron Quinn (Marton Csokas). When Sunny meets a mysterious teenage boy named M.K. (Aramis Knight), who possesses a hidden power known as “The Gift,” his loyalty is tested, and he embarks on a journey that will upend the entire social order. Wu is electrifying as the lead, but Emily Beecham as the dangerous assassin baron often steals the spotlight.
‘Gangs of London’ (2020–Present)
Gangs of London is an underrated action thriller with legendary fight choreography. Several episodes from Season 1 have been hailed as some of the most brutal, realistic hand-to-hand combat ever filmed—but then again, it was created by Gareth Evans, the visionary behind The Raid films, so it all makes sense. The show features a mix of action and family drama, starring top British actors such as Ṣọpẹ́ Dìrísù, Michelle Fairley, Joe Cole, and Paapa Essiedu. Colm Meaney makes an appearance in Season 1 and Andrew Koji joins Gangs of London in Season 3.
Gangs of London begins with the assassination of Finn Wallace (Meaney), the powerful leader of London’s criminal underworld; following this, a brutal power struggle breaks out between rival gangs. Elliott Finch (Dìrísù), an undercover operative for a shadowy global investor, infiltrates Wallace’s inner circle, finding himself caught in the crossfire as various mafia families from all over—the Irish, Albanians, Kurds, and Welsh—fight for control. The series is a sprawling, hyper-violent crime epic that redefines the action genre, but it’s quite brutal and creative in its violence.
‘Strike Back’ (2010–2020)
Strike Back is the show with the most action-packed episodes, featuring explosions, gunfights, and hand-to-hand combat. The pacing is relentless, with no filler episodes between missions. Each season represents a self-contained story, making it ideal for weekend binges. The show was filmed on location in Hungary, South Africa, and Thailand, and it looks as beautiful as it is brutal; much of the action was inspired by former Special Air Service soldier Chris Ryan‘s novel series of the same name. While Strike Back is literary fiction, Ryan has written many non-fiction books in the same vein.
Strike Back is an action-packed series that follows the covert Section 20 unit, a black-ops team operating in dangerous locations around the world. Between Seasons 2 and 6, British Sergeant Michael Stonebridge (Philip Winchester) and former U.S. Delta Force operative Damian Scott (Sullivan Stapleton) travel from Beirut to Afghanistan and Chechnya to stop terrorist plots, rescue hostages, and eliminate high-value targets. The series features unapologetic military action, and the chemistry between Winchester and Stapleton creates an authentic on-screen brotherhood. Strike Back is essentially one of the best action shows you’ve never seen.
‘Banshee’ (2013–2016)
Banshee was created by Jonathan Tropper and is pure pulp perfection that improves with each season. The fight scenes are legendary, each episode ends on a cliffhanger, and the antihero protagonist is impossible not to cheer for; Banshee is undeniably one of the most bingeworthy shows that more people should watch. Antony Starr plays the protagonist and does the majority of his own stunts. Fans of The Boys recognize Starr for his blonde slick-back hair, but in Banshee, he is brown-haired and has a buzzcut, making him look unrecognizable—and doing an incredible job as the confused, wounded lead.
Banshee follows an anonymous ex‑con (Starr) who gets released from prison after 15 years and goes on a quest to find his ex-girlfriend, Ana (Ivana Miličević). When he stumbles into the small town of Banshee, Pennsylvania, and witnesses the murder of the newly appointed sheriff, Lucas Hood, he impulsively steals the dead man’s identity; now posing as the law, “Hood” balances his criminal instincts with the duties of his badge, clashing with the ruthless gangs of the area, as well as his own violent past. Banshee resolves its storylines with lots of excitement and soul, never failing any of its antiheroes or just plain villains.
‘Bloodhounds’ (2023–2026)
I know—this is a Korean show, so you’ll need subtitles, but one look at Bloodhounds will hook you right away; the show has raw, visceral fight choreography that emphasizes every character’s and stuntperson’s fighting abilities without missing a beat. The two leads’ bromance is electric, and their loyalty and chemistry heighten the impact of each scene where sacrifices must be made. Woo Do-hwan and Lee Sang-yi trained for months in boxing techniques for their fight scenes, while the icon Rain played a villain for the first time in his career in Season 2.
Bloodhounds follows two young boxers, Kim Gun-woo (Woo) and Hong Woo-jin (Lee), who meet as rivals in the ring but quickly bond as brothers after learning they both served in the Marine Corps. When Gun-woo’s mother is victimized by a vicious loan shark named Myung-gil (Park Sung-woong), Gun-woo and Woo-jin join forces with a benevolent moneylender named Choi (Huh Joon-ho) to dismantle his operation from within. In Season 2, Gun-woo and Woo-jin compete against Im Baek-jeong (Rain), a dangerous and volatile boxing champion who blackmails Gun-woo into participating in his underground boxing matches. Bloodhounds combines bare-knuckle boxing with a classic underdog revenge story, and the leads are so likable that you’ll fall in love right away.
‘Warrior’ (2019–2023)
Warrior, based on Bruce Lee‘s original concept, is simply the best action series to ever air on television. Each episode, choreographed by legendary stuntman and martial arts expert Brett Chan, includes at least one breathtaking, often multi-stage fight sequence reminiscent of a violent dance. The series is unflinching in its portrayal of historical racism, but it never becomes moralizing—it’s a brutal, stylish revenge fantasy. Andrew Koji shines as Ah Sahm, and the supporting cast, including Kieran Bew as the tragic Irish cop Bill O’Hara, is consistently excellent. The show’s cancellation sparked outrage, but the existing episodes across three seasons remain a high point for the genre.
Warrior takes place during the brutal Tong Wars of 1870s San Francisco. Ah Sahm (Koji), a Chinese martial arts prodigy, arrives in America in search of his older sister Xiaojing (Dianne Doan), who has been missing for decades. Ah Sahm is quickly drawn into a power struggle between the city’s two most powerful crime families, the Hop Wei and the Long Zii Tong. Using his incredible fighting abilities, he rises through the criminal underworld, navigating racism, police corruption, and his own conflicting loyalties. Shannon Lee, Bruce Lee’s daughter, worked as an executive producer to ensure her father’s vision was respected. Warrior features authentic martial arts styles, and it’s an amazing show you won’t be able to stop watching.
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Anja Djuricic
Almontather Rassoul
