6 Greatest Action Movies of 2026 So Far

Every year, action movie fans get at least a few gems to add to their list of favorites; and so far, 2026 has been no exception. The year is only halfway over, but filmmakers have nevertheless already gifted audiences with six remarkably fun action spectacles worth watching on the big screen. Action is a genre all about excitement, adrenaline, and constant movement, and the teams behind these excellent films have perfectly understood that. Not all of these are flawless, and the rest of the year will undoubtedly bring even more (potentially superior) action extravaganzas into the mix. But so far, we’ve already gotten six of the most entertaining action flicks of the decade so far.

Of course, not all of these movies are flawless, but they at least have more than enough to offer to satisfy even the most demanding fan of the genre. Whether it’s a huge Hollywood franchise entry like Star Wars: The Mandalorian and Grogu, a genre-bending indie gem like The Death of Robin Hood, or an underrated international masterpiece like The Furious, the best action films of the year so far have been delightful injections of pure adrenaline which have kept action lovers perfectly satisfied for the first half of the year.

6

‘Star Wars: The Mandalorian and Grogu’

For the longest time, the television side of the Star Wars franchise was limited exclusively to animation. It wouldn’t be until 2019, well after Disney’s acquisition of Lucasfilm, that the galaxy far, far away would finally see its first incursion into live-action television: The Mandalorian. Underwhelming third season notwithstanding, the show completely revolutionized the franchise, and showed that it could work on the live-action small screen every bit as well as it could when it was animated. When labor disputes delayed the show’s fourth season, Lucasfilm decided to re-evaluate their strategy for The Mandalorian and opted to start developing a film instead. Enter The Mandalorian and Grogu.

Led by one of the best bounty hunters in all of Star Wars, the movie may not have been nearly as great as the show’s inaugural season was, but it’s still perfectly entertaining for fans of the franchise. Though it doesn’t quite feel grand or game-changing enough to fully justify its existence, it provides plenty of visually impressive action sequences and emotionally compelling character moments to satisfy not just Star Wars and The Mandalorian fans, but also action-loving cinephiles. Couple all of that with one of the most impressive scores of Ludwig Göransson‘s impressive career, and you get a box office bomb that deserved to do at least a little bit better.

5

‘War Machine’

Image via Netflix

Popcorn movies are every bit as important as artsy indie masterpieces, and as far as action-packed popcorn movies from 2026 go, it doesn’t get much more entertaining than Netflix’s War Machine. It’s a fun, old-fashioned military sci-fi gem led by an incredible and imposing Alan Ritchson, directed by a Patrick Hughes who knows to never take the material too seriously. That self-awareness allows Hughes to focus on making the film flow at a killer pace, packing in some of the most violent and engaging action sequences of any sci-fi action movie we’ve seen over the last few years.

All of that is precisely why War Machine is one of the most-watched Netflix movies of 2026. There’s not much depth here in terms of narrative, characters, or themes, but this isn’t the sort of film you go into expecting an Oscar-worthy script, anyway. Anyone looking for 100 minutes of pure bloody, mechanic, visually strong action entertainment, on the other hand, is quite likely to have a fantastic time with War Machine. It’s silly and could have done with a little more camp, but even as it stands, it’s a perfectly satisfying piece of military science fiction that those who love the genre’s outings from the 20th century ought to at least give a chance.

4

‘The Rip’

Image via Netflix

Anytime Ben Affleck and Matt Damon collaborate, it’s a pop-cultural event, and Netflix’s The Rip is no exception. Proof that the streaming giant has been the go-to platform for action movie fans this year so far, this Joe Carnahan action thriller is one of the best streaming movies of 2026. Inspired by the true story of Miami-Dade County Police Captain Chris Casiano, it’s a highly entertaining crime flick largely carried by the out-of-this-world chemistry Affleck and Damon still share. It’s full of clichés and not particularly well paced, but anyone looking for a satisfying crime action flick before the heavy-hitters of the year start coming out over the next few months should find that it scratches the itch just fine.

It may not be all that ambitious, but The Rip is everything you want an action extravaganza released during the first half of the year to be: Well acted, engagingly written, and full of thrilling action sequences. It’s a phenomenal dad movie and an incredibly satisfying popcorn flick, a worthy addition to a dirty cop genre that’s already full of memorable movies. Anyone who loves Affleck and Damon together, or who holds any kind of nostalgia for the action classics of the ’90s, ought to give The Rip a chance. Netflix hasn’t released many more fitting late-night weekend watches than this one this year.

3

‘The Death of Robin Hood’

Image via A24

American indie studio A24 has been delivering several of the greatest, most creative smaller-scale pictures of the last few years. Much more often than not, even a mid- or even low-tier A24 movie is still miles beyond most of whatever’s in theaters at that point in terms of quality. Case in point: Michael Sarnoski‘s The Death of Robin Hood, which isn’t even close to being one of A24’s best movies of the 2020s, but is nevertheless one of the most entertaining action spectacles we’ve seen this year. That’s the sort of seal of guaranteed quality that the studio brings to the table. Based on the 17th-century Early Modern English ballad Robin Hood’s Death, it’s a gritty and dark deconstruction of the character that’s unlike anything else the big screen has ever shown.

Fans of the mythically heroic, selfless, and charismatic version of the character are probably better off getting their Robin Hood fix elsewhere. Those fascinated by this folk character’s history, however, will know that the earliest ballads featuring him told the tale of a dark, violent outlaw rather than a generous hero who robbed the rich to give to the poor. In that sense, Sarnoski’s brilliant examination of aging, regret, and the burden of legacy makes for one of the most thematically unique action movies we’ll see at any point this year. It’s not nearly as action-packed as fans with a more purist vision of the genre might expect, but those who love slow-burning indie action will find this character study to be one irresistibly compelling.

2

‘Apex’

Image via Netflix

Starring Charlize Theron and Taron Egerton, Apex provides even more proof that Netflix has kept the action genre alive during the first half of 2026. Directed by Baltasar Kormákur, this survival thriller isn’t the best entry the genre has ever seen, but it sure is a perfectly entertaining one. Shot on location in Australia, the film looks absolutely incredible. Add to that plenty of twists and surprises to keep anyone with a Netflix subscription entertained, and you get a criminally underrated action spectacle held together by the powerhouse performances delivered by its two incredible stars.

Is it clichéd? Yes. Does it at times take all-too-familiar decisions where it could have gone for something wilder or more creative? Yes. Is it the sort of movie that you watch once and then never feel the impulse to re-visit? Quite likely. But the thing is that despite those limitations, Apex still works remarkably well in every department that an action movie should. It’s a suspenseful, well-directed, well-paced cat-and-mouse thriller that never pretends to be high art. At all points, the movie makes it clear that all it’s trying to do is entertain its audience—and in that sense, it succeeds greatly.

1

‘The Furious’

Image via Lionsgate Entertainment

There’s really no competition whatsoever; and by the time the year is over, not only will it still be remembered as one of the best action films of 2026, but perhaps even one of the best movies of 2026 in general. Though Kenji Tanigaki‘s English-language Hong Kong action extravaganza The Furious premiered at the Toronto International Film Festival in September of last year, it only received a wide release in June of this year, which immediately makes it the year’s only true action masterpiece thus far. Anyone even slightly familiar with Hong Kong’s history with the action movie genre will know that every time a new Hong Kong action flick comes out, it’s worth watching; and this masterful crime thriller is certainly no exception.

It’s an absolutely breathtaking spectacle with a strong emotional core, a crowd-pleaser that’s as brutal as it is exciting. The dialogue isn’t great and the plotting is a little clunky, but neither of those elements are ever focused on for long enough for The Furious to lose any of its butt-kicking sheen. The sound design is fantastic, the action choreography is some of the best the genre has seen throughout the 2020s, and the dazzling visuals complement those combat sequences perfectly. All in all, The Furious has single-handedly proven that 2026 should be a great year for action movie fans.

The Furious

Release Date

June 10, 2026

Runtime

113 minutes

Director

Kenji Tanigaki

Writers

Mak Tin-Shu, Shum Kwan-sin, Frank Hui, Lei Zhilong