10 Best Action Movies of 2025, Ranked

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2025 was a fantastic year for horror and family-friendly films, with popular movies like A Minecraft Movie, Lilo & Stitch, and The Bad Guys 2 leading the way. Science fiction also had a strong showing with titles like Bugonia, Mickey 17, and Companion. Beyond that, several memorable action films were released. Here are the ten best, chosen for being either truly excellent or simply very enjoyable. We’ve focused on movies released in theaters, so we’ve left out some great streaming titles like G20, Havoc, Predator: Killer of Killers, Eenie Meanie, Heads of State, and Play Dirty. We considered films with any kind of theatrical release, but film festival premieres didn’t count – for example, Gore Verbinski’s Good Luck, Have Fun, Don’t Die won’t be widely available until February 2026 after its festival debut. And to keep things focused, we’ve also excluded superhero movies, meaning you won’t find Superman or Thunderbolts on this list.

Films that barely missed making the cut include Bad Man, The Accountant 2, Nobody 2, Primitive War, and two entries for Jurassic World Rebirth, along with M3GAN 2.0 (which wasn’t terrible). Now, let’s discover which action movie will be crowned the best of 2025.

10) The Running Man

Although it’s not the strongest of the upcoming Stephen King adaptations in 2025, Edgar Wright’s film, The Running Man, is praiseworthy for largely following the source material – until the very end. It also proves that Glen Powell has the charisma and skills to succeed as an action hero.

While the film doesn’t explore deeper themes as much as it could, it’s still an enjoyable moviegoing experience. It’s a shame it’s likely to be considered a failure, though it’s expected the director will recover. The $110 million budget was a significant risk, and perhaps not the wisest one. Ultimately, it’s a good choice for a casual Saturday afternoon if you enjoy action films.

9) Avatar: Fire and Ash

Does Avatar: Fire and Ash cover familiar territory from the first two movies? Yes, but it still offers a compelling continuation of the story and expands on the world of Pandora. And, predictably, Fire and Ash is visually stunning – a perfect example of why movie theaters remain important.

While visually impressive, Fire and Ash goes further than The Way of Water in developing its world, avoiding the repetitive storytelling of the first film. Plus, Oona Chaplin is a consistently strong actress, and it’s great to see her in a substantial role like Varang.

8) A Working Man

Jason Statham delivers another solid action performance in A Working Man. Similar to his role in The Beekeeper, the film highlights his strength in revenge stories, and this one is particularly tough and realistic.

Jason Statham is most compelling when his characters are fighting to protect someone else, and that’s exactly what happens here. He’s up against overwhelming odds to save his boss’s daughter. The story is straightforward, but it works because we’ve seen a genuine connection between his character, Levon Cade, and the daughter, Jenny Garcia, played by Arianna Rivas, making us root for him to succeed.

Stream A Working Man on Prime Video.

7) Mission: Impossible – The Final Reckoning

While not perfect, Mission: Impossible – The Final Reckoning provides a satisfying conclusion to Tom Cruise’s portrayal of Ethan Hunt. The villain’s defeat feels a little underwhelming, but overall the film is an emotionally impactful and visually stunning action epic, featuring some truly impressive action sequences.

Many believe the Fallout film was the high point of the series, and it’s a valid opinion. However, it was crucial to create a satisfying conclusion for Ethan Hunt, a character Tom Cruise has portrayed for almost three decades. As a finale to an eight-movie story, The Final Reckoning delivers a reasonably good ending.

Stream Mission: Impossible – The Final Reckoning on Paramount+.

6) Predator: Badlands

Dan Trachtenberg has successfully breathed new life into the Predator series with his third installment. Predator: Badlands continues to redefine what fans expect from the franchise, proving that these changes were exactly what it needed to feel exciting again.

Choosing the Yautja as the main character was a risk, but Dimitrius Schuster-Koloamatangi gives Dek a relatable and human personality. The film also strikes a perfect balance – it’s well-paced, neither rushing the story nor dragging it out.

5) Sisu: Road to Revenge

Even better than the first film, Sisu: Road to Revenge is a fast-paced and exciting movie. Despite only lasting 89 minutes, it feels like a relentless 45-minute thrill ride.

Jorma Tommila delivers another outstanding performance as Aatami Korpi, the incredibly resilient main character. He conveys a wealth of emotion even without speaking. This time, he’s matched against a compelling villain, Igor Draganov, powerfully played by Stephen Lang. Their shared history adds depth, and Draganov’s final confrontation is particularly satisfying.

4) Ballerina

While Ballerina didn’t perform well in theaters, it’s a strong and welcome entry into the John Wick universe. It’s disappointing that fans of the Wick movies didn’t come out to see it in larger numbers.

I really enjoyed Ana de Armas as Eve Macarro – she was a fantastic addition to the John Wick universe, even though we’re not sure if this is really the end for Keanu’s Wick. It’s a shame the cliffhanger probably won’t get resolved, but honestly, we can still appreciate Ballerina for what it is. It’s a great way to say goodbye to Lance Reddick’s Charon, and the last half of the movie delivers what I think is the most incredible action sequence of the year. Seriously, that action was phenomenal!

Stream Ballerina on Starz.

3) Novocaine

Jack Quaid had a great year in 2025, with roles in both Companion and a cameo in Heads of State. However, it was Novocaine that really showed he could lead a big film. He gave a nuanced performance that kept the movie from feeling overly dark, even during intense or dramatic moments.

Despite being over an hour and fifty minutes long, Novocaine feels fast-paced and remains engaging even after multiple viewings. The film’s success largely hinges on the strong connection between Steve Zahn and Amber Midthunder. Their characters’ potential for a positive outcome makes the reveal of one character’s true intentions and the reasons behind them all the more powerful and nuanced.

Stream Novocaine on Prime Video.

2) Sinners

Considered the top horror film of 2025, Sinners also stands out as a fantastic action movie. Just like the film coming up next, it’s likely Ryan Coogler’s work will be a strong contender during awards season.

It’s remarkable how Sinners successfully blends action, horror, historical setting, and drama—even with touches of romance and music—without feeling overstuffed. It’s another impressive and well-executed film from Coogler, and it has the potential to become a classic within the next two decades.

Stream Sinners on HBO Max.

1) One Battle After Another

Despite not performing strongly in theaters, One Battle After Another’s length—two hours and forty-two minutes—its serious subject matter, and its high $175 million budget likely contributed to that. However, the film is expected to win many awards at the Academy Awards, which should boost its popularity on streaming services.

While One Battle After Another includes action sequences, it’s more of a thoughtful look at the current state of the U.S. and it manages to stay engaging throughout its length. Sean Penn delivers what many consider his strongest performance in years as Colonel Steven J. Lockjaw, but he’s not alone – Teyana Taylor, Leonardo DiCaprio, Benicio del Toro, and especially Chase Infiniti, all give standout performances that rank among the best acting of 2025.

Stream One Battle After Another on HBO Max.

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2025-12-25 03:12