When you want action and you want it now, turn to these crowd-pleasing punch-’em-ups on Netflix, including the epic fantasy fights in Indian epic “RRR” and the dream team of Pedro Pascal, Oscar Isaac, Ben Affleck, Garrett Hedlund and Charlie Hunnam in “Triple Frontier.”
Here are the best action movies on Netflix right now, including a few you might not have seen.
The Matrix
It’s hard to choose our favorite set piece from the first “Matrix” movie: Neo (Keanu Reeves) and Trinity (Carrie-Anne Moss)’s lobby takedown? The helicopter rescue? Neo’s subway face-off with Agent Smith (Hugo Weaving)? Or maybe you prefer the motorcycle chase from “The Matrix Reloaded”? That, and “The Matrix Revolutions,” are also streaming right now.
Kill Bill, Vol. 1 and 2
Uma Thurman’s betrayed assassin gets revenge on her ex-colleagues in spectacularly bloody fashion in Quentin Tarantino’s epic ode to martial arts movies.
Everything Everywhere All at Once
Michelle Yeoh and Ke Huy Quan deservedly won Oscars for their performances in this fast-paced, mind-bending movie that’s equal parts family drama, romance and (almost) non-stop action. Watching their unassuming laundromat characters realize they’re martial arts masters is a thing of joy. Jamie Lee Curtis (who also won an Oscar) and Stephanie Hsu (who was also nominated) are both in fine, universe-jumping form as well.
Extraction 2
Chris Hemsworth is back in action as unstoppable commando Tyler Rake in this sequel that vastly improves on the first film (Which is also on Netflix).
L.A. Confidential
This gangbusters neo-noir set in ’50s Los Angeles features plenty of action and intrigue as two diametrically opposed cops — tough guy Bud White (Russell Crowe) and straight arrow Ed Exley (Guy Pearce) — team up to solve a mass murder that’s part of a much bigger conspiracy. The movie won a Best Supporting Actress Oscar for Kim Basinger and Best Adapted Screenplay.
Desperado
Antonio Banderas lays waste to a border town in Robert Rodriguez’s explosive, bigger budget remake of his 1992 indie, “El Mariachi.” Let’s just say, that’s not a guitar in his guitar case.
RRR
This gonzo, three-hour Indian action epic where two revolutionaries take on British colonizers (and a tiger!) in 1920s-era India has to be seen to be believed, especially the fire-fueled final showdown. Ram Charan’s character is breathtakingly unstoppable.
Dredd
In this 2012 actioner, Karl Urban is Judge Dredd and Olivia Thirlby his trainee who fight their way to the top of a tenement building to take down vicious crime lord (Lena Headey). But she has the upper edge from her penthouse lair.
The Night Comes for Us
If you’re looking for action that is literally bone-breaking — and some of the bloodiest battles ever put on film — queue up this Indonesian crime flick from director Timo Tjahjanto. If you’ve got the stomach for it.
The Accountant
Ben Affleck is an autistic accountant who’s also an ace assassin in this tight action drama. A sequel, with the original cast returning, was announced in March.
The Harder They Fall
Regina King, LaKeith Stanfield, Idris Elba are badass outlaws and Delroy Lindo is legendary Black U.S. Marshall Bass Reeves in this riotous revisionist western from Jeymes Samuel (aka music act The Bullitts).
Triple Frontier
Retired special forces experts team up to rob a druglord’s millions in this high-stakes heist flick that brings together the dream team of Ben Affleck, Oscar Isaac, Pedro Pascal, Charlie Hunnam, and Garrett Hedlund.
The Woman King
Viola Davis is the fierce General Nanisca of Dahomey, a precolonial West African kingdom, who trains the next generation of women warriors in Gina Prince-Bythewood’s film, which is based on the real 19th century trailblazer.
Army of the Dead
Dave Bautista leads a group of mercenaries into a zombie-infested Las Vegas for a near-suicide mission bank heist. There’s action, betrayal, sacrifices and, of course, a zombie tiger.
Bullet Train
What if… “Smokin’Aces,” but on a train? It’s non-stop assassin battles as Brad Pitt fights a formidable line-up of hitmen and hitwomen on the world’s fastest train in this fast-paced flick from “John Wick”director David Leitch.
