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We're all still in need of some escapism right now, and what better escapism than a great action movie. There's a distinct charm to watching stories bursting with swords and swag and superheroes, guns and gory violence, back flips and general badass-ery.
But rather than merely list great action movies, here's a look at the different kinds of films that come under that ass-kicking umbrella. From the 'one-dude-against-an-army' flick to sci fi space battles to war films to action comedies, in no particular order, here's my list of some of the best action movies on streaming.
Gareth Evans' gloriously violent Indonesian film features a police officer trapped in an apartment building filled with an army of bad guys he has to fight his way through, floor after floor, to reach the big boss on top. It has relentless end to end killing with some of the most brutal fight scenes you've ever seen. Despite its singular bone breaking vision, it still manages to have a satisfying plot and some fantastically well-crafted scenes of tension amidst the blood bath.
Streaming On: Amazon Prime Video
When it comes to huge spectacle action – movies which feel like one giant set piece after another – there is no greater living example than the chaotic achievement that is George Miller's Mad Max: Fury Road. Fury Road is just non-stop, carefully crafted carnage which somehow manages to be coherent, all while having used minimal CGI. Fury Road is a masterpiece of mayhem which cemented Charlize Theron as one of the greatest modern action stars and there's no experience quite like it.
Streaming On: Amazon Prime Video
On face value, Doug Liman's Edge Of Tomorrow deals with familiar tropes – of a war for the planet and time loops and alien invasions – but it's brilliantly executed with some fantastic combat sequences. Not to mention one of the most badass female action heroes in Emily Blunt's Full Metal Bitch. Edge Of Tomorrow sees Tom Cruise as a man forced to relive the same day over and over again in a spectacular action flick that you just want to revisit over and over again.
Streaming On: Amazon Prime Video
There's no film that's really delivered on both adrenaline and laughs quite like Deadpool. Putting aside its 'I can't believe this actually got made' levels of funny, Deadpool's action scenes are top notch despite there being only two big set pieces. It's just as much fun to watch the merc-with-a-mouth's iconic one liners as it is to see him stab, skewer and barbecue his way through the bad guys with maximum effort. But above all, the movie's achievement lies in how well they blended the two genres together so that you really can't separate the action from the comedy.
Streaming On: Disney+ Hotstar
War films tend to be less about slick, cool violence as they are about the horrid reality and futility of it, but they're no less thrilling and impressive. And here, nothing quite takes the cake quite like the unique experience that is Sam Mendes' 1917. Presented as one extended, long take Mendes' heart stopping film makes you discover that you can, in fact, hold your breath for two straight hours. 1917 is as much a technical marvel as it is absorbing, immersive storytelling. It's not just edge-of-your-seat, it's hiding under your seat with a blanket and a teddy bear while on the phone with your parents with one eye open.
Streaming On: Sony LIV
War is the definitive Bollywood action film of its time which proved to the world that Hindi cinema can do the slick sophisticated blockbuster, and do it well. It's Tiger Shroff's best film and the only film that's really known how to capture his ability and channel it into something actually cinematic. His fantastic one-take entry scene entirely speaks for itself. There's also Hrithik taking down a plane in mid-air and plenty of other great sequences which leap off the screen. Even at its most ridiculous it's never not fun and it perfectly nailed the novelty of the 'two hero film'. War is an unapologetic star vehicle at its best, bursting with style, attitude and just pure swag.
Streaming On: Amazon Prime Video
It's hard to pick just one amongst Peter Jackson's Middle Earth epic, but in terms of battle sequences, I still haven't seen anything quite as daunting and absorbing as the Battle for Helm's Deep in The Two Towers, followed closely by the battle for Minas Tirith in The Return Of The King. In one of the greatest good vs evil stories ever told Peter Jackson throws you onto the battlefield with your favourite characters and you feel the stakes and the fear and uncertainty. It's straight up badass, because of Legolas. Just Legolas.
For my last pick we look to TV shows, which have been equally impressive over the last few years in pushing the boundaries of action. And for me, there hasn't been a show that packed as much a punch than the first season of Netflix's Daredevil. Easily Marvel's best TV show, Daredevil follows the blind lawyer by day and Hell's Kitchen vigilante by night and offered up terrific fight sequences, with all the back alley brawls and rooftop rumbles you could ask for. Who can forget that epic hallway fight scene or all those ninja showdowns? Later seasons of the show didn't land quite as well but season 1 makes for a great standalone watch.
Streaming On: Netflix