Special Report
Best Action Movies to Stream This Week
Published:
Going to the cinema to see action films is as much of a summer ritual as going to the beach, having barbecues, or watching baseball games. Unfortunately, the rhythms of the season — which unofficially began on Memorial Day — have been disrupted by measures taken to safeguard people during the pandemic. Though states are increasingly opening up following coronavirus-driven lockdowns, restrictions remain in place across the country.
Even though you can’t have the big-screen experience of watching action movies in a theater, you can still see them on streaming services. 24/7 Tempo has identified the best action movies that are now available for streaming. Each of these films is newly available to the most popular streaming platforms as of the past four weeks and is highly ranked based on critic and audience ratings on IMDb and Rotten Tomatoes.
While most of the movies on our list are available for streaming on Amazon, other companies such as Disney Plus, Hulu, and Netflix have also added action films to their platforms.
For those hoping to do some series marathon viewing rather than enjoying a single movie for only a couple of hours, here are the most binge-worthy series you can stream right now.
Click here to see the best action movies to stream this week.
To determine the best action movies that are now available for streaming, 24/7 Tempo identified all of the movies classified as “action” by the Internet Movie Database (IMDb) that are available for streaming — based on data from website JustWatch. We then created an index based on each film’s Rotten Tomatoes average critic rating, Rotten Tomatoes average audience rating, and IMDb average user rating. Movies were required to have at least 4,000 user votes on IMDb and have been originally released no earlier than 1950 to encourage cultural relevance.
We averaged the user ratings from Rotten Tomatoes and IMDb and weighted by the number of votes for each. The combined user rating was then averaged with the Rotten Tomatoes critic rating. Editorial discretion was then applied to include or omit titles that we felt did not match the classification of “action movie” or that deserved inclusion based on other metrics such as cult status or reputation.
25. The Last of the Mohicans (1992)
> Starring: Daniel Day-Lewis, Madeleine Stowe, Russell Means
> Runtime: 112 min
> Rating: R
> Available on: Vudu, Apple iTunes, Google Play Movies, YouTube, Microsoft Store, Amazon Video, DIRECTV, Redbox, FandangoNOW
Michael Mann’s “The Last of the Mohicans” is one of the more romantic popular action movies now available for streaming. Starring Daniel Day-Lewis as Hawkeye, a white man adopted by the Mohican tribe, the film features stylish battle scenes against the background of the passionate relationship between Hawkeye and Cora Munro — the daughter of a British soldier — played by Madeleine Stowe. The movie was given positive reviews by 93% of critics on Rotten Tomatoes and 88% of audience members.
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24. Men in Black (1997)
> Starring: Tommy Lee Jones, Will Smith, Linda Fiorentino
> Runtime: 98 min
> Rating: PG-13
> Available on: Vudu, Apple iTunes, Google Play Movies, YouTube, Microsoft Store, Amazon Video, AMC on Demand, Redbox, FandangoNOW
Audiences went wild for the original “Men in Black,” starring Will Smith and Tommy Lee Jones as secret agents monitoring alien presence on Earth. When adjusted for inflation, the movie grossed just under $500 million. It has a 92% Freshness rating on Rotten Tomatoes, with the site’s Critics Consensus praising its “smart script, spectacular set pieces, and charismatic performances from its leads.”
23. Gladiator (2000)
> Starring: Russell Crowe, Joaquin Phoenix, Connie Nielsen
> Runtime: 155 min
> Rating: R
> Available on: Vudu, Amazon Video, Google Play Movies, YouTube, Apple iTunes, Microsoft Store, AMC on Demand, DIRECTV, Redbox, FandangoNOW
Ridley Scott directed this epic about a former Roman general out for vengeance against the corrupt emperor who killed his family and forced him into slavery. The movie is known for its startling reimaging of ancient Rome as well as the intense gladiatorial combat scenes. The film won five Oscars, including Best Picture and a Best Actor statue for Russell Crowe. Critics gave the movie a 77% Freshness rating on Rotten Tomatoes, and audiences delivered a rating of 87%. IMDb users gave “Gladiator” an 8.5 rating out of 10.
22. District 9 (2009)
> Starring: Sharlto Copley, David James, Jason Cope
> Runtime: 112 min
> Rating: R
> Available on: Apple iTunes, Vudu, Amazon Video, Google Play Movies, YouTube, AMC on Demand, DIRECTV, Microsoft Store, Redbox, FandangoNOW, Amazon Prime Video, Netflix
The feature film debut from South African director Neill Blomkamp presents viewers a future in which extraterrestrials live in run-down slums in Johannesburg, South Africa. The action-packed sci-fi flick has earned approval from 90% of critics and 82% of users on Rotten Tomatoes.
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21. Mad Max: Fury Road (2015)
> Starring: Tom Hardy, Charlize Theron, Nicholas Hoult
> Runtime: 120 min
> Rating: R
> Available on: Vudu, Apple iTunes, Google Play Movies, YouTube, Microsoft Store, Amazon Video, AMC on Demand, DIRECTV, Redbox, FandangoNOW
Australian director George Miller returned to the Mad Max franchise to create “Mad Max: Fury Road,” which was released 36 years after the series’ first film. The movie is a wildly inventive spectacle, with numerous creatively designed vehicles and weapons that populate Miller’s post-apocalyptic world. Critics gave the movie a 97% Freshness rating on Rotten Tomatoes, and audiences delivered a rating of 85%.
20. Kill Bill: Vol. 2 (2004)
> Starring: Uma Thurman, David Carradine, Michael Madsen
> Runtime: 137 min
> Rating: R
> Available on: Google Play Movies, YouTube, Amazon Video, Apple iTunes, AMC on Demand, DIRECTV, Vudu, Redbox, Microsoft Store, Hulu, Showtime, FandangoNOW, Showtime Amazon Channel, fuboTV
The second of Quentin Tarantino’s Kill Bill films continues to follow The Bride (Uma Thurman) as she seeks revenge against a band of assassins and her former lover Bill, who all attempted to murder her. The movie was well received by critics and audiences alike, with many finding it to reach a deeper emotional level than its hyper-violent predecessor — although both films pack a punch in the violence department. “Kill Bill: Vol. 1” is also available to stream on platforms including Amazon Video and Hulu.
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19. Rio Bravo (1959)
> Starring: John Wayne, Dean Martin, Ricky Nelson
> Runtime: 141 min
> Rating: N/A
> Available on: Apple iTunes, Vudu, Google Play Movies, YouTube, Amazon Video, DIRECTV, Redbox, Microsoft Store, FandangoNOW
Howard Hawks directed this Western classic that boasted a big cast, including John Wayne, Dean Martin, Ricky Nelson, Walter Brennan, and Angie Dickinson. Wayne plays a sheriff who seeks help from an alcoholic, a disabled deputy, and a young gunfighter to bring a murderer to justice. Chicago Sun-Times critic Roger Ebert said, “To watch Rio Bravo is to see a master craftsman at work. The film is seamless. There is not a shot that is wrong.” Critics awarded “Rio Bravo” a 100% Freshness rating on Rotten Tomatoes, and audiences gave it a rating of 91%.
18. Casino Royale (2006)
> Starring: Daniel Craig, Eva Green, Judi Dench
> Runtime: 144 min
> Rating: PG-13
> Available on: Apple iTunes, Vudu, Google Play Movies, YouTube, Microsoft Store, Amazon Video, Cinemax Amazon Channel, DIRECTV, HBO Now Amazon Channel, HBO Now, HBO Go, FandangoNOW
2006’s “Casino Royale” is the first James Bond film to star Daniel Craig as 007. The film is considered a reboot of the series, and classic characters such as Q and Miss Moneypenny were absent from the script. Yet the focus on other characters, such as Bond himself, is strong compared to what was seen by many as an increasingly excessive focus on gadgetry in prior Bond films. Critics gave it a 95% Freshness rating.
17. The Wild Bunch (1969)
> Starring: William Holden, Ernest Borgnine, Robert Ryan
> Runtime: 135 min
> Rating: R
> Available on: Apple iTunes, Google Play Movies, YouTube, Amazon Video, Vudu, DIRECTV, Redbox, Microsoft Store, FandangoNOW
“The Wild Bunch” is Sam Peckinpah’s revisionist Western about a group of aging outlaws in search of their final big score in Mexico in the early 20th century. But things go wrong and turn bloody. The movie helped establish Peckinpah’s reputation for showing gratuitous violence. Though panned by some critics because of the film’s depiction of violence, the movie holds a Rotten Tomatoes Freshness rating among critics of 92%, and 91% of audiences liked the motion picture. The Oscar-nominated movie has a 7.9 rating out of 10 among more than 75,000 IMDb users.
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16. The Matrix (1999)
> Starring: Keanu Reeves, Laurence Fishburne, Carrie-Anne Moss
> Runtime: 136 min
> Rating: R
> Available on: Vudu, Apple iTunes, Google Play Movies, YouTube, Amazon Video, Microsoft Store, AMC on Demand, Fandango, Redbox, Netflix, FandangoNOW
“The Matrix” thrilled audiences upon its release with groundbreaking special effects and a compelling sci-fi narrative. The movie also breathed new life into the career of lead Keanu Reeves, who had starred in “Speed” five years earlier. Now may be a good time for fans to revisit the original Matrix before the fourth entry to the series — scheduled for a 2021 release — comes out.
15. Blade Runner (1982)
> Starring: Harrison Ford, Rutger Hauer, Sean Young
> Runtime: 117 min
> Rating: R
> Available on: Vudu, Apple iTunes, Google Play Movies, YouTube, Microsoft Store, Amazon Video, AMC on Demand, DIRECTV, Redbox, FandangoNOW
Ridley Scott’s slick production of the science-fiction/detective story set in a futuristic dystopian Los Angeles influenced the look of subsequent sci-fi films. “Blade Runner” was not a box-office hit when it was released in 1982 but has since gained a cult following, and critics have hailed the film. “Blade Runner” has a 90% Freshness rating among critics on Rotten Tomatoes, and 91% of audiences enjoyed the film. It also has an 8.1 rating out of 10 among nearly 669,000 IMDb users.
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14. Letters from Iwo Jima (2006)
> Starring: Ken Watanabe, Kazunari Ninomiya, Tsuyoshi Ihara
> Runtime: 141 min
> Rating: R
> Available on: Vudu, Google Play Movies, YouTube, Amazon Video, Apple iTunes, DIRECTV, Microsoft Store, Redbox, FandangoNOW
“Letters from Iwo Jima” is the story of one of the last major WWII battles in the Pacific, as told from the Japanese perspective. The film was directed by Clint Eastwood, who told the story of the battle from the American side in “Flags of Our Fathers.” Both films were hailed for humanizing the combatants. “Letters from Iwo Jima” won an Academy Award for Sound Editing and a Golden Globe for Best Foreign Language Film. Critics awarded the film a 91% Freshness rating on Rotten Tomatoes, and audiences gave it a rating of 86%.
13. Avengers: Endgame (2019)
> Starring: Robert Downey Jr., Chris Evans, Mark Ruffalo
> Runtime: 181 min
> Rating: PG-13
> Available on: Vudu, Apple iTunes, Amazon Video, Microsoft Store, Google Play Movies, YouTube, AMC on Demand, Disney Plus, DIRECTV, FandangoNOW
Commercially speaking, “Avengers: Endgame” is by far the most successful movie in the Marvel Cinematic Universe, grossing nearly $860 million at the domestic box office. The Infinity Saga finale has also been highly rated by critics and users on Rotten Tomatoes, receiving positive reviews from 94% of the former and 90% of the latter. Fans can stream numerous other MCU flicks such as “The Avengers” (2012) and “Avengers: Infinity War” (2018) on platforms including Amazon Video and Vudu.
12. Crouching Tiger, Hidden Dragon (2000)
> Starring: Yun-Fat Chow, Michelle Yeoh, Ziyi Zhang
> Runtime: 120 min
> Rating: PG-13
> Available on: Vudu, Apple iTunes, Amazon Video, Google Play Movies, YouTube, Microsoft Store, AMC on Demand, FlixFling, DIRECTV, Redbox, FandangoNOW, fuboTV
The martial arts flick about a warrior searching for his stolen sword in 19th century China was a huge hit in the U.S. It was nominated for 10 Academy Awards and won four, including Best Foreign Language Film. Currently, the movie has a Freshness rating of 97% on Rotten Tomatoes.
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11. Jurassic Park (1993)
> Starring: Sam Neill, Laura Dern, Jeff Goldblum
> Runtime: 127 min
> Rating: PG-13
> Available on: Vudu, Apple iTunes, Amazon Video, Google Play Movies, YouTube, Microsoft Store, AMC on Demand, Fandango, FlixFling, DIRECTV, Redbox, FandangoNOW
The Oscar-winning film that launched the Jurassic franchise was hailed in its Critics Consensus on Rotten Tomatoes as a “a spectacle of special effects and life-like animatronics, with some of Spielberg’s best sequences of sustained awe and sheer terror since Jaws.” Critics and audiences alike on Rotten Tomatoes gave “Jurassic Park” a 91% approval rating, and more than 831,000 IMDb users awarded it an 8.1 rating out of 10. The film has grossed more than $357 million domestically, third highest in the franchise.
10. The Bourne Ultimatum (2007)
> Starring: Matt Damon, Edgar Ramírez, Joan Allen
> Runtime: 115 min
> Rating: PG-13
> Available on: Apple iTunes, Vudu, Google Play Movies, YouTube, Microsoft Store, Amazon Video, AMC on Demand, DIRECTV, Redbox, FandangoNOW
The third movie in the original Bourne trilogy, based off of Robert Ludlum’s novels, again features Matt Damon as government-trained killer Jason Bourne looking to uncover his past. The high-paced action flick won three Oscars in 2008 and received positive reviews from 92% of critics and 91% of audiences on Rotten Tomatoes.
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9. Die Hard (1988)
> Starring: Bruce Willis, Alan Rickman, Bonnie Bedelia
> Runtime: 132 min
> Rating: R
> Available on: Vudu, YouTube, Google Play Movies, Apple iTunes, Amazon Video, DIRECTV, Microsoft Store, Cinemax Amazon Channel, Redbox, HBO Now, HBO Go, HBO Now Amazon Channel, FandangoNOW
The Bruce Willis action flick has maintained a fantastic reputation over the 32 years since its release and is currently the 125th top rated film on IMDb. It also has a 93% Freshness rating from critics and a 94% rating from audiences on Rotten Tomatoes. Centered around NYPD cop John McClane who must combat a group of terrorists who have overtaken an LA office building, the movie is available to stream for HBO subscribers and can also be found on various other platforms.
8. Spider-Man: Into the Spider-Verse (2018)
> Starring: Shameik Moore, Jake Johnson, Hailee Steinfeld
> Runtime: 117 min
> Rating: PG
> Available on: Microsoft Store, Amazon Video, Vudu, Apple iTunes, Google Play Movies, YouTube, Netflix, AMC on Demand, DIRECTV, Fandango, FlixFling, Redbox, FandangoNOW
“Spider-Man: Into the Spider-Verse” is the first animated Spider-Man feature. The movie was praised by critics not only for its groundbreaking visuals, but also for its humor and storytelling. It took home the Academy Award for Best Animated Feature Film in 2019.
7. Terminator 2: Judgment Day (1991)
> Starring: Arnold Schwarzenegger, Linda Hamilton, Edward Furlong
> Runtime: 137 min
> Rating: R
> Available on: Apple iTunes, Vudu, Google Play Movies, YouTube, Microsoft Store, Amazon Video, AMC on Demand, DIRECTV, FandangoNOW
James Cameron’s “Terminator 2” is a haunting tale of post-apocalyptic possibilities and a perfect popcorn action movie rolled in one. The film received a rating of 93% from critics and 94% from audiences on Rotten Tomatoes. Viewers can also stream the movie’s highly rated predecessor on Amazon Video, Google Play Movies, Vudu, and more.
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6. Aliens (1986)
> Starring: Sigourney Weaver, Michael Biehn, Carrie Henn
> Runtime: 137 min
> Rating: R
> Available on: Vudu, Amazon Video, Google Play Movies, YouTube, Microsoft Store, Eros Now, Apple iTunes, DIRECTV, HBO Now Amazon Channel, HBO Now, HBO Go, Redbox, FandangoNOW
James Cameron’s sequel to Ridley Scott’s classic “Alien” is far more action-packed than its predecessor. “Aliens” is near universally appreciated and currently has a 97% Freshness rate from critics and a 94% rating from viewers on Rotten Tomatoes, with many praising Sigourney Weaver in her role as tough-as-nails Ellen Ripley.
5. The Lord of the Rings: The Fellowship of the Ring (2001)
> Starring: Elijah Wood, Ian McKellen, Orlando Bloom
> Runtime: 178 min
> Rating: PG-13
> Available on: Apple iTunes, Vudu, Google Play Movies, YouTube, Microsoft Store, Amazon Video, AMC on Demand, DIRECTV, Redbox, FandangoNOW
The first entry to Peter Jackson’s epic Lord of the Rings franchise — based on J.R.R. Tolkien’s classic books — was a massive critical and financial success. The movie grossed more than $315 million at the domestic box office and currently has a 91% Freshness rating from critics on Rotten Tomatoes. Audiences were even more enamored, with 95% liking it.
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4. Inception (2010)
> Starring: Leonardo DiCaprio, Joseph Gordon-Levitt, Ellen Page
> Runtime: 148 min
> Rating: PG-13
> Available on: Apple iTunes, Vudu, Google Play Movies, YouTube, Microsoft Store, Cinemax Amazon Channel, Amazon Video, AMC on Demand, Netflix, Redbox, TNT, FandangoNOW
Filmmaker Christopher Nolan found success with this cerebral thriller in which high end thieves are able to access people’s dreams to aid their crimes. The movie won four Oscars and is currently the 13th top rated movie of all on IMDb, with a rating of 8.8 out of 10 with nearly 2 million users voting. Rotten Tomatoes’ Critics Consensus describes it as “that rare summer blockbuster that succeeds viscerally as well as intellectually.”
3. Raiders of the Lost Ark (1981)
> Starring: Harrison Ford, Karen Allen, Paul Freeman
> Runtime: 115 min
> Rating: PG
> Available on: Vudu, Amazon Video, Google Play Movies, YouTube, Netflix, Apple iTunes, Microsoft Store, AMC on Demand, DIRECTV, Fandango, FandangoNOW, Sling TV
In the first film of the franchise, Harrison Ford plays the swashbuckling archeologist Indiana Jones, who has to prevent Nazis from finding the Ark of the Covenant whose powers could make them invincible. The prototypical summer movie, “Raiders of the Lost Ark” received 95% Freshness rating from critics on Rotten Tomatoes, and 96% of audiences liked the movie. Sequels “Indiana Jones and the Temple of Doom” (1984) and “Indiana Jones and the Last Crusade” (1989) can also be streamed on Netflix and Amazon Video.
2. Star Wars: Episode V – The Empire Strikes Back (1980)
> Starring: Mark Hamill, Harrison Ford, Carrie Fisher
> Runtime: 124 min
> Rating: PG
> Available on: Apple iTunes, Vudu, Microsoft Store, Amazon Video, AMC on Demand, Disney Plus, DIRECTV, Google Play Movies, YouTube, FandangoNOW, TNT, fuboTV
“The Empire Strikes Back” is the top-rated entry in the beloved Star Wars franchise, based on IMDb and Rotten Tomatoes ratings. With more than 1 million viewers rating it, the movie has a 97% approval rating on the latter site. Fans looking for even more Star Wars action can also stream “Episode IV – A New Hope” (1977) and “Episode VI – Return of the Jedi” (1983) on most of the same platforms.
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1. The Dark Knight (2008)
> Starring: Christian Bale, Heath Ledger, Aaron Eckhart
> Runtime: 152 min
> Rating: PG-13
> Available on: Apple iTunes, Vudu, YouTube, Google Play Movies, Microsoft Store, Amazon Video, AMC on Demand, DIRECTV, Redbox, FandangoNOW, Hulu
The second in director Christopher Nolan’s atmospheric trilogy of the caped crusader stars Christian Bale as Batman and Heath Ledger in his Oscar-winning performance as the Joker. The movie has an exceptional 9.0 out of 10 rating on IMDb, and it won over 94% of both critics and audience members on Rotten Tomatoes, where it’s described as “dark, complex, and unforgettable.” The other two films in the trilogy — “Batman Begins” (2005) and “The Dark Knight Rises” (2012) — can also be streamed on platforms including Amazon Video and Apple iTunes.
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