The 17 best action films on Netflix

Ready to spice up your Netflix queue with some full-throttle action? 

Whether you’re a fan of science fiction or secret intelligence, car chases or rooftop combat, Neo or Indiana, super pigs or 007, there’s an action movie for every kind of adrenaline seeker on Netflix. The streaming service has classics as well as fresh installments — plus a smattering of original projects all their own. With so much streaming, it can be an overwhelming task to choose an adventure.

But kick back and try to relax. We’ve picked the 17 best action films now on Netflix just for you. (And if you’re looking for the best thrillers on Netflix, we can help you there too.)

Starring Brie Larson, Armie Hammer, Luke Evans, Cillian Murphy, and more, Ben Wheatley’s Free Fire delivers black comedy and solid action in an unceasing torrent of “WHAT IS GOING ON?!” Fun, ridiculous, and phenomenally short — just 85 minutes! — Free Fire is a delectable action snack.

How to watch: Free Fire is now streaming on Netflix.

It’s the only Pierce Brosnan-led James Bond anyone actually liked. Brosnan, Sean Bean, Famke Janssen, Judi Dench, and Izabella Scorupco head up this extremely stunt- and explosion-heavy take on 007. It’s the best Bond Netflix has right now, but check back soon as they rotate frequently. 

How to watch: GoldenEye is now streaming on Netflix.

Directed by Steven Spielberg, Minority Report is among the best Tom Cruise films out there. A combination of slow-burn suspense and science-fiction flair, this futuristic police thriller is a must-see for any movie buff worth their salt. Fair warning: It is also kind of a bummer.

How to watch: Minority Report is now streaming on Netflix.

Oh, the ludicrous movie joy of Sin City. Based on Frank Miller’s comics of the same name, this neo-noir anthology sports Miller, Robert Rodriguez, and Quentin Tarantino as directors. It’s a breakneck film mash-up of violence, heartbreak, and Bruce Willis being cool as hell that’s simply one of a kind. (Yeah, its sequel Sin City: A Dame to Kill For isn’t a great film.) 

How to watch: Sin City is now streaming on Netflix.

Set during the Gulf War, the first movie in the Jarhead franchise hits just as hard today as it did in 2005. Jake Gyllenhaal’s premiere outing as U.S. Marine Anthony Swofford provides an emotional bedrock for a disquieting exploration of military combat and its consequences. Supporting performances by Peter Sarsgaard, Jamie Foxx, Brian Geraghty, and more make this is genre staple.

How to watch: Jarhead is now streaming on Netflix.

It’s the Christopher Nolan and Leo DiCaprio movie outing that gave us the dream heist. Incredible blocking, beautiful effects, and solid supporting performances from a cast that includes Ellen Page, Joseph Gordon-Levitt, Tom Hardy, and Marion Cotillard make for a film that’s always watchable — if not 40 minutes too long.

How to watch: Inception is now streaming on Netflix.

True fans of martial arts films know the unprecedented influence of Ip Man. In this biographical movie, Donnie Yen embodies the martial arts master for a captivating exploration of philosophy, power, and honor. If you love this movie, check out the entire film trilogy on Netflix.

How to watch: Ip Man is now streaming on Netflix.

From Parasite director Bong Joon-ho, Snowpiercer takes place in a post-apocalyptic world that’s forced civilization onto a massive train perpetually outrunning devastation. What follows is a story of class struggle, rebellion, cannibalism, and Tilda Swinton being the best movie villain ever. Oh, and Chris Evans 100% rocks in this. This role is no Lucas Lee or Captain America, but it’s certainly up there. 

How to watch: Snowpiercer is now streaming on Netflix.

Directed by Steven Soderbegh, this nervy saga of spy-on-spy combat movie follows Mallory Kane (played by MMA fighter Gina Carano) as she fights to uncover who double-crossed her. Supporting performances by Ewan McGregor, Channing Tatum, Antonio Banderas, Michael Douglas, and more make this is an ensemble adventure film worth a watch.

How to watch: Haywire is now streaming on Netflix.

Martin Lawrence and Will Smith star as narcotics detectives in Michael Bay’s best film ever. (OK, Transformers is a close second.) A stupendous blend of comedy and grit, Bad Boys perfectly captures what makes action films fun as our heroes chaotically fight to uncover an inside job.

How to watch: Bad Boys is now streaming on Netflix.

Ahhh, Ryan Gosling in a silk jacket. Refreshing! Nicolas Winding Refn’s car chase thriller follows an unnamed stuntman-turned-getaway driver as he attempts to protect the woman he loves (Carey Mulligan) from her reckless husband (Oscar Isaac) and his criminal activity. The action movie also features supporting performances by Bryan Cranston, Christina Hendricks, Ron Perlman, and Albert Brooks.

How to watch: Drive is now streaming on Netflix.

In the cyberpunk sci-fi adventure, a hacker named Neo (Keanu Reeves) must crack the case on a reality-bending simulation that’s keeping him and others imprisoned. Seriously, it’s The Matrix. You already know that you love it — or at least, that you should.

How to watch: The Matrix is now streaming on Netflix.

There’s nothing like Raiders of the Lost Ark. The first installment in the action adventures of Indiana Jones, this Steven Spielberg-directed movie classic chronicles the iconic archaeologist’s exploration into unfriendly territory as he searches for the Ark of the Covenant. Bah buh duh daaah bah buh daaah…

How to watch: Indiana Jones and the Raiders of Lost Ark is now streaming on Netflix.

Another Bong Joon-ho action film with Tilda Swinton playing the living worst, Okja follows Mija (Ahn Seo-hyun), a young farmer who will stop at nothing to rescue her beloved super pig Okja from slaughter. With the help of the Animal Liberation Front, Mija embarks on a journey to bring Okja home after he’s taken by the evil Mirando Corporation. The result is as sweet as it is suspenseful. 

How to watch: Okja is now streaming on Netflix.

There are dozens of incredible intergalactic action films out there — but Neill Blomkamp’s District 9 left an impression we’ll never be able to shake. Sharlto Copley leads as an in-over-his-head bureaucrat who must confront the horrors humans have inflicted on a group of aliens who’ve crash landed on Earth. It’s a riveting, exciting, and surprisingly emotional.

How to watch: District 9 is now streaming on Netflix.

Sergio Leone’s iconic spaghetti western may not be the most action-packed selection on this list, but it’s easily the most timeless film. Starring Clint Eastwood, The Good, The Bad, and The Ugly delivers some of the most spectacular shootouts in cinematic history with the sound design to match.

How to watch: The Good, The Bad, and The Ugly is now streaming on Netflix.

Netflix has a number of Quentin Tarantino films at its disposal, but Inglourious Basterds will always be our first choice. Starring Brad Pitt, Christoph Waltz, Michael Fassbender, Eli Roth, and more, this experiment in revisionist history checks every box on an action movie lover’s list. It’s exciting, hilarious, occasionally overwhelming, and surprisingly prescient. “Oooh, that’s a bingo!”

How to watch: Inglourious Basterds is now streaming on Netflix.

Need even more streaming recommendations? Mashable Streaming Guides can help.