Top Action Movies of 2024 So Far

The action genre is capable of delivering some of the most memorable set pieces and sequences in cinema. However, it also has the greatest potential to become repetitive. At a certain point, it may seem like there are no other ways to take down a bad guy or run away from a natural (or unnatural) disaster. That’s what makes it such a breath of fresh air to see a crop of filmmakers prove there are still ample ways to have fun with the genre’s tropes.

The best action movies of 2023 definitely set the bar high, but filmmakers in the field haven’t slouched this year either. There’s been a fantastic variety of action flicks that skew the genre in interesting ways, from incorporating jokes to exploring scientific concepts. While it’s fun to see hand-to-hand combat or explosions, sometimes more innovative solutions are necessary than just punching someone ad nauseam or blowing up another building.

You’ve probably already heard of a bunch of these movies (or seen them multiple times in theaters), but there are also bound to be at least a few hidden gems that may have flown under your radar and are absolutely worth your time. We considered critic and audience reviews, as well as our own personal opinions regarding the best in action cinema (because we see a lot of it). The following is a worthy mix of action in various subgenres that hopefully has something to get everyone’s blood pumping.

Cast: Anya Taylor-Joy, Chris Hemsworth, Tom Burke, Alyla Browne

Director: George Miller

Rating: R

Runtime: 148 minutes

Where to Watch: Max

It will forever remain one of the greatest cinematic tragedies of 2024 that “Furiosa: A Mad Max Saga” bombed at the box office. The film deserved so much better as a worthy prequel to the still-classic “Mad Max: Fury Road.” This time around, audiences get to see the origin story of Furiosa (Anya Taylor-Joy), as she’s taken away from a life of abundance and must fend for herself in the post-apocalyptic wasteland. This includes proving herself to the warlord Immortan Joe (Lachy Hulme) and seeking revenge against Dementus, played by Chris Hemsworth, who delivers one of the best villain performances of the year.

While “Furiosa” clearly owes a lot to “Fury Road,” there are some distinct differences. “Fury Road” offers mile-a-minute action with much of the movie devoted to one exceptionally long car chase. “Furiosa” leans more into being a character study, providing insight into the titular character’s psyche and how she just wants to get back to the life she once had. Through all of this, there are plenty of epic set pieces that will excite any “Mad Max” fan, from the attack on the War Rig to Furiosa escaping from the Bullet Farm. Director George Miller proves he still has plenty of gas left in the tank to make amazing “Mad Max” movies; hopefully, this one’s poor financial showing doesn’t deter future installments from coming to fruition.

Cast: Owen Teague, Kevin Durand, Freya Allen, Peter Macon

Director: Wes Ball

Rating: PG-13

Runtime: 145 minutes

Where to Watch: Hulu and Disney+

The most recent trilogy in the “Planet of the Apes” franchise, beginning with 2011’s “Rise of the Planet of the Apes,” is one of the more underrated film series of the 21st century. The story of ape leader Caesar (Andy Serkis) ended with 2017’s “War for the Planet of the Apes,” so there was certainly a lot riding on a follow-up. Luckily, 2024’s “Kingdom of the Planet of the Apes” not only offers epic action, but thoughtful commentary on how mythology and religion can become bastardized by those wishing to use it for their own nefarious means.

“Kingdom” takes place many generations after Caesar’s death, so our hero this time around is young Noa (Owen Teague), who comes into conflict with the tyrannical bonobo Proximus Caesar (Kevin Durand). Each has very different visions for the future of ape-kind and their relationship with the remaining humans. One of those humans is the intelligent Mae (Freya Allen), who tags along with Noa on his journey but may have an agenda of her own.

The film functions as a fascinating epilogue to the previous trilogy, while setting the stage for even more stories to be told before the franchise catches up with the events of the original “Planet of the Apes.” The ending of “Kingdom of the Planet of the Apes” questions whether apes and humans can live harmoniously – and if all parties aren’t careful, both camps may head for yet another war.

Cast: Ryan Gosling, Emily Blunt, Aaron Taylor-Johnson, Winston Duke, Stephanie Hsu, Hannah Waddingham

Director: David Leitch

Rating: PG-13

Runtime: 126 minutes

Where to Watch: Peacock

“The Fall Guy” was always set to be something special judging by the marketing campaign alone, which heavily emphasized the often-overlooked aspect of stunt work on major blockbusters. At least “The Fall Guy” finally gives these amazing performers the spotlight with the story of stuntman Colt Seavers (Ryan Gosling), who gets wrapped up in a major entertainment conspiracy where it’s up to him to save the day and get back with his girl (Emily Blunt) — who’s also directing the movie he’s working on.

There’s just something to be said for practical effects, and since “The Fall Guy” includes several scenes that take place on a movie set, audiences get to see the action in real time. While it’s always fun to see Gosling crack jokes, it’s equally fascinating to watch the long sequences where we just get to see stunts play out, such as Gosling’s character continually being flung against a big rock. It truly shows how demanding this work is, with the stunt team often doing the same things repeatedly until a take is just right (or until a jilted lover has had her fill). “The Fall Guy” ranks up there with “Furiosa” as far as 2024 box office bombs, but we hope this is one film that gets more love over time.

Cast: Lakshya, Raghav Juyal, Tanya Maniktala, Harsh Chhaya

Director: Nikhil Nagesh Bhat

Rating: R

Runtime: 105 minutes

Where to Watch: Rent or buy from Amazon Prime Video, Apple TV, and Microsoft Store

Anyone interested in seeing the best of what the action genre has to offer should expand their horizons beyond American productions. Bollywood has frequently become the go-to destination for inventive action flicks, as evidenced by the immensely popular 2022 film, “RRR.” However, 2024 has something special for fans with “Kill,” a brutal film that sees Amrit (Lakshya) get on a train to try to prevent the love of his life from marrying another man. However, during his train ride to the wedding, a gang of bandits take over, forcing Amrit, as a former commando of the Indian Army, to stop their reign of terror.

If you thought John Wick was deadly with a pencil, just get a load of Amrit with a fire extinguisher. This is a movie that continually finds ways to ramp up the brutality, with the second half of the film having some of the best fights in any 2024 picture. American audiences may have passed it by, but an English-language remake is already in the works from the producers of, appropriately enough, “John Wick.” It’s highly recommended to give subtitles a chance and check out the original before the remake comes around.

Cast: Dev Patel, Pitobash, Sharlto Copley, Sikandar Kher, Sobhita Dhulipala

Director: Dev Patel

Rating: R

Runtime: 121 minutes

Where to Watch: Peacock

Given Dev Patel’s previous credits like “Slumdog Millionaire” and “The Newsroom,” it’s understandable if general audiences didn’t expect him to make one of the best action films of 2024. Patel stars in and makes his