Disney+ has a better movie collection than Netflix and Sky Cinema. Nowhere is that more apparent than its list of action movies. I’ve gathered 36 of the best that scored at least 6.5 on IMDb and 65 on Rotten Tomatoes to find the everything you should definitely add to your watchlist, including some of my favourites of all-time, award winners, critically acclaimed and cult favourites.
WYALAN Ranked, Rated and Recommended
WYALAN star rating explained:
- 5 stars – Highly enjoyed and would highly recommend as a must watch
- 4 stars – Enjoyed and would watch again in the future
- 3 stars – Glad I watched it once, but I’ll probably never watch it again
- 2 stars – Watched to the end, but I wouldn’t watch it again
- 1 star – DNF (did not finish)
Gladiator (2000) – Action/Drama
For fans of: Braveheart, Troy, and 300
Betrayal in ancient Rome drives Russell Crowe’s general into slavery, where he rises as a gladiator to challenge an emperor. Sweeping battles and emotional vengeance fuel this Oscar‑winning epic. WYALAN Rating: 5/5
Aliens (1986) – Sci‑Fi/Action
For fans of: Predator, The Terminator, and Edge of Tomorrow
James Cameron escalates Ridley Scott’s horror into full‑scale war, as Sigourney Weaver’s Ripley leads marines against swarms of xenomorphs. Explosive combat meets maternal ferocity in a genre‑defining sequel. WYALAN Rating: 5/5
Heat (1995) – Crime/Thriller
For fans of: The Departed, Collateral, and The Town
Los Angeles becomes a battleground for Michael Mann’s cat‑and‑mouse saga, where Al Pacino’s detective and Robert De Niro’s master thief collide. The downtown shootout remains a benchmark of cinematic intensity. WYALAN Rating: 5/5
Braveheart (1995) – Action/Drama
For fans of: Gladiator, Kingdom of Heaven, and Robin Hood: Prince of Thieves
Mel Gibson’s William Wallace rallies Scotland against English rule, blending sweeping romance with brutal battlefields. Freedom cries echo through mud, steel, and stirring spectacle.
Die Hard (1988) – Action/Thriller
For fans of: Lethal Weapon, Speed, and The Rock
Christmas Eve in a Los Angeles skyscraper turns into a hostage crisis, with Bruce Willis’s John McClane crawling through vents to outwit terrorists. Quips, explosions, and bare feet redefine action cinema. WYALAN Rating: 5/5
Ford v Ferrari (2019) – Drama/Sport
For fans of: Rush, Moneyball, and The Fighter
Christian Bale and Matt Damon drive the true story of Ford’s battle to beat Ferrari at Le Mans. Speed, rivalry, and friendship fuel this high‑octane drama.
The Revenant (2015) – Drama/Adventure
For fans of: Dances with Wolves, Apocalypto, and Jeremiah Johnson
Survival in the frozen wilderness pushes Leonardo DiCaprio to extremes after a brutal bear attack. Alejandro González Iñárritu crafts a visceral odyssey of endurance and revenge.
Predator (1987) – Action/Sci‑Fi
For fans of: Aliens, Terminator, and Rambo: First Blood Part II
Arnold Schwarzenegger leads a commando team into the jungle, only to face an alien hunter with advanced weaponry. Camouflage, carnage, and iconic one‑liners define this cult classic.
The French Connection (1971) – Crime/Thriller
For fans of: Serpico, Bullitt, and Heat
Gene Hackman’s Popeye Doyle hunts a heroin smuggling ring through gritty New York streets. The car chase under the elevated train remains one of cinema’s most electrifying pursuits.
Kingsman: The Secret Service (2014) – Action/Comedy
For fans of: Kick‑Ass, Spy, and Mission: Impossible
A street kid is recruited into a secret spy organisation, where gadgets and tailored suits meet outrageous violence. Colin Firth surprises with action chops in this stylish romp.
Rise of the Planet of the Apes (2011) – Sci‑Fi/Drama
For fans of: Dawn of the Planet of the Apes, District 9, and I Am Legend
Genetic experiments give Caesar intelligence and spark a revolution. Andy Serkis’s motion‑capture performance anchors a reboot that blends spectacle with emotional depth.
Dawn of the Planet of the Apes (2014) – Sci‑Fi/Drama
For fans of: War for the Planet of the Apes, Children of Men, and The Road
Human survivors and evolved apes clash in a fragile truce. Matt Reeves directs a tense parable of trust, betrayal, and survival.
The Rock (1996) – Action/Thriller
For fans of: Con Air, Armageddon, and Die Hard
A chemical weapons crisis on Alcatraz forces Nicolas Cage’s chemist and Sean Connery’s ex‑spy to team up. Michael Bay delivers explosions, patriotism, and operatic spectacle. WYALAN Rating: 4.5/5
True Lies (1994) – Action/Comedy
For fans of: Mr. & Mrs. Smith, Mission: Impossible, and The Bourne Identity
Arnold Schwarzenegger plays a secret agent juggling espionage and suburban marriage. James Cameron blends spy thrills with comedy, delivering tango dances and Harrier jet chaos. WYALAN Rating: 4.5/5
Speed (1994) – Action/Thriller
For fans of: Die Hard, Point Break, and The Fugitive
A city bus rigged to explode if it drops below 50 mph turns into the most stressful commute imaginable. Keanu Reeves and Sandra Bullock drive adrenaline, while Dennis Hopper wires the madness. WYALAN Rating: 5/5
Face/Off (1997) – Action/Thriller
For fans of: Mission: Impossible, Heat, and The Rock
Operatic gunfights and identity crises explode as Nicolas Cage and John Travolta swap faces. John Woo directs with balletic chaos and mirror metaphors. WYALAN Rating: 4.5/5
Enemy of the State (1998) – Thriller/Action
For fans of: The Bourne Identity, Minority Report, and Collateral
Will Smith becomes a lawyer on the run after uncovering government secrets. Gene Hackman joins him in a paranoid chase through surveillance‑saturated America.
Starship Troopers (1997) – Sci‑Fi/Action
For fans of: Aliens, Edge of Tomorrow, and Independence Day
Paul Verhoeven satirises militarism with bug‑splattering spectacle. Young recruits fight alien insects in a war that’s both propaganda parody and sci‑fi carnage. WYALAN Rating: 4/5
The Negotiator (1998) – Thriller/Drama
For fans of: Inside Man, Training Day, and Heat
Samuel L. Jackson plays a police negotiator framed for corruption, taking hostages to prove his innocence. Kevin Spacey counters him in a tense battle of words and wills.
Die Hard 2 (1990) – Action/Thriller
For fans of: Die Hard, Air Force One, and Passenger 57
Christmas returns with Bruce Willis battling terrorists at an airport. Snow, runways, and explosions fuel this high‑stakes sequel. WYALAN Rating: 5/5
Live Free or Die Hard (2007) – Action/Thriller
For fans of: Die Hard, The Bourne Ultimatum, and Taken
Cyber‑terrorists threaten America’s infrastructure, and Bruce Willis’s John McClane faces digital chaos with analog grit. Firewalls meet fists in this modernised sequel.
Prey (2022) – Action/Sci‑Fi
For fans of: Predator, The Northman, and Apocalypto
A young Comanche warrior faces the Predator in 18th‑century America. Survival instincts and cultural pride fuel this stripped‑down reinvention of the franchise.
Spy (2015) – Comedy/Action
For fans of: Kingsman: The Secret Service, Austin Powers, and The Heat
Melissa McCarthy plays a desk‑bound CIA analyst who goes undercover in Europe. Gadgets, pratfalls, and sharp humour redefine the spy comedy. WYALAN Rating: 5/5
Independence Day (1996) – Sci‑Fi/Action
For fans of: Armageddon, War of the Worlds, and The Day After Tomorrow
Alien ships hover over Earth, unleashing destruction until humanity fights back. Will Smith, Jeff Goldblum, and Bill Pullman lead the charge in this blockbuster of patriotic spectacle.
Prometheus (2012) – Sci‑Fi/Thriller
For fans of: Alien, Sunshine, and Event Horizon
Ridley Scott returns to the Alien universe with a tale of explorers seeking humanity’s origins. Awe, terror, and unanswered questions fuel this cosmic mystery.
Romancing the Stone (1984) – Adventure/Comedy
For fans of: Raiders of the Lost Ark, The Jewel of the Nile, and The Mask of Zorro
Kathleen Turner’s romance novelist is swept into a Colombian treasure hunt with Michael Douglas’s mercenary. Jungle peril meets screwball chemistry.
Conan the Barbarian (1982) – Fantasy/Action
For fans of: Red Sonja, Gladiator, and 300
Arnold Schwarzenegger wields sword and vengeance in this cult fantasy epic. Barbarian battles, mysticism, and raw spectacle define his breakout role.
The Maze Runner (2014) – Sci‑Fi/Thriller
For fans of: Divergent, The Hunger Games, and The Giver
Teenagers trapped in a deadly labyrinth must escape shifting walls and monstrous threats. Survival blends with dystopian mystery in this YA adaptation. WYALAN Rating: 2.5/5
Ready or Not (2019) – Horror/Thriller
For fans of: Scream, The Purge, and Knives Out
A bride’s wedding night turns into a deadly game of hide‑and‑seek against her new in‑laws. Satire and gore collide in sharp, bloody fun. WYALAN Rating: 2.5/5
Unstoppable (2010) – Action/Thriller
For fans of: Speed, The Taking of Pelham 123, and Runaway Train
A runaway freight train loaded with toxic chemicals barrels across Pennsylvania. Denzel Washington and Chris Pine race against time to stop disaster, blending real‑world tension with blockbuster spectacle.
French Connection II (1975) – Crime/Thriller
For fans of: The French Connection, Serpico, and Heat
Gene Hackman reprises Popeye Doyle in Marseille, chasing drug kingpins through gritty streets. Addiction, obsession, and relentless pursuit drive this darker sequel to the Oscar‑winning original.
Commando (1985) – Action/Thriller
For fans of: Predator, Rambo: First Blood Part II, and True Lies
Arnold Schwarzenegger plays a retired soldier forced back into battle when mercenaries kidnap his daughter. One‑liners, rocket launchers, and jungle carnage fuel this pure 80s action ride.
Bronson (2008) – Drama/Crime
For fans of: Drive, A Clockwork Orange, and Requiem for a Dream
Tom Hardy transforms into Britain’s most notorious prisoner, Charles Bronson, in a surreal biopic. Violence, performance art, and psychological intensity collide in a stylised portrait of infamy.
Air Force One (1997) – Action/Thriller
For fans of: Die Hard, Executive Decision, and Olympus Has Fallen
Harrison Ford plays the U.S. President who fights terrorists aboard his own plane. Patriotism, hostage drama, and airborne stunts combine in this high‑stakes thriller. WYALAN Rating: 3/5
Under Siege (1992) – Action/Thriller
For fans of: Die Hard, Passenger 57, and Con Air
Steven Seagal stars as a Navy cook who must stop terrorists from hijacking a battleship. Explosions, martial arts, and kitchen‑sink heroics fuel this naval spin on the Die Hard formula.
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