The world can be a grim place most days, but when the going gets tough, we turn to movies for an escape. And theactiongenre has been a constant and reliable source of entertainment. For decades, it has captivated audiences with pulse-pounding sequences, larger-than-life heroes, and stories that make you forget time and reality. From the explosive action of theMad Maxfranchise to the sci-fi-infused combat ofThe Matrix, the genre has produced films so iconic that they hold up even decades after their release.
Moreover, action isn’t just about style and spectacle. It’s about momentum, the rush of expertly crafted chaos, and subtle notes of emotion that make every fight feel like it matters. Thankfully, the2020shave already proven to be a defining decade for action films. Despite being only halfway through the decade, and the industry facing numerous challenges in recent years, we have been treated toa steady stream of exciting blockbusters. And if the Rotten Tomatoes scores are any indication, some of these action flicks have already become modern classics.
Without further ado, here are 10 action movies from the 2020s with the highest Rotten Tomatoes scores so far.
10’Warfare' (2025)
In the heart of insurgent territory, a platoon of American Navy SEALs are on a surveillance mission when they take control of a local house in the middle of the night. While coordinating air support and monitoring enemy fighters, they observe increased activity around their location and things quickly spiral into chaos.
A Relentless Sensory Blitz
Directed by Alex Garland and Iraq War veteran Ray Mendoza,Warfarestrips away the glamor of war films and trades it for raw, unfiltered experience of combat. The film unfolds in real time, following Mendoza’s firsthand account of a battle that tested his and his team’s limits of endurance and survival. With bone-crunching realism, deafening screams, claustrophobic framing, visceral intensity, andauthentic performances byCosmo Jarvis, Charles Melton, Will Poulter, and Joseph Quinn, Warfare is one of the most powerful war films of the decade.
9’Love Lies Bleeding' (2024)
Set against the neon-lit backdrop of a dusty town near Las Vegas,Love Lies Bleedingfollows Lou, a reclusive gym manager, as she navigates severed ties with her sister Beth and her abusive husband JJ, who also happens to be working for Lou Sr., a powerful individual in the dark, criminal underbelly of the city. When Lou meets Jackie, an ambitious bodybuilder chasing her dream, it disrupts her family’s balance of power andleads to a brutal showdownthat tests their love.
Pulpy, Genre-Defying Masterpiece
Director Rose Glass’s movie is a pulpy, hyper-violent love story that beautifully combines elements of the crime and thriller genres. The film’s slow-burning tension turns into moments of shocking action, eventually ending in a blood-soaked finale that leaves audiences stunned. Glass’s direction is bold and the film’s action sequences are meticulously choreographed. Kristen Stewart plays Lou and Katy O’Brian stars as Jackie. Their tender intimacy and the absurdist narrative create a contrast that’s impossible to look away from.
8’John Wick: Chapter 4' (2023)
John Wick: Chapter 4
After surviving countless betrayals and near-death situations, John Wick’s relentless pursuit of freedom reaches its most operatic heights inJohn Wick: Chapter 4. This time, he has his sights on dismantling the High Table once and for all. His journey of taking down the enemy takes him from the neon-drenched streets of Osaka to the catacombs of Paris, where he faces assassins and fights for his life, eventually getting into a duel that will determine his fate.
Brutal Action with Precision
Chad Stahelski brings the unstoppable assassin back, and this time, the stakes are impossibly high. Elevating the franchise’s signature action choreography, it features gun-fu, swordplay, and hand-to-hand combat, with Keanu Reeves at the center of it all, embodying Wick’s weary determination and quiet intensity like he was born to do it. The supporting cast, including Donnie Yen, Bill Skarsgård, and Hiroyuki Sanada, add to the film’s world-building. Overall, with its brawl in Berlin and the now-iconic stairway fight in Montmartre,John Wick: Chapter 4is easily one of the greatest action movies of the 2020s.
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7’Rebel Ridge' (2024)
Rebel Ridge
Rebel Ridgebegins with Aaron Pierre’s Terry Richmond, a former Marine, arriving in the small town of Shelby Springs with a simple mission: bail out his cousin and get him to safety. But when corrupt law enforcement arrests him for no reason and seizes his life savings, Terry is forced into a deadly confrontation with the town’s police chief, played by Don Johnson. Terry finds an ally in court clerk Summer McBride and tries to uncover a deep-rooted conspiracy.
Tightly Wound and Character-Driven
What begins as a personal vendetta inRebel Ridgesoon spirals into a full-scale war between Terry and the town’s oppressive system, leaving him with no choice but to rely on his mysterious past and use his lethal skills to survive. Which is what leads to some of the most explosive action scenes in the movie. Director Jeremy Saulnier builds tension methodically, making each fight scene graphic and brutally efficient.Pierre’s performance is hands-down the best, whether he’s being quiet and magnetic, or plain furious.
6’The Count of Monte Cristo' (2024)
The Count of Monte Cristo
Edmond Dantès is a promising young sailor whose life is shattered when he is falsely accused of treason on his wedding day and imprisoned in the Château d’If. Betrayed by friends he deemed the closest and robbed of his future, Dantès spends 14 years in prison before plotting a daring escape. Once free, he reinvents himself as the Count of Monte Cristo, carefully infiltrates the lives of those who wronged him, and exacts revenge.
Honors the Source Material
An ultra-modern incarnation of the classic literary antihero,The Count of Monte Cristois a French-language historical action movie that finds Pierre Niney’s character orchestrating the enemy’s downfall in a series of elaborate schemes. Matthieu Delaporte and Alexandre de La Patellière’s direction breathes life into Alexandre Dumas’ novel, and the result is a visually stunning and emotionally charged epic featuring a phenomenal prison escape and a mesmerizing climactic showdown, lavish production design, and haunting score.
5’Riders of Justice' (2020)
Riders of Justice
Written and directed by Anders Thomas Jensen,Riders of Justiceis a Danish action comedy that follows Markus, a hardened soldier stationed in Afghanistan, who is forced to return home after his wife dies in a tragic train accident. But his grief quickly turns into suspicion when a group of statisticians tries to convince him that the crash was not an accident but a calculated hit orchestrated by the notorious Riders of Justice biker gang.
Darkly Comedic Action Thriller
Awildly entertaining and surprisingly poignantfilm,Riders of Justicedefies genre expectations when Markus’ pursuit of vengeance doubles down into a chaotic and darkly comedic journey that questions justice, fate, and the randomness of life. The action sequences are raw and unpredictable, with Markus’ story of revenge contrasting Otto’s analytical approach. Mads Mikkelsen and Nikolaj Lie Kaas bring their own unique skills and quirks to the table and make sure the breakneck pace and the plot twists of the film keep you hooked throughout.
4’Top Gun: Maverick' (2022)
Top Gun: Maverick
After more than three decades of service, Pete “Maverick” Mitchell is just as rebellious as when he first took to the skies, determined to stay a test pilot and refusing to be grounded by rank. But when he is called back to Top Gun to train a new generation of aviators for a near-impossible mission, Maverick finds himself confronting not only the most challenging task of his career, but also his complicated relationship with Rooster, the son of his late best friend and former wingman, Goose.
A Nostalgic, High-Flying Spectacle
Top Gun: Maverickis easily one of the best action movies of 2022. Directed by Joseph Kosinski, it is a visually breathtaking and adrenaline-fueled sequel that surpasses its predecessor in sheer spectacle, emotional weight, and popularity. The aerial sequences, shot with IMAX cameras placed inside real fighter jets, are exhilarating to watch, with the climactic dogfight standing out as some of the most immersive and impressive action ever put to screen. Tom Cruise is obviously amazing as the reckless yet charming Maverick, but Miles Teller, Glen Powell, and Monica Barbaro are equally fantastic in their roles.
3’Black Bag' (2025)
Black Bagtakes place in the shadowy world of international espionage and tells the story of George Woodhouse, a legendary intelligence operative who is torn between his loyalty and marriage when his wife, Kathryn, is accused of betraying the nation. As George races to find the truth, he gets entangled in a web that forces him toquestion everything he thought he knew.
Sleek, Stylish, and Witty
This one unfolds over the course of one tense week, bookended by two cryptic dinner conversations that frame the mystery. Each new revelation raises the stakes and drives the plot towards a jaw-dropping climax. Steven Soderbergh directs this action thriller with a sophisticated edge, making sure the dialogue is sharp and the action is stylish. Michael Fassbender and Cate Blanchett deliver outstanding performances; their chemistry cackles with history and distrust.Black Bagmay have underperformed commercially, but the spy thriller is a critical darling.
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Mission: Impossible - Dead Reckoning
Directed by Christopher McQuarrie, the sequel to 2018’sMission: Impossible – Falloutfinds Ethan Hunt and his IMF team embarking on their most dangerous mission yet: to track down a terrifying new weapon from falling into the wrong hands as it spells the end of civilization as we know it. With the fate of the world hanging in the balance, Ethan races across the globe while being pursued by an all-powerful enemy.
Practical Stunts and Nail-Biting Suspense
Mission: Impossible — Dead Reckoning Part Oneis a pulse-pounding action epic that solidifies the franchise’s status as the absolute best in modern action cinema. The high-octane storytelling and practical stunt work, especially the gravity-defying motorcycle jump off a cliff and the heart-stopping underwater escape, are testament to Tom Cruise’s dedication to performing his stunts and adding an unparalleled level of authenticity to the film. Hayley Atwell, Rebecca Ferguson, and Esai Morales deliver stunning performances as well, making the 96% Rotten Tomatoes score feel well-deserved.
1’Godzilla Minus One' (2023)
Godzilla Minus One
Set in post-war Japan,Godzilla Minus Onefollows the country’s struggle to rebuild after the devastation of the Second World War. In the process of doing so, they face an even greater threat in the form of Godzilla. As the monstrous kaiju emerges and wreaks uncontrolled havoc on the nation, a group of survivors tries to fight back. Shikishima, a former kamikaze suffering from PTSD, is at the center of it all, desperately seeking redemption for his past deeds.
A Haunting Kaiju Masterpiece
The iconic monster has always been a force of pure destruction, but the 2023 movie reimagines Godzilla as an embodiment of fear and existential dread. Under Takashi Yamazaki’s expert direction, the movie is an immersive experience like no other. The action sequences are equal parts terrifying and fascinating, from Godzilla’s attack on Ginza to the final battle at sea, where the survivors make a last-ditch effort to stop the unstoppable force. Easilyone of the greatest additions to the franchise,Godzilla Minus Oneholds a near-perfect Rotten Tomatoes score.
