2025 has been brilliant for the action genre so far. On the one hand, we had movies that, thanks to filmmakers like Paul Thomas Anderson and Ryan Coogler, took the action out of that pure popcorn mode, combining it with drama and philosophy. And on the other hand, we had fun and popular movies that fulfill all your needs from an action blockbuster. But what are the best action movies of 2025?
It is debatable whether the action movies of 2024 or 2025 were better, but we cannot ignore the fact that this year, we faced extremely diverse works. Movies that were both highly attractive and creative in them.
The best action movies of 2025 that you must watch
12- Primitive War
- Director: Luke Spark
- Actors: Ryan Kwanten, Trisha Helfer, Nick Wechsler, Jeremy Pion, Anthony Ingruber, Carlos Sansan, Marcus Johnson
- Rating of IMDb users to the movie: 5.4 out of 10
- Rotten Tomatoes rating for the movie: 56 out of 100
For decades, the subgenre of dinosaur movies has been dominated by “Jurassic Park” and “Jurassic World”. However, it should not be forgotten that the copyright of dinosaurs does not belong to anyone, and of course these creatures are always ready to make a sci-fi action movie more exciting. In “Primitive War”, Luke Spark tries to present a different image than what we have seen in the “Jurassic” series and provide a different perception.
The story takes place during the Vietnam War and is about a few soldiers who are sent to a remote forest to find a group of missing troops. They soon find out that they are not alone and that dinosaurs roam these forests. Primitive War is made on a shoestring budget and, to be honest, has a lot of flaws, but it never feels like a cheap film. It’s a B-Movie that you’ll enjoy watching if you’re not picky. We really don’t have anything like this movie.
The number of dinosaurs in the movie makes Jurassic World Rebirth look like a joke by comparison. There are no audits and friendly dinosaurs here, everything ends in violence. The cast isn’t going to win awards, and you don’t expect a high-quality movie on the scale of $200 million blockbusters, but as Harrison Ford once told Mark Hamill during the making of Star Wars, “Boy, this isn’t one of those movies.”
11- Den of Thieves 2: Pantera
- Director: Christian Goodgast
- Actors: Gerard Butler, Oshie Jackson Jr., Evin Ahmed, Salvatore Esposito, Meadow Williams, Sven Temel
- Rating of IMDb users to the movie: 6.3 out of 10
- Rotten Tomatoes rating for the movie: 62 out of 100
“Ambush of Thieves” (2018) proved once again that Gerard Butler is one of the kings of consumer action movies. The movie was of course a shameless copy of Michael Mann’s “Predicament” but maybe dirtier and with different surprises. The second part expands that world, a film full of exciting heists and good action sequences; The main success of the film is that it gives identity to this series; “Ambush of Thieves” is now more than a worthless copy.
Ambush 2: Pentra doesn’t rush to reach its climax, but when it does, you’ll be satisfied. The chase sequences of the film, which were produced in the field and without computer special effects, are truly admirable. This film, which takes its action sequences very seriously, like the original version, is about the strange relationship between rogue cop Big Nick (Butler) and diamond theft expert and professional driver, Donnie Wilson (Oshie Jackson Jr.).
Unfortunately, Big Nick doesn’t steal donuts from the crime scene in the second episode, like that memorable scene in the first episode, but at least he takes the delicious croissants of the French detectives. Indeed, his love of sweets and sugar buns remains, as does his penchant for drinking and smoking and profanity. “Ambush of Thieves 2: Pentra” is what it should be, and now the only question is when the third part will arrive.
10- Predator: Killer of Killers
- Director: Dan Trachtenberg
- voice actors: Lindsey Lavanshi, Louie Ozawa Changchian, Rick Gonzalez, Michael Bain, Doug Cockle, Jeff Leach, Lauren Holt
- Rating of IMDb users to the movie: 7.5 out of 10
- Rotten Tomatoes rating for the movie: 95 out of 100
One of the prominent animations of recent years, which is also one of the best action movies of 2025. The new architect of the franchise, Dan Trachtenberg, surprised everyone with “The Hunt” (2022), but no one expected that the next step would be a brilliant animated anthology for the series. The idea of an episodic film featuring the beastly Yautja creatures from different eras of human history as they battle the greatest enemies of all time was something that audiences have longed for for decades. But even the biggest “Marauder” fans couldn’t have predicted that this idea was going to become one of the best and most action-packed movies in the series.
“Marauder: Killer of Killers” has a crazy story. The first episode goes centuries ago and somewhere in Scandinavia, the second episode comes a few hundred years ago and finds out about the Japanese and the age of samurai and ninjas. The third episode goes back to World War II and shows a young American pilot from Miami over the sea and the Nazi German army. The point is that all these dead soldiers, all these elite men and women do not know about the presence of the famous “looter”; They don’t know that an invisible being is watching them and waiting to identify the most powerful assassin.
“The killer of the killers” caresses your eyes with its high-quality animation and has lasting action scenes that are not easily erased from memory. The collaboration of Dan Trachtenberg and Crisp Flour Animation Studio has resulted in an adrenaline-pumping animation; From the bloody Viking village sequence to the epic rooftop samurai battle and that World War II dogfight, every single moment is crafted with love. And just when the viewer might tire of a certain tone or style, a completely different style arrives to make the most of the limitless creativity of this medium. “Marauder: Assassin’s Creed” is a good example of smart expansion of old franchises, and now it remains to be seen what “Marauder: Badlands” will do.
9- Superman
- Director: James Gunn
- Actors: David Cornsot, Rachel Broznahan, Nicholas Holt, Eddie Gathegi, Anthony Kerrigan, Nathan Fillion, Isabella Merced
- Rating of IMDb users to the movie: 7.1 out of 10
- Rotten Tomatoes rating for the movie: 83 out of 100
In the review of the movie “Superman”, I pointed out that sometimes loyalty to the rules is the enemy of creativity. In this film, James Gunn, unlike the rebellious and fearless spirit we saw in his previous works, has decided to step on safe ground. “Superman” is a regular, calculated and high-quality film. However, it never surprises the audience. Gunn, always a master of combining offbeat humor and clever violence, has kept the colors this time, but lacks the passion and boldness of the past. It’s only in a few scenes that we see a spark of his lovable craziness, but he soon returns to the order and discipline of the structure. But even these small weaknesses do not stop us from considering “Superman” as one of the best action movies of 2025.
Of course, Gunn’s real challenge was not in creating action, but in humanizing a myth that always seemed too perfect. He knows that Superman’s historical problem is his invulnerability; A hero who doesn’t fear, doesn’t tremble, and as a result, can’t evoke anxiety or sympathy in us. Therefore, from the very first moment, it puts him in a position of weakness: wounded, helpless, and touchable. Gunn repeatedly emphasizes this vulnerability to make the audience feel that this time, Superman might actually fail. This decision is admirable at the level of the idea; But in execution, it lacks something. Because physical vulnerability alone does not replace emotional depth. We still don’t know what’s going on inside Clark, what he’s afraid of, what he’s fighting for.
Zack Snyder’s Man of Steel was a film full of contradictions, but at least it had the guts to tear Superman apart from the inside. He showed a man who didn’t know the value of being a hero, someone who was searching for meaning and making mistakes along the way. Gunn, on the other hand, wants to return to his roots: the benevolent, forgiving, moral, and iconic Superman. He wants to revive the perfect classical hero, the one who sees “saving” as his ultimate goal. But this perfectionism hinders his dramatic appeal. Maybe Gunn’s goal was to remind us why Superman was a symbol of hope and justice in the first place, if that was his goal, then he did the right thing. “Superman” is a neat and entertaining film, but it is not a masterpiece; It doesn’t tire the viewer but at the same time, it doesn’t leave any traces in his mind. However, it is technically very poor.
8- Ballerina
- Director: Len Wiseman
- Actors: Ana de Armas, Anjelica Huston, Gabriel Byrne, Lance Reddick, Norman Reedus, Ian McShane, Keanu Reeves
- Rating of IMDb users to the movie: 6.9 out of 10
- Rotten Tomatoes rating for the movie: 75 out of 100
The best thing about Ballerina is that it’s not really a John Wick movie. Yes, it takes place in the same cinematic world and even Mr. Vic, the legend of assassins, has an honorable presence in it. However, it cleverly avoids making Vic (or characters close to Vic) the center of attention. Instead, it takes the franchise in a new direction by focusing on a new person who is gradually learning to navigate this increasingly complex world of assassins and their secrets.
“Ballerina” explores a part of the John Wick universe that fans are familiar with but haven’t seen in detail before. The events take place between “John Wick: Part 3 – The Parablem” and “John Wick: Part 4” and take place at a time when everyone is hunting John Wick and he is at war with “High Table”. “Ballerina”, despite its connection with the “John Wick” series, takes a very different form. The film’s title refers to a skilled assassin who is part of an elite line of dancers who are equally adept in their use of firearms and their practiced poses. We had already met these ballerinas briefly in “John Wick: Part 3 – Parablom”.
The film tells the story of Yves Macaro (Ana de Armas), who is on a bloody path to revenge. After her family is murdered, Eve decides to get the justice she feels she deserves. However, he does not have the experience of a great assassin like Vic. Therefore, we face a series of complicated fight sequences that the protagonist barely survives. It was not easy to make such a film, especially when you are constantly compared to the original versions. An unfair comparison where the original John Wick films easily outshine Ballerina. But if we look at this work by Len Wiseman, it is acceptable and will satisfy fans of action works.
7- Novocaine
- Director: Dan Burke, Robert Olsen
- Actors: Jack Quaid, Amber Midthunder, Ray Nicholson, Betty Gabriel, Matt Walsh, Jacob Batalon, Craig Jackson, Lou Beatty
- Rating of IMDb users to the movie: 6.5 out of 10
- Rotten Tomatoes rating for the movie: 80 out of 100
The series “Boys” helped Jack Quaid to be seen and in the spotlight. However, a TV supporting role alone is not enough to make you a star. But a bloody action movie like “Novocaine” can do that. In this gritty but funny film, Quaid plays Nathan Kane, a bank official who, when robbers take his new lover, bank teller Sherry (Amber Midthander), hostage, he decides to take it upon himself to retrieve her.
The reality is that Nate has no special skills in fighting criminals, he’s not even good at finding clues, but he has a unique ability. Due to a disorder, he feels no pain, even from horrific injuries such as stab wounds, burns, etc. (This is why the name of the film is derived from an anesthetic.)
Nate can be compared to Wolverine, but there is one key difference between them: his wounds don’t heal. He still takes damage and can die, he just can’t feel it. This may sound great to some of us who live with pain every day, but Novocaine shows that this is actually a weakness, as Nate can’t tell when he’s in real danger. This is where we come across a clever action script; Turning what used to make the hero invincible into a key vulnerability.
Nate’s ability to ignore pain makes him a punching bag, allowing Novocaine to seamlessly blend action with comedy—and blood and gore. Remember the scene where Nate is bound and tortured; We’ve seen this clichéd sequence many times in action movies, but here it’s completely different, because he doesn’t feel anything and only has to pretend to be in agony.
6- Warfare
- Director: Ray Mendoza, Alex Garland
- Actors: DeFaro Won-A-Ty, Will Poulter, Cosmo Jarvis, Keith Connor, Finn Bennett, Joseph Quinn, Charles Melton
- Rating of IMDb users to the movie: 7.2 out of 10
- Rotten Tomatoes rating for the movie: 92 out of 100
Calling “Janjavari” an action movie is not entirely correct. After all, the goal of action cinema is often to thrill, thrill, and entertain the audience with fantasy violence. No sane person enjoys real violence. From this point of view, directors Alex Garland and Ray Mendoza challenge the nature of the genre itself with this war film; Where every beat and every moment is taken directly from the memory of men who survived similar real events.
After the intentionally torturous opening sections that show just how boring war can be, the gunfire starts and doesn’t stop. We find ourselves trapped in a single house, next to a squad of soldiers, fighting for survival; And there is no help here. We see heroism and bravery, but also cowardice and malice. Garland and Mendoza make no judgments; They simply present the facts in plain sight and allow the viewer to boil and burn with their own thoughts.
The fact that all of this takes place under constant and endless gunfire (and the sound mix is designed to be loud, obnoxious, and scary) certainly makes “Jawari” an action movie. But this is a film that asks why we enjoy action at all, and it is also a film that invites us to a direct comparison between reality and cinema’s perceptions of war. This movie is hard to watch, but if you are a fan of action movies, you shouldn’t miss it.
5- F1 (F1)
- Director: Joseph Koshinsky
- Actors: Brad Pitt, Carrie Kendall, Javier Bardem, Tobias Menzies, Kim Budnia, Sarah Niles, Will Merrick, Abdul Salis, Simon Koons
- Rating of IMDb users to the movie: 7.7 out of 10
- Rotten Tomatoes rating for the movie: 82 out of 100
From the very beginning, the adventures of “F1” are reminiscent of the most traditional patterns of sports cinema; A story of return, redemption and facing the past. Sonny Hayes (Brad Pitt), a middle-aged driver who was once a champion and now lives in the shadow of failure and a fatal accident, is the embodiment of a man racing against his own memories. Team manager Ruben (Javier Bardem) pulls him out of isolation to reappear on the field; But not for the glory of the past, but to save a defeated team and inspire the youth who still do not know the meaning of failure. Joshua (Damson Idris) is a rookie and arrogant driver who feels he doesn’t need anyone’s help. Joseph Koshinsky is aware that this narrative has been told many times, but instead of running away from clichés, he chooses to refine them and give each a new human depth. Instead of tricking the audience with flashy scenes, he takes time for his characters to breathe, fail and grow gradually.
The film is a classic narrative of the path to salvation. The same familiar cycle: grueling training, internal crises, internal team fights, inevitable defeats and finally a victory that is more spiritual than physical. But the secret of F1’s success is that it never feels repetitive. Its rhythm is precise and calculated; The editing picks up the pulse of excitement just when it might have subsided. Koshinsky understands that in sports cinema, timing is everything; Just like in real racing. The script may not be innovative, but its energy is genuine. The film is neither rushed nor drawn out, but like a skilled driver, it knows exactly where to hit the gas and where to brake.
In terms of personality, Sunny and Joshua are two polar opposites who are supposed to reach mutual understanding in the middle of the road. Sonny seeks reconciliation with a past that still hasn’t left him, and Joshua struggles to prove himself in a world that values experience over talent. They are two different generations that have to learn that they cannot win without the other. “F1” does not escape from stereotypes; Rather, he accepts them and recreates them in an honest framework. Because sports cinema is basically about repetition; Repeated effort to reach a point we know is hard to come by, but worth it.
But the shining point of the film is somewhere else: in its performance and technical aspects. Claudio Miranda’s cinematography is a technical miracle. Every frame of the movie smells of hot rubber and adrenaline. The cameras installed on the body of the cars take us directly into the cabin; Where the engine roars, the road shakes and hands slip on the steering wheel. There is no moment when we feel that the images are artificial or the result of digital special effects. On the contrary, the film creates such a physical experience that it practically puts the viewer behind the wheel. Racing in “F1” is not just racing; It is a kind of dance with death and time. “F1” does not want to redefine the sports genre. Its mission is simpler: to celebrate the cinema of speed and humanity in the midst of competition.
4- One Battle After Another
- Director: Paul Thomas Anderson
- Actors: Leonardo DiCaprio, Sean Penn, Benicio Del Toro, Regina Hall, Tiana Taylor, Chase Infiniti, Alana Haim, Wood Harris
- Rating of IMDb users to the movie: 8.3 out of 10
- Rotten Tomatoes rating for the movie: 95 out of 100
Paul Thomas Anderson isn’t a filmmaker you’d expect to see on a best-of action list, but the energy and excitement in “One Battle After Another” makes it a top-notch actioner. This is one of those movies where the action sequences serve the characters at every turn. Also, the design of the sounds has been done in a way that reinforces the scary weight of every car crash, gunshot and explosion. Just look at the tracking helicopter sequence that follows Perfidia (Tiana Thilo), a reckless revolutionary, on a foot chase through the streets and into a parking lot to get your heart racing. In this movie, there is always a big threat that comes out of nowhere.
Paul Thomas Anderson, the director of films such as “Boogie Nights”, “Magnolia” and “The Master”, is known as one of the best filmmakers of his generation, but his films are usually not commercially successful, and it does not seem that “One Battle After Another” will become a blockbuster, but he will obviously have a lot to say in the awards season. Loosely adapted from Thomas Pynchon’s novel Vineland (1990), DiCaprio stars as Bob Ferguson, a failed revolutionary who lives in secret with his daughter, Willa, until an old enemy (Sean Penn) resurfaces and threatens their family.
After every thrilling sequence, just when you think “battle after battle” can’t get any more exciting, another action or chase sequence comes along to surprise you and make you think that maybe Paul Thomas Anderson should do more action in the future. The digital version of the film has not yet been released but is expected to be available in mid-November (around 3-4 next).
3- Sinners
- Director: Ryan Coogler
- Actors: Michael B. Jordan, Hailee Steinfeld, Miles Cotton, Jack O’Connell, Wonmi Musako, Jamie Lawson, Omar Benson Miller
- Rating of IMDb users to the movie: 7.6 out of 10
- Rotten Tomatoes rating for the movie: 97 out of 100
“Sinners” is a movie that cannot be said with certainty to which genre it belongs. It is a work that blurs the border between popular and artistic cinema; A film that is both entertaining and deeply troubling. Perhaps that’s why analysts were surprised: that a film of such a risky nature – an original horror musical – not only failed, but became a cultural phenomenon. At a time when major Hollywood studios rarely take the risk of making non-franchise works, the success of “The Sinners” is a huge victory for Warner Bros. But the importance of the film goes beyond the economy of cinema; “The Sinners” explores the roots of pain and liberation in American society with the story of two black brothers, Smoke and Stack (both played by Michael B. Jordan). Raised from the violence and poverty of Chicago, these two brothers return to their hometown to lead a different life through music.
With The Sinners, Ryan Coogler brings filmmaking back to its ritualistic, experiential form more than ever before. This film is a visual journey; A journey in darkness and light, sin and redemption, anger and music. From the very first moment, Coogler breaks the rules of the genre: the film is as energetic as a musical, as tense as a psychological thriller, and as bitter and human as a social drama. He wants the audience not only to hear and see music and fear, but to feel it with skin and bones.
In “The Sinners”, Coogler does a risky thing: combining dozens of heavy themes into a single cinematic body. He wants to talk about the legacy of racism, about the role of music in the formation of black identity, about faith, guilt, family, and liberation. Such ambition is admirable, but sometimes it comes at the cost of losing focus. Some sequences are too crowded; Ideas come one after the other without getting enough time to breathe. The film feels a bit rushed in the latter half, especially during the final battle sequences; It’s as if Coogler wants to say everything before the end. Some secondary characters also had more potential to pay, and the removal of a part of their story is felt.
Yet even in its most flawed moments, the film is so passionate and alive that its weaknesses pale in comparison to its formal boldness and emotional power. “The Sinners” may not be Coogler’s most complete film, but it is undoubtedly his most daring and personal; A film that breaks the border between faith and horror, music and violence. Here, more than ever, Coogler returns to his cultural roots and retells the history of oppression and resistance in a poetic and sometimes nightmarish language.
2- The Accountant 2
- Director: Gavin O’Connor
- Actors: Ben Affleck, Jon Bernthal, Cynthia Addai-Robinson, Daniela Pineda, J. who Simmons, Daniela Pineda, Andrew Howard, Robert Morgan
- Rating of IMDb users to the movie: 6.6 out of 10
- Rotten Tomatoes rating for the movie: 75 out of 100
All genres have their ups and downs. Often, one or two films come along that become a phenomenon, and then all the works want to be like them; Like the last few years when every studio tried to make their own John Wick and mostly failed. Among the multitude of action films in recent years, we have had some successful works, including “The Accountant”, a film that tried to enter the field with new ideas and attracted attention.
Almost a decade later, “The Accountant 2” was released with the return of most of the actors and crew of the first film. However, rather than just being Ben Affleck’s version of the Bourne franchise, or repeating the ideas of the first installment, it showed that this cinematic universe has great potential, a world where syndromes can be a power.
This sequel has clear differences from the first part by making the role of Burks (Jon Bernthal) stronger; There is no news of the previous heavy atmosphere and we are faced with a flawless action that is worth watching thanks to the good chemistry of Affleck and Bernthal. “The Accountant 2” is a distinctive movie, it doesn’t want to rely solely on clichés and tries to entertain us until the last moment, and of course its arrows hit the target perfectly.
1- Mission: Impossible – The Final Reckoning
- Director: Christopher McCurry
- Actors: Tom Cruise, Hayley Atwell, Ving Rhames, Simon Pegg, Henry Cherney, Angela Bassett, Holt McCallany, Nick Offerman
- Rating of IMDb users to the movie: 7.2 out of 10
- Rotten Tomatoes rating for the movie: 80 out of 100
No list of the best action movies of all time is complete without the Mission: Impossible franchise, and its new installment is one of the best movies of 2025. “The Final Calendar” has a special difference from the previous versions: the film is writing the final chapter of the story of a legendary character rather than trying to create a new narrative; Just like “No Time to Die” did for Daniel Craig’s James Bond. What gives the film a special color, as always, is the presence of Tom Cruise. Ethan Hunt’s character only makes sense with Cruise’s face.
“Final Diary” is full of brilliant action moments, and its first big action moment comes with Ethan’s dangerous dive. Here we are no longer dealing with exciting action, but with a kind of existential suspense. Amidst the dark waters, Ethan loses his usual strength and control, and his struggle to breathe is a metaphor for his struggle to escape the past that keeps pulling him down. And after that, the film returns to its usual path: chases, stunts, and scenes that, despite their grandeur, never feel artificial. Because still, Tom Cruise is the guy who climbs tall towers, jumps off cliffs on motorcycles, and embraces danger. He is the last survivor of a generation that preferred real stunts to special effects.
But “Final Calendar” isn’t just about excitement; It’s about the end. The film tries to bring the sense of sacrifice, the border between duty and emotion, and the concept of self-sacrifice to the center of the narrative. McCurry subtly makes Ethan a more human figure; A man for the first time, we see fatigue in his eyes and feel the fear of loss in his decisions. Some of these emotional moments work beautifully, especially in her interactions with her team members and reminiscing about her bitter past.
“Mission: Impossible – The Final Chronicle” may not have the visual grandeur and frenetic rhythm of the previous installments, but it is a magnificent farewell to the man who was the beating heart of action cinema for more than three decades. This film does not seek to show new explosions, nor to break records in stunts; Rather, it seeks to find meaning in saying goodbye. Together, McCurry and Cruise have written a love letter to action cinema that is both bittersweet and sweet.
Source: slash/film
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