Twenty action highlights of 2025

2025 was a wild ride for action fans. Franchises wrapped up, legends were rebooted, and a few surprises went way beyond expectations. Here are my Top 20 action movies of the year, sharp, focused, and straight to the point.

Mission: Impossible – The Final Reckoning

Mission: Impossible – The Final Reckoning brings Tom Cruise back as Ethan Hunt, and he delivers with full force. The action is as spectacular as expected, but what really stuck with me is the emotional tone. The stunts no longer feel like pure spectacle, they reflect a character at the end of his road. Christopher McQuarrie balances scale and intimacy better than ever, even though the runtime is definitely felt.

Ballerina

Ballerina expands the John Wick universe with a deadly elegance. Ana de Armas carries the film with icy poise, her fights feel like choreographed rage. The story is simple, sure, but the film impresses visually throughout. What I really like is how it doesn’t try to copy Wick. Instead, it adds its own layer, less mythology, more personal revenge and identity.

Demon Slayer: Kimetsu no Yaiba – Infinity Castle

Demon Slayer: Kimetsu no Yaiba – The Movie: Infinity Castle is an audiovisual storm, fast, brutal, and often stunning. The animation is top-tier and elevates the already emotional story to another level. What stands out is the balance between intense action and tragic character arcs. Knowing the earlier story helps with the emotional impact. This first film in the concluding trilogy deepens the series’ world; it is not a complete ending to the whole story.

Jurassic World Rebirth

Jurassic World: Rebirth focuses more on atmosphere than noise, and that’s a good thing for the franchise. Gareth Edwards doesn’t just show dinosaurs hunting, he lets them exist. The pacing may surprise some, but it adds real depth. Scarlett Johansson brings emotional weight to the story, and the moral questions around science and extinction give the series a surprisingly thoughtful angle. A quieter but more interesting installment.

Superman

Superman, directed by James Gunn, is a reboot with real heart. David Corenswet plays the Man of Steel with grounded charm and charisma. The film balances classic values with modern questions, truth, identity, responsibility. Visually clean without being overloaded. Its attempt to find a human resolution beyond the spectacle works in its favour: a smart effort to make Superman relevant again. Easily one of the bolder superhero films of the year.

The Fantastic Four: First Steps

The Fantastic Four: First Steps finally brings Marvel’s First Family back with some dignity. The 1960s aesthetic adds charm without feeling cheesy. Pedro Pascal and Vanessa Kirby lead the team with strength and subtlety. The action is solid, but it’s the team chemistry that really stands out. While the pacing stumbles in parts, this is a worthy restart, not a gamechanger, but a film that finally respects the source.

Thunderbolts*

Thunderbolts shows what happens when antiheroes are forced to work together. Florence Pugh and Sebastian Stan bring real depth to their roles, even if the plot doesn’t break new ground. What I appreciate is the melancholic tone, it pulls away from typical Marvel spectacle without ditching its personality. It’s not a huge blockbuster, but a more intimate, character-focused piece, refreshingly different for the MCU.

The Accountant 2

The Accountant 2 picks up smartly from the first film. Ben Affleck returns as Christian Wolff, the autistic math and weapons expert, this time in a more emotionally vulnerable place. The action is minimal but effective, and his chemistry with Jon Bernthal clicks right away. The film skips the polish and stays close to its lead character, which works. Not a groundbreaking sequel, but a solid, low-key entry in the genre.

F1

F1 is a slick racing film that leans heavily into visual impact and realism. Brad Pitt plays a washed-up former driver with stoic calm, while Damson Idris brings emotional fire as the rising star. The real Formula 1 footage is impressive, though the story itself plays it safe. Still, as a motorsport experience with star power, F1 delivers, especially for fans of speed, legacy, and the sound of engines.

Heads of State

Heads of State thrives on the explosive chemistry between Idris Elba and John Cena, two wildly different leaders forced to stop a global crisis. The action is entertaining, the humor lands more often than not, and the story never takes itself too seriously. It’s fun, fast, and forgettable in a good way. Pure popcorn cinema with charm, not deep, but perfect for a chaotic evening.

Nobody 2

Nobody 2 puts Bob Odenkirk back in top form, this time on “vacation,” which obviously doesn’t stay peaceful. What starts as a self-aware sequel quickly becomes a dirty, stylish orgy of violence. The film knows what it is and leans in, dry humor, quick fights, no nonsense. No real surprises, but it delivers relentless, self-aware action. And that’s exactly why it works.

Novocaine

Novocaine has a killer concept, a man who physically can’t feel pain becomes an accidental one-man army. Jack Quaid brings a surprising amount of humanity, not a superhero, but a guy who just keeps getting hurt and keeps moving. The action is over-the-top, but purposefully absurd. The result is a creative, offbeat action film with enough fresh ideas to stand out from the pack.

Sisu: Road to Revenge

Sisu: Road to Revenge is an ultra-brutal revenge tale that plays like a stylised western. Jorma Tommila barely speaks but dominates every frame with sheer presence. The action is raw and direct, the visuals stylized but never pretentious. I like how it takes a simple revenge plot and turns it into pure determination. Not deep, but an uncompromising ride through blood and grit.

One Battle After Another

One Battle After Another is high-caliber character drama disguised as a political thriller. Leonardo DiCaprio plays a man torn between duty and past, with Paul Thomas Anderson’s direction keeping it sharp and focused. The action is sparse but powerful, it underlines the conflict rather than distracting from it. What impressed me most is how the film breathes. It doesn’t shout, it resonates, and that’s rare.

Predator: Badlands

Predator: Badlands gives the aging franchise a welcome new edge. This time, the story follows a young outcast Predator in search of meaning, more identity than hunt. Elle Fanning plays an android with unexpected depth, and the PG-13 approach works better than expected because the film focuses more on character than kills. Gritty action still delivers, but with a surprisingly reflective tone.

Predator: Killer of Killers

Predator: Killer of Killers takes a bold stylistic turn, an animated anthology with three stories set in wildly different time periods. That’s gutsy, and it pays off. The film adds fresh layers to the Predator mythos without losing focus. The animation is top-notch, and the tone is dark and mature. Easily the boldest and most original Predator project in years.

The Witcher: Sirens of the Deep

The Witcher: Sirens of the Deep brings Geralt of Rivia back in animated form, and he hits hard. The story dives underwater into a political, mystical conflict between humans and sea dwellers. Visually stunning and surprisingly intense. Doug Cockle’s voice returns as Geralt, grounding the film in familiar weight. It may be “just” animation, but it has more style and atmosphere than many live-action fantasy releases this year.

Ad Vitam

Ad Vitam is a French Netflix action thriller starring Guillaume Canet as a former GIGN officer on a personal rescue mission. The story is straightforward, but the calm, focused direction gives the film weight. The action is tight, realistic, and used sparingly. This isn’t about spectacle, it’s about determination. Carried by Canet’s quiet intensity, it’s not flashy, but it holds your attention.

Tron: Ares

Tron: Ares follows a digital being played by Jared Leto crossing into the real world. The visuals are stunning, neon lightscapes, geometric battles, a pulsing electronic score. The plot remains vague, but as a sensory experience, it absolutely works. If you're looking for deep sci-fi philosophy, you'll find only hints. But as a bold visual journey, it's one of 2025's most unique action offerings.

Warfare

Warfare takes a very different approach, pure realism. Based on a real Navy SEAL mission in Iraq, it strips away Hollywood polish and dives into a nearly documentary-style intensity. The camera stays close, the dialogue feels improvised. This isn’t action for entertainment, it’s raw, physical, and grounded. Not a crowd-pleaser, but a brutal, respectful look at real-life warfare.