Best Action Movies of 2024, So Far

2024 is already two-thirds over — ridiculous, right? — and it’s been a pretty good year at the movies. We’re eight months in, and it’s time to take another look at where we stand when it comes to new action movies. The films below are presented alphabetically meaning they’re not ranked, but they’re all good to great. More will be released as the year goes on, and there are still some I need to catch up on, but for now at least, these are the best action movies that 2024 has to offer.

Now keep reading for a look at the best action movies of 2024, so far.

60 Minutes (Germany)

Octavio is a young MMA fighter, good enough to win, but in with enough morally corrupt people to still be something of a loser. Tonight’s the biggest match of his life, but when he chooses his daughter over a fixed fight, some very bad men come looking to collect. As a big fan of Richard Donner’s 16 Blocks (2006) and films like it, this new German flick is right up my alley. A ticking clock, a protagonist you’re actively rooting for (Emilio Sakraya, who looks like a more lived-in Paul Walker), a great sidekick in Marie Mouroum, and some strong action beats combine in a propulsive action/thriller that keeps your pulse on the move. It’s as straightforward as they come, but that’s not a bad thing as it delivers a solidly good time.

Baby Assassins: Nice Days (Japan)

The first two Baby Assassins films secured spots on their respective lists, and now the third film in the franchise, Baby Assassins: Nice Days, is doing the same. The whole team is back together, both in front of and behind the camera, and the result is arguably the series highpoint delivering stellar fights, real emotional beats, goofy humor, and an unexpectedly darker tone. Writer/director Yugo Sakamoto once again blends a fun tale of friendship with some highly entertaining and beautifully crafted action beats choreographed by the master, Kensuke Sonomura. The film might lose some fans due to its tempering of slacker comedy and playful downtime, but honestly, it might gain some for the very same reason. The important thing is that it’s another fantastic example of true artisans working hand in hand to keep these characters and this world going with fun, love, and thrilling action beats. [My full review.]

Bad Boys: Ride or Die

While too many action sequels offer up diminishing returns, a handful keep the momentum, fun, and action thrills going with each new entry. There are a couple non-English entries on this list that prove the point, but Hollywood lands a spot too with this fourth film in the Bad Boys franchise. The film was a hit in theaters, but I’m in the minority in thinking it’s a better, more enjoyable and thrilling sequel than even Michael Bay managed with the second film. Regardless of where you see it placing, Will Smith and Martin Lawrence keep the film entertaining as all hell as their chemistry still shines. The action beats run the gamut from shoot outs — including one hyper stylish one captured with some innovative camerawork — and bigger set pieces complete with drone work and generous explosions. It’s a good time.

The Beekeeper

Adam Clay is a beekeeper, but what the bad guys who cross him don’t know is that Adam Clay is also an ex-Beekeeper. When I say this film’s steadily ridiculous script commits to the bee metaphor like a dog with a bone, you should know that’s still underselling the insane genius of Kurt Wimmer‘s script. What starts as a simple tale of a man getting revenge against people who are scamming the elderly and stealing their life savings becomes an exercise in beautifully nonsensical world-building that will leave you wanting more. Jason Statham has the charisma and fight chops to hold it all together, and director David Ayer delivers action beats and sequences for his most entertaining movie since my beloved Street Kings (2008). Who knew caring about old folks and the environment could be so much fun!

Kill (India)

There’s a home for all kinds of action films, and while fun, intricate plots can enhance a film in unexpected ways, you really can’t go wrong with a simple, one-note premise… especially when the action rocks. Writer/director Nikhil Nagesh Bhat has a little something extra up his sleeve in the form of some unexpected emotional beats, but Kill is all about the fight carnage as a soldier beats, breaks, and slices his way through a train filled with criminals. The first act offers up some light fisticuffs, but things take a turn for the violently hardcore once our hero is crossed in a most upsetting way. It’s a straightforward affair, but the action and intensity keep ramping up in entertaining and highly satisfying ways as the violence unfolds in cramped quarters with increasingly deadly results. [My full review.]

Land of Bad

A military mission unfolds on the ground while a drone pilot halfway around the world provides an eye in the sky, and it’s not long before everyone involved is in a fight involving life, death, and vegan cheese. Director William Eubank‘s latest is a damn good time for fans of tactical action and character thrills without filler. A better world would see him delivering mid-budget genre bangers like this and Underwater (2020) on an annual basis. This isn’t quite Liam Hemsworth‘s Extraction (2020), but he’s definitely got the same chops as his big brother and delivers with a compelling, believably capable character. The film’s action is clean, its explosions are mighty, and Eubanks even finds time for some incredibly slick slow-motion shots along the way. All that and a terrific contribution from Russell Crowe as a guy far removed from the literal fight but still damn feisty.

Life After Fighting (Australia)

There’s something of a stigma when it comes to direct-to-video (DTV) genre movies, and even as a fan it’s easy to see why — too many of them just aren’t very good. Their exceedingly low budgets are typically blamed, but it’s a hollow excuse as talented and determined filmmakers have proven again and again that gold can be spun out of straw. The latest example is this unassuming little DTV action movie from Australia. It’s a very inexpensive film without a single big name, and while it deserves a theatrical showing it’s been relegated to premiering on VOD. But also? It’s a real contender for the year’s best action movie. Writer/director/lead actor Bren Foster wisely keeps things relatively simple here — bad guys are hurting kids, our hero utterly obliterates the pricks — with a throughline familiar to anyone who’s seen action movies before. He shows an immediate eye for delivering fantastically visceral and clearly visible fight sequences guaranteed to thrill viewers tired of excessive editing or digital trickery. Taekwondo, jujitsu, grappling, and weapons all get their time to shine as Alex moves about the dojo doling out bloody justice. So yeah, there’s gold in them thar DTV hills. [My full review.]

Mayhem (France)

One young man’s criminal past comes back to haunt him despite his best efforts, and when blackmail turns to murder he’s left with only a single recourse — revenge. Xavier Gens‘ latest doesn’t stretch with its premise as it’s literally about a guy seeking revenge for his wife’s murder, but it’s executed with more style and character than the formula usually attracts. Gens ensures the film’s front half is focused on character and atmosphere to the point that we come to care, even a little, for our protagonist’s situation, and then the back half action hits hard and bloody. The film also looks great throughout, in both its action scenes and quieter moments. Oh, and you’ll want to add this to the list of films with stellar elevator brawls too.

Monkey Man

A young man known only as the Kid spends his time losing matches in an underground fight ring, but it’s all part of his plan to gain access to the people who killed his mother when he was just a child. Director and star Dev Patel had a hell of a time getting this film made, and those issues are evident in much of the final product, but there’s also a stylish, progressive genre film here that shouldn’t be ignored. Even if some of the early action underwhelms, it serves as a setup for a third act that sees Patel unleash well-crafted set-pieces and sequences. A kitchen fight thrills, neon-drenched brawls tickle the senses, and we’re left plenty impressed with what Patel can accomplish with everything working against him. [My full review.]

One More Shot (UK)

A SEAL team leader lands at an American airport with a terrorist in tow, and while the mission that got them there (2021’s One Shot) is still fresh in his mind he soon realizes the fight isn’t quite over. Director James Nunn‘s pseudo one-take action franchise continues with a sequel that steps up where it counts to deliver a thrilling part two in what feels like an incoming trilogy. The film stumbles some with its down time, but there’s no arguing with the frequent tactical action, the excellent use of a very real-looking location — the whole film unfolds in a regional airport, and it feels tactile and fresh — or some late fight beats with the great Michael Jai White. And yes, of course Scott Adkins continues to shine whether he’s brooding silently or unleashing his hand to hand combat skills in someone’s face. Thankfully, he does so quite a bit here ensuring this a spot on our list of the best action movies of 2024.

The Roundup: Punishment (South Korea)

While 2017’s The Outlaws is an unassuming actioner most people dismissed as one and done, it actually laid the groundwork for the sequels to come starting five years later. Films “loosely” inspired by squad of cops in South Korea, headed up by Ma Dong-seok’s even looser cannon with meaty fists and no time for assholes, and a tone blending mild comedy with face-slapping, bone-crunching, knife-slashing action — these are the hallmarks fine-honed by the sequels The Roundup (2022), The Roundup: No Way Out (2023), and now, The Roundup: Punishment. It’s as perfect a formula as you could hope for as Ma’s oversized charms enliven both the warm laughs and the bloody beatdowns. This is director Heo Myeong-haeng‘s first go at the franchise, and it’s an absolute knockout. A switch-up at the top can sometimes cause disruption with a sequel, but he picks up where Lee Sang-yong left things to deliver another stellar entry in a franchise that I hope continues gifting us with more pugilistic fun each and every year until I die. [My full review.]

Twilight of the Warriors: Walled In (Hong Kong)

Director Soi Cheang‘s latest is a new Hong Kong classic that sees Cheang, his crew, and a cast that includes Louis Koo, Sammo Hung, Aaron Kwok, Raymond Lam, and Richard Ng at the top of their game. An adaptation of the novel/manhua by Yu Yi and Andy Seto, the film is simple enough on its face story-wise while still enjoying a deep ensemble and some sporadically dense character arcs. The fights are fast, frequent, and wonderfully varied in style while using the setting to its fullest, and stunt coordinator Tanigaki Kenji (Rurouni Kenshin franchise, 2012-2021) once again shows a flexibility and creativity when it comes to crafting fights and stunt set-pieces. The result is a lot of high quality action ranging from one on one fights to epic clashes with multiple players on screen at once, and all of it plays beautifully with the environment as characters dash across roofs, crash through walls, and more. Fight styles offer up a mix of fists, feet, and blades, with both messy brawling and far more disciplined skills on display. There are CG touches and stunt doubles (especially for the older performers), but none of it interferes with the visceral thrills on display. The action is relatively grounded, but Tanigaki isn’t shy about using wire-work to bring a sense of style and fun to the proceedings. [My full review.]

Honorable mentions: Customs Frontline, Furiosa: A Mad Max Saga, Hunt the Wicked, The Killer

More action films from 2024 that I’ve seen: 578 Magnum, Beverly Hills Cop: Axel F, Civil War, Damsel, Dune: Chapter Two, The Fall Guy, The Ministry of Ungentlemanly Warfare, Road House