2024 was a good year for the action genre fans as this year saw the release of many brilliant films like Monkey Man and The Fall Guy. While many films like Dune Part Two had great action in them, they weren’t actually action films. We didn’t include those, so let’s find out which of the 2024 action films were the best.
Civil War (Max & Rent on Prime Video)
Civil War is a dystopian action thriller film written and directed by Alex Garland. The 2024 film is set in a dystopian future America as civil war rages on, and it revolves around a group of journalists as they race to Washington, D.C., to interview the President before rebel factions descend upon the White House. Civil War stars Kirsten Dunst, Wagner Moura, Cailee Spaeny, Stephen McKinley Henderson, Sonoya Mizuno, and Nick Offerman.
The Ministry of Ungentlemanly Warfare (Starz & Rent on Prime Video)
The Ministry of Ungentlemanly Warfare is a war action comedy film directed by Guy Ritchie, who also co-wrote the screenplay with Paul Tamasy, Eric Johnson, and Arash Amel. Based on the 2014 book Churchill’s Secret Warriors: The Explosive True Story of the Special Forces Desperadoes of WWII by Damien Lewis, the 2024 film is set during World War II, and it follows a motley crew of rogue and mavericks who are tasked with neutralizing Hitler’s fleet of German U-boats by British Prime Minister Winston Churchill and a group of military officials. The Ministry of Ungentlemanly Warfare stars Henry Cavill, Eiza González, Alan Ritchson, Alex Pettyfer, Hero Fiennes Tiffin, Babs Olusanmokun, Henrique Zaga, Til Schweiger, Henry Golding, and Cary Elwes.
Carry-On (Netflix)
Carry-On is an action thriller film directed by Jaume Collet-Serra from a screenplay by T.J. Fixman. The 2024 film follows Ethan Kopek, a young TSA agent who a mysterious passenger blackmails into letting a dangerous package on a plane on Christmas Eve. If Ethan doesn’t do what he says, he will have Ethan’s pregnant girlfriend killed. Carry-On stars Taron Egerton, Sofia Carson, Danielle Deadwyler, Theo Rossi, Logan Marshall-Green, and Jason Bateman.
Kingdom of the Planet of the Apes (Hulu & Rent on Prime Video)
Kingdom of the Planet of the Apes is a sci-fi action film directed by Wes Ball from a screenplay by Josh Friedman. The 2024 film is the fourth installment in the Planet of the Apes reboot film series and the tenth film in the franchise. It is set years after the reign of Caesar, and it follows a young ape on a perilous journey that forces him to question everything he knows about his past. Kingdom of the Planet of the Apes stars Owen Teague, Freya Allan, Kevin Durand, Peter Macon, and William H. Macy.
Beverly Hills Cop: Axel F (Netflix)
Beverly Hills Cop: Axel F is an action comedy film directed by Mark Molloy from a screenplay co-written by Will Beall, Tom Gormican, and Kevin Etten. The 2024 film is the fourth installment in the Beverly Hills Cop film franchise, and it once again follows Axel Foley as he goes to Beverly Hills after his daughter’s life is threatened and his old partners and friends are attacked. Beverly Hills Cop: Axel F stars Eddie Murphy, Joseph Gordon-Levitt, Taylour Paige, Judge Reinhold, John Ashton, Paul Reiser, Bronson Pinchot, and Kevin Bacon.
The Fall Guy (Peacock & Rent on Prime Video)
The Fall Guy is an action romantic comedy film directed by David Leitch from a screenplay by Drew Pearce. Based on the 1980s TV series of the same name by Glen A. Larson, the 2024 film follows Colt Seavers, a Hollywood stunt performer working for action star Tom Ryder. After an accident, Colt leaves his girlfriend and his job. He is called back into action when Tom Ryder suddenly disappears while shooting a movie directed by his ex-girlfriend. The Fall Guy stars Ryan Gosling, Emily Blunt, Aaron Taylor-Johnson, Hannah Waddingham, Teresa Palmer, Stephanie Hsu, and Winston Duke.
Rebel Ridge (Netflix)
Rebel Ridge is an action crime thriller film written and directed by Jeremy Saulnier. The 2024 film follows Terry Richmond, a Marine Corps veteran who goes to a small town to post his cousin’s bail, but the local cops unjustly seize his money. Rebel Ridge stars Aaron Pierre, Don Johnson, AnnaSophia Robb, David Denman, Emory Cohen, Dana Lee, and Steve Zissis.
Furiosa: A Mad Max Saga (Max & Rent on Prime Video)
Furiosa: A Mad Max Saga is a post-apocalyptic action adventure film directed by George Miller, who also co-wrote the screenplay with Nico Lathouris. The 2024 film is the fifth instalment in the Mad Max franchise, and it serves as a prequel to the 2015 film Mad Max: Fury Road. It follows a young Furiosa as she is taken from the Green Place of Many Mothers by tyrannical warlords, but when she grows up, she tries to escape and finds herself in a nonstop battle. Furiosa: A Mad Max Saga stars Anya Taylor-Joy, Chris Hemsworth, Tom Burke, and Alyla Browne.
Kill (Rent on Prime Video)
Kill is an Indian action thriller film directed by Nikhil Nagesh Bhat, who also co-wrote the screenplay with Ayesha Syed. The 2024 film follows Amrit Rathod, an NSG commando who gets on a train to New Delhi with one of his colleagues but soon finds himself in a fight for his life when a group of goons hijacks the train. Kill stars Lakshya, Raghav Juyal, Abhishek Chauhan, Adrija Sinha, and Ashish Vidyarthi.
Monkey Man (Prime Video)
Monkey Man is an action thriller film directed by Dev Patel, who also co-wrote the screenplay with Paul Angunawela and John Collee. The 2024 film is set in a vibrant Mumbai, India, and it follows a young man with childhood trauma who spends his days getting beaten in an underground fight club. Soon, he finds his way into the enclave of the city’s sinister elite to get his vengeance. Monkey Man stars Dev Patel, Sharlto Copley, Pitobash, Vipin Sharma, Sikander Kher, Adithi Kalkunte, and Zakir Hussain.
Deadpool & Wolverine (Disney+ & Rent on Prime Video)
Deadpool & Wolverine is a superhero action comedy film directed by Shawn Levy, who also co-wrote the screenplay with Ryan Reynolds, Rhett Reese, Paul Wernick, and Zeb Wells. Based on Marvel Comics, the 2024 film follows Wade Wilson, aka Deadpool, who is taken to the TVA, where he finds out that his world and the people he loves will soon cease to exist, and he must find Logan to save it. Deadpool & Wolverine stars Ryan Reynolds, Hugh Jackman, Emma Corrin, Rob Delaney, Matthew Macfadyen, Morena Baccarin, and Leslie Uggams.
Gladiator II (In Theaters)
Gladiator II is an epic historical action film directed by Ridley Scott from a screenplay by David Scarpa. The 2024 legacy sequel film is set after tyrannical emperors conquer Rome, and it follows Lucius, who is forced to enter the Colosseum to return the glory of Rome to its citizens. Gladiator II stars Paul Mescal, Pedro Pascal, Joseph Quinn, Fred Hechinger, Lior Raz, Derek Jacobi, Connie Nielsen, and Denzel Washington.
Bad Boys: Ride or Die (Netflix & Rent on Prime Video)
Bad Boys: Ride or Die is a buddy cop action comedy film directed by Adil & Bilall from a screenplay co-written by Chris Bremner and Will Beall. The 2024 film is the fourth instalment in the Bad Boys franchise, and it follows Miami cops and best friends Mike Lowrey and Marcus Burnett, who jump into action to clear the name of their late captain after he is framed as a dirty cop. Bad Boys: Ride or Die stars Will Smith, Martin Lawrence, Vanessa Hudgens, Alexander Ludwig, Paola Núñez, and Jacob Scipio.
Road House (Prime Video)
Road House is an action comedy-drama film directed by Doug Liman from a screenplay co-written by Anthony Bagarozzi and Charles Mondry. Based on a 1989 film of the same name directed by Rowdy Herrington, the 2024 film follows Dalton, an ex-UFC fighter who takes the job of protecting a Florida Keys roadhouse from local goons and a sinister builder. Road House stars Jake Gyllenhaal, Daniela Melchior, Billy Magnussen, Jessica Williams, Joaquin de Almeida, JD Pardo, Austin Post, and Conor McGregor.
Boy Kills World (Hulu & Rent on Prime Video)
Boy Kills World is a dystopian action thriller comedy film directed by Moritz Mohr from a screenplay co-written by Tyler Burton Smith and Arend Remmers. The 2024 film is set in a dystopian city, and it follows Boy, a young deaf-mute man who has been training all his life to get his revenge against the Van Der Koy family, who killed his family. Boy Kills World stars Bill Skarsgård, Jessica Rothe, Michelle Dockery, Brett Gelman, Isaiah Mustafa, Yayan Ruhian, Andrew Koji, and Famke Janssen.