The 17 best action movies on Amazon Prime Video to get your day moving
- - The 17 best action movies on Amazon Prime Video to get your day moving
Ilana Gordon, Declan GallagherDecember 27, 2025 at 12:00 AM
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David Bukach/Hulu; Claire Folger/Warner Bros. Pictures/Everett; Alex Bailey/Focus Features/Everett
Amber Midthunder as Naru in 'Prey'; Ben Affleck as Tony Mendez in 'Argo'; Saoirse Ronan as Hanna in 'Hanna'
Some of us aren’t built to fight, so we enjoy conducting our confrontations from the couch and letting other people do the heavy lifting. The movies on this list are filled with physical clashes, car chases, and climactic character deaths. Let these films transport you to the Arctic, ancient Rome, and any number of places in between — and let EW's list of 17 of the best action movies on Amazon Prime Video guide you along the way.
01 of 17
Arctic (2018)
Bleecker Street Media/Everett Mads Mikkelsen as Overgård in 'Arctic'
As far as movie villains go, Mother Nature is one hell of an adversary. Overgård (Mads Mikkelsen) is a plane crash survivor stuck in the Arctic Circle, awaiting rescue. His day-to-day routine is interrupted after a would-be helicopter rescue ends in another crash, with the only surviving passenger (María Thelma Smáradóttir) left severely injured. Determined to save them both, Overgård embarks on foot on a journey across the Arctic, where he finds himself challenged by everything nature throws at him.
Mikkelsen carries the film on his parka-clad shoulders; mostly stripped of dialogue, director Joe Penna employs silence the same way other filmmakers use screams. A startling tale that will have you writing odes to your heating system, Arctic is a tense and thrilling survival tale. —Ilana Gordon
Where to watch Arctic: Amazon Prime Video
EW grade: B+
Director: Joe Penna
Cast: Mads Mikkelsen, María Thelma Smáradóttir
02 of 17
Argo (2012)
Claire Folger/Warner Bros. Pictures/Courtesy Everett
Bryan Cranston as Jack O'Donnell and Ben Affleck as Tony Mendez in 'Argo'
Argo, the thriller about the CIA's attempt to free six hostages from the 1979 Iran hostage crisis using a fake Hollywood movie, is one of Ben Affleck’s career highlights. Affleck directs and stars as Tony Mendez, a CIA exfiltration specialist who comes up with a cockamamie scheme to free a group of hostages hiding in the home of a Canadian diplomat.
To pull off his human heist, Mendez must develop and try to sell a Star Wars-esque sci-fi film, in the hopes of tricking the Iranians into believing the American hostages are part of a Canadian film crew. EW’s critic gives Argo an “A”, writing “The film has an explosive ’70s vibe: Even when you’re laughing (mostly out of uneasiness), the stakes couldn’t be higher.” —I.G.
Where to watch Argo: Amazon Prime Video
EW grade: A
Director: Ben Affleck
Cast: Ben Affleck, Bryan Cranston, Alan Arkin, John Goodman
03 of 17
Bullet Train (2022)
Scott Garfield/Sony Brad Pitt as Ladybug in 'Bullet Train'
The only thing that moves faster than Japan's state-of-the-art transit system is the plot of this Brad Pitt-led ensemble action comedy. When a father seeking vengeance, an American operative experiencing a string of bad luck, and several independent assassins hailing from around the world all end up on the same bullet train bound for Kyoto, the results are violent — and the survivors minimal. Based on the 2010 novel Maria Beetle, and tonally reminiscent of Quentin Tarantino's Kill Bill with a little Snatch thrown in for spice, Bullet Train speeds along on a track laid with action, jokes, plot twists, and more death scenes that you can brandish a sword at. —I.G.
Where to watch Bullet Train: Amazon Prime Video
EW grade: B+
Director: David Leitch
Cast: Brad Pitt, Joey King, Aaron Taylor-Johnson, Brian Tyree Henry, Andrew Koji
04 of 17
Die Hard (1988)
Twentieth Century Fox Bruce Willis as John McClane in 'Die Hard'
Fans have debated whether Die Hard is a Christmas movie for more than three decades, but it's an agreed upon fact that the film launched one of the most beloved action thriller franchises of all time. The first of five installments introduces audiences to the series' hero — New York police officer John McClane (Bruce Willis) — who has traveled to Los Angeles hoping to rekindle a romance with his estranged wife, Holly. After German terrorists — led by the nefarious Hans Gruber (Alan Rickman) — take control of the building where Holly's company's Christmas party is being held, McClane must work to take down the terrorists from the inside in order to save his family. —I.G.
Where to watch Die Hard: Amazon Prime Video
Director: John McTiernan
Cast: Bruce Willis, Alan Rickman, Alexander Godunov, Bonnie Bedelia
05 of 17
Edge of Tomorrow (2014)
David James Tom Cruise as Major William Cage in 'Edge of Tomorrow'
The characters in Groundhog Day (1993) and Palm Springs (2020) might have thought they were stuck in the worst time loops possible, but those characters were never forced to die in the same battle over and over again. In Edge of Tomorrow, Tom Cruise stars as Major Cage, a public affairs officer who is more accustomed to running his mouth than discharging his weapons.
After Cage is dispatched to the front lines to fight aliens known as Mimics who have overtaken Earth, he finds himself repeatedly dying in the same battle — and the only person who believes him is war hero Sgt. Rita Vrataski (Emily Blunt), who once enjoyed a similar gift. Doubted by the Army, it's up to Vrataski and Cage to use Cage's looping abilities to destroy the Mimics and save humanity. —I.G.
Where to watch Edge of Tomorrow: Amazon Prime Video
EW grade: B+
Director: Doug Liman
Cast: Tom Cruise, Emily Blunt, Brendan Gleeson, Bill Paxton
06 of 17
Escape From New York (1981)
Everett Collection Kurt Russell as Snake Plissken in 'Escape From New York'
John Carpenter's actioner stars Kurt Russell as prison inmate Snake Plissken, who's tasked with saving the president (Donald Pleasence) from infidels in an apocalyptic 1997. One of the director's last films from his most furtive period, Escape From New York is an assured blend of sci-fi thriller and the Howard Hawks Westerns he grew up loving as a kid. —Declan Gallagher
Where to watch Escape From New York: Amazon Prime Video
Director: John Carpenter
Cast: Kurt Russell, Adrienne Barbeau, Lee Van Cleef, Donald Pleasence, Isaac Hayes
07 of 17
The Forever Purge (2021)
Jake Giles Netter/Universal
Josh Lucas as Dylan Tucker in 'The Forever Purge'
The most recent of the five movies in The Purge franchise, The Forever Purge is here to break all the rules. Set in Texas in 2048 after the titular tradition has been reinstated, the film follows the events surrounding the 2049 Purge, during which a group of masked killers intends to racially purify the country indefinitely.
When the violence fails to stop after the formal Purge ends, two families must band together to escape the anarchists by crossing into Mexico, but with the United States under siege, surviving will be much more difficult than just making it through one deadly night. Creator James DeMonaco previously implied that this would be the final installment of the franchise, but he appears to have had a change of heart. —I.G.
Where to watch The Forever Purge: Amazon Prime Video
Director: Everardo Valerio Gout
Cast: Ana de la Reguera, Tenoch Huerta, Cassidy Freeman, Leven Rambin, Josh Lucas
08 of 17
Gladiator II (2024)
Aidan Monaghan
Paul Mescal as Hanno/Lucius and Pedro Pascal as Marcus Acacius in 'Gladiator II'
Almost 25 years after Gladiator premiered and entertained theater audiences with its epic historical narrative and bold action sequences, Ridley Scott returns with his long-awaited sequel. The successor to his Best Picture winner follows a fresh crop of characters led by Paul Mescal, who stars as Hanno, a prisoner of war.
Hanno shows promise in the ring and carries vengeance in his heart for his murdered wife and conquered kingdom, but as he acquits himself as a gladiator and learns about his background, he begins to imagine the possibilities for a rehabilitated Rome. Gladiator II boasts a fresh cast of brilliant actors, a smart, well-constructed script, and employs a quarter-century’s worth of cinematic and visual effect advancements that propel this project to new heights. —I.G.
Where to watch Gladiator II: Amazon Prime Video
EW grade: A
Director: Ridley Scott
Cast: Paul Mescal, Pedro Pascal, Connie Nielsen, Denzel Washington, Joseph Quinn
09 of 17
Hanna (2011)
Alex Bailey/Focus Features
Saoirse Ronan as Hanna in 'Hanna'
Deep in rural Finland, 15-year-old Hanna (Saoirse Ronan) has spent her childhood living off the grid, training to become an assassin. Raised by her ex-CIA father (Eric Bana) and fashioned into a killing machine, Hanna understands that her life’s mission is to eliminate the CIA officer (Cate Blanchett) who has long been hunting them.
Now old enough to embark on her quest, Hanna leaves the security of Finland’s wild country and journeys across Europe, dodging intelligence agents and operatives as she seeks to complete her assignment and rendezvous with her father in his native Berlin. An action adventure thriller with fairy tale vibes, Hanna works thanks to its stylistic direction and the strength of its stars: Ronan is a revelation, proving once again that the depths of her talent can't be contained by one genre. —I.G.
Where to watch Hanna: Amazon Prime Video
EW grade: B+
Director: Joe Wright
Cast: Saoirse Ronan, Eric Bana, Cate Blanchett, Vicky Krieps, Tom Hollander
10 of 17
Let Him Go (2020)
Kimberley French/Focus Features Kevin Costner as George Blackledge and Diane Lane as Margaret Blackledge in 'Let Him Go'
Yellowstone fans searching for a movie in the same vein will want to check out Let Him Go, a neo-Western thriller about a grandmother’s quest to rescue her grandson. Diane Lane and Kevin Costner star as Margaret and George Blackledge, Montana ranchers whose son dies in an accident. When his widow marries into the dangerous Weboy family — taking the couple’s grandson, Jimmy, with her to North Dakota — Margaret decides it’s up to her to bring Jimmy home.
What follows is an epic showdown between the Blackledges and Weboys, led by the family’s sadistic matriarch, Blanche (Lesley Manville). Lovers of pulpy drama, violent climaxes, and deeply-held family ties will find much to enjoy here, and EW’s critic writes, “there's blunt power in the execution, most of it concentrated in [director Thomas] Bezucha's moody big-sky atmosphere.” —I.G.
Where to watch Let Him Go: Amazon Prime Video
EW grade: B
Director: Thomas Bezucha
Cast: Diane Lane, Kevin Costner, Lesley Manville
11 of 17
The Lost City of Z (2017)
Aidan Monaghan/Bleecker Street Media/Everett
Charlie Hunnam as Percy Fawcett and Tom Holland as Jack Fawcett in 'The Lost City of Z'
James Gray’s film, adapted from Killers of the Flower Moon author David Grann’s nonfiction book, is a cracking old-fashioned adventure yarn. The Lost City of Z stars Charlie Hunnam as fabled explorer Percy Fawcett, who discovers a previously unknown civilization during a trek into the Amazon jungle — but when his interest in his work begins to border on obsession, Fawcett finds himself struggling to maintain his relationships with his wife and children. The film was chosen to close the New York Film Festival in 2016, and while it was overlooked by audiences during its time in theaters, the film found favor with most critics. —D.G.
Where to watch The Lost City of Z: Amazon Prime Video
Director: James Gray
Cast: Charlie Hunnam, Robert Pattinson, Sienna Miller, Tom Holland, Ian McDiarmid
12 of 17
The Magnificent Seven (2016)
Scott Garfield/Sony (From left to right): Vincent D'Onofrio as Jack Horne, Martin Sensmeier as Red Harvest, Manuel Garcia-Rulfo as Vasquez, Ethan Hawke as Goodnight Robicheaux, Denzel Washington as Chisolm, Chris Pratt as Josh Faraday, and Lee Byung-hun as Billy Rocks in 'The Magnificent Seven'
Sometimes in life it’s best to hire professionals. This is true for plumbing installation, and also for late 19th-century farmers looking to protect themselves from a nefarious oil tycoon (Peter Sarsgaard). Such is the story in The Magnificent Seven, a remake of the 1960 action film by the same name (which, in turn, was a Westernized reinterpretation of Akira Kurosawa’s 1954 epic, Seven Samurai).
In the 2016 version, the town hires a U.S. Marshal (Denzel Washington) to deal with the encroachers, and he goes to work, recruiting a team of six oddballs, each with a specific set of skills. The Magnificent Seven isn’t a perfect movie, but in many ways, the remake is an improvement over the original. —I.G.
Where to watch The Magnificent Seven: Amazon Prime Video
EW grade: B
Director: Antoine Fuqua
Cast: Denzel Washington, Chris Pratt, Ethan Hawke, Vincent D'Onofrio, Lee Byung-hun
13 of 17
Mr. & Mrs. Smith (2005)
20th Century Fox Film Corp.
Brad Pitt as John Smith and Angelina Jolie as Jane Smith in 'Mr. & Mrs. Smith'
When Mr. & Mrs. Smith premiered in 2005, it was preceded by its reputation as the movie that created a wedge in Brad Pitt and Jennifer Aniston’s relationship. The celebrity buzz was more than enough to coax audiences into theaters, and once they got there, they were greeted by a film that was half action movie, half therapy session.
The story follows an unhappy couple (Pitt and Angelina Jolie), both of whom are undercover assassins working for competing companies — and have received an assignment to kill the other. Screenwriter Simon Kinberg was inspired by the five-step process employed in couples counseling, a template he used to help ground the Smiths' otherwise exceptional lives into something far more relatable. —I.G.
Where to watch Mr. & Mrs. Smith: Amazon Prime Video
Director: Doug Liman
Cast: Brad Pitt, Angelina Jolie, Adam Brody, Kerry Washington
14 of 17
The Negotiator (1998)
Warner Bros./Everett
Samuel L. Jackson as Danny Roman and Kevin Spacey as Chris Sabian in 'The Negotiator'
Chicago superstar hostage negotiator Danny Roman (Samuel L. Jackson) has never met a situation he couldn’t diffuse. But when his partner discloses that there is a scheme fomenting within Chicago’s east precinct to illegally appropriate money marked for the department’s disability fund, Roman finds himself framed for his partner’s murder.
With his career and reputation threatened by a forthcoming arrest for homicide and embezzlement, Roman decides to take back control by holding members of the Internal Affairs Division hostage, while attempting to prove his innocence to his crosstown rival, hostage negotiator Chris Sabian (Kevin Spacey). Now locked in a high-stakes game of control, the two negotiators must duke it out in what EW’s critic describes as “a satisfyingly tense and booby-trapped thriller about the meeting of two relentless minds.” —I.G.
Where to watch The Negotiator: Amazon Prime Video
EW grade: B
Director: F. Gary Gray
Cast: Samuel L. Jackson, Kevin Spacey, David Morse, Ron Rifkin, John Spencer
15 of 17
Prey (2022)
20th Century Studios
Amber Midthunder as Naru in 'Prey'
The Predator monster has terrified audiences for more than 35 years, but in the story's prequel/fifth installment, the tables turn and the monster becomes the prey. The film follows Naru (Amber Midthunder), a Comanche warrior with the heart of a hunter, who seeks to prove her skills and protect her tribe by catching a predator.
Professional basketball player–turned–horror star Dane DiLiegro plays the film's eponymous villain and says the story is strong enough to win viewers over, even without its affiliation to the beloved horror franchise. In an interview, he tells EW, "There just happens to be a Predator involved. Honestly, you could have shot this movie with a different monster and it still probably would have worked." —I.G.
Where to watch Prey: Amazon Prime Video
Director: Dan Trachtenberg
Cast: Amber Midthunder, Dane DiLiegro, Dakota Beavers, Michelle Thrush, Harlan Blayne Kytwayhat
16 of 17
Raiders of the Lost Ark (1981)
Sunset Boulevard/Corbis via Getty
Harrison Ford as Indiana Jones in 'Raiders of the Lost Ark'
The first (and the best) Indiana Jones adventure follows the hero (Harrison Ford, who else?) and his beloved Marion Ravenwood (Karen Allen) as they embark on a government mission to find the Ark of the Covenant before the Nazis assume its powers. It’s difficult to find a more perfectly structured action/adventure than Raiders of the Lost Ark, which serves as a remarkably high watermark in director Steven Spielberg’s career. None of the sequels has quite lived up to the original, though some come close. —I.G.
Where to watch Raiders of the Lost Ark: Amazon Prime Video
Director: Steven Spielberg
Cast: Harrison Ford, Karen Allen, Paul Freeman, John Rhys-Davies, Alfred Molina
17 of 17
The Tomorrow War (2021)
Frank Masi/Amazon Studios Chris Pratt as Dan Forester in 'The Tomorrow War'
As if today’s geopolitical conflicts weren’t complicated enough, in The Tomorrow War, the world must unite and travel to the future to defeat the aliens creating an existential threat to humanity. The stakes are high, and there are the usual interpersonal fights to sort out amongst all the battles with intergalactic creatures. Chris Pratt stars as a biology teacher and Iraq War veteran whose military experience and personal ties help him survive his time fighting aliens.
As far as the tonal spectrum is concerned, the film leans more comedy than thriller, thanks in large part to its supporting cast of comedic actors and eccentric characters. EW’s critic writes that “Director Chris McKay (Robot Chicken) has forged his career in absurdist comedy, and the movie is best when it lets its weirdo flag fly.” —I.G.
Where to watch The Tomorrow War: Amazon Prime Video
Director: Chris McKay
Cast: Chris Pratt, Yvonne Strahovski, J. K. Simmons, Betty Gilpin, Sam Richardson
on Entertainment Weekly
Source: “AOL Entertainment”
