The Best Action Movies on Netflix/Amazon Prime That You May Have Missed
With a slew of action movies offered on Netflix and Amazon Prime it easy to overlook high-quality movies. They recommended titles on their respective landing page but often viewers have already seen them and scrolling through the various sub-genres can be taxing. Netflix and Amazon Prime prioritize their original programming, or mainstream content, so it’s easy to miss a hidden gem. Some of the movies on this list are classics worth revisiting, or perhaps viewing for the first time for newer generations, while other titles are movies that often fly under the radar.
Ong Bak: The Thai Warrior (2005)
Forget the plot; Ong Bak: The Thai Warrior is all about the thrill-ride. The film stars Tony Jaa and this was his breakout role; at the time of its release critics raved and were comparing the martial artist to Bruce Lee and Jackie Chan. Jaa did all of the stunt work himself and didn’t have any assistance from CGI or mechanics. Ong Bak is currently available on Amazon Prime and Ong Bak 2 is available on Netflix. Filmmaker and hip hop artist RZA (Wu Tang Clan) gives the introduction to the trailer below.
Black Mask (1997)
This Hong Kong action film stars martial arts superstar Jet Li. The fight scenes were designed by Yuen Woo-ping who later would go on to choreograph The Matrix(available on Amazon Prime). Li plays a former commando and super-soldier turned librarian. When a series of crimes start happening in his community he puts on a black mask and investigates. This action packed martial arts flick is available on Amazon Prime and is a must-see for any fan of Jet Li.
Chances are, when scrolling through action movies on Netflix you saw the title of this film and kept on scrolling. Make no mistake about it; Wolfcop is as ridiculous as it sounds and equally entertaining. This action-comedy fared well with critics and viewers alike. Rotten Tomatoes’synopsis sums up the premise of this hilarious action movie on Netflix.
“It’s not unusual for alcoholic cop Lou to black out and wake up in unfamiliar surroundings, but lately things have taken a turn for the strange…and hairy. WolfCop is the story of one cop’s quest to become a better man. One transformation at a time.”
This action-suspense movie stands the test of time and will still give viewers thrills and goose bumps. An all-star cast led by Burt Reynolds must fight for their survival as they are hunted in the wilderness. Deliverance received three Academy Award nominations and can currently be streamed on Netflix.
Stand Up Guys (2013)
Although it was panned by the critics, action-comedy fans will enjoy this tongue-in-cheek film starring Al Pacino, Alan Arkin, and Christopher Walken. Stand Up Guys is about a trio of aging gangsters who reunite for one last job. It is currently available on Amazon Prime and is highly rated among subscribers.
French Connection II (1975)
The French Connection was based on a true story about a Manhattan detective, portrayed by Gene Hackman, who comes across a drug operation that has a French connection. The sequel takes off where the original left off and Hackman leaves Manhattan to continue his quest in Marseille. The first movie won five Academy Awards, which was the first R-rated movie to do so, and the sequel was considered one of the best cop movies of its time. It’s worth checking out the original before viewing the sequel but either way it’s an entertaining action movie and it is now streaming on Netflix.
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Stretch (2014)
As far as modern day action movies go Stretch is one of the best and it is currently available on Netflix. Packed with action, suspense, and comedy, Stretch tells the tale of a limo driver who owes a large sum of money to his bookie. To pay off his gambling debt he takes a job to drive around an eccentric billionaire and the adventure takes off from there. Both critics and audiences raved about this action movie starring Patrick Wilson, Chris Pine, Jessica Alba, and Ed Helms.
With a flurry of titles to choose from this list should make it easier for you to enjoy high-quality action movies on Netflix and Amazon Prime.
[Image via Lionsgate]
