The action movie genre is by far one of my favorites, but in 2024, it experienced highs and lows. That said, the good ones were really good, and I highlight those below. As we inch closer to the end of the year, I share my top four action movies of 2024.
As I looked through the list of action movies released this year, I was highly underwhelmed by many. Movies like The Union, Killer's Game, and Argylle leave a sour taste in audiences' mouths regarding this genre. Time and time again, the box office will show up for good action movies, but the bad ones tend to leave audiences waiting until they hit streaming. Enough about the bad and more about the good, let's talk about the five action movies I loved this year.
Best Action Movies of 2024
Civil War
Civil War should be in the conversation for one of the best movies in 2024. Alex Garland's direction should have him in the middle of the Best Director race, but it is being overlooked, and pains me. Civil War is a breath of fresh air in the age of reboots and sequels. This blends pulsating anxiety, thrilling filmmaking, and great action sequences.
Bad Boys: Ride or Die
Mike Lowrey and Marcus Burnett were back for some more, and I loved every minute. While Will Smith and Martin Lawrence brought back the nostalgia, Adil El Arbi and Bilall Fallah's excellent direction shocked us all. There is one shot in this movie that sees Lowrey taking on the bad guys was one of the coolest sequences in any film this year.
Fall Guy
A movie about a stuntman thrust into a daring mission is a no-brainer to make it on this list, right? 100%. This was a BLAST to watch, and the fact it failed at the box office made me sad. Hobbs & Shaw, Deadpool 2, and Bullet Train were all incredible action movies directed by David Leitch. He works his magic with fantastic action sequences, while Gosling and Blunt's chemistry brings it together. This will be talked about for years to come.
Road House
Mr. & Mrs. Smith and Edge of Tomorrow are two incredible action movies directed by Doug Liman. When the remake of Road House was announced, it was met with lukewarm reception. However, I was excited because I am locked in any movie with Jake Gyllenhaal in it. This was the perfect remake that stood out on its own while paying homage to the original. It's a banger.