10 Underrated Action Movies in the Last 5 Years (And Where to Watch Them)

The fact that The Instigators hasn’t been given more attention is absolutely ludicrous. With Matt Damon and Casey Affleck in the lead roles, and a supporting cast including Ving Rhames, Michael Stuhlbarg, Alfred Molina, Hong Chau, Ron Perlman, and Toby Jones, you’d think it would have gotten more people to sit up and notice. Throw in Doug Liman as director, and you’ve got a winning formula.

It’s a super fun movie with plenty of laughs as well as, of course, moments of hard-hitting action, with Damon and Affleck cooking up a delightful buddy-comedy vibe. If you’re looking for something relatively light and easy-going from the genre, check this one out on Apple TV.

Speaking of which, Apple TV had an incredible year in 2024. Not only did the streaming service give us The Instigators, but it also put out Wolfs, another two-hander starring two of the biggest names in Hollywood: George Clooney and Brad Pitt. Much like The Instigators, there are comedy elements here, too, with director Jon Watts bringing all of the playful energy he imbued the MCU Spider-Man movies with.

This is a really slick and stylish thriller that leans into the character-driven classics of old, a vintage feel accentuated by the moody, snowy New York City backdrop. At just under 110 minutes long, too, you can’t really go wrong by hitting play on this one if you’ve got a couple of hours spare one night.

For a more dystopian, horror-tinted take on the action genre, you could do far worse than taking a shot on The Gorge. For a start, it combines the talents of Miles Teller and Anya Taylor-Joy with acclaimed director Scott Derrickson, who made what I believe to be the scariest movie of the modern era, Sinister.

If you’re into films like The Hunger Games but want something a little darker, I highly recommend it. The Gorge has a bit of everything: a creepy tone, sci-fi elements, a romantic subplot, and plenty of big action sequences. You can access the film as part of your Apple TV subscription.

How exactly a new Spike Lee joint goes under the radar in the way that Highest 2 Lowest did is beyond me. Sure, it’s not as good as the original Akira Kurosawa picture, but that bar was never going to be attainable anyway. Still, with that trademark Spike energy and a predictably great lead performance from Denzel Washington, there’s more than enough to appreciate here.

Admittedly, there is a slightly jarring tone to the film at times, largely due to the musical choices employed throughout. But when it gets it right, Highest 2 Lowest is a big, bold, exciting film with a unique feel to it. It’s another Apple TV gem, and will appeal to anyone who’s a fan of films like All the Money in the World or Man on Fire.

Another remake worth your time is The Running Man. It’s not as quirky or bombastic as the 1987 effort starring Arnold Schwarzenegger, but it’s got a lot more heart than the original, thanks to the lead performance of Glen Powell, plus a tighter and expertly handled story by Edgar Wright. 

When it goes big, this film really works. The action choreography is fantastic and, aside from a few instances of slightly ropey CGI, it all looks great, too. You’ll have to pay to watch this one, with a £4.99 rental fee on Apple TV or JustWatch TV being your best option.

Who would have thought that Bob Odenkirk, the man famous for playing the cowardly Saul Goodman, would make for a badass action hero? Well, in Nobody, he does just that. If you’re looking for a sharp, brutal action movie that’ll rock your world in around 90 minutes, this is the way to go. It’s like John Wick, but with a bit more humour and a more grounded, human approach.

Credit where credit’s due, Odenkirk is phenomenal in the lead role here, and so is Christopher Lloyd, too. Sure, it’s not the most original story, but it’s a very well-done version of a tried and tested formula. This will be another rental mission for you, with YouTube offering it at £2.49, or £3.49 if you want to borrow it from Apple TV.

I think it’s safe to assume that most people regard Die Hard as one of the best action movies of all time. If you’re one of the people who would agree with that, then there’s a good chance you’ll absolutely love Carry-On. Taron Egerton is superb as the reluctant hero of this intense, single- location thrill ride, while Jason Bateman goes against type to play a menacing villain.

I’m a sucker for movies that build tension and ramp up the stress levels simply through characters talking about very serious, anxiety-inducing things, like Michael Clayton or All The President’s Men, and Carry-On leans into that for a good two-thirds of the runtime. It all explodes into action for the manic final act, which is lots of fun. Check it out on Netflix now.

I am so happy that Aaron Pierre is enjoying a successful career boom right now, because he deserves it for his work in Rebel Ridge alone. This was one of my favourite movies of 2024, and given the fact that it’s on Netflix, I was surprised it didn’t get talked about more widely.

From the very first scene, this film grips you and makes you feel things, which is never easy – and it simply does not let up from there. It’s the ultimate social justice story, with a bunch of cops finding out the hard way that they picked on the wrong guy. I remember recommending this to everyone who would listen at the time, and I’m still happily banging that drum to this day.

When I sat down to watch Prey in 2022, I hadn’t seen a single Predator movie before. And guess what? It didn’t matter one iota. This tale of alien hunter vs Comanche warrior is wonderfully self-contained, incredibly well-made, and entertaining without selling out or leaning into action tropes at all.

I would go as far as to say this is the best movie on this list, and certainly one of the best action movies of the last decade, period. While the original Predator is a pure popcorn flick sprinkled with humour and very intentional clichés, Prey is far more nuanced and has plenty to say, thematically. At just 100 minutes long, it’s an absolute dream pick for any movie night, so give it a go on Disney+ tonight!

If you went to the cinema any time around the start of 2026, you probably saw a trailer for Crime 101. I did, and I was intrigued, to say the least. It looked like a bit of a Heat knock-off, and in many ways, it is. But there’s absolutely nothing wrong with that, because Heat is the blueprint when it comes to these kinds of cat-and-mouse action thrillers.

There’s a lot to love about Crime 101: it has some really nice camerawork, a handful of exhilarating scenes, and strong performances across the board – most notably from Mark Ruffalo. I’d say this is a really universally appealing action movie that anyone could enjoy. It’s on Prime Video already, and I can’t wait to rewatch it.