We can never get enough action films in the streaming landscape. Or more specifically, we can’t get enough great action flicks. Hulu has a few original action movies of its own, but its best options have all come from previous theatrical releases and films on loan from other studios. But that’s not a bad formula, since it allows Hulu to stream some of the top action titles available. And unlike Hulu’s corporate sibling, Disney+, R-rated films are welcome here. The only real issue is finding the action flick that’s right for you. Luckily, we’ve already selected the best action movies on Hulu right now. And our choices are up to date for April.
We’ve also curated a guide to the best action movies on Amazon Prime Video, the best action movies on Netflix, and the best action movies on Disney+ if you’re looking for additional recommendations.
Looper (2012) new
118m
Genre
Action, Thriller, Science Fiction
Stars
Joseph Gordon-Levitt, Bruce Willis, Emily Blunt
Directed by
Rian Johnson
Before director Rian Johnson tried his hand at Star Wars and Knives Out, he helmed Looper, a twisty time-travel action movie starring Joseph Gordon-Levitt and Bruce Willis as the same man from two different points in time. In 2074, criminals from the future hire killers in the present to murder the victims who are sent back in time. Young Joe (Gordon-Levitt) is one of those killers until he is contracted to kill his older self (Willis). But Old Joe has other ideas, and he breaks free with a plan to change the past by murdering the future crime boss when he was a child.
Hanna (2011) new
111m
Genre
Action, Thriller, Adventure
Stars
Saoirse Ronan, Eric Bana, Vicky Krieps
Directed by
Joe Wright
Saoirse Ronan plays the title character in Hanna, and she’s a young girl to be reckoned with. After being raised and trained to kill by her father, Erik Heller (Eric Bana), Hanna is warned that a CIA operative, Marissa Wiegler (Cate Blanchett), wants both of them dead. When Erik determines that Hanna is ready, he allows her to lure Marissa into a trap. Unfortunately, eliminating Marissa is easier said than done. And Hanna will have to confront some secrets that make her question who and what she really is.
Watchmen (2009) new
163m
Genre
Action, Mystery, Science Fiction
Stars
Malin Åkerman, Patrick Wilson, Billy Crudup
Directed by
Zack Snyder
Director Zack Snyder adapted Alan Moore and Dave Gibbons’ Watchmen as a nearly three-hour film, and it needed every moment to bring the original comic to life. In an alternate 1985, superheroes are real at the height of the Cold War. When a former antihero, The Comedian (Jeffrey Dean Morgan), is murdered in his own home, the outlaw vigilante known as Rorschach (Jackie Earle Haley) believes that he has uncovered a conspiracy that is targeting the heroes. However, the true scale of the plan is far beyond Rorschach’s imagination. And even the former Watchmen may not be able to prevent their enemy’s plans from reaching fruition.
Predators (2010) new
107m
Genre
Science Fiction, Action, Thriller
Stars
Adrien Brody, Topher Grace, Alice Braga
Directed by
Nimród Antal
For the third film in the franchise, Predators upped the stakes by moving the action away from Earth. Instead, Royce (Adrien Brody), Isabelle (Alice Braga), Edwin (Topher Grace), Stans (Walton Goggins), Nikolai (Oleg Taktarov), Hanzo (Louis Ozawa Changchien), and more find themselves transported to an alien planet that is used as a Predator hunting ground. As the group contends with the deadly hunters, they discover that they may not be able to trust each other. But if they want a chance to survive, they will have to co-exist and defeat three different Predators in battle.
Starship Troopers (1997)
129m
Genre
Adventure, Action, Thriller, Science Fiction
Stars
Casper Van Dien, Dina Meyer, Denise Richards
Directed by
Paul Verhoeven
Much like his earlier film, RoboCop, director Paul Verhoeven’s satirical touches often went over the heads of moviegoers who saw Starship Troopers in theaters. Perhaps it’s hard to satirize war movie propaganda with an interstellar conflict between humanity and giant alien bugs. Regardless, there are some truly funny moments in the film, but also moments of terror as Johnny Rico (Casper Van Dien), Dizzy Flores (Dina Meyer), Carmen Ibanez (Denise Richards), and the rest of the young recruits slowly realize that this is a war that may lead to mankind’s extinction.
The Raid 2 (2014)
150m
Genre
Action, Crime, Thriller
Stars
Iko Uwais, Arifin Putra, Tio Pakusadewo
Directed by
Gareth Evans
The Raid is considered to be one of the best modern action movies, which is why writer and director Gareth Evans had a chance to make a sequel, The Raid 2. Rama (Iko Uwais), one of the few surviving characters from the first film, is a police officer who is coerced into giving up years of his life to go undercover in prison and befriend Uco (Arifin Putra), the son of a notorious crime lord, Bangun (Tio Pakusadewo). Upon his release, Rama’s connection to Uco gets him a place as an enforcer in their crime family. However, a gang war reveals Uco’s deadly ambitions, and forces Rama to question who he can really trust.
Deadpool (2016)
108m
Genre
Action, Adventure, Comedy
Stars
Ryan Reynolds, Morena Baccarin, Ed Skrein
Directed by
Tim Miller
Deadpool is one of the few Marvel movies that may never end up on Disney+ because it is unapologetically R-rated. Ryan Reynolds campaigned for years to play Wade Wilson/Deadpool only to land an unsatisfying cameo in X-Men Origins: Wolverine. Deadpool wisely ignores the previous film and establishes Wade’s origin story. After falling for Vanessa (Morena Baccarin), Wade is stricken with cancer. Ajax (Ed Skrein) “cures” Wade, but it leaves his body ravaged and drives him insane. As Deadpool, Wade goes on a bloody quest for revenge while occasionally breaking the fourth wall and addressing the audience. It’s really hilarious, and also a great action flick on its own.
Rogue (2020)
106m
Genre
Action, Adventure
Stars
Megan Fox, Philip Winchester, Greg Kriek
Directed by
M.J. Bassett
Rogue makes a strong case for Megan Fox’s transformation into an action star. Fox headlines the movie as Samantha O’Hara, the leader of a group of mercenaries that includes Joey Kasinski (Philip Winchester), Mike Barasa (Greg Kriek as), and Pata (Sisanda Henna). Sam’s team is hired to rescue Asilia Wilson (Jessica Sutton), the daughter of a local governor, from a warlord named Zalamm (Adam Deacon). While fleeing Zalamm’s forces, Samantha and her team encounter a murderous lioness who may truly be the queen of the wild. And this lioness is far more deadly than their bullets or their gadgets.
Shadow in the Cloud (2021)
83m
Genre
Horror, Action, War
Stars
Chloë Grace Moretz, Nick Robinson, Beulah Koale
Directed by
Roseanne Liang
Chloë Grace Moretz takes the lead in Shadow in the Cloud, a film that is both a World War II story and a tale of terror. Moretz portrays Maude Garrett, a flying officer on a mission to transport special cargo on a B-17 bomber. While Staff Sergeant Walter Quaid (Taylor John Smith) treats Maude with respect, the rest of the crew seems openly hostile toward her. To complicate things even further, Maude also spots a creature that is seemingly sabotaging the plane. But it’s Maude’s personal secrets that may end her mission well before the creature can imperil the mission.
Boss Level (2021)
101m
Genre
Action, Science Fiction, Thriller
Stars
Frank Grillo, Mel Gibson, Naomi Watts
Directed by
Joe Carnahan
In Boss Level, Frank Grillo’s Roy Pulver dies almost as soon as the movie begins. Then it all happens again, again, and again. That’s the problem for the ex-Delta Force soldier. Someone wants Roy dead, and he would already be gone if he wasn’t stuck in a time loop. Fortunately for Roy, he’s been trapped for so long that he’s been able to anticipate the moves of his would-be assassins. Regardless, the odds are stacked against Roy as he tries to break the loop and save his ex-wife, Jemma Wells (Naomi Watts), from a dire fate. Each trip through the loop gives Roy more experience and intel. But is it enough for him to change his fate and escape with Jemma?
The Nice Guys (2016)
116m
Genre
Comedy, Crime, Action
Stars
Russell Crowe, Ryan Gosling, Angourie Rice
Directed by
Shane Black
The Nice Guys was criminally underrated during its theatrical run. But it’s ready to be rediscovered by action fans on Hulu. The story is set in 1977, as private investigator Holland March (Ryan Gosling) looks into the suspicious death of a porn star. After an enforcer named Jackson Healy (Russell Crowe) breaks Holland’s arm and tries to scare him off, the two men form an unlikely partnership to track down a teenage girl, Amelia Kuttner (Margaret Qualley). Amelia may hold the key to unraveling this mystery, but Holland and Jackson have to get her before the bad guys do.
Hotel Mumbai (2019)
123m
Genre
Thriller, History, Drama, Action
Stars
Dev Patel, Armie Hammer, Nazanin Boniadi
Directed by
Anthony Maras
Hotel Mumbai is inspired by the true story of the 2008 terrorist attacks in Mumbai. That’s why there are no action heroes here, and the violence feels all-too-real. Zahra Kashani (Nazanin Boniadi), her husband, David (Armie Hammer), and the rest of the guests at the Taj Hotel are held hostage by terrorists. Yet even in this hopeless situation, heroes emerge. For example, Arjun (Dev Patel), a waiter who risks his life to help the guests escape. Not everyone makes it out alive, but the spark of humanity demonstrated by the ordinary people triumphs over the senseless murders and the overwhelming despair that follows.
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