There’s nothing quite like a great action movie to get the blood pumping with a jolt of cinematic excitement. Intellectually, we know that the films are just telling a story, and yet it’s easy to get caught up in the frantic action and adventure. And it’s surely a lot safer to vicariously experience these life or death moments from the comfort of your own home. If you’re an action fan, then Hulu can keep you entertained with several flicks that rank among the top in the genre. To get you started, just check out our list of the best action movies that you can stream on Hulu right now.
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.
Logan (2017) new
Air Force One (1997) new
The Hunger Games (2012) new
Sucker Punch (2011) new
Watchmen (2009)
Those looking for a more faithful adaptation of Alan Moore’s seminal graphic novel than the HBO series may prefer Zack Snyder’s 2009 epic. With Snyder’s typical comic ambiance, Watchmen explores an alternate 1985 America in which costumed superheroes (although not with superpowers) roamed the streets openly for decades before being forced to remove their masks during the Cold War. But when one member of a former elite team is murdered, the still-masked Rorschach (Jackie Earle Haley) uncovers a plot to kill and discredit all superheroes past and present. While most of his former associates think he’s paranoid, Rorshach soon begins pulling at a thread to unravel an enormous, catastrophic conspiracy.
Rotten Tomatoes: 65%
Stars: Billy Crudup, Malin Ackerman, Jackie Earle Haley, Jeffrey Dean Morgan, Patrick Wilson
Director: Zack Snyder
Rating: R
Runtime: 163 minutes
Attack the Block (2011)
This genre-bending flick is set in South London, where three teenagers become extremely unlikely heroes during an alien invasion. Attack the Block is silly sci-fi fun but it’s also a nonstop thrill ride with a surprising amount of heart. It’s easy to root for these un-uniformed extraterrestrial hunters.
Rotten Tomatoes: 90%
Stars: John Boyega, Alex Esmail, Leeon Jones
Director: Joe Cornish
Rating: R
Runtime: 88 minutes
Rogue (2020)
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.
Rotten Tomatoes: 70%
Stars: Megan Fox, Philip Winchester, Greg Kriek, Jessica Sutton, Calli Taylor
Director: M. J. Bassett
Rating: R
Runtime: 105 minutes
Skyfall (2012)
Nearly a decade ago, Daniel Craig had his best turn as James Bond in Skyfall. It has an unusually personal story for a Bond film, as James’ family history plays heavily into Skyfall itself. There are also high stakes for M (Judi Dench) and MI6 as former operative Raoul Silva (Javier Bardem) uses his technical skills to leak valuable secrets and expose undercover officers. Bond reluctantly comes out of his self-imposed retirement, but he’s far from full-strength. No matter where they go, Raoul is always on their trail. To save M, James will have to confront his own personal ghosts at his family’s ancestral home.
Rotten Tomatoes: 92%
Stars: Daniel Craig, Judi Dench, Javier Bardem, Ralph Fiennes, Naomie Harris, Bérénice Marlohe
Director: Sam Mendes
Rating: PG-13
Runtime: 143 minutes
Shadow in the Cloud (2020)
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.
Rotten Tomatoes: 78%
Stars: Chloë Grace Moretz, Taylor John Smith, Beulah Koale, Nick Robinson, Callan Mulvey
Director: Roseanne Liang
Rating: R
Runtime: 83 minutes
Terminator: Dark Fate (2019)
The future is what you make it, but it wasn’t a good one for Sarah Connor (Linda Hamilton). In Terminator: Dark Fate, Sarah is haunted by the death of her son at the hands of a rogue T-800 (Arnold Schwarzenegger). Much to Sarah’s surprise, history seems to be repeating itself when a cyborg warrior, Grace (Mackenzie Davis), comes back in time to protect Dani Ramos (Natalia Reyes) from the advanced Terminator, Rev-9 (Gabriel Luna). But even these formidable women are overpowered by the Rev-9’s abilities. That’s why they turn to an unexpected source for help: The Terminator who killed John. Unfortunately, “Carl” is far more human than he used to be and less than a match for his younger counterpart.
Rotten Tomatoes: 70%
Stars: Linda Hamilton, Arnold Schwarzenegger, Mackenzie Davis, Natalia Reyes, Gabriel Luna
Director: Tim Miller
Rating: R
Runtime: 128 minutes
Dredd (2012)
Hulu does have the 1995 adaptation of the Judge Dredd comic with Sylvester Stallone in the title role. But the 2012 film, Dredd, is by far the superior of the two. This time, Karl Urban steps into the role of Dredd, one of the Judges tasked with keeping Mega-City One safe in the future. Olivia Thirlby nearly steals the entire movie as Cassandra Anderson, a rookie judge whose telepathic abilities prove to be quite an asset. While investigating a few brazen drug murders, Dredd and Anderson are trapped in an apartment complex by its resident crime lord, Madeline “Ma-Ma” Madrigal (Game of Thrones‘ Lena Headey). But Ma-Ma forgot the most important things about Dredd: “He is the law,” and he will never back down from a fight.
Rotten Tomatoes: 79%
Stars: Karl Urban, Olivia Thirlby, Wood Harris, Lena Headey
Director: Pete Travis
Rating: R
Runtime: 95 minutes
Boss Level (2021)
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?
Rotten Tomatoes: 76%
Stars: Frank Grillo, Naomi Watts, Mel Gibson, Annabelle Wallis
Director: Joe Carnahan
Rating: TV-MA
Runtime: 94 minutes
The Nice Guys (2016)
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.
Rotten Tomatoes: 91%
Stars: Russell Crowe, Ryan Gosling, Angourie Rice, Matt Bomer, Margaret Qualley
Director: Shane Black
Rating: R
Runtime: 116 minutes
Hotel Mumbai (2018)
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.
Rotten Tomatoes: 76%
Stars: Armie Hammer, Dev Patel, Nazanin Boniadi, Tilda Cobham-Hervey, Anupam Kher
Director: Anthony Maras
Rating: R
Runtime: 125 minutes
The Expendables (2010)
Think of The Expendables as the Avengers of action stars. It’s almost an all-icon cast even before Bruce Willis and Arnold Schwarzenegger make their cameo appearances. Sylvester Stallone directed the film and stars as Barney Ross, the leader of an elite group of mercenaries that includes Lee Christmas (Jason Statham), Yin Yang (Jet Li), and Gunner Jensen (Dolph Lundgren). On a mission to take out a foreign dictator, Barney and his team realize that their real target may be rogue CIA agent James Munroe (Eric Roberts). And one of Barney’s former members may be working for the other side.
Rotten Tomatoes: 42%
Stars: Sylvester Stallone, Jason Statham, Jet Li, Dolph Lundgren, Eric Roberts, Randy Couture, Steve Austin, Charisma Carpenter
Director: Sylvester Stallone
Rating: R
Runtime: 103 minutes
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