113 Best Action & Adventure Movies to Watch

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1. DoroHeDoro, 2020

Dorohedoro is a delightfully bizarre and visually striking anime series that immerses viewers in a dark and twisted world of sorcery and macabre humor. With its unique blend of supernatural elements, gritty action, and offbeat comedy, the show captivates with its eccentric characters and intricate plot. The animation is stunning, bringing the gritty cityscape of Hole to life, while the engaging storyline keeps you hooked with its mystery and intriguing revelations. Dorohedoro is a wild ride that embraces its quirkiness, offering a fresh and exhilarating experience for anime fans craving something delightfully unconventional.

Genre: Action & Adventure, Animation, Comedy, Sci-Fi & Fantasy

Actor: Hisao Egawa, Hozumi Goda, Kengo Takanashi, Kenyu Horiuchi, Mayu Udono, Mitsuhiro Ichiki, Miyu Tomita, Miyuri Shimabukuro, Reina Kondo, Ryohei Kimura, Shigeru Chiba, Shin-ichiro Miki, Takehito Koyasu, Takuma Terashima, Tetsu Inada, Tooru Nara, Wataru Takagi, Yoshimasa Hosoya, Yu Kobayashi, Yuki Kaji

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2. Frieren: Beyond Journey’s End, 2023

In fantasy worlds, races with different lifespans are a given, but rarely does a work actually contemplate how these variations would affect relationships between them. Frieren: Beyond Journey's End starts after a great war, at the moment of peace, and to the titular elf, her shared journey with the human Himmel and their party feels like a blip in her life, their ten years of friendship blurred amongst her thousand years… until Himmel dies, which shifts her perspective on mortality. Frieren won’t have that much extravaganza we’re used to in other fantasy shows, but the way Frieren tries to reconnect with her former comrades, and the way she remembers their memory through flashbacks, all become a gentle and moving meditation on purpose, meaning, and connection, all paired with outstanding art and some of the best worldbuilding we’ve seen in anime.Genre: Action & Adventure, Animation, Drama, Sci-Fi & Fantasy
Actor: Atsumi Tanezaki, Chiaki Kobayashi, Hiroki Touchi, Kana Ichinose, Nobuhiko Okamoto
Rating: TV-14

3. Barry, 2022

Former SNL cast member and comedy legend Bill Hader is the writer and main protagonist of the HBO-produced and three-time Emmy-winning series Barry. Part psychological thriller, part dark comedy – one of many new series in the “dramedy” genre – deals with the unlikely premise of a PTSD-ridden low-rent assassin, who, after travelling to LA to execute an actor, decides to dedicate his life to the amateur theatre scene. (Watch out for the always amazing Henry Winkler as the acting class teacher! He was rightly nominated for an Emmy for this performance.)

In typical Bill Hader fashion, this genre-mix is still a lot more comedy than thriller and one cannot help but root for hapless Barry, while he dodges one bullet after the other, as it were, navigating Chechnyan mobsters, the FBI, and his intense acting peers. A lovely, funny, and smart show about a seemingly emotionless guy trying to escape his past.

Genre: Action & Adventure, Comedy, Crime, Drama

Actor: Anthony Carrigan, Bill Hader, Henry Winkler, Sarah Burns, Sarah Goldberg, Stephen Root

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4. X-Men ’97, 2024

As a continuation of the original animated series done in a similar visual style, X-Men '97 could have very easily settled for cheap nostalgia pandering to fans old and new. But what we get instead is a show that hardly seems pressured by expectations and focuses all its energy on simply telling a good story with powerful themes. The best X-Men stories have always touched on prejudice, systemic inequality, and the struggle to come to terms with one's own differences from society. And this new series follows right along, already communicating so much character within its first two 30-minute episodes while maintaining dire stakes for its entire ensemble.
And even with the occasional awkward line reading, the quality of the writing always shines through—whether in an emotionally charged conversation between Cyclops and Jean Grey about what a parent's responsibility should be; in the empathetic words of Storm to the rest of her team; or in one of several show-stopping speeches given by Magneto, who finds himself reluctantly aiming for balance between humans and mutants more than ever before. And in every exchange or monologue, there's always an unease about the situation the X-Men find themselves in, caught between protecting those who wish them dead and leaving this responsibility behind to begin their own lives.Genre: Action & Adventure, Animation, Sci-Fi & Fantasy
Actor: Alison Sealy-Smith, Cal Dodd, Jennifer Hale, JP Karliak, Ray Chase
Rating: TV-PG

5. The Last Kingdom, 2022

This historical fantasy show is based on the best-selling novel The Saxon Stories, a story set during the Viking / Dane invasion of Britain.

Uhtred was a small boy when he was kidnapped and then raised by the Danes. When he unexpectedly gets caught up in the conflict, his half-Saxon half-Dane mix makes at the same time valuable and untrustworthy for both sides.

There has never been a better alternative to Game of Thrones. The great writing and great performances from a cast of newcomers inevitably induce the same sense of addiction.

Genre: Action, Action & Adventure, Drama, History, War & Politics

Actor: Adrian Bower, Adrian Schiller, Alexander Dreymon, Alexandre Willaume, Amy Wren, Arnas Fedaravicius, Brian Vernel, Cavan Clerkin, David Dawson, David Schofield, Eliza Butterworth, Emily Cox, Eva Birthistle, Ewan Mitchell, Gerard Kearns, Harry Gilby, Harry McEntire, Henning Valin Jakobsen, Ian Hart, James Northcote, Jamie Blackley, Joseph Millson, Julia Bache-Wiig, Mark Rowley, Matthew Macfadyen, Millie Brady, Ola Rapace, Peri Baumeister, Peter Gantzler, Phia Saban, Ruby Hartley, Rune Temte, Rutger Hauer, Simon Kunz, Stefanie Martini, Thea Sofie Loch Næss, Thea Sofie Loch Næss, Thomas Gabrielsson, Thomas W. Gabrielsson, Thure Lindhardt, Timothy Innes, Tobias Santelmann, Toby Regbo

Rating: TV-MA

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6. Blue Eye Samurai, 2023

Starting off the series with slicing off fingers, Blue Eye Samurai is a thrilling action series that brings back samurai sword wielding in such a gorgeous fashion. Reminiscent of the classics, the animated series is centered on its titular warrior, whose blue eyes set them apart from society. She dedicates herself to a lifelong revenge journey, with gruesome sword fights, all to kill the four white men who could have been her father. And while she takes some side quests to her journey, missions that make her question the path she took, these seemingly straightforward fights slowly uncover the woman she became, and the pain inflicted upon those who can’t help but be different. It’s an action-packed spectacle, but it’s also an unflinching examination of trauma, and possibly one of the best animated releases from Netflix this year.

Genre: Action & Adventure, Animation, Drama

Actor: Brenda Song, Cary-Hiroyuki Tagawa, Darren Barnet, George Takei, Kenneth Branagh, Masi Oka, Maya Erskine, Randall Park

Rating: TV-MA

7. Kingdom, 2020

16th century Korea—the small kingdom is governed by a royal family, but the sudden death of the king causes a power struggle among the elite, which in turn opens the window for either genuine change or further corrupt rule. At the heart of this is Crown Prince Lee Chang (Ju Ji-hoon), who conspires with the rebel scholars to bring his corrupt rivals down.

This all sounds familiar, if not a bit trite, but before you can start to pin it down, Kingdom quickly morphs into something more than just a period drama. The introduction of fantasy, terror, and neverending gore elevates Kingdom into a multi-genre feat—an impressive blend of political intrigue and pure zombie horror that never fails to keep you at the edge of your seat.

Genre: Action & Adventure, Drama, Fantasy, Horror, Mystery, Thriller

Actor: Bae Doona, Heo Joon-ho, Heo Jun-ho, Jeon Seok-ho, Ju Ji-hoon, Jun Kaname, Jun Suk-ho, Jung Suk-won, Kanata Hongo, Kanna Hashimoto, Kento Yamazaki, Kim Hye-jun, Kim Jong-soo, Kim Sang-ho, Kim Sung-kyu, Kim Tae-hoon, Kim Tae-hun, Park Byung-eun, Ryu Seung-ryong

Director: Kim Seong-hun, Shinsuke Sato

Rating: R

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8. Kizazi Moto: Generation Fire, 2023

Undeniably breathtaking animation meets uncomplicated narratives and breathes life into this 10-episode speculative anthology. These rich stories take the sci-fi genre and unfurl a multitude of possibilities for a futuristic Africa. Although the episodes are short, there are more hits than misses as the focus on succinct stories creates a net positive viewing experience. Kizazi Moto: Generation Fire boasts an explosive variety of animation styles that make simple yet heartfelt stories shine. The transition from high-action vibrant stories like Mkhuzi: The Spirit Racer to the dark, terrifying visuals of Surf Sangoma in the first half displays the amazing talent of Africa's filmmakers.

Genre: Action & Adventure, Animation, Sci-Fi & Fantasy

Actor: Florence Kasumba, Hakeem Kae-Kazim, Kehinde Bankole, Pearl Thusi

9. Watchmen, 2019

If all live-action superhero media stopped here, it would've been a triumphant conclusion. Carving its own path from the subversive Alan Moore classic and still so much gutsier than most superhero films and TV shows, Damon Lindelof's Watchmen miniseries continues interrogating the idea of powerful masked vigilantes to explore institutionalized racism, America's history of anti-Black violence, and even the phenomenon of white supremacy in "nerd culture" fandom. It's an incendiary take on a genre that's all-too-often reduced to mindless fantasy action, and it never tries to beat other properties at their own game—relying on constantly building intrigue and fantastic characters to tell its story.
But even if you're not familiar with the original Watchmen story, the series should have enough style and intricate plotting for everybody. A pulsating musical score from Trent Reznor and Atticus Ross; gritty (but not flavorless) art direction; and powerful performances from Regina King, Tim Blake Nelson, and Jean Smart, among others complete this vision of a nation plunged into chaos due to collective unresolved trauma. All this makes for viewing that's never difficult, but demands trust and attention even as the story branches off to places that seem at odds with itself. How often can you say that about a superhero story these days?Genre: Action & Adventure, Crime, Drama, Mystery, Sci-Fi & Fantasy
Actor: Jeremy Irons, Regina King, Sara Vickers, Tom Mison, Yahya Abdul-Mateen II
Rating: TV-MA

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10. Star Trek: Strange New Worlds, 2023

After struggling to recapture the magic of the first few Star Trek series for the better part of two decades, the franchise has finally returned to its original formula of self-contained space adventures, progressive politics, and an unabashedly hopeful tone—all to magnificent results. Strange New Worlds is classic Trek in every sense: from its truly out-there, '60s-style sci-fi stories; to its warm sense of humor; to its welcome focus on sentiment and emotion even amid large battles and dangerous situations. The series accomplishes all of this while keeping every member of its crew unique and charismatic, crafting powerful character moments for them even in the thick of things—elevated by uniformly brilliant performances from its cast, led by a commanding Anson Mount. It's Star Trek for old and new fans alike, and a great reminder of the distinct strengths of episodic TV.

Genre: Action & Adventure, Drama, Sci-Fi & Fantasy, Science Fiction

Actor: Anson Mount, Babs Olusanmokun, Celia Rose Gooding, Christina Chong, Ethan Peck, Jess Bush, Melissa Navia, Rebecca Romijn

11. Samurai Jack, 2017

It's a miracle that an animated series like Samurai Jack was ever made—much less allowed to endure—on a children's network: barely any dialogue, action that approaches the realm of the avant-garde, and storytelling that doesn't rely on jokes or moral lessons. For its first four seasons that aired from 2001 to 2003, it barely had a plot to speak of either, becoming a Sisyphean series of adventures through an increasingly strange universe that only emphasized Jack's determination to finish his greater mission. And the more that the titular samurai would face off against his stoic robot adversaries, the more visually expressive these fights would get, the show constantly finding new ways to communicate purely through gorgeous, minimalist animation.

Only in the show's unexpected fifth season (released much later in 2017) did Samurai Jack really commit to telling a story and developing the protagonist as an actual character—putting him through a crisis of faith and having him face his repeated failure through the show's previous seasons. The results weren't flawless, with a rushed conclusion and a romantic interest who never quite came into her own. But it would be difficult to overstate how ambitious this whole project was: a genuine sci-fi/fantasy epic that never compromised on its vision.

Genre: Action & Adventure, Animation, Sci-Fi & Fantasy, Western

Actor: Greg Baldwin, Grey DeLisle, Phil LaMarr, Tara Strong, Tom Kenny

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12. Primal, 2022

Disproving the notion that American animation is only for kids, the latest project from Genndy Tartakovsky (most known for Dexter's Laboratory and Samurai Jack) is an uncompromising action epic that puts most multimillion-dollar live-action blockbusters to shame. Though Tartakovsky has stated that Primal will continue on as an anthology series, the first two seasons tell a surprisingly character-driven story about a caveman and a mother Tyrannosaurus teaming up to survive in the prehistoric wild—with nearly zero dialogue.

It's a highly entertaining riff on the man vs. nature story that ends up creating a fleshed-out world full of monsters and magic and families destroyed by all this chaos. And this initial set-up only becomes stronger in its second season, as the warmongering nature of man becomes the real threat. It's all wrapped up in a beautiful technical package that makes a case for traditional (2-D) animation as a vital art form.

Genre: Action & Adventure, Animation, Drama, Fantasy

Actor: Aaron LaPlante, Braulio Castillo Jr., Famke Janssen, Isaac Santiago, Jeremy Nazario, Kevin Durand, LaMonica Garrett, Michael Imperioli, Nicolas Cage, Sewell Whitney, Tommy Walker

Director: Genndy Tartakovsky, Nick Powell

Rating: Not Rated

13. The Boys, 2020

From the producers of Superbad and Pineapple Express, stoner filmmakers Seth Rogen and Evan Goldberg, comes a deft deconstruction of the ubiquitous superhero genre on Amazon Prime. Based on the comic book of the same name by Garth Ennis and Darick Robertson, it is set in a world where god-like superheroes, or Supes, are recognized as heroes but are increasingly self-absorbed, arrogant, and corrupt underneath their flying capes. The best of them are called The Seven, aggressively marketed and monetized by the Vought Corporation, complete with Instagram likes, energy drink advertisements, and TV appearances. It all starts to slowly deteriorate when the girlfriend of Hughie Campbell (Jack Quaid) gets obliterated by A-Train (Jessie Usher), a super-fast hero modelled on Flash, galvanizing The Boys, a crazy normal-human vigilante group led by Butcher (Karl Urban, pictured above), who are sick and tired of the Supes and their corruption. This show packs a multitude of wacky characters, including Frenchie, our favorite, a hilarious and romantic French bomb expert. Don't forget to fasten your seatbelts because this is a fast-paced, mean-spirited bloodbath that is as wild as it is entertaining.
Genre: Action, Action & Adventure, Comedy
Actor: Antony Starr, Aya Cash, Colby Minifie, Dominique McElligott, Erin Moriarty, Jack Quaid, Jessie T. Usher, Karen Fukuhara, Karl Urban, Laz Alonso, Nathan Mitchell, Tomer Kapon
Rating: 16

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14. Scott Pilgrim Takes Off, 2023

Watching the trailers, and even the first ten minutes, Scott Pilgrim Takes Off just seems like a rehash of the prominent Edgar Wright film, especially since his cast reprise their roles in this new anime. However, when that episode ends, even the most ardent fans of both the film and the original comic book series would have no idea where this would go. It’s a fearless, daring approach, from the original creator Bryan Lee O'Malley, and it’s met with the wackiest, spectacular animation from Japanese animation studio Science SARU, remixing O’Malley’s designs with 8-bit, fighting video game action.

Genre: Action & Adventure, Animation, Comedy, Sci-Fi & Fantasy

Actor: Brie Larson, Ellen Wong, Kieran Culkin, Mary Elizabeth Winstead, Michael Cera

Rating: TV-MA

15. Flint Town, 2018

Since the 1960s, Flint, Michigan, has experienced a series of shocks. When General Motors downsized their workforce by several 10.000, the town's population nearly halved. Unsurprisingly, it later became known for being one of the most dangerous cities in the US and for off-the-charts crime statistics. Since 2014, Flint again rose to tragic fame for a public health emergency due to contamination of its local water supply. Flint Town homes in on this perpetual state of crisis through the eyes of the local police department, who had to grapple with this dire scenario, while losing more funding year over year due to the city's deteriorating financial situation. The few officers that are left for policing are at breaking point. The result is a gripping and rich docuseries with a host of strong characters. But it is also a brutal and sobering account of the extent to which an American city is being allowed to fail.
Genre: Action & Adventure, Crime, Documentary
Actor: James Tolbert, Karen Weaver, Wayne Suttles
Director: Drea Cooper, Jessica Dimmock, Zackary Canepari
Rating: TV-MA

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