Action is such a fun genre because there is nothing like taking a back seat, being the laziest person possible and seeing other people perform at peak athletic performance. In the following suspenseful action thriller movies, it is not just about fighting. It is about uncovering something, whether that is done through humour, dream sequences or deeply subversive social commentary. Moreover, it is fun to see a bunch of people commit violence, destroy public property and be altogether destructive.
Adding to that, sometimes we get such emotional performances from the cast members that it only makes sense to include them because action thrillers can be anything they want, as long as there are some incredibly well-choreographed fight sequences. In the following sequences, it is not just about physical combat all the time, but also some heady concepts which make their viewing experience even better. So without any further ado, check out those films below.
Suspenseful Action Thriller Movies
The Gray Man
Yes, yes, we’re starting off controversial because anybody else can hate on this film, but for this writer, the humour and the character dynamics were so interesting that it made the film even more interesting. Moreover, Ryan Gosling, Chris Evans, Ana De Armas and Regé-Jean Page have such crazy lines and vibes that it would be criminal, not to mention how their performances bring the film to life. Additionally, the whole trope of an agent leaving his position to do the right thing doesn’t get old, especially when they’re also tired.
This film is currently streaming on Netflix.
Inception
Going full 180 on the aforementioned film, this is a widely liked film starring Leonardo DiCaprio, Joseph Gordon Levitt, Cillian Murphy and others. While Nolan always makes a point to leave audiences gawking by the end of his films, this one did more than that. It gave everyone a stunning existential crisis making them wonder if their life is even real. Given this kind of thriller, though, one would think it is psychological, but this is more a heist movie than anything else. Stealing, fighting and betrayal take the cake in this film.
This film is currently streaming on Netflix.
Minority Report
Predicting crimes must be such a fun job because so many people can be prevented from dying. However, if you’re the police, it becomes a problem. This is a full-on human rights-like action movie featuring Tom Cruise, Samantha Morton, and Colin Ferrell is such a fun ride. It is an emotional roller-coaster in a dystopic future. Amazingly, there are moments of emotion, action and sweet, sweet betrayal. Additionally, all the chase sequences in this film are absolutely brilliant. They give urgency and make people feel like things could go terribly wrong.
This film is available to rent on iTunes.
Ready Player One
Science fiction, animation and live-action are so hard to work in together, but this film does that so well. Even though the protagonists are a couple of teenagers, they understand the game and its creator well enough to work on winning the larger prize. It is incredibly fascinating to see the crew burrowing through the trenches of an algorithm to figure out secrets while also keeping the mood light and cheery. There are moments where the whole thing feels incredibly dystopic, but the fact that the normality is so high it makes sense with the movie.
This film is currently available to rent on Amazon Prime Video.
Also Read: 7 Gangster Thrillers That’ll Keep You on the Edge of Your Seats Throughout
Bullet Train
A full-on movie in a single narrow setting has to be a feat because this movie is so exciting and catchy without having widespread chase sequences or fancy locations (unless the bullet train is counted). Moreover, the movie never got boring. There was always something or the other coming in to make the scene light up, whether that be the character reveal or a new obstacle coming in on the road. Talk about unlikely partnerships and friends, the suspense level in this film is so high until it is brought down in the end with some insane cameos.
Starring Brad Pitt, Aaron Taylor-Johnson, Brian Tyree Henry and others, this film is currently streaming on Netflix.
Edge of Tomorrow
Time travel is cool, but what about a time loop? This film is amazing for that reason itself because every time the main character dies, the timeline resets itself. Tom Cruise, Emily Blunt, Bill Paxton and others come together to fight against the alien species taking over in this film. However, there is a twist in the film that makes the whole thing so worth it that the movie can stand on the legs of being a full-on sci-fi mind-boggling movie, but add the right sequences and the whole thing changes.
This film is currently streaming on Netflix.
Bodies Bodies Bodies
It is always fun to see teenagers doing dumb things, but if you take that up a notch and add some desperation, you get this movie. Filled with tension, suspense and violence, it is not just about the killings but about the ridiculousness of the Gen Z population, the over-intellectualisation of the mundane and some drama and gossip that gets out of hand when friends get together. Funnily enough, this whole movie becomes a cautionary tale on what it is like when you decide to continue hanging out with people who you don’t get along with.
Starring Pete Davidson, Amandla Stenberg, Rachel Sennott and others, this film is currently streaming on Netflix.
The Man from U.N.C.L.E.
The Cold War was a weird time for everyone, but especially for the Americans and Russians. Talk about an enemies-to-bromance pipeline because the dynamic in this film is absolutely golden. There are so many obstacles in their way, and these two opposing CIA and KGB agents working together to stop a bigger threat (Spoiler Alert: They’re Nazis), is such a hilarious premise that even within the film, it becomes a big joke. Starring Henry Cavill, Armie Hammer, Elizabeth Debicki and others, this film manages to bring action, humour, adventure and fun all together.
This film is currently available to rent on Amazon Prime Video and iTunes.
Which of the films mentioned above is your favourite? Which ones have we missed? Let us know in the comments below.