The 26 best action movies you can watch on Netflix right now

“Back to the Future” (1985)

This classic is filled with machine gun-toting Libyans and a race to make it in time for a lightning storm that will keep you antsy (in a good way) the whole running time.

“Battle Royal” (2000)

In the future, kids are forced to an island and must kill one another until only one is left standing. The Japanese title has been hugely influential on genre filmmaking in the 2000s.

“Big Trouble In Little China” (1986)

Kurt Russell plays a truck driver who stumbles into an ancient war filled with magic and strange creatures in the '80s cult classic.

“Black Hawk Down” (2001)

Ridley Scott gives a thrilling look at the elite soldiers on a rescue mission who find themselves in a battle with Somalis.

“Beverly Hills Cop” (1984)

Eddie Murphy goes from funnyman to movie star in this action-comedy.

“Braveheart” (1995)

"Game of Thrones" certainly has some hardcore action, but this is the precursor to that hit show. Mel Gibson stars and directs in this Oscar winner that has some intense fight sequences.

“The Crow” (1994)

Brandon Lee's final performance is the one he'll be remembered for, playing an undead avenger of his and his fiancée's murder.

“Deep Impact” (1998)

1998 was the year of disaster movies. Along with "Armageddon," this large-rock-on-its-way-to-destroy-earth movie changed cinematic destruction forever. But this one has Morgan Freeman as POTUS.

“Everly” (2014)

Selma Hayek plays a woman who fights back in a major way after being kidnapped.

“The Fast and the Furious” (2001)

The movie that gave birth to one of the most unlikely franchises is still a thrilling watch 15 years after it was released. RIP Paul Walker.

“From Dusk Till Dawn” (1996)

Vampires want George Clooney. George Clooney (then a huge TV star thanks to "ER") wants to be a movie star so he fights vampires... with Quentin Tarantino.

“Gladiator” (2000)

Russell Crowe gives an Oscar-winning performance as a Roman general who is betrayed and must become a gladiator to avenge his family's murder. This is one of the rare sword-and-sandals movies that audiences have cared about in the 2000s.

“Hellboy” (2004)

Ron Perlman brings this edgy comic-book character to life thanks in large part to master filmmaker Guillermo del Toro.

“The Italian Job” (2003)

This remake of the 1969 Michael Caine movie stars Mark Wahlberg, Charlize Theron, and a whole bunch of Mini Coopers that are featured in a great chase sequence.

“Jaws” (1975)

Steven Spielberg's classic about a great white shark that terrorizes a small island community is always worth another watch. (Netflix also has the sequels if you want to dive into those, too, though view at your own risk.)

“Jurassic Park” (1993)

18 years after "Jaws," Spielberg delivers another career-defining action blockbuster, this time using groundbreaking computer graphics instead of a clunky robotic shark.

“The Killer” (1989)

Ever since John Woo released this incredible shoot-'em-up classic about a hitman (Chow Yun-Fat) who takes one last job hoping to use the money to restore the vision of a girl he accidentally blinded, directors have tried to imitate Woo's style. Few have succeeded.

“Killing Season” (2013)

You need to see Robert De Niro and a uniquely bearded John Travolta playing Bosnian War vets who fight each other in the woods. Trust me.

“Lethal Weapon” (1987)

Mel Gibson and Danny Glover basically created the buddy-cop genre in this action-packed movie that never gets old.

“Over the Top” (1987)

In one of Sylvester Stallone's most underrated action movies, he plays a trucker who tries to reconcile with his estranged son while also attempting to win the world arm wrestling championship. I'm not joking. This is a real movie.

“Raiders!: The Story of the Greatest Fan Film Ever Made”* (2015)

Three 12-year-old friends spent most of their teens in the 1980s trying to make a shot-for-shot remake of "Raiders of the Lost Ark." Now as adults they try to finish it. If you love Indiana Jones, you must watch this.

*Available September 16

“Super” (2010)

It's the movie that led director James Gunn to make "Guardians of the Galaxy." Rainn Wilson ("The Office") plays a regular guy who becomes a "superhero" after his wife spirals back into drug addiction.

“Swordfish” (2001)

Hugh Jackman plays a hacker who is enlisted to help Gabriel, the head of a counter-terrorist group (played by John Travolta). But it turns out Gabriel has devious ideas.

“Top Gun” (1986)

I mean, the title and the image say it all. Tom Cruise. Fighter jets. America.

“Trollhunter” (2010)

This great found-footage thriller follows a group investigating bear killings. They discover that giant trolls live among us.