Not every secret agent in the world of cinema wears a tuxedo, enjoys martinis, and says their name as their catchphrase. This list of movie spies not named Bond are still pretty awesome though, and some of them are actual fixtures in the landscape of the James Bond movies! 

Austin Powers (Austin Powers)

Britain’s shagadelic man out of time knows a thing or two about fighting maniacs with a doctorate in evil. Mike Myers’ titular hero of the Austin Powers movies is a pretty awesome parody of 007, while also standing as a fantastic example of what a man of mystery should be.

Ilsa Faust (Mission: Impossible)

In the later run of Mission: Impossible movies, the introduction of Rebecca Ferguson’s Ilsa Faust gave the world a female spy as steadfast as Ethan Hunt (Tom Cruise) himself. Introduced in Rogue Nation, with an unfortunate departure after Dead Reckoning, Ilsa’s loyalties may have been in question, but her skills never were.

Napoleon Solo (The Man From U.N.C.L.E.)

Leave it to Henry Cavill to land a sort of backdoor James Bond audition by playing another creation that owes its life to Ian Fleming. As Napoleon Solo in Guy Ritchie’s The Man from U.N.C.L.E., the former Casino Royale hopeful found a stylishly comic role that proves why he could be Bond…if we didn’t want to see more of his Solo in action! 

Nomi (No Time To Die)

Not everybody gets to be called 007, but one of the two people that have had that distinction in No Time To Die was the agent we call Nomi (Lashana Lynch). The successor to James Bond (Daniel Craig) during his temporary retirement, her skills made even Commander Bond himself proud to observe; making them an effective team in the field.

Harry Hart (Kingsman: The Secret Service)

Manners maketh man, and Harry Hart (Colin Firth) is a firm reminder of the Kingsman oath in action. Charming and sophisticated, he mentors young Eggsy (Taron Egerton) in the ways of modern spycraft, with a patience that any parent would raise a glass to. Though when he has to stir the pot, Harry knows how to get exactly the reaction he’s hoping for, and nothing less. 

Olivia ‘M’ Mansfield (James Bond)

Not all spies leave the desk, but the woman known as M (Dame Judi Dench) has certainly proven why she ascended to the role of James Bond’s maternally-natured boss. Revealed to be named Olivia Mansfield during Spectre’s twisted adventure, her service to England is as invaluable as the blunt instrument she wields with calculated concern.

George Smiley (Tinker Tailor Soldier Spy)

Most people would never return to work after being unceremoniously forced out during a regime change. But then again, not everyone is John Le Carre’s legendary George Smiley (Gary Oldman), the lead of the espionage ensemble film Tinker Tailor Soldier Spy. With a close-knit group of friends and a calculating mind, George helps oust a traitor and put himself back in the game with high class.

Natasha Romanoff (Black Widow)

One of, if not the best spy in the Marvel Cinematic Universe, Natasha Romanoff (Scarlett Johansson) knows when to take people down and when to give them a talking to. Revisiting her solo antics in Black Widow shows just how cool of a spy she is…and her love of Moonraker kind of explains her use of wit and levity in the field. 

Nathan Muir (Spy Game)

Aspiring spies could learn a thing or two from Spy Game’s Nathan Muir. Played by the legendary Robert Redford, this Tony Scott-directed hero shows strength under pressure, as he works against a ticking clock that could kill his former student (Brad Pitt). His lesson on obtaining information through mere conversation is enough to put him on this list.

Major Anya Amasova (The Spy Who Loved Me)

One of the many James Bond women who are 007’s equal, The Spy Who Loved Me’s Major Anya Amasova (Barbara Bach) is a KGB agent who knows how to get under the skin of the good Commander. Luckily for Mr. Bond, the good major really is interested in preserving peaceful relations by foiling a crazed shipping magnate (Curt Jurgens) and his plot for world domination.

Harry Palmer (The Ipcress File)

Technically, Michael Caine’s heroic spy in The Ipcress File doesn’t have an official name. But most seem to agree that Harry Palmer is the closest thing we’ve got to an actual moniker for author Len Deighton’s answer to James Bond. A working-class gourmand who’s rough around the edges, Harry is the sort of guy that can handle pretty much anything you throw at him; even severely psychedelic brainwashing techniques.

Lorraine Broughton (Atomic Blonde)

The Cold War has its fair share of espionage heroes, and Atomic Blonde’s Lorraine Broughton (Charlize Theron) just might be one of the most brutal. Then again, one can’t be “too effective” in sealing a leak that could expose double agents vital to East/West relations, just as the Berlin Wall is set to come down. 

Ethan Hunt (Mission: Impossible)

 Ethan Hunt (Tom Cruise) is an expert on having his back against the wall. What separates him from most spies is that when the chips are down, he isn’t afraid to scale the wall and dive into some ridiculous stunt to escape. It’s what makes the Mission: Impossible franchise a consistent hit among its fans, and it’s one of the many skills Ethan possesses that have saved humanity over so many missions. 

Eve Moneypenny (Skyfall)

Breaking the mold of what the Moneypenny character typically represents, Naomie Harris’ variant during the reign of Daniel Craig’s James Bond showed the future right hand to M (Ralph Fiennes) as a capable field agent. Reintroduced in Skyfall, one can only hope that the future of the Bond franchise keeps this action-ready Ms. Moneypenny in the mix for years to come.

Jack Ryan (The Ryanverse)

In the Marvel movies, Steve Rogers is the ultimate boy scout who believes in due process, and justice above all. However, in Tom Clancy’s Ryanverse, analyst Jack Ryan personifies that ethos without a hint of super soldier powers at his disposal. No matter which actor you prefer in the role, at his best Mr. Ryan is someone who will get the intel, and wade into action to deliver it if he has to. 

Yelena Belova (Black Widow)

As headstrong as her sister Natasha Romanoff, Yelena Belova (Florence Pugh) is another well-trained “Widow” who rebelled against the system that created her. Black Widow offered her character a fantastic platform to launch from, as her place in the MCU has been well enforced with films like Thunderbolts* and series such as Hawkeye giving her more time to shine while avenging her fallen sibling. 

Courtland Gentry (The Gray Man)

Ryan Gosling’s charm truly knows no boundaries, and Netflix’s would-be franchise starter The Gray Man still has us wanting more. An expert assassin being chased around the world, author Mark Greaney’s Courtland “Court” Gentry character is as quick with his trigger finger as he is with his quips. Don’t worry: if he doesn’t like you, he’ll tell you before the next explosion goes off.

Paloma (No Time To Die)

No Time To Die’s fresh CIA agent Paloma (Ana de Armas) only had three weeks of training before she jumped into action with James Bond (Daniel Craig). Those three weeks definitely paid off though, as her assistance in breaking up a SPECTRE party gone horribly wrong helped 007 stay alive, at least for that evening. 

Harry & Helen Tasker (True Lies)

At the start of True Lies, Harry Tasker (Arnold Schwarzenegger) is a lone clandestine agent who is having problems at home with his wife Helen (Jamie Lee Curtis). But by the time the two of them foiled an international terror plot together, they became quite the team. It’s never too late for a sequel, Mr. Cameron. 

Gary "Eggsy" Unwin (Kingsman)

Gary Unwin (Taron Egerton) was a rough around-the-edges delinquent who ultimately wanted to do right by his family legacy. Through his adventures in the Kingsman movies, the young man known as “Eggsy” grew up to become a paragon of spying, thanks to the tutelage of the stoic but friendly Harry Hart (Colin Firth). 

Ilya Kuryakin (The Man From U.N.C.L.E.)

Ilya Kuryakin (Armie Hammer) is a hothead who’ll tear down an entire bathroom if you bad mouth his already tarnished family legacy. But he’s also quite a good friend to have in a pinch, especially when the pinch is smuggling nuclear arms. This Russian wrecking machine has his soft spots, but he’s loyal to the cause, and the friends he serves. 

Melina Vostokoff (Black Widow)

Sometimes the responsibilities of being a spy and a parent are equally matched in difficulty. But never once does anyone question the abilities of Melina Vostokoff (Rachel Weisz) to handle either side of that coin. A brilliant scientist, despite her initial allegiance presented, 

Evelyn Salt (Salt)

Both in the interest of clearing her own name, and also preventing a devastating attack on the American political infrastructure, Salt’s main spy Evelyn (Angelina Jolie) is someone who could give Tom Cruise’s Ethan Hunt a run for his money. That much is especially true when considering how she neutralizes the threat at the heart of this would-be franchise starter.

Luther Stickell (Mission: Impossible)

Though Luther Stickell (Ving Rhames) is technically an IMF field agent in the Mission: Impossible movies, his specialty is as a “man in the chair.” A formerly disavowed operative who was enlisted by Ethan Hunt (Tom Cruise) to execute the “Mount Everest of hacks,” Luther became more than the flavor of the month; he became one of the most loyal and resourceful people in Ethan’s life.

Agent 99 (Get Smart)

Maxwell Smart (Steve Carell) would never have survived his tangle with KAOS if it wasn’t for the skills of Agent 99 (Anne Hathaway). One of CONTROL’s star players, her tradecraft made Max a better agent, while also allowing Ms. Hathaway to display her deadpan comedy chops all throughout the movie adaptation of Get Smart. 

John Clark (Without Remorse)

If Jack Ryan is the Captain America of Tom Clancy’s Ryanverse franchise, then Without Remorse’s John Clark (Michael B. Jordan) is The Punisher of that same series. Losing his wife and unborn child to a tragic case of operational blowback, Clark survives to become an avenging angel of righteousness; while also forming the Rainbow Six organization to combat international acts of terror.

One (6 Underground)

With a character name like Magnet S. Johnson (Ryan Reynolds), it’s kind of hard not to root for the head of 6 Underground’s undercover network of do-gooders. Though it definitely helps that he’s got some impressive weapons training and infiltration skills, as well as the cool codename of “One,” seeing as he’s the leader of the entire outfit. 

Celia Harrison-Favreau (All The Old Knives)

Celia Harrison-Favreau (Thandiwe Newton) is a spy who seems to have studied at the George Smiley School of Mole Hunting. Exposing the nefarious party at the heart of a terrorist attack that’s reopened for investigation almost a decade after it occurred, all it took was one dinner for her to identify and neutralize All The Old Knives’ surprising traitor.

Gregorio and Ingrid Cortez (Spy Kids)

Spy Kids’ Gregorio and Ingrid Cortez (Antonio Banderas and Carla Gugino) are one of those movie couples you’d love to watch, even if they weren’t spies. However, when Robert Rodriguez’s family classic rounded out the ranks with their equally impressive kids (Daryl Sabara and Alexa PenaVega), the argument for how perfect this couple was became even stronger.

Sarah (Operation Fortune: Ruse de Guerre)

It takes a special kind of person to stand up to someone like Jason Statham, no matter what character he may be playing. So when Operation Fortune: Ruse de Guerre made it the job of Aubrey Plaza’s Sarah to bust his chops to the fullest extent, it was a dream-given form. Ms. Plaza’s character is also a fantastic hacker and a great field operative who keeps even the most neurotic action star (Josh Hartnett) mission-ready. 

Derek Flint (Our Man Flint)

Much like James Bond, Derek Flint (James Coburn) loves retirement. At least, that was until  Z.O.W.I.E. brought him out at the beginning of Our Man Flint. A master linguist and inventor, on top of being an expert spy, Mr, Flint helped write the blueprint for Austin Powers to pick up during his time in the pop culture sun. 

Matt Helm (The Silencers)

Dean Martin has always been known as the king of cool, so you can see exactly why he’d lead the cinematic adaptation of author Donald Hamilton’s books. While able to carry himself with distinction in the field, Matt Helm knows when to crack a joke; especially when Frank Sinatra comes on the radio.

There are a lot of comic publishers out there, and some really great movies have been adapted from their works. While the film and TV world may be dominated mostly by two companies, Marvel and DC, these movies hold their own against any movie adapted from the Big Two. Here are 32 great examples of movies adapted from comic books that aren't Marvel or DC. 

Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles

When Kevin Eastman and Peter Laird first conceived and published the first Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles comic book for Mirage Studios, they never could've foreseen the wild success of the media franchise the book turned into. The original indie comic, first hitting shelves in 1984 was dark, and all in black and white. Still, it was an underground hit that soon moved into the streets as a phenomenon. 

Hellboy

2004's Hellboy, based on the Dark Horse Comics book by the same name, is one of the most beloved comic book movies of all time, especially one not adapted from a Marvel or DC story. Starring Ron Pearlman as the titular character and directed by Guillermo del Toro, the movie was a big enough hit to spawn a sequel in 2009. Sadly, a third movie completed the trilogy never got off the ground, and a more recent attempt to reboot the series bombed in 2019. 

Scott Pilgrim vs. The World

During its initial run in theaters, Scott Pilgrim vs. The World, starring Michael Cera as Pilgrim, was a disappointment. As testament to the original material, a series published by Oni Press, the movie quickly gained cult status and today has fans all over the world. 

Sin City

Creator Frank Miller is a legend in the comic book industry. His first hits came working for DC, but after building his reputation, he struck out from DC and began releasing his books through Dark Horse. One of those, Sin City, was a huge success and led to the film adaptation with an all-star cast in 2005. 

Dredd

Judge Dredd is one of the most popular comic book anti-heroes outside of Marvel and DC. The series he comes from 2000 AD, first published in 1977 by IPC Magazines, was a hit and two movie adaptations based on the dystopian future cop have been made. The first, 1995 Judge Dredd starring Sylvester Stallone, is not all that great, but the second, 2012 Dredd starring The Boys star Karl Urban, is excellent. 

The Crow

1994's The Crow is sadly remembered for the on-set fatality of its star, Brandon Lee, and fewer people recognize that it was adapted from a comic book series published by Caliber Comics. Three more sequels have also been produced and in 2024, 30 years after The Crow's release, the series was rebooted on film. 

300

Dark Horse publishing has turned itself into a comic book publishing force in the last 40 years and one of the biggest reasons why is the work of artist and writer Frank Miller. His 300, adapted in 2006 and starring Gerard Butler, was a huge hit with director Zach Snyder earning praise for the style of the film, which was very much in keeping with its origins as a comic. 

Weird Science

Okay, pardon the pun, but this is a weird one. John Hughes' 1985 teen comedy classic Weird Science was actually loosely based on a comic book. Weird Science comics, published by EC Magazines in the early '50s only ran for 22 issues, but one "Made of the Future" by Al Feldstein, told the story of a man who creates a woman from a computer. Wild. 

Spawn

Todd McFarlane's Image Comics is the third largest publisher in the comic book world and you can count Spawn as a major reason why. The movie adaptation in 1997 of the same name wasn't a big hit, but the comics will always be classics. 

Men In Black

Aircel Comics was eventually swallowed up by Marvel in the 1990s, but before that happened, it published five issues of its Men In Black series. Once the series was adapted for the first time in 1997 (after Marvel owned it), it would become one of the biggest franchises of the last three decades. 

The Kingsman Series

The publishing history of the Kingsman series is a little convoluted. It does involve Marvel, but Image Comics and Dark Horse have also published books, so we're going to fudge a little here because it's such a fun franchise, both in print on the big screen, we had to include it. 

Heavy Metal

1981's Heavy Metal directed by Ivan Reitman is one of the best animated movies for adults ever made. It was adapted using stories from the legendary Heavy Metal magazine that ran for nearly 50 years before ending in 2023. 

Atomic Blonde

2016's Atomic Blonde, a Cold War-era spy thriller was adapted from a character in a comic book called The Coldest City by Antony Johnston, first published by Oni Press in 2012. The movie, starring Charlize Theron, was a critical success and performed modestly at the box office. 

Timecop

As Jean-Claude Van Damme movies go, Timecop is pretty decent. Released in 1994 and based on a comic book of the same name from Dark Horse, it was a successful hit and launched a moderate franchise with a short-lived TV show and a straight-to-video sequel. 

The Killer

2023's The Killer, directed by David Fincher and starring Michael Fassbender was based on a long-running French comic by the same name. The first volume, published in 1998, led to many more over the years before Netflix commissioned the movie. 

Dıck Tracy

So this entry is a bit of a stretch, because Dick Tracy was technically a comic strip first, though the character has appeared in comic books since the 1930s. The first adaptation of the hard-boiled detective was a radio show, also in the '30s. In 1990 Warren Beatty adapted the character for the big screen to big office success. 

Sabrina the Teenage Witch

The most famous adaptation of the Archie Comics' Sabrina The Teen Age Witch was the TV show starring Melissa Joan Hart as the titular spell caster. The show started as a made-for-TV movie starring Hart and Ryan Reynolds in one of his earliest roles. It aired first aired on Showtime in 1996 before moving to ABC as a TV show later that year. The show ran for seven successful seasons. 

The Rocketeer

Years before Disney reached the dizzying heights of the Avengers movies, the House of Mouse tried to find a hit with The Rocketeer. Based on the 1981 comic of the same name, with a character that paid homage to the heroes of the 1930s. Sadly, the movie was a commercial failure, but fans of the movie still praise it to this day. 

Flash Gordon

The character Flash Gordon first hit American newspapers as a comic strip in the 1930s. Over the years, stories of the space-traveling hero have been adapted into every medium imaginable, including serial movies in the 1930s, novels, radio shows, a TV show, a musical, and of course, comic books. The 1980 movie is a wonderfully bizarre adaptation that quickly gained a cult following.

Oldboy

Japanese magazine Futabasha started publishing the serialized story Old Boy in the late '90s and in 2003 Park Chan-wook-directed a phenomenal adaptation in South Korea. It's a dark story, as Japanese magna often is, but it's fantastic. A less-well-received remake by Spike Lee in 2013 isn't as good. 

Tank Girl

In one of the most notorious examples of a movie failing to live up to the expectations of fans, 1995's Tank Girl starring Lori Petty was a commercial and critical failure. Fans hated the movie as they did not think it carried the spirit of the character. The comic, first published by Deadline in the UK, continues to be very popular with fans well into the 21st Century. 

Mystery Men

1999's Mystery Men bombed at the box office and that's really too bad because it's really a fun movie. Based on the surrealist comic Flaming Carrot Comics, it featured an all-star cast as superhero rejects and has-beens that come together to fight evil. It's funny, and sweet, and really much better than its box office receipts show. 

Akira

There is no more famous and popular anime than Akira. The original 1988 film was based on a manga first published in Weekly Young Magazine in Japan, then later imported to the US by Marvel. Akira is one of the most surprising examples of an enduring property that somehow hasn't become one of the biggest franchises on earth.  

The Mask

Sometimes it seems like people forget just how huge 1995's The Mask really was. It made over ten times over its budget in theaters and solidified Jim Carrey as one of the biggest stars in Hollywood. For almost 25 years, that made it the most profitable comic book movie of all time until it was surpassed in 2019 by The Joker. It was also a great example of a comic book adaptation, as it was based on the 1991 comic of the same name printed by Dark Horse. 

Ghost World

Maybe the most surprising movie on this list is Ghost World. The 2001 movie doesn't feel like a comic book movie, but it was adapted from the cult classic comic of the same name. First published as a serialized story in Fantagraphics' Eightball, the movie didn't find an audience at first, but was lauded by critics and even got an Oscar nomination for best-adapted screenplay. It's since found its audience and is considered a cult classic. 

The Old Guard

Images Comics first published The Old Guard in 2017 and just three short years later, Netflix produced a movie based on it. Charlize Theron and Chiwetel Ejiofor lead a stellar cast in the movie that critics and fans loved setting it up for a sequel. 

Cowboys & Aliens

Platinum Studios is a fairly new comic book publisher whose work Cowboys & Aliens is the first movie adaptation of their characters. The movie, starring Daniel Craig and Harrison Ford was a commercial flop, but it's not the worst movie on this list and some critics praised it. 

Shortcomings

Rom-coms are not the genre you ever expect to be adaptations of comic books, but 2023's Shortcomings is just that. It's a movie that flew under the radar upon its release, but all you have to do is look at the reviews and see how that's too bad. It's a very well-made movie with enough "from" and "com," and ever drama, to make it worth a watch. It was adapted from a graphic novel of the same name, first published in 2007 by Optic Nerve Comics.

Robot Dreams

2023's Robot Dreams is a unique movie, based on a unique graphic novel. There is no dialog in either. Both, however, are a masterclass in wordless storytelling. The original book was published in 2007 to universal acclaim. It was even one of Oprah Winfrey's Book Club picks.

Extraction

Extraction is loosely based on Ciudad by graphic artist Ande Parks along with the Avengers: End Game directors the Russo Brothers, plus Fernando León González, and Eric Skillman. who also directed the film. The book was released in 2014 with the intention of turning into a movie, which happened in 2020 with Chris Hemsworth starring. 

Wanted

It's a bit surprising that Wanted, released in 2008 and starring Angelina Jolie, hasn't had a sequel. It was a success at the box office and has a lot of fans. Some of those fans go back to the original comic book, which was published as a limited series by Top Cow Productions, part of Image. 

From Hell

Alan Moore is one of the most revered comic book authors of all time. Many of his books have been adapted, including The Watchman, The League of Extraordinary Gentlemen, and V is for Vendetta. All of those, however, were published by DC. A fourth adaption, actually the first, From Hell was based on a series published by Top Shelf Productions starting in 1989. It stars Johnny Depp Jack The Ripper investigator Frederick Abberline and tells the story of the investigation of those murders. 

In 2017, one of Charlize Theron’s best movies, and one of the best action movies in general, arrived in the form of Atomic Blonde, which was set before the fall of the Berlin Wall and saw the actress playing a spy sent to retrieve a stolen list of intelligence agents active in Berlin. The movie was met with a lot of positive critical reception, including the 3.5 out of 5 score from CinemaBlend’s Atomic Blonde review, and by April 201, Theron said a sequel was in development. However, there have been few updates on Atomic Blonde 2 since then, and writer Kurt Johnstad shared his hope of how many sequels are ultimately made while talking with CinemaBlend about why working on that first movie was so “special” to him.

While the majority of my recent interview with Johnstad was centered around his new movie Rebel Moon: Part Two - The Scargiver, which is now playing to Netflix subscribers on the 2024 release schedule, I capped off our conversation by asking him where things stand on Atomic Blonde 2, noting how the sequel has also been set up at Netflix for a while now.

Johnstad informed me that he hasn’t been “brought in” on that project and that Charlize Theron’s production company Denver & Delilah Productions Inc. “control” it, so it’s possible “they may have gone to another writer, they may have a draft,” he’s just not sure. But he explained that when he was writing the first movie, he always had a clear vision in mind for what he wanted a series of movies to look like.

While Atomic Blonde was a theatrical release, Atomic Blonde 2 has been slated as a Netflix project since 2020, which is fitting since Charlize Theron has worked with the streamer on The Old Guard, The School for Good and Evil and the upcoming The Old Guard 2 (which still doesn’t have a release date). However, the last major update on Atomic Blonde 2 came back in December 2022, when producer Kelly McCormick said that “some of the delay” stemmed from wanting to ensure the sequel is done “right.” Evidently that’s still where things stand with it, but Kurt Johnstad is still hopeful that Atomic Blonde 2 and even a hypothetical Atomic Blonde 3 are made someday, and he’s willing to come aboard to lend assistance if necessary.

As for the first movie, Johnstad went over how much that script means to him, and how director David Leitch, who’d made his directorial debut alongside Chad Stahelski with 2014’s John Wick, was instantly game to helm Atomic Blonde. As the writer recalled:

Charlize Theron was joined in Atomic Blonde by James McAvoy, Til Schweiger, Eddie Marsan and Sofia Boutella, among others. In addition to the positive reception, the movie also did pretty for itself commercially, making $100 million worldwide off a $30 million budget. It’s hard to say at this point if Atomic Blonde 2 will ever see the light of day, but even if it doesn’t, at least that first movie remains an entertaining watch on its own.

In addition to The Old Guard 2, Charlize Theron also has Fast XI coming up on April 4, 2025. For those of you interested in Kurt Johnstad’s work on Rebel Moon: Part Two, read what he had to tell me about where things on Part Three stand, as well as his breakdown of The Scargiver’s major deaths and what’s next for the characters Kora and Balisarius.

If you grew up anytime from the 1950s to the 1980s, The Cold War was omnipresent. Bomb drills, proxy wars, and fear of a nuclear apocalypse were on everyone's minds, pretty much all the time. It was a scary time, to be sure, but it also produced some great movies. This is a list of all those great movies that couldn't have happened without The Cold War and the fear of the Soviets. 

The Hunt For Red October

Nothing sums up the Cold War quite like a good Tom Clancy story, and The Hunt For Red October is one of the author's best, and Sean Connery's performance as a Soviet submarine captain equals it. It was also the first book to get turned into a film, though it was ironically released in 1990, just months after the fall of the Berlin Wall and the end of the Cold War.

Oppenheimer

While 2023's Oppenheimer is partly about the development of the bomb during World War II, before the Cold War, the portrayal of the Red Scare and J. Robert Oppenheimer (Cillian Murphy) having his security clearance taken away for being a suspected communist fits firmly in the Cold War era. 

The Spy Who Loved Me

In a way, almost every James Bond movie from Dr. No to A View To A Kill is Cold War adjacent, at least. In The Spy Who Loved Me, however, Bond (Roger Moore) is pursued by Soviet agents in the beginning, and then teams up with a KGB agent, Major Anya Amasova (Barbara Bach) to thwart the evil Stromberg's plans for world domination over both countries. 

Bridge Of Spies

There is no more true example of a Cold War movie on this list than Bridge Of Spies. For starters, it's based on a true story about a prisoner exchange between the US and the USSR, including one very famous U-2 pilot Francis Gary Powers (Austin Stowell). The movie takes place during one of the "hottest" moments of the Cold War, when tensions were almost boiling over. 

WarGames

By the 1980s, the Cold War was so ubiquitous in American life that even teen romance movies took place with the backdrop of potential nuclear war. WarGames, with Matthew Broderick and Ally Sheedy, is the best example of this, as Brodderick's character unwittingly almost starts World War III. 

Dr. Strangelove

Stanley Kubrick's masterpiece Dr. Strangelove or: How I Learned to Stop Worrying and Love the Bomb depicts the epitome of Cold War nuclear missile madness. The obscurity of it all is presented in such a perfect way, that if this had been the only Cold War movie, it would tell the whole story. 

The Right Stuff

There may not be any nukes in The Right Stuff, but it has to be on any list of Cold War movies. The space race was a major component of the competition between the USA and the USSR. the specter of the Soviets looms over everything in the movie, and the true story it is based on. 

Charlie Wilson's War

One of the biggest aspects of the Cold War was the proxy wars that the two superpowers fought and supported. The Soviets provided weapons and support for the North Vietnamese during the Vietnam War and the US supported the Afghan Mujahidin after the USSR invaded Afghanistan. Charlie Wilson's War shows the CIA's support and how Congress funded the US's allies in the war. 

Stripes

Cold War movies aren't all serious, though. Stripes has one of the best lines in the history of war movies, when Winger (Bill Murray) explains that invading Czechoslovakia is like invading Wisconsin. It's not Moscow! 

Red Dawn

Director John Milius' Cold War fever dream, Red Dawn, depicts an actual hot war between East and West, with nothing but a group of high schoolers fighting off the Russians and Cubans. It's a ridiculous movie, but it's still a classic for anyone who grew up in the 1980s. It's also remembered for being the first movie ever rated PG-13. 

By Dawn's Early Light

HBO's By Dawn's Early Light brings to bear all of our worst fears of a Soviet first strike in a nuclear attack and the holocaust that could happen after such an event. With an all-star cast that includes James Earl Jones, Martin Landau, Powers Boothe, Rebecca De Mornay, Darren McGavin, and Rip Torn, it's a much better movie than it's remembered for being. 

Gotcha!

1985 Gotcha! is a really fun movie about a college student (Anthony Edwards) who unwittingly finds himself in the middle of a Cold War dispute when he falls in love with who he thinks is a Czechoslovakian woman (Linda Fiorentino), but finds out later something very different. It also features a great scene at the infamous Checkpoint Charlie in a divided Berlin. 

Spies Like Us

Chevy Chase and Dan Aykroyd star as bumbling would-be spies in Spies Like Us who find themselves in the middle of the Cold War when the CIA sends them out as patsies, but they end up the heroes anyway. 

Thirteen Days

It's been said that the closest the USSR and the USA came to actually fighting a real war was during the Cuban Missile Crisis. It was a terrifying moment that was really well chronicled in Thirteen Days with Bruce Greenwood playing President Kennedy and Kevin Costner as one of his closest advisors. 

Good Night, And Good Luck

One of the more fascinating aspects of the Cold War didn't really involve the Russians directly. McCarthyism and the Red Scare of the 1950s show just how scared some American politicians were of the influence of communism around the world and at home. Good Night, And Good Luck brings the Red Scare to life on the big screen, explaining it to a younger generation that didn't remember it directly. 

Miracle

The geopolitics of the Cold War were so pervasive that they even reached sporting events, like the 1980 Winter Olympics. Miracle tells the true story of the underdog 1980 US Olympic hockey team who beat the mighty Soviets in Lake Placid, eventually winning the Gold Medal. It was much more than just a hockey game. 

Tinker Tailor Soldier Spy

Although most of the movies on this list involve the United States, in a very real way, Europe was the front line in the Cold War. The dividing line between East and West ran right down the middle of the continent and the Brits were very much involved in fighting the espionage battle, as depicted (fictionally) in Tinker Tailor Soldier Spy. 

The Shape Of Water

Guillermo del Toro's The Shape Of Water adds a love story and some science fiction to the commentary on the Cold War.  Sally Hawkins plays a cleaning lady who discovers that her facility is conducting experiments on a humanoid amphibian to get a leg up on the Soviets in the '60s. It's a weird movie, and one you wouldn't expect to incorporate the Cold War, but that's what makes the subject so fascinating. 

The Good Shepherd

Director Robert De Niro's spy movie The Good Shepherd, starring Matt Damon tells the largely fictionalize-but-based-on-a-true-story tale of Edward Wilson (Damon) and the creation of the art and science of counterintelligence at the CIA, which before the events in the movie, did not really exist. 

Crimson Tide

The Cold War reached right down to the men and women on the front of the conflict, especially those on a nuclear submarine like the one Gene Hackman's character captains in Crimson Tide. While the movie is fictional, it's not hard to believe something like it, a conflict between two officers (Hackman and Denzel Washington) over the launching nukes, could have happened in real life. 

Rocky IV

Rocky IV is pure, unadulterated pro-America jingoism, but that doesn't mean it's a bad movie. It's over-the-top and ridiculous, sure, but it actually does capture how many Americans felt in Reagan's America, that we had the Soviets on the ropes and we were one knockout punch away from winning. It turns out, that wasn't far off in 1985 when the movie came out. 

K-19: The Widowmaker

Harrison Ford plays a Soviet submarine captain in K-19: The Widowmaker and if you think that sounds ridiculous, you're only partly correct. The title, and a brief description, make the movie sound insane, and it is, but it's also kind of great. Ford pulls off the role and director Kathryn Bigelow someone makes the crazy premise work. It's the sort-of-true story of the captain of the first Soviet nuclear sub and it's fun, if far from perfect.  

Confessions Of A Dangerous Mind

Confessions Of A Dangerous Mind is a bonkers movie, supposedly based on the bonkers life story of Chuck Barris, the original host of The Gong Show and, at least according to him in his autobiography, a spy against the Soviets during the Cold War. Whether or not you believe Barris (most don't), the movie is a really fun watch. 

Spy Game

You can't go wrong with a team of Robert Redford, Brad Pitt, and director Tony Scott and while Spy Game isn't the best movie for any of them, it's still a wonderful movie. Though it's set a couple years after the Cold War ended, much of the movie happens in a flashback to 1970s East Berlin, setting it firmly in the heart of the quiet conflict. 

No Way Out

No Way Out is pure 1980s Cold War. Kevin Costner plays a Navy officer who gets involved with another officer's girlfriend, played by Gene Hackman and Sean Young, respectively. Costner's character is also working for the CIA, looking for a mole, who is suspected to be Hackman's character. There is a murder, and everyone is trying to pin it on everyone else, so the movie is kind of all over the place, but it's still a classic. 

The Spy Who Came In from the Cold

Author John le Carre wrote some of the best Cold War spy fiction of his day and the movie The Spy Who Came In from the Cold is based on one his best books. The great Richard Burton stars as a British spy who is sent to East Germany as a double agent, to help spread misinformation through the Warsaw Pact countries. Released in 1965 when tensions were high, it's a spy movie classic. 

Firefox

To be fair, Firefox, directed by and starring Clint Eastwood is really a heist movie disguised as a Cold War movie. Eastwood's character, whose mother is Russian, is charged with infiltrating the Soviet Union and stealing a cutting edge jet fighter plane. It's everything you would expect from a military movie made in the 1980s. 

Top Gun

In Top Gun Maverick and the boys might not have been fighting the Russians, but make no mistake, the movie was, in a real way, fighting the Russians by getting America fired up about its own military. The movie, made with the help of the Defense Department, is awesome, to be sure, but it's also a piece of serious Cold War propaganda. 

X-Men: First Class

The X-Men, both in the comics and in their on-screen story, began in the 1960s, at the height of the Cold War, so it makes sense that both sides would be interested in recruiting the mutants for their powers. This is central to the origin story film X-Men: First Class. Professor X and Magneto both go to work for the CIA in the movie, infiltrating the Soviet Union to rescue other mutants. 

Atomic Blonde

released in 2017, but set just before the collapse of the Berlin Wall, Atomic Blonde tells the story of an MI6 agent, played by Charlize Theron, sent to recover a stolen file containing "The List" of the names of all the spies in Berlin. Lorraine (Theron) is one of the best agents MI6 has... or is she?

Little Nikita

Decades before The Americans came Sidney Poitier and River Phoenix in Little Nikita, about a teenager (Phoenix) who is told he isn't who he thinks he is, and that his parents, unbeknownst to him, are Soviet spies raising him as an American. If you were a kid in the '80s, this was something you actually worried about. For real. 

The Man from U.N.C.L.E.

The TV show The Man from U.N.C.L.E. from the early '60s was an early attempt by television to bring Cold War espionage into the homes of Americans. The 2015 movie, set in the early '60s, doesn't set the Soviets as the bad guys, instead, East and West team up to take out their old foes, Nazis. 

Salt

Angelina Jolie stars in Salt as a suspected Russian sleeper agent, after she grew up in the USSR, but works now for the CIA. While it's not set during the Cold War, it has heavy Cold War overtones. It might as well be the US versus USSR, rather than the US vs. Russia as it's presented. 

It's safe to say that these won't be the final say on the Cold War on film. With so many stories to tell over the decades-long standoff, filmmakers will certainly continue to mine it for great ideas and exciting stories. 

An HBO Max subscription is going to give you access to some of the raciest and steamiest TV shows ever produced for television. That is well known. The streamer also has a ton of great steamy movies to watch if you're in the mood, and if you are, here is our list of the most sexually explicit movies on HBO Max. From steamy erotic thrillers to some of the biggest stars in the cinema, HBO has long been home to some of the spiciest content on TV. July was a quiet month for the streamer in terms of adding new movies to this list, but there are still plenty of options.

Marty Supreme (2025)

The Director: Josh Safdie

The Cast: Timothée Chalamet, Gwyneth Paltrow, Odessa A'zion

Based On: The Money Player: The Confessions of America's Greatest Table Tennis Champion and Hustler by Marty Reisman

What It’s About: Chalamet plays Marty, a man with a singular obsession to be the best table tennis player of all time. Well, that might not be his only obsession, as he finds time for relationships with women whom he shouldn't.

What To Expect: A tense, fast-paced movie that was nominated for multiple Academy Awards, including Best Picture and Best Actor for Chalamet. There are some very steamy scenes between Marty and his lovers, and some very cheeky comedy surrounding one of them.

• Stream Marty Supreme on HBO Max.

Pillion (2025)

The Director: Harry Lighton

The Cast: Alexander Skarsgård, Harry Melling

Based On: Box Hill by Adam Mars-Jones

What It’s About: A shy gay man who still lives with his parents enters into a lustful relationship with a biker (Skarsgård), and together they explore the world of BDSM.

What To Expect: The word "Pillion" is defined as the backseat of a motorcycle, so you see where this movie is going, with Skarsgård as the biker and the more experienced lover. It's been hailed as one of the great LGBTQ+ movies of the last decade. Coming to HBO Max on June 5.

• Stream Pillion on HBO Max.

Open Your Eyes (1997)

The Director: Alejandro Amenábar

The Cast: Penélope Cruz, Eduardo Noriega, Chete Lera

What It’s About: A harrowing story told through flashbacks and dream sequences, César (Eduardo Noriega) tells his story of how he came to be disfigured as reality and dreams collide, giving the audience a disjointed look at his past.

What To Expect: Open Your Eyes was remade later by Cameron Crowe and retitled Vanilla Sky, so if you know that movie, you'll be familiar with the story of this Spanish-language film. Penélope Cruz plays the same role here that she played in the Tom Cruise film from a few years later.

• Stream Open Your Eyes on HBO Max

Call Me By Your Name (2017)

The Director: Luca Guadagnino

The Cast: Timothée Chalamet, Armie Hammer, Michael Stuhlbarg

Based On: Call Me by Your Name by André Aciman

What It’s About: A young man falls madly in love with his father’s research assistant over the course of a summer spent together in Northern Italy.

What To Expect: Another Chalamet movie on this list, Call Me by Your Name is an emotionally stirring and visually stunning exploration of love, loss, and identity. It is a charming, albeit bittersweet, tale of romance. It’s exciting, endearing, and rather explicit at times.

• Stream Call Me by Your Name on HBO Max.

Portrait Of A Lady On Fire (2019)

The Director: Céline Sciamma

The Cast: Noémie Merlant, Adèle Haenel, Luàna Bajrami

What It’s About: An artist in 18th-century France is hired to paint a portrait of a wealthy aristocrat, only for the two women to start up a steamy and forbidden romance.

What To Expect: Portrait of a Lady on Fire is a passionate, intense, and unforgettable tale of hidden romance and subdued passions.

• Stream Portrait of a Lady on Fire on HBO Max.

Spring Breakers (2012)

The Director: Harmony Korine

The Cast: James Franco, Selena Gomez, Vanessa Hudgens, Ashley Benson, Rachel Korine

What It’s About: The spring break of a lifetime turns into a trip of nightmares when four friends befriend a local drug dealer who opens a world of debauchery and terror.

What To Expect: Korine is a master at making things very uncomfortable for the audience, and he does that again here.

• Stream Spring Breakers on HBO Max

The Shape Of Water (2017)

The Director: Guillermo del Toro

The Cast: Sally Hawkins, Doug Jones, Michael Shannon

What It’s About: A cleaning lady at a top-secret research facility has a chance encounter with a mysterious amphibian man, with whom she starts an unlikely yet highly impactful bond.

What To Expect: If you’ve ever wanted to see a Best Picture winner in which a woman and a sea monster get down to business, The Shape of Water is going to do the trick.

• Stream The Shape of Water on HBO Max.

Sinners (2025)

The Director: Ryan Coogler

The Cast: Michael B. Jordan, Hailee Steinfeld, Jack O’Connell

What It’s About: Returning home from Chicago, a pair of twins opens a juke joint in the Mississippi Delta, only to have their opening night crashed by a vicious vampire and his followers.

What To Expect: Easily one of the best horror movies of 2025, Sinners is an achievement in filmmaking. That said, it’s not without some highly sexualized moments.

• Stream Sinners on HBO Max.

Gia (1998)

The Director: Michael Cristofer

The Cast: Angelina Jolie, Elizabeth Mitchell, Faye Dunaway

What It’s About: The life and times of supermodel Gia Carangi (Jolie) are explored in great detail, as are her various romantic relationships, with a legendarily steamy one with Linda (Elizabeth Mitchell).

What To Expect: The biographical drama doesn’t hold back when it comes to the depictions of the model’s personal struggles, and can be too much for some viewers. Nothing is left on the table…

• Stream Gia on HBO Max.

The Substance (2024)

The Director: Coralie Fargeat

The Cast: Demi Moore, Margaret Qualley, Dennis Quaid

What It’s About: After being fired from her aerobics show (by her disgusting monster of a boss), an aging actress turns to a revolutionary service to be younger, fitter, and more appealing to the masses.

What To Expect: Coralie Fargeat’s The Substance, one of the angriest movies in years, is not only a great body horror story, but it’s also a biting critique of modern society.

• Stream The Substances on HBO Max.

One Battle After Another (2025)

The Director: Paul Thomas Anderson

The Cast: Leonardo DiCaprio, Teyana Taylor, Sean Penn

Based On: Vineland by Thomas Pynchon

What It’s About: Years after starting over, a washed-up former revolutionary is thrust back into a life of chaos when he learns that an old enemy is trying to capture and kill his teenage daughter.

What To Expect: Paul Thomas Anderson’s epic action-thriller is funny, dramatic, and sexy as all hell from start to finish.

• Stream One Battle After Another on HBO Max.

Atomic Blonde (2017)

The Director: David Leitch

The Cast: Charlize Theron, James McAvoy, John Goodman

Based On: The Coldest City by Antony Johnston and Sam Hart

What It’s About: Just as the Berlin Wall is about to fall, a spy is sent on a mission to retrieve a list of covert agents before it’s too late.

What To Expect: One of the best action movies of the past decade, Atomic Blonde is full of big set pieces, twists, turns, more shootouts, and a whole lot of sex appeal.

• Stream Atomic Blonde on HBO Max.

Girls Trip (2017)

The Director: Malcolm D. Lee

The Cast: Regina Hall, Queen Latifah, Tiffany Haddish

What It’s About: Years after their once-tight friendship began to fall apart, four women travel to New Orleans to attend a music festival where anything and everything can happen.

What To Expect: An over-the-top comedy set in the “Big Easy,” this one was bound to be off the rails. Girls Trip doesn’t hold back in any capacity, making it one of the wildest comedies in some time.

• Stream Girls Trip on HBO Max.

Wedding Crashers (2005)

The Director: David Dobkin

The Cast: Owen Wilson, Vince Vaughn, Bradley Cooper

What It’s About: Two bachelors specializing in crashing weddings find themselves in quite a situation after one of them falls in love with the daughter of a high-ranking government official.

What To Expect: Released at the height of the “Frat Pack” era of Hollywood, Wedding Crashers is a rude, crude, and utterly hilarious comedy about two serial bachelors who push things too far.

• Stream Wedding Crashers on HBO Max.

Multiple Maniacs (1970)

The Director: John Waters

The Cast: Divine, David Lochary, Mary Pearce

What It’s About: A traveling freak show known as The Cavalcade of Perversion travels from town to town robbing and later killing its patrons before things really get out of hand. We mean severely out of hand.

What To Expect: Those familiar with John Waters’ body of work know what they’re getting into here. However, those decent folks out there should note that Multiple Maniacs is a sick and depraved comedy that really has to be seen to be believed.

• Stream Multiple Maniacs on HBO Max.

Fallen Angels (1995)

The Director: Wong Kar-wai

The Cast: Leon Lai, Michelle Reis, Takeshi Kaneshiro

What It’s About: Wong Kar-wai’s Fallen Angels contains two intertwined storylines: one follows a reluctant hitman wishing to leave his life of crime behind as he gets caught between two lovers, and a second about a man on the run from police in Hong Kong.

What To Expect: Featuring exquisite cinematography, a gripping narrative filled with complex characters and devastating decisions, and some steamy romance, this is one enchanting exploration of crime and passion.

Stream Fallen Angels on HBO Max.

Parthenope (2025)

The Director: Paolo Sorrentino

The Cast: Celeste Dalla Porta, Stefania Sandrelli, Gary Oldman

What It’s About: Told through a series of vignettes, Parthenope tells the story of an Italian woman whose hunger for knowledge, experiences, and life in general takes her to wild and unimaginable places.

What To Expect: Centering on a beautiful and charismatic woman (played by Celeste Dalla Porta), Paolo Sorrentino’s Parthenope is an exploration of love, loss, lust, and self-discovery.

• Stream Parthenope on HBO Max.

The Brutalist (2024)

The Director: Brady Corbet

The Cast: Adrien Brody, Felicity Jones, Guy Pearce

What It’s About: A holocaust survivor and world-renowned architect immigrates to the United States after World War II in search of the American Dream, kicking off an ambitious, decades-long project in the process.

What To Expect: The agony and ecstasy of art, the deconstruction of the American Dream, and some intense sex scenes (including a very graphic one in the opening minutes) are found throughout this three-hour drama.

• Stream The Brutalist on HBO Max.

Babygirl (2024)

The Director: Halina Reijn

The Cast: Nicole Kidman, Harris Dickinson, Sophie Wilde

What It’s About: A successful CEO (played by Nicole Kidman) finds her life at the office and at her home becoming increasingly more complicated after starting an affair with a much younger intern (played by Harris Dickinson).

What To Expect: With its fair share of sexually explicit moments throughout and electric chemistry between the leads, this risque drama is worth watching.

• Stream Babygirl on HBO Max.

Queer (2024)

The Director: Luca Guadagnino

The Cast: Daniel Craig, Drew Starkey, Jason Schwartzman

Based On: William S. Burroughs’ Queer

What It’s About: An American expatriate (played by Daniel Craig) spends his days wasting away in the sun and his nights looking for young lovers in Mexico City until he meets and falls for a young American GI (played by Drew Starkey).

What To Expect: Considering this is a Luca Guadagnino movie based on a William S. Burroughs novella, it takes no stretch of the imagination to see Queer as an intense, unrelenting, and unforgettable tale of love, loss, and lust.

• Stream Queer on HBO Max.

We Live In Time (2024)

The Director: John Crowley

The Cast: Florence Pugh, Andrew Garfield

What It’s About: Presented in a non-linear narrative format, John Crowley’s We Live in Time tells the story of a young couple as they meet, fall in love, have a kid, and then come to terms with a serious illness that could upend everything they’ve built.

What To Expect: Though a movie about illness and loss, We Live in Time is very much a story of romance and passion.

• Stream We Live in Time on HBO Max.

Demonlover (2002)

The Director: Olivier Assayas

The Cast: Connie Nielsen, Chloe Sevigny, Gina Gershon

What It’s About: An ambitious and cutthroat media executive goes to great lengths to acquire a Japanese animation house to give her company the upper hand.

What To Expect: Probably one of the most notorious examples of the New French Extremity movement, Demonlover combines elements of erotic thrillers with corporate espionage.

• Stream Demonlover on HBO Max.

Working Girls (1986) 

The Director: Lizzie Borden

The Cast: Louise Smith, Amanda Goodwin, Marusia Zach

What It’s About: A day in the lives of a group of sex workers and their clients is explored as they come in and out of a New York City brothel.

What To Expect: Not to be confused with the 1988 movie Working Girl with Melanie Griffith and Sigourney Weaver, this movie is full of nudity, sex scenes, and all kinds of risque behavior that push the envelope and the boundaries as to what’s acceptable on the big screen.

• Stream Working Girls on HBO Max.

Tie Me Up! Tie Me Down (1990)

The Director: Pedro Almodóvar

The Cast: Antonio Banderas, Victoria Abril, Loles León

What It’s About: A recently released psychiatric patient tries to find a former adult film star and convince her to fall in love with him, though how he goes about this is far from romantic.

What To Expect: One of Antonio Banderas’ best movies, Tie Me Up!, Tie Me Down! leaves little to the imagination.

• Stream Tie Me Up! Tie Me Down! On HBO Max.

Behind The Candelabra (2013)

The Director: Steven Soderbergh

The Cast: Michael Douglas, Matt Damon, Rob Lowe

What It’s About: An exploration of legendary Las Vegas pianist Liberace and his intense relationship with a lover in the final years of his life.

What To Expect: The 2013 HBO original movie doesn’t hold back on the excess that fueled Liberace’s life off-stage, as well as his attempts to preserve his public image. That said, it has more than a few explicit sex scenes.

• Stream Behind the Candelabra on HBO Max.

The HBO Max library is changing all the time, meaning you may want to check back at a later date for even more steamy and romantic dramas, comedies, and thrillers.

When it comes to some of the best 2022 movie releases, one of the first ones that comes to my mind is Bullet Train. Ever since I saw the film, I’ve been non-stop thinking about how fun it is and how much I loved those action sequences and the hilarious moments it had to offer. 

But, since Bullet Train is only two hours long and we all need to change it up every once and a while, what are some other movies like Bullet Train that you might like? If you’re looking for something similar, here are some great picks. 

The Deadpool Movies (Disney+)

First up on the list, we have the Deadpool movies. In the first Deadpool, we follow Wade Wilson, a mercenary who -- believing it might cure his cancer -- is subjected to a grueling experiment that gives him mutant regenerative abilities, but drastically altered his physical appearance. Now, he is hunting down the man who changed him. In the second film, Deadpool 2, Wilson goes on an adventure to stop a time-traveling soldier named Cable from harming a young mutant. 

When I tell you that that Deadpool series is exactly what you would expect it to be if you’re into action, I mean that with every part of my being. Considering David Leitch, the director of Bullet Train, also directed Deadpool 2, you know at least the sequel is going to be filled with gory deaths and brilliant action scenes filled with comedy, but honestly, both movies slap and you’ll have a fun time watching them regardless - especially since there’s a Deadpool 3 in the works. 

Stream The Deadpool Series on Disney+. 
Rent/Buy The Deadpool Series on Amazon.

The Commuter (Amazon Rental)

Starring Liam Neeson, The Commuter tells the story of a man who is just trying to live his everyday life commuting to work on a train, but one day, he meets a strange woman that somehow ties him into a bigger conspiracy than he ever thought possible, one involving murder. 

When you think of Liam Neeson, there are so many amazing films out there that the star has been in, but I typically think of movies like this - high-paced action and some awesome fight scenes, one that Bullet Train fans will definitely enjoy. And the fact that the film takes place mostly on a train checks out too, because the tight scenery makes this movie so much fun. 

Rent/Buy The Commuter on Amazon.

Train To Busan (Amazon Prime)

When I tell you this is the best horror movie I have seen in years, I mean it. In Train to Busan, a man does everything in his power to somehow keep his daughter safe as a zombie outbreak occurs that instantly turns people into zombies, and now, he has to make sure she reaches Busan safely, where a supposed safe zone is. 

Korean horror has delivered some great titles, particularly in recent years, with big additions like All Of Us Are Dead on Netflix or even The Wailing, but this is great option for fans of Bullet Train if they're looking for another train-set movie. Train to Busan also takes place on a high-speed train, so the setting is very similar, but the bigger reason to watch is that it’s just so action packed and surprisingly packs a lot of heart into its runtime. This was genuinely the last movie I sobbed like a baby at the end - and you will too. It’s action-packed and a hell of a lot of fun. 

Stream Train to Busan on Amazon Prime. 
Rent/Buy Train to Busan on Amazon.

Atomic Blonde (Amazon Rental)

Another film directed by David Leitch is Atomic Blonde. In this action packed movie starring Charlize Theron, we follow a spy who has the important mission of finding a list of double agents before it is smuggled into West Berlin, ahead of the wall collapsing, but along the way, she finds twists and turns that she never expected before. 

Atomic Blonde, in my mind, reminds me a lot of James Bond in so many ways, from the incredible action scenes to the witty one-liners to everything else in-between. For fans of Bullet Train, you will love the choreography of the fight scenes and be unable to take your eyes off the screen. Watching Charlize Theron kick butt is some of the best time you will ever spend on a Saturday afternoon. I’d give anything for an Atomic Blonde 2.

Rent/Buy Atomic Blonde on Amazon.

The Gray Man (Netflix)

Directed by the Russo Brothers, who also helmed Avengers: Infinity War and Endgame, this original Netflix film, The Gray Man, follows a CIA agent who finds out corrupt secrets about his organization, but upon learning this, a mercenary is sent after him to hunt him down. It's a cat and mouse game as the agent tries to survive. 

For fans of Bullet Train, this is one you don’t want to miss. While the action scenes are a lot of fun -- as you would expect from a team like the Russo Brothers - what really makes this such a great film is the cast. The Gray Man cast -- including talent such as Ryan Gosling, Chris Evans, Ana de Armas, Jessica Henwick and Rege Jean-Page -- is equal in talent to that of the Bullet Train cast, and truly has some amazing stars that bring in the power and make you want to keep watching them fight to the death. Just a lot of fun all around. 

Stream The Gray Man on Netflix.

Central Intelligence (Amazon Rental)

Goodness, we have so many action flicks on here, let’s take a breather with some comedy. In Central Intelligence, we follow two former high school classmates who are redefining the term “high school reunion,” when one of them ends up joining the CIA. However, their attempts to save the world cause them to go on the run. 

This film was the first time we had ever seen Dwayne Johnson and Kevin Hart team up as stars in a movie together and boy, was it a cultural reset, because ever since then, these two are inseparable and I love their friendship. For fans of Bullet Train, you’ll love the comedy that’s presented and will definitely laugh your butt off, but the action scenes are a heck of a lot of fun too. I just can’t get over the chemistry between Johnson and Hart.

Rent/Buy Central Intelligence on Amazon.

Nobody (HBO Max)

Next up on the list, we have Nobody, starring the wonderful Bob Odenkirk. In this thriller, we follow a man who has let go of his past life, but after his home is robbed and the lives of his family are threatened, he returns back to his dangerous roots in order to protect them, turning himself from a “nobody” into a “somebody.”

This film’s action sequences are fantastic, and truly need to be talked about so much more, because I could not tear my eyes off the screen. If you were infatuated with the action scenes of Bullet Train, then this is the film for you that you need to watch from beginning to end. Bob Odenkirk is amazing in this role and I’d really love to see a sequel with him.  

Stream Nobody on HBO Max. 
Buy Nobody on Amazon.

John Wick (Amazon Rental)

You probably thought this was going to be on the list, so let’s get into it. John Wick, starring Keanu Reeves, tells the story of the titular John Wick, a former assassin who is retired, until he makes it his personal mission to hunt down the man that broke into his home and took away everything he cherished the most.

This franchise has turned into something amazing, to the point where a John Wick 4 is releasing in 2023, and guess who helped produce it? David Leitch, before his days of directing Deadpool 2 and Atomic Blonde. For fans of action scenes, oh boy, this is the film for you, especially if you loved Bullet Train. So many amazing moments - and Keanu Reeves is always a win. 

Rent/Buy John Wick on Amazon.

Once Upon A Time In Hollywood (Amazon Rental)

Next up on the list, we have the Quentin Tarantino film, Once Upon a Time in Hollywood. This film follows an actor and his stunt double trying to adapt to the new film industry, while murders around Hollywood begin to happen, threatening their lives. 

Once Upon a Time in Hollywood has been described as a “love letter” to the golden age of Hollywood, and I can see why. The movie is a hell of a good time and really well-done. For fans of Bullet Train, this film also stars Brad Pitt and he’s really good in it -- so good that he won an Academy Award for Best Supporting Actor, so if you loved his performance in an action film like Bullet Train, check him out in this one. 

Rent/Buy Once Upon A Time in Hollywood on Amazon.

Snatch (Netflix)

Another great Brad Pitt-led film. Starring several big-time names like Pitt, Benicio del Toro, Jason Statham and more, Snatch follows multiple different stories, one about a stolen diamond and the hunt to find it and another regarding a boxing promoter who is getting singled out by a gangster that isn’t afraid to resort of violence. 

For fans of Bullet Train, this film also has Brad Pitt, as I said before, but the action scenes are also a lot of fun as well within the crime world, and something else I really enjoyed is the comedy. The amount of one liners that were dropped were some of the best moments of the movie and truly made me chuckle many times. 

Stream Snatch on Netflix. 
Rent/Buy Snatch on Amazon.

Police Story (HBO Max)

Last, but not least, we have a king of action on this list, Jackie Chan, starring in Police Story, which came out in 1985. This action comedy follows Jackie Chan as a police detective in Hong Kong who has to protect a female witness from a drug lord that she used to work with, but in the process, ends up getting framed for murder. Now, it’s up to him to try and clear his name before he meets his doom. 

If you loved the action scenes in Bullet Train, this is the movie for you, as Jackie Chan is certainly known for his great stunts. And we have Police Story included on our list Jackie Chan's best movies. 

Stream Police Story on HBO Max. 
Buy Police Story on Apple TV+.

So many great options, so little time, but no matter what you pick, you’re going to have a lot of fun. I have to go watch Deadpool again and put in my maximum effort, thank you.  

Explosions, one-liners, and unbelievable stunts are all a few characteristics found in the best action movies, and help turn great buddy cop movies, high-octane thrill-rides, and the martial arts films into all-time greats. But, what are the best action movies and where can you find them streaming, available for online rentals and purchases, and on physical media like DVD, Blu-ray, and the increasingly popular 4K UHD Blu-ray format?

Funny you should ask, as you can currently watch a couple dozen of the cinema’s most explosive action flicks in more ways than Arnold Schwarzenegger can look badass on a motorcycle, Keanu Reeves can reinvent himself, and Michael Bay can continue to pull off his signature 360-degree camera trick. There’s a lot to unpack here, so let’s break down the best action movies of all time and how to watch them.

Wanted (2008)

After being recruited by a mysterious league of assassins, Wesley Gibson (James McAvoy) learns he is in possession of an incredible, and incredibly lethal, set of skills passed down by his father, a legendary gunman who was recently murdered under rather peculiar circumstances in Wanted.

Stream Wanted on Max.
Rent/Buy Wanted on Amazon.
Buy Wanted on Blu-ray on Amazon.

Hanna (2011)

Upon being sent out on a mission that has her make her way across Europe, a young assassin named Hanna (Saoirse Ronan) finds herself being hunted by the ruthless Marissa (Cate Blanchett), who will stop at nothing to find and capture the teenager.

Stream Hanna on Starz.
Rent/Buy Hanna on Amazon.
Buy Hanna on Blu-ray on Amazon.

Predator (1987)

Sent off on a mission to the heart of the jungle to rescue a group of politicians, an elite squad of soldiers finds themselves standing face-to-face with a hidden killer from another world. When the group begins to be picked off one by one, Major Alan “Dutch” Schaefer (Arnold Schwarzenegger) is left alone with the alien predator and attempts to turn the tables before it’s too late.

Stream Predator on Hulu.
Stream Predator on Tubi.
Rent/Buy Predator on Amazon.
Buy Predator on Blu-ray on Amazon.

Seven Samurai (1954)

One of the best samurai movies, Akira Kurosawa’s 1954 epic Seven Samurai follows a small group of ronin who take an oath to protect a small village from the looming threat of violence by a large clan of bandits who have set their sights on the townsfolk. Despite their lack of experience or skills behind the sword, the hearty band of heroes push forward to protect the innocent from a cruel death.

Stream Seven Samurai on Max.
Stream Seven Samurai on The Criterion Channel.
Rent/Buy Seven Samurai on Amazon.
Buy Seven Samurai on Blu-ray on Amazon.

Rambo: First Blood Part II (1985)

Set several years after the episode in Hope, Washington, John Rambo (Sylvester Stallone) is given the opportunity to clear his name and start a new life, but only if he travels to Vietnam and free a group of American POWs. But when the mission turns personal and the Vietnamese and Russian combatants kill the only person he cares about, Rambo snaps and sets out for revenge.

Rent/Buy Rambo: First Blood Part II on Amazon.
Buy Rambo: First Blood Part II on Blu-ray on Amazon.

Under Siege (1992)

Casey Ryback (Steven Seagal) is a decorated former Navy SEAL working as a chef on the USS Missouri as it sets off on one final mission before being decommissioned at Pearl Harbor. But Ryback is able to put his skills to good use when a group of terrorists led by William Stranix (Tommy Lee Jones) hijacks the ship and threatens to use its nuclear payload in Under Siege, one of the best '90s movies.

Rent/Buy Under Siege on Amazon
Buy Under Siege on DVD on Amazon.

Smokin' Aces (2006)

Just before Buddy “Aces” Israel (Jeremy Piven) can testify against crime lord Primo Sparazza (Joseph Ruskin), he orders a hit on the Las Vegas magician, resulting in several highly-trained and over-the-top killers to descend upon his Lake Tahoe hideout in Smokin’ Aces.

Stream Smokin' Aces on Starz.
Rent/Buy Smokin’ Aces on Amazon.
Buy Smokin’ Aces on Blu-ray on Amazon.

Die Hard (1988)

In 1988, director John McTiernan took a ‘70s action thriller novel, renamed it Die Hard, cast Bruce Willis as NYPD detective John McClane, and gave the world perhaps the most badass yet polarizing Christmas movie of all time. And, remember, it’s not Christmas until Hans Gruber gets thrown off Nakatomi Plaza.

Stream Die Hard on Hulu.
Rent/Buy Die Hard on Amazon.
Buy Die Hard on Blu-ray on Amazon.

Terminator 2: Judgment Day (1991)

James Cameron essentially redefined the summer blockbuster with Terminator 2: Judgment Day in 1991, forever changing how we picture big-budget action movies in the process. The sequel to 1984’s The Terminator, this sci-fi action epic sees Arnold Schwarzenegger’s T-800 take on the role of the good guy to go up against Robert Patrick's T-1000 to save Edward Furlong’s John Connor, in a spectacle of the Terminator movies which still holds up 30 years later.

Stream Terminator 2: Judgment Day on Paramount+.
Rent/Buy Terminator 2: Judgment Day on Amazon.
Buy Terminator 2: Judgment Day on 4K UHD on Amazon.

John Wick (2014)

Keanu Reeves has managed to remain on top for 30-plus years now, and one of the reasons for his latest reign as the champion of action movies is the John Wick franchise. Directed by Chad Stahelski, the 2014 first chapter saw the retired titular assassin as he is drawn back into the criminal underbelly of New York City, after previously leaving that world behind for a new shot at life. If only they wouldn’t have killed his dog…

Stream John Wick on Peacock.
Rent/Buy John Wick on Amazon.
Buy John Wick on Blu-ray on Amazon.

Mad Max: Fury Road (2015)

George Miller’s Mad Max franchise seemed like it was dead and gone before the series’ fourth installment, Mad Max: Fury Road, completely destroyed the competition at the box office in the summer of 2015. Starring Tom Hardy as the titular hero and Charlize Theron as the fearless Imperator Furiosa, this tour de force takes audiences on a journey through the heart of the wasteland in search of a better and less-violent life.

Stream Mad Max: Fury Road on Max.
Rent/Buy Mad Max: Fury Road on Amazon.
Buy Mad Max: Fury Road on DVD/Blu-ray on Amazon.

Edge Of Tomorrow (2014)

The 2014 sci-fi adventure Edge of Tomorrow follows Lt. Col. Bill Cage (Tom Cruise) as he finds himself living the same day over and over again, dying violently in a battle against an invading alien force, until he uses the time loop in his favor. Emily Blunt and Bill Paxton co-star in Doug Liman’s insanely fun and action-packed thrill ride.

Stream Edge of Tomorrow on TBS.
Stream Edge of Tomorrow on TNT.
Stream Edge of Tomorrow on truTV.
Rent/Buy Edge of Tomorrow on Amazon.
Buy Edge of Tomorrow on DVD/Blu-ray on Amazon.

Hard Boiled (1992)

John Woo’s 1992 Hong Kong action epic Hard Boiled centers on Tequila Yuen (Chow Yun-fat), a renegade cop who goes to extraordinary lengths in order to bring down the gang of gun smugglers who violently murdered his partner. With excessive violence, a gripping story, and that classic John Woo flash, there are plenty of reasons Hard Boiled is considered one of the best of all time.

Rent/Buy Hard Boiled on Amazon.
Buy Hard Boiled on DVD on Amazon.

Con Air (1997)

The late 1990s brought us an action movie in which classically trained actor John Malkovich got the opportunity to play the vicious serial killer in Cyrus “The Virus” Grissom, in Simon West’s movie about a group of prisoners who take over a prison transport plane. Even though Con Air is a very silly movie with several questionable moments, it remains one of the best thanks to Nicolas Cage and his portrayal of Cameron Poe, a convict who just wants to get home to meet his daughter.

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Stream Con Air on TNT.
Stream Con Air on truTV.
Rent/Buy Con Air on Amazon.
Buy Con Air on DVD/Blu-ray on Amazon.

The Raid (2012)

There are few movies that compare to The Raid, which is also known by the title The Raid: Redemption. Gareth Evans’ 2012 bone-shattering action flick centering on an elite police force working their way to the top of an apartment tower in order to apprehend a notorious crime lord. With floor after floor of armed guards and deadly fighters, this tower of terror never lets off the gas the entire runtime.

Stream The Raid on Pluto TV.
Stream The Raid on Paramount+.
Rent/Buy The Raid on Amazon.
Buy The Raid DVD/Blu-ray on Amazon.

Escape From New York (1981)

John Carpenter’s 1981 dystopian thriller Escape From New York is not only one of the best Kurt Russell Movies but it’s also one of the best action movies of all time. When Snake Plissken (Russell) is sent into a heavy fortified New York City (which has been transformed into a prison colony) to save the President of the United States, he has to survive the mean streets of the Big Apple if he wants to rescue to the Commander in Chief and get back in time to avoid a premature death.

Stream Escape from New York on Freevee.
Rent/Buy Escape from New York on Amazon.

The Rock (1996)

Nicolas Cage plays Stanley Goodspeed, an FBI chemical warfare expert who, along with Sean Connery’s John Patrick Mason (totally not James Bond), leads a counterstrike to prevent a group of disgruntled American soldiers from launching a chemical weapon on Alcatraz Island in Michael Bay’s The Rock.

Stream The Rock on FXNow.
Rent/Buy The Rock on Amazon.
Buy The Rock on DVD/Blu-ray on Amazon.

Bad Boys II (2003)

Although some would argue Bad Boys II isn’t better than the original, the 2003 buddy cop movie with Will Smith and Martin Lawrence returning as Mike Lowery and Marcus Burnett, respectively, is still a hell of a lot of fun. This time, however, the Miami detectives find themselves in over their head when their investigation into the world of the drug ecstasy comes a little too close to home.

Stream Bad Boys II on Hulu.
Rent/Buy Bad Boys II on Amazon.
Buy Bad Boys II on DVD/Blu-ray on Amazon.

Speed (1994)

Keanu Reeves was already a big name in the action world by the time he was cast as Jack Traven in Jan de Bont’s 1994 action thriller Speed, but the movie, and its logic-defying bus jump, helped take him to the next level. Everything from the concept (the bus will explode if its speed drops below 50 mph) and the chemistry shared by Reeves and Sandra Bullock works far better than it should.

Stream Speed on Starz.
Rent/Buy Speed on Amazon.
Buy Speed on DVD/Blu-ray on Amazon.

Taken (2008)

At one point in his career, Liam Neeson was receiving Oscar nominations and critical acclaim for movies like Schindler’s List, but in 2008 he tried on a different hat when he took on the lead role in Taken. With his gravelly voice, iconic speech (you know the one), and tireless effort to find his kidnapped daughter, Neeson became an all-out action star and started the next chapter of his career.

Rent/Buy Taken on Amazon.
Buy Taken 3-Movie Collection on DVD/Blu-ray on Amazon.

The Matrix (1999)

Every now and again a movie like The Matrix comes along and completely changes what we know as the action genre. Released in March 1999, the Wachowskis took the genre and flipped it on its head, creating a genre-defying spectacle that’s actually about more than a group of humans who break out of a machine-controlled simulation and search for truth and freedom in a dystopian world.

Stream The Matrix on Netflix.
Rent/Buy The Matrix on Amazon.
Buy The Matrix on DVD on Amazon.

Face/Off (1997)

John Woo’s 1997 action thriller Face/Off follows John Travolta’s FBI agent, Sean Archer, as he goes deep undercover to bring down a terrorist organization by switching faces with group’s leader, Castor Troy, played by Nicolas Cage. Things become more complicated, however, when Troy awakens from a coma and undergoes the same surgery.

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Stream Face/Off on Paramount+.
Rent/Buy Face/Off on Amazon.
Buy Face/Off on DVD on Amazon.

Mission: Impossible - Fallout (2018)

When three of humanity’s holy sites become targeted for destruction by a mysterious terrorist organization, it is up to Ethan Hunt (Tom Cruise) and the IMF team to locate three plutonium cores and prevent them from being used as weapons. Like previous installments in the franchise, Mission: Impossible — Fallout features insane stunts and even more mind-boggling twists and turns.

Stream Mission: Impossible - Fallout on Paramount+.
Stream Mission: Impossible - Fallout on FXNow.
Rent/Buy Mission: Impossible - Fallout on Amazon.
Buy Mission: Impossible - Fallout on DVD/Blu-Ray on Amazon.

Air Force One (1997)

At the center of the crossroad of political dramas and action flicks is Wolfgang Petersen’s Air Force One, which centers on the hijacking of the world’s most famous aircraft, with the President of the United States (Harrison Ford), the First Family, and White House staff being held hostage by a terrorist group in hopes of freeing a political prisoner. This movie has everything from iconic one-liners, traitors, and an entire subplot dedicated to the 25th Amendment.

Stream Air Force One on USA.
Rent/Buy Air Force One on Amazon.
Buy Air Force One on Blu-ray on Amazon.

The Bourne Ultimatum (2007)

The conclusion (not really, but it was at the time) to the Jason Bourne story, 2007’s The Bourne Ultimatum didn’t hold anything back as Matt Damon’s former CIA assassin finally gets to the bottom of his previous life while also trying to survive an endless wave of elite killers sent to wipe him out before he can uncover the truth.

Stream The Bourne Ultimatum on Max.
Rent/Buy The Bourne Ultimatum on Amazon.
Buy The Bourne Ultimatum on DVD/Blu-ray on Amazon.

Skyfall (2012)

Arguably one of the best James Bond movies in recent memory (and of all time) Sam Mendes 2012 epic Skyfall showed the world a side of 007 (Daniel Craig) that we had never gotten to see before. When ghosts of M’s (Judi Dench) past come back to do more than haunt the MI6 leader, only the world’s most famous spy can save her, and the world, from the monster who has been let out of his cage.

Stream Skyfall on Prime Video.
Rent/Buy Skyfall on Amazon.
Buy Skyfall on Blu-ray on Amazon.

The Mummy (1999)

Say what you will about The Mummy, but the 1999 action comedy starring Brendan Fraser and Rachel Weisz is a ton of fun. With elements of horror, suspense, action, romance, and comedy, the story follows a group of explorers who inadvertently awaken a vengeful and heartbroken mummy in ancient Egypt. Mr. Fraser wants another entry in the franchise, and we can't help but agree.

Stream The Mummy on Peacock.
Rent/Buy The Mummy on Amazon.
Buy The Mummy Trilogy on Blu-ray on Amazon.

Point Break (1991)

Kathryn Bigelow’s Point Break, the 1991 action movie about an FBI agent (Keanu Reeves) going undercover to bring down a group of bank-robbing surfers with a charismatic leader (Patrick Swayze), remains one of the most iconic films of its era. The bank-robbing scenes, car chases, police raids, skydiving without a parachute, all the surfing, and the inclusion of Gary Busey, are just a few reasons why.

Stream Point Break on Tubi.
Stream Point Break on Plex.
Stream Point Break on Paramount+.
Stream Point Break on Shout TV.
Rent/Buy Point Break on Amazon.
Buy Point Break on Blu-ray on Amazon.

Extraction (2020)

Extraction follows a mercenary (Chris Hemsworth) who is hired to track down the kidnapped son of an international crime lord. This seems like a difficult task in itself, but things quickly get out of hand, resulting in even more danger and perilous situations in one of the best Netflix movies of 2020.

Stream Extraction on Netflix.

Aliens (1986)

Despite the first movie in the Alien franchise being a moody and terrifying sci-fi horror story, its 1986 sequel, Aliens, took a completely different path and it paid off handsomely. James Cameron’s iconic action flick, which saw the return of Sigourney Weaver’s Ellen Ripley, as well as the debut of a few of cinema’s most quotable soldiers, remains one of the most fun and unique sequels while also keeping some of the horror elements of its predecessor.

Stream Aliens on Max.
Rent/Buy Aliens on Amazon.
Buy Aliens on DVD/Blu-ray on Amazon.

Fast Five (2011)

Directed by Justin Lin , Fast Five completely changed the trajectory of the Fast and Furious franchise in 2011 with an action-packed story revolving around Dominic Toretto (Vin Diesel) and Brian O’Conner (Paul Walker) as they put together a new team to pull off one of the most remarkable heists in cinematic history. Oh, and the movie sees the debut of Dwayne Johnson’s Luke Hobbs.

Stream Fast Five on Peacock.
Stream Fast Five on USA.
Rent/Buy Fast Five on Amazon.
Buy Fast Five on DVD/Blu-ray on Amazon.

Atomic Blonde (2017)

Over the past decade or so, Charlize Theron has become one of the leading action stars of her time. That case was made even stronger in 2017 with the arrival of Atomic Blonde, a fun and brutal action thriller centering on an elite spy (Theron) who isn’t afraid to put her life in danger or get her hands a little dirty in order to pull off a job. This eye-catching and action-packed lesson in brutality is a must-watch.

Rent/Buy Atomic Blonde on Amazon.
Buy Atomic Blonde on DVD/Blu-ray on Amazon.

These are just a couple dozen of the best movies on Amazon, Max, Netflix, and other streaming platforms that fall in the action genre. And who knows, maybe we’ll see some of the 2024 new movie releases show up on this list in the future.

If we’re talking about some of the best actors of the last couple of decades, one I want to point out is James McAvoy. From starring in an M. Night Shyamalan hit to having roles in big-time TV shows, McAvoy has continued to prove that he can do anything from play crazy killers to kind love interests. 

These are some of the best James McAvoy movies and TV shows that are streaming right now, or are available to rent.

Split (2016)

First up, we have Split. This horror/thriller released in 2016 tells the story of Kevin Crumb, someone who has twenty-six different personalities and ends up locking a trio of teenage girls in his basement. Now, these girls must try and find a way out to save themselves before he ends up harming them even more. 

Not only is this film one of Anya Taylor-Joy’s best movies, but it’s certainly one of James McAvoy’s best films. To be honest, I never thought I could ever be afraid of McAvoy, because before this, he never really played a role that was truly terrifying. But, him as Kevin Crumb genuinely haunts me and I feel that he was the perfect choice, showing just how horrifying he can be, with a classic M. Night Shyamalan twist in there as well. 

Rent/buy Split on Amazon.

Wanted (2008)

If you want an action thriller, check out James McAvoy in Wanted. This movie follows the story of an accountant who finds out an intense secret about his father - that he was an assassin. Soon after, he decides to join the same secret society that his father was a part of and work the same job.  

James McAvoy is a badass in this role. There's nothing quite like McAvoy in an action movie where he gets to show off his skills not only as an actor, but as a fighter as well, and it's great introduction to how he is as an action star prior to his role in X-Men: First Class in 2011. The story is a ton of fun, and McAvoy really brings in a lot of joy through his part.

Stream Wanted on IMDb TV (through Amazon).
Rent/buy Wanted on Amazon.

His Dark Materials (2019 - Present)

In this fantasy series from HBO, His Dark Materials tells the story of Lyra, a normal girl living as an orphan who goes on a crazy adventure in order to find her missing friend, discovering secrets about the world along the way. 

As a part of the His Dark Materials cast, James McAvoy plays Lord Asriel Belacqua, who is actually Lyra’s father, and he was, honestly, the best person to cast in this role. Lord Asriel is fierce and a leader, but also smart in so many ways, and I feel that only McAvoy could portray that combination so well within this complicated fantasy world. I especially enjoy his scenes alongside lead Dafne Keen. They have such great chemistry together. 

Stream His Dark Materials on HBO Max.

Arthur Christmas (2011)

In this fun holiday adventure, Arthur Christmas tells the story of the titular character, Arthur Christmas, a descendant of the Claus line who has to take it upon himself, with the help of others, to save Christmas for a little girl when she doesn’t get her present delivered one year. 

Thinking about this movie always makes me upset because it deserved so much more praise than it got. James McAvoy was literally the perfect casting for Arthur, as his calm and soothing voice was the right choice for someone as good-natured as Arthur and makes him such an easy protagonist to follow. Arthur Christmas is also one of the best movies about Santa Claus, because it gives a new twist to the age-old tale that we’ve never quite seen before. If you’ve never seen it, be sure to check it out. 

Stream Arthur Christmas on Netflix.
Rent/buy Arthur Christmas on Amazon.

X-Men Films (2011 - 2019)

I already mentioned this role earlier, but for some time James McAvoy played the younger version of Professor X, starting in X-Men: First Class and holding onto that role until X-Men: Dark Phoenix, covering the character’s younger years. 

For many, I’m sure this is probably where you first saw James McAvoy, as this was the case for me, and I can see why he was picked for this role. He’s able to capture that mysteriousness that Professor X always carries around him, that air of ambiguity, while still remaining one of the most powerful mutants. If you’ve never seen any of the these films, be sure to watch the X-Men movies in order.

Stream the X-Men movies on Disney+.
Rent The X-Men movies on Amazon.

Starter For 10 (2006)

If you’re looking for a great comedy-drama, check out Starter for 10, starring James McAvoy. This British film follows an incredibly smart young man in his first year at Bristol University, but his world changes when he wins a spot on the University Challenge quiz team, having the chance to show just how smart he is. 

In my eyes, Starter for 10 has always been a more under-the-radar college film, but I personally enjoy the heck out of it, and that’s mainly due to the charming charisma that James McAvoy brings to the screen. I mean, he is so perfect for this coming-of-age role, even when the film starts to turn a little darker towards the end, and makes you want to root for him to succeed. It’s definitely a fun one that I’m sure you would enjoy. 

Stream Starter for 10 on HBO Max.
Rent/buy Starter for 10 on Amazon.

The Last King Of Scotland (2006)

Starring Forest Whitaker and James McAvoy, The Last King of Scotland follows the real-life story of the Ugandan President, Idi Amin, who ruled as a dictator, through the eyes of a young doctor who begins to get closer to him and realizes just how dark and brutal the leader is.

Forest Whitaker actually won the Academy Award for Best Actor for his portrayal of Idi Amin, but James McAvoy was also fantastic in his role as Dr. Nicholas Garrigan. I personally believe he should have gotten even more awards recognition because he was absolutely amazing in this film, and I loved every single scene he was in alongside Whitaker. Not only is it an intense story that will captivate you from the very beginning, it’s beautifully performed by both leads. 

Rent/buy The Last King of Scotland on Amazon.

Atonement (2007)

In this drama-filled film with plenty of stars, Atonement stars both Kiera Knightley and James McAvoy in this tragic romance when the daughter of an upper-class family ends up falling in love with the housekeeper’s son, causing their lives to turn upside down. 

Not only is Atonement one of Kiera Knightley’s best movies, but it’s also one of James McAvoy’s best acting performances to date. His role in the film earned him his first Golden Globe nomination, as well as his second BAFTA nomination for his performance as Robbie Turner. He and Kiera Knightley are literally the best in this film, and their tragic romance tugs at my heart so much. I wish they were in more movies together because their chemistry was off the charts. 

Stream Atonement on HBO Max.
Rent/buy Atonement on Amazon.

Shameless (2004 - 2005)

Before one of Showtime’s best shows, Shameless, was remade for the U.S., the first version was actually done in the United Kingdom. This show is what you would expect it to be if you’re familiar with the American version - following the Gallagher family and all of their crazy and dysfunctional adventures, except this time it's set in Manchester, England.

James McAvoy actually portrayed Steve McBride, Fiona’s boyfriend and later husband in the show, and while there is a Steve in Showtime's version of Shameless, McAvoy’s character is much better, in my opinion. He was sweet with the Gallagher family, a great boyfriend to Fiona, and an all-around good guy. James McAvoy proved just how great he was in a comedic role and made me not only laugh, but cry at certain moments. It was a shame he was only in the show for two seasons. 

Stream Shameless on Pluto TV.

Atomic Blonde (2017)

Next up, we have Atomic Blonde, which stars Charlize Theron. This action thriller tells the story of a spy who is working to find several double agents, written on a highly secretive list, who are actively being smuggled into West Berlin before the wall collapses. 

James McAvoy portrays David Percival, an MI6 Berlin station chief who has a couple of twists of his own, and let me say to Hollywood - please put McAvoy in more action roles like this. He’s just so freaking good as an agent and as a potential villain. His screen presence is perfect, and everything about him is just ugh in the best way possible. While I don’t think he’s going to be showing up in any Atomic Blonde sequel, I can still hope he’ll be in something similar in the future. 

Rent/buy Atomic Blonde on Amazon.

The Chronicles Of Narnia: The Lion, The Witch, And The Wardrobe (2005) 

Last but not least, we have the fun fantasy movie, The Chronicles of Narnia: The Lion, The Witch, and the Wardrobe. This first installment in the Narnia series follows the story of a group of siblings who discover the world of Narnia, a place that is hidden within their wardrobe, and are thrown into a war between good and evil. 

You want to know how I know this is one of James McAvoy’s best films? As a child, I had never read the Narnia series, but I did see the movie. You want to know what I remembered all those years later? Not the plot of the film - James McAvoy’s portrayal of Mr. Tumnus. 

Obviously, as an adult I know what the heck is going on in the series, but as a kid I was in love with Mr. Tumnus and his warm heart, and I know it was because McAvoy was the perfect choice. His smile, interactions, and everything else always defined the Narnia series for me as a kid, and to this day, I still think he’s one of the best parts of the first film. 

Stream The Chronicles of Narnia: The Lion, The Witch, and the Wardrobe on Disney+.
Rent/buy The Chronicles of Narnia: The Lion, The Witch, and the Wardrobe on Amazon.

I’m sure we’re only going to see more and more of James McAvoy, but until then, we at least have some awesome movies and TV shows to check out before his next big hit. Now, I’ll go and re-watch Split for the millionth time. 

Somehow, My Spy has returned. With the oft-delayed movie landing a cozy streaming release on Amazon’s Prime Video earlier this year, it looks like that partnership was a rather successful one. At least, that’s what it would look like on the surface, as My Spy 2 is apparently a project that’s being discussed between the streaming retailer and the film’s production company, STX Entertainment.

Which is fine and all, as if the public really wants another My Spy, they should get it. But there are 10 other spy franchises that should easily get sequels if we’re really getting serious. We submit, for your eyes only, the spy sequels we’d rather get than My Spy 2:

The Man From U.N.C.L.E.

It’s been five years since Guy Ritchie’s uber-slick adaptation of The Man From U.N.C.L.E. reinvented the swinging ‘60s TV caper into a smooth and adventurous adventure for today. And yet, despite being well-regarded by fans far and wide, the lack of blockbuster success for Henry Cavill, Armie Hammer,and Alicia Vikander’s Cold War romp is probably the big reason why a sequel hasn’t happened yet. It’s about time that changes if My Spy 2 is really what we’re looking at here.

Tinker Tailor Soldier Spy

While part of the reason Tinker Tailor Soldier Spy was made was probably because Focus Features knew it had an Oscar caliber spy film on its hands, you might be surprised to know that the movie actually hauled in a decent take at the box office. One would think that with two more books in author John Le Carre’s Karla Trilogy waiting to be adapted, and Gary Oldman raring to go, keeping this saga going would have been easy. Yet almost a decade has passed, and no movement has taken place; which is a shame in the light of this beautiful, but stone cold sober look at the world of spying.

Atomic Blonde

One of the most teased sequel prospects on the scene today has to be Charlize Theron’s potential return to the Atomic Blonde herself, Lorraine Broughton. There’s even been talk of a similar move to that of My Spy 2, with some folks theorizing that Netflix could bring Broughton back in for another destructively entertaining sequel. As The Old Guard has put up some solid numbers, and Netflix is making some exciting moves to compete with its streaming rivals, it feels like Atomic Blonde 2 should have already been a done deal. So if you have that magic idea that crosses John Wick over with this franchise, speak up now or forever hold your explosions!

Spy

It’s not an easy feat to spoof the James Bond franchise, or the spy genre on the whole, very effectively. Paul Feig’s action-comedy Spy is a prime example of just why, when done right, a send-up that also acts as an effective entry in the canon makes sense. Another smash hit under Feig’s career belt, with frequent collaborator Melissa McCarthy by his side, we haven’t seen Susan Cooper back in the field for five years now. It’s time to reactivate her, with or without her charmingly goofy sidekick Ford (Jason Statham), and let the explosive laughs fall where they may.

True Lies

A long time ago, writer/director James Cameron said that the world wouldn’t be interested in a counterterrorism comedy like True Lies, squelching any chances for a potential sequel. With Arnold Schwarzenegger and Jamie Lee Curtis enjoying an active career returning to franchises like The Terminator and True Lies, and the public still obviously having an interest in spy games, it feels like the only thing that’d stop True Lies 2 from happening is the Avatar series. In which case, what’s to say Mr. Cameron couldn’t hand this property off to eager, trustworthy hands if the public was still sweet on the idea. This bridge isn’t out yet, Jim!

Spy Game

In losing legendary director Tony Scott, we lost a unique voice that few have been able to capture since his passing. But director Joseph Kosinski seems to be doing a really good job so far living up to his high flying skills, based on what we’ve seen come out of Top Gun: Maverick. If he were up to it, it’d kind of be killer to see the Tron Legacy director also try his hand at showing us the adventures of Brad Pitt’s Tom Bishop, years after being rescued in the first Spy Game. If Kosinski has proven one thing to the world, it’s that he can make a sequel well after the fact, and bring fresh life to a long-held vision.

Get Smart

Here’s a fun fact to consider: My Spy director Peter Segal has previously dipped his toes in the world of comedic espionage with the Steve Carell/Anne Hathaway film adaptation of the classic TV show Get Smart. But somehow, despite that film doing exceedingly well at the box office, it failed to garner a sequel, even though there was enough confidence to launch a parallel spin-off movie. There was definitely movement on a follow-up to Maxwell Smart and Agent 99’s adventures for some time, and even if Segal himself thinks the time has come and gone, it couldn’t hurt to let someone else pick up the allegedly killer sequel draft from the pen of Carell himself, and put it into the world.

Spies Like Us

What do Spies Like Us and Ghostbusters have in common? The correct answer, besides Dan Aykroyd, is that they’re both ‘80s comedies that have a pretty healthy fandom. While Spies Like Us is a bit of a more obscure title, it could still be a pleasant surprise to see Aykroyd and co-star Chevy Chase heading into today’s world of international espionage. They may not have been the best spies in the service back in the day, but surely they’ve learned new and exciting ways to get into trouble in the off season.

Agent Cody Banks

If the world really wants super spy kid action, then our last two options definitely have the juice to get the job done. The first of which would be a long overdue sequel to the Agent Cody Banks series. Surely by now, Frankie Muniz’s cool operative is settled into somewhat of a family life, though he’s still probably in the business of saving the world. If True Lies 2 is never going to happen, then why not bring back Cody Banks in a story where he has to hide his spying from his family, only to potentially have them find out anyway?

Spy Kids

During a panel for this year’s ComicCon@Home festivities, Alita: Battle Angel director Robert Rodriguez revealed an interesting fact: Spy Kids is absolutely killing it on Netflix. With this particular statistic in play, and Rodriguez already working with the streamer/studio on his superhero film We Can Be Heroes, it feels like the time and conditions are right to bring the Spy Kids brand back to life in the world of streaming. Netflix is uber competitive like that, and with Prime Video doing so well with My Spy that it wants to pursue a sequel, it feels like the best move to keep the market satisfied, and to stoke the fires of gamesmanship between the two rivals.

There is still an outside chance that the work put into My Spy 2 will be an improvement over that first film. But even putting those feelings aside, if My Spy can get a sequel, there are a lot of other spy movies that should find their licenses to thrill renewed, and soon. Even if you’re a fan of Prime Video’s family romp starring Dave Bautista and Chloe Coleman, the discussion at hand could be a prompt for other studios to get back into spy games of their own. Whatever the case, if you’re interested in seeing My Spy for yourself, or if you want to revisit the film you can’t get enough of, it’s available now on Prime Video for viewing.

It’s a possibility that the world has hoped and prayed would become an actual reality for some time now, but a crossover event between the John Wick and Atomic Blonde franchises is something that still remains an uncertain prospect. That hasn’t stopped the world from talking it up though, and Charlize Theron is getting in on the action herself, as she recently addressed this hypothetical round of action as follows:

THR was on hand to learn what exactly Charlize Theron thought of this particular collaboration, and it’s not surprising that she’d be on the side of crossing over John Wick and Lorraine's worlds of violence and intrigue. Not only have Keanu Reeves and Charlize Theron trained in the same gym for their respective characters, but the two have a history of starring together in films like Devil’s Advocate and Sweet November. So their paths have been known to cross in the real world, though there’s a bit of a complicated wrinkle that Theron herself has addressed.

While John Wick is a franchise that operates in the modern era, Atomic Blonde, and the graphic novel it’s based off of, The Coldest City, takes place in 1989, during the fall of the Berlin Wall. So the sly comment that Charlize Theron made about “a timeline that makes sense” is laying down the prime reason why a crossover feels like a bridge too far to cross. Unless, of course, there’s someone out there that’s written a script where a 25 year old John happens to be doing some business in Cold War Europe.

Save for some creative Netflix style de-aging, or a potential crossover between The Old Guard and Atomic Blonde, it’s going to take some interesting gymnastics to bring John Wick into the world of Charlize Theron’s ‘80s-bound spy. But with Theron’s interest signaling that she’d be up for any idea that worked, you can bet at least one writer out there is trying to figure out how to put Lorraine and John on the path to one hell of a team-up.

For the time being, you can watch The Old Guard on Netflix, and see Charlize Theron’s latest ass-kicker in action. As for Keanu Reeves, he’s currently working on The Matrix 4 for release in 2021, and has Bill and Ted Face The Music ready for theatrical release this August.

Most people would likely agree that there are no spy movies more important or influential to popular culture than the James Bond franchise, which consist of 25 (technically 28) films from over the past several decades. Therefore, we believe the 007 movies deserve their own streaming guide and have opted to reserve this guide for other action-packed, thrilling, and even ridiculous cinematic treats the genre has offered so far. The following are our picks for the best spy movies (without James Bond) and where you can find them.

The Mission: Impossible Movies (1996-Present)

A secret agent (played by Tom Cruise) and his crew take on assignments of an unusually high-risk nature, which often require going rogue, enduring death-defying stunts, and wearing very convincing masks as a disguise.

Why they are some of the best spy movies: Inspired by a hit TV series of the same name, the Mission: Impossible movies (which consists of seven chapters with an eighth installment on the way) have become an unstoppable beast of their own by redefining how viscerally exciting and emotionally investing spy flicks can be.

Stream the Mission: Impossible movies on Paramount+.
Buy the Mission: Impossible movies (1-6) on Blu-ray on Amazon.
Buy Mission: Impossible - Dead Reckoning on Blu-ray on Amazon.

Argo (2012)

During Iran’s hostage crisis in 1979, a CIA agent (played by Ben Affleck) hatches a plan to safely transport six Americans out of Tehran by having them pose as a sci-fi movie production crew.

Why it is one of the best spy movies: Affleck also directed Argo – a pulse-pounding Best Picture Oscar winner inspired by an astonishing true story.

Rent or buy Argo on Amazon.
Buy Argo on Blu-ray on Amazon.

Three Days Of The Condor (1975)

A CIA researcher (Robert Redford) is thrust into the field and left struggling to figure out who to trust when he suddenly finds his colleagues dead.

Why it is one of the best spy movies: Director Sydney Pollack’s Oscar-nominated thriller, Three Day of the Condor – adapted from James Grady’s novel, Six Days of the Condor – is a masterclass in paranoid suspense that served as an inspiration for Captain America: The Winter Soldier, according to Joe and Anthony Russo.

Stream Three Days of the Condor on Pluto TV.
Rent or buy Three Days Of The Condor on Amazon.
Buy Three Days Of The Condor on Blu-ray on Amazon.

Munich (2005)

Five men participate in a covert operation to hunt and kill those responsible for the murder of Israeli athletes at the 1972 Olympics.

Why it is one of the best spy movies: One of the more underrated movies directed by Steven Spielberg, Munich, is one of the more powerful examples of a spy thriller – not just for its fact-based origins and spine-tingling suspense, but its strong moral commentary.

Rent or buy Munich on Amazon.
Buy Munich on Blu-ray on Amazon.

The Jason Bourne Movies (2002-2016)

The adventures of an amnesia-stricken American (Academy Award winner Matt Damon) after discovering that he is a government assassin.

Why they are some of the best spy movies: Based on the novel series by Robert Ludlum, the Jason Bourne movies (including The Bourne Identity, The Bourne Supremacy, The Bourne Ultimatum, and Jason Bourne, which Damon returned for after Jeremy Renner starred in the spin-off, The Bourne Legacy) are considered a turning point for the spy genre and great action movies for their gritty, immersive realism.

Stream The Bourne Identity on Peacock.
Stream The Bourne Supremacy on Peacock.
Stream The Bourne Ultimatum on Max.
Stream The Bourne Legacy on Peacock.
Rent or buy Jason Bourne on Amazon.
Buy the Jason Bourne movies on Blu-ray on Amazon.

RED (2010)

A former black-ops agent (played by Bruce Willis) puts his old crew back together to help him figure out who is trying to kill him.

Why it is one of the best spy movies: From director Robert Schwentke, RED is a great non-superhero-related comic book movie that imagines what becomes of a spy’s life after they have decided to retire.

Stream RED on Peacock.
Rent or buy RED on Amazon.
Buy RED on Blu-ray on Amazon.

Atomic Blonde (2017)

In Cold War-era Berlin, an MI6 agent (played by Academy Award winner Charlize Theron) is assigned to go undercover and locate a list of double agents.

Why it is one of the best spy movies: Based on the 2012 graphic novel, The Coldest City, Atomic Blonde was considered the female-led answer to the John Wick movies upon release for its breathtaking fight choreography and the fact that it is made by many of the same people, including director David Leitch.

Rent or buy Atomic Blonde on Amazon.
Buy Atomic Blonde on Blu-ray on Amazon.

The Conversation (1974)

A surveillance expert (Academy Award winner Gene Hackman) begins to suffer a moral crisis when he discovers signs of a young couple’s impending assassination.

Why it is one of the best spy movies: While the 1975 Best Picture Oscar went to Francis Ford Coppola’s The Godfather Part II, the writer and director could have taken home the top prize for The Conversation – remembered today as one of the best movies of the 1970s for its high-wire suspense and nearly prophetic themes of privacy and paranoia.

Rent or buy The Conversation on Amazon.
Buy The Conversation on Blu-ray on Amazon.

Clear And Present Danger (1994)

The CIA’s newly appointed acting Deputy Director of Intelligence (Harrison Ford) becomes embroiled in a surreptitious war between the U.S. government and a Colombian drug cartel.

Why it is one of the best spy movies: To many fans, Ford is the best actor to play Tom Clancy’s Jack Ryan, and director Phillip Noyce’s adaptation of Clear and Present Danger shows more than enough evidence as to why.

Stream Clear and Present Danger on Max.
Rent or buy Clear and Present Danger on Amazon.
Buy Clear and Present Danger on Blu-ray on Amazon.

North By Northwest (1959)

An average man (Cary Grant, who was an early choice to play James Bond at one point) undergoes a heart-racing journey dodging bullets and even planes when international operatives mistake him for an American spy.

Why it is one of the best spy movies: Alfred Hitchcock was a master of suspense in all forms, and his Oscar-nominated take on espionage, North by Northwest, is especially unique for – in addition to also being a film noir movie classic – being one of the sole spy films on this list in which the protagonist is not actually secret agent, but, in this case, an advertising agent. 

Rent or buy North By Northwest on Amazon.
Buy North By Northwest on Blu-ray on Amazon.

True Lies (1994)

A secret agent (played by Arnold Schwarzenegger) sees his worst fears come true when a misunderstanding causes his work life to boil over into his family life and unintentionally ropes his unsuspecting spouse (played by Jamie Lee Curtis) into the insanity.

Why it is one of the best spy movies: If Schwarzenegger was a Brit, he could have made a pretty good Bond, as he demonstrated in one of the best James Cameron movies, True Lies – a funny, relentless burst of energy from beginning to end.

Stream True Lies on Hulu.
Buy True Lies on Amazon.
Buy True Lies on Blu-ray on Amazon.

Austin Powers: International Man Of Mystery (1997)

A swinging secret agent (played by Mike Myers) and his arch enemy, Dr. Evil (Mike Myers), both suffer a massive clash with ‘90s culture and with each other after 30 years in cryogenic slumber.

Why it is one of the best spy movies: The spy genre has been parodied numerous times, but director Jay Roach’s Austin Powers: International Man of Mystery – which Myers also wrote – may be the finest example, thanks to refreshingly ridiculous characters and surprisingly quotable jokes that helped it garner a cultural impact nearly as prevalent as the very films it ridicules.

Rent or buy Austin Powers: International Man of Mystery on Amazon.
Buy Austin Powers: International Man of Mystery on Blu-ray on Amazon.

Spy Kids (2001)

Twelve-year-old Carmen (Alexa Vega) and 8-year-old Juni Cortez (Daryl Sabarra) must rescue their secret agent parents (Antonio Banderas and Carla Gugino) from a TV personality (Alan Cumming) who has been turning spies into bizarre creatures for his children’s program.

Why it is one of the best spy movies: From a child’s perspective, espionage is all jetpacks, sunglasses, and not an ounce of the harsh reality the job requires, which writer and director Robert Rodriguez took to heart when crafting the first of the Spy Kids movies – a delightfully fun and visually dazzling family-friendly adventure.

Stream Spy Kids on Max.
Rent or buy Spy Kids on Amazon.
Buy Spy Kids on DVD on Amazon.

Tinker Tailor Soldier Spy (2011)

A veteran spy (Academy Award winner Gary Oldman) is forced out of retirement to investigate a rogue agent's claim that a mole is hiding in plain sight among them.

Why it is one of the best spy movies: John le Carré’s 1974 novel, Tinker Tailor Soldier Spy, was published when Cold War-era paranoia was still highly prevalent, but director Tomas Alfredson's deliciously suspenseful, star-studded adaptation is no less intense in the way it reminds audiences that espionage is nothing like the movies.   

Rent or buy Tinker Tailor Soldier Spy on Amazon.
Buy Tinker Tailor Soldier Spy on Blu-ray on Amazon.

Kingsman: The Secret Service (2015)

A young man (Taron Egerton) is recruited into a secret organization by a veteran (Colin Firth), who is investigating an eccentric, yet shady, tech billionaire (Samuel L. Jackson).

Why it is one of the best spy movies: A film that reflects a child’s imaginative perception of espionage as authentically as Spy Kids, but is certainly not for children’s eyes, is Matthew Vaughn’s adaptation of Mark Millar and Dave Gibbons’ comic book series, Kingsman: The Secret Service – an off-beat, action-packed, and a bit gory instant classic with a mind-blowing ending.

Rent or buy Kingsman: The Secret Service on Amazon.
Buy Kingsman: The Secret Service on Blu-ray on Amazon.

The Man From U.N.C.L.E. (2015)

Debonair American secret agent Napoleon Solo (Henry Cavill) is reluctantly partnered with gruff KGB operative Illya Kuryakin (Armie Hammer) during the Cold War.

Why it is one of the best spy movies: With sleek gadgetry, hilarious action sequences, and an unbridled sense of elegance, Guy Ritchie’s adaptation of the 1960s series, The Man from U.N.C.L.E., is an invigorating re-ignition of the Sean Connery-era with a scenery-chewing performance by Cavill that should be seen as his 007 audition tape.

Rent or buy The Man from U.N.C.L.E. on Amazon.
Buy The Man from U.N.C.L.E. on Blu-ray on Amazon.

What do you think? Are these the kind of espionage flicks you rely on to save your day, or should we have kept our eyes open for more?

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Action, intrigue, and danger are all part of the James Bond franchise, and these are important hallmarks for audiences looking to escape the current realities of the COVID-19 pandemic from the safety of their own home. However, Bond can only do so much, and depending on when you’re reading this listing, you may not have his exploits available for viewing on your favorite streaming platform.

That’s not a problem though, as there’s plenty of movies that have that 007 style, or something extremely close to it, on the streams. So if you’re looking for something to watch in preparation for, or as a rest from all the James Bond action you could ever handle, you’ve come to the right list of titles. Here are 13 assignments you should consider streaming, if you're a fan of the Bond canon of films, but would like a similarly flavored change of pace.

Mission: Impossible - Fallout (Hulu/ Prime Video)

What The Movie Is About: Stop us if you’ve heard this one: three nuclear weapons have gone missing, and a band of secret agents need to retrieve those weapons before they’re used to trigger all out chaos. Mission: Impossible – Fallout brings Ethan Hunt (Tom Cruise) and the rest of his IMF team back for their sixth adventure in the name of world peace, with quite possibly their biggest mission yet.

Why Fans Of James Bond Would Like It: If there was ever a series that made for a perfect American analog for the James Bond series of films, it has to be the Mission: Impossible series. Taking the globe-trotting adventure and charismatic central agent against the world formulas that 007 has been known to use, this franchise spreads the love throughout a team of agents that assist Ethan in his rogue agent tactics. Not to mention, Tom Cruise’s stunt work is impeccable, pushing the action packed envelope further with each outing in the series.

Where To Stream: Mission: Impossible - Fallout is available on both Hulu and Prime Video

The Austin Powers Trilogy (Netflix)

What The Movie Is About: Picture this: what if the world’s greatest secret agent (Mike Myers) volunteered to have himself frozen, in the name of fighting his arch-nemesis, who was also cryogenically preserved for the future? The Austin Powers series starts out with this plot device, as both Austin and Dr. Evil freeze themselves in the ‘60s to do battle once again in the ‘90s. But as the series goes on, time travel, mojo theft, and other hysterical points of conflict come into play to make things all the more exciting.

Why Fans Of James Bond Would Like It: As a fan of both the comedies of Peter Sellers and the James Bond series of films, Mike Myers created all three Austin Powers movies as love letters to both. With Austin Powers: International Man of Mystery in particular roasting the traditional James Bond tropes to full effect, seeing Myers and director Jay Roach play around with the conventions of a Bond flick is a sharp and entertaining break from the norm.

Where To Stream: All three Austin Powers films are currently available on Netflix.

Inception (Netflix)

What The Movie Is About: Dom Cobb (Leonardo DiCaprio) is a thief with one of the weirdest, most valuable skills in the world: he can sneak into people’s dreams, and shape them as he sees fit. Usually, he uses these traits to steal information, but when a shadowy party (Ken Watanabe) hires Dom and his team for the job of a lifetime, he just might find the thing he’s been looking for the most: a way home.

Why Fans Of James Bond Would Like It: Inception has widely been considered the best prototype for what a Christopher Nolan James Bond movie would feel like in the first place. Even the forthcoming release Tenet has that sort of look and feel, which might strike up the band looking to see Christopher Nolan finally get his chance to direct a new and exciting James Bond adventure. If you like both the far flung adventures of the Roger Moore era, but the hard hitting emotional action of the Daniel Craig run, Inception is the mixture of those two worlds.

Where To Stream: Inception is available on Netflix.

The Thomas Crown Affair (HBOGo)

What The Movie Is About: Obsessed with the thrill of theft, millionaire Thomas Crown (Pierce Brosnan) steals a priceless painting right off the wall of the Metropolitan Museum of Art. It feels like the perfect crime, until a ruthless insurance investigator (Rene Russo) starts to pick up on his trail. As the two dance around each other’s motives, a romance starts to form; one that could either bring them together or tear them apart.

Why Fans Of James Bond Would Like It: First and foremost, former James Bond actor Pierce Brosnan happened to make this film around the same time he was wearing 007’s tuxedo for MGM. But instead of just copy/pasting his Bond style charms, Brosnan really gets to play up the witty and sly part of his personality, as opposed to shooting his way through the room. His pairing with Rene Russo makes The Thomas Crown Affair a funny, sexy spin on romance and intrigue. If people are going to prepare for a Michael B. Jordan led remake, this is a good place to start.

Where To Stream: The Thomas Crown Affair is available on HBOGo.

The Fugitive (Hulu)

What The Movie Is About: Dr. Richard Kimble (Harrison Ford) has been convicted of the murder of his wife (Sela Ward). The strange thing is… he may not have done it. After a freak accident leaves Dr. Kimble a chance to escape, he sets off on investigating the crime he’s supposedly committed. All the while, a determined U.S. Marshall (Tommy Lee Jones) is closing in on his trail, in an effort to apprehend him in the name of the law.

Why Fans Of James Bond Would Like It: Some of the best James Bond movies feature 007’s investigative skills, usually on display as he’s unraveling a hideous conspiracy of epic proportions. If you scale down the scope of The Fugitive’s conspiracy, and put a man who’s not used to sleuthing around at the heart of that mystery, you’ve got a story that invokes Bond’s best qualities in an unpredictable setting. Not to mention, this is the opportunity for you to see what a Harrison Ford style Bond adventure would look like.

Where To Stream: The Fugitive is currently available on Hulu.

The Saint (Netflix / Crackle)

What The Movie Is About: A brilliant electrochemist (Elizabeth Shue) has made a gigantic breakthrough in clean energy, leaving a power hungry oil tycoon (Rade Šerbedžija) desperate enough to try and steal the formula for himself. Enter Simon Templar (Val Kilmer), a cunning thief who starts this job as a pure professional, but ends up switching sides when he both falls for his target, and discovers the true nature of his shady employer.

Why Fans Of James Bond Would Like It: In a fun sort of coincidence, the James Bond series happened to cast one of its leads thanks to the TV incarnation of The Saint. Much as Roger Moore got to play 007 thanks to the role of Simon Templar, Val Kilmer’s incarnation of the role is a very Bond-esque character. Mix the tortured past and investigative skills of Bond with the disguises of Ethan Hunt, and The Saint makes for another example of a film nailing down the formula Daniel Craig would eventually run with through his tenure.

Where To Stream: The Saint is available on both Netflix and Crackle.

Tinker Tailor Soldier Spy (Netflix)

What The Movie Is About: A job gone wrong leads to the near death of one of England’s best secret operatives (Mark Strong). The latest in a pattern of events that suggests a mole is hidden at the top of the clandestine services, it’s up to retired spy George Smiley (Gary Oldman) to smoke out the parties selling state secrets during the Cold War. Told through a series of flashbacks and present day investigation, Tinker Tailor Soldier Spy is gripping right until the surprising, shocking finale.

Why Fans Of James Bond Would Like It: Tinker Tailor Soldier Spy, much like James Bond, is a quintessentially British spy story. However, instead of flashy suits, fast cars, and trips to exotic locales, this film based on the novel by John le Carré shows the spy game in a more dour, realistic light. With a cast stacked with talents like Colin Firth, Benedict Cumberbatch, and Toby Jones, among others, this potboiler is a perfect contrast to spy aficionados who want a change of pace from the James Bond movies.

Where To Stream: Tinker Tailor Soldier Spy is available on Netflix.

The Peacemaker (Netflix)

What The Movie Is About: After a nuclear warhead is detonated in the Russian countryside, the seemingly random event attracts the attention of a nuclear specialist (Nicole Kidman) and a hot shot Army officer (George Clooney). Following their mutual hunch, The Peacemaker sees our leads fighting their way to the truth in city and desert alike, in an effort to prevent another, greater nuclear catastrophe from happening.

Why Fans Of James Bond Would Like It: The Peacemaker isn’t as flashy or as grim as some of the other James Bond adjacent films we’ve suggested. However, the geopolitical thriller aspect of director Mimi Leder’s blockbuster definitely helps to scratch the itch Bond fans may have without No Time To Die hitting theaters in the next month. Clooney’s charm and Kidman’s cunning make for a duo that embody the best of Bond, in an adventure that pushes them both to the limit.

Where To Stream: The Peacemaker is available on Netflix.

No Way Out (Tubi / Vudu)

What The Movie Is About: Lt. Tom Farrell (Kevin Costner) is a Navy officer whose star is on the rise. With the Secretary of Defense (Gene Hackman) hot to hire him as one of his most trusted intelligence officers, Farrell’s career couldn’t be in a better position. But a romantic entanglement (Sean Young) leads to dangerous connections between Tom and a scandal so powerful, it could ruin his career.

Why Fans Of James Bond Would Like It: A Cold War thriller reminiscent of the politics of the early James Bond films, No Way Out uses a charming protagonist thrown in a plot of international intrigue to thrill potential viewers. As the central plot involving Russian and U.S. forces using operatives for their own means unfolds, Costner’s Lt. Farrell gets to engage in some very Bond-like behavior, while also serving as a grounded dramatic protagonist.

Where To Stream: No Way Out is available on Tubi and Vudu.

Atomic Blonde (FXNow)

What The Movie Is About: MI6 agent Lorraine Broughton (Charlize Theron) finds her in a pretty interesting position in Atomic Blonde. As the Berlin Wall is about to fall, and a secret file lies hidden in the very city on the verge of history, Broughton is going to have to keep her wits about her as she fights to obtain a list of double agents sabotaging Allied operations.

Why Fans Of James Bond Would Like It: If you enjoyed Tinker Tailor Soldier Spy, but wanted some more of the fighting that a modern James Bond movie would contain, Atomic Blonde has that particular need covered expertly. Theron’s Lorraine Broughton is basically the female James Bond, right down to her vices, and it’s exciting to see some off-kilter sensibilities thrown into a formula that feels very Bondian.

Where To Stream: Atomic Blonde is now available on FXNow.

Baby Driver (FXNow)

What The Movie Is About: An elite talent behind the wheel, the enigmatic young man known as Baby (Ansel Elgort) is hired only by the heist teams who absolutely need the best wheelman in all of Atlanta. But just when he’s thinking of going straight in the name of love, his old handler (Kevin Spacey) draws him in for another job. And it very well could be his last, if he’s not careful.

Why Fans Of James Bond Would Like It: Baby Driver isn’t about a spy, but rather someone pushed to the brink when they least expect it. That isn’t saying that Ansel Elgort’s Baby isn’t worthy of being spoken of in the same sentence as James Bond, but rather that writer/director Edgar Wright’s story and direction are reminiscent of Bond without giving the protagonist a pedigree in espionage or even military services. Though that more than likely amps up the excitement, as Baby has a set of skills that make him deadly in his own way.

Where To Stream: Baby Driver is currently available on FXNow.

All titles above are subject to change, so be absolutely sure to double check the availability of these films before enjoying them! As usual, this information is for your eyes only, and should you or your friends be caught with this list, the secretary will disavow all knowledge that you're not taking full advantage of Tubi's killer movie library. Good luck, and happy streaming!

For over 25 years, Charlize Theron has proven herself to be one of the best and brightest performers working in Hollywood today. A versatile talent who has established herself in various genres, including drama, action, comedy and more, Theron is the real deal, and moviegoers have only grown more impressed with her skills as an actress — especially in recent years. Charlize Theron graced the screen in more-than-a-few exceptional movies in her varied career. It's clear that, as Theron continues proving herself as top-grade talent, she will only continue to grow and shine with her talents.

For instance, the acclaimed actress was recently nominated for a Golden Globe for her work in this past December's Bombshell, and the Oscar-winning performer might very well receive another Oscar nomination for her lead performance as former Fox news anchor Megyn Kelly. Charlize Theron will also soon be returning to the Fast & Furious franchise with this year's upcoming Fast & Furious 9. Whether it's awards-friendly dramas, popcorn-munching blockbusters, or winning comedies, Theron knows how to diverse herself with many great titles in her filmography. Therefore, we will take this opportunity to celebrate 10 of her best movies, of which there are quite a few exceptional and noteworthy titles we could choose from.

10. In The Valley Of Elah (2007)

Paul Haggis' directorial follow-up to his Best Picture-winning 2005 film Crash, 2007's In The Valley Of Elah didn't nearly get the same notoriety or attention as the writer/director's previous film, even though it's quite arguably the better, more nuanced film of the two. Centered on a retired military investigator who works with a police investigator to discover the truth about his son's disappearance following his tour in Iraq, In the Valley of Elah is certainly a somber, heartbreaking movie, if one filled with emotionally resonant scenes. While not without its heavy-handed moments, In the Valley of Elah is benefitted enormously by its wonderful stand-out performances, notably from both Tommy Lee Jones and Charlize Theron in their lead roles.

While Tommy Lee Jones' gets the bigger showcase in In The Valley Of Elah, one shouldn't dismiss Charlize Theron's fellow lead performance. The downbeat but nevertheless powerful antiwar tale is quite a fine acting showcase for these two Oscar winners, and they're aided nicely by their work alongside one another. It might not be the most memorable or lasting movie on Theron's resume, but it's certainly another tremendous example of her dramatic talents, and how she can continue to prove herself as an talented actress through challenging-yet-impacting characters and heartfelt stories.

9. Atomic Blonde (2017)

After 2014's outstanding John Wick opened the door for more action movies to feature fluid stunt work, rigorous action choreography, and intense dedication from both their crew and performers, 2017's Atomic Blonde, helmed by John Wick co-director David Leitch, felt very much like the next extension, allowing Charlize Theron's action talents to shine once more in a pulpy, moody, invigorating genre piece that kicked a whole bunch of ass.

Featuring some of the most memorable and astounding action sequences of the past few years, along with a strong central performance from a mesmerizing Charlize Theron. Atomic Blonde isn't quite as narratively strong compared to its gorgeous visuals and exceptional action sequences, but when you have a movie that is as rough and tough and cinematically splendid as this film often is, it's hard to complain. Atomic Blonde is the bomb.

8. The Road (2009)

An understated and appropriately dreary, atmospheric adaptation of Cormac McCarthy's extraordinary 2006 novel of the same name, The Road is certainly not the most uplifting movie out there, to say the least, but it's a striking film all-the-same, particularly thanks to its pair of commanding lead performances from Viggo Mortensen and Kodi Smit-McPhee, as well as Robert DuVall and Charlize Theron in two small-yet-crucial supporting turns.

While Charlize Theron is only seen in brief flashbacks sprinkled throughout, The Road is given several impacting scenes of depth and character thanks to her tender and commendable supporting performance, in a character known simply as "Woman" as none of the characters have names. It is through these flashbacks that we get a sense of what life once was in this dystopian future and what was lost in the intervening years since then. It is a role that thankfully was expanded compared to the book, allowing audiences with more time to appreciate Theron's gentle, gently moving work.

7. That Thing You Do! (1996)

Tom Hanks' immensely charming directorial debut, 1996's musical period piece That Thing You Do!, doesn't feature the most Charlize Theron screen-time, but it's apparent in here that, even in minor roles, the actress knows how to make an excellent impression. Indeed, for many folks, That Thing You Do! would serve as their proper introduction to the up-and-coming movie star, and it's only fitting for this immensely appealing movie in particular that it helped pave the way for Theron to become both the major A-list celebrity and award-winning actress many moviegoers know her to be today.

While That Thing You Do! might not be remembered specifically for Charlize Theron's performance, nor does it ever take the center stage, it's always good to look back on the fine films that are only elevated by the stand-out performers who fill out their ensembles. Certainly, That Thing You Do! is an easy favorite for many movie lovers, and Theron's presence in the movie gives us a great opportunity to look back on all the quality films she's done.

6. Tully (2018)

Reuniting with both director Jason Reitman and screenwriter Diablo Cody after their previous 2011 collaboration, Young Adult, Charlize Theron is once again given another great showcase for both her dramatic and darkly comedic talents with 2018's under-seen Tully. Playing Marlo, a deeply overburdened mother of three young children who forms an unlikely bond with her miraculous new night nanny, Tully (Mackenzie Davis), Theron gives one of her most emotionally open and honest performances. She is willing to show us, in unflinching regard, the struggles and burdens which come with motherhood and the elation that come from being reconnected with your own sense of youthful possibility from an unlikely source of joy and life.

In some respects, Tully might very well be Charlize Theron's most fearless performance. Willing to show audiences the horrors that can come from parenthood, specifically motherhood, Theron is unguarded and unafraid to show the pain, hardships, difficulties, struggles, and small moments of dark comedy that come from being an overburdened mother, as well as the elation and renewal found from an unexpected source of revitalization. It is quite easily among the best performances we've seen from Charlize Theron's already-stellar acting career, and one that shows her growing talents.

5. Monster (2003)

Undoubtedly, Monster is the movie that solidified Charlize Theron as one of our best working actresses. While many are quick to comment on how the beautiful actress changed her looks for the part, such shallow comments ultimately undermine how good this transformative turn is for the award-winning performer. In the role of Aileen Wuornos, a serial killer from Florida who murdered seven men between 1989 and 1990, Theron is absolutely a revelation, showcasing the depth of her talents and her commitment to her work. The film was also the launching pad through which director Patty Jenkins became a cinematic stand-out, eventually paving the way for the filmmaker to be at the helm of 2017's Wonder Woman and its new sequel.

Joined by a similarly strong and ultimately under-appreciated supporting turn from Christina Ricci, Monster is not only a tremendous showcase for Charlize Theron's acting prowess but also a gritty, impacting character piece exploring a deeply flawed-yet-intensely fascinating real-life figure, one who does no shortage of bad things and finds no redemption at the end of her road. Only through Theron's performance would we be able to process the full depths of this tragic character and romance through Theron's layered, impeccable character work. It's no surprise it earned Theron her Oscar.

4. The Italian Job (2003)

It might be easy to dismiss this film as an inferior remake of a classic 1969 title, but make no mistake. 2003's immensely entertaining The Italian Job is a giddy, good ole' fashioned thrill ride from beginning-to-end, bolstered by pulsating car crashes, exhilarating action sequences, fun locales and a great ensemble, which includes Mark Wahlberg, Jason Statham, Edward Norton, Donald Sutherland, Yasiin Bey, and quite a few more, in addition to Charlize Theron herself. While moviegoers have come around to seeing daring stunts and car chases galore on their silver screen with the Fast & Furious movies, this one helped pave the way for that money-making franchise, which makes it understandable that both Theron and director F. Gary Gray later reunited to work on The Fate of the Furious. While that movie didn't quite match this one standards, it's easy to see why they joined.

While she is working in an ensemble, Charlize Theron is no less electrifying in the role of Stella Bridger, who is an ace when it comes to cracking open vaults and safes. That comes in handy when you're trying to steal $35 million worth of gold. This movie is one of the most exciting, engaging remakes of the early '00s, and Charlize Theron's undeniable screen presence most certainly helped to make this one a winner. It's unclear if we'll ever get the long-proposed sequel, The Brazilian Job, from this would-be car heist film franchise, but there's no denying that The Italian Job is a hell of a fun ride.

3. Young Adult (2011)

Similar to Tully, Theron's follow-up collaboration with director Jason Reitman and screenwriter Diablo Cody, Young Adult didn't quite get the respect that it deserves. In some respects, this is understandable. This dark comedy is admittedly a bitter pill to swallow with its unlikeable lead character, uncomfortable character dynamics, and mean-spirited tone. Nevertheless, if you like your comedy with a bit of a kick in it and don't mind spending time with someone you would probably never want to meet in your real life, Young Adult is a sensational character study, one that is only elevated by Charlize Theron giving one of the best performances of her career to date in the role of Mavis Gary, a divorced, alcoholic author who goes back to her hometown in Minneapolis in order to reconnect with her old flame, Buddy Slade (Patrick Wilson), who is now currently married with a newborn child.

Along with her immense talents, it's also Charlize Theron's deep commitment to her roles that make her work so exceptional. Young Adult in particular is a hard-sell role that could've easily been played too loose or too crass without a speck of humanity. Yet, layered throughout this performance is a tragic humanity and bitter pathos that allows you to easily get invested in the plight of this uncomfortable and often unlikable lead character. This results in what is quite possibly her strongest and most fascinating character work to date, notably in a film that hasn't gotten its due.

2. Kubo And The Two Strings (2016)

A gorgeously vivid stop-motion animated epic from the animation wizards over at the Portland-based Laika, Kubo and the Two Strings is a fantastical masterpiece with some of the most beautiful visuals and visual storytelling in recent years. A splendidly realized, completely spectacular achievement, filled with grand sweeping emotions and movingly sincere themes, Kubo and the Two Strings is also highlighted by its strong voiceover work, notably from Matthew McConaughey and Charlize Theron as two parental figures who follow our titular protagonist through his epic journey of self discovery.

As a motherly snow monkey who guides our title character through his expansive journey, Charlize Theron is only heard throughout Kubo and the Two Strings but she nevertheless provides an elegance, maturity, sensitivity and emotional gravitas that benefits the deep-seated emotions at play in this touching animated story. Once more, Charlize Theron greatly benefits what's easily one of the most stunning films of this recently-concluded decade.

1. Mad Max: Fury Road (2015)

Quite possibly the finest and most exhilarating blockbuster of the recently-concluded decade, Mad Max: Fury Road is an absolute stunner. A vivid, intense, top-to-bottom thrill ride unlike any other in recent memory, this powerhouse of an action flick is fast-paced, full-throttle masterwork for the dystopian genre that serves as an excellent showcase for both the action and dramatic talents of Charlize Theron as the badass Imperator Furiosa.

As the hard-willed, yet emotionally layered, woman who is driving Immortan Joe's five wives to safety, Charlize Theron's performance only makes this impeccable movie better, allowing us to see one of our best, most dedicated actresses give a tour-de-force performance amid several glorious action spectacles and stunning displays of stunt work in recent blockbuster history. The result is a quite glorious work of art that Theron benefits immensely.

What are your favorite Charlize Theron movies?

Sure, Wonder Woman's Diana Prince may have been the female hero to beat at the box office over the summer of 2017, but other lethal ladies got a chance to kick some serious ass on the big screen as well. Chief among these was Atomic Blonde's Lorraine Broughton, who once again proved that Charlize Theron is one of the best action heroines working today. The film ended with a tease for more adventures in the Atomic Blonde universe, and now it looks like that may actually happen. In fact, during an appearance at the San Francisco International Film Festival, the Mad Max: Fury Road actress addressed the possibility of a sequel to Atomic Blonde and said:

That's not much to go by, but it does seem to promise that there are plans in place to continue Lorraine Broughton's secretive journey through the Cold War spy landscape. At the end of the first movie, we learn which side of the war she is truly on, and that notable narrative reveal could easily feed into the story of another installment in this world.

Charlize Theron's remarks during her appearance at the San Francisco International Film Festival (via IndieWire) help reinforce the notion that there's more room for a brand-new story in this Cold War world. Having said that, "We're working on a sequel" still implies that the project is in the early stages of development, which means that we have very little knowledge of where this film will take Lorraine's story. The ending of the original obviously provides us with some clues, but we won't know more about the sequel until it makes its next steps.

Now it's a matter of wondering what talent will return behind the camera as well. Director David Leitch has become widely regarded as one of Hollywood's best action filmmakers since the debut of John Wick back in 2014, and his work on Atomic Blonde only reinforced that quality of his skill. Now, with the director about to deliver Deadpool 2 and officially locked in as the filmmaker behind the upcoming Hobbs and Shaw Fast and Furious spinoff, we need to wait and see if he will return for Atomic Blonde 2 alongside Theron. He has said that he wants to, but only time will tell if he can.

After all, it's no secret that some of the best moments in Atomic Blonde are the well-staged fight sequences. Check out one example, below.

On that note, make sure to keep an eye out for more updates related to Atomic Blonde 2 as they become available. For now, you can catch Charlize Theron in Jason Reitman's new film, Tully, in theaters on May 4.

It's an interesting time in Hollywood right now. The past few years saw plenty of conversations around inclusion and representation in entertainment. There have been calls for more diversity onscreen regarding gender, sexual orientation, and race. Those conversations seem to be paying off, as Doctor Who just welcomed its first female Time Lord, and the Marvel Cinematic Universe is becoming a much more female-oriented shared universe. There is another franchise that has been involved in the subject of inclusion: James Bond. With Daniel Craig departing the role after his next film, many have been calling for a person of color or female to take over 007. Charlize Theron's name has been thrown around quite a bit, and she's now responded to those rumors, saying:

While Charlize Theron seems flattered that fans are hoping she'll get a license to kill, it doesn't appear like the Academy Award winner is taking it all too seriously. In addition to having to break ground as the first female Bond, Theron seems to think that she's imply too old to join MI6 in a future sequel.

Charlize Theron's comments to Yahoo may be a head scratcher for hardcore James Bond fans, as she's hardly too old to play the 007. Theron is currently 42 years old, which is still quite young all things considered. Current James Bond Daniel Craig is playing the role at age 49, and he'll likely hit the big 5-0 before he hangs up his tux for the final time. If Craig isn't too old, then Theron definitely isn't.

Historically, James Bond actors have played the role till much older than 42 years old. Sean Connery played Bond until he was 53 and the late Roger Moore continued until he was a whopping 57 years old. Daniel Craig's Bond was preceded by Pierce Brosnan, who was 49 by the time Die Another Day hit theaters. And with Charlize Theron shown kicking serious ass in movies like Atomic Blonde, The Fate of the Furious, and Mad Max, she certainly seems to be a prime choice to play a female bond. That is, if a female bond ever actually happens.

CinemaBlend will be sure to update you on all things Bond. In the meantime, check out our 2018 release list to plan your trips to the movies.

This year was an interesting year for movies. While there are a few places where 2017 faltered from a cinematic perspective, one place where it was remarkably solid was in action set pieces. From the straight action of John Wick and Atomic Blonde to Edgar Wright's beautifully choreographed Baby Driver, there were some great moments for action fans this year.

Several of this year's comic book movies had some standout moments, and even some films that weren't strictly good overall had moments worth seeing if you're an action fan. Without further ado, here are the 10 best action scenes of 2017.

Atomic Blonde - Stairway Fight

We're calling it the Stairway Fight here, but it's so much more than that. Director David Leitch, who had previously helmed the excellent John Wick, takes action filmmaking to the next level with a sequence in Atomic Blonde that seems to go on forever. While it wasn't actually filmed in a single take, the cuts are hidden to present a real-time escape from a building that sees Charlize Theron take on a small army. It's a physical and visceral battle, and we see Theron get beaten up herself, to a degree you rarely see from women on the big screen. Watching Atomic Blonde is entirely worth it for this sequence alone.

Logan - Forest Battle

For over a decade we'd been waiting. Waiting to see Hugh Jackman's Wolverine cut loose and go full berserker in a way that the PG-13 X-Men movies simply wouldn't allow. In Logan, we finally got our wish, and it was everything we hoped. It was vicious and violent and bloody. Wolverine tears through bodies like paper. It was an action scene that was worth waiting for. What made it even better was that he wasn't alone. Fighting alongside him was Laura (X-23) who didn't hold back in the slightest simply because she was a child. Two brutal Wolverine fights for the price of one.It was the best way to say goodbye to such a legacy.

Star Wars: The Last Jedi - Praetorian Guard Battle

While opinions about Star Wars: The Last Jedi seem to be all over the map, if there's one thing it would seem we can all agree on, it's that the film's big lightsaber battle, which saw Rey and Klyo Ren take on Snoke's Praetorian Guard, was pretty damn awesome. It's stylish and beautifully choreographed in a way that few of Star Wars' lightsaber battles actually are. We see different fighting styles from each of the guard,thanks to their unique weapons, leading to different strategies from Rey and Ren. It's all finished off with one of the most simple, yet most brutal, moves with a lightsaber we've ever seen, as the final enemy has a whole burned through his skull.

Wonder Woman - No Man's Land

Hopes were very high for Wonder Woman as the first female-led superhero movie of the generation. It was the beautiful scene that saw Diana crossing the no man's land between the trenches of WWI that convinced many that Wonder Woman was exactly the movie they'd been waiting for. From the trenches, to liberating a French town, we see Wonder Woman take on a literal army while showing no fear. It's an epic scene that is something unique among comic book films. Wonder Woman shows true bravery and power, just the way we hoped she would.

John Wick Chapter 2 - Subway Fight

The original John Wick set a high bar when it came to action sequences, and while we're not sure the sequel quite surpassed anything from the original, John Wick 2 created some great moments in its own right. The best starts with a montage of every assassin in New York trying to track down John Wick, followed by the return of Cassius, played by Common, who's back to try and cash in on the bounty on Wick's head. The two taking pot shots at each other on a crowded subway platform is a thing of beauty and the final fight on the train is great close quarters combat. If Cassius survived, we can't wait to see what he does in John Wick: Chapter 3.

Pirates of the Caribbean: Dead Men Tell No Tales - Execution Escape

Pirates of the Carribean: Dead Men Tell No Tales wasn't the return to form of the franchise that we'd hoped it would be, but that doesn't mean the film was without value. The movie had a lot of promise after the way it opened, with a solid chase sequence. And the scene in which Jack Sparrow's crew helps him escape from execution is everything we love about the franchise, great sword fighting, split-second rescues, and a little bit of humor thrown in for good measure. Even Jack's guillotine escape is as exciting as it is funny. It's too bad the rest of the movie didn't hold up.

Baby Driver - Hocus Pocus Chase

Baby Driver is a movie that is all about action taking place behind the wheel of a car, and yet the film's best action sequence takes place almost entirely on foot. It's an exhilarating scene that sees Baby lead the cops on a chase all over town. Of course, part of what makes the chase so great is the perfect choice of music. "Hocus Pocus" by Focus is perfectly chosen and the way the soundtrack punctuates the action is part of what sets this scene, and this film, apart from most others.

Thor: Ragnarok - Thor vs Hulk

Thor and Hulk first went at it in the original Avengers film, but some third parties in fighter jets got involved, preventing us from seeing who would win. In the Grandmaster's arena in Thor: Ragnarok there would be nobody to stop these two this time. While Thor is a more reluctant participant in the fight, the Hulk forces the issue and we see the two strongest Avengers go at it in a fight we'll likely never see again. It's a great physical battle that has great humor along with its great action.

Guardians of the Galaxy Vol. 2 - Yondu's Arrow

The Guardiansof the Galaxy movies focus more on their humor than on their action, but that didn't stop this year's sequel from having a fantastic sequence of its own. Yondu, Rocket, and Groot escape from the Ravegers, and with the help of some of Star-Lord's music, the pair do it in style. Yondu's arrow flies all over the ship and takes out nearly everybody on the ship by itself, while the rest get blasted to kingdom come thanks to the hyper-violent Rocket. We had no idea these two would make such a perfect pair.

Kong: Skull Island - Kong vs. Skullcrawler

Kong: Skull Island was an epic reintroduction to the massive ape for the new Monsterverse. If there was any fear the film was going to hold off showing us great action with the giant ape, those fears were put aside early on. Yet it was the final battle with the massive skullcrawler that was the film's most epic throwdown. If this is just the beginning of what the monsterverse has to show us, we can't wait to see Kong go head-to-head with some of the genre's most famous creatures.

Movies based on comic books are always big box office business, but it's possible no year had better overall quality for the genre than 2017. Nearly every movie based on a comic book property wasn't simply successful, it was good. Nearly all of them were fun, and some of them were downright phenomenal.

Trying to rank all of 2017's comic book movies is a nearly impossible task. The level of quality is so good that putting one ahead of another is an exercise in hair-splitting. But, that's what we're here for, so let's do this. Here's every comic book movie in 2017 ranked in order of quality, starting at the bottom.

9. Valerian And The City Of A Thousand Planets

Based on the French comic book Valérian and Laureline, a lot of people were excited to see the director of The Fifth Element finally get a chance to make his passion project. Unfortunately, while Luc Besson may have had a passion for making Valerian and the City of a Thousand Planets, nobody in the story had any passion whatever. While the movie was just as visually stunning as we expected it to be, the lead characters played by Dane DeHaan and Cara Delevingne had absolutely no chemistry. The love story between the pair was half the movie, which made that half utterly boring. It's unfortunate, as this is really the only movie on the list which is truly bad.

Our review

8. Justice League

While Justice League finds itself low on this list, that's more a function of the genre's overall quality this year than a poor performance by this film. Justice League wasn't perfect, but it was fun. The cast making up the members of the Justice League is solid, and DC's big team-up had numerous memorable moments on which it can build the overall franchise. The movie had a forgettable villain, and ended up a bit messy due to attempts to balance the work of two directors combined with clearly unfinished CGI. The problems keep the movie from greatness, but it was still a solid superhero movie.

Our review

7. Atomic Blonde

Based on the graphic novel The Coldest City, Atomic Blonde saw Charlize Theron as one of the most badass action heroines we've seen on screen in a long time. The overall story is, well, fine. It's not particularly deep or interesting, and it doesn't always make sense. Having said that, the movie doesn't exist for the plot. The film's action is where it's at and it's worth the price of admission, especially a massive finale action sequence which needs to be seen to be believed. Atomic Blonde pulls no punches, making the movie as visceral and violent as any action movie starring a man.

Our review

6. Thor: Ragnarok

Marvel finally figured out Thor on the third try. After a solid, if unimpressive first outing, followed by an utterly forgettable sequel, director Taika Waititi took the helm and brought us the Thor we didn't know we'd been waiting for: a neon-infused, humor-filled, outer space romp. Chris Hemsworth finally got to show off his sense of humor, but the comedy never overshadowed the action of Thor: Ragnarok which, thanks to the added bonus of the Incredible Hulk, was as good as it's ever been. Great supporting performances by Tessa Thompson and Jeff Goldblum at his Jeff Goldbumiest helped elevate this one to a new level.

Our review

5. The LEGO Batman Movie

Batman stole the show in The LEGO Movie so it certainly made sense that he should get his own spinoff. He did not disappoint. While the story of The LEGO Batman Movie was over the top and ridiculous in the same way that The LEGO Movie was, it also had a lot of the same heart that the previous movie had. Combined with the sort of story that any true Batman fan would enjoy, with plenty of hilarious references to the various incarnations of the character, this was as good a Batman film, and as good a LEGO film, as we've seen.

Our review

4. Guardians of the Galaxy Vol. 2

Guardians of the Galaxy was a surprise hit when it came out, and so the sequel had a lot to live up to. While the movie may not be getting quite the universal love of the original, much of that is simply because we've come to expect so much from James Gunn. Guardians of the Galaxy Vol. 2 had an emotional core which the first film never quite achieved and the arcs of Yondu, Peter, and Rocket all showed real growth for them as characters. It all makes the sequel a worthy successor to the first movie, and a sequel that's not to be missed.

Our review

3. Spider-Man: Homecoming

Much like Batman, Spider-Man has been getting movies on a near constant basis for almost 20 years. The first standalone effort of the MCU for the character had a lot to live up to, and also a lot to overcome -- and remarkably, Spider-Man: Homecoming did a great job doing both. Tom Holland's Peter Parker is every bit the Spider-Man you know and love, while still bringing something wholly fresh to the character on screen. The youthful excitement of this version of the character was infectious, bringing the audience along for the ride. Homecoming has us very excited to see what comes next for the wall-crawler.

Our review

2. Wonder Woman

After her debut in Batman v Superman: Dawn of Justice, we were all excited to see what Wonder Woman's solo big screen debut would look like. Our hopes were high, and yet, the Amazon princess had little problem meeting, and then exceeding, them. Gal Gadot is the perfect person to play Wonder Woman and if there was any doubt in that, it's all gone now. Wonder Woman isn't just the greatest female superhero, but in comic book movie world, she's one of the greatest heroes, period. DC's first unqualified film hit is one of the best movies of the year, comic book or otherwise.

Our review

1. Logan

Many have wondered if and when the comic book movie genre would finally achieve the sort of success among movie awards that it has achieved at the box office. While it's too early to know for sure if Logan will actually receive that recognition, the film certainly makes it clear that such things are possible. Hugh Jackman's farewell to the role that made him a superstar is as dramatic and emotionally powerful as any "Oscar bait" drama coming out now. Logan is without question the best comic book movie of 2017, it's possibly the best comic book movie ever made.

Our review

November is a month for tryptophan and parades, but it's also a month for some pretty big home entertainment releases. As the holidays approach, people are looking for stocking stuffers and the major studios are ready to oblige. You can take a look at the myriad movie and TV releases, below, which includes some big stuff from Pixar, some fun releases from Netflix and more. One of the upcoming releases this month is Westworld: The Complete First Season, which means instead of a few weeks before the release of Season 2, fans can pick up the set presumably at least a few months before the show (finally) comes back to HBO.

If you are looking for October's list of DVD and Digital releases, we have you covered. Per usual, Digital releases are the same day as the Blu-ray and Digital, unless otherwise noted in the early Digital column.

Tuesday, November 7 Blu-ray, DVD and Digital Releases

Cars 3

Patti Cake$

The Glass Castle

American Dad! Volume 12

Ingrid Goes West

Heartland

The Crown: The Complete First Season

Westworld: The Complete First Season

Masterpiece Poldark: The Complete Third Season

Gun Shy

Family Guy Season 15

The Limehouse Golem

Killing Ground

Overdrive

The Godfather Trilogy: Omerta Edition

Champion

Week of Tuesday, November 7 Early Digital Releases

Battlecreek (November 3)

Valerian and the City of a Thousand Planets

The Hitman's Bodyguard

Birth of the Dragon

Tuesday, November 14 Blu-ray, DVD and Digital Releases

Atomic Blonde

24: Legacy

Wind River

Doctor Who: The Complete Tenth Series

Preacher: Season One

Mariah Carey's All I Want For Christmas Is You

The Nut Job 2: Nutty By Nature

6 Below: Miracle on the Mountain

Amityville: The Awakening

Brigsby Bear

Unlocked

The Secret Scripture

Aquarius

Week of Tuesday, November 14 Early Digital Releases

Logan Lucky

Brigsby Bear

Tulip Fever

Tuesday, November 21 Blu-ray, DVD and Digital Releases

The Hitman's Bodyguard

Valerian and the City of a Thousand Planets

Good Time

Leap!

Birth of the Dragon

The Librarians: Season Three

Savage Dog

Lemon

Jungle

Thumper

The Villainess

Mule

The Fall: Series 3

Ryde

Dark Signal

Crown Heights

Beach Rats

Week of Tuesday, November 21 Early Digital Releases

IT

American Assassin

Despicable Me 3

Home Again

The Trip to Spain

Woodshock

Tuesday, November 28 Blu-ray, DVD and Digital Releases

Gilmore Girls: A Year in the Life

Logan Lucky

Tulip Fever

Lost in Paris

The Defiant Ones

Rememory

Woodshock

I Do Until I Don't

M.F.A.

Super Dark Times

Acts of Vengence

Week of Tuesday, November 28 Early Digital Releases

All Saints

Detroit

While primetime is gearing up this fall, home entertainment is still in the prime part of the year. Big tentpole summer movies are making their way onto Blu-ray, DVD and Digital. Plus, it's the time of year when the networks and studios are releasing full seasons of TV, just a short while before the new seasons start airing. So if you have favorites you'd like to keep on your shelf there's a lot to choose from. And if you missed an episode or two of a show like The Good Place, there's a lot to catch up on. Whether you are a fan of superhero projects like Spider-Man: Homecoming, crowd pleasers like Disney's Pirates franchise or indie flicks like A Ghost Story, there's something to look forward to in October, and you can peruse upcoming titles, below.

If you are looking for September's big DVD and Digital releases, we have you covered. Take a look at the full list of what's out in September 2017. Per usual, Digital releases are the same day as the Blu-ray and Digital, unless otherwise noted in the early Digital column.

Tuesday, October 3 DVD And Blu-ray Releases

Pirates of the Caribbean: Dead Men Tell No Tales

A Ghost Story

The Book Of Henry

American Horror Story: The Complete Sixth Season

Cult of Chucky

iZombie: The Complete Third Season

House of Cards: The Complete Fifth Season

Goon: Last of the Enforcers

Heartland

The Wizard of Lies

Vikings: Season 4, Volume 2

2 Broke Girls: The Complete Sixth Season DVD

Kick-Ass 4K

Week Of Tuesday, October 3 Early Digital Releases

Girls Trip

Maudie

Churchill

Lady Macbeth

Tuesday, October 10 DVD And Blu-ray Releases

Baby Driver

The House

Peanuts Holiday Collection: Deluxe Edition (4K)

The Beguiled

Wish Upon

The Leftovers: The Complete Third Season

Reign: The Complete Fourth Season

Maudie

Week Of Tuesday, October 10 Early Digital Releases

War For The Planet Of the Apes

The Emoji Movie

Batman vs. Two-Face

Tuesday, October 17 DVD And Blu-ray Releases

Spider-Man: Homecoming

Girls Trip

Samurai Jack: The Complete Series

Samurai Jack: Season 5

American Gods: Season 1

Landline

The Good Place: The Complete First Season

Batman vs. Two-Face

Lady Macbeth

Ancient Aliens: Season 10, Volume 1

God of War

Justice

Shopkins World Vacation

Week Of Tuesday, October 17 Early Digital Releases

The Dark Tower

Tuesday, October 24 DVD And Blu-ray Releases

War for the Planet of the Apes

Annabelle: Creation

The Emoji Movie

Teen Wolf: Season 6, Part 2

An Inconvenient Sequel: Truth To Power

Bushwick

Warrior 4K Ultra HD

Personal Shopper

Planetarium

Saving Hope: Season 5

Week Of Tuesday, October 24 Early Digital Releases

Atomic Blonde

The Glass Castle

Cars 3

Tuesday, October 31 DVD And Blu-ray Releases

The Dark Tower

Person to Person

The Shadow Man (DVD)

Kidnap

Outcast: Season 1

Broken Sword Hero

Humans 2.0

This has notably been an unfortunate summer for sequels, but when crafting a box office formula for success, one thing that really helps is keeping the budget down. That's what Annabelle: Creation managed to do, and it's now earned the top spot domestically. Check out the full rundown in the chart below!

As we've pointed out in past weeks, sequels like Alien: Covenant, Pirates of the Caribbean: Dead Men Tell No Tales, and Transformers: The Last Knight all disappointed when they opened earlier in the season, but you can count Annabelle: Creation as a successful sequel in Summer 2017. The movie only cost a reported grand total of $15 million, so bringing in more than double that in its first three days is a nice score. The horror feature from director David Sandberg has carried positive buzz for weeks now, and while it only secured a 'B' CinemaScore, it could end the month of August with very healthy box office to budget ratio.

When discussing a sequel, it's always nice to compare it to the original - and the numbers are actually very similar. Directed by John Leonetti, the first Annabelle actually made $37 million when it opened in October 2014, which was even more impressive at the time because that particular chapter of the growing Conjuring Universe was only made for a reported $6.5 million. It went on to do well domestically, but even better abroad, and by the time its theatrical run is over it had made more than $250 million worldwide. That's some crazy success right there, and it will be interesting to see if Annabelle: Creation can get near those numbers.

Taking the discussion about disappointing sequels this summer even further, it's been a particularly weak year for animation. Despicable Me 3 opened much softer than its predecessors; Cars 3 really came and went; and The Emoji Movie, as you can see above, is about the exit the Top 5 in just its third week. Now you can add The Nut Job 2: Nutty By Nature to that list. Another follow-up to a 2014 film, the new movie didn't have as powerful a predecessor (The Nut Job made $120 million worldwide during its release window), but still nobody can be happy with these results. The $8 million take is less than half of what the original made in its opening weekend - and that was in January.

The last new release to discuss is The Glass Castle, which was out in far fewer theaters than the rest of the Top 10, but it's numbers still aren't amazing. An adaptation of Jeannette Walls' book of the same name, and looking much more like a fall release than a summer, the movie didn't even hit the $5 million mark this weekend, and only pulled in a little less than $3,500 per theater. It almost certainly doesn't help that the feature is sporting a 50% on Rotten Tomatoes.

After some big scares this weekend with Annabelle: Creation, the next time around looks a lot more upbeat. This Friday we will be seeing the arrival of not only Stephen Soderbergh's new heist comedy Logan Lucky, but also the pairing on Ryan Reynolds and Samuel L. Jackson in The Hitman's Bodyguard. Stay tuned for our report next Sunday to analyze their box office performance!

August is notoriously not a great movie month. With expectations for ticket sales already low in general, studios typically use the four weeks to release features not worthy of release in any other point on the calendar. This past weekend was definitely worthy of that reputation, as a $19 million score managed to win the number one spot at the box office. Check out the full chart below!

Oof. There is definitely not a lot to celebrate here. Stephen King fans have been waiting patiently for years to finally see the heroic Roland Deschain up on the big screen, but it's been nothing but bad news for The Dark Tower in the last week. The reviews were not kind at all, with the movie's Rotten Tomatoes score currently standing at a terrible 18%, and the would-be blockbuster only learned a little more than a million dollars per percentage point during its first three days in wide release.

The Dark Tower is a film that notoriously went through ridiculous ups and downs as it was trying to make its way to the big screen, and that has never done anything positive for box office numbers (see: John Carter). If the project's reported budget is accurate - $60 million - it won't be a devastating loss to the folks at Sony (and it's clear that they didn't exactly dump a whole lot of money into marketing), but this is the kind of result that can kill a would-be franchise. Foreign numbers could end up helping it, but this certainly isn't the outcome that the studio was looking for.

In what's arguably more disappointing news, even critical-smashes couldn't get a win this weekend. Kathryn Bigelow's Detroit expanded into wide release this weekend after starting off in only a handful of theaters, and it didn't exactly rake in the dough. The socially-relevant period piece only pulled in less than half of the business that The Dark Tower did - making only $7.2 million, which was good enough only for eighth place. Of course, the big advantage that Detroit has is that people will be talking about it for months as we get into awards season. It just may have been a mistake to have it out during the summer.

Frankly, the only "win" among new releases this weekend may be Kidnap, starring Halle Berry. The thriller has no reported budget, but it's impossible to believe that it cost a great deal - which means that it could be on its way to making its money back/turning a profit. It's carrying a "B+" CinemaScore rating, so it could wind up having some legs as we move through the doldrums of August releases.

As for the rest of the Top 10, things pretty much moved as expected. Christopher Nolan's Dunkirk continues to hold strong and only dropped about 34 percent; The Emoji Movie fell the average 50 percent in its second week; and Spider-Man: Homecoming has gotten closer to $300 million domestically with an $8.8 million take. And we would be remiss if we didn't point out that this weekend was the first since early June where Wonder Woman didn't place on the chart.

We have hopes that next week will help lull the box office out of the typical August stupor, with the horror sequel Annabelle: Creation, the book adaptation The Glass Castle, and the animated The Nut Job 2: Nutty by Nature all coming out in wide release. Come back next Sunday to see how it all shakes out!

If you haven't seen Atomic Blonde you may have already heard about one scene in the film which is an absolute marvel to watch. If you have seen Atomic Blonde I don't need to remind you what scene that is. The action packed finale of Atomic Blonde is one of the most physically brutal fight scenes that has yet been put to film. One of the reasons that it comes across so viscerally is because the entire thing is edited together to look like a single shot. There are cuts, but they're well hidden so the audience doesn't notice them. As you might imagine, filming such a sequence was quite complicated, primarily because they couldn't really wait to put the scene together in editing, it had to be done on location.

Atomic Blonde's editor, Elísabet Ronaldsdóttir, had to actually be on site during the fight scene to watch the entire thing as it was shot, in chronologic order. Director David Leitch told Variety that they would do 15-20 takes of each shot, there are a total of 40 in the final cut, then, Ronaldsdóttir would decide which take they wanted to use. Once that was decided for one shot, they knew how to setup the next shot. Also, since the camera is moving almost constantly, they had to make sure the camera starts moving at the same angle and speed that it ended with in the previous shot. Obviously, if you wait to make these decisions in an editing suite later, the shots might not line up perfectly, making the illusion of a single camera and a single shot vanish.

We thought the fight scene looked physical and exhausting in the final cut, Charlize Theron just gets beat to hell. The idea of doing each shot 20 times just makes the entire thing feel that much more violent. The final sequence is about 10 minutes of the movie and it looks amazing. It's worth seeing Atomic Blonde just to see that scene. The illusion of the uninterrupted shot is perfect and it makes everything feel that much more real.

Director David Leitch, who co-directed John Wick prior to Atomic Blonde, has shown himself to be a fantastic action director already. Apparently, he'd always wanted to do something like this while working as a stunt coordinator, but could never get a director to go along. Now that he's the guy in charge, he gets to make the decisions. Having seen the end result, we can't wait to see what other great ideas he has for future movies as he's creating some of the best action we've seen on screen in a long time.

Atomic Blonde is in theaters now.

SPOILER WARNING: The following article contains minor spoilers for Atomic Blonde. If you have not yet seen the film, and don't wish to have any details at all revealed before your screening, please bookmark this page and save it until after you've gone to the movies!

Director David Leitch's Atomic Blonde pulls off something rather extraordinary about three-quarters of the way through the movie. While there are stunning action scenes throughout the entire flick, there is nothing greater than the extended sequence where the audience follows Charlize Theron on an ass-kicking adventure through not only through multiple floors of a building, but also into a moving car, all in what appears to be just one single shot. It's an incredible achievement the likes of which we've never seen... but the director did have some key inspiration -- namely Alfonso Cuaron's brilliant Children of Men. Discussing the specific sequence, Leitch recently told me,

I had the pleasure of talking with David Leitch about Atomic Blonde last week when we sat down for an interview at San Diego Comic-Con, and I definitely couldn't go the entire conversation without discussing the new movie's most incredible scene. Curious about how the one-shot sequence first came about, Leitch noted that the cinematography in 2006's Children of Men was an incredibly important touchstone, in that it both served as initial inspiration as well as encouragement to push things even further.

Watching Atomic Blonde, you can definitely see the influence of the Alfonso Cuaron movie, and how David Leitch took the challenge of the one-shot sequence to the next level. The most famous scene in Children of Men is a four minute-take entirely set in a car while the heroes are being attacked, and Atomic Blonde essentially pulls that off at the tail end of a much longer and more insane series of events. It's a remarkable sight to behold, and one that action fans will likely be talking about for a very, very long time.

For more about Atomic Blonde, be sure to click play on the video below, where you can watch my entire conversation with David Leitch at San Diego Comic-Con!

Atomic Blonde is now in theaters nationwide -- so go check it out, and hit the comments section below with your thoughts on what is unquestionably its standout action sequence!

Director David Leitch knows something about launching action franchises. After all, back in 2014 he collaborated with co-director Chad Stahelski to bring us the fantastic John Wick, and that movie has not only already inspired a Chapter 2 and a video game, but also a developing Chapter 3 and television series. It was with this in mind that I recently asked the filmmaker about the potential for a follow-up to his latest directorial effort -- Atomic Blonde -- and he told me it would be an opportunity he would be very much be interested in. Said Leitch,

I had the pleasure of sitting down for an interview with David Leitch at San Diego Comic-Con, and after a long conversation about the making of Atomic Blonde I hit him with the sequel question. And while the movie's box office performance will ultimately have a huge say in whether or not we will ever see an Atomic Blonde 2, the best news that Leitch could provide is that it's something that he and his creative team (presumably including writer Kurt Johnstad) would be thrilled to pursue.

Atomic Blonde certainly has all the makings of a franchise-starter so far -- particularly in that it introduces an incredibly exciting new protagonist to the world of modern action films. It was only a couple years ago that Charlize Theron floored us with Furiosa in Mad Max: Fury Road, but now she's being introduced to the world as the badass Lorraine Broughton, an MI6 agent operating in Cold War-era Berlin and constantly, deftly fighting for her life in the process. In the same way that Keanu Reeves was called upon to do a great deal of his own stunts in John Wick, Atomic Blonde reveals Theron as a serious ass-kicker in her own right, and an Atomic Blonde 2 would obviously be a perfect vehicle for her to continue showing off her skills.

Of course, should everything pan out at the box office, there would be the question of "When?" and that's a fairly big question mark -- particularly because of what else David Leitch currently has going on. The filmmaker is right now in the midst of directing the hotly-anticipated (and untitled) Deadpool 2, and considering there have already been talks about Deadpool 3, one has to wonder exactly how much time Leitch might have in the coming years to work on an Atomic Blonde 2. We'll just have to wait and see!

You can watch our full Atomic Blonde interview with David Leitch at San Diego Comic-Con by clicking play on the video below!

Atomic Blonde, which stars Charlize Theron alongside James McAvoy, Toby Jones, John Goodman, and Sofia Boutella, is in theaters now -- and stay tuned for more updates about the a potential franchise future here on CinemaBlend!

In the face of a dearth of mainstream, female-fronted action films and thrillers, Charlize Theron has admirably delivered instantly memorable characters for the better part of two decades. From her Academy Award-winning turn in Patty Jenkins' Monster to her now iconic performance as Furiosa in Mad Max: Fury Road, she has consistently shown us that she's one of the most committed actresses alive. Building off of that reputation, David Leitch's Atomic Blonde is Theron's long-awaited foray into the spy genre, and while the film's story pretty much falls apart from the get go, the sheer amount of skill on display in its technical direction and performances make it worth checking out.

Told through a series of flashbacks, Atomic Blonde chronicles a ten-day period leading to the fall of the Berlin Wall in 1989. Ahead of that landmark occasion, we meet up with elite MI6 agent Lorraine Broughton (Charlize Theron) on a mission to recover a secret list of allied agents stolen by a KGB assassin when a former MI6 colleague (and lover) turns up dead. Along the way, Broughton finds herself forced to forge uneasy alliances with British agent David Percival (James McAvoy) and a mysterious French woman (Sofia Boutella) as she navigates Berlin's deadly, stylish, and endlessly cool underworld to accomplish her mission and get out alive. That's the core thesis of this film, but it only gets murkier from there.

Although Atomic Blonde comes packed to the brim with delightfully colorful characters, few can compare to Berlin itself. In fact, one could easily argue that Atomic Blonde is a two-hour love letter to the gritty German capital city. Setting the film against the backdrop of the final days of the Cold War is a stroke of genius, as the entire city (East and West alike) constantly feels like a powder keg on the verge of exploding. The scenes that take place in Berlin maintain a consistent aura of suspense and dread, but that tension often feels undercut by the film's insistence on picking up with Broughton in the "present day" as she recounts her flashbacks. It's an interesting narrative choice, but it sometimes seems like the movie opts for the flare at the expense of the drama.

That said, when I say Atomic Blonde is a stylish film, I sincerely mean it. Atomic Blonde is unquestionably beautiful, and David Leitch does a phenomenal job with regards to adding warmth, vibrancy, and color to a city and era that's often depicted in dull shades of gray and brown. Couple that with a synth-centric 1980s soundtrack (that admittedly borders on abrasive at times), and you're left with a film that you're not likely to find anywhere else this summer.

That sense of style and spectacle goes double for Atomic Blonde's action sequences, which are easily some of the best that we have seen all year. David Leitch brings the same technical prowess to Lorraine Broughton's fist fights that he did for Keanu Reeves' John Wick, and as a result, Atomic Blonde never fails to deliver refreshingly bone-crunching melees. I hesitate to draw too many comparisons to other franchises, but I would go so far as to say that Atomic Blonde's fights are considerably more intense than anything seen in the John Wick films because they feel less choreographed, and Ms. Broughton isn't framed as a force of nature. She is simply a natural brawler with an incredible pain tolerance and a willingness to do anything to get the job done.

On that note, no discussion about the action in Atomic Blonde would be complete without giving special credit to the film's central "stairway fight," that features prominently in the trailers. Without delving too far into spoiler territory, I can at the very least confirm that it is unquestionably one of the best fight sequences ever committed to film (western film, at least), and a master class in long form action storytelling. Seriously, that one scene alone is worth the price of admission, just to see it on a big screen.

Of course, for all of the accolades that we can heap upon Atomic Blonde, none of this would be possible without the central performance that grounds the entire film. Charlize Theron absolutely kills it (often literally) in this movie, and Lorraine Broughton offers her a chance to unleash the bonafide action star that we have come to know her as over the years. Every muscle in her body commits to the film's many action sequences, and Theron sells Broughton's jaded and mysterious pain (with a healthy dose of sex appeal as well) in a way that we haven't seen in a movie since Daniel Craig's earliest days as James Bond in Casino Royale.

That's not to say that the other performances in the movie aren't good, as well. James McAvoy provides his typically reliable charm (with a nice amount of slimy despicability for good measure), and Sofia Boutella once again proves that she's one of Hollywood's most underutilized actresses. However, this is ultimately Theron's show, and she owns every single one of her scenes. If there's one real complaint to have about her, it's that she's a bit too mysterious for the bulk of the film's runtime, and the story doesn't give us enough reasons to root for her aside from the fact that she's obviously the protagonist.

However, as much as we want to heap praise upon Atomic Blonde's style and impressive lead performance, it still cannot escape from the fact that it's borderline incomprehensible for most of its runtime. The basic story is simple enough, but character motivations never really feel firmly fleshed out in a meaningful way. With so many characters running around, (and so many of them trying to masquerade as something they're not) the film's numerous double and triple crosses sometimes border on Indiana Jones and the Kingdom of the Crystal Skull level of ridiculousness. It all makes sense at the very end, but it's a headache that makes you feel as though Lorraine herself just smashed a hot plate across your head.

At the end of the day, we cannot deny the sheer amount of technical skill and commitment on full display in Atomic Blonde. My only real gripe is that the film's story suffers as a result of the tradeoff. If you're an action nut with an affinity for technical movie magic, then Atomic Blonde will almost certainly deliver, but those looking for a coherent story should look elsewhere.

Atomic Blonde hits theaters this weekend, and recently the movie celebrated its big U.S. premiere ahead of the film's theatrical release. While at the premiere Charlize Theron took a moment to thank her dentists---all three of 'em---for their hard work. And if you've been keeping tabs on Charlize Theron and Atomic Blonde at all, you may already know that the tribute is very fitting. Here's what the actress said at the Ace Hotel in Los Angeles on Monday night.

So, why thank her dentists? It's because they had to do a lot of work on Charlize Theron's mouth during the filming of Atomic Blonde, an action-oriented film that caused a lot of pain for the actress, when, in a twist of fate, she totally cracked a couple of her teeth while training for the film. What followed were months of intense dealings with her dentists, and as recently as four months ago, she was still undergoing surgery to fix the teeth that she had damaged.

The lesson to be learned from this is that you should never clench your teeth while fighting, as the actress has been very open that her arm strength wasn't strong enough and those two things combined caused an intense injury during her first month of training. She also--graphically--had to deal with having multiple root canals and eventually opted to just cut one of the teeth out. Screws and more surgeries were involved and it sounds like she eventually got an implant for the missing tooth. So, the least she could do was thank her dentists for all the time and work they put in (via USA Today).

Still, from what we've seen the end result looks brutal but phenomenal. Charlize Theron just wails on multiple people in the various trailers for Atomic Blonde and at one point she even manages to brutally beat someone with her stiletto. She may have dealt with a lot of pain in order to make the role look good, but the ends look to justify the means, here. You can take a look at the trailer for the movie, below.

Atomic Blonde is out this weekend, on July 28. To take a look at what other movies are still hitting theaters this summer, take a look at our summer movie premiere schedule.

As the month of July draws to a close, we don't get a big blockbuster like Dunkirk or a Wonder Woman in this week's set of wide releases, but Charlize Theron is at least kicking some tail, and the kids will have something to check out. Let's take a look at Atomic Blonde and The Emoji Movie.

Just remember, I'm not reviewing these movies, but rather predicting where they'll end up on the Tomatometer. Let's take a look at This Rotten Week has to offer.

This has been a pretty good summer for women kicking ass. While Princess Diana of Themyscira won World War I and the box office with Wonder Woman, we now get Charlize Theron working her way through late 80's Berlin in an attempt to kick the crap out of every bad guy in the city. In Atomic Blonde, she is serving up a hot plate of whoop-ass in what looks like a frenetic and funny movie that continues the idea that not just men have to carry action films.

Director David Leitch has already pulled somewhat unexpected critical acclaim with high class action co-directing the original John Wick (85%). That movie, which was Leitch's directorial debut, kept the foot on the gas the entire time, and never really came up for air until almost everyone was dead. This latest looks to be a lot of the same. It appears a tour-de-force with enough laughs to make it well-rounded. Early reviews are overwhelmingly positive with the Tomatometer sitting at about 80%. I don't think it moves too much over the course of the week, and Charlize Theron proves again (after Mad Max: Fury Road) that she's more than up for this genre.

It was probably only a matter of time before we saw an entire movie based around the emojis living inside a cell phone. I suppose most kids can identify with the idea, even if it is about as moronic a concept as has ever been put on the big screen. Nonetheless, it's time to get ready for The Emoji Movie.

In this one, an 'Meh' emoji (voiced by T.J. Miller) feels the need to express itself beyond one emotion, and the "story" just kind of goes on from there. I couldn't even make it through the trailer of a movie that looks like it has nothing to offer but cliches and pandering to the younger generation. In an age when animated movies are as amazing as they are, it's a shame that something as stupid-looking as The Emoji Movie has managed to get made.

The Rotten Watch went a solid three for three last week, with every prediction landing within ten percent. I can't do much better than that. For starters, Dunkirk (Predicted: 85% Actual: 92%) has been hailed as a tremendous big screen experience, and Christopher Nolan's treatment of a turning point in the Allied defense against the German onslaught knocked it out of the park with critics. It's definitely a nice bounce back for the director after the disappointing Interstellar (71%).

Meanwhile, Valerian and the City of a Thousand Planets (Predicted: 50% Actual: 54%) landed right in range, and had critics pretty much split down the middle. Reviews were mixed, with the visual effects earning raves, but the lead performances from Dane DeHaan and Cara Delevingne getting sharply criticized. It's a shame for a movie that did have quite a bit of hype when it was announced the popular story was getting a big screen treatment.

And finally, Girl's Trip (Predicted: 84% Actual: 89%) finished strong with critics. It's great to see another female-led buddy comedy nail the laughs and the story. You could tell from the trailer that this movie had a solid chance to score well with critics because it didn't appear to pull any punches with the jokes - and critics also praised the on-screen dynamics of the cast in a way the recently released Rough Night just couldn't pull off. This is a huge win for a comedy.

Next time around we've got The Dark Tower, Detroit and Kidnap. It's gonna be a Rotten Week!

If you've been keeping tabs on Atomic Blonde, you may have seen trailers featuring Charlize Theron brutally beating people with her stilettos and more. However, what you may not know is that while Theron was putting herself through training for those grueling fight scenes, she dealt with some major issues with her teeth. Like gross and graphic issues. She recently spoke out about what happened on Atomic Blonde, and provided you aren't weirded out by people talking about teeth issues, you can check out her comments, below.

Anyone who has dealt with major teeth stuff before, from implants to bridges and definitely root canals should know major dental stuff is not a walk in the park. Charlize Theron actually cracked two teeth while training for Atomic Blonde, and it was painful. At first, however, she thought what she had were just cavities, telling Variety that it was only after a visit to the dentist that she realized her teeth issues were far more serious and surgery would be required. Even as recently as three months ago, Charlize Theron was still dealing with the horrific incident.

Brutal.

With a little luck, Atomic Blonde will be a case of the ends justifying the means. The movie opens in theaters on July 28, and will hopefully bring in quite a bit of moolah for an independent movie with a reported $30 million budget. Word of mouth after the movie's SXSW premiere has been loud, and Universal reportedly even took over the marketing from Focus Features to bring more attention to the flick.

If you haven't caught all of the action Charlize Theron will get up to in the film, you can get the gist with this scene featuring Theron whaling on co-star James McAvoy, below.

Plus, be sure to take a look at what else is heading to theaters in the summer months with our full premiere schedule. Hopefully, most of these other movies didn't see the actors getting awful oral injuries.

While the action genre certainly has a history of skewing towards male heroes, plenty of female badasses have become iconic over the years as well. From Ellen Ripley to Lara Croft, women have played central roles in some of the coolest action sequences ever committed to film. Now it looks like Atomic Blonde's Lorraine Broughton (Charlize Theron) is about to join that hall of fame as well. A new clip from the upcoming action flick has just debuted online, and it shows the Oscar winner laying a serious beat down on James McAvoy's David Percival. Take a look at the scene below, and prepare to wince for McAvoy.

That sequence doesn't necessarily provide us with much context for the overarching Atomic Blonde narrative, but it definitively goes a long way towards fleshing out the film's characters -- and the dynamic between them. One thing is certain: Lorraine Broughton will clearly have trust issues during her mission in Berlin (a natural state, considering her line of work as a spy/assassin). The relationship between Percival and Broughton almost feels reminiscent of a buddy movie, with an appropriate balance of witty banter and playful antagonism between them. Whether or not James McAvoy's character is really a friend or a foe remains to be seen, but his dynamic with Charlize Theron is definitely one of the most exciting qualities of the upcoming film -- aside from the badass action sequences, that is.

Of course, I would be remiss for not directly acknowledging the fact that one of Atomic Blonde's biggest selling points is the titular atomic blonde. Over the course of her career, Charlize Theron has consistently proven herself as one of the most reliable and daring actresses in Hollywood. She has a strong action pedigree (look no further than her role as Furiosa in George Miller's Mad Max: Fury Road if you need evidence of that fact) and Atomic Blonde really feels like the culmination of everything that she excels at as a performer. It is highly physical and insanely intense, but it also has a humorous undercurrent that keeps things light and fun.

Having said that, for all of the credit that we want to give to Charlize Theron, we still need to acknowledge the man behind the camera as well. Atomic Blonde looks like a fantastic action extravaganza, and that is primarily made possible due to the deft filmmaking style of David Leitch. Numerous action and suspense techniques perfected on the John Wick films are on full display in Atomic Blonde as well, and it is fairly clear that we may very well have another potential franchise on our hands if audiences respond well to the upcoming film.

Atomic Blonde will debut in theaters later this month on July 28. If you are currently on the lookout for more information concerning the rest of the films set to debut in 2017, make sure to check out our comprehensive movie premiere guide!

As June winds down at the box office, the second half of 2017 is looming, ready to jump out and grab us. Which means there's another month of movie viewing fun heading to screens all over, and its name just happens to be July. Yes folks, it's time to break out your schedules and make room for 10 big time products of cinema, as the following films are ready to potentially earn your money, as well as your respect.

Spider-Man: Homecoming

Yeah, it hasn't been that long since Peter Parker was swinging around on his web on our screens, but Spider-Man: Homecoming marks a rebirth of the famed web-slinger nonetheless. With The Amazing Spider-Man duology now firmly in the rear view, it's time to get excited about New York's friendly neighborhood arachnid-human hybrid. The advanced buzz is only heightening the anticipation, as people seem to really dig Tom Holland's first solo effort as the kid who would be the man who would be the Spider-Man. If it's even just more of the same spidey stuff we saw in Captain America: Civil War, we're already souped.

Opening: Friday, July 7

A Ghost Story

Grief is a theme that can be explored in so many ways, especially when it pertains to the death of a loved one. Yet A Ghost Story seems to go about its examination of what we leave behind in the wake of our departure in a way we rarely see: we're going to follow the ghost's point of view. With Casey Affleck as the titular ghost and Rooney Mara as the woman grieving for his passing, it looks we're going to see far past the point one would normally see in such a story. But from what we're hearing, it's probably a good idea for you to avoid the trailers if you're even slightly hyped about the latest from A24.

Opening: Friday, July 7

War for the Planet of the Apes

As if the recent tide of critical buzz wasn't enough to entice us into getting ready to experience War for the Planet of the Apes, the fact that the movie just looks so damned good was enough to draw us closer to this revolutionary finale. With the Apes trilogy already delivering some solid base hits with Rise and Dawn of the Planet of the Apes, it looks like War for the Planet of the Apes could be the home run the series has been aiming to deliver.

Opening: Friday, July 14

Wish Upon

What would summer movie season be without some prime choice horror films? That's right, it'd be totally boring. So while we'll have to wait a little longer for The Conjuring Universe to thrill us with Annabelle: Creation, we'll have relative upstart Wish Upon to look forward to. While the scares in this new film aren't based on any sort of true life stories, they do look like they come from recurring nightmares that anyone can relate to. Of course, the big bow on this package of horror delight is the fact that it's directed by John R. Leonetti, the man who brought Annabelle to audiences just a couple of summers ago.

Opening: Friday, July 14

Dunkirk

Christopher Nolan has been working pretty hard on delivering his World War II epic, Dunkirk, ever since Interstellar blasted off into the public consciousness back in 2014. Every peek at what he's been cooking up as a follow-up has been short, but extremely sweet, as the practical effects / shot on film approach Nolan loves to take with his films suits Dunkirk the best out of all of his films. With rumors of buying a World War II plane, just to crash it on film, make us think that no matter what was spent on this film, every cent will be seen on the screen. His first historical narrative, the film just might win over folks that have been sour on Nolan's more recent works.

Opening: Friday, July 21st

Girls Trip

Last month, Rough Night tried to deliver a win for the female-centric party comedy, and it was received with mixed response. Naturally, there's room for the genre to land a solid win, and Girls Trip is aiming to land a very similar audience's attention. Of course, there's two distinct advantages this film has in its corner, the first being that director Malcolm D. Lee has made similar comedy hits out of films like The Best Man and Undercover Brother. Adding in the second advantage of a cast that includes Queen Latifah, Regina Hall, Jada Pinkett-Smith, and Mike Coulter pretty much makes this a film to keep an eye out for.

Opening: Friday, July 21

Valerian and the City of a Thousand Planets

It's been a while since we've had a batshit weird sci-fi epic, at least one as nutsy as The Fifth Element hit the scene 20 years ago. Well, leave it to director Luc Besson to return to those metaphorical stomping grounds to provide another futuristic head trip in Valerian and the City of a Thousand Planets. If Dane DeHaan and Cara Delevingne weren't as committed to selling this colorful, fantastical world, we'd probably be less inclined to be this excited. But everything we've seen has impressed us to the point where we're convinced we'll be singing this one's praises not too long after release.

Opening: Friday, July 21

Atomic Blonde

Question: how do you fear the release of a Charlize Theron-centered marathon of ass kickings? Answer: you don't, particularly when it's directed by David Leitch, one half of the team behind John Wick. Of course, the only fear that may have struck fans of Atomic Blonde's campaign of teasers is that of running into an angry Theron in a dark alley, and who could blame them? Let's not forget, the action in this film is partially fueled by sparring sessions Charlize had with her former co-star Keanu Reeves. Considering how well his training worked out for his role in John Wick, this looks like another sleeper action hit in the making.

Opening: Friday, July 28

The Emoji Movie

These days, there's a kids movie for pretty much anything. So in a world where Storks, Trolls, and Angry Birds all have animated products based on their I.P., surely The Emoji Movie was bound to happen. Similar to those films, the would-be kiddie blockbuster has an impressive cast, with T.J. Miller, Anna Farris, Maya Rudolph, and Patrick Stewart are all part of an even bigger celebrity cast that hope to bring another "unseen world" to life. Oddly enough, due to the subject matter, this movie might have people looking at their phones... but for all the right reasons.

Opening: Friday, July 28

An Inconvenient Sequel: Truth To Power

The environment has been a long running concern for people across the globe, and with extreme weather events and policy decisions regarding global warming have been news cycle constants, it feels like Al Gore was long overdue for a sequel to An Inconvenient Truth. While An Inconvenient Sequel: Truth To Power may not spark an instant environmental revolution, it might turn a couple heads that didn't follow the message the last time around. At least, that's what the film is hoping.

Opening: Friday, July 28

When a movie is titled Atomic Blonde, you know that you are in for a stylish and violent good time. That said, nothing can prepare us for the sheer amount of violence and badass action that's waiting in David Leitch's upcoming action thriller. A new clip has just hit the web showing Charlize Theron's Lorraine Broughton kicking all kinds of ass with little more than her fists and a rope, and it is one of the coolest things that you will see all day. Check it out below, but be warned, it will get your heart rate pumping.

Although the DNA of the John Wick films is fairly clear to see in this clip, it should be noted that there are a few key differences that make Atomic Blonde endlessly enticing in its own right. The action maintains all of the brutal violence that we have come to expect from the modern action film landscape (complete with an absolutely neck-snapping climax at the end of this sequence), but the film also maintains a notable sense of gritty European style that was missing from the John Wick movies -- even John Wick: Chapter 2, which took place in Rome. It's obvious that David Leitch has plenty of practice in this type of action filmmaking, but Atomic Blonde looks like a total breath of fresh air in terms of its overall style.

Of course, it is also worth mentioning that Charlize Theron deserves a ton of credit for how good this movie looks. Even in her weaker films, the actress has proven time and time again that she knows how to throw herself into the most intense roles possible. She has recently experienced great success becoming a female action icon in movies like Mad Max: Fury Road and The Fate of the Furious, and it's abundantly clear that she works at her peak when she's granted a role that allows her to embrace her dark side. Based on everything that we have seen from Atomic Blonde, she's about to fire on all cylinders.

Atomic Blonde appears to rely on a relatively simple, yet effective storyline. Lorraine Broughton is a highly skilled secret agent sent to Berlin to retrieve a dossier following the death of someone close to her. Along the way, she finds herself partnered with a fellow agent (James McAvoy) as the two navigate the seedy Berlin underworld to complete their mission and survive. The trailers have thus far depicted the film as a seemingly endless supply of sex and violence (along with a healthy dose of style and vulgarity) so I think it is safe to say that we are incredibly excited

Charlize Theron will take center stage to kick ass as Lorraine Broughton when Atomic Blonde debuts in theaters later this summer on July 28.

While the summer movie season is full of sequels and franchises that we've seen before, one of the most anticipated films is actually a brand new story. Atomic Blonde has Charlize Theron at her most badass, and the newest trailer proves it. She's a one-woman army taking down everybody who gets in her way by any means necessary, even if that means beating a guy half to death with a shoe. Check it out.

Atomic Blonde has been described as the female John Wick, in large part because the two films share director David Leitch, and while it's fairly obvious to see where the comparison comes from, the trailer shows Atomic Blonde to be very much its own movie. While Wick exists in a world of hyper-style, Blonde feels much more grounded and gritty, Charlize Theron's shoes that uses as weapons notwithstanding. There's much more hand-to-hand combat going on and even in the trailer, it all feels visceral and real.

In Atomic Blonde Charlize Theron plays Lorraine Broughton a professional assassin and secret agent in the employ of Her Majesty's Secret Service. Her mission in the film is not specifically to murder anybody, it's to get an important dossier out of Berlin, but we're assuming that there are other forces that would like the same information, leading to Broughton doing whatever she must to be sure she's the one that gets it first. We also see that the plot involves the death of another agent, with whom she was close, though that's apparently information that she's able to keep private, at least at first.

There does seem to be another part of the story as, at the end of the trailer, Charlize Theron's character talks about being setup. She's being interrogated in a few different scenes. One wonder's if the movie itself will be told in flashback after this mission is actually over, as everybody tries to piece together exactly what happened. Will our lead be the once accused of killing agents? It appears that may very well be the case.

An early screening at SXSW has given the film solid reviews so far so for those of us who are looking for a bit more hardcore action this summer will likely be happy. The movie has not yet been rated but everything about it feels like it will be a serious R-rated affair. The red-band trailer that was dropped earlier had a pair of F-bombs in it, which by itself usually means an R-rating is guaranteed. We're guessing those won't be the only thing that makes Atomic Blonde an adult movie.

We can't wait to see more of Atomic Blonde when the movie finally arrives in theaters on July 28.

Summer is a particularly crowded time at the movies, as it's one of the two major seasons that all of the studios release their finest blockbuster fare. And with such a crowded market, it's hard to know just what's worth seeing, and what doesn't look up to snuff. Now, while we can't always tell what's going to be a sure-fire winner, we can see what films look like the best of the lot.

Which is why we've put together somewhat of a calendar for all of you fine folks out there. Starting with May, and running through August, there are a slew of films that we can't help but be excited about. They're a varied bunch, but they all have one thing in common: they want your summer box office dollars! So break out your wall calendar or the smartphone app of your choice, and mark down the following films for your seasonal enjoyment.

Guardians of the Galaxy Vol. 2

C'mon, Guardians of the Galaxy Vol. 2 was pretty much on this list since the day they announced they were making a sequel. With writer/director James Gunn aiming for his usual brand of storytelling that's emotional, yet playful in a rebellious sort of way, the sequel to 2014's runaway hit has only the highest of expectations from its fans. And all trailers have so far proven that they've all been met, and possibly exceeded.

Release Date: Friday, May 5

King Arthur: Legend of the Sword

Guy Richie knows how to make a summer movie, and he proved it most effectively with his take on The Man From U.N.C.L.E. Despite that film's criminally underrated reputation, Richie has another bite at the summer apple with King Arthur: Legend of the Sword. With Charlie Hunnam as the titular king, and Jude Law as the main adversary to his rise, this mix of magic and action could be just as unique as Richie's 2015 spy caper was. Let's just hope it gets a bigger audience.

Release Date: Friday, May 12

Snatched

How often is it that you get a team like Goldie Hawn and Amy Schumer together in one film? Well, so far, it's one film exactly, but if Snatched becomes the wild success some might want it to be, we may see more in our futures yet. Playing a mother / daughter pair who go on vacation to seek a little adventure, Hawn and Schumer get themselves into more than they bargained for, as they become entangled with kidnappers and try to make their way back to safety. Considering director Jonathan Levine has made some serious hay out of comedy pair projects, we're really curious to see where this pair winds up.

Release Date: Friday, May 12th

Alien: Covenant

We're not sure why Ridley Scott has been laying down so many spoilers for Alien: Covenant, but we do know that he plans for this film to be a springboard for more adventures within the franchise's universe. So long as the rest of this burgeoning universe keeps up with the levels of bloodshed and sheer terror that Alien: Covenant looks to be hiding in its shadows, we'll be fine with that. While Prometheus was a more sterile entry in the same world, it looks like this latest film returns us to the gritty and grizzly world we've known and loved for decades. Bring on the Backburster!

Release Date: Friday, May 19

Diary of a Wimpy Kid: The Long Haul

It's actually kind of ingenious for Fox to release the latest Diary of a Wimpy Kid movie on the same day as their other May blockbuster, Alien: Covenant. While parents can have the option of watching something expertly terrifying, their children have the option of seeing the Heffley clan on a road trip to Grandma's house. Of course, the film looks to be a more exciting and perilous journey than one would expect, and Diary of a Wimpy Kid: The Long Haul actually looks pretty funny for a family friendly film.

Release Date: Friday, May 19

Baywatch

Don't look now, but you're getting Dwayne Johnson flicks for three out of the four seasons 2017 has to offer. Spring brings you The Fate of The Furious, and the Fall season just barely gets Jumanji: Welcome to The Jungle. Which leaves the summer with quite possibly the most Dwayne Johnson project of all, the hilarious-looking adaptation of Baywatch. Johnson's not the only star we'll be watching for, as the entire ensemble seems up to the task of throwing down for hot action, while cracking wise every chance they get. And isn't that what the summer movie season's all about?

Release Date: Friday, May 26

Pirates of the Caribbean: Dead Men Tell No Tales

If you're like us, you've been dreading the new Pirates of the Caribbean movie. At least, we were until the brand new trailer started to show some of the story beats and characters that Pirates of the Caribbean: Dead Men Tell No Tales looks to be engaging in. With a promise of returning to story of Will Turner and his son, Henry, we're hoping that the entire franchise warps itself back to a time where Pirates of the Caribbean: On Stranger Tides never existed. At the very least, Javier Bardem quite possibly looks like the best baddie of the series since Geoffrey Rush's Captain Barbossa.

Friday, May 26

Captain Underpants

While we've got the subject of kid's books fresh in our minds, it's probably a good time to talk Captain Underpants. This idea actually got much more interesting when we learned that Thomas Middleditch and Kevin Hart were playing the kids who hypnotize principal Ed Helms into believing he's the titular hero of the film. It's your typical screwball-y antics, but the way that trio commits to its respective roles makes it look better than it has any right to be.

Release Date: Friday, June 2

Wonder Woman

Contrary to what some might think, we want both DC and Marvel to succeed with their film projects. We love both sides of the aisle, and healthy competition would only be better for everyone who loves the superhero genre. So far, DC hasn't been sending us their best films, but Wonder Woman actually looks like all of that's about to change. The trailers have been consistently solid, and our own Conner Schwerdtfeger saw some footage that sold him, and the rest of us, even harder on this flick. Let's hope this one sticks the landing.

Release Date: Friday, June 2

The Mummy

Cinematic universes are all the rage, and not all of them sound interesting enough to get such a treatment. But when you tell us that the Universal Monsters universe is getting an upgrade, and that not only Tom Cruise but also Russell Crowe, Johnny Depp, and possibly Javier Bardem are going to be a part of it, our interest starts to grow. With Cruise's reboot of The Mummy first up in the world, the usual frenetic blend of action and horror we've come to expect from a Mummy movie is well in tact, only with a lot more running. It looks like a promising start to a more mature monster movie.

Release Date: Friday, June 9

Cars 3

Cars 2 was, admittedly, a huge misstep for not only the franchise, but for Disney / Pixar itself. So obviously, Cars 3 has a lot of pressure on itself to return to what worked about the first film, while junking the mistakes of the second. With the fall and comeback of Lightning McQueen being teased as the film's big plot point, and with no Mater sightings just yet, there's a lot of hope that the racing in Cars 3 will be more impressive, and more important, than it was in its hijinks heavy predecessor.

Release Date: Friday, June 16

Rough Night

Scarlett Johansson is already going into summer 2017 with some unwanted baggage, what with Ghost in the Shell being a letdown on the domestic scene. However, that doesn't mean she's down for the count, as she's at the center of the ensemble for Rough Night, which takes the premise of Very Bad Things and puts it in the hands of the folks behind Broad City. If that doesn't cure the fix for new exploits in the darker end of the comedic pool, then frankly we don't know what will. Bonus points for that recent trailer, which was very, very funny.

Release Date: Friday, June 16

The Book of Henry

There's a lot going on in that first trailer for Colin Trevorrow's The Book of Henry. A single mom (Naomi Watts) raising two boys (Jacob Tremblay, Jaeden Lieberher) who struggles because one of them is a genius. We saw that earlier this year with Gifted. Then, though, Henry takes a turn, and it becomes a mystery-suspense thriller, with Watts' character taking down Dean Norris of Breaking Bad for crimes against his step-daughter (Maddie Ziegler) he might have committed. Twists! We trust in Trevorrow, whose Safety Not Guaranteed was outstanding -- and yes, he wears the blockbuster hat very well, too. We'll see what this one is all about later this summer.

Release Date: June 16

Transformers: The Last Knight

Another friend of the continuing cycle of franchise disappointment, Transformers: The Last Knight is throwing everything our way to get us back in its good graces. Apparently, "everything" includes an evil looking Optimus, a rather heroic Bumblebee, and more Mark Wahlberg / Stanley Tucci action, with a side of Anthony Hopkins' movie wisdom. Though our big question is whether or not Isabela Moner's Izabelle seals the deal with a better female counterpart in the series' lead. We're trending optimistically on that one.

Release Date: Friday, June 23

Baby Driver

If there's one reason we're looking forward to Baby Driver, it's that it's the first Edgar Wright film since The World's End, and we've missed him ever so much. The slick car chases, pin-point soundtrack picks, and the killer cast are all wonderful add-ons, don't get us wrong. But you could have made this movie with sock puppets, a recorder, and Hot Wheels cars, and Wright's name would have drawn us out. That said, we're glad no one suggested he make Baby Driver that way, and that we've got an actual film to look forward to!

Release Date: Wednesday, June 28

Despicable Me 3

The Despicable Me franchise seemed to have moved away from its message of the importance of family in its second outing, as well as its ill-advised, but highly successful spinoff, Minions. And yet, the inclusion of Gru's twin brother Dru, as well as an 80's obsessed villain voiced by South Park's Trey Parker were all it took to get us to the table for Despicable Me 3. Sure, there are still Minions. But it looks like this film may have gotten a grip on the franchise's winning formula once again.

Release Date: Friday, June 30

The House

Will Ferrell and Amy Poehler are both the best and worst people to see in the cast of a comedy like The House. On one hand, this sort of film could turn into a PG-13 line-o-rama nightmare that isn't as funny as it hopes to be. But when we found out it's an R-rated movie, we started to get interested. When we heard Jason Mantzoukas was cast as the comedic third wheel, we got excited. By time the trailer showed us the accidental hand chopping gag, we decided that, hands down, The House is a must see from this summer's crop.

Release Date: Friday, June 30

Spider-Man: Homecoming

The Amazing Spider-Man duology really took a lot out of us, as it was not only an unnecessary reboot, but it generally didn't seem to know what to do with itself. And then Marvel and Sony parted the red tape, and teamed to give us Tom Holland's Spidey, which wiped away the memories of past failures, and had us amped to see a webslinger rise yet again. While Spider-Man: Homecoming isn't the typical origin, it is the beginnings of Peter Parker's career as a hero, with a wiser Tony Stark mentoring him. And frankly, that's all we needed in the first place.

Release Date: Friday, July 7

War for the Planet of the Apes

No franchise was as surprising in its rise to prominence as the new Planet of the Apes prequels. Defying all expectations, the first two films built a world that not only connected to the classic films, but also made the whole concept a more modern, ape-friendly, exercise. So naturally, the doom, gloom, and boom of War for the Planet of the Apes has us excited to see where director Matt Reeves will take the franchise next. If the look in Woody Harrelson's eyes is any indication, this war is going to have some pretty big casualties.

Release Date: Friday, July 14

Dunkirk

From wars imagined to a war actually lived, Dunkirk is Christopher Nolan's return to the film fold, with his first story based on actual events. With a return to more realistic action, and a historical subject matter that's intriguing as it is harrowing, the European Theater looks to be returning to theaters in an exciting way. Though we'd be lying if we didn't say part of our eager attendance to Dunkirk is based on our concerns for how a PG-13 film can accurately convey such a casualty heavy moment in history.

Release Date: Friday, July 21

Valerian and The City of a Thousand Planets

We're never getting a sequel to The Fifth Element, and frankly, we don't need it. If anything, Valerian and The City of a Thousand Planets is all fans of that film will need, as it presents its own franchising opportunities, and it's one of the influences that made director Luc Besson's 90's classic what it turned out to be. The visuals alone have hooked us in for this one, and we're ready to take this action packed ride to wherever it may go.

Release Date: Friday, July 21

Atomic Blonde

If you ever wanted to see Charlize Theron really kick some ass, then you probably dropped your jaw to the floor when watching the Atomic Blonde trailer. We can't blame you, as this Cold War spy flick looks like everything John Wick has given us, but with a female lead and some retro-cinema panache. Also, anytime Charlize Theron has to put down scores of baddies, we tend to cheer alongside her, so more movies like this would be much appreciated.

Release Date: Friday, July 28

The Emoji Movie

This isn't easy for us to say, but it's worth saying anyway: we're really curious to see how The Emoji Movie turns out. Maybe it's the fact that Smurfs: The Lost Village wasn't as bad as we feared it would be. Maybe it's because it seems similar to Wreck-It Ralph, only with phone icons. Either way, this emoticon adventure has us interested in what it's trying to sell, as well as the fact that respected actor Patrick Stewart is trying to help sell it.

Release Date: Friday, July 28

The Dark Tower

An adaptation that also serves as a possible sequel to the work it's based off of sounds crazy, right? Usually, a film struggles to do one or the other properly, so why mix the two? Well, when it's Stephen King's The Dark Tower, you can see why the approach works so beautifully. With Roland coming to the screen to face off against the Man In Black, we're eager to relive past glories, but excited to see where the story goes next. Let's face it, we were kind of owed this much after that last book ended the way it did.

Release Date: Friday, August 4

Annabelle: Creation

How do you end an exciting summer of thrills, chills, and spills? With a possessed doll, naturally! Annabelle: Creation takes us back to the girl that started it all in The Conjuring's universe, and this entry is directed by David F. Sandberg. That name may not mean anything to some of you, but to those of you who saw Lights Out last summer, you're probably thrilled to see how Sandberg follows up that particular piece of horror candy. Creepy dolls have always fascinated us, but the further adventures of Annabelle practically guarantee us there opening night.

Release Date: Friday, August 11

We already expected the slate of 2017 summer blockbusters to feature some rocking soundtracks, given that two titles set to be released include James Gunn's Guardians of the Galaxy Vol. 2 and Edgar Wright's Baby Driver. As it turns out, however, the action thriller Atomic Blonde needs to be on movie music fans' radars as well, as director David Leitch touted the film's use of classic rock n' rock tracks when I had the chance to speak with him last week. Discussing the influence of the comic the movie adapts, the filmmaker revealed,

David Leitch was in Las Vegas last week to promote Atomic Blonde as part of Focus Features' presentation at CinemaCon, and I had the opportunity to interview him on the press line before the show. After talking about the film as his first solo directorial effort (he co-directed John Wick with Chad Stahelski), I asked him about the source material (Antony Johnston and Sam Hart's The Coldest City), and he used that as a launching point to talk about the film's use of music to accompany Charlize Theron kicking all kinds of ass.

Written by Kurt Johnstad, Atomic Blonde's titular heroine is Agent Lorraine Broughton (Charlize Theron) - a Cold War spy. She is given the impossible mission of recovering an important document from Berlin, and with only the local station chief (James McAvoy) as her only ally, she simultaneously tries to carry out her mission and survive. You can watch the trailer for the film below... but know that it will be a different Queen song, not "Killer Queen," that is used in the final cut of the feature:

When used properly, an amazing piece of music can mean everything in an action sequence, which makes only makes Atomic Blonde that much more exciting. The film is already riding high on buzz following its world premiere at the SXSW Film Festival a few weeks ago, and we are very ready for it's arrival to domestic theaters.

You can watch my full interview with David Leitch below, where we discuss not only his work on Atomic Blonde, but also the latest developments from pre-production on Deadpool 2. Check it out!

While we don't yet know the release date of the soundtrack, Atomic Blonde will be arriving in a theater near you on July 28th

Charlize Theron isn't a stranger to undergoing physical transformations for a role. Back in 2003 she picked up a Best Actress Academy Award for doing just that in Monster, as she morphed into the serial killer Alieen Wouronos. It transpired that for Charlize Theron's latest role in Atomic Blonde (which this time around sees her portraying a murderer with a bit more style and panache) she underwent a transformation to her teeth that was neither required nor asked for. In fact, the Oscar winner has revealed that she cracked two of her back teeth while she was training for Atomic Blonde, and she's still now dealing with it close to a year and a half later. Charlize Theron opened up about how vigorous her training was for the film, and how it led to her rather brutal sounding injury, which you can read about, below.

Charlize Theron made this candid admission regarding her oral health during a question and answer session for Atomic Blonde at the SXSW Film Festival (via Variety). It honestly sounds like some pretty devastating stuff. Or maybe her dentist is just trying to squeeze every penny that he can out of the hugely successful actress. If it's the latter, then he should take a quick look at the trailer for Atomic Blonde to see that Charlize Theron could knock every single one of his teeth out, and probably give him a truly painful nipple twist, too.

Charlize Theron underwent a rather lengthy process in order to prepare herself for her role as Lorraine Broughton in Atomic Blonde. She had a total of eight trainers, who spent several months in the gym with her to make sure that she was ready for production. It took a while for Charlize Theron to feel truly comfortable in the role, though, and she even called up director David Leitch after two weeks of training revealing at the festival that she declared:

Despite these supposed set-backs, the first trailer for Atomic Blonde suggests that she soon found her rhythm. You can check out the red-band clip for the spy action thriller, which should make you instantly fall in love with it, below.

Superb stuff. Here's a round-up of Atomic Blonde's post SXSW premiere screening, while the film itself will be released on July 28. To find out what else is heading into theaters soon, check out our movies release schedule.

Between both Logan and John Wick: Chapter 2, movie-goers have seen a surprising amount of brilliant, R-rated action on the big screen this year, but it seems that we have another title to look out for. This is because director David Leitch's Atomic Blonde starring Charlize Theron made its world premiere at the SXSW Film Festival tonight, and the reaction so far has definitely been overwhelmingly positive.

The new original action movie, which co-stars Sofia Boutella, James McAvoy, John Goodman, Toby Jones and more, played at the Paramount Theater in Austin, TX this evening with a few hundred people in attendance - including a handful of critics. Social media was buzzing once the credits started to roll, as many were willing to immediately jump on the Atomic Blonde hype train. Erik Davis of Fandango praised the film all around, from the director's stylistic choices to the narrative that keeps folks guessing:

For Grae Drake of Rotten Tomatoes, the awesomeness of Atomic Blonde apparently took a step beyond the English language, as she required two new made up words in order to fully describe the feel of the new action movie:

Like a few other critics, Eric Kohn from IndieWire specifically cited a particular action sequence in Atomic Blonde, specifically one that appears to be put together all in one take. Apparently it's quite the big screen marvel, and is going to drop the jaws of folks when the movie arrives in theaters:

The social media reaction to Atomic Blonde was nearly universal, but it should be noted that there are a few dissenting opinions floating around as well. One of these reactions comes from Eric Vespe from Ain't It Cool News. In his Tweet, he notes that he did overall enjoy the film, but also feels that it's a film that ultimately suffers from trying just a bit too hard:

Based on the comic series The Coldest City and adapted by Kurt Johnstad (300) and made by the same team as the John Wick movies, Atomic Blonde is set during the height of the Cold War and centers on Lorraine Broughton (Charlize Theron), an undercover MI6 agent. Following the death of a colleague, she is assigned a mission in Berlin, where it is her job to help extract other spies who have gone missing. The red band trailer for the movie arrived online only a few days ago, and it rocked the internet's socks off.

Following all of these positive reactions, the best news of all is that Atomic Blonde already has distribution, and will soon be in a theater near you. Focus Features is set up to have the action feature in theaters on July 28th - so stay tuned for more news and updates about the project as they come in.

After a very stylish teaser poster and some more enlightening pictures from Atomic Blonde, the first full length is here! Starring Charlize Theron and directed by one-half of the directing team behind John Wick, action fans will find plenty to love in the "Restricted" and definitely NSFW trailer. It's a true sight to behold, so let's not waste any more time and get right to it, shall we?

Yes to everything in this trailer. As far as tone goes, the trailer is a bit mismatched, but that doesn't mean we're not down with everything that's in it. The trailer immediately sells what kind of action viewers are in for and it's extremely John Wick-esque (that's not a bad thing) but that makes sense given that director David Leitch also co-directed John Wick. The trailer opens with the always impressive one shot sequence wherein Theron's MI6 agent fights two goons in a stairwell. The scene is brutal and kinetic, as she not-so-easily dispatches her attackers, the camera swiftly and clearly catching the hand-to-hand combat. From there we get a bit more action, some humor from the always reliable James McAvoy, a sexy seduction, and even more action stunts. Oh, we're definitely going to be keeping an eye on this one.

Another big grab from the trailer is that Theron's Agent Lorraine Broughton is no 80's action star impervious to all forms of damage and fatigue; there's plenty of physical consequences, as Broughton gets injured while fighting and those injuries stay with her. Plus, she has trouble taking out just two guys, which just makes her all the more impressive and relatable to watch. It's a small thing, but action fans love a little consequence in their modern action movies.

Adapted from the graphic novel "The Coldest City," by Antony Johnston & illustrator Sam Hart, Atomic Blonde follows the crown jewel of Her Majesty's Secret Intelligence Service, Agent Lorraine Broughton (Theron), who is extremely skilled in spycraft. Sent to Berlin alone to retrieve a dossier, Broughton will have to navigate the destabilized city and the nest of spies watching her every move. Supporting Theron in the cast department is James McAvoy as her ally, station chief David Percival. John Goodman, Tobey Jones, and Sofia Boutella filling out the rest of this extremely solid cast. David Leitch (John Wick, the upcoming Deadpool 2) handles directing from a script by Kurt Johnstad (300).

Atomic Blonde is definitely worth paying attention to and it could be 2017's action breakout. The film releases this summer and there's bound to be at least one more trailer until then, so keep checking in with CinemaBlend and we'll keep you updated as soon as new information becomes available.