To say it has been a good year for new action movies would be an understatement of epic proportions. Through the first quarter of the 2026 movie schedule, we’ve had big-screen disaster films, epic sci-fi adventures, and some of the most thrilling spectacles in recent memory. But here’s the thing, we’re just getting started…
Seriously, over the next few months, we’re going to have action flicks from the Wu-Tang Clan, multiple hard-hitting video game adaptations, action thrillers out the wazoo, and several promising crime epics. Basically, I’m prepping myself for some good times at my local movie house, and wanted to share what has me so excited for the year ahead…
Beast - April 10, 2026
When I first heard about a sports action flick starring Russell Crowe, I almost thought it was too good to be true. Well, my friends, Beast is very much real, and it’s coming to a theater near you very, very soon. Not to be confused with the Idris Elba creature feature from a few years back, this one follows a MMA-champion-turned-fisherman played by Daniel MacPherson as he is forced back into the world of fighting and starts working with his old trainer, played by Crowe.
Article continues belowIf the Beast trailer is any indication, this movie looks like a brutal, violent, emotional, and incredibly intense movie with its hard-hitting action, family drama, and multiple MMA fights. Sports dramas like this have surprised me over the years, and that could again be the case when this opens in April.
Ballistic - April 17, 2026
How far will a mom go to find her son’s killer? That’s the question at the center of Ballistic, a new action thriller starring Lena Headey as a grieving mother who discovers that her son was killed in overseas combat by a bullet made in her munitions factory. As seen in the trailer, when no one else seems to be concerned about how American-made bullets ended up in enemy hands and ultimately led to her son’s death, this mother goes on a one-woman mission for revenge.
Directed by Chad Faust, Ballistic seems much more grounded than a lot of the new action movies coming out this year, but that doesn’t mean I think it will be any less intense, especially with Headey leading things.
Normal - April 17, 2026
Bob Odenkirk became an unlikely action star a few years ago with the outrageously fun and violent Nobody (as well as its 2025 sequel), and he’ll continue that phase of his career when Normal opens in April. This new action thriller from director Ben Wheatley sees the Better Call Saul actor play a provisional sheriff helping out in a small Minnesota town when he discovers a criminal conspiracy that could potentially turn into something bigger and far more dangerous.
The Normal trailer gives us a taste of the action, humor, and unsettling tone of this dark comedy, and it looks like it could be a whole lot of fun.
APEX - April 24, 2026
APEX, a long-in-the-works action thriller starring Charlize Theron, has all the makings to be Netflix’s next big original, especially if it’s anywhere as intense as its debut trailer makes it out to be. This time around, the Old Guard and Aeon Flux star will take on the role of a rock climber who falls in the crosshairs of a sadistic hunter (played by Taron Egerton) who wants to have some fun with his prey before firing the killshot.
Baltasar Kormákur, who directed Idris Elba in the 2022 creature feature, Beast, as well as Everest and Adrift, knows a thing or two about thrilling survival films, and it appears that’ll once again be the case when this debuts for anyone with a Netflix subscription in late April.
One Spoon Of Chocolate - May 1, 2026
Over the years, Wu-Tang Clan founding member The RZA has given audiences some killer films on top of all his musical offerings, and he’s about to do it again with One Spoon of Chocolate. This hotly anticipated thriller, which is being produced by Quentin Tarantino, will follow a former convict (played by Shameik Moore) as he gets out of prison and quickly finds himself in all kinds of trouble in a small town.
With a cast that includes RJ Cyler, Paris Jackson, Blair Underwood, and Jason Isbell, to name a few, some serious throwback ‘70s action vibes, and an intriguing story, there’s a lot going on here. The One Spoon of Chocolate trailer has me pumped and circling May 1 on my calendar.
In The Grey - May 15, 2026
Guy Ritchie has put out some of the best action thrillers of the last 30 years, and it doesn’t look like the Snatch and Wrath of Man director is slowing down anytime soon. This April, Ritchie will be releasing In the Grey, which stars Henry Cavill and Jake Gyllenhaal as two extraction specialists tasked with getting a negotiator out of a tight situation.
This one was supposed to come out back in early 2025, but Lionsgate took it off the release schedule back in late 2024, per Deadline. Whatever issues there were at the time have been worked out, as this highly anticipated thriller is set to hit the ground running this May.
Mortal Kombat II - May 15, 2026
As someone who grew up pumping quarters into Mortal Kombat machines at the local arcade (Aladdin’s Castle, I miss you!) and then playing the various ports at home, I’ve long been obsessed with this fighting game franchise. Though the movies have been hit or miss over the years, I have high hopes for Simon McQuoid’s Mortal Kombat 2.
In addition to seeing the debut of Karl Urban’s Johnny Cage, as well as the return of other fan-favorite characters, this highly anticipated sequel to 2021’s Mortal Kombat will also feature the titular combat tournament between fighters from Earth and Outworld.
Tom Clancy’s Jack Ryan: Ghost War- May 20, 2026
You may recall the Jack Ryan TV show that was big on Prime Video a few years ago. You know, the one starring John Krasinski as Tom Clancy’s most famous character? Well, the series is getting a film continuation at some point in the future, and I, a massive fan of the franchise, cannot be more excited.
I’m not entirely sure how this movie will continue the story started with the Jack Ryan series back in 2019, but this could be a lot of fun. Krasinski posted a shot of the titular character looking over the Dubai skyline on Instagram back in February 2025, so that could mean we’ll see the iconic CIA analyst go to some high-up places when the movie finally drops. Amazon later gave this a May 20 release, along with a quick look at the explosive first trailer.
The Furious - May 29, 2026
A movie that looks like The Raid and John Wick had a violent baby, The Furious is one of the upcoming releases I’m looking forward to the most, even outside of the action genre. Kenji Tanigaki’s new action flick stars Mo Tse and Joe Taslim as two men who team up to find their loved ones kidnapped by a mysterious and powerful gang. I’ve watched the movie’s first trailer multiple times, and each time I’m catching something new, much like those fools catching hammers to the head in that one fight.
Scheduled to land in theaters here in the States on May 29, The Furious could very well end up being the blow-for-blow action flick this summer, which is saying something with all the competition coming out. While I have a feeling we’ll never see The Raid 3, this movie could help with the sting.
Stop! That! Train! - June 12, 2026
A RuPaul action-adventure movie directed by Adam Shankman? Yes, please! At the start of the summer blockbuster season, we’ll be treated to Stop! That! Train!, a new comedy that sees RuPaul team up with some familiar faces from the Drag Race universe, and it sounds like.
According to Deadline, the movie will follow two friends (played by Ginger Minj and Jujubee) as they go from being stewardesses on a miserable train known as the Stank Rail to what is being called the Glamazonian Express. When things go south and a massive storm threatens the safety of the train, the two have to find a way to save the day.
The Odyssey - July 17, 2026
I know, I know, Christopher Nolan’s The Odyssey is going to be more of a fantasy epic than a standard action movie, but I would be remiss in leaving it off this list. Years in the making, the Academy Award winner’s take on Homer’s influential epic poem has the potential to be the biggest film of the year, and perhaps of Nolan’s career. Anyone who’s read The Odyssey knows this thing is going to be full of big set pieces on land, in the sea, and in Odysseus’ (Matt Damon) kingdom.
The first trailer for this upcoming epic left me even more excited to see this thing unfold come July, even if the teaser asked more questions than it answered. This is my most anticipated movie of the year, and I cannot wait!
Mutiny - August 21, 2026
Nearly seven months after Jason Statham played a former assassin in Shelter, the prolific action star will be starring in Mutiny, a new action thriller directed by Plane helmer Jean-Francois Richet. This time around, Statham will take on the role of Cole Reed, a private security guard framed for murdering his close friend. So, what does this man with a certain set of skills do? If you guessed “do time for a crime he didn’t commit,” you’re wrong.
Based on everything I’ve been able to dig up about Mutiny, this sounds like it’s going to be a no-nonsense and action-packed one-man crusade for justice and revenge when it opens this August. Now I just need to make it through summer…
Cliffhanger - August 28, 2026
There has been talk of a Cliffhanger remake or reboot or retooling for well over a decade now, but it’s actually happening next summer. I didn’t believe it at first, but Jaume Collet-Serra, the director of Non-Stop, House of Wax, and Carry-On, is turning his attention to the reboot of the iconic 1993 movie. Though Sylvester Stallone won’t be returning as Gabe Walker, we will get to see Lily James and Pierce Brosnan play a daughter-father duo in the Dolomites.
It sounds like James’ Naomi Cooper will be the focal point of the 2026 action flick, as she will be tasked with saving her father and sister from a group of terrorists high up in the mountains.
The Dog Stars - August 28, 2026
We’re going to be eating well throughout 2026, as acclaimed directors like Steven Spielberg, Christopher Nolan, and Denis Villeneuve all have massive blockbusters coming out. Another name on that list is Ridley Scott, who’ll release his latest feature film, The Dog Stars, before the end of the summer.
With a cast led by Academy Award nominee Jacob Elordi, the movie is set to follow a pilot as he, a former marine (played by Josh Brolin), and a dog embark upon an epic journey to survive a vast and dangerous dystopian future following a flu outbreak that wiped out much of humanity. Could this be the movie to earn Scott an Oscar? We shall see!
How To Rob A Bank - September 4, 2026
With a filmography that includes John Wick, Atomic Blonde, Deadpool 2, Hobbs & Shaw, Bullet Train, and The Fall Guy, it’s safe to say that David Leitch knows a thing or two about directing big action spectacles. Well, he’ll add another movie to that list this September with the release of How to Rob a Bank. Starring Nicholas Hoult, Anna Sawai, Pete Davidson, and Zoë Kravitz, this crime flick will follow a crew of bank robbers as they find themselves on the run after documenting their heists.
I haven’t been able to find a trailer for this one just yet, but everything I’ve read about this one has me stoked. As someone who can’t get enough of great heist films, this one is doing a number on me.
Street Fighter - October 16, 2026
The new Street Fighter movie is one of the 2026 releases I can’t stop thinking about. I’m a massive (and unabashed) fan of the 1994 adaptation starring Jean-Claude Van Damme and the late Raul Julia, and Kitao Sakurai’s star-studded fighting movie has me all jazzed up like I’m a kid again.
If the rest of the movie is as wild and stylized as the Street Fighter trailer that dropped back in December 2025, we’re going to be going on one hell of a ride come October. I can’t wait to find out more about one of my most anticipated upcoming video game movies, especially after Cody Rhodes namechecked Van Damme when hyping it up.
Godzilla Minus Zero - November 6, 2026
Three years after Takashi Yamazaki gave the world one of the most terrifying and emotionally gruelling kaiju movies, he’s coming back with the highly anticipated Godzilla Minus Zero. Not a lot is known about the follow-up to 2023’s Minus One, but if it’s half as good as its predecessor, we’re in for one unforgettable journey this November.
It’s not entirely clear if the sequel will follow former kamikaze pilot Kōichi Shikishima (Ryunosuke Kamiki) or his girlfriend Noriko Ōishi (Minami Hamabe), but with the way Minus One ended, I have a feeling this story is just getting started.
The Hunger Games: Sunrise On The Reaping - November 20, 2026
I’ll admit that I’m not the biggest fan of The Hunger Games. That said, when I saw the first trailer for Sunrise of the Reaping, I made sure to put this on my list of movies to check out in 2026. Directed by Francis Lawrence, this upcoming book-to-screen adaptation sounds like it’s going to be a fun, dramatic, and intense-as-all-hell origin story for Haymitch Abernathy (Joseph Zada, in place of Woody Harrelson) as he competes in the 50th Hunger Games around a quarter-century before the events of the first film.
With a cast that includes McKenna Grace, Maya Hawke, Ralph Fiennes, Jesse Plemons, Glenn Close, and more than a dozen other big-time stars, this has all the trappings of the next great action spectacle and the next phase for the beloved franchise.
Violent Night 2 - December 4, 2026
Bloodier action, Mrs. Claus, and the North Pole are all things we want to see in Violent Night 2, and maybe, just maybe, that’ll all happen when David Harbour returns as St. Nick next holiday season. Though there’s already a December 2026 release, not a whole lot has been revealed about Tommy Wirkola’s upcoming sequel, outside of the casting of Kristen Bell as Mrs. Claus and other featured players.
That said, if it’s anything like its rude, crude, and merry as all hell 2023 predecessor, we’re in for one hell of a night before Christmas when Santa swoops in to save the day.
New Jumanji Movie - December 11, 2026
As hard as it is to believe, this year marks seven years since Jumanji: The Next Level came out, but the franchise’s drought is about to come to an end. Variety is reporting that the big action film starring Dwayne Johnson, Kevin Hart, Jack Black, Karen Gillan, and numerous others will be landing on the big screen on December 25, 2026, meaning I know how I’m spending Christmas with the family.
I haven’t been able to get to the bottom of what this latest installment will be about, but I expect we’ll be watching the core group of teenagers once again get trapped in a video game and take on the appearances of the star-studded cast.
The Beekeeper 2 - January 15, 2027
Though The Beekeeper 2 isn’t yet dated, I feel obligated to add the Jason Statham sequel to this list simply because the first film was such a fun and pleasant surprise in 2024. I mean, I loved pretty much everything about this movie and will defend it until I’m blue in the face. Details about the plot are being kept secret, but I honestly cannot wait to see what Statham’s Adam Clay gets into next after taking down a phishing scheme that went to the top of the United States government.
According to Variety, Nobody 2 and The Night Comes for Us director Timo Tjahjanto is helping the project, which will see the return of Jeremy Irons, Jemma Redgrave, and Emmy Raver-Lampman’s characters alongside new additions like Pom Klementieff and Adam Copeland. Deadline reported in early 2026 that the long-awaited sequel will buzz into theaters in January 2027.
Godzilla x Kong: Supernova - March 26, 2027
Legendary’s Godzilla x Kong movies have given audiences a little bit of everything over the years. There’s imaginative sci-fi, and there’s a whole lot of drama, but there’s also some wild-as-hell action that makes these theatrical experiences so much fun to enjoy. We’re still a ways off until the latest installment hits the big screen, but it’s never too early to be excited for Supernova.
Though I know next to nothing about this hotly anticipated monster film, I honestly cannot wait to see what the iconic movie monsters get up to next. Plus, the cast is looking great, with a returning Dan Stevens and new additions: Kaitlyn Dever, Jack O’Connell, Delroy Lindo, and Sam Neill.
Varanasi - April 7, 2027
Remember a few years ago when RRR took the world by storm? Well, that Bollywood epic’s director, SS Rajamouli, is preparing a new movie that could be bigger, crazier, and more triumphant than anything that’s come before. In April 2027, Rajamouli will release Varanasi, a mysterious saga that will take place over multiple time periods, will feature over-the-top action sequences, and, of course, plenty of musical numbers.
One of my colleagues was invited to attend a special first-look event for the film last fall, and they made it sound like the most intense experience after watching footage on a massive 100-by-132-foot screen.
Untitled John Wick Caine Spinoff - TBD
I feel like people have been talking about a Caine-led John Wick spinoff ever since Donnie Yen’s character was introduced back in 2023. Well, now it’s actually happening. When it’s happening is still a mystery, but the movie is gaining momentum. In March 2026, Deadline reported that the movie, which Yen will also direct, will enter production at some point the following month, which is good news for fans of both the franchise and the scene-stealing assassin.
Though not much is known about the plot at this point, Rina Sawayama will be back as Akira, which could mean we’ll be seeing some fallout from the events of the John Wick: Chapter 4 ending. How this impacts the John Wick franchise as a whole also remains to be seen.
Empire City - TBD
What would any list of upcoming action movies be without a Gerard Butler flick? Though updates about the hotly anticipated Den of Thieves 3 have slowed down as of late, Butler’s next action thriller, Empire City, is hitting the ground running. According to Deadline, this one sees Butler take on the role of Rhett, a firefighter who teams up with his NYPD officer wife (played by Hayley Atwell) to rescue a group of hostages in an NYC skyscraper.
Though no release date has been announced for the movie that also stars Michael Imperioli, Danny Huston, Paul Ben-Victor, and Evan Handler, production has already concluded. I cannot wait to hear more about this one!
As someone who loves action movies and can’t get enough of them, there’s a lot to look forward to in the next couple of years.
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