Best Action & Adventure Movies 2022

Critics Consensus: Top Gun: Maverick pulls off a feat even trickier than a 4G inverted dive, delivering a long-belated sequel that surpasses its predecessor in wildly entertaining style.

Synopsis: After more than thirty years of service as one of the Navy’s top aviators, Pete “Maverick” Mitchell (Tom Cruise) is where he belongs, pushing the... View Full Synopsis

Starring: Tom Cruise, Miles Teller, Jennifer Connelly, Jon Hamm

Directed By: Joseph Kosinski

Critics Consensus: All hail Viola Davis! The Woman King rules.

Synopsis: The Woman King is the remarkable story of the Agojie, the all-female unit of warriors who protected the African Kingdom of Dahomey in the 1800s... View Full Synopsis

Starring: Viola Davis, Thuso Mbedu, Lashana Lynch, Sheila Atim

Directed By: Gina Prince-Bythewood

Critics Consensus: A bloody revenge epic and breathtaking visual marvel, The Northman finds filmmaker Robert Eggers expanding his scope without sacrificing any of his signature style.

Synopsis: The Northman is an epic revenge thriller, that explores how far a Viking prince will go to seek justice for his murdered father.

Starring: Alexander Skarsgård, Nicole Kidman, Claes Bang, Ethan Hawke

Directed By: Robert Eggers

Critics Consensus: Intoxicatingly over the top, RRR pulls out all the stops to make the absolute most of its 187-minute runtime.

Synopsis: Freedom fighters Komaram Bheem and Alluri Sitarama Raju join forces against British colonialists in the 1920s.

Starring: N.T. Rama Rao Jr., Ram Charan, Ajay Devgan, Alia Bhatt

Directed By: S.S. Rajamouli

Critics Consensus: The Lost City doesn't sparkle quite as brightly as some classic treasure-hunting capers, but its stars' screwball chemistry make this movie well worth romancing.

Synopsis: Reclusive author Loretta Sage writes about exotic places in her popular adventure novels that feature a handsome cover model named Alan. While on tour promoting... View Full Synopsis

Starring: Sandra Bullock, Channing Tatum, Daniel Radcliffe, Da'Vine Joy Randolph

Directed By: Adam Nee, Aaron Nee

Critics Consensus: Although it may arguably fail to do justice to its deeper themes, Athena makes for electrifying, hard-hitting viewing in the moment.

Synopsis: Hours after the tragic death of their youngest brother in unexplained circumstances, three siblings have their lives thrown into chaos.

Starring: Dali Benssalah, Anthony Bajon, Sami Slimane, Ouassini Embarek

Directed By: Romain Gavras

Critics Consensus: At top speed and with sirens wailing, Ambulance comes riding to the rescue for audiences facing an emergency shortage of Michael Bay action thrills.

Synopsis: Over one day across the streets of L.A., three lives will change forever. In this breakneck thriller from director-producer Michael Bay, decorated veteran Will Sharp... View Full Synopsis

Starring: Jake Gyllenhaal, Yahya Abdul-Mateen II, Eiza González, Moses Ingram

Directed By: Michael Bay

Critics Consensus: Want to watch Idris Elba fight a lion? The admirably lean yet ultimately disposable Beast is just the movie you're looking for.

Synopsis: Idris Elba (Fast & Furious Presents: Hobbs & Shaw, The Suicide Squad) stars in a pulse-pounding new thriller about a father and his two teenage... View Full Synopsis

Starring: Idris Elba, Sharlto Copley, Iyana Halley, Leah Jeffries

Directed By: Baltasar Kormákur

Critics Consensus: From a storyline or set piece perspective, Lou doesn't add much to the action genre -- but it does serve as a generally entertaining reminder that Allison Janney is not to be trifled with.

Synopsis: Thinking she'd put her dangerous past behind her, Lou (Allison Janney) finds her quiet life interrupted when a desperate mother (Jurnee Smollett) begs her to... View Full Synopsis

Starring: Allison Janney, Jurnee Smollett, Logan Marshall-Green, Greyston Holt

Directed By: Anna Foerster

Critics Consensus: Bullet Train's colorful cast and high-speed action are almost enough to keep things going after the story runs out of track.

Synopsis: In Bullet Train, Brad Pitt stars as Ladybug, an unlucky assassin determined to do his job peacefully after one too many gigs gone off the... View Full Synopsis

Starring: Brad Pitt, Joey King, Aaron Taylor-Johnson, Brian Tyree Henry

Directed By: David Leitch