(Photo by Paramount / Courtesy Everett Collection. GLADIATOR II.)

50 Best New Action Movies of 2024

Recent additions: Gladiator II, Ridley Scott’s long-gestating swords-and-sandals return, starring Paul Mescal, Pedro Pascal, and Denzel Washington. It’s already Certified Fresh. Weekend in Taipei, produced and co-written by Luc Besson. Elevation, a post-apocalyptical actioner with Anthony Mackie and Monica Baccarin.

We’re cutting to the chase: 50 of the highest-rated action movies of the past year, to satisfy all your stunt-driving, barrel-smashing, limb-pummeling urges.

The list starts with Certified Fresh movies, which includes: Rebel Ridge, the new one from director Jeremy Saulnier; highest-grossing R-rated movie ever Deadpool & Wolverine; Kill and Monkey Man, bone crunchers from India; hybrids with sci-fi (Furiosa, Dune: Part Two), rom-com (The Fall Guy, Hit Man), and horror (Arcadian).

After that are Fresh movies, many of them box office hits, like Jason Statham’s The Beekeeper, and the Will Smith/Martin Lawrence Bad Boys reunion Ride or Die. Eddie Murphy put the heat back on with Beverly Hills Cop: Axel F, and, on schedule, Zack Snyder’s out her rehabilitating his new movie with some acceptable director’s cuts (Rebel Moon – Part Two).

Then come the Rotten-rated on the Tomatometer, a few of which have balancing positive Popcornmeter scores from audiences, like Boy Kills World, Argylle.