Epic Warfare and High Speed Heists Reimagined
Discover the best action cinema from a landmark year. From superhero showdowns to gritty sci-fi, explore our ranked list of top-rated action hits.
The year 2017 felt like a massive bridge between two eras of action cinema. On one side, we had the towering dominance of the established superhero machine, but on the other, a gritty, neon-soaked rebellion was taking place. It was a year where the genre finally decided to grow up, get messy, and embrace the kind of stylistic flair that had been missing from the multiplex for over a decade.
If you want to understand the shift that occurred that year, you have to start with Logan. For nearly twenty years, Hugh Jackman had played Wolverine as a conventional hero, but James Mangold’s 2017 swan song stripped away the spandex and the safety nets. It was a sun-bleached western disguised as a comic book movie, tradeshowing the scars of a lifetime of violence. By leaning into an R-rating, the film allowed the action to feel heavy and consequential. It was no longer about saving the world; it was about the quiet, desperate struggle to protect one person.
While Logan was breaking hearts, John Wick: Chapter 2 was perfecting the art of the gun-ballet. The first film was a surprise hit, but the sequel solidified the franchise as the gold standard for modern choreography. Keanu Reeves and director Chad Stahelski doubled down on the long takes and wide shots, trusting the audience to actually see the stunts rather than hiding them behind shaky cameras and rapid-fire editing. It turned the action movie into a literal art gallery, where every muzzle flash was a brushstroke and every hallway was a stage.
The stylistic experimentation did not stop there. This was also the year we got Atomic Blonde, a cold war thriller that featured a ten-minute stairwell fight so exhausting and visceral it left the audience feeling bruised. David Leitch proved that a female-led actioner could be every bit as brutal and technically demanding as its male counterparts. Simultaneously, Edgar Wright’s Baby Driver brought a musicality to the genre that felt entirely fresh. By syncing every gear shift and gunshot to a curated soundtrack, Wright turned the car chase into a high-speed rhythmic performance.
Even the Marvel Cinematic Universe felt the need to pivot toward the eccentric. Taika Waititi’s Thor: Ragnarok threw out the Shakespearean self-importance of previous installments and replaced it with a candy-colored, improvisational energy that felt more like a psychedelic 1980s fever dream than a standard blockbuster. It was a sign that even the biggest franchises realized they could no longer rely on the same old formulas.
Looking back, 2017 was the moment the action genre remembered that personality is just as important as production value. Whether it was the raw emotion of Logan, the neon precision of John Wick, or the kinetic rhythm of Baby Driver, the films that defined the year were the ones that took risks. They moved away from the sanitized, digital clutter of the early 2010s and moved back toward something tactile, imaginative, and deeply human. It was a vintage year for the adrenaline junkie, proving that even in a world of endless sequels, there is always room for a filmmaker with a distinct vision and a very sharp stunt coordinator.

When the evil Dr. Hell attacks the Earth, the mighty giant mecha Mazinger Z is formed to stop him.

An illegal immigrant from Mainland China sneaks into the corrupt British-colonized Hong Kong in 1963, transforming himself into a ruthless drug lord.
When an attack on the Kingsman headquarters takes place and a new villain rises, Eggsy and Merlin are forced to work together with the American agency known as the Statesman to save the world.

In 2025, a scientist on the verge of making a major discovery related to time travel is suddenly put in peril when a rival kidnaps her young son and demands a hefty ransom: her entire research.

After working as a drug courier and getting into a brutal shootout with police, a former boxer finds himself at the mercy of his enemies as they force him to instigate violent acts that turn the prison he resides in into a battleground.

Quan is a humble London businessman whose long-buried past erupts in a revenge-fueled vendetta when the only person left for him to love – his teenage daughter – dies in an Irish Republican Army car bombing. His relentless search to find the terrorists leads to a cat-and-mouse conflict with a British government official whose own past may hold the clues to the identities of the elusive killers.

An imprisoned ex-police inspector discovers that the entire penitentiary is controlled by an inmate running a crime syndicate and becomes part of the crime empire.

A story of broken humanity following the invasion of a technologically superior alien species. Bleak, harrowing, and unrelenting, the humans must find enough courage to go on fighting.

2013. During Operation Bidone, the Federal Police seized a truck loaded with palm heart, which contained 697 kg of cocaine. The investigation falls on the team assembled by Ivan Romano, based in Curitiba and composed by Beatriz, Júlio and Ítalo. The traffic connections lead them to the dower Alberto Youssef and later to the former Petrobras director Paulo Roberto Costa, who reveals an immense structure involving builders and the government, in order to divert public money. As the investigation progresses, the group led by Ivan is increasingly approaching some of the country's most influential politicians.

A Tokyo college student is attacked by a ghoul, a super-powered human who feeds on human flesh. He survives, but has become part ghoul and becomes a fugitive on the run.

USSR, June 1985. After contact with the Salyut 7 space station is lost, cosmonauts Vladimir Dzhanibekov and Viktor Savinykh dock with the empty, frozen craft, and bring her back to life. Based on actual events.

Amid a coup, a North Korean agent escapes south with the country's injured leader in an attempt to keep him alive and prevent a Korean war.

This animated short revolves around the events causing an electrical systems failure on the west coast of the US. According to Blade Runner 2049’s official timeline, this failure leads to cities shutting down, financial and trade markets being thrown into chaos, and food supplies dwindling. There’s no proof as to what caused the blackouts, but Replicants — the bio-engineered robots featured in the original Blade Runner, are blamed.

In a world where families are limited to one child due to overpopulation, a set of identical septuplets must avoid being put to a long sleep by the government and dangerous infighting while investigating the disappearance of one of their own.

During the Japanese colonial era, roughly 400 Korean people, who were forced onto Battleship Island 'Hashima Island' to mine for coal, attempt to escape.

Jae-ho, who aims to become the number one in a crime organization, gets to build up trust with Hyun-su, an ambitious newbie in the prison. While they try to take over the organization after the prison release, their ulterior motives starts to emerge.

Deadpool sees an opportunity to save the day, but it doesn't go entirely as planned.

A solar eclipse activates a magic time portal, and a regular schoolboy Vit'ko from the 21st century goes a thousand years back in time. It doesn’t take Vitya long to recognize the legendary bogatyrs in young Oleshko, powerful Ilya and severe Dobrynya. Their life passes in fighting cumans who try to destroy Rusichi at any cost, using both weapons and black magic. Vitya finds himself in the very midst of incredible events, battles with mythical creatures and acquires real courage.

A few individuals in the medical profession are murdered or kidnapped, and the cop investigating the case suspects a doctor and arrests him. But is he the one who is behind these crimes? And why are they being committed?

A cooler-than-ever Bruce Wayne must deal with the usual suspects as they plan to rule Gotham City, while discovering that he has accidentally adopted a teenage orphan who wishes to become his sidekick.

A notorious gangster Vedha surrenders himself to encounter specialist Vikram whom he challenges every step of the way by narrating his life events in the form of riddles that needs to be solved in order to capture him.

When innocent civilians begin committing unthinkable crimes across Metropolis, Gotham City and beyond, Batman must call upon mystical counterparts to eradicate this demonic threat to the planet; enter Justice League Dark. This team of Dark Arts specialists must unravel the mystery of Earth's supernatural plague and contend with the rising, powerful villainous forces behind the siege—before it's too late for all of mankind.

Kei Nagai dies in a car accident, but realises he is a type of immortal known as Ajin. Hunted by humans, Ajin is eventually found by the government and used as a subject in cruel experiments. He finds fellow demi-humans along the way as he escapes and goes on the run.

Has been an year since Pietro Zinni's gang got caught in the Sopox production laboratory and each of them locked up in different jails. From Regina Coeli jail, Pietro keep warning the authorities a fool syntetized nerve gas and he is ready to make a killing, but no one takes him seriously.

Tara Markov is a girl who has power over earth and stone; she is also more than she seems. Is the newest Teen Titan an ally or a threat? And what are the mercenary Deathstroke's plans for the Titans?

Pietro Zinni is asked by the police to revive the old gang to create a task force that will stop the spread of smart drugs.

Ten years after the Fourth Holy Grail War, a devastating clash between Masters and Servants, another war erupts. Shirou Emiya, whose father fought in the first battle, was leading a peaceful life with the warmhearted Sakura Matou. But when hidden forces begin to stir, Shirou resolves to fulfill his father’s dying wish, protect Sakura, and fight for the Holy Grail.

When Mahendra, the son of Bāhubali, learns about his heritage, he begins to look for answers. His story is juxtaposed with past events that unfolded in the Mahishmati Kingdom.

Members of the Granite Mountain Hotshots battle deadly wildfires to save an Arizona town.

Two apathetic police academy recruits who become best buddies through the tough training together witness a woman being abducted right before their very eyes. As they were taught in the academy, they quickly report the incident to the police, but the police are in no hurry to jump on the case. So the duo decide to take the matter into their own hands and rescue the woman.

A giant rebelled against the heavens. It was declared a devil and defeated. The immortal heart evolved into Sun Wukong. The heavens found him, and ravaged his home. He enters the heavenly kingdom, disguised as a human, seeking retribution.

In Chinatown, law and order is turned upside down when a trio of feral Chinese gangsters arrive, start terrorizing civilians, and usurping territory. The beleaguered local gangsters team up with the police, lead by the badass loose cannon Ma Seok-do, to bring them down. Based on a true story.

In real life, Kwon Yoo is unemployed, but in the virtual game world he is the best leader. Kwon Yoo is then framed for a murder. With the help of hacker Yeo-wool, he tries to uncover the truth behind the murder case.

In 2026, a new machine called the Augma is developed to compete against the NerveGear and its successor, the Amusphere. A next-gen wearable device, the Augma doesn't have a full-dive function like its predecessors. Instead, it uses Augmented Reality to get players into the game. It is safe, user-friendly and lets users play while they are conscious, making it an instant hit on the market. The most popular game on the system is “Ordinal Scale” an ARMMORPG developed exclusively for the Augma. Asuna and the gang have already been playing OS for a while, by the time Kirito decides to join them. They’re about to find out that Ordinal Scale isn’t all fun and games…

A son to a high-ranked official in North Korea commits a series of murders going across the countries around the world. The movie depicts the following events as South Korea, North Korea and Interpol start chasing down after him.

A yakuza boss hires Goemon Ishikawa, a modern day samurai, to protect him aboard his cruise ship casino. Everything goes sideways when the famous thief, Lupin the Third, tries to rob the vessel. Lupin's being hunted by a powerful and mysterious man: the so called “Ghost of Bermuda.” With Goemon's employer dead in the ensuing chaos, his honor is at stake, and the only way to preserve it is with blood. But this opponent is like no other, and to make things right, Goemon may need to sharpen not only his sword, but himself as well!

May, 1980. Man-seob is a taxi driver in Seoul who lives from hand to mouth, raising his young daughter alone. One day, he hears that there is a foreigner who will pay big money for a drive down to Gwangju city. Not knowing that he’s a German journalist with a hidden agenda, Man-seob takes the job.

Having died unexpectedly, firefighter Ja-hong is taken to the afterlife by 3 afterlife guardians. Only when he passes 7 trials over 49 days and proves he was innocent in human life, he’s able to reincarnate, and his 3 afterlife guardians are by his side to defend him in trial.
The Guardians must fight to keep their newfound family together as they unravel the mysteries of Peter Quill's true parentage.
James Gunn deepens the emotional stakes with a story about found family and fatherhood, wrapping its surprisingly poignant character work in dazzling cosmic set pieces and another killer soundtrack.

Explore the mysterious and dangerous home of the king of the apes as a team of explorers ventures deep inside the treacherous, primordial island.
A vivid, monster-filled fever dream that swaps generic tropes for a stylized 1970s aesthetic and sheer creature-feature carnage. Its inventiveness lies in the sheer scale of the encounters, utilizing the jungle environment for creative and brutal monster-on-monster confrontations.

John Wick is forced out of retirement by a former associate looking to seize control of a shadowy international assassins’ guild. Bound by a blood oath to aid him, Wick travels to Rome and does battle against some of the world’s most dangerous killers.
Expanding its mythic underworld with surgical precision, this sequel refines the 'gun-fu' aesthetic into a mesmerizing ballet of neon and lead. The stunt work is unparalleled, favoring long takes that showcase the blistering, unrelenting athleticism of its titular assassin.
Following the events of Captain America: Civil War, Peter Parker, with the help of his mentor Tony Stark, tries to balance his life as an ordinary high school student in Queens, New York City, with fighting crime as his superhero alter ego Spider-Man as a new threat, the Vulture, emerges.
Refreshing the web-crawler with a nimble, John Hughes inflected charm, this outing finds its adrenaline in grounded, high-stakes mishaps rather than cosmic threats. It succeeds by keeping the scale human while maintaining a frantic, acrobatic agility during its most inventive encounters.

When a mysterious woman seduces Dom into the world of crime and a betrayal of those closest to him, the crew face trials that will test them as never before.
This franchise continues its evolution into physics-defying maximalism, weaponizing vehicular mayhem on a global scale. The sheer audacity of its set pieces, particularly the ice-bound pursuit, proves that its commitment to tactical absurdity remains peerless.

An Amazon princess comes to the world of Man in the grips of the First World War to confront the forces of evil and bring an end to human conflict.
Patty Jenkins delivers a definitive cinematic icon through sequences defined by soaring heroism and a distinct, graceful power. The No Man’s Land sequence remains a landmark moment of staging, blending thematic resonance with pure, pulse-pounding bravado.
Thor is imprisoned on the other side of the universe and finds himself in a race against time to get back to Asgard to stop Ragnarok, the destruction of his home-world and the end of Asgardian civilization, at the hands of a powerful new threat, the ruthless Hela.
By leaning into vibrant psychedelia and improvisational wit, Taika Waititi revitalizes the god of thunder with a refreshing sense of cosmic anarchy. The action is doused in Jack Kirby inspired palettes, prioritizing flamboyant energy over typical blockbuster gloom.

In the near future, a weary Logan cares for an ailing Professor X in a hideout on the Mexican border. But Logan's attempts to hide from the world and his legacy are upended when a young mutant arrives, pursued by dark forces.
Distilling decades of comic lore into a gritty, neo-Western eulogy, this entry abandons spectacle for a bruising, tactile intimacy. It stands as a soulful anomaly in the genre, trading world-ending stakes for the raw weight of every punch and scar.
After being coerced into working for a crime boss, a young getaway driver finds himself taking part in a heist doomed to fail.
Edgar Wright transforms the getaway chase into a high-octane symphony where ogni gear shift and gunshot hits with rhythmic perfection. It is a masterclass in kinetic editing that functions as much like a choreographed musical as a traditional crime caper.
The story of the miraculous evacuation of Allied soldiers from Belgium, Britain, Canada and France, who were cut off and surrounded by the German army from the beaches and harbour of Dunkirk between May 26th and June 4th 1940 during World War II.
Christopher Nolan reimagines the war epic as a relentless clockwork thriller, stripping away sentiment to focus on the visceral mechanics of survival. Its triptych structure creates an unrelenting pressure cooker of practical pyrotechnics and aerial precision.
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