Top 30 Ranked

The Greatest Action Movies of 2020

The Best Action Films of the Year

Explore the top action movies released in a year of blockbusters. Find where to watch high-octane hits, superhero sequels, and intense sci-fi thrillers.

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About 2020 Action Movies

The year 2020 was supposed to be the summer of the titan. We were promised the high-octane return of Top Gun and the globe-trotting espionage of a new James Bond. Instead, the world came to a sudden, grinding halt. Cinema seats sat empty, and the popcorn machines went cold. Yet, looking back at the action genre through the rearview mirror of history, 2020 was far from a total loss. In fact, it was a year that forced the genre to diversify its delivery methods and prove its resilience in a landscape without the traditional safety net of the multiplex.

With the massive blockbusters retreating to the safety of 2021 and 2022, the vacuum was filled by streaming platforms and bold international offerings. The undisputed heavyweight champion of this pivot was Extraction. Released on Netflix when the world was at its most restless, the Chris Hemsworth vehicle arrived like a jolt of pure adrenaline. It did not try to reinvent the wheel, but it polished that wheel to a mirror finish. Directed by stunt veteran Sam Hargrave, the film featured a breathtaking twelve-minute long take that moved from a car chase into a building-to-building shootout. For an audience stuck on their couches, this level of visceral, tactile stunt work was a reminder of why we love the genre. It put the focus back on physical choreography over digital spectacle.

The year also saw a fascinating shift toward female-led action that felt distinct and tonal. Birds of Prey brought a neon-soaked, anarchic energy to the screen early in the year, trading the grittiness of the Snyder era for a chaotic, candy-colored brawl. It featured stunt work from the 87eleven team, the same minds behind John Wick, ensuring every punch felt heavy and every bone-snap sounded real. Later, we saw Charlize Theron solidify her status as the modern queen of the genre in The Old Guard. By blending historical weight with contemporary tactical combat, the film felt like a thinking person's action movie. It replaced the invincibility of typical heroes with the weariness of immortality, giving the fight scenes a philosophical edge.

We cannot talk about 2020 without mentioning the film that tried to save the theatrical experience: Tenet. Christopher Nolan’s temporal puzzle was a polarizing beast, but its ambition was undeniable. It was a massive, loud, and technically flawless experiment that used action as a tool for high-concept storytelling. Whether or not audiences fully grasped the pincer movement logic, seeing a real Boeing 747 crash into a hangar or watching a car chase happen in reverse was a testament to the power of practical filmmaking.

While the genre lacked the billion-dollar box office milestones we usually expect, 2020 taught us that action cinema survives on its craft. From the indie-adjacent punchiness of films like Becky to the streaming dominance of big-budget spectacles, the genre proved it didn't need a crowded theater to keep our hearts racing. It was a year of adaptation, proving that even when the world stops, the pursuit of the next great thrill never truly slows down.

The Complete Rankings

Based on the top picks in drafts on SnakeDrafts

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30
2020 Action in Fate/stay night: Heaven's Feel III. Spring Song (2020)
Fate/stay night: Heaven's Feel III. Spring Song
2020

The battle rages on as Shirou continues to protect Sakura, now consumed by the darkness. He joins forces with Rin to end the Holy Grail War, while Illyasviel, who knows the truth behind it, confronts her fate. Amidst the chaos, Zouken plots to manipulate Sakura for his own desires. The final fight begins.

Animation
Romance
2h 0m
Tomonori Sudo
Noriaki Sugiyama, Noriko Shitaya, Ayako Kawasumi, Kana Ueda
29
2020 Action in Soorarai Pottru (2020)
Soorarai Pottru
2020

Nedumaaran Rajangam "Maara" sets out to make the common man fly and in the process takes on the world's most capital intensive industry and several enemies who stand in his way.

Drama
Action
2h 29m
Sudha Kongara Prasad
Suriya, Aparna Balamurali, Paresh Rawal, Mohan Babu
28
2020 Action in Fire (2020)
Fire
2020

Fires are raging in the Moscow region, and the forest protection airbase is on a rotation. However, experienced firefighters are in short supply and team leader Andrey Pavlovich has to take on a new recruit, Roman.

Action
Drama
Alexey Nuzhnyy
Konstantin Khabenskiy, Andrey Smolyakov, Irina Gorbacheva, Victor Dobronravov

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27
2020 Action in Mortal Kombat Legends: Scorpion's Revenge (2020)
Mortal Kombat Legends: Scorpion's Revenge
2020

After the vicious slaughter of his family by stone-cold mercenary Sub-Zero, Hanzo Hasashi is exiled to the torturous Netherrealm. There, in exchange for his servitude to the sinister Quan Chi, he’s given a chance to avenge his family – and is resurrected as Scorpion, a lost soul bent on revenge. Back on Earthrealm, Lord Raiden gathers a team of elite warriors – Shaolin monk Liu Kang, Special Forces officer Sonya Blade and action star Johnny Cage – an unlikely band of heroes with one chance to save humanity. To do this, they must defeat Shang Tsung’s horde of Outworld gladiators and reign over the Mortal Kombat tournament.

Animation
Action
1h 20m
Ethan Spaulding
Patrick Seitz, Jordan Rodrigues, Jennifer Carpenter, Joel McHale
26
2020 Action in Miraculous World: New York, United HeroeZ (2020)
Miraculous World: New York, United HeroeZ
2020

Marinette’s class is headed to New York, the city of superheroes, for French-American Friendship Week.

Animation
Family
1h 1m
Thomas Astruc
Anouck Hautbois, Benjamin Bollen, Antoine Tomé, Fily Keita
25
2020 Action in Digimon Adventure: Last Evolution Kizuna (2020)
Digimon Adventure: Last Evolution Kizuna
2020

Tai is now a university student, living alone, working hard at school, and working every day, but with his future still undecided. Meanwhile, Matt and others continue to work on Digimon incidents and activities that help people with their partner Digimon. When an unprecedented phenomenon occurs, the DigiDestined discover that when they grow up, their relationship with their partner Digimon will come closer to an end.

Animation
Action
1h 35m
Tomohisa Taguchi
Natsuki Hanae, Mao Ichimichi, Suzuko Mimori, Yoshimasa Hosoya
24
2020 Action in Jiu Jitsu (2020)
Jiu Jitsu
2020

Every six years, an ancient order of jiu-jitsu fighters joins forces to battle a vicious race of alien invaders. But when a celebrated war hero goes down in defeat, the fate of the planet and mankind hangs in the balance.

Action
Science Fiction
1h 42m
Dimitri Logothetis
Alain Moussi, Nicolas Cage, Tony Jaa, JuJu Chan
23
2020 Action in Demon Slayer -Kimetsu no Yaiba- The Movie: Mugen Train (2020)
Demon Slayer -Kimetsu no Yaiba- The Movie: Mugen Train
2020

Tanjiro Kamado, joined with Inosuke Hashibira, a boy raised by boars who wears a boar's head, and Zenitsu Agatsuma, a scared boy who reveals his true power when he sleeps, boards the Infinity Train on a new mission with the Fire Hashira, Kyojuro Rengoku, to defeat a demon who has been tormenting the people and killing the demon slayers who oppose it!

Animation
Action
1h 57m
Haruo Sotozaki
Natsuki Hanae, Akari Kito, Hiro Shimono, Yoshitsugu Matsuoka
22
2020 Action in Justice League Dark: Apokolips War (2020)
Justice League Dark: Apokolips War
2020

Earth is decimated after intergalactic tyrant Darkseid has devastated the Justice League in a poorly executed war by the DC Super Heroes. Now the remaining bastions of good – the Justice League, Teen Titans, Suicide Squad and assorted others – must regroup, strategize and take the war to Darkseid in order to save the planet and its surviving inhabitants.

Animation
Action
1h 30m
Matt Peters
Matt Ryan, Jerry O'Connell, Taissa Farmiga, Jason O'Mara
21
2020 Action in The Outpost (2020)
The Outpost
2020

A small unit of U.S. soldiers, alone at the remote Combat Outpost Keating, located deep in the valley of three mountains in Afghanistan, battles to defend against an overwhelming force of Taliban fighters in a coordinated attack. The Battle of Kamdesh, as it was known, was the bloodiest American engagement of the Afghan War in 2009 and Bravo Troop 3-61 CAV became one of the most decorated units of the 19-year conflict.

War
Drama
2h 3m
Rod Lurie
Scott Eastwood, Caleb Landry Jones, Orlando Bloom, Ernest Cavazos
20
2020 Action in The Rhythm Section (2020)
The Rhythm Section
2020

When she discovers the plane crash that claimed the lives of her family was no accident, Stephanie Patrick enters the dark, complex world of international espionage seeking vengeance. With nothing left to lose, Stephanie transforms from victim to assassin and discovers that neither revenge nor the truth are what they appear.

Action
Thriller
1h 49m
Reed Morano
Blake Lively, Jude Law, Sterling K. Brown, Ivana Basic
19
2020 Action in Sonic the Hedgehog (2020)
Sonic the Hedgehog
2020

Powered with incredible speed, Sonic The Hedgehog embraces his new home on Earth. That is, until Sonic sparks the attention of super-uncool evil genius Dr. Robotnik. Now it’s super-villain vs. super-sonic in an all-out race across the globe to stop Robotnik from using Sonic’s unique power for world domination.

Action
Science Fiction
1h 39m
Jeff Fowler
Ben Schwartz, James Marsden, Tika Sumpter, Jim Carrey
18
2020 Action in Guns Akimbo (2020)
Guns Akimbo
2020

An ordinary guy suddenly finds himself forced to fight a gladiator-like battle for a dark website that streams the violence for viewers. In order to survive and rescue his kidnapped ex-girlfriend, he must battle Nix, a heavily armed and much more experienced fighter.

Action
Comedy
1h 38m
Jason Lei Howden
Daniel Radcliffe, Samara Weaving, Natasha Liu Bordizzo, Ned Dennehy
17
2020 Action in Vanguard (2020)
Vanguard
2020

Covert security company Vanguard is the last hope of survival for an accountant after he is targeted by the world's deadliest mercenary organization.

Action
Adventure
1h 47m
Stanley Tong Gwai-Lai
Jackie Chan, Yang Yang, Allen, Miya Muqi
16
2020 Action in Peninsula (2020)
Peninsula
2020

A soldier and his team battle hordes of post-apocalyptic zombies in the wastelands of the Korean Peninsula.

Horror
Action
1h 55m
Yeon Sang-ho
Gang Dong-won, Lee Jung-hyun, Lee Re, Kwon Hae-hyo
15
2020 Action in The New Mutants (2020)
The New Mutants
2020

Five young mutants, just discovering their abilities while held in a secret facility against their will, fight to escape their past sins and save themselves.

Science Fiction
Horror
1h 34m
Josh Boone
Blu Hunt, Charlie Heaton, Maisie Williams, Henry Zaga
14
2020 Action in Monster Hunter (2020)
Monster Hunter
2020

A portal transports Cpt. Artemis and an elite unit of soldiers to a strange world where powerful monsters rule with deadly ferocity. Faced with relentless danger, the team encounters a mysterious hunter who may be their only hope to find a way home.

Action
Fantasy
1h 43m
Paul W. S. Anderson
Milla Jovovich, Tony Jaa, Ron Perlman, T.I.
13
2020 Action in The Hunt (2020)
The Hunt
2020

Twelve strangers wake up in a clearing. They don't know where they are—or how they got there. In the shadow of a dark internet conspiracy theory, ruthless elitists gather at a remote location to hunt humans for sport. But their master plan is about to be derailed when one of the hunted turns the tables on her pursuers.

Action
Thriller
1h 30m
Craig Zobel
Betty Gilpin, Hilary Swank, Ethan Suplee, Teri Wyble
12
2020 Action in Honest Thief (2020)
Honest Thief
2020

A bank robber tries to turn himself in because he's falling in love and wants to live an honest life...but when he realizes the Feds are more corrupt than him, he must fight back to clear his name.

Thriller
Action
1h 39m
Mark Williams
Liam Neeson, Kate Walsh, Jai Courtney, Jeffrey Donovan
11
2020 Action in Greenland (2020)
Greenland
2020

John Garrity, his estranged wife and their young son embark on a perilous journey to find sanctuary as a planet-killing comet hurtles toward Earth. Amid terrifying accounts of cities getting levelled, the Garritys experience the best and worst in humanity. As the countdown to the global apocalypse approaches zero, their incredible trek culminates in a desperate and last-minute flight to a possible safe haven.

Action
Adventure
2h 0m
Ric Roman Waugh
Gerard Butler, Morena Baccarin, David Denman, Hope Davis
10
2020 Action in Mulan (2020)
Mulan
2020

When the Emperor of China issues a decree that one man per family must serve in the Imperial Chinese Army to defend the country from Huns, Hua Mulan, the eldest daughter of an honored warrior, steps in to take the place of her ailing father. She is spirited, determined and quick on her feet. Disguised as a man by the name of Hua Jun, she is tested every step of the way and must harness her innermost strength and embrace her true potential.

Adventure
Fantasy
1h 55m
Niki Caro
Liu Yifei, Donnie Yen, Gong Li, Jet Li
Why it ranks

Niki Caro reimagines the legendary ballad with a wuxia-inspired grandeur that emphasizes sweeping landscapes and elegant, gravity-defying warfare. It is a visually sumptuous reimagining that trades musical numbers for a more mature, stoic approach to the warrior’s journey.

9
2020 Action in Bloodshot (2020)
Bloodshot
2020

After he and his wife are murdered, marine Ray Garrison is resurrected by a team of scientists. Enhanced with nanotechnology, he becomes a superhuman, biotech killing machine—'Bloodshot'. As Ray first trains with fellow super-soldiers, he cannot recall anything from his former life. But when his memories flood back and he remembers the man that killed both him and his wife, he breaks out of the facility to get revenge, only to discover that there's more to the conspiracy than he thought.

Action
Science Fiction
1h 50m
Dave Wilson
Vin Diesel, Eiza González, Sam Heughan, Toby Kebbell
Why it ranks

Vin Diesel operates as a formidable vessel for this techno-thriller’s exploration of identity and synthetic enhancement. The film leans into its video-game aesthetic with stylized combat and a meta-textual narrative hook that keeps the audience questioning the reality of its protagonist’s mission.

8
2020 Action in Underwater (2020)
Underwater
2020

After an earthquake destroys their underwater station, six researchers must navigate two miles along the dangerous, unknown depths of the ocean floor to make it to safety in a race against time.

Horror
Science Fiction
1h 35m
William Eubank
Kristen Stewart, Vincent Cassel, Mamoudou Athie, T.J. Miller
Why it ranks

This claustrophobic descent into deep-sea horror excels through its lean pacing and industrial, Lovecraftian production design. Kirsten Stewart’s stoic lead performance provides a solid anchor for a film that wastes no time plunging the audience into a relentless aquatic nightmare.

7
2020 Action in Project Power (2020)
Project Power
2020

An ex-soldier, a teen and a cop collide in New Orleans as they hunt for the source behind a dangerous new pill that grants users temporary superpowers.

Action
Crime
1h 53m
Ariel Schulman
Jamie Foxx, Joseph Gordon-Levitt, Dominique Fishback, Rodrigo Santoro
Why it ranks

By grounding its sci-fi conceit in the gritty reality of the New Orleans streets, this thriller offers a fresh, high-concept take on the superpower trope. It thrives on an inventive visual palette and the gritty, high-octane chemistry between its leads.

6
2020 Action in Birds of Prey (and the Fantabulous Emancipation of One Harley Quinn) (2020)
Birds of Prey (and the Fantabulous Emancipation of One Harley Quinn)
2020

Harley Quinn joins forces with a singer, an assassin and a police detective to help a young girl who had a hit placed on her after she stole a rare diamond from a crime lord.

Action
Crime
1h 49m
Cathy Yan
Margot Robbie, Rosie Perez, Mary Elizabeth Winstead, Jurnee Smollett
Why it ranks

Cathy Yan injects a much-needed dose of glitter-bombed anarchy and stylistic flair into the DCEU. The film's non-linear energy and imaginative, prop-heavy fight scenes mirror the chaotic brilliance of Margot Robbie’s definitive performance.

5
2020 Action in Wonder Woman 1984 (2020)
Wonder Woman 1984
2020

A botched store robbery places Wonder Woman in a global battle against a powerful and mysterious ancient force that puts her powers in jeopardy.

Action
Adventure
2h 31m
Patty Jenkins
Why it ranks

Ditching the gritty aesthetics of its predecessors, this sequel leans into vibrant, maximalist escapism and a sincere message of truth. It functions as a colorful tribute to the optimistic heroics of early comic book cinema while showcasing Patty Jenkins' eye for grand, sweeping set pieces.

4
2020 Action in Tenet (2020)
2020

Armed with only one word - Tenet - and fighting for the survival of the entire world, the Protagonist journeys through a twilight world of international espionage on a mission that will unfold in something beyond real time.

Why it ranks

Christopher Nolan delivers a cold, cerebral puzzle box that demands total immersion in its inverted temporal mechanics. The sheer scale of its practical effects and backwards-moving combat sequences provides a sensory bombardment unlike anything else in modern blockbuster cinema.

3
2020 Action in Extraction (2020)
Extraction
2020

A hardened gun-for-hire's latest mission becomes a soul-searching race to survive when he's sent into Bangladesh to rescue a drug lord's kidnapped son.

Action
Thriller
1h 56m
Sam Hargrave
Chris Hemsworth, Rudhraksh Jaiswal, Randeep Hooda, Golshifteh Farahani
Why it ranks

This relentless exercise in stunt-driven tension pushes the limits of the long-take sequence to jaw-dropping heights. Its visceral, unyielding pace transforms simple extraction into a masterclass of sustained adrenaline and brutal, high-stakes choreography.

2
2020 Action in The Old Guard (2020)
The Old Guard
2020

Four undying warriors who've secretly protected humanity for centuries become targeted for their mysterious powers just as they discover a new immortal.

Action
Fantasy
2h 5m
Gina Prince-Bythewood
Charlize Theron, KiKi Layne, Veronica Ngo, Matthias Schoenaerts
Why it ranks

Gina Prince-Bythewood brings an elegant, grounded gravity to the superhero genre, prioritizing weary immortality and tactical choreography over mindless spectacle. Charlize Theron anchors the film with a physical gravitas that makes every ancient grudge and sword swing feel lived-in and heavy.

1
2020 Action in Bad Boys for Life (2020)
Bad Boys for Life
2020

Marcus and Mike are forced to confront new threats, career changes, and midlife crises as they join the newly created elite team AMMO of the Miami police department to take down the ruthless Armando Armas, the vicious leader of a Miami drug cartel.

Thriller
Action
2h 4m
Adil El Arbi
Will Smith, Martin Lawrence, Vanessa Hudgens, Alexander Ludwig
Why it ranks

Will Smith and Martin Lawrence recapture their lightning-in-a-bottle chemistry, revitalizing a legacy franchise with surprising emotional depth and kinetic, neon-soaked mayhem. It succeeds by balancing nostalgic swagger with a self-aware reflection on the aging action hero archetype.

FAQ

Frequently Asked Questions

Everything you need to know about this list and SnakeDrafts

Several 2020 action movies featured strong female leads, including "Wonder Woman 1984," which showcased Gal Gadot's iconic superhero, and "Birds of Prey," centered around Harley Quinn's fierce emancipation. Additionally, "The Old Guard" presents a team of immortal female warriors, highlighting diversity and empowerment in the genre.

The pandemic caused significant disruptions in theatrical releases, pushing many 2020 action films like "Tenet" and "Mulan" to simultaneous digital and limited theater launches. This shift accelerated the industry's embrace of streaming platforms as key distribution channels for high-octane blockbusters.

Sci-fi was a prevalent theme in 2020 action movies such as "Tenet," which explored complex time inversion concepts, and "Project Power," revolving around a pill granting temporary superpowers. These films combined intense action with futuristic technology and speculative science, enriching the genre's appeal.

Several 2020 action movies blend genres effectively, like "Extraction," which combines high-stakes action with thriller intensity, and "The Hunt," merging action with horror elements. "Underwater" also mixes action with horror and science fiction, creating a suspenseful aquatic thriller experience.

Yes, 2020 saw notable superhero and comic book adaptations like "Wonder Woman 1984" continuing the DC saga and "Birds of Prey," which focuses on Harley Quinn and her allies. The list also includes "Bloodshot," based on the Valiant Comics character, showcasing diverse superhero narratives.

Movies like "Mulan" provide a rich cultural adventure with its historical fantasy setting, while "Greenland" delivers a disaster thriller set against a global catastrophe backdrop. "Monster Hunter" offers an action-packed journey into a fantastical world filled with monstrous creatures.

Themes of resilience and survival are central in films such as "Greenland," focusing on a family's fight against an apocalyptic event, and "Extraction," highlighting a daring rescue mission. These narratives resonated strongly during a year of global uncertainty, reflecting broader societal challenges.
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