By Rebecca Sargeant
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Action Movies
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There’s nothing more exciting than seeing an A-List actor cast in an awesome action TV show. The best action TV shows ever generally feature actors who are relatively unknown or tend to stick to the smaller screen. So, when a massive name is attached to a project, viewers are far more likely to take an interest in it.
While some action TV shows are canceled too soon, the appearance of an A-lister often helps keep a series on the air. This is proved in other genres, too, and there are many great crime TV shows with A-List actors. From action-packed sequences with brilliant explosions and tense situations to subtler scenes with unexpected deaths and violence, these A-List actors are fantastic additions to these TV shows.
10 The Old Man
Starring: Jeff Bridges
The Old Man follows the life of former CIA agent Dan Chase, who, after thirty years of living on the outskirts of society, goes into hiding when he kills an intruder breaking into his house. Chase is portrayed by Academy Award and Golden Globe winner Jeff Bridges, who is best known for his role as the alcoholic music artist Otis Blake in Crazy Heart.
Related
The Old Man: 10 Biggest Twists, Ranked
The Old Man on FX starring Jeff Bridges and John Lithgow set things up nicely for the already confirmed season 2 with its very twisty finale.
Jeff Bridges’ best movies also include Iron Man and The Big Lebowski.The Old Man is full of twists and turns, and the relationship he forms with his new partner, Zoe, raises the stakes significantly. As Chase avoids the FBI’s attempt to have him assassinated, Bridges shows off his talents as both an action and drama star.
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20 9.5/10
The Old Man
TV-MA
Thriller
Where to Watch
- stream
- rent
- buy
Not available
*Availability in US
- Cast
- Jeff Bridges , John Lithgow , Bill Heck , Alia Shawkat , E.J. Bonilla , Leem Lubany , Pej Vahdat , Gbenga Akinnagbe , Amy Brenneman , Hiam Abbass , Echo Kellum , Moneer Yaqubi , Navid Negahban , Jessica Harper , Artur Zai Barrera , Michael Sifain , Jacqueline Antaramian , Kenneth Mitchell , Joel Grey , Noor Razooky , Milo Stein , Andrew Perez , Sara Seyed , Rowena King
- Release Date
- September 19, 2024
- Seasons
- 1
- Directors
- Greg Yaitanes
- Showrunner
- Greg Yaitanes
- Creator(s)
- Robert Levine , Jonathan E. Steinberg
There are parts of The Old Man that are often considered to be rather slow, but it adds to the suspense and pacing of the show overall, and Bridges is brilliant in both. The actor knows how to grip audiences well, but he also slips into the action-packed sequences flawlessly. Season 2 is due to end in October, and although there is no announcement of The Old Man season 3, there is nothing to suggest it won’t return.
9 The Night Manager
Starring: Tom Hiddleston & Olivia Colman
The British spy thriller The Night Manager has multiple big names included in its star-studded lineup. The show focuses on Tom Hiddleston as Jonathan Pine, the manager of a prestigious hotel in Cairo, who gets caught up in the world of illegal arms sales. He is recruited by Angela Burr, portrayed by Olivia Colman, who sends him undercover into the inner circle of a dealer.
Hiddleston is most famous for playing Loki in the MCU, whereas Colman’s most celebrated role is as Queen Anne in The Favorite, the same character that makes her an Oscar winner.
While there are plenty of massive British stars in The Night Manager, Colman and Hiddleston are the crowning jewels of the cast. Hiddleston is most famous for playing Loki in the MCU, whereas Colman’s most celebrated role is as Queen Anne in The Favorite, the same character that makes her an Oscar winner.
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The Night Manager
TV-MA
Drama
Thriller
Where to Watch
- stream
- rent
- buy
Not available
*Availability in US
- Cast
- Tom Hiddleston , Hugh Laurie , Olivia Colman , Tom Hollander , Elizabeth Debicki , David Harewood
- Release Date
- February 21, 2016
- Seasons
- 1
- Directors
- Susanne Bier
- Writers
- David Farr
- Main Genre
- Thriller
- Creator(s)
- David Farr
The Night Manager is a nail-biter, and Pine’s past involvement with the military makes the international mission even more nerve-wracking, especially as he tries to keep his true identity a secret. The rapport between Pine and Burr is also intriguing and unpredictable at times, something viewers are keen to see expanded upon in The Night Manager’s newly renewed seasons 2 and 3.
8 The Witcher
Starring: Henry Cavill
The Witcher’s protagonist, Geralt of Rivia, is currently played by Superman actor Henry Cavill. However, following the announcement that Cavill is stepping down from his role, The Witcher season 4 will see The Hunger Games star Liam Hemsworth as the show’s lead. Regardless of which point viewers start watching The Witcher, an incredible A-list actor will be dominating the screen. The Witcher is based on the video game series and novels by Andrzej Sapkowski, set in a medieval-style world that is full of mythical threats and fantastical powers.
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13 8.5/10
The Witcher
Adventure
Drama
Action
Fantasy
Where to Watch
- stream
- rent
- buy
Not available
Not available
*Availability in US
- Cast
- Tom Canton , Maciej Musial , Björn Hlynur Haraldsson , Anna Shaffer , MyAnna Buring , Lars Mikkelsen , Royce Pierreson , Eamon Farren , Wilson Radjou-Pujalte , Joey Batey , Jodhi May , Therica Wilson-Read , Anya Chalotra , Mimi Ndiweni , Henry Cavill , Freya Allan , Adam Levy , Amit Shah , Liam Hemsworth , Laurence Fishburne
- Release Date
- December 20, 2019
- Seasons
- 3
- Directors
- Lauren Schmidt Hissrich
- Writers
- Lauren Schmidt Hissrich
- Showrunner
- Lauren Schmidt Hissrich
While The Witcher is primarily a fantasy TV show, it is also action-packed. Geralt features in multiple sword-fighting scenes that are heavy with blood, guts, and gore. There is also a lot of lore to The Witcher series, which offers something to audiences that is more than simply lots of battles and monster hunting. While there is some doubt surrounding The Witcher replacing Henry Cavill with Liam Hemsworth, the Australian actor is already known for his work in action titles, and he’s likely to be just as good as his predecessor, if not better.
7 Rabbit Hole
Starring: Kiefer Sutherland
Kiefer Sutherland most famously plays Jack Bauer in 24, but he also has a varied movie career, too. His breakthrough role came as Ace in the 1986 coming-of-age film Stand by Me at just 17 years old, but he has also appeared in several other action projects, such as Renegades and Truth or Consequences, N.M., which he also directed. However, another amazing action TV show of Sutherland’s is the 2023 series Rabbit Hole.
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Rabbit Hole
Action
Drama
Thriller
Where to Watch
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- rent
- buy
Not available
*Availability in US
- Cast
- Kiefer Sutherland , Meta Golding , Rob Yang , Charles Dance , Walt Klink , Enid Graham
- Release Date
- March 26, 2023
- Seasons
- 1
- Directors
- Glenn Ficarra , John Requa
- Writers
- Glenn Ficarra , John Requa
- Showrunner
- Glenn Ficarra , John Requa
Sutherland takes on the role of John Weir, an espionage agent who is framed for murder and has to prove his innocence. Despite Rabbit Hole’s thrilling ending, it’s sadly not returning for another installment.
Despite teasing that the show would come back, Paramount+ has canceled Rabbit Hole after just one season.
It’s a shame, but the show still works as a limited series. Sutherland demonstrates that his best performances come in these gripping titles. He also shows that he is capable of playing characters in this genre that differ from Bauer, and Weir’s clear sense of humor is something Sutherland doesn’t often get the opportunity to demonstrate in his roles.
6 Tom Clancy's Jack Ryan
Starring: John Krasinski
John Krasinski is a perfect example of an actor whose career has skyrocketed in recent years, and many are still astounded to see The Office’s Jim Halpert as a big movie star. Krasinski has made a name for himself both behind and in front of the camera. He has acted in, written, and directed films such as A Quiet Place and its sequel, as well as the animated fantasy comedy If. Krasinski is the titular character in Tom Clancy’s Jack Ryan, a CIA analyst who is dragged away from his desk job and thrown into a world of political warfare.
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9.5/10
Tom Clancy's Jack Ryan
TV-MA
Action
Drama
Thriller
Where to Watch
- stream
- rent
- buy
Not available
*Availability in US
- Cast
- John Krasinski , Wendell Pierce , Abbie Cornish , Ali Suliman , Dina Shihabi , John Hoogenakker , Noomi Rapace , Jordi Molla , Francisco Denis , Cristina Umaña
- Release Date
- August 31, 2018
- Seasons
- 4
- Directors
- John Krasinski
- Writers
- Carlton Cuse , Graham Roland
- Showrunner
- Carlton Cuse
While there is a striking contrast between Jim Halpert and Jack Ryan, Krasinski proves just how versatile a performer he is in Amazon’s series. Across all 4 seasons of Tom Clancy’s Jack Ryan, Krasinksi does well at keeping up with the character’s action-packed escapades and stars in some truly incredible sequences that rival war movies. He also provides a goofier and more relaxed take on the character, which is a little odd at times, but it also makes it easier to invest in him. The show introduces a new world-ending conspiracy with every season, and Ryan’s peace is never permanent.
5 The Terminal List
Starring: Chris Pratt
The Terminal List is one of the best detective series on Amazon Prime Video and is a fascinating title in the action-thriller genre. Chris Pratt provides an enthralling performance as U.S. Navy SEAL James Reece, who is vastly different from his other characters. Audiences remember the actor for his role as the lovable Andy Dwyer in the sitcom Parks and Recreation before soaring to superstardom as Peter Quill in the Guardians of the Galaxy movies.
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10/10
The Terminal List
Action
Thriller
Drama
Where to Watch
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*Availability in US
- Cast
- Jared Shaw , Arlo Mertz , JD Pardo , Patrick Schwarzenegger , Chris Pratt2 , Tyner Rushing , Constance Wu , Christina Vidal , Matthew Rauch , Alexis Louder , Jai Courtney , Stephen Bishop , Taylor Kitsch , Jeanne Tripplehorn , Warren Kole , Nick Chinlund , Riley Keough , LaMonica Garrett , Sean Gunn
- Release Date
- July 1, 2022
- Seasons
- 1
- Directors
- Paul McCrane
- Writers
- Chris Pratt2 , David DiGilio
- Showrunner
- David DiGilio
Quill is a heroic figure anyway, but not in the same way as Reece. The Terminal List focuses on the power of doubt and betrayal, specifically how Reece’s commitment to his military background becomes vulnerable when he discovers that his memories don’t make sense.
The Terminal List season 2 will pull Reece from his grief once again following a series of terrorist attacks and thrust him back into a world that he wants to move on from.
Season 1 sees Reece track down everyone responsible for the death of his family, and the fact that he has nothing more to lose makes these thrilling and violent moments even more impactful. The Terminal List season 2 will pull Reece from his grief once again following a series of terrorist attacks and thrust him back into a world that he wants to move on from.
4 The Last Of Us
Starring: Pedro Pascal
The critically acclaimed TV show The Last of Us is an engaging and shocking story, which is based on the video game franchise of the same name. Game of Thrones’ and Kingsman: The Golden Circle actor Pedro Pascal portrays The Last of Us’ frontman, Joel Miller, one of the survivors of Earth’s viral pandemic that caused the collapse of society. Pascal provides one of the most emotional performances of his career as Joel, a father who is burdened by the loss of his daughter. Joel begrudgingly starts to open up when he meets teenager Ellie, who Bella Ramsey plays.
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13 8.9/10
The Last Of Us
Drama
Horror
Adventure
Sci-Fi
Thriller
Action
Where to Watch
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- rent
- buy
Not available
*Availability in US
- Cast
- Pedro Pascal , Bella Ramsey , Anna Torv , lamar johnson , Jeffrey Pierce , Keivonn Woodard , John Getz , Olivier Ross-Parent , Samuel Hoeksema , Gabriel Luna , Merle Dandridge , Nico Parker , Melanie Lynskey , John Hannah , Josh Brener , Christopher Heyerdahl , Brad Leland , Marcia Bennett , Brendan Fletcher , Jerry Wasserman , Wendy Gorling , Jessica Belbin , Haysam Kadri , Sarah Himadeh , Caitlin Howden , Max Montesi , Natasha Mumba , Gina Louise Phillips , Taylor St. Pierre , Ryan D. Clarke , Khadijah Roberts-Abdullah , Logan Pierce
- Release Date
- January 15, 2023
- Seasons
- 1
- Directors
- Craig Mazin
- Writers
- Neil Druckmann , Craig Mazin
- Showrunner
- Craig Mazin
- Main Genre
- Horror
Although The Last of Us season 1 lacks action scenes, certain moments are still extremely suspenseful. Not every action TV show needs to see guns blazing and death in every scene, but The Last of Us staggers them in such a way to keep things interesting. For example, Joel’s flashback of Main Street, which sees everything engulfed in fire and chaos. Thankfully, there are teases of several intense video game scenes in The Last of Us season 2’s trailer that will amp up the action side of things. Pascal is a perfect Joel, and he encapsulates the character’s personality beautifully.
3 Hijack
Starring: Idris Elba
Hijack is one of the best TV shows on Apple TV+ right now and features Idris Elba as Sam Nelson, a professional negotiator who boards a flight that a mysterious group swiftly takes over the aircraft. What’s so interesting about Hijack is that a majority of Elba’s scenes are on the plane, which gives the actor the opportunity to show off his talents while restricted by the setting. Elba’s most recognizable role is as the titular character in Luther and its follow-up movie, Luther: The Fallen Sun.
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Hijack
Not Yet Rated
Drama
Thriller
Where to Watch
- stream
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Not available
Not available
*Availability in US
- Cast
- Idris Elba , Archie Panjabi , Neil Maskell , Eve Myles , Christine Adams , Max Beesley , Kate Phillips , Ben Miles
- Release Date
- June 28, 2023
- Seasons
- 1
- Directors
- George Kay , Jim Field Smith
- Writers
- George Kay , Jim Field Smith
- Showrunner
- George Kay , Jim Field Smith
However, he is also known as Heimdall in the MCU and as the voice of Knuckles in the Sonic the Hedgehog movies and the Knuckles TV show. Hijack is heavily layered with suspense and a lot of action, despite the limited space on the plane, but it’s also thick with mystery. The Cheapside Firm aren’t typical villains, but the deaths and destruction they cause make them incredibly dangerous, especially in Hijack’s shocking finale. Elba is a fantastic lead in this action TV show, and many are intrigued to see what happens to Sam next.
2 Alias
Starring: Jennifer Garner
J. J. Abrams combines science fiction and action in Alias. Jennifer Garner portrays Sydney Bristow, a double agent who struggles to hide her employment with the CIA from the criminal organization SD-6. Garner isn’t typically known for appearing in action works, and she is generally prominent for starring in some of the best rom-com movies of all time, such as 13 Going on 30 and Juno. However, her experience playing Elektra in Daredevil highlights that she has a large acting range and can adapt to many types of characters.
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Alias
Thriller
Where to Watch
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- rent
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Not available
*Availability in US
- Cast
- Jennifer Garner , Michael Vartan , Bradley Cooper
- Release Date
- September 30, 2001
- Seasons
- 5
- Directors
- J.J. Abrams
- Writers
- J.J. Abrams
Alias comes in the years before some of Garner’s most notable films, but the show is an underappreciated title that viewers are now starting to revisit. Sydney’s attempts to balance her professional and personal lives are brilliant and interesting, and the introduction of missing artifacts by a fictitious Renaissance-era artist is a fascinating layer to the show. Garner’s stunts are unexpectedly strong, too, and she is fantastic in many of Alias’ wildest fight scenes. There have been rumors of an Alias reboot for years now, but it is yet to happen, although there is hope for its return.
1 The Gentlemen
Starring: Kaya Scodelario & Theo James
2024’s The Gentlemen is a follow-on from Guy Ritchie’s 2019 movie of the same name, and the show further delves into the world of drug dealing hidden behind a world of socialities and wealth. Theo James portrays the show’s main character, Eddie Horniman, who inherits a huge estate from his father and discovers that his property is being used to grow marijuana. Behind this operation is Susie Glass, played by Kaya Scodelario, who takes over from her father while he is in prison.
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10/10
The Gentlemen
TV-MA
Crime
Drama
Action
Where to Watch
- stream
- rent
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Not available
Not available
*Availability in US
- Cast
- Theo James , Kaya Scodelario , Daniel Ings , Joely Richardson , Giancarlo Esposito , Peter Serafinowicz , Vinnie Jones
- Release Date
- March 7, 2024
- Seasons
- 1
- Writers
- Guy Ritchie
- Main Genre
- Crime
Scodelario famously plays Effy Stonem in Skins as a teenager before moving on to the likes of the sci-fi thriller Moon and the 2011 adaptation of Wuthering Heights. James is primarily a movie actor, making his breakthrough in The Inbetweeners Movie and the Divergent film trilogy. Both actors offer performances that are comical and intense, although Scodelario is the true stand out of the cast. The Gentleman’s action scenes are very gun-focused, but this works for the show’s storyline. But Scodelario’s character makes up for this, and she has fabulous chemistry with James.
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