Movies provide us with an escape from reality and the opportunity to become immersed in worlds that contain elements that the real world lacks. The action film is tenacious. Even amid a global health crisis, with theatres closed and films pushed from the release calendar, the action genre found ways to thrive in various corners of the film industry, frequently evolving in the realm of VOD and streaming platforms.
If you want to get your heart pumping but don’t want to leave your couch this season, here are some movies to consider.
1. Chaos Walking
Patrick Ness, an American-British novelist, is the author of the Chaos Walking young adult science fiction series. It takes place in a dystopian world where all living creatures can hear each other’s thoughts through a stream of images, words, and sounds known as Noise. The series takes place on a planet where all women appear to have died, and men’s thoughts are broadcast live for all to hear like a radio show. The film is based on a novel series of the same name and is well worth seeing.
2. Boss Level
The plot revolves around a former Special Forces agent who becomes trapped in a time loop of his own death. Roy Pulver (agent) discovers clues about a secret government project that could help solve the mystery of his untimely death. In a race against the clock, Pulver must track down Colonel Ventor (Mel Gibson), the powerful head of the government program, while outrunning skilled, ruthless assassins determined to keep him from the truth to break out of the loop, save his family, and live again for tomorrow. Yet again a very interesting movie.
3. ‘Godzilla Vs. Kong’
This epic next chapter in the cinematic Monsterverse pits two of the greatest icons in motion picture history – the fearsome Godzilla and the mighty Kong – against one another, with humanity hanging in the balance. Legends collide as Godzilla and Kong, two of nature’s most powerful forces, clash on the big screen in an epic battle for the ages. A conspiracy threatens to wipe the creatures, both good and bad, from the face of the earth forever as a squadron embarks on a perilous mission into fantastic uncharted terrain in search of clues to the Titans’ very origins and humanity’s survival.
4. Mortal Kombat
Mortal Kombat is a 2021 martial arts fantasy film based on the same-named video game franchise and a reboot of the Mortal Kombat film series. Cole Young is a washed-up MMA fighter who has no idea about his hidden lineage or why assassin Sub-Zero is hunting him down. Concerned for his family’s safety, he seeks out a group of fighters chosen to defend Earth realm against Outworld. The film is well worth seeing and has become HBO Max’s most successful film launch to date.
5. Those Who Wish Me Dead
It was released in theatres and on HBO Max on May 14, 2021. Angelina Jolie, Nicholas Hoult, Finn Little, and Tyler Perry are cast members. It’s worth seeing because Angelina Jolie made a triumphant box office return with this film. The plot revolves around a young boy (Finn Little) who witnesses his father’s murder and goes on the run with a smokejumper (Angelina Jolie) in the Montana wilderness to avoid a pair of assassins (Nicholas Hoult and Aidan Gillen) hired to silence him; Jon Bernthal, Medina Senghore, and Jake Weber also appear.
6. Infinite
It was released on June 10, 2021 (via Paramount+). Mark Wahlberg, Chiwetel Ejiofor, Sophie Cookson, and Dylan O’Brien star in the film. Add this to your watch list if you have access to Paramount+. The film is about a man who suffers from hallucinations and discovers that his “hallucinations” are visions from his past lives.
7. ‘F9’
If you are a Fast & Furious fan and you’ve watched all the previous movies in the franchise, then you can’t miss it. Despite its flaws and ridiculous action, Fast 9 is entertaining. But if you’re not an invested fan, or if you love to evaluate movies critically then you can safely skip it. It was released on June 25, 2021, featuring: Vin Diesel, John Cena, Michelle Rodriguez, and Tyrese Gibson.
8. Black Widow
Fans have been clamoring for a Black Widow film for years. The character has always been a fan favorite in the MCU, and it’s a great pity it’s taken this long for Scarlett Johansson to lead her own Marvel film. If you’re into that sort of thing, the film will also kick off Phase Four of the MCU. The film opened on July 9, 2021.
9. Gunpowder Milkshake
It’s a witty assassin film with a strong female cast that will make you feel feminist. Despite the fact that “Gunpowder Milkshake” appears and feels like a comic book adaptation, it is a completely original saga. The plot revolves around Sam (Karen Gillan), the now-adult daughter of professional assassin Scarlet (Lena Headey), who has continued in her mother’s footsteps even after being abandoned as a teen. Karen Gillan, Lena Headey, and Carla Gugino starred in the film, which was released on July 14, 2021.
10. The Suicide Squad
Margot Robbie, Idris Elba, and John Cena star in this film. It came in theatres and HBO Max on August 6, 2021. It’s worth seeing because it is directed by James Gunn and has equal parts action and comedy. The plot revolves around a group of the most dangerous supervillains dispatched by the government to the remote, enemy-infested island of Corto Maltese.
