'Bullet Train' & 4 Other Adrenaline-Pumping Action Movies From the 2020s You Might've Missed
Dizzying chases, inventive fight scenes, and minimalist plots in which every frame builds tension.
The new decade has seen many high-quality action movies, yet not all of them receive the acclaim they deserve.
True gems are often overshadowed by major premieres and multimillion-dollar franchises – these are the projects that prioritize fight choreography, cinematography, and genuine love for the genre over computer-generated special effects.
1. 'Silent Night', 2023
Rotten Tomatoes Score: 60%
Brian loses his son in a random shootout between street gang members in his own driveway. His pursuit of the killers leaves him voiceless when a gang member's bullet damages his larynx.
Brian survives, but becomes consumed by a need for revenge. He turns his life into a regimen of training, planning, and surveillance of those who wronged him. One year later, he puts his plan into action and heads into the gang's lair.
Silent Night marks legendary Hong Kong director John Woo's first Hollywood project in 20 years. It was something of an experiment for him – an attempt to craft an action flick devoid of dialogue, relying solely on spectacular action sequences and editing techniques.
2. 'Extraction', 2020
Rotten Tomatoes Score: 67%
Mercenary Tyler Rake is tasked with rescuing the son of an Indian drug lord who was kidnapped in Dhaka. What initially appears to be a routine mission turns out to be a trap. Following a betrayal, Rake finds himself fighting against local gangsters, the police, and hired assassins.
As he navigates unfamiliar streets, Tyler strives to complete the mission, survive, and avenge his fallen friends.
Extraction marked the directorial debut of stuntman Sam Hargrave, who worked on projects with Anthony and Joe Russo for years during their time with the MCU.
3. 'The Killer', 2023
Rotten Tomatoes Score: 85%
The nameless assassin operates by his own strict rules: minimize risk, avoid attachments, follow a set procedure, and never make a mistake. However, during a contract job in Paris, he slips up and things go off script.
Despite his employer's warnings, a team of hitmen is sent after him. He must ruthlessly eliminate the threat to regain control of the situation and stay alive.
The Killer is based on the French graphic novel by Alexis Nolent and marks David Fincher's return to the thriller genre after nearly a decade.
4. 'Nobody', 2021
Rotten Tomatoes Score: 83%
Hutch Mansell is an unremarkable office worker who leads a modest, routine-filled life. When burglars break into his home, he refuses to defend himself or his family. He calmly allows the intruders to take whatever they want, an action that provokes his son's anger and his neighbor's scorn.
The very next night, however, Hutch sets out to recover the watch stolen by the burglars. This triggers a chain of bloody events, revealing that beneath the guise of an ordinary office worker lurks a former CIA assassin.
5. 'Bullet Train', 2022
Rotten Tomatoes Score: 53%
A mercenary named Ladybug, who prefers not to use violence, receives a seemingly simple assignment: retrieve a briefcase from a high-speed train traveling between Tokyo and Kyoto, then disembark unnoticed.
However, there is a hitman in almost every car, each with their own mission, and the protagonist's task spirals into a series of spectacular fights, misunderstandings, and unexpected twists.
Bullet Train is based on the novel by Japanese author Kotaro Isaka and directed by David Leitch, the filmmaker behind John Wick. Ultimately, Bullet Train leans heavily into comedy, utilizing action-movie tropes to deliver bloody yet hilarious choreography driven by sheer coincidence.
