Top 7 Underrated Action Movies of the Last Decade You Need to Watch

Let’s talk action. One of the loudest genres of cinema, actions always scream for attention. Colorful fights, car engine noises, gun fire and all – that’s what we typically think when we hear a new action movie is coming out.

However, only a few movies among many, apparently the ones with the best marketing, make it to the top and become widely appreciated. But these 7 movies prove that great action cinema often exists in the shadows, waiting to be discovered by adventurous viewers willing to dig deeper.

1. ‘Dredd’ (2012)

IMDb: 7.1/10.

Rotten Tomatoes: 80% from critics, 72% from audience

Karl Urban's pitch-perfect portrayal of the iconic Judge Dredd deserved far better than its disastrous box office performance. This gritty adaptation trapped the titular character in an apartment block controlled by a drug lord, which is not a typical scenario for an action, but definitely one you would remember.

The slow-motion sequences were everything, probably one of the fewest times when the tool was absolutely necessary to use. But despite passionate fan campaigns and streaming success, this superior comic book adaptation remains criminally underappreciated compared to its big-budget colleagues.

2. ‘The Man from U.N.C.L.E.’ (2015)

IMDb: 7.2/10.

Rotten Tomatoes: 68% from critics, 73% from audience

My personal favorite movie from the list, and I am so disappointed that Guy Ritchie's stylish Cold War spy caper flopped spectacularly. And it’s despite delivering everything audiences claim to want from action cinema (Henry Cavill as well).

Everything about the movie is perfect: the cast, the detailed plot with period drama elements, the soundtrack, even the costumes were absolutely stylish. It was a refreshingly light-hearted alternative to grim modern spy films. However, the film's commercial failure killed any hopes of the planned franchise.

3. ‘The Nice Guys’ (2016)

IMDb: 7.4/10.

Rotten Tomatoes: 91% from critics, 79% from audience

Shane Black's brilliant buddy cop comedy deserved to be a massive hit but instead disappeared without a trace, although gaining great reviews from both critics and the audience.

Russell Crowe and Ryan Gosling's mismatched private investigators stumbled through a 1970s Los Angeles mystery filled with genuinely surprising action beats. The film's failure at the box office remains one of the decade's greatest injustices, robbing audiences of what could have been a perfect new franchise as well.

4. ‘Mayhem’ (2017)

IMDb: 6.4/10.

Rotten Tomatoes: 84% from critics, 66% from audience

This office building thriller starring Steven Yeun took the basic premise of Die Hard meets 28 Days Later and executed it with gleeful precision. When a virus removes people's inhibitions, a recently fired lawyer must fight his way to the top floor to confront his former bosses. However, Netflix's quiet release meant most viewers never discovered this gem.

5. ‘Hotel Artemis’ (2018)

IMDb: 6.1/10.

Rotten Tomatoes: 57% from critics, 31% from audience

No, I didn't only add this movie because of my favorite Sterling K.Brown being in it… The movie was actually Jodie Foster's return to action cinema , and it deserved a little more attention than this thriller received.

Set in a secret hospital for criminals during a riot-torn Los Angeles night, the film created a fascinating world with its own rules and mythology. The film's unique premise and strong performances were overshadowed by poor marketing and limited release.

6. ‘Triple Frontier’ (2019)

IMDb: 6.5/10.

Rotten Tomatoes: 71% from critics, 58% from audience

Netflix's military heist thriller starring Ben Affleck and Oscar Isaac combined the best elements of both genres while exploring the psychological toll of warfare. It follows former Special Forces operatives who try to rob a South American cartel leader. Unfortunately, their plan gradually unravels in increasingly tense scenarios.

Despite its star power and streaming platform prominence, it barely registered in pop culture.

7. ‘Overlord’ (2018)

IMDb: 6.6/10.

Rotten Tomatoes: 82% from critics, 67% from audience

This World War II horror-action hybrid delivered exactly what its premise promised: American paratroopers fighting Nazi zombies. Rather than treating its concept as a joke, the film played everything completely straight, creating genuine tension and surprisingly effective character moments between the supernatural mayhem. Still, the movie failed to become a unique flick everybody is talking about years after.