7 Best Streaming Services for Action Movie Fans
From car chases to heist capers to kung fu martial arts adventures to video game villains, aliens, and mutants, the action movie genre is diverse and thrilling. Over the years, the stunts, set pieces, and special effects have become more impressive, but the art of storytelling can make even the oldest action movie feel timeless.
We’ve considered the catalogs of the biggest streaming services, the value for your dollar, and the features of each service to give you this list of the best streaming services for action movie fans. When you’re ready for a good time, pick your favorite action hero, light the fuse, and watch the fireworks!
Best for Action Movies
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The Streamable’s Choice
Max
When you think of iconic action movies, HBO Max has many of the first to leap to mind: Batman movies like “The Dark Knight,” and the trilogies of “The Lord of the Rings” and “The Matrix.” You’ll also find “Jaws,” “Speed,” both “Kill Bill” movies, and the full-throttle craziness of “Mad Max: Fury Road.”
There are dark superhero flicks like “The Crow,” and Zack Snyder’s gritty “Justice League” and “Watchmen.”
But the catalog goes even deeper to include fantastic Kurosawa classics like “Yojimbo,” “Seven Samurai,” and “The Hidden Fortress.” Each of those was remade by Hollywood, so the HBO Max library offers a masterclass in the history of the action genre.
On the TV side, you also have the epic “Game of Thrones” and its upcoming spinoffs.
From Superman to Wonder Woman to King Kong to the flaming fists of “Mortal Kombat,” HBO Max packs a punch.
Pros:
- Deep action catalog across many genres
- Many beloved franchises
- Parental controls
Cons:
- Not many action films suitable for families
- Higher price point than competitors
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Best for Kids
Disney+
If you want action options that won’t leave your children scarred for life, Disney+ is a fairly safe choice. It is home to some of the biggest blockbusters and most memorable moments in movie history. If you’re considering this service, you only need to know two things:
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Disney+ has all the “Star Wars” movies.
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Disney+ has the vast majority of the Marvel Cinematic Universe.
If that wasn’t enough, you also have legendary flicks like “Avatar,” the X-Men movies, and “The Pirates of the Caribbean” series. Throw in an animated adventure like “The Incredibles,” and Disney+ has an impressive catalog of kicks, punches, and explosions.
Pros:
- Multiple profiles
- Offline downloads
- Family-friendly content
- Nexus for Disney, Pixar, Marvel, Star Wars
Cons:
- Adult action fans might be bored by cartoonish violence
- Formulaic plots may grow stale over time
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Netflix
Netflix prides itself on having something for everyone, so you don’t have to look far to find an action title to scratch your itch. As Disney and HBO Max have gobbled up some of the biggest titles, that does leave less for Netflix to choose from, however.
Netflix is fighting back with some solid action titles that will remain exclusive to the platform, including “Extraction,” “Bird Box,” “6 Underground,” “The Old Guard,” and “Project Power.”
Netflix also has a deal with Sony, which means any of its films (including upcoming Spider-Man sequels) will enjoy a run on the platform.
Pros:
- Huge variety of content
- Superior UI
- Expanding slate of exclusive action films
- Upcoming Sony films included
Cons:
- Most major franchises departing for other platforms
- Most Netflix originals tend not to be blockbuster-sized
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Amazon Prime Video
While Prime Video has a staggering amount of content, it doesn’t own most of it. That means the action selection can change dramatically from month to month. At the time of this writing, the library includes “Inception,” “Aliens,” “The Terminator,” “Skyfall,” “Dredd,” and “Apocalypto.” Although the catalog changes, Amazon always has a few solid action options.
Amazon is looking to expand its proprietary offerings, so films like “Without Remorse” are a step in the right direction. You also have some action-focused series, like “The Boys” and “Jack Ryan”. The platform’s recent acquisition of MGM means you’ll eventually see the James Bond movies on Prime Video.
There’s also a lot of low-budget B-movie action if that appeals to you. Titles like “Maximum Ride,” “Robo Vampire,” and “Arachnoquake” almost demand your attention by virtue of how stupid they sound.
Pros:
- Wide variety of content
- Free if a Prime member
- Rotating library means you’ll always have new options
Cons:
- Clunky UI
- Rotating library means you may lose your favorite films
- Not many exclusives
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Hulu
Think of Hulu as Disney+’s older brother who drives a little too fast and listens to heavy metal. If an action movie is too edgy for Disney, it ends up here.
This means Hulu is your home for the “Die Hard” movies, “Predator,” and “Deadpool.” Unfortunately, many of the biggest PG-13 blockbusters are hanging out at Disney+, so it leaves Hulu a bit threadbare.
Pros:
- Less expensive when bundled with Disney+
- Wide variety of content
- Free trial
Cons:
- No Marvel or Star Wars movies
- Library seems composed of leftovers
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Paramount Plus
While Paramount+ is a newer service, it is home to the Indiana Jones films and it will eventually get its hands on the Tom Cruise “Mission: Impossible” series.
Paramount is also your hub for all things “Star Trek,” although the movies are available on several other services at the time of this writing.
Although Paramount distributes the Transformers films, those are not available on Paramount+.
A patchy library makes this a lower priority for action fans.
Pros:
- Indiana Jones
- The prospect of more Paramount franchises eventually arriving
- Inexpensive
- Free trial
Cons:
- Thin library of action titles
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Peacock
While Universal has some all-time great action flicks, Peacock (also owned by Comcast) is a new player to the game, so it doesn’t have the rights to all its franchises. That means Universal movies stemming from “Jurassic Park” and “The Fast and The Furious” are scattered across other streaming services. The action-comedy “Scott Pilgrim vs. the World” is another great Universal title that hops from service to service.
Peacock does offer the Jason Bourne movies and “300” and the outstanding western “3:10 to Yuma,” but the rest of its catalog will leave action fans cold.
The most action you’ll see on Peacock can be found in its WWE hub.
Pros:
- Ad-supported tier can provide free movies
- Premium tiers less expensive than others
- Free trial
Cons:
- Weak action library
- Overall library not as vast as others
Weirdly, the John Wick movies don’t have a streaming home right now, but if any of these services can add Keanu’s signature series, that would be a huge win.