2020’s slate of movies was much different than expected, but the year still managed to deliver some stellar action movies. Blockbuster action movies have become even more important to Hollywood in recent years, but 2020 was a year with far fewer than expected. Thanks to the coronavirus pandemic shutting down theaters around the world, some of the year’s biggest blockbusters were delayed until 2021.
This resulted in 2020 coming and going without installments in major action franchises, such as the Marvel Cinematic Universe, James Bond, and Fast & Furious. While these delays certainly left the 2020 movies slate a bit smaller, there are plenty of movies that were still released throughout the year that kept the action output high. Some movies delivered dazzling big set pieces from beginning to end, while others worked slick action into other genres. And even though not every comic book movie originally set for 2020 was released, those that were lived up to the expectations of giving viewers superpower-enhanced spectacle.
Now that 2020 is almost over, it’s time to take a look back at the year and highlight some of the best action movies. This list contains a few major superhero movies, some horror/slashers with inventive action, the return of a major franchise, one of 2020’s most popular movies and most discussed releases, and many more. Here were the best action movies of 2020.
10. Freaky
Blumhouse’s action/slasher Freaky proved to be a whole lot of fun for those who checked it out near the end of the year. Freaky‘s body-swapping serial killer concept not only allowed Kathryn Newton (Millie) and Vince Vaughn (The Butcher) to turn in different performances, but director Christopher Landon used it quite well with the film’s action. Outside of Freaky‘s inventive kills, the movie uses the new bodies for Newton and Vaughn’s characters to its advantage. Whether it’s Millie inside Butcher’s body using his strength to easily overpower her friends or The Butcher in Millie’s body struggling to take down a teacher, Freaky has several entertaining fight scenes that make the most of its premise thanks to stunt coordinator Mark Rayner.
9. Wonder Woman 1984
Wonder Woman 1984 might shine the brightest outside of the action scenes, but the latest DC Extended Universe film still manages some good moments. The film’s opening sequence with young Diana taking part in Themyscira’s Olympics kicks off the movie with some wide-ranging action. But the best action sequences are with Gal Gadot’s Wonder Woman. Her taking down mall robbers shows how she’s advanced as a crime-fighter since Wonder Woman and makes good use of her lasso. The highlights come further into the movie, though. The White House sequence where Diana fights Barbara Ann Minerva (Kristen Wiig) while Steve Trevor (Chris Pine) fights Maxwell Lord (Pedro Pascal) is arguably the best, while the climactic showdown with Diana in her Golden Eagle armor and a fully transformed Cheetah has its moments. Stunt coordinator Rob Inch and fight coordinator Liang Yang did great work.
8. Love and Monsters
Dylan O’Brien is already an established action star after the criminally underrated Maze Runner trilogy, and he returned with another post-apocalyptic showing with Love and Monsters in 2020. The movie received a PVOD release and saw O’Brien’s character Joel travel across a transformed Earth to reunite with his girlfriend. Love and Monsters features multiple mutated creatures that Joel crosses paths with, and it usually results in a thrilling set piece – especially when the film’s dog, Boy, is in peril. Even though O’Brien and Jessica Henwick are stuck fighting CGI monsters more than people, Love and Monsters never goes on for too long without another set piece under the direction of stunt coordinator Glenn Suter.
7. Mulan
The live-action reimagining of Mulan changed many elements that audiences grew to love from the Disney animated classic. The differences put into place by director Niki Caro included making Mulan partially a war epic featuring some big action sequences. Mulan’s skillfulness in battle and her chi “powers” allowed for the movie to utilize her in multiple thrilling set pieces. Some of the standout moments came as Mulan outshined a fellow soldier during training and in the third act invasion of the Imperial City. As one would expect with such a sweeping epic, the stunt team was enormous, led by stunt coordinators Ben Cooke and Scott Rogers and fight coordinators Heidi Moneymaker, Nuo Sun, and Shane Yan.
6. Bad Boys For Life
Will Smith and Martin Lawrence’s return for Bad Boys for Life exceeded most expectations. Directors Adil El Arbi and Bilall Fallah infused the franchise with a better story and arcs for Mike and Marcus, which was not the strong suit of Michael Bay’s previous installments. However, they did manage to recapture the fun and explosiveness of Bay’s trademark eye for action. Bad Boys for Life is filled with a variety of outstanding action sequences thanks to stunt coordinator and second unit director Mike Gunther. The big car/motorcycle chase in the middle is a highlight and the third act also delivers memorable moments for most of the cast. While Smith is the action star here, Vanessa Hudgens, Alexander Ludwig, Paola Nuñez, Charles Melton, and Jacob Scipio all get moments to shine.
5. Extraction
Just in terms of the action sequences it contains, Extraction is completely deserving of a top-five spot in 2020. Chris Hemsworth put Mjolnir aside to become a deadly mercenary named Tyler Rake and the Netflix film delivered some of the most impressive fight sequences of the year. First-time director Sam Hargrave, who has a history as a stuntman, stitched together a mind-blowing 12-minute “one take” that is almost non-stop action. This sequence is easily one of the best action moments of the year, but Extraction is more than just a one-trick pony. The fistfights and shootouts featured throughout the rest of the film are outstanding. It’s somewhat of a shame the rest of the movie doesn’t live up to Extraction martial arts action, but the movie still delivered all the action it promised thanks to Hargrave’s action background and an expansive team of stunt and fight coordinators.
4. Old Guard
Netflix delivered another big-time action hit in 2020 with The Old Guard. The movie is another showcase for Charlize Theron in the action genre after the incredible work she did in Atomic Blonde. While The Old Guard might not have a moment that tops the film’s one-take fight, it does feature a consistent barrage of action from the ensemble. With the Old Guard, a group of immortals, at the center, each one is a highly-skilled fighter that gave director Gina Prince-Bythewood the ability to craft memorable fights with the help of stunt coordinator Brycen Counts and fight coordinator Danny Hernandez. Some of the standout sequences include Theron’s Andy facing off against Nile (KiKi Layne) inside a plane and the original respawn sequence at the start of the film.
3. The Invisible Man
The Invisible Man is far from a true action movie, but director Leigh Whannell still delivered some thrilling sequences. Following the hard-hitting action in Upgrade, Whannell once again utilized the premise of his movie to stage great action moments. Having an invisible person at the center of the action gave him the ability to make The Invisible Man‘s action visually stand apart. While there are several great instances of these powers being used (especially outside of the action), the standout fight sequence in The Invisible Man has to be the titular invisible man, Adrian Griffin (Oliver Jackson-Cohen), fighting the guards at the mental institution Cecilia Kass (Elisabeth Moss) is in. Credit for that scene goes to fight coordinator Chris Weir, with the stunt coordination of Harry Dakanalis.
2. Birds of Prey
The DCEU helped bring some of the best action to theaters in 2020 with the release of Birds of Prey (And The Fantabulous Emancipation of One Harley Quinn). Margot Robbie was given the opportunity to show more of her prowess as an action star here and was routinely at the center of the film’s best fight scenes. Harley Quinn breaking into the police station was visually stunning in addition to featuring some of the best fight choreography in the film. There are many other great moments, too, with the team-up between Harley and the Birds of Prey in the third act delivering great action, comedy, and character work. Much of the praise should rightfully go to director Cathy Yan, but a special thanks is also deserved for Chad Stahelski, who helped beef up the action after principal photography and the creative action of fight choreographer Jon Valera and stunt coordinator Jonathan “Jo Jo” Eusebio.
1. Tenet
It shouldn’t come as a surprise to see Tenet as the best action movie of 2020. Christopher Nolan’s time-manipulative blockbuster might have a plot that will leave some confused, but the action on display throughout is truly insane. Nolan has always been a good action director, but Tenet features the biggest and best sequences he’s ever done – and some of the most creative set pieces ever put to film. Just about every single moment of action featured in Tenet is something to behold thanks to consulting stunt coordinators George Cottle and Amar Shetty and fight coordinator Jackson Spidell. The Protagonist (John David Washington) brutally beating down henchmen in a kitchen is thrilling. Meanwhile, everything from the reversed fighting to the plane they actually physically crashed to shoot the airport heist will leave viewers on the edge of their seats. And if all of that weren’t impressive enough, the scale and intricacy of Tenet‘s third act are nearly unmatched. Tenet is far from a perfect film, but it’s still one of the year’s best and Nolan rarely misses a beat when it comes to the action on display here.
