Action films are still an exciting escape in 2024, providing viewers with thrilling pursuits, violent combat scenes, and breathtaking special effects. These movies, which range from dystopian dystopias to modern espionage thrillers, engage audiences in high-stakes scenarios where heroes and anti-heroes battle against powerful foes. They do this by fusing cutting-edge computer graphics with gripping stories to provide audiences with nonstop action and adrenaline.

1. Fighter

Siddharth Anand is the director of the 2024 Indian Hindi-language action movie Fighter, which is based on a script he co-wrote with Ramon Chibb. Starring Hrithik Roshan, Deepika Padukone, and Anil Kapoor, the film is produced by Viacom18 Studios and Marflix Pictures. It is the first in a planned series of aerial action films.

Fighter was supposed to hit theaters on September 30, 2023, but production issues moved the release date to January 25, 2024, which happened to fall on Republic Day weekend. The movie earned ₹337.2 crore (US$42 million) globally, making it the highest-grossing Indian film of 2024 despite receiving mixed reviews.

2. Operation Valentine

Operation Valentine is a 2024 Indian action thriller film produced by Sony Pictures and Sandeep Mudda, with co-productions from God Bless Entertainment and Nandkumar Abbineni. It is based on the 2019 Pulwama terrorist attack and the Indian Air Force’s retaliatory Balakot Air Strikes. Director Shakti Pratap Singh Hada made his directorial debut with the film. It was recorded in Hindi and Telugu at the same time. In key parts are Varun Tej, Manushi Chhillar, Navdeep, and Mir Sarwar. It’s Tej’s first film in Hindi and Chillar’s first in Telugu. On March 1, 2024, the movie was released in theaters all around the world to acclaim from both critics and viewers.

3. Code 8: Part II

The 2024 science fiction action film Code 8: Part II is directed by Jeff Chan, a Canadian, and co-wrote the screenplay with Chris Paré, Sherren Lee, and Jesse LaVercombe. It’s a follow-up to the 2019 movie Code 8. As Connor Reed and Garrett Kelton, respectively, Robbie Amell and Stephen Amell play their original roles again; other stars include Sirena Gulamgaus, Altair Vincent, Aaron Abrams, Moe Jeudy-Lamour, and Jean Yoon.

Netflix launched Code 8: Part II on February 28, 2024.

4. Captain Miller

Arun Matheswaran is the director of the 2024 Indian Tamil-language epic action adventure film Captain Miller, which is produced by Sathya Jyothi Films. Dhanush plays the lead in the first installment of a trilogy that will also feature supporting performances from Shiva Rajkumar, Aditi Balan, Priyanka Arul Mohan, Sundeep Kishan, Edward Sonnenblick, and John Kokken. It centers on a former British Army soldier attempting to prevent the British Army from destroying his hometown village during the British Raj in the 1930s.

On January 12, 2024, the week of Pongal, Captain Miller was released in both normal and IMAX formats globally. Critics gave the movie favorable reviews, and it made over ₹104.79 crore (US$13 million).

5. Hanu-Man

The 2024 Telugu-language superhero picture Hanu-Man, also known as HanuMan, is written and directed by Prasanth Varma and produced by Primeshow Entertainment. Teja Sajja plays the title character, while Amritha Aiyer plays the lead female role. Raj Deepak Shetty, Varalaxmi Sarathkumar, Samuthirakani, Vinay Rai, and Vennela Kishore also have significant supporting roles. The first movie in the Prasanth Varma Cinematic Universe (PVCU) is based in the made-up village of Anjanadri. The film, which is set in the made-up city of Anjanadri, tells the tale of Hanumanthu, who uses Lord Hanuman’s might to save the people of Anjanadri and then battles Michael after coming into contact with an enigmatic gem.

On January 12, 2024, Hanu-Man was released on Sankranti day. Prashanth Varma’s director, screenplay, acting of the cast, portrayal of Lord Hanuman, background music, visual effects, production design, and action scenes were all praised by critics. For a Telugu movie, the movie shattered multiple records at the box office. With almost ₹330 crore (US$41 million) in revenue, the movie is the highest-grossing Telugu film of 2024, the second-highest-grossing Indian film of the same year, and the eighth-highest-grossing Telugu film globally.

6. Damsel

Dan Mazeau and Juan Carlos Fresnadillo are the directors and writers of the 2024 American dark fantasy film Damsel. Elodie, played by Millie Bobby Brown, is a young woman who accepts a marriage proposal only to find out later that she is being exploited to pay off a royal family’s old obligations. She now has to flee while fending off attacks from the dragon that is hiding in the abyss. Ray Winstone, Nick Robinson, Shohreh Aghdashloo, Angela Bassett, and Robin Wright make up the remaining members of the main cast.

On March 8, 2024, Damsel debuted on Netflix to a mixed reception.

7. Badland Hunters

In 2024, Heo Myung-haeng, a South Korean dystopian action film director, made his directorial debut with Badland Hunters (Korean: 황야). Ma Dong-seok, Lee Hee-joon, Lee Jun-young, and Roh Jeong-eui are the main actors. The movie, a follow-up to Concrete Utopia, picks up after the earthquake that turns Seoul into a post-apocalyptic wasteland where everything has crumbled, including civilization and law and order.

On January 26, 2024, the film—an original Netflix production—was released.

8. Lift

Daniel Kunka wrote the screenplay for the 2024 American heist comedy film Lift, which is directed by F. Gary Gray. Sam Worthington, Gugu Mbatha-Raw, Vincent D’Onofrio, Örsula Corberó, Billy Magnussen, Jacob Batalon, Jean Reno, and Kevin Hart—who also functioned as producer—are among the film’s cast members.

Netflix launched Lift on January 12, 2024.

9. Malaikottai Vaaliban

Youngster from the Mountain Fort, also known as Malaikottai Vaaliban, is the title of a 2024 Indian Malayalam epic action drama film directed by Lijo Jose Pellissery and written by P. S. Rafeeque based on a narrative by Pellissery. In addition to Sonalee Kulkarni, Hareesh Peradi, Danish Sait, Manoj Moses, Katha Nandi, and Manikandan R. Achari in supporting roles, Mohanlal plays a dual character in the movie. John & Mary Creative, Century Films, Maxlab Cinemas and Entertainments, Saregama, and Amen Movie Monastery collaborated in its production. Prashant Pillai composed the music, while Madhu Neelakandan and Deepu S. Joseph handled the cinematography and editing, respectively.

10. Sixty Minutes

A mixed martial arts fighter sprints across Berlin to attend his daughter’s birthday celebration, desperate to maintain custody of her.