The premise behind Jiu Jitsu (my full review) is goofy-ass nonsense, and the script doesn’t work too hard trying to lock it all down. Thankfully, it does deliver some fun action, though, at a relatively steady pace. Tony Jaa, Frank Grillo, Rick Yune, JuJu Chan, Alan Moussi, and Nicolas Cage’s stunt double do most of the chopping and kicking, and as the characters move through mostly non-descript locales their fights lead them to a face-off against an intergalactic warrior who returns every sev– you know what? Just give it a spin for the action and cast. Available to rent.
14. Mulan
Disney+
Disney’s live action redo of Mulan (my full review) had an uphill battle to fight from the very beginning, but if you can avoid getting bogged down in the politics and unnecessary nature of it all — a solid Hong Kong film already exists — it’s a solid blend of the epic and the intimate. Niki Caro directs and succeeds at capturing big war scenes, hand to hand combat, and more in a tale that also manages social commentary and some old fashioned magic. The action succeeds, though, and is brought to the screen with clarity and color against large, visually thrilling landscapes. Available to stream on Disney+ and to rent.
13. The Old Guard
You’re either a fan of 2014’s Beyond the Lights or you simply haven’t seen it — I refuse to accept a third possibility — but either way you should be excited to see its director tackle a mid-size comic book adaptation. Gina Prince-Bythewood moves pretty seamlessly into the action genre with The Old Guard (my full review), and she offers up some solid action chops along the way. The budget precludes and massive set-pieces, but she delivers plenty of thrilling fights and gun battles. It helps having Charlize Theron as your lead, obviously, but the whole cast is doing good work. Available to stream on Netflix.
12. Project Power
The screen is filled with superhero origin stories, but sometimes one shines through with a degree of originality and something extra. This Netflix Original delivers on that front while also gifting viewers with some exciting action sequences involving people gaining super abilities via an illegal pill. Jamie Foxx and Joseph Gordon-Levitt are game and do good work, and newcomer Dominique Fishback stands out as a young woman caught up in the mayhem. The film does solid world-building too, and you’ll be down for a sequel. Available to stream on Netflix.
11. The Decline (Canada)
Netflix
Doomsday preppers aren’t exactly your typical protagonist material, but The Decline (my full review) does good work giving us an ensemble that engages despite their nutty beliefs. Most are irredeemable in their racist, classist fears, but the lead simply lives with an exaggerated concern for his family’s safety. They all gather to prepare for the coming troubles only to discover that there’s violence already among them, and what follows is an unexpected and brutal fight for survival. Available to stream on Netflix.
Rob Hunter has been writing for Film School Rejects since before you were born, which is weird seeing as he's so damn young. He's our Chief Film Critic and Associate Editor and lists 'Broadcast News' as his favorite film of all time. Feel free to say hi if you see him on Twitter @FakeRobHunter.
You’re either a fan of 2014’s Beyond the Lights or you simply haven’t seen it — I refuse to accept a third possibility — but either way you should be excited to see its director tackle a mid-size comic book adaptation. Gina Prince-Bythewood moves pretty seamlessly into the action genre with The Old Guard (my full review), and she offers up some solid action chops along the way. The budget precludes and massive set-pieces, but she delivers plenty of thrilling fights and gun battles. It helps having Charlize Theron as your lead, obviously, but the whole cast is doing good work. Available to stream on Netflix.
The screen is filled with superhero origin stories, but sometimes one shines through with a degree of originality and something extra. This Netflix Original delivers on that front while also gifting viewers with some exciting action sequences involving people gaining super abilities via an illegal pill. Jamie Foxx and Joseph Gordon-Levitt are game and do good work, and newcomer Dominique Fishback stands out as a young woman caught up in the mayhem. The film does solid world-building too, and you’ll be down for a sequel. Available to stream on Netflix.
