Epic Action backdrop

Epic Action movies

Big-scale action movies with city-to-world stakes, massive set pieces, and nonstop spectacle.

Naruto Shippuden the Movie: Bonds

241. Naruto Shippuden the Movie: Bonds

Fantasy Animation Action Anime Epic Action
6.8

20081h 30min

Japan

Director: Hajime Kamegaki

A mysterious group of ninjas makes a surprise attack on the Konohagakure, which takes great damage. The nightmare of another Shinobi World War could become a reality. Sasuke, who was still a missing nin from Konoha trying to kill his brother, Itachi, appears for the second time in front of Naruto at an unknown location to prevent it from happening.

Themes

Loyalty under pressure, Betrayal and deception, Trust under fire, Looming war threat, Duty under siege, Power versus restraint

Available on

Netflix
Amazon Video
Apple TV
Data provided by JustWatch.Availability may vary by region.

The Good, the Bad, the Weird

242. The Good, the Bad, the Weird

Action Adventure Comedy Western Epic Action
7.2

20082h 10min

South Korea

Director: Kim Jee-woon

The story of three Korean outlaws in 1930s Manchuria and their dealings with the Japanese army and Chinese and Russian bandits. The Good (a bounty hunter), the Bad (a hitman), and the Weird (a thief) battle the army and the bandits in a race to use a treasure map to uncover the riches of legend.

Themes

Survival through violence, Rivalry and deception, Greed vs loyalty, Frontier lawlessness and improvisation, Treasure versus reality, Empire power and influence

Available on

Amazon Video
Apple TV
AMC Plus Apple TV Channel
Data provided by JustWatch.Availability may vary by region.

Stargate: The Ark of Truth

243. Stargate: The Ark of Truth

Action Adventure Science Fiction Epic Action Adventure Epic
7.4

20081h 41min

Canada, United States

Director: Robert C. Cooper

SG-1 searches for an ancient weapon which could help them defeat the Ori, and discover it may be in the Ori's own home galaxy. As the Ori prepare to send ships through to the Milky Way to attack Earth, SG-1 travels to the Ori galaxy aboard the Odyssey. The International Oversight committee have their own plans and SG-1 finds themselves in a distant galaxy fighting two powerful enemies.

Themes

Loyalty under pressure, Duty under surveillance, Power and oversight, Technology as weapon threat, Mortal power vs divine claims, Deception within leadership

Available on

Amazon Prime Video
Amazon Video
Apple TV
Data provided by JustWatch.Availability may vary by region.

Resident Evil: Degeneration

244. Resident Evil: Degeneration

Animation Horror Action Science Fiction Adult Animation
6.4

20081h 37min

Japan

Director: Makoto Kamiya

Leon S. Kennedy and Claire Redfield must battle a rogue warrior seeking revenge after unleashing the deadly G-Virus, whilst a mutated monster goes on a rampage.

Themes

Power and control, Survival under siege, Biological threat, Public mistrust and secrecy, Outbreak containment, Corporate influence and ethics

Available on

Amazon Video
Apple TV
Google Play Movies
Data provided by JustWatch.Availability may vary by region.

Vantage Point

245. Vantage Point

Drama Action Thriller Crime Political Thriller
6.6

20081h 30min

United States, Mexico

Director: Pete Travis

During an historic counter-terrorism summit in Spain, the President of the United States is struck down by an assassin's bullet. Eight strangers have a perfect view of the kill, but what did they really see? As the minutes leading up to the fatal shot are replayed through the eyes of each eyewitness, the reality of the assassination takes shape.

Themes

Multiple perspectives, Media influence, Betrayal within security, Crowd anxiety under threat, Eyewitness fragmentation, Leadership under duress, Counterterrorism stakes

Available on

Amazon Video
Apple TV
fuboTV
Data provided by JustWatch.Availability may vary by region.

The Warlords

246. The Warlords

Action Drama History Epic Action Historical Drama
7.0

20072h 6min

China, Hong Kong SAR China

Director: Peter Chan Ho-Sun

The civil war in China has ruined many lives including General Pang's. A wounded General Pang is saved by a beautiful young woman along with two other men. Together they vow to eradicate the rebels.

Themes

Loyalty under pressure, Leadership legitimacy and rival claims, Betrayal and trust erosion, Collective oath and unity, Resource scarcity and control, Civilian impact of war

Available on

Amazon Prime Video
Amazon Video
Apple TV
Data provided by JustWatch.Availability may vary by region.

Ghost in the Shell: Stand Alone Complex - Solid State Society

247. Ghost in the Shell: Stand Alone Complex - Solid State Society

Animation Action Thriller Crime Science Fiction
7.8

20071h 45min

Japan, United States

Director: Kenji Kamiyama

The story takes place in the year 2034, two years after the events in Ghost in the Shell: S.A.C. 2nd GIG. Female cyborg Major Motoko Kusanagi has left Public Security Section 9, an elite counter-terrorist and anti-crime unit specializing in cyber-warfare, which has expanded to a team of 20 field operatives with Togusa acting as the field lead.

Themes

Mass media manipulation, Refugee labor politics, State corporate collusion, Power struggles in governance, Ethics and autonomy, Urban surveillance and control

Available on

Amazon Video
Apple TV
Google Play Movies
Data provided by JustWatch.Availability may vary by region.

Evangelion: 1.0 You Are (Not) Alone

248. Evangelion: 1.0 You Are (Not) Alone

Animation Science Fiction Action Drama Anime
7.5

20071h 41min

Japan

Director: Kazuya Tsurumaki

After the Second Impact, Tokyo-3 is being attacked by giant monsters called Angels that seek to eradicate humankind. The child Shinji’s objective is to fight the Angels by piloting one of the mysterious Evangelion mecha units. A remake of the first six episodes of GAINAX’s famous 1996 anime series. The film was retitled “Evangelion: 1.01” for its DVD release and “Evangelion: 1.11” for a release with additional scenes.

Themes

Parent-child tension, Mecha duty, Post-apocalyptic pressure, Alien invasion threat, Military obedience, Remake interpretation

Available on

Amazon Prime Video
Amazon Video
Apple TV
Data provided by JustWatch.Availability may vary by region.

Naruto Shippuden the Movie

249. Naruto Shippuden the Movie

Animation Action Fantasy Anime Epic Action
6.7

20071h 34min

Japan

Director: Hajime Kamegaki

Demons that once almost destroyed the world, are revived by someone. To prevent the world from being destroyed, the demon has to be sealed and the only one who can do it is the shrine maiden Shion from the country of demons, who has two powers; one is sealing demons and the other is predicting the deaths of humans. This time Naruto's mission is to guard Shion, but she predicts Naruto's death. The only way to escape it, is to get away from Shion, which would leave her unguarded, then the demon, whose only goal is to kill Shion will do so, thus meaning the end of the world. Naruto decides to challenge this "prediction of death."

Themes

Deception and trust, Fate versus choice, Prophecy and sacrifice, Duty and protection, Teamwork versus lone hero, Endurance under pressure

Available on

Netflix
Amazon Video
Apple TV
Data provided by JustWatch.Availability may vary by region.

Transformers

250. Transformers

Adventure Science Fiction Action Alien Invasion Sci-Fi Epic Action
7.1

20072h 24min

United States

Director: Michael Bay

Young teenager Sam Witwicky becomes involved in the ancient struggle between two extraterrestrial factions of transforming robots – the heroic Autobots and the evil Decepticons. Sam holds the clue to unimaginable power and the Decepticons will stop at nothing to retrieve it.

Themes

Loyalty under pressure, Human machine alliance, Artifact driven conflict, Virus driven disruption, Secret power structures, Techno military escalation

Available on

Amazon Video
Apple TV
Google Play Movies
Data provided by JustWatch.Availability may vary by region.