Throughout 2024, various different excitingaction movieshave hit the big screens, but not all of them got their proper due. Thebest action movies of 2024have drawn significant attention from audiences in the past year. Filmmaking is constantly evolving, and this year’s harvest was huge. It’s a privilege to have enough action films in one year to even have subcategories in the action genre like thebest war movies of 2024. With such a massive influx of action films this year,it’s inevitable that some numerous hidden gems have flown completely under the radar.
With today’s over-saturation of media, every year will find some films that deserve better being robbed of recognition. Like thebest fights in 2024 movies, these films are as fleeting as they are entertaining. It’s a shame to see so many of these action-packed movies go unwatched as they deserve a chance to entertain. With so many action films out in 2024,it’s inevitable that some movies flew under the radar, but they can be watched now that they’ve hit streaming.
Take Cover
Cast
Take Cover, directed by Nick McKinless, is a tense thriller about a professional sniper trapped in an all-glass penthouse by a deadly rival. Caught in a perilous game of survival, he must outwit his adversary with minimal protection, navigating the confined space to escape the threat.
Take Coverfeatures Scott Adkins as Sam,a professional sniper tied up in a deadly game within an all-glass penthouse.This film, directed by Nick McKinless, also stars Alice Eve, who delivers a defining performance as the intriguing Tamara. Sensation runs high inTake Cover,with claustrophobic tension and strategic combat providing the movie some of its best moments. The action movie heavily plays upon concepts like Adkin’s martial arts chops and the visually stunning glass environment that encompasses the very meaning of suspense.Take Coverchecks off many boxes that make it deserving of 2024’s watchful eye.
However, it was simply overshadowed by larger action blockbusters,resulting in a modest box-office performance. With a quick runtime of 85 minutes,Take Coveris thought-provoking while still generally easy to understand. It avoids CGI and green-screen stunts while providing a visceral storyline. It unfortunately got lost in a sea of other action releases, butTake Covershouldn’t have been overlooked in the way it was.
The Killer’s Game
A hitman named Joe is diagnosed with a terminal illness and decides to end his life on his own terms by placing a hit on himself. When he learns the diagnosis was a mistake, he must evade the world’s deadliest assassins who are now targeting him. The action-packed narrative follows Joe as he fights for survival while confronting his past decisions and the relentless killers pursuing him.
The Killer’s Gamestars Dave Bautista as Joe Flood.This film sets up an intriguing plot,as Bautista portrays a seasoned assassin whose mistaken terminal diagnosis leads him to put a contract on his own life. J.J. Perry’s direction, known fromJohn Wick, is gladly welcomed in this film as intense action is morphed into dark humor. Sofia Boutella’s co-star only adds more depth to the narrative with a delicious subplot that intertwines romance and danger.
Despite an extremely promising concept, direction, and cast,The Killer’s Gamechoked when it came time to approach the box office. It grossed only $5.9 million against a $30 million budget, and mixed reviews further tanked the film’s popularity even more. It’s a shame to see such a high-scale film do so poorly in theaters, but it really seemed to just be poor luck above anything else.The Killer’s Gamehad a great crew of actors, an average budget, and a fun plot. It had everything it needed to compete with other action movies in 2024, but with a swift transition to VOD and digital platforms,this film will hopefully find a second chance.
Red Right Hand
Red Right Hand: Set in a small Appalachian town, Red Right Hand follows Cash as he attempts to maintain a quiet, honest life. Drawn back into the world of crime by a ruthless crime boss, Cash discovers the lengths he will go to protect his family and home.
Red Right Handis a gripping action thriller that perfectly fits into 2024’s impressive collection of productions.Orlando Bloom’s performance is just as noteworthy as the Nelms brothers’ direction,with the film effectively exploring themes of loyalty and redemption. Set in the backdrop of Kentucky, Andie MacDowell’s compelling performance as Big Cat provides audiences with an enigmatic antagonist that can only be understood through time.
Despite an intriguing premise and strong cast performances,Red Right Handcompletely flew under the radar. Its box office returns were modest at best. Limited marketing and distribution likely contributed to the film’s low visibility among audiences,and it just didn’t thrive in a 2024 action movie environment.It’s a shame to see a film like this live out an unsuccessful lifespan, but there’s also not much that could have been done considering its low-effort rollout.
Borderlands
Based on the video game franchise, Borderlands is a sci-fi action-comedy film that follows Cate Blanchett as Lilith, a treasure hunter who returns to her home planet, Pandora, to find a tycoon’s missing daughter. Together with a group of unlikely allies, such as a soldier, a teenaged demolitions expert, a wise-cracking robot, and an eccentric scientist, the group will work together to save the girl - all while learning to deal with each other’s unyielding quirks.
With an entire award-winning video game franchise to pull from,it’s truly odd thatBorderlands’adaptation was as overlooked as it was.While it feels like a genericGuardians of the Galaxyripoff at times, Jack Black’s quirky Claptrap witticisms and Eli Roth’s direction keepBorderlandsfun and captivating throughout most of the film’s one-hour, 41-minute runtime. Despite these minor flaws, a 2024 adaptation of such a loved video game franchise should have done so much better, grossing way more than $33 million against its massive budget.
With every scene containing at least some form of fan-favoritism, it’s hard to watchBorderlandsand not be entertained as well as charmed by its honest execution. Despite its warranted flaws of cheesiness, the franchise’s sheer popularity gives the film some leeway to fall into these common video game adaptation traps. At the end of the day,Borderlandsis a pure novelty that can be enjoyed by fans of the game and newcomers alike.It shouldn’t be taken so seriously, and it’s confusing that the film lost steam so fast despite its additional $30 million budget on marketing and distribution alone.
Wolfs
Wolfs is an action-thriller film written and directed by Jon Watts, and sees the on-screen reunion of Brad Pitt and George Clooney after nearly fifteen years. The film centers on two fixers who are brought together when they’re both hired for the same job.
Wolfsbrings George Clooney and Brad Pitt together as rival “fixers,” forced to collaborate on an intense mission. The clashing energies of these two Hollywood heavyweights should have warranted much more acclaim, especially withSpider-Man’s Jon Watts as the film’s director. The chemistry between Clooney and Pitt is fun and reminiscent of theirOcean Elevencollaborations. It’s the ultimate comfort meal of a 2024 action film, which makes things altogether more confusing as to why this film feels so underrated.
Wolfsdid a great job of giving movie lovers an exciting film to indulge in. Minor flaws may have pointed out an open grave forWolvesto sit in, but the films' limited theatrical release and quick transition to Apple TV+ is what really seemed to put the nails in the coffin. Despite box office drama,Wolfshas since become Apple TV+’s most-viewed movie, which remains a proud testament to its underrated, slow-burning nature. While it eventually found its true audience,Wolfsshould have done better at ticket booths and stayed in theaters much longer.
The Union
The Union is an upcoming film that explores the intersecting lives of multiple characters as they navigate complex relationships, personal struggles, and social issues.
The Uniononly further carries the torch of underrated potential with Julian Farino’s direction closely following unsuspecting individuals navigating treacherous alliances. With performances from Mark Wahlberg and Halle Berry,The Uniondoes a stellar job of keeping viewers on the edge of their seats. It stands as a bridge between the popularity-fueled performance ofBorderlandsand the true cinematic genius ofThelma. These films, while all underrated, exist on a large spectrum of overall quality,andThe Unionstands as a defining tipping point.
Despite its definitive cinematic brilliance,The Unionslipped under the radar at the box office. It was once again overshadowed by bigger blockbusters and didn’t have a world-renowned video game franchise likeBorderlandsto back it up.The Union’s underrated status stems from its limited marketing as well as an unfortunate release strategy that confined it to select theaters.Luckily enough,The Unionhas since gained a cult following,with its underrated charm growing day by day.
Elevation
In the post-apocalyptic Rockies, a father and two women risk their lives by facing monstrous creatures to save a young boy.
Elevationis a thumping heartbeat of a journey that thrives on high-altitude action, directed by the modern visionary, George Nolfi.This film stars action moguls Anthony Mackie and Maddie Hasson,two roles that vastly complement the film’s larger-than-life portrayal. Its utilization of cutting-edge cinematography marks every moment as a thrilling masterpiece, with illustrious visual components working together perfectly to provide viewers with an immersive, airy journey.
Surprisingly enough,Elevationdidn’t make waves at the box office.Many believe it could be from the film’s niche appeal. Groundbreaking special effects and a highly woven narrative push boundaries in the action genre, and fans who give this film a chance are greeted with nothing but excellence. With a pressurized execution,Elevationtakes audiences to new heights-literally. It’s an underrated gem, and the only thing that knocks it down a peg is the fact that it isn’t for everyone, although it’s definitely worth soaring into.
3Twilight of the Warriors: Walled In
A dystopian clash of titanic forces
Twilight of the Warriors: Walled Inpresents a gripping crime saga about a luckless refugee. Its cast is perfect, with notable contributions from Louis Koo and Terrance Lau. With a narrative that delves into themes of power, sacrifice, and resilience,Twilight of the Warriorsis an underrated powerhouse worth watching.
With stiff competition from mainstream releases,Twilight of the Warriorshas all the components it needs to be popularly received. It just struggled to find a foothold to hold it back from falling into the ever-growing abyss of forgettable films. Presenting a layered reality that’s addictive to watch,it’s surprising that this film had any trouble resonating with mass audiences.At the same time, it’s lovingly praised for its authentic choreography and compelling world-building. It may be too soon to tell with a lot of promise still surrounding its production, but from a box office perspective, this film is heavily underrated.
Thelma
Thelma is a 2024 comedy film written and directed by Josh Margolin. Thelma Post finds herself duped out of money and more when a scam caller pretends to be her grandson. Unwilling to sit back and let herself be a victim, she sets off into the city to find the perpetrator and take back what is hers.
When it comes to seeming too niche or strange for audiences,Thelmacompletely one-upsElevation, which says a lot. WithTom Cruise approvingMission: Impossiblefootage for this action movieled by a 94-year-old star,Thelmapossesses perhaps the most unexpected main character for an action movie, ever.It would make more sense for Ted fromTedto star in a film like this before June Squibb,but audiences were there for it every step of the way, or at least some audiences.
Once again, just likeElevation,Thelmapushes far too many boundaries in the action movie realm to be well-received by present-day masses. Its contrasting dark, gritty theme is overall way too much for mainstream consumers, and with so much competition in terms of other action films, it was just too easy forThelmato be misunderstood by audiences. Despite this grey area,Thelmais a progressive masterpiece that appreciates the raw intensity of a strong, senior citizen, female lead,making it come extremely close to being the most underrated action movie of 2024.
Monkey Man
Monkey Man is a 2024 action-thriller film directed by and starring Dev Patel. Following his release from prison, a man known as “Kid” makes a living by engaging in anonymous underground fights in a mask where he is beaten down each night. However, after witnessing greed and corruption consuming his city, Kid breaks into the upper echelon of society to find those who destroyed his life and take them down.
Monkey Man, singlehandedly the most underrated action film of 2024,offers a unique blend of action and humor.Dev Patel’s thrilling, brutal action flick has a lot of heart and depth, centering around an unlikely hero with extraordinary abilities. Patel did a stellar job directing this masterpiece, with Sobhita Dhulipala and Sharlto Copley possessing notable spots in the film’s cast. As Monkey Man navigates through a pained city,many fight scenes are even more inventive than the ones inThelma.
With all the ingredients necessary to create the perfect 2024 action movie,Monkey Manfell short in its public reception. Similar toBorderlands, this film was appreciated at first, but the flames quickly died away, once again probably due to the vast number of mainstream competitors. Praised as a refreshing take on action that defies typical genre expectations,Monkey Manwas a cinematic achievement for everybody involved.It was surprisingly overlooked by major studios and managed to build at least some sort of audience, but given the results and the film in question,Monkey Manis, without a doubt, the most underratedaction movieof 2024.
