It did feel like a softer year for great action movies in 2025, but we were coming off a few years of some really good films, so the stellar run had to have a bit of a break eventually. Not to say there weren’t still action films well worth your time, but the bar had been raised recently, making it harder for this year’s releases to live up to the expectations.
Here are the picks for the five best Action films released in 2025.

5.) From the World of John Wick: Ballerina

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The first John Wick spin-off wasn’t anywhere near the quality of the mainline themese. In part, the film’s direction seems confused about just how much ‘John’ it wanted and how deep into the weeds of his story it wanted to go. However, amongst a mixed narrative, there was some great action, and Ana de Armas does a fantastic job of holding her own in these scenes, particularly in the choreography. A highlight, and one of the best action scenes of the year, was a flamethrower fight to be remembered.

4.) Superman

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Superman was back on the big screen in 2025, with a brand new actor in the suit, and also the introduction of a new, yes, a new DC cinematic universe. With James Gunn behind the film and the universe now, this new Superman film was destined for some of that frenetic Guardians of the Galaxy style action, which is what we got. Lots of camera play and smart use of special effects to make the flying high fights feel and hit harder, and a scene with Mr Terrific with a needle drop that was too much fun.

3.) Sisu: Road to Revenge

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In the first Sisu film, the protagonist says one thing at the end, yet still manages to fight off countless German soldiers as he attempts to return home with the gold he’s found. In this sequel, he doesn’t say a single word, yet manages to parry a jet plane with some timber, flip a tank using dynamite, and use a missile as a form of transportation. It’s more of the Sisu action, just amped up, and it’s non-stop fun.

2.) Mission: Impossible – The Final Reckoning

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In what we’re led to believe is going to be the final Mission: Impossible film, the narrative is bogged down by plotting to connect all the films to one big finale, and the action is still stellar, thanks to Tom Cruise’s willingness to do his own stunts and get sensational footage. Here it amps up in two key scenes, one involving Ethan Hunt/Cruise inside a submarine deep in the ocean, and the other, one which sees him hanging off a biplane, trading seats, and generally looking like he could die at any moment.

1.) F1

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The follow-up to Joseph Kosinski’s massive big-screen blockbuster Top Gun: Maverick took things from the high speeds of the skies to the fastest cars on the ground, Formula 1. And in emplying similar tactis that he got out of Cruise in Maverick, flying the planes and strapping cameras to them, here Brat Pitt being in the cockpitt with a camera strapped to it, paired with some visceral footage of racing, captured on famous tracks, and looking like it’s part of the real Grand Prix, he again created a film that was a action spectacle for the big screen, and one a lot of you missed out on expericing the best way if you waited to watch at home.

Find all of Explosion Network’s Best of 2025 coverage right here, and be sure to let us know your thoughts on any of our lists in the comments section.