Cutting through the noise to spotlight genuine must-sees from a killer action movie year
Man, 2023 really brought the heat for action junkies didn't it? I've lost count how many times I walked out of theaters with my ears still ringing. That adrenaline rush when helicopters explode just right? Pure gold. But sorting the legit greats from the mediocre stuff? That's where things get messy.
Ever catch yourself scrolling endlessly through streaming menus? Yeah me too. You want those best action movies 2023 actually worth your Friday night. Not just hype machines. Let's cut straight to the chase with zero fluff.
What Actually Makes Our Best Action Movies 2023 List Different
Look, most "best of" lists feel like they copied studio press releases. Not here. I sat through all the big releases plus hidden gems you might've missed. These picks balance critical love with that raw crowd energy. That electric feeling when the whole theater gasps together? That's our metric.
| Movie Title | Director | Lead Actors | Release Date | Run Time | Rotten Tomatoes | IMDb | Where to Watch |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| John Wick: Chapter 4 | Chad Stahelski | Keanu Reeves, Donnie Yen | March 24, 2023 | 169 min | 94% | 7.7 | Prime Video ($4 rental) |
| Mission: Impossible - Dead Reckoning Part One | Christopher McQuarrie | Tom Cruise, Hayley Atwell | July 12, 2023 | 163 min | 96% | 7.9 | Paramount+ |
| Extraction 2 | Sam Hargrave | Chris Hemsworth, Golshifteh Farahani | June 16, 2023 | 122 min | 79% | 7.0 | Netflix |
| Sisu | Jalmari Helander | Jorma Tommila, Aksel Hennie | April 28, 2023 | 91 min | 93% | 7.0 | Hulu |
| Equalizer 3 | Antoine Fuqua | Denzel Washington, Dakota Fanning | September 1, 2023 | 109 min | 75% | 6.8 | Netflix |
John Wick: Chapter 4 - Pure Action Ballet
Keanu's back as the suit-clad assassin. This time? He's taking down the High Table itself. I caught the IMAX premiere and holy smokes - that overhead gunfight sequence? Chef's kiss. Chad Stahelski turned Paris into a neon killzone. Donnie Yen as blind assassin Caine? Perfect casting. Though honestly, at nearly 3 hours? My bladder protested.
Worth noting: Critics went nuts for this one. It's easily among the best action films 2023 produced. But casual viewers might find the lore overwhelming. My advice? Just enjoy the headshots.
Mission: Impossible - Dead Reckoning Part One
Tom Cruise actually drives a motorcycle off a cliff. For real. At 60. That opening sequence alone justifies the ticket. Hayley Atwell steals scenes as a slippery thief. The whole AI villain thing? Felt timely if slightly over-explained. Venice foot chases had me gripping armrests.
Fun story: My screening had technical issues during the train finale. People actually groaned aloud when it paused. That's how gripping it plays. If you want pure spectacle, this defines top action movies 2023.
Extraction 2's Insane 21-Minute Shot
Remember the oner from the first Extraction? Director Sam Hargrave said "hold my beer" this time. That prison break sequence? Single continuous shot showing Chris Hemsworth fighting through multiple floors, onto a moving train? Jaw-dropping. Netflix needs more raw action like this.
Downside? Thin characters. Tyler Rake might as well be named Generic Tough Guy. But if you're hunting for great action movies 2023 focused purely on combat choreography? This delivers.
Underrated Gems Among 2023 Action Movies
Everyone talks about John Wick and Mission Impossible. But real action heads know smaller films brought serious heat. These flew under radars but deserve attention:
Sisu - Imagine John Wick in WWII Finland. Gold miner faces Nazis after discovering nuggets. Sounds ridiculous? Oh it is. Gloriously so. The mine cart sequence? Pure Mad Max energy. Jorma Tommila says maybe ten words total. Who needs dialogue when you've got exploding trucks?
Kill Boksoon - Slept-on Netflix assassin flick. Single mom moonlights as contract killer. The kitchen fight scene? Knives flying everywhere. Jeon Do-yeon brings emotional weight missing from many action flicks. Wish it got half the buzz Extraction did.
Biggest Action Movie Disappointments
Not everything landed. I try to stay positive but let's keep it real:
Fast X felt like self-parody. Space cars? Really? The franchise jumped the shark years ago but this strained credibility even for them. Cool stunts drowned in family drama monologues.
Meg 2: The Trench wasted Jason Statham. Less shark action, more boring corporate espionage. First film understood its B-movie charm. This forgot the fun entirely.
My take? Big budgets don't guarantee good action. Often smaller crews take bigger creative risks for those best action movies 2023 moments.
Where To Watch All These Best Action Movies 2023 Right Now
Nothing worse than reading recommendations then spending an hour hunting streams. Save time with this quick guide:
| Movie | Subscription Services | Rental Price | Purchase Price |
|---|---|---|---|
| John Wick 4 | None currently | $4.99 (Prime/Apple) | $19.99 |
| Mission Impossible 7 | Paramount+ | $5.99 | $24.99 |
| Extraction 2 | Netflix | N/A | N/A |
| Sisu | Hulu | $3.99 | $14.99 |
| Equalizer 3 | Netflix | $5.99 | $24.99 |
Pro tip: Set price alerts on JustWatch.com. Many best action movies 2023 drop to $2.99 rental after a few months.
Action Movie Trends That Dominated 2023
This year had clear patterns emerge. Some worked brilliantly. Others? Meh.
The Practical Effects Renaissance
After years of CGI sludge fests, 2023 doubled down on stuntwork. That Cruise cliff jump? Real. Keanu's staircase falls? Real (mostly). Chris Hemsworth actually rode that train roof. Audiences crave authenticity again.
Why now? Possibly superhero fatigue. When everything's pixels, nothing feels special. The tactile crunch of real stunts elevates these top action movies 2023 above green screen competitors.
Old Guard Action Stars Still Dominating
Keanu (58), Cruise (61), Statham (56), Denzel (68). Notice something? Experience beats youth in today's action landscape. These guys bring credibility younger actors struggle to match. Plus decades of stunt training shows on screen.
Though honestly? We need new blood too. Hollywood's pipeline feels thin beyond established names.
Your Burning Questions About 2023 Action Movies
Let's tackle common stuff people ask about these best action movies 2023 offered:
What Was The Highest Grossing Action Film This Year?
Mission: Impossible 7 cleared $567 million globally despite Barbenheimer competition. John Wick 4 followed with $440 million. Surprising? Extraction 2 became Netflix's most-watched film ever globally upon release.
Are Any 2023 Action Movies Worth Seeing in 4DX?
John Wick 4 absolutely. The rumble seats sync perfectly with gunshots during club sequences. Mission Impossible benefits less surprisingly. Skip 4DX for dialogue-heavy films though. Getting sprayed with water during emotional scenes? Pass.
Which Action Movie Had The Best Sound Design?
Hands down John Wick 4. Every gunshot carries weight you feel in your bones. The Paris shootout sequences? Audiophile candy. Extraction 2 deserves mention though - that prison alarm sound design created visceral tension.
What's The Best Action Movie For Casual Viewers?
Equalizer 3. Straightforward revenge plot. Denzel being effortlessly cool. Minimal lore homework required. John Wick requires franchise knowledge. Mission Impossible? Seven films deep. Just hit play and enjoy Denzel stabbing bad guys with wine corks.
Action Scenes That Actually Made Me Cheer Out Loud
These moments define why we love action films:
The Staircase Fall (John Wick 4) - Wick tumbling down Sacré-Cœur steps repeatedly. Both brutal and darkly hilarious. Theatre erupted when he finally reached bottom.
Train Top Battle (Mission Impossible 7) - Cruise and Atwell fighting while handcuffed on a speeding train. Peak practical stuntwork.
Prison Yard Onslaught (Extraction 2) - That 21-minute single take masterpiece. Hemsworth using fire hoses as weapons? Genius.
Notice none involve CGI monsters? Real stunts create real reactions. That's why these best action movies 2023 releases resonated so strongly.
Final Take: What Made 2023 Special For Action Fans
Honestly? It felt like filmmakers remembered why we love this genre. Not just empty spectacle. But sequences where geography matters. Where physics feel real. Where heroes get bruised and tired.
That motorcycle jump in MI7? You know Tom practiced endlessly. Reeves perfected gun-fu for months. That dedication shows. After years of weightless CGI fights, 2023 brought tactile thrills back.
Will 2024 top it? With Furiosa and new Planet of the Apes coming? Maybe. But for pure adrenaline, these best action movies 2023 delivered historic highs. What stood out for you? Hit me with your personal favorites.
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