If 2025 set any precedent in movie diversity, the 2026 lineup definitely kicks it up a notch. Even in the first week, we can tell this year is shaping up to be a good one for action cinema. Forget the typical sequels or franchise rivalries, this year promises a blend of high-octane spectacle and profound storytelling. The following list has a little bit of everything from classical reboots to unique titles and themes. Heads up, there’s the odd long-awaited superhero movie and a Star Wars movie as the cherry on top, of course.
Crime 101
Based on a story by Don Winslow, Crime 101 is a high-stakes thriller, featuring an all-star cast. Chris Hemsworth plays an elusive thief who flawlessly executes violent heists on the Los Angeles 101 freeway, and successfully evades law enforcement. Driven by the need to make the score of a lifetime, he crosses paths with a jaded insurance broker (Halle Berry), who may be the answer or the key to his downfall. His antagonist is an even more relentless detective played by another MCU icon, Mark Ruffalo. All three have a part to play in a dynamic cat-and-mouse game, where the roles of prey and predator change frequently.
Avengers Doomsday
As one of the most anticipated movies, the long-awaited Doomsday title will be released towards the end of the year. Marvel has been remarkably tight-lipped about the movie, as trailers go, only providing snippets of prominent characters. So far, Thor and Steve Rogers are confirmed against the main antagonist, Dr. Doom, played by Robert Downey Jr. It should be interesting to see how the Avengers react to seeing their departed savior return as a universe-ending villain. Dr. Doom’s arrival will also unleash a cascading crisis across the multiverse, forcing heroes from both the Avengers and Fantastic Four to unite to end the threat.
Mutiny
No action movie list is complete without a Jason Statham flick, and this one has two. He plays Cole Reed, a private security specialist who witnesses the murder of his boss and gets framed for it. Cole goes on the run to clear his name and to uncover a global conspiracy. A significant part of the movie involves Cole being on a cargo ship, which, considering the close quarters, adds to the tension. Being a Statham movie, it’s sure to be full of gunfights and explosions.
The Odyssey
The specific story structure remains a mystery, but the film is intended to detail the treacherous journey Odysseus faces, after winning the Trojan War. Played by Matt Damon, Odysseus and his crew face legendary trials, including enchanting sirens, the one-eyed cyclops Polyphemus, and Circe, the sorcerer. Though Odysseus faces terrible perils and curses from Poseidon, he receives backing from Goddess Athena. The ten-year journey back home to his wife, and son is full of divine interefernce and tests of perseverance. Christopher Nolan frames the movie as a story that blends horror and combat, where the hero faces everything in between to reclaim his home.
Shelter
Jason Statham plays Mason, a former assassin living in self-imposed exile in the remote Scottish wilderness. His hard shell cracks after rescuing a young girl from drowning during a storm. As expected, the two form a bond, but the act inadvertently exposes his position to previous contacts. Predictably, this causes a sequence of events that brings the vicious killers to his doorstep. Only this time, Mason has the girl to lose as he fights to win back a semblance of redemption from his past life.
Cliffhanger 2
The sequel to the early ’90s classic will attract significant attention and pressure as well. The high-altitude thriller is returning as a remake, following Ray Cooper, played by Pierce Brosnan, rather than Sylvester Stallone. Ray is a seasoned mountaineer who lives with his daughter in a chalet in the Alps. Their lives come to a standstill when a gang of kidnappers ambushes the group. Witnessing the attack, Ray’s daughter, Naomi, extricates herself and escapes into the wilderness. While hiding, she is forced to conquer her fears and rely on survival skills to turn the tables against the attacks before it’s too late for her family.
Mortal Kombat 2
The second installment appears to have learned from public sentiment, opting for the classic tournament structure. This time, Johnny Cage, played by Karl Urban, joins the champions of the Earth realm. Lord Raiden recruits him for a mission to defend Earthrealm from the inevitable invasion of Shao Khan. In this installment, Johnny is a washed-up actor who is in a self-destructive spiral. The mission provides an opportunity for Cage to find a purpose beyond fame to fight for his world.
Mercy
Mercy is the first movie on the list that skews a bit sci-fi. Set in 2029 Los Angeles, the story focuses on detective Chris Raven, played by Chris Pratt. He finds himself on trial for the murder of his wife. The judge is an Artificial intelligence, which gives him 90 minutes to prove his innocence, failure to which, he would face execution. At first glance, it seems like another movie that warns society about the dangers of giving machines too much power. Interestingly, though, the trailer shows that the protagonist actually collaborating with the AI to solve the murder of his wife.This one harks back to the 2002 classic, Minority Report, with a some minor adjustments but we’ll see if that is the case when it hits theaters on January 23, 2026.
The Mandalorian and Grogu
Releasing in May 2026, the Star Wars story follows the fall of the Galactic Empire and the emergence of a new, yet fragile, Republic. The Republic enlists the assistance of an elite bounty hunter, Din Djarin, and his apprentice, Grogu. On their mission, Grogu discovers an artifact that amplifies his abilities with the force. This movie will mark a notable transition for the duo from the show to the big screen.
Greenland 2
Greenland 2 is the sequel to the end-of-the-world movie that hit theaters in 2020. It picks up with the Garrett family and their now-teenage son trying to make the best of their situation in the Greenland bunkers. The planet is still largely uninhabitable due to widespread environmental fallout and continually raining comet fragments. The plot focuses on their journey to a potential oasis, which happens to be the comet’s original crash site, while braving the dangers of a decimated world. This second movie brings something unique to the end-of-the-world genre, considering films rarely detail life in the aftermath of the meteor.
There you have it. These are some of the best action movie options to look forward to in 2026. It’s a year where heroes are not just saving their worlds but rediscovering their purposes. In some cases, the stories emphasize that the most powerful action is driven by compelling human narratives.