The 10 best action movie scenes of 2021, and where to watch them

It was an excellent year for action movies. The COVID pandemic caused many blockbuster movies to stop production, and many big films were moved to streaming or postponed in 2020. And while the health crisis isn’t over, blockbusters came back in force in 2021: Four Marvel movies, Zack Snyder’s long-awaited Justice League cut, a Kong vs Godzilla showdown, new entries in world-famous franchises (F9, Mortal Kombat, Snake Eyes), and a few surprises in the mid-budget standalone ’90s actioner range, like Guy Ritchie’s Wrath of Man and Tom Clancy’s Without Regret.

The year has been filled with ambitious, energetic, and exciting action films — indies and blockbusters alike — some of which contain scenes that will stay with you for a long time. Below is an alphabetical list of 10 most impressive, bold, and inspiring action scenes from the year. You can find them all on different streaming and VOD platforms.

The Fable: The Killer Who Doesn’t Kill — scaffolding fight

Kan Eguchi directed.

The Fable: The Killer Who Doesn’t Kill isn’t the best film in this list, but it definitely has the best action scene: a 15-minute tour-de-force set in an apartment building and the massive scaffolding erected in front of it. His army of goons and the hero travel with mesmerizing speed and brutality in every direction (left to right, up and down). Just like in the first film, the scene’s stakes lie in the way the filmmakers exploit the setting to create suspense and emotion. It’s a roller coaster of dodging sniper bullets and parkour moves executed mid-kick. It’s not just the fight scene with scaffolding. Shang-Chi;, it is a true testament to the film team’s dedication pushing a kind of believable and grounded spectacle to new heights. A film adaptation of the manga, simply called „The first Film“. FableIn Japan, a new movie called, was released in 2019. You should start with the first one, as it contains some dazzling action. Then you can watch the sequel. Fable: The Killer Who Doesn’t Kill.

The Fable The Fable: The Killer Who Doesn’t Kill Both are available for streaming on Netflix.

Hydra — the final fight

Kensuke Sonomura – Directed

Hydra is a prime example of the independent Japanese film scene’s ability to create something truly unique with next to no resources. Kensuke Sonomura, a long-time stuntman, directed his debut feature film in 2019. However it was only released internationally this year. This drama is character-driven and low-key. It focuses heavily on the atmosphere. Hydra Although there is some action in the film, the two violent bursts are very satisfying. The drama builds up and makes the viewers really care about what happens. Action choreography is fast and furious. I couldn’t keep up with the pace of the action, as there was no undercranking. The tension is high in fights where every movement counts and every second counts. The combination of emotion and action can have devastating results. The film is a breezy 77 minutes long and doesn’t need to be longer. It’s a short and vibrant synthwave-drenched film with two amazing fights. If you’re into this sort of thing, don’t miss out.

HydraYou can stream the video on Hi-Yah!And rent Amazon, AppleAnd Vudu

Nobody — the bus fight

Ilya Nishuller directed

The biggest surprise of 2021 is the arrival of the X-ray machine. No one treads familiar grounds story-wise, but Bob Odenkirk’s commitment impresses. This veteran actor wanted to take on a new role and challenge himself. Mission accomplished. Thanks to the involvement and hard work of the 87North action stunt crew, which was formerly known as 87Eleven, the John Wick franchise is now lean. Odenkirk was trained by Daniel Bernhardt (action legend), who played one of the goons in the bus. That is the scene the team chose to put front and center for the film’s marketing campaign, and for good reason. It was meticulously planned, rehearsed and choreographed beautifully, with a clear and concise direction. Henry the Hardcore filmmaker Ilya Naishuller, the scene emphasizes the protagonist’s pain and suffering, and playfully makes use of the environment and limitations inherent to small spaces. Clearness and legibility are constant goals of the 87North crew. They have no need to cut unnecessary footage, use shaky cameras, or make any cuts. Just a good-old-fashioned fist fight. It’s always a good feeling when you get your money’s worth.

No oneAvailable to Rent Amazon, AppleAnd Vudu

No Time To Die — opening chase

Cary Joji Fukunaga directs

The Craig era comes to an end but this final chapter takes off at full throttle when James Bond is targeted by SPECTRE assassins while visiting Vesper Lynd’s tomb. Fast-paced, intense, diverse, and stimulating is the chase. The protagonist goes from riding his motorcycle to running, then to his Aston Martin, which he uses to drive. Fukunaga is a masterful director of the scene. His scenes are filled with all the Bond elements, including the tricks, gadgets and the camerawork. Set in the Southern Italian city of Matera, which was never designed to accommodate car chases, the scene takes full advantage of the unusual topography — narrow cobblestone streets, slopes, hills, and stairs everywhere — to create a consistently surprising action choreography. It’s a beautiful example of a blockbuster making the effort to find real locations and design thrilling sequences to create a more tangible texture. The film has a classic feel with modern touches. Perhaps among the franchise’s best action scenes.

There is no time to dieAvailable to Rent Amazon, AppleAnd Vudu.

One Shot — the whole dang movie

James Nunn directed the film

This is the complete film. One shotThe entire film is presented in one unbroken shot. It’s not a real oner, of course — shooting an action film with gun fights and explosions as a true one-take would be irresponsibly dangerous — but the editing is seamless. Long takes create an immersive feeling for viewers. The camera switches between two characters at once, shifting focus from Scott Adkins (a great Scott Adkins) and terrorists trying to kill a US soldier. The script isn’t anything to write home about, but it allows director James Nunn to tell a self-contained story in a single location, and therefore to ensure his narrative approach makes sense. As a team, Tim Man (a DTV movies experienced action choreographer) was able to guide them and create an interesting flow over the duration of their 90-plus minutes. Although the film had a modest budget of $5 million, its result is impressive. It has more ambition and hardwork than most movies that are made with much more money. As far as DTV action goes, it’s hard to recommend a more ambitious film this year.

One shot It is currently available for rent Amazon, AppleAnd Vudu

The Paper Tigers — rooftop fight

Quoc bao Tran directed

It is crucial to help artists who deserve representation in a world where it has become more important. Director Quoc Bao Tran had started developing The Paper Tigers, a very personal story influenced by he and his friends’ experiences, a decade ago. He refused to accept a Hollywood offer of financing the film on a $4million budget, and insisted that the leading role be played by a white male. He struggled for a while to raise enough funds to complete the movie. Eventually, the film was made for around $1 million. This is a sweet, intimate story of friendship, hardship, and perseverance from the point of view of African Americans.

Three middle-aged former martial artists students are reunited to pay homage to their teacher in this heartfelt comedy. The climax, which takes place on a Seattle rooftop, is the absolute proof that money is not the answer to everything: time, dedication, and care are other tools at a filmmaker’s disposal to craft engaging martial arts fights with an old-school feel and aesthetic. It would not be fair to say that the movie is recommended for action film fans.

The Paper Tigers You can stream it on NetflixAnd rent Amazon, AppleAnd Vudu

Raging Fire — the shanty town raid

Benny Chan directs

Donnie Yuen is your friend. Yen, like all of us, remembers the glory days Hong Kong’s action cinema. I would guess that he also misses those golden days of Hong Kong action cinema. You can find them here. Raging FireYen joins once more with Kenji Tanigaki, a master action director, and Benny Chan, a legendary film director, to create a brutal, uncompromising, classic Hong Kong actioner.

This is one of the most action-packed films this year. Raging FireThis crime thriller is fast-paced and pits Yen against Nicholas Tse (a former cop who became a criminal determined to exact his revenge). Of course, given the restrictive new censorship laws imposed on the Hong Kong industry by mainland China, the script can’t offer the same ambiguity as the classics from 30 years ago. The team created a blockbuster with multiple sets that is efficient and pulse-pumping. The film’s climactic fight and fight ends on an excellent note. However, the middle-film shanty towns raid shows great cinematic creativity in designing action for narrow settings. Yen’s action constantly reinvents itself through stimulating choreographic ideas.

Raging FireYou can stream it on Hi-Yah!Or rent Amazon, AppleAnd Vudu.

Space Sweepers — space battle

Jo Sunghee directs

Korean cinema doesn’t have anything to prove and this large-scale space opera confirms it. It’s reminiscent of early 2000s anime. PlanetesWith just a touch of Cowboy Bebop added to the mix, this ambitious and technically accomplished space romp rivals Hollywood’s best in terms of visual effects and production design. Even though the movie can feel sometimes too dramatic or dependent on familiar tropes it is made up by the sheer energy of filmmaking and the charisma of its cast.

The film ends with a space battle that is unlike anything we’ve ever seen in American cinema. The screen is filled with ships of every size and compete in exciting and innovative ways. This campy and pulpy approach to spectacle is appealing to both casual viewers of movies as well as long-time sci-fi fans. We’re never too far from the golden days of Hugo Gernsback’s Amazing Stories in terms of tone and atmosphere, and the ships’ designs are rich and varied.

Space SweepersYou can stream the video on Netflix.

The Swordsman — Jang Hyuk vs. Joe Taslim

Choi Jae-hoon directed.

Joe Taslim will always be your hero. Raid, Our Night is Here Mortal Kombat? He was the antagonist of a South Korean film that starred a transformed Jang Hyuk. The film’s core story, about a blinded swordsman who saves his daughter, will determine whether you enjoy it. However, I can assure that the action is excellent and a throwback of classic, well-made period pieces.

Forget CGI-amplified fights and outrageous wire work — The SwordsmanIt simply captures brutal, crisp action scenes. Clean camerawork uses the steadycam extensively, following performers with intent and energy. The choreography keeps viewers on their toes by constantly finding new ways of renewing confrontations. This scene is a classic example of filmmaking at the service of kinetic energy.

The SwordsmanIs available for streaming on Hi-YAH!And rent Amazon, AppleAnd Vudu.

A Writer’s Odyssey — wuxia fantasy nightmare

Lu Yang directed the film

If you’re into Asian action cinema, you might know Lu Yang as the director of the decently entertaining Brotherhood of BladesIts sequel. The filmmaker did a great job, raising the bar and setting the bar higher for sheer spectacle.

A Writer’s OdysseyThis is a grand-scale, unbridled fantasy action movie with an emotional core. It also has enough cheeky subversions to pass Chinese censors. Although the story takes place in two different worlds, it is a fascinating tale that is enriched by dazzling action scenes. That’s a lot of words just to say something is great, but given the current state of Chinese blockbusters, the very existence of this film is a small miracle in and of itself. Despite some flaws in the script, and a few passable full CG shots, it all works out. Look at the battle between the sentient armor weapon of the hero with a bunch of scoundrels. When was the last fight so creative, interesting, and bizarre? TsuiHark would be proud.

A Writer’s Odyssey You can stream it on iQIYI

Photo: Jasin Boland/NETFLIX

There have been many more outstanding action scenes this year, so the list could go on: Mary Elisabeth Winstead did excellent work in Netflix’s KateHwang Jung-min unleashed Hell in We must be saved from evilGuy Ritchie directed the best shootout he had in many years. Wrath of ManWhile legendary filmmakers Ryoo Seungwan and Zhang Yimou delivered stunning set pieces, Cliff Walkers Escape from Mogadishu, respectively.

Christmastime saw the release of two important action films, namely Matthew Vaughn’s The King’s Man and Lana Wachowski’s Resurrections by The Matrix. Before his death at age 48, Bradley James Allan was the legendary stunt-choreographer and martial artist Bradley James Allan. Allan, who was part of Jackie Chan’s stunt crew for several years before becoming his own action director, had been involved in the Jackie Chan stunt group. He worked regularly with Vaughn, Guillermo del Toro, and Edgar Wright, and choreographed the fights in Marvel’s Shang-Chi. He will be missed greatly.

While the third Matrix sequel was a success thanks to the hard work of many skilled action actors, it took a different route. It never achieved the same level of spectacle and formalism that the earlier installments.

Let’s see what 2021 has taught us in terms of action filmmaking. It is clear, first of all that independent, low-budget action movies have dramatically improved in quality. Scott Adkins, a veteran indie filmmaker has worked in higher levels of the market for many years. (check the It is undisputed sequels *right now* if you’ve never seen them), but he has been joined in the spotlight by several other dedicated artists who give their absolute all to their craft, and manage to deliver films that can go toe to toe with big productions. Kensuke Sonomura stands out, as an exceptional voice and will surely achieve great things. (Watch out for his film next year). The Baby Assassin, A PercenterAnd Bad City). Indie action filmmaking is where it’s at, it’s where artists and talented action performers/choreographers have the most freedom to give birth to their unique vision.

The second reason is that the action-packed mid-budget films of yesteryear were mostly outsourced to American streaming sites. They fall harder the harder they workOr Xtremo. You don’t have to spend a lot of money to create action films. The Covid pandemic, however, has made it more difficult. Cinemas require blockbuster films in order to survive. Mega franchises often push smaller films further to the margins. But films like Taylor Sheridan’s The People Who Want Me to DieStar-powered films that feature talented directors and cost around $20 million to produce, feel old and dated and are difficult to reach their target audience. Here’s to hoping Netflix, Amazon, and their competitors eventually fill this gap effectively with quality productions that would once have had a wide theatrical release.

Foreign film distribution is one of the many benefits that digital technology has made possible. Because let’s face it: for fans of action movies, Asian cinema is absolutely essential (it is essential for all types of films, really). Like films Raging Fire The Swordsman are shown in cinemas thanks to the work of distributors like WellGo USA, and then are then added to Hi-YAH!, WellGo’s streaming platform dedicated to Asian action films. Netflix is on an aggressive buying spree in Japan and has purchased streaming rights for films such as Fable and HiGH&LOW, which would have otherwise never reached western shores. While there are still many foreign films which cannot be seen in the West, things are getting better.

Action fans can expect a lot from 2022. Batman’s return Raid director Gareth Evans, Baahubali’s S. S. Rajamouli, the Mission: Impossible franchise, and even Hong Kong masters like Soi Cheang and Corey Yuen. You can now relax and catch up with the action that you may have missed in this year’s film. Next year could be even more exciting.