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Additionally, the service boasts ongoing deal with Warner Bros. that brings new movies to the streaming service on the same day as the theatrical release. With all these options, can be difficult to narrow down what to watch when needed. To help movie buffs out, here’s a list of of the best action-packed movies that are currently streaming exclusively on HBO Max.
10 Speed (1994)
A disgruntled bomber targets a city bus and a young cop in 1994’s Speed. Jan de Bont’s directorial debut that stars Keanu Reeves, Sandra Bullock, and Dennis Hopper. Though it wound up an award-winning film, it unfortunately led to a less-than-successful sequel.
In this movie, an LAPD bomb squad detective stopped a bomber’s plans to collect a ransom. The bomber then planted a bomb on a bus and set it to blow if the vehicle dropped below 50 MPH. This leads to a tense, fast-paced, destructive ride through the streets of L.A.
9 The Long Kiss Goodnight (1996)
Geena Davis and Samuel L. Jackson starred in 1996’s The Long Kiss Goodnight from director Renny Harlinas. The plot involves amnesiac woman trying to investigate her faintly remembered violent past, and the private investigator helping her.
After suffering a head injury during a car accident, Davis’ character discovers fighting skills with weaponry prowess. She and her PI embark on a mission to investigate her past. Ultimately, they unlock her memories as a highly-trained CIA assassin, just in time to face off with the government agents that are after them.
8 The Matrix (1999)
Keanu Reeves found a new life as an action star in the 90s, bringing him to the starring role as Neo in 1999’s The Matrix from the Wachowskis. This classic film explored the war between man and machine that led to the creation of the titular virtual world that became humanity’s prison.
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The Matrix featured revolutionary camera and wirework to produce some of the most dynamic cinematic action scenes and gunfights ever witnessed. These impressive special effects that still hold up today, and have led to follow-up entries. The sequels didn’t quite stack up, but still featured plenty of action.
7 Desperado (1995)
1995’s Desperado from director Robert Rodriguez starred Antonio Banderas and Salma Hayek in the big-budget sequel to 1992’s El Mariachi. The plot followed the titular traveling musician, as he sought out revenge on the drug lord who shot him in the hand and ruined his ability to play music.
Desperado became well-known among action fans for the dynamic shootouts, beautiful aesthetic and stellar performances. Eventually, its acclaim led to a final entry in the franchise, with 2003’s Once Upon A Time In Mexico.
6 Escape From New York (1981)
John Carpenter’s Escape from New York hit theaters in 1981, starring Kurt Russell. It introduced a futuristic world where the island of Manhattan had been turned into a prison to help deal with overwhelming crime in the country.
Kurt Russell’s iconic Snake Plissken is unwillingly sent into Manhattan on a mission by the government. There, he must rescue the President after his plane crashed in enemy territory. The dystopic action-heavy classic is a favorite among genre fans, and a must-watch for anyone who missed out on its original release.
5 The Fast And The Furious (2001)
The long-running franchise launched in 2001 with The Fast and the Furious from director Rob Cohen. It introduced Vin Diesel as a street-racing thief, and Paul Walker as the undercover cop trying to catch him and his gang/family.
The combination of Dom and Brian’s developing relationship, the high-octane thrills of the street-racing environment, and the undercover cop element became an instant hit with fans. After a couple of sequels that explored the concept further, the series hit hard with a return from all of the main characters that reworked the franchise into a blockbuster hit.
4 Kill Bill Vol 1. and 2 (2003/2004)
Quentin Tarantino has explored a few different genres over his high-profile career. His dedicated fanbase looks forward to each film with anticipation. In 2003, he dove into the action genre with a loving homage to classic martial arts movies: Kill Bill Vol. 1.
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Kill Bill starred Uma Thurman as a revenge-fueled former assassin who hunts down her former teammates after they tried to kill her. HBO Max thankfully has the following Vol. 2 available as well, so fans can check out the full story in one action-packed sitting.
3 Kong: Skull Island (2017)
2017 saw the iconic King Kong return to the big screen. Director Jordan Vogt-Roberts’s Kong: Skull Island stars Tom Holland, Brie Larson and Samuel L. Jackson. This film revolves around a military team of researchers sent to the legendary island on a mission to hunt down monsters.
Kong: Skull Island featured intense battles between Kong and the military as well as monsters. Additionally, it connected to the previously released Godzilla reboot. This helped launch the MonsterVerse that led to 2021’s hit Godzilla vs. Kong, which is also currently available to stream on HBO Max.
2 Mad Max: Fury Road (2015)
George Miller’s post-apocalyptic franchise returned in 2015 with Mad Max: Fury Road, starring Tom Hardy as Max Rockatansky alongside Charlize Theron as Furiosa. Together, they attempted to free the trapped wives of a despotic warlord, as they faced his armies of blood-addicted War Boys and their deadly vehicles.
The franchise, known for its futuristic auto warfare, surpassed itself with Fury Road. Viewers were treated to some of the most beautiful and deadly car chase sequences. These somehow looked even better in the colorless Black and Chrome Edition, though only the theatrical version is exclusively available on HBO Max.
1 Zack Snyder’s Justice League (2021)
One of the biggest releases on HBO Max was the recent debut of Zack Snyder’s Justice League, the oft-demanded “Snyder Cut” that allowed director Zack Snyder to present his original vision of the film. It turned out to be far different than the theatrical version that was rewritten and completed by Joss Whedon.
Zack Snyder’s Justice League is exclusively available on HBO Max and is filled with epic action scenes spread out across the four-hour runtime. Hopefully, it will give fans who weren’t impressed with the first take a better experience.
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