3 best Netflix action movies to stream in one suspenseful weekend

1. Streaming
2. Netflix

3 best Netflix action movies to stream in one suspenseful weekend Features By Tom Wardley published 31 January 2026

Plan a breathless binge with these high-octane flicks

When you purchase through links on our site, we may earn an affiliate commission. Here’s how it works.

Carry-On is a gripping action thriller whatever the season. (Image credit: Netflix) Share Share by:

• Copy link
• Facebook
• X
• Whatsapp
• Reddit
• Pinterest
• Flipboard
• Threads
• Email

Share this article 0 Join the conversation Follow us Add us as a preferred source on Google

Binge watch season is well and truly here and if you’ve already made your way through those great but intense drama series and funny but forgettable sitcoms on Netflix, then how about hunkering down with some gripping action movies?

Netflix is one of the best streaming services when it comes to high-octane flicks with everything from ultra-violence to buddy comedy. But while the A-lister headlined actioners might dominate the algorithms, dig a little deeper and you’ll find some great movies, blending the genre with mystery, thriller and martial arts.

But to save you getting your hands dirty, we’ve done the digging ourselves, unearthing three of the best Netflix movies that’ll have you glued to the sofa for a thrilling weekend of binge watching. And you don’t have to take our word for it either, as all three boast great Rotten Tomatoes scores.

You may like

• 7 new movies and TV shows to watch on Netflix, Prime Video, HBO Max, and more this weekend (November 21)
• 7 new movies and TV shows to stream on Netflix, Prime Video, HBO Max and more this weekend (December 12)
• 7 new movies and TV shows to watch this weekend (December 5)

Today's best Netflix dealsNetflix - Standard with ads US$6.99/mthViewat NetflixNetflix - Standard US$15.49/mthViewat NetflixNetflix - Premium US$22.99/mthViewat Netflix

The Night Comes for Us (2018)

The Night Comes For Us | Official Trailer [HD] | Netflix - YouTube Watch On

Runtime: 121 minutesMain cast: Joe Taslim, Iko Uwais, Julie Estelle, Sunny Pang, Zack LeeDirector: Timo TjahjantoRT score: 92%

Want action? The Night Comes for Us delivers in buckets (of blood) with the intense set pieces barely letting up from the opening titles to the closing credits.

All you need to know about the plot is that it follows Ito (Joe Taslim), an enforcer from a crime syndicate having the sort of crisis of conscience that results in legions of criminal goons being sent to take him out. Chaos ensues. The story does its job, with enough twists and turns to keep viewers on their toes, but the main reason The Night Comes for Us needs to be top of your action watch list is the beautiful carnage that bolsters the majority of its runtime.

Director Timo Tjahjanto is a legend when it comes to Indonesian action cinema (and has a fairly deft touch when it comes to horror too), embracing the region's pencak silat class of martial arts — popularized by The Raid movies — to deliver some of the most brutal and engaging fight scenes committed to film. Stars Taslim and Iko Uwais are masters of the craft, and Tjahjanto’s breathless direction and refusal to shy away from the gory details make The Night Comes for Us a must for fans of the frantic modern action style seen in the likes of John Wick and Gangs of London. Press play, hold your breath and try not to wince.

Get daily insight, inspiration and deals in your inbox

Sign up for breaking news, reviews, opinion, top tech deals, and more.

Contact me with news and offers from other Future brandsReceive email from us on behalf of our trusted partners or sponsorsBy submitting your information you agree to the Terms & Conditions and Privacy Policy and are aged 16 or over.

Enola Holmes (2020)

Enola Holmes | Official Trailer | Netflix - YouTube Watch On

Runtime: 123 minutesMain cast: Millie Bobby Brown, Sam Claflin, Henry Cavill, Helena Bonham CarterDirector: Harry BradbeerRT Score: 91%

If you’re looking for more family-friendly fare, you could do a lot worse than the adventures of the forgotten Holmes sibling.

Starring Millie Bobby Brown at her charming best in the title role, the film follows Enola as she travels to Victorian London in search of her missing mother (Helena Bonham Carter). Finding herself embroiled in a mystery involving a runaway Lord and country-wide stakes, Enola gives her brothers a run for their money as the premiere 1800s sleuth.

You may like

• 7 new movies and TV shows to watch on Netflix, Prime Video, HBO Max, and more this weekend (November 21)
• 7 new movies and TV shows to stream on Netflix, Prime Video, HBO Max and more this weekend (December 12)
• 7 new movies and TV shows to watch this weekend (December 5)

Clearly influenced by Guy Ritchie’s take on the Holmes mythos, the film is a YA treat that’s frequently hilarious, but never afraid to stray into a darker tone when it needs to. Henry Cavill and Sam Claflin make the most of their small appearances as Holmes and Mycroft respectively, while Burn Gorman is suitably hissable as the villainous Linthorn. There’s some surprisingly brutal violence among the action, so parental discretion is advised, but if you’re cuddling up for a family movie day, Enola Holmes and its sequel make for a great binge.

Carry-On (2024)

Carry-On | Official Trailer | Netflix - YouTube Watch On

Runtime: 119 minutesMain cast: Taron Egerton, Sofia Carson, Danielle Deadwyler, Theo Rossi, Logan Marshall-Green, Jason BatemanDirector: Jaume Collet-SerraRT Score: 88%

Before you come for me, yes, I know it’s technically a Christmas movie, but lets not re-litigate the Die Hard debate — Carry-On is a gripping action thriller whatever the season.

Taron Egerton stars as Ethan, a TSA officer targeted by a ruthless mercenary (Jason Bateman). Contacted via a mysteriously dropped earbud, Ethan is ordered to let a specific case through the security check, or his pregnant girlfriend will be killed. Initially starting as a tense single-location-ish thriller, Carry-On soon escalates into a gripping actioner with Egerton proving his turn in Kingsman wasn’t a fluke.

Bateman is terrifyingly menacing as the charming but deadly mercenary, and as the pair are drawn closer together, it's as much a battle of brains as it is brawn. Director Jaume Collet-Serra — the man responsible for the slew of Liam Neeson action movies that followed Taken — wrings as much tension as possible from the ultimate aim of Bateman’s villain and there’s plenty of novel fight/chase scenes. If you’re looking for something a little less intense than the first entry in this list, but still firmly aimed at an adult audience, Carry-On is a trip worth taking.

Follow TechRadar on Google News and add us as a preferred source to get our expert news, reviews, and opinion in your feeds. Make sure to click the Follow button!

And of course you can also follow TechRadar on TikTok for news, reviews, unboxings in video form, and get regular updates from us on WhatsApp too.

Tom WardleyContributor

Tom is a freelance writer, predominantly focusing on film and TV. A graduate of Film Studies at University of South Wales, if he's not diving in to the Collector's Edition Blu Ray of an obscure 80s horror, you'll find him getting lost with his dog or mucking about in the water with his board. 

Show More Comments

You must confirm your public display name before commenting

Please logout and then login again, you will then be prompted to enter your display name.

Logout Read more 7 new movies and TV shows to watch on Netflix, Prime Video, HBO Max, and more this weekend (November 21)    7 new movies and TV shows to stream on Netflix, Prime Video, HBO Max and more this weekend (December 12)    7 new movies and TV shows to watch this weekend (December 5)    7 new movies and TV shows to stream on Netflix, Prime Video, HBO Max and more this weekend (November 7)    7 new movies and TV shows to watch this weekend (January 30)    7 new movies and TV shows to watch on Netflix, Prime Video, HBO Max, and more this weekend (January 23)    Latest in Netflix ‘I totally get it’ Skyscraper Live host understands fan frustrations    Bridgerton season 4 part 1 ending explained and what to expect in part 2    Bridgerton season 4 part 1 review: this is exactly why Violet should be the star of the show    Bridgerton season 4 part 1 release date and time on Netflix    Netflix's Skyscraper Live broadcast didn't get the reception it hoped it would    Netflix is gearing up for a new mobile update, and it involves a vertical video feed    Latest in Features I'm excited for Fable, but worried about the combat — what do you think?    5 of the most important iPhone apps to install first    School Spirits season 3 ep 4 is 'unfamiliar' and 'terrifying', says star    Spartacus House of Ashur episode 10 can't be guessed by fans 'if they tried'    Sonos will launch more products in 2026 — here are the 6 I’m hoping to see    I tested Ikea’s super-cheap Bluetooth speaker and it’s a blast    LATEST ARTICLES

1. 1KYY X90E portable monitor review
2. 2Hori Puff Pouch for Nintendo Switch 2 review: a decent low-cost case
3. 3Sigma’s 135mm f/1.4 DG | Art review: the ultimate portrait lens?
4. 4I tested Ikea’s super-cheap Bluetooth speaker and it’s a blast
5. 5‘One month out, they’re still building Tomorrowland’: Disneyland Handcrafted reveals all