Our Favorite Action Movie Performances of 2024

Action movies are more than just high-octane chases, explosive stunts, and edge-of-your-seat thrills—they’re a showcase for some of the most dynamic performances in cinema. In 2024, the action genre delivered a stellar lineup of films where actors pushed physical and emotional boundaries to breathe life into adrenaline-fueled stories. From stoic heroes caught in the crossfire to complex villains commanding the screen with equal parts menace and charisma, this year’s best action movie performances proved that even amidst chaos, there’s room for artistry.

Whether it was a seasoned veteran redefining their legacy or a rising star making their mark, the top performances in action films this year captured our imaginations and kept us glued to the screen. These roles weren’t just about delivering punches or firing weapons; they were about embodying resilience, vulnerability, and grit. In this article, we celebrate the actors who not only carried the weight of explosive set pieces but also infused them with unforgettable emotional depth, making 2024 a standout year for action cinema.

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Aaron Pierre In Rebel Ridge

Yes, the first performance and movie on this list is a Netflix original. That just goes to show how good the streaming platform is becoming at putting out movies that are quite good and attract actors who are also quite good. Aaron Pierre wasn’t a well known name before Rebel Ridge, but he certainly became one after.

His portrayal of a man who was simply trying to help his family and who ran into a group of very corrupt, small town cops gave new life to a well known trope. No, the movie itself was far from academy award winning, but Pierre’s quiet confidence and desire to stay a good man in the fact of racism and corruption was compelling. So compelling in fact, that he was able to win over James Gunn and will move from straight action to comic book movies as he’ll star in the DCU series, Lanterns.

Anya Taylor-Joy In Furiosa

Anya Taylor-Joy gives new life to a character that has already been established in the Mad Max universe, and she does a very good job of doing so. In her role as Furiosa she fills in some of the blanks that Charlize Theron left in the original reboot movie.

Taylor-Joy also offers up a real action heroine who is both smart and strong and someone that people could really enjoy beating some of the truly stupid and yet still weirdly cunning heroes that George Miller’s world was inhabited by. It’s just sad that more people didn’t see it.

Jason Statham In The Beekeeper

Statham is no stranger to action movies. He’s made a very successful career out of starring in them. However, what makes The Beekeeper stand out and his performance in it, is that it’s more nuanced than simply “punch bad guys.” Though there is plenty of that.

No, this isn’t a great movie and the lead actor’s performance isn’t going to win him any acting awards. But he gives a strangely riveting performance as someone who is looking to get revenge for the killing of his friend due to her being robbed of her life savings and that of her charity using a Phishing Scam. Part of what makes Jason Statham’s performance is that he seems to know there’s going to be some “so weird it’s funny” moments and leans into it, even while being the straight man.

Owen Teague In Kingdom of the Planet Of The Apes

This one is an interesting one because the actor who gave such a great action performance is never really seen on screen. Owen Teague played the role of Noa in Kingdom of the Planet of the Apes.

Noa starts off as a gentle young age decades after the previous movies that showed the legacy of Caesar. He lived in a village that was happy raising falcons and living on their own, until their village is pillaged by a brutal warlord named Proximus Caesar. Noa needs to overcome the warlord and is helped by a human woman. The film itself has problems, but the character is a compelling one and the fact that it’s all motion capture and voice work makes it pretty impressive.

Jessie Plemons In Civil War

Jessie Plemons has a relatively small role in Civil War, but it’s a memorable one. He portrays a soldier who has apparently killed dozens of civilians while he was carry out his campaign in the second civil war that has gripped America.

Plemons comes across Kirsten Dunst (his real life wife) while her character, a war time photographer is trying to get to Washington, DC with media colleagues. It’s never really made clear which side he’s fighting for. Or even if he’s really fighting for a side so much as just killing because he can. He’s the living embodiment of the horrors of war and he does a great job looking both terrifying and absurd at the same time.

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