Arts & Entertainment
11 Action-Thriller Films To Watch This Weekend
Add some excitement to your weekend by watching action-thriller films, such as "Casino Royale," "Inception" and "Atomic Blonde."
During these difficult times, there's nothing more distracting than sitting at home and watching a movie — especially if it's an action-thriller. And if you’re looking for a quality flick to watch this weekend, look no further than these jaw-dropping picks we’ve compiled for your streaming pleasure.
Those in the mood for a clever sci-fi thriller should not miss “Inception” and “Minority Report,” which are both available on Netflix and Amazon Prime.
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If you’re seeking spy thrillers, James Bond dazzles in “Casino Royale,” while MI6 Agent Lorraine Broughton shows off her elite spy tactics in “Atomic Blonde.”
Meanwhile, when it comes to a comedy-thriller, “Shazam!” will certainly put a smile or two on everyone’s faces.
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So while you stay safely inside this weekend, get ready to stream these action-thrillers, which are sure to get your heart racing in no time:
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- What's New On Netflix: April 2020
“Minority Report” (Netflix) — Tom Cruise, Colin Farrell; directed by Steven Spielberg
Based on Philip K. Dick’s 1956 short story, the 2002 sci-fi action-thriller centers on the question of whether one’s actions are inherently predestined or consciously chosen. Set in the year 2054, the film stars Tom Cruise as John Anderton, commander of a specialized police force tasked to apprehend murderers before they commit the actual crimes. How exactly? They base the arrest on the premonitions provided by three reputable psychics called “precogs.” However, for Anderton, complications arise when he is accused of a murder that is yet to take place, forcing him to be on the run as a fugitive.
“Casino Royale” (Netflix) — Daniel Craig, Eva Green; directed by Martin Campbell
In a career-defining moment for the accomplished character actor, Daniel Craig would gain worldwide fame as he transformed the iconic spy from a snappy dresser to a quintessential model of virility. The 2006 film opens with the rise of James Bond through the ranks of MI6 to become Agent 007 — a crème de la crème British spy with a license to kill. His first assignment takes him to the Le Casino Royale in Montenegro, where Bond challenges a terrorist financier in a high-stakes poker game. Eventually, 007 wins with a straight flush, setting in motion an international game of cat and mouse.
“John Wick” (Amazon Prime) — Keanu Reeves, Michael Nyqvist; directed by Chad Stahelski and David Leitch
Chad Stahelski’s feature directorial debut stars Keanu Reeves as a famed super-assassin seeking retribution to avenge the death of his beloved beagle puppy, which was a final gift from his dying wife. The movie spawned two sequels (“John Wick: Chapter 2” and “John Wick: Chapter 3 — Parabellum"), launching a successful film series known for its unvarnished kinetic and emotional thrills in a universe inhabited by assassins for hire.
“Mad Max: Fury Road” (Amazon Prime) — Charlize Theron, Tom Hardy; directed by George Miller
In 2015, 30 years after the theatrical release of “Mad Max Beyond Thunderdome,” George Miller’s post-apocalyptic franchise came back with its fourth installment, starring Charlize Theron and Tom Hardy as a pair of unlikely allies — Furiosa (Theron) and Max (Hardy) — trying to escape the wrath of a tyrannical, unconscionable cult leader. As the two newfound friends try to overcome their evil foe, the film shines a light on their past lives.
“Inception” (Netflix) — Leonardo DiCaprio, Joseph Gordon-Levitt; directed by Christopher Nolan
The world of corporate espionage is front and center in Christopher Nolan’s 2010 sci-fi action adventure. Enter Dominick Cobb (Leonardo DiCaprio), a notorious professional thief known for his unorthodox way of stealing secrets and ideas by directly implanting himself into his target’s subconscious. However, he soon gets caught in the act, setting in motion his one final mission that will serve as his path to redemption.
“Atomic Blonde” (Amazon Prime) — Charlize Theron, James McAvoy; directed by David Leitch
In this action-spy thriller, Charlize Theron further solidified her status as an action star in her portrayal of MI6’s most elite field agent, Lorraine Broughton. The badass female spy’s mission takes her to the streets of Berlin while on a perilous pursuit of a missing document, which contains the names of double agents trying to sabotage the West’s entire intelligence operation.
“Shazam!” (HBO) — Zachary Levi, Asher Angel, Djimon Hounsou; directed by David F. Sandberg
A favorite of DC Comics fans, the superhero film is worthy of its titular exclamation mark from beginning to end, as it chronicles the origins of the action hero (Zachary Levi) known for his yellow lightning bolt. Plus, you get to know what the acronym SHAZAM means.
“Die Hard” (Amazon Prime) — Bruce Willis, Alan Rickman; directed by John McTiernan
This action-thriller — which propelled Bruce Willis to a Hollywood A-list star — follows the pursuits of John McClane (Willis), a New York City police officer who attempts to rescue his wife and her co-workers after they are taken hostage by terrorists during a Christmas party at the Nakatomi Plaza in Los Angeles. The 1988 box-office hit spawned four sequels over the years: “Die Hard 2” (1990); “Die Hard with a Vengeance” (1995); “Live Free or Die Hard" (2007) and “A Good Day to Die Hard” (2013).
“Haywire” (Netflix) — Gina Carano, Ewan McGregor; directed by Steven Soderbergh
Treachery abounds in Steven Soderbergh’s “Haywire,” an action-thriller introducing Gina Carano in the lead role of a black-ops operative, Mallory Kane, who is trapped in a deadly game of conspiracy and deception. With time running out, she must unravel the mystery in order to survive, as she becomes the target of skilled assassins. The 2011 film parades a cast of Hollywood A-listers from beginning to end, including Ewan McGregor, Michael Fassbender, Channing Tatum, Bill Paxton, Michael Douglas and Antonio Banderas.
“Hanna” (Hulu) — Saoirse Ronan, Cate Blanchett, Eric Bana; directed by Joe Wright
Joe Wright’s dazzling 2011 action-thriller stars Saoirse Ronan in the titular role of a 16-year-old girl trained by her ex-CIA operative father (Eric Bana) to become a deadly assassin. Hot on the father-daughter duo’s trail is Marissa Wiegler (Cate Blanchett), a CIA chief officer who holds the key to unlock the mystery surrounding Hanna’s hidden past.
“Total Recall” (Amazon Prime) — Arnold Schwarzenegger, Sharon Stone; directed by Paul Verhoeven
Set in 2084, Paul Verhoeven’s 1990 sci-fi action film centers on a construction worker named Quaid (Arnold Schwarzenegger) who — during a virtual vacation on Mars — unwittingly discovers that he is, in fact, a secret agent who switched sides to rebel against the government’s tyranny. To solve the mystery surrounding his past, Quaid travels to Mars, where more surprises await our hero.
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