The Best Action Directors’ Best Movies (And Where To Stream Them)

With The Great Train Robbery in 1903, the modern action genre was born. The genre, of course, continued to grow, with pioneers like Akira Kurosawa, Sergio Leone, and Sam Peckinpah each adding their own respective evolution to action cinema, whether it be large-scale conflicts, stylized gunfights, or slow motion to highlight moments of brutality. While these directors laid the groundwork for modern cinema, others continue to push the genre forward in new and exciting ways.

These 10 directors are among the best working in the action genre today, and they will define the genre for future generations of aspiring filmmakers. Here they are with their best movies, and where to stream them.

Gareth Evans

Best Movie: ‘The Raid’

Gareth Evans would fly under the radar with his first two films, Footsteps (2006) and Merantu (2009), finding a limited audience. However, 2012’s The Raid would become a global phenomenon, propelling the director to fame. Known for stylish fight choreography and fast-paced, violent, action-heavy films. His last feature, Havoc, starring Tom Hardy, climbed the Netflix charts and demonstrated a vested interest in the director working within the Hollywood system with big-name actors, making him an exciting prospect for the future. Evans is currently working on a project tentatively titled “Blister,” with few details yet to be released.

Bringing Polished Brutality to the Screen

If you are going to start anywhere with the films of Gareth Evans as an action fan, it has to be 2012’s The Raid. Unfortunately for action fans, The Raid is currently not available for streaming; however, renting it is a must if you haven’t seen the film previously. The sequel, 2014’s The Raid 2, is also in a similar streaming limbo, but the film delivers even more action, albeit not as tight as the first film; it’s still worth renting. If you’re a Netflix subscriber, check out Havoc, starring Tom Hardy, to get a taste of the chaotic action the director brings to the screen.

Takashi Miike

Best Movie: ’13 Assassins’

When thinking of prolific directors, it isn’t easy to think of someone comparable in output to Japan’s Takashi Miike. Born in 1960, the director has certainly not wasted time making a name for himself, amassing over 120 directing credits since 1991. While never adhering to a specific genre, the director has produced some of the most explosive and entertaining action movies to emerge from Japan, including 13 Assassins, Dead or Alive, Crows Zero, and Blade of the Immortal. Despite being one of the oldest directors on this list, Miike continues to work, with two projects currently in pre-production: an unnamed horror movie starring Charli XCX and a gritty thriller with an American cast in Japan, Bad Lieutenant: Tokyo.

The Man of 100 Movies Deviation into Action Always Delivers

Takashi Miike offers something for any fan of any genre. Still, focusing on his action outings, his best work remains 13 Assassins, thanks to its long, explosive conclusion, which offers up 45 minutes of 13 swordsmen fighting off an entire army; you can stream it for free on Kanopy or Plex. If you are looking for no-holds-barred ultra-violence, Ichi the Killer, a movie about a deranged assassin, is also available on the same platforms (viewer discretion advised, though).

Soi Cheang

Best Film: ‘Twilight of the Warriors: Walled In’

Hong Kong director Soi Cheang began quietly building a cult following as early as 2006 with the gritty crime/action thriller Dog Bite Dog. He would continue to build his reputation with the intense car racing scenes in his film Motorway (2012) and successfully deliver on an anticipated action sequel with SPL 2: A Time for Consequences (2015). Cheang would start to receive broader critical acclaim with his black-and-white atmospheric crime film, Limbo, in 2021. Currently, the director is poised to deliver two big-budget spectacles: the sea-faring war movie Penghu Hai Zhan and Twilight of the Warriors: Dragon Throne.

Hong Kong Action at Its Finest and Most Explosive

While director Soi Cheang has quietly built up a name for himself in the action genre, it is his last film, Twilight of the Warriors: Walled In, that has many Asian-focused sites touting it as the best HK action film in some time, a difficult feat given the country’s impressive output. This also marks his best movie to date, and it is a must-watch for action fans. Twilight of the Warriors: Walled In is streaming on Hi-yah! and Kanopy. If you want to dig a bit deeper into the director’s filmography, you can check out SPL 2: A Time for Consequences on Plex, or take a chance and grab the dark and gritty crime thriller Limbo on VOD.

David Leitch

Best Film: ‘Bullet Train’

It’s a hard line to walk between bloated Hollywood productions, while still delivering raw, visceral action sequences that allow your name to be placed among the greats. Director David Leitch played a crucial role in helping to craft the action that brought John Wick to life. Still, his first feature film, Atomic Blonde, served as a showcase for his directorial skills, with a focus on intense, close-quarters combat. From there, he would continue to move on to a series of impressive, polished Hollywood spectacles, including Deadpool 2, Fast & Furious Presents: Hobbs & Shaw, Bullet Train, and Fall Guy. Leitch currently has several works in progress, including an adaptation of the ultra-violent video game Gears of War.

Bringing a Needed Raw Action Element to Hollywood

As much as everyone adores the Deadpool franchise, there are two movies you must see to appreciate the command over action sequences that David Leitch has: Atomic Blonde and Bullet Train, with Bullet Train being his best work to date. Bullet Train is currently available on Hulu, Disney+, and HBO Max. Atomic Blonde is currently available on Prime Video. Of course, those who need their Deadpool fix can watch all the movies on Disney+, including Leitch’s Deadpool 2.

Yugo Sakamoto

Best Film: ‘Baby Assassins’

Yugo Sakamoto may be the most ‘green’ director on this list, having worked on a series of small indie action films, such as Hangman’s Knot (2017) and A Janitor (2021), before gaining international acclaim for his Baby Assassin films. Yet, he represents youthful exuberance and a shift in action cinema from big budget to polished, raw choreography, which is accessible for a broader audience to enjoy and be inspired by. Sakamoto also fosters a sense of community, collaborating with the same actors and serving as a writer on projects by contributors, including the standout action/comedy Ghost Killer (2024) by Kensuke Sonomura. His most recent film, Nemurubaka (2025), has yet to receive a wide release, and future projects on the horizon are not yet listed.

Representing The Future Generation of Action Directors

The closest you will find to a punk filmmaker pushing the boundaries of the genre, Yugo Sakamoto’s best is yet to come. Yet for now, the best way to appreciate the director is to dive into the Baby Assassins films, with the first one currently available to stream on Plex, along with the sequel, Baby Assassins: 2 Babies. The third film is not yet available to stream. If the idea of cutesy killers does not sound tempting, Sakamoto’s action horror mash-up, Yellow Dragon’s Village, is available on Midnight Pulp, Asian Crush, or Hoopla.

Jalmari Helander

Best Film: ‘Sisu’

Finnish director Jalmari Helander would find some cult success with his Christmas horror film, with action elements, 2010’s Rare Exports. Afterward, he continued the mash-up of children’s film tropes with more serious genre implications in the action/comedy 2014’s Big Game. While these movies showcased the director’s ability to craft engaging action sequences, it wasn’t until the breakout hit of 2022’s Sisu that audiences started to take notice.

An Emerging Talent Set To Take the Action World by Storm

The success of Sisu has seemingly set Jalmari on the path to focusing on more mature, grittier action films, with a sequel, Sisu: Road to Revenge, in the works, alongside a prequel to the action classic, 1982’s First Blood, tentatively titled John Rambo. While these mark all highly anticipated projects that will have action fans salivating, for now, Sisu is the best film from Jalmari Helander, which is currently streaming on Netflix. If you are finding yourself looking for some festive action, Rare Exports is available on AMC+ or Midnight Pulp.

Timo Tjahjanto

Best Film: ‘The Night Comes for Us’

Timo Tjahjanto would first start to make a name for himself, working with filmmaker Kimo Stamboel under the pseudonym the ‘Mo Brothers.’ Together, the two would come to the attention of genre fans with the horror film Macabre (2009), before providing the explosive cult favorite Killers (2014). Transitioning to a solo director, Tjahjanto’s career has undoubtedly had its ups and downs. Still, when it comes to action, the Indonesian director consistently delivers, and he has built an impressive filmography marked by standout action titles like Headshot, The Night Comes for Us, and The Shadow Strays.

From Indonesia to Hollywood

Timo Tjahjanto is continuing his work in the Hollywood system. Following the recent release of Nobody 2, he is set to direct The Beekeeper 2, among his various projects in the works. It isn’t easy to pick a definitive action film from Timo Tjahjanto. While Nobody 2 features some standout action sequences, the best way to check out the director’s work is to start with a title like The Night Comes for Us (2018), which is currently streaming on Netflix. You can also follow up with 2024’s The Shadow Strays, which is also available on Netflix.

Wilson Yip

Best Movie: ‘Ip Man’

While starting his career as a director in the 90s, Hong Kong Director Wilson Yip would begin to polish his style throughout the 2000s, which were marked by a string of standout action films, all being released in a row: Kill Zone (2005), Dragon Tiger Gate (2006), and Flash Point (2007). While these movies have Yip fanfare among fans of HK action cinema, it was his subsequent film, Ip Man, starring Donnie Yen, that brought his prominence as an action director to global attention, delivering realistic martial arts choreography using slow motion, stylish choreography, and impeccable sound design.

A Master of Hong Kong Action Cinema

Wilson Yip remains a powerhouse in the action genre, with three projects currently in development. Yet, his legacy will likely always stay with the Ip Man films, with the first being the definitive starting point for exploring the director’s work. All four movies in the Ip Man franchise are available to stream for free on Plex. Outside the Ip Man films, SPL: Kill Zone and Flash Point can also be streamed for free on Plex.

Ryoo Seung-wan

Best Film: ‘The City of Violence’

Making his feature-length directorial debut in 2000 with Die Bad, Ryoo Seung-wan quickly became a director to keep an eye on. One of his earliest acclaimed works, Crying Fist (2005), presents a gritty and realistic portrayal of boxing, marked by raw, emotive scenes of two men’s desperate fight for survival in an unforgiving world. From there, the South Korean director would continue to bring grounded realism to his action films, backed by deeply engaging stories, offering a range in the genre from the praised political thriller Escape from Mogadishu (2021) to the entertaining infusion of comedy, action, and crime in 2015’s Veteran.

“The Action Kid” of Korean Filmmaking

There is no one definitive film by Seung-wan. However, sticking to the fundamentals, 2006’s The City of Violence delivers with pulse-pounding martial arts mayhem; though this one needs to be a rental. Comparatively, 2015’s Veteran offers a wonderful mix of action and comedy that still carries Seung-wan’s signature approach to action, which is also worth renting. The film that introduced action fans to many, Crying Fist, is also only available on VOD. It’s not always easy to track down films to stream, but when it comes to director Ryoo Seung-wan, the extra effort is certainly worth it to experience the best action director South Korea has to offer.

Chad Stahelski

Best Movie: ‘John Wick’

Initially entering the world of film as a stunt performer, infamously acting as a stunt double for Keanu Reeves in the Matrix films, Chad Stahelski would make a significant transition to director. A little movie by the name of John Wick, released in 2014, would turn the veteran stunt performer/coordinator into one of the most celebrated action directors working today. While the John Wick franchise is currently the only films that Stahelski has worked on, he has several exciting projects in the works. Popular franchises such as Highlander and Rainbow Six are getting new films, alongside a handful of original projects.

The Man Behind the Most Beloved Modern Action Franchise

Chad Stahelski is poised to continue growing in popularity, especially once he delivers his take on the beloved action franchise Highlander, which is currently planned as a multi-release reboot. Until then, the entire John Wick series is available on Hulu until sometime in 2026, when the service will be folded into the Disney+ catalog.