Netflix’s 2025 Action Movie Kings
Den of Thieves 2: Pantera quickly rose to the top of Netflix’s 2025 action lineup, challenging The Electric State for the leading spot on the Top 10 list. Critics praise its Heat-inspired heist sequences and Gerard Butler’s return as “Big Nick.”
With 63% critic and 79% audience scores on Rotten Tomatoes, it’s hailed as a refined sequel, less schlocky, more procedural. Though the original film isn’t currently available on Netflix due to licensing, Pantera’s European diamond-heist plot and the chemistry between Butler and Jackson Jr. have been well received.”
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Why Pantera Topped the Charts
The film’s success stems from its gritty realism and attention to detail. Director Christian Gudegast avoids CGI spectacle, opting for a Ronin-style chase and tactical shootouts.
While The Electric State saw fluctuations in its ranking, Pantera’s two-hour and 24-minute runtime offers a deeply immersive experience focused on heist planning and moral ambiguity. Forbes praised the film as one of the standout action movies of 2025, noting its strong storytelling that rivals other big titles like Captain America: Brave New World.
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Gerard Butler’s Career Revival
Butler’s “Big Nick” is his signature role, a rule-breaking sheriff turned criminal ally. Post-300, he’s mastered B-movie action (Has Fallen series), but Pantera elevates his craft.
Critics note his “Melville-esque” gravitas, balancing brutality and wit. Co-star O’Shea Jackson Jr. (Donnie) adds depth, though some argue the sequel sidelines him. The duo’s drunken shawarma scene is a highlight, showcasing buddy-movie charm 368.
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The Heist That Stole Hearts
Pantera’s Antwerp diamond exchange heist is its crown jewel. Inspired by a 2003 true event, the sequence blends tension and realism, flawed guards, radio silences, and a helicopter escape.
Unlike Ocean’s Eleven glamour, it’s a blue-collar Heat homage. However, IMDb reviews critique plot conveniences (e.g., empty Nice streets during chases) and weak supporting cast 468.
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Back in Action’s Milestone
Back in Action, starring Cameron Diaz and Jamie Foxx, achieved significant global popularity on Netflix, ranking within the top 10 in multiple countries and drawing millions of viewers. The spy-comedy marked Diaz’s return after a decade, blending Mr. & Mrs. Smith-style chemistry with Rush Hour humor.
Back in Action, starring Cameron Diaz and Jamie Foxx, achieved significant global popularity on Netflix, ranking within the top 10 in multiple countries and drawing millions of viewers. While lighter than Den of Thieves 2, its success proves audiences still crave star-driven escapism.
Critics noted its predictable plot but praised Foxx’s charisma and Diaz’s comeback appeal.
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The Electric State’s Fall
The Electric State, a high-budget sci-fi starring Millie Bobby Brown, experienced mixed reactions, with some viewers noting its lengthy runtime and challenges connecting emotionally, leading to shifts in its popularity rankings.
Despite stunning visuals (directed by Avengers: Infinity War’s Russo brothers), its retro-futuristic story failed to resonate. Fans compared it unfavorably to Stranger Things, calling it “style over substance.” Meanwhile, Den of Thieves 2’s tighter pacing and gritty action stole its spotlight.
The flop underscores Netflix’s struggle with original blockbusters.
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Squid Game’s Ongoing Reign
Squid Game Season 2 dominated non-English TV for 6 weeks (13.2M views), proving its global staying power. The dystopian thriller’s brutal games and sharp social commentary on inequality kept it #1, with Season 3 confirmed for June 2025.
Unlike Pantera’s heist thrills, Squid Game merges horror and drama, with standout performances by Lee Jung-jae (Gi-hun) and new villain Park Hae-soo. Its success highlights Netflix’s reliance on non-English hits, 67% of 2025’s top shows were international.
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The Night Agent’s Spy Thrills
The Night Agent Season 2 led English TV (15.2M views), doubling Season 1’s numbers. Gabriel Basso’s turn as FBI agent Peter Sutherland anchored this 24-meets-Bourne thriller, praised for breakneck pacing and political intrigue.
The show’s resurgence (S1 hit #4 with 5M views) reflects demand for old-school espionage in a Mission: Impossible drought. Critics called it “unapologetically addictive,” though some dismissed its clichéd villains. A Season 3 renewal seems inevitable.
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Ad Vitam’s French Grit
The French thriller Ad Vitam topped non-English films (54.5M views) with its dystopian revenge plot and John Wick-level action. Starring Lupin’s Omar Sy as a rogue cop, its noir aesthetic and relentless fight choreography set it apart.
Unlike Pantera’s heist focus, Ad Vitam explores corruption and redemption, with a 91% audience score on Rotten Tomatoes. Its success signals a growing appetite for non-Hollywood action.
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Carry-On’s Surprising Longevity
Taron Egerton’s airport thriller Carry-On defied expectations with 171.5M views (Netflix’s #2 Most Popular). The Die Hard-in-a-terminal premise thrived on claustrophobic tension and Jason Bateman’s icy villainy.
Directed by Safe House’s Daniel Espinosa, its practical stunts and 12-minute single-take fight scene drew comparisons to The Raid. While Pantera leaned into heist realism, Carry-On embraced B-movie fun, proving high-concept action still sells.
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Counterattack’s Mexican Flair
Counterattack (22M views) fused Sicario’s cartel brutality with Fast & Furious vehicular mayhem. Mexico’s answer to Den of Thieves, it followed a rogue federal agent (Gael García Bernal) dismantling a drug empire.
Critics hailed its grounded shootouts and moral ambiguity, though its runtime of two hours and 11 minutes tested patience. Like Pantera, it balanced crime drama with set-piece spectacle, but its local flavor (Spanish dialogue, Mexico City setting) made it a crossover hit.
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The Recruit’s Season 2 Win
Noah Centineo’s The Recruit returned to #2 (5.9M views) as Netflix’s Gen-Z Bourne. The CIA-lawyer hybrid mixed legal drama with globe-trotting spy action, though critics called it “Suits with grenades.”
Its self-aware humor (e.g., Centineo’s “I Google everything” quips) resonated with younger viewers. While Pantera targeted older fans, The Recruit proved espionage can be playful.
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SAKAMOTO DAYS’ Anime Rise
The anime SAKAMOTO DAYS debuted at #2 in non-English TV (8.6M views), adapting the hit manga about a retired assassin dragged back into the underworld.
Its slick animation (by Jujutsu Kaisen’s studio) and John Wick-meets-Kill Bill action made it 2025’s breakout anime. Unlike Pantera’s live-action grit, it embraced over-the-top sword fights and dark comedy.
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Den of Thieves’ Future
Director Christian Gudegast teased a third film with a To Live and Die in L.A. vibe, possibly pitting Butler’s Big Nick against a new crew.
Pantera’s $ 200 M+ streaming haul ensures a sequel, though casting rumors (e.g., Gomorrah’s Salvatore Esposito returning) remain unconfirmed. Fans hope for more European heists, perhaps a Venice casino robbery?
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2025’s Action Trends
Gritty heists (Pantera), spy reboots (Back in Action), and anime action (SAKAMOTO DAYS) ruled 2025, but let’s not forget The Gorge, the sci-fi action romance that sneaked in like a wildcard with its blend of love and laser guns.
Audiences favored practical stunts over CGI (Carry-On’s single-take brawls) and moral complexity (Counterattack’s gray villains), proving even Netflix’s riskier bets can pay off. And with 7 of their top 10 action films being non-English, the streamer’s shift toward international flair screams ‘post-Hollywood era’ louder than ever.
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Last Updated: May 19, 2025
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