The popularity of streaming platforms has increased exponentially, and that means streamers like Disney+ are in a battle for viewers. As the main source for all things House of Mouse, Disney+ went online in November 2019 with many of the key family-friendly films from the Disney catalog, as well as Marvel and Star Wars. Since then, more action films have been added to lure in older viewers. As a result, Disney+ now has plenty of choices for action movie fans.
Disney+ now offers an extensive amount of variety. There are National Geographic nature documentaries, the Star Wars franchise, and Disney’s classic fairytales. For viewers seeking something upbeat, suspenseful, and jam-packed with action sequences, Disney+ will have you covered. As mentioned before, with Star Wars and Marvel all under the Disney umbrella, Disney+ does not fall short in the action category. Here is our ranking of some of the best action movies to watch on Disney+.
Updated on September 27th, 2023, by Neville Naidoo: This article has been updated with additional content to keep the discussion fresh and relevant with even more information and new entries.
20 The Rocketeer (1991)
When it was released in the summer of 1991, The Rocketeer earned lukewarm reviews from critics and was a moderate hit at the box office. In the following years, however, the film has found its audience, who appreciate the film's sense of adventure and the backdrop of 1930s Los Angeles. Based on the Dave Stevens comic, the film follows a daring young pilot (Billy Campbell) who finds a jetpack and uses it to foil a Nazi spy ring.
The film is directed by Joe Johnston, who would go on to direct Jumanji and Captain America: The First Avenger, and features some outstanding action sequences, including a finale aboard an exploding blimp. While the film as a whole doesn't soar as high as its jetpack-powered hero, The Rocketeer retains a certain charm, and it's a memorable entry from the pre-CGI era of comic book action films.
19 Swiss Family Robinson (1960)
Walt Disney ventured into live-action films in 1950, adapting several classic adventure novels. In 1960, he brought Johann David Wyss' novel Swiss Family Robinson to life, which told the story of a family shipwrecked on a remote island in the South Pacific.
The action gets going with the opening credits, which feature a stormy shipwreck, and peak in a rousing final battle against a horde of pirates attacking the Robinsons' home. Directed by Ken Annakin (The Longest Day), the film boasts gorgeous Panavision shots of the island of Tobago and lots of exotic animals, in a prime example of classic Disney movie making.
18 The Narnia Films (2005-2010)
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The classic fantasy book series by C.S. Lewis finally received the big-screen treatment - at least for the first three books - beginning with 2005's The Chronicles of Narnia: The Lion, The WItch, and The Wardrobe. The story involves four siblings from World War II-era London, who discover magical land inside an old wardrobe, where mythical creatures led by the noble lion Aslan (voice of Liam Neeson) battle an evil witch (perfectly played by Tilda Swinton).
The sequel, 2008's Prince Caspian, is the most action-packed of the Narnia trilogy, featuring the story of a banished prince (Ben Barnes) who wages war to claim Narnia's throne from his corrupt uncle. 2010's The Voyage of the Dawn Treader went far heavier into the fantasy element, a likely response to the Harry Potter films. All three films are available to stream.
17 John Carter (2012)
One of Disney's most notorious film flops is a pretty entertaining sci-fi action flick that deserves a second look. Based on the Edgar Rice Burroughs books, John Carter tells the story of a Civil War veteran (Taylor Kitsch) who is whisked away to Mars.
There he joins forces with Princess Dejah Thoris (Lynn Collins) in a war to rule the planet. Directed by Andrew Stanton, the film features a great performance by Kitsch and some outstanding special effects and creature designs.
16 The X-Men Films (2000-2020)
You won't find all the X-Men films on Disney+, but if you need a Marvel mutant fix, Disney+ has several options. They include 2006's X-Men: The Last Stand, the final chapter of the original trilogy led by Patrick Stewart (as Professor X) and Hugh Jackman (as Wolverine), featuring some outstanding action scenes and the scene-stealing Juggernaut (played by Vinnie Jones). You can also watch 2016's X-Men: Apocalypse, the last X-film directed by Bryan Singer and the third prequel film in the "soft reboot" of the franchise, featuring younger versions of the X-Men.
Disney+ also offers X-Men: Dark Phoenix (2019), the final X-Men film featuring James McAvoy and Jennifer Lawrence, and The New Mutants(2020), a spinoff set in the X-Men cinematic universe. If you want more Hugh Jackman/Wolverine action, you're in luck, as his standalone films are also on our list.
15 Captain America: The Winter Soldier (2014)
Arguably the best film in the Marvel Cinematic Universe, Captain America: The Winter Soldier is much more than a superhero movie. It's a smart, briskly-paced mix of a spy film, conspiracy film, and action film all in one.
Christopher Markus and Stephen McFeely adapted the hit storyline from the comics. Directed by the Russo Brothers, the film finds Captain America (Chris Evans) and Black Widow (Scarlett Johansson) teaming up to take down a notorious assassin (Sebastian Stan), exposing a vast conspiracy.
14 The National Treasure Films (2004-2007)
Who knew stealing old paper could be so much fun? 2004's National Treasure is an action-adventure wrapped in a history lesson, and it holds up as a wildly entertaining movie two decades later. It turned out to be the perfect vehicle for Nicholas Cage's persona, and a film that felt like the spiritual successor to Raiders of the Lost Ark. Cage plays Benjamin Franklin Gates, a treasure hunter who has to steal the Declaration of Independence to protect a secret Templar treasure.
In the sequel, National Treasure: Book of Secrets, Gates kidnaps the President and breaks into Buckingham Palace, all to clear his family name and find another treasure. Cage's The Rock co-star Ed Harris joins the cast, as does Helen Mirren, in a globe-trotting film that travels to The White House, Mount Vernon, Buckingham Palace, the Library of Congress, and Mount Rushmore.
13 Star Wars: The Force Awakens (2015)
Action movies are a common genre in big-budget entertainment. However, action in space? It's a yes from us. Star Wars is one of the most popular movie and TV franchises of all time. With Disney expanding the universe through shows and new films, we have to show some love to Star Wars: The Force Awakens as a must-watch action movie.
The Force Awakens came out in 2015 and introduced the universe to Rey, played by Daisy Ridley. Loyal fans of the Star Wars franchise know how great this movie is, and it is available to watch on Disney+.
12 Thor: Ragnarok (2017)
Round of applause for one of the best movies Marvel has ever created. Thor: Ragnarok is a masterpiece of a film. Directed by Taika Waititi, this 2017 film brought new life to the Thor movie franchise.
In this movie, we follow Thor, Loki, Hulk, and Valkyrie as they try to fight their way off Sakaar and get back to Asgard and save the people from the wrath of Hela, Thor and Loki's long-lost sister. The film's tentpole action sequence, the battle between Thor and a Gladiator-like Hulk, is one of the best fights in the entire MCU. This film is witty, hilarious, heartfelt, and a new and improved version of Thor and his movies.
11 20,000 Leagues Under the Sea (1954)
This 1954 classic still ranks among Disney's greatest live-action films. 20,000 Leagues Under the Sea, based on the novel by Jules Verne, stars James Mason as Nemo, the mad but brilliant captain of the submarine Nautilus.
Kirk Douglas plays the rebellious sailor Ned Land, and he's joined by Paul Lukas and Peter Lorre as captives on Nemo's boat and witnesses to his reign of terror on the high seas. The infamous sea battle against a giant squid that attacks the Nautilus is an iconic action sequence.
10 Logan (2017)
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Saying goodbye to heroes we love is tough. Hugh Jackman has taken the role of Wolverine by storm and has brought the character to life with ease. Logan brings Jackman's Wolverine story to a close, and it is emotional.
Grab your tissues because Logan is a wild ride with your typical superhero action sequences as well as quiet emotional moments that make this one of the most well-rounded modern superhero movies out there.
9 Guardians of the Galaxy (2014)
Disney+ has pretty much every MCU project you could desire. Every movie or show in the franchise has action scenes attached to it. Guardians of the Galaxy is in a league of its own. The team of Star-Lord, Gamora, Rocket, Groot, Drax, and Mantis captured all of our hearts.
Unlike most of the MCU, Guardians of the Galaxy leaned into the bright colors, huge personalities, and humor. Both Guardians of the Galaxy movies are easy choices if you're looking for action films to watch.
8 The Pirates of the Caribbean Films (2003-2017)
The iconic Disneyland ride came to life in 2003 with Pirates of the Caribbean: The Curse of the Black Pearl, a live-action adventure starring Johnny Depp as Captain Jack Sparrow (Perhaps you've heard of him?), the not-so-successful pirate on a quest to regain his lost ship, The Black Pearl. Standing in his way is his nemesis Barbossa (Geoffrey Rush), the British Royal Navy, and some cursed Aztec gold. Director Gore Verbinski's swashbuckling adventure is surprisingly dark and violent, although the humor adds a lighter element, and is still a great film two decades later.
A string of successful sequels followed, all with Depp in the lead. They included Dead Man's Chest in 2006 (with Bill Nighy in a fantastic motion-capture performance as Davy Jones), 2007's At World's End, 2011's On Stranger Tides (with Ian McShane as Blackbeard and Penelope Cruz as his daughter), and 2017's Dead Men Tell No Tales (with Javier Bardem as the villain). All five films are available to stream on Disney+.
7 The Deadpool Movies (2016-2018)
It's still hard to believe that Deadpool, the comic book movie with the hardest of R ratings, is actually on Disney+ alongside episodes of Bluey. The Merc-With-A-Mouth is an essential member of the Marvel universe, however, so both of his films are here, with every dismembered limb and tiny hand in 4K Ultra High Definition and Dolby Vision, no less. Profane, ultra-violent, and endlessly hilarious, the films are carried by Ryan Reynolds' perfect casting and sarcastic performance. The action is over-the-top and highly stylized, but it's among the best in any Marvel film.
Deadpool is an origin story that finds mercenary Wade Wilson (Reynolds) transformed into an indestructible killing machine and embarking on a path of revenge with Colossus (Stefan Kapicic) and a moody super-powered teenager (a scene-stealing Brianna Hildebrand). There's even Gina Carano (The Mandalorian) striking a superhero landing, to boot. Deadpool 2 ups the action ante, with the addition of fan-favorite characters Cable (Josh Brolin) and Domino (Zazie Beetz). The sequel is the film to see if you need an action fix. Who can resist a fight scene where Deadpool slashes bad guys while Dolly Parton's "9 to 5" tickles your ears? It's pure magic.
6 Black Panther (2016)
Black Panther is a stand-out Marvel film. The late Chadwick Boseman brought something special to this hero. Black Panther made his MCU debut in Captain America: Civil War. However, as badass as the King of Wakanda was in that film, his first solo film was everything we could have ever wanted and more.
The technology, the characters, the costume, and the set design? Immaculate. With Michael B. Jordan playing the haunting villain Killmonger in the action-adventure film, Black Panther is still a phenomenal watch.
5 The Avatar Films (2009-2022)
James Cameron's landmark fantasy films Avatar (2009) and Avatar: The Way of Water (2022) tell a story of war on the planet Pandora, where a peace-loving alien race called the Na'vi find their existence threatened by greedy Earth corporations, as they tend to do.
The first film was heavy on allegory, which featured Sam Worthington as ex-soldier Jake Sully, whose conscience pulls him to take the side of the Na'vi in a war over resources. The sequel The Way of Water is more of a character-driven film, as the peace on Pandora is interrupted and Sully's family pays the price for his past choices.
4 Star Wars: Episode IV: A New Hope (1977)
Any Star Wars fan that says Episode IV: A New Hope is their favorite, we understand. It really is just that good. The entire franchise as a whole is an experience, but it all began when A New Hope came out in 1977.
In this film, Darth Vader and the Imperial Forces are holding Princess Leia hostage. This movie captured everything we love about the Star Wars movies and then some. Therefore, this movie with its action sequences in mind, is a great choice for a Disney+ action movie.
3 The Avengers Movies (2012-2019)
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All 4 of the Avengers movies should have a spotlight. of this list, we are going to include them all in one. The Avengers movies are a turning point for Marvel phases. 2012's The Avengers, Avengers: Age of Ultron, Avengers: Infinity War, and Avengers: Endgame are some of the best superhero movies ever made.
The journey we see all the heroes go on leads up to those pivotal moments that define the characters' futures as they battle bigger and newer foes. If we have to choose a favorite, Infinity War hits the mark for Marvel fans. However, you can't go wrong with any of these in terms of action, adventure, and bravery.
2 Star Wars: Episode V: The Empire Strikes Back (1980)
Star Wars: Episode V: The Empire Strikes Back is impeccable. Do we have to say more? This movie is the peak of what Star Wars is all about and is rightfully many fans' favorite in the entire franchise.
In this installment in the iconic franchise, Luke, Han Solo, Leia, and Chewbacca take on the galaxy far far away as they face Imperial forces. Also, this movie included the most recognizable line in movie history: "I am your father."
1 The Indiana Jones Films (1984-2008)
The original theatrical poster for Indiana Jones and the Temple of Doom (1984) proclaims "If adventure has a name, it must be Indiana Jones." Today, more than 40 years after the release of Raiders of the Lost Ark (1981), that tagline is still true. The film series starring Harrison Ford as the swashbuckling archeologist didn't just resurrect the action-adventure film, it became the gold standard that few films have equaled.
Created by George Lucas and with Steven Spielberg directing the first four films, the Indiana Jones series is defined by its iconic action set-pieces and thrilling practical stunts. With each film offering outstanding casts and an intriguing McGuffin for Indy to hunt down, action junkies can't make a bad choice when picking out a film to stream. Disney+ currently offers four of the five films, with Raiders and Temple of Doom joined by Indiana Jones and the Last Crusade (1989) and Indiana Jones and the Kingdom of the Crystal Skull (2008).
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