10 Best Action Shows Streaming On Netflix Right Now

We like to think of ourselves as lovers, not fighters, but isn't it fun to watch people fighting on screen? The action genre gets us pumped up from the comfort of our living rooms, delivering propulsive thrills that make it hard to defy the Netflix autoplay. Indeed, Netflix in particular has proved itself to be a reliable purveyor of action fare, offering up hit series, underrated gems, animated classics, and thrilling content from around the globe.

The best action series, on Netflix and elsewhere, feature a combination of high-octane fight scenes mixed with compelling characters and interpersonal drama. After all, in order to become invested in the outcome of a duel or battle, we need to care about the characters involved in the fight. All of the shows on this list succeed in balancing those two obligations, providing gripping hours of television for your viewing pleasure. Strap in, because these are the 10 best action shows streaming on Netflix right now.

"The Night Agent" has been a massive hit for Netflix, dominating the Nielsen charts and resisting the Netflix cancelation curse. Gabriel Basso plays Peter Sutherland, an FBI agent who finds himself with the odd job of answering mysterious phone calls in the White House basement. While answering one of these calls, Peter gets wrapped up in the case of two Night Agents — essentially spies — and their niece, Rose Larkin (Luciane Buchanan), a tech founder.

Peter is tasked with protecting Rose and ferreting out a mole in the U.S. government, a mission that puts their lives in grave jeopardy. In the following seasons, Peter continues his work for the government, doing clandestine spy activities while questioning circumstances that don't feel right. Once again, he's forced to go on the run while he tries to work out who he can trust and protect the nation from a deadly terrorist attack.

Basso's Peter makes a compelling protagonist. He's earnest and straightforward, but not overly trusting. He's charming enough but not a charmer — you feel like you can trust him. He has great chemistry with Rose, who is understandably frustrated by his insistence on always putting his life on the line to fight the bad guys. The action sequences are riveting and surprising, and the ins and outs of the spy narratives will keep you guessing.

"Cobra Kai" is one of Netflix's most surprising success stories. A television sequel to "The Karate Kid" that centers on middle-aged dads trying to connect with their kids, the series aired on YouTube Premium for its first two seasons before being picked up by Netflix for Seasons 3 through 6. 

William Zabka reprises his role as Johnny Lawrence, the rich blonde kid that Daniel LaRusso (Ralph Macchio) defeats in the climactic final fight in "The Karate Kid." Since then, Johnny's life hasn't been great. He works odd jobs as a handyman, drinks too much, and doesn't have a good relationship with his son. An encounter with a local kid inspires him to reopen his karate school, Cobra Kai, and get his mojo back. Meanwhile, Daniel runs a successful car dealership and is coasting off his teenage success. While Johnny attempts his very own redemption story, Daniel responds by opening a dojo of his own, and the pair become rivals once again.

This sequel does more than just wax nostalgic. The performances in "Cobra Kai" are great, and Zabka is a standout. He makes Johnny vulnerable despite his gruff demeanor, turning him into a character you can root for. The show is silly, and it knows it's silly. Still, the dynamics between the players here are engaging, and the key themes — legacy, redemption, and empowerment — are well-explored. The fight scenes are a total blast, and the show cleverly mixes karate action with '80s-inspired cheese and melodrama.

"Black Doves" finally gives period piece mainstay Keira Knightley a chance to kick ass in the present day, and in an exciting British spy series, no less. Knightley plays Helen Webb, a spy working for a shady international organization. As part of a deep cover operation, she's married to the secretary of state for defence, but has also been having an affair. When her lover is assassinated, Helen sets out to find the truth, which puts her in more danger than ever. Thankfully, Helen is joined by her best friend Sam (Ben Whishaw), a retired hitman sent by Helen's mysterious boss (Sarah Lancashire).

The relationship between Helen and Sam is the heart of "Black Doves." Knightley and Wishaw have wonderful, lived-in chemistry that adds levity to an otherwise tense story. Though the series is driven by a spy narrative, it's more character-focused than many shows of this ilk, as Helen's motivations and shifting loyalties are at the forefront. Sam also has a fascinating backstory that gets explored, and the consequences of Helen and Sam's deception aren't overlooked.

We love all the action sequences in "Black Dove," as they have a brutal intensity to them that raises the stakes. A fight between Helen and one of her assassins in the kitchen as they try to quietly kill each other without waking the children sleeping upstairs is a highlight.

Though "Warrior Nun" was canceled by Netflix after two seasons, it's still worth watching. Sort of like a Catholic version of "Buffy the Vampire Slayer," "Warrior Nun" follows Ava (Alba Baptista), a quadriplegic orphan who regains the use of her limbs and gets supernatural abilities when an angel's halo is stuck in her back. The halo belongs to a group of warrior nuns, though Ava is hesitant to join them in their fight against evil due to her negative experiences with the Catholic Church.

Based on a graphic novel series by Ben Dunn, "Warrior Nun" is a heady piece of theology mixed with rip-roaring action and backed by a charming cast. Baptista shines in the lead role, playing a young woman who's reveling in her freedom and (understandably) not thrilled to be the Chosen One. Ava and her fellow warrior nuns have great chemistry, and their various dynamics are the best part of the series.

Season 1 ends with a climactic, epic battle between the forces of good and evil, and Season 2 is an improvement. It hones in on the importance of the relationship between the nuns, particularly Ava and Sister Beatrice (Kristina Tonteri-Young). With its massive, philosophically oriented scope, "Warrior Nun" is at its best when it focuses on how theology functions within individual people.

Based on the historical novels "The Saxon Stories" by Bernard Cornwell, "The Last Kingdom" was originally a BBC production before moving to Netflix for its final three seasons. Set in the 9th century, the series centers on a great culture clash. Alexander Dreymon plays Uhtred of Bebbanburg, a native Saxon noble who was kidnapped by the Danes and raised as a Viking. Trapped between two cultures, Uhtred is forced to decide which side he's on when the Anglo-Saxons and the Vikings go to war.

"The Last Kingdom" balances gritty fighting and historical realism with existential angst and intriguing character growth. Uhtred's struggle is engaging, and Dreymon plays him with an effective mix of determination and guilt. As much about identity as it is about large-scale conflict, "The Last Kingdom" is an intense show that highlights this period's griminess and brutality. It may appeal to fans of "Game of Thrones," but it swaps out fantasy elements for something rougher and more realistic.

In fact, "Game of Thrones" writer George R. R. Martin counts "The Last Kingdom" among his favorites. "The show has a great look to it, all mud and blood and dark age squalor. The writing and acting are both first rate," the author wrote on his blog.

"Kingdom" is one of the best K-dramas ever made, and it revitalizes the bloated zombie genre by imagining undead flesh-eaters in an unusual context. The series takes place in 17th-century South Korea, during the fallout of the Imjin War against Japan. Lee Chang (Ju Ji-hoon) is a crown prince faced with a terrifying existential threat. A mysterious disease has begun spreading across the kingdom, turning the infected into monstrous, cannibalistic creatures. Chang is the illegitimate son of the recently bedridden king, and while trying to put a stop to this deadly outbreak, he also contends with those who wish to see him dead and take the throne for themselves.

"Kingdom" is an intriguing mix of genres, combining period piece trappings with horror movie scares and bloodcurdling action. It's also a political thriller, as Chang fights for his survival in more ways than one. The zombie mythology is fascinating, and it doesn't skimp on gore. But "Kingdom" is also hauntingly beautiful. The cinematography is evocative, as the bleak countryside contrasts magically with the colorful, shapely costume design. The show's genre-bending elements mean the narrative never feels tired, nor does the series overlook the horrors of contagion, political violence, or class warfare.

"Blue Eye Samurai" is one of the most gorgeously rendered shows on Netflix, animated or not. Created by husband-and-wife duo Michael Green and Amber Noizumi, the series follows mixed-race samurai Mizu (Maya Erskine) as she traverses 17th-century Japan on a mission of revenge. Born to a Japanese mother and a white father during the Edo period, when outsiders were strictly forbidden, blue-eyed Mizu is seen as monstrous by her peers. She's also spent years masquerading as a man, trained as a samurai by a blind swordmaker (voiced by the great Cary-Hiroyuki Tagawa). With only four white men left in Japan, Mizu intends to kill the lot of them, regardless of which one is actually her father.

The animation in "Blue Eye Samurai" is breathtaking. A mix of 2D and 3D animation, the visuals are both artistic and strikingly realistic. The backdrops look like paintings, while the bloody fight scenes are as graceful as they are brutal. While spellbinding battles are one of the show's primary draws, the series never loses track of the importance of character. Mizu is an indomitable, focused hero, surrounded by a colorful cast of supporting players who bring a bit of levity to the series. The show features an amazing array of voice actors giving these characters life, including Kenneth Branagh as a white villain, Brenda Song as a wayward princess, Randall Park as a slimy crime boss, and legends Ming-Na Wen and George Takei.

A continuation of Guy Ritchie's 2019 film of the same name, "The Gentlemen" stars Theo James as Eddie Halstead, an Army captain who comes from a family of blue bloods. When his father dies, Eddie becomes the heir to the family's estate, rather than his coked-out, unreliable older brother, Freddy (Daniel Ings). In addition to being a duke, Eddie learns that his family's property is home to an enormous cannabis operation run by the glamorous, savvy Susie (Kaya Scodelario) and her incarcerated father, Bobby Glass (Ray Winstone). Thrown into the criminal underworld, Eddie is forced to deal with figures like Stanley Johnston (Giancarlo Esposito), the American billionaire who wants to buy the family's property, and the unhinged Liverpudlians whom Freddy owes money.

The TV series is an improvement on Ritchie's film, maintaining the director's signature zaniness while exploring the characters more deeply. James' Eddie is our entry point to this world, and he takes all the chaos in stride, rarely breaking a sweat or betraying any anxiety about his new circumstances. One gets the sense that he would make a pretty successful gangster. James has great chemistry with Scodelario, who is a deliciously sly criminal. The violence is gleefully gratuitous, and the fight scenes have an exaggerated quality that heightens their entertainment value. Season 2 takes a darker turn into criminality and depravity, but doesn't lose sight of the series' zippy, fun take on gangsterdom.

The conspiracy-based K-Drama "Vagabond" features political intrigue and rip-roaring action that should please fans of the genre. Lee Seung-gi plays Cha Dal-gun, a stunt performer raising his nephew (Moon Woo-jin). When his nephew dies in a plane crash en route to Morocco, Cha travels there for the funeral. However, he begins to suspect that the plane crash was not an accident. Intent on getting to the bottom of things, he teams up with a South Korean National Intelligence operative (K-Pop star Bae Suzy) to uncover a web of lies and secrets.

Thankfully, considering its protagonist's profession, "Vagabond" features thrilling fight scenes and some inspired stunt work. The international locations add visual appeal, and there's also a love story thrown in there to appease romance-hungry K-Drama fans. But the primary focus is on the overarching conspiracy and the mystery Cha intends to solve. However, a fair warning: The show ends on a cliffhanger, and Season 2 never materialized. Still, the political intrigue that the characters become embroiled in is plenty entertaining, and the action sequences are worth digging into.

"Arcane" is one of the very best TV shows based on video games. Adapted from the "League of Legends" series, the show follows estranged sisters Vi (voiced by Hailee Steinfeld) and Jinx (voiced by "Fallout" star Ella Purnell). This steampunk world is defined by class conflict, represented by the tension between the wealthy city of Piltover and its impoverished underbelly, Zaun. The orphaned sisters find themselves on opposite ends of this conflict, torn apart by war and the tragedy of their circumstances. Hextech, a dangerous blend of technology and arcane magic, threatens to destroy both worlds.

The show is beautifully animated, emphasizing the distinction between Piltover and Zaun with detail-oriented worldbuilding and background art. The constant fighting in the video game is given an emotional center here, as the devastating effects of war and class conflict take center stage. The voice acting is phenomenal, and action fans will appreciate the dynamic fight scenes. The animation style, which combines 2D and 3D animation, highlights both the show's more emotional beats and adds color and dimension to the action. You needn't be familiar with the game to enjoy the show, which explores characters with complex motivations and backstories fighting to stay alive in a most inhospitable world.