Best Action Movie of 2020

Many of us might've been stuck at home for most of 2020, but that doesn't mean our movie heroes weren't getting busy with their usual range of car chases/pyrotechnics/martial arts/super-being fighting, and so on. We got the return of the Bad Boys, Mulan's jump to live-action, Christ Hemsworth's exploits in Extraction, and so much more this past year in the realm of action.

This is our best action movie of 2020.

Best Action Movie of 2020 Winner: Birds of Prey (and the Fantabulous Emancipation of One Harley Quinn)

Much like its central character, Birds of Prey (and the Fantabulous Emancipation of One Harley Quinn) is a riot - an anarchic glitterbomb of lunacy that boasts some of the most inventive fight sequences ever seen in a comic book movie. Its zany energy and emphasis on Harley Quinn makes for a stunning showcase for Margot Robbie, who commands the screen and gives her damaged protagonist all the dimension she deserves. In the capable hands of producer/star Robbie, director Cathy Yan, and writer Christina Hodson, Birds of Prey allows us to see Harley at her most liberated; a trickster goddess who undoubtedly creates more messes than she cleans up, but one who is no patsy, despite spending years in thrall to her green-haired puddin’.

For more, check out our full Birds of Prey review!

Check out all our nominations below.

Best Action Movie of 2020

Click through the gallery above or scroll down for the full list!

Bad Boys for Life

Bad Boys for Life offers silly, savage, and sometimes completely unbelievable R-rated action. The film works to build out the existing world of the franchise whilst delivering fan service moments, classic character callbacks, and a chance for stars Martin Lawrence and Will Smith to ride again. The action hits its wild stride in the third act and completely commits to all-out war, and while this probably won't be the last time that the Bad Boys ride, it would be a totally acceptable send-off to an action franchise that is still flying the flag for the old days of bombastic blockbuster fare.

For more, check out our full Bad Boys for Life review!

Birds of Prey (and the Fantabulous Emancipation of One Harley Quinn)

For more, check out our full Birds of Prey review!

Extraction

Extraction works because its simple, yet sufficient, story allows the film's action to take center stage. If the stunt work were mediocre, the entire thing would be an utter waste of time. Thankfully though, Extraction boasts an exhaustingly awesome showcase of expertly choreographed fists, knives, guns, and explosions. If you enjoyed the hard-hitting showdowns between Bucky and Steve in the Captain America films, you'll dig this flick.

For more, check out our full Extraction review!

Mulan

With sweeping scale, spectacular action, and a dynamic lead in Yifei Liu, Disney’s live-action Mulan updates the original in surprising, mostly effective ways while still maintaining the spirit of its predecessor, making it the most confident Disney remake yet.

For more, check out our full Mulan review!

The Old Guard

The Old Guard is a run-of-the-mill genre action movie at first glance that becomes so much more once you dive in. Charlize Theron delivers an excellent performance as Andy, a hardened, flawed, and complicated character who leads a team of undying mercenaries, each with their own intriguing backstories that go back hundreds of years. That these immortal mercs use bladed weapons from their original time along with modern firearms adds some flair to the action scenes - and the whole team fighting together is an absolute blast to watch.

For more, check out our full The Old Guard review!