At some point, you’ve probably imagined yourself in an action movie – strong, fearless, and standing tall. You’re donning the coolest action hero outfit, saying things like “Go ahead, make my day”, driving motorcycles or running from car explosions in slow motion. You’re taking part in car chases and chasing bad guys (or getting chased by them, but that’s probably not what you have in mind when daydreaming on a Tuesday afternoon).
If you enjoy fights, blasts, and a good chase scene, you probably love action flicks for the adrenaline rush. It’s a good thing there’s an endless list of blockbusters made to entertain and keep you on the edge of your seat.
The rise of streaming TV also means that it’s easier to watch every major and classic action movie now more than ever. Thanks to streaming services with generous free trials, you can even gain instant access for free. Here, we’ll share the best action movies you can watch online with a free streaming trial.
What’s in this Guide
What Are the Best Action Movies of All Time and Where Can You Stream Them?
The best action movies have typically stood the test of time, proving to be ultimate favourites years or even decades after they were released. In the action movie genre, which produces hundreds of massive blockbusters, there are certain titles that we don’t mind watching repeatedly, which is why they’ve earned the name “classics”.
Fortunately for fans, the film industry worldwide provides many exciting action movies for us to enjoy. Are you looking for the greatest action movies to ever grace the screen, guns blazing? Here are just some of our top action movie motion pictures.
The Terminator & Terminator 2: Judgment Day
The Terminator franchise has grown into a massive one ever since The Terminator was released in 1984. Its 1991 follow-up, Terminator 2: Judgment Day, raised the bar even more, showcasing Sarah Connor’s biceps. We also get to watch Arnold Schwarzenegger play the father-figure robot to Edward Furlong’s John Connor.
Even better, Robert Patrick’s austere but wicked portrayal of the death machine T-1000 helps accomplish a glorious showdown – a gratifying ending for action movie fans.
Die Hard
The first Die Hard movie revels in its epic action scenes, thrilling conflicts, interesting villains, incredible sense of humour, and, of course, Bruce Willis’ John McClane. That’s pretty much of it. It’s the kind of movie you must experience firsthand to understand its enduring charm. If you’re really into it, you can even check out the video game version of this engaging film.
Mad Max: Fury Road
A newer entry in the “best of all time” list, Mad Max: Fury Road showcases long, gripping chase scenes set against the backdrop of a desert wasteland. Its impressive cinematography delivers one of the wildest car carnage we’ve seen on the screen.
The highest-grossing Mad Max movie, Fury Road, also received Academy Award nominations for Best Picture, Best Director, and Best Cinematography.
The Spy Who Loved Me
Adopting the same name as Ian Fleming’s novel The Spy Who Loved Me, this movie epitomises the action genre. The renowned protagonist secret agent James Bond faces an antagonist with an intriguing backstory and must overcome this megalomaniac to thwart his apocalyptic plans.
Though we may have recently seen Casino Royale, produced by Sony Pictures and starring Daniel Craig, The Spy Who Loved Me is more of a classic. It makes this list of the best action and spy movies of all time, thanks to its thrilling car chase scenes, undercover agent infamous villains, and shootouts that will have you on the edge of your seat.
Crouching Tiger Hidden Dragon
Crouching Tiger Hidden Dragon is renowned for its martial arts action and fast-paced sword-slicing scenes. It is one of the timeless martial arts movies based on the Crouching Tiger, Hidden Dragon novel by Wang Dulu.
Full of gripping scenes, the film portrays the mission of protagonist Master Li as he attempts to recover his sword from a young warrior in China. This movie made martial arts a global phenomenon. The perfect blend of action, kung fu fight choreography, master class hand to hand combat and romance, and phenomenal stunt work makes this movie one to add to your watchlist.
Indiana Jones and the Raiders of the Lost Ark
Steven Spielberg directs this well-known action film, Indiana Jones and the Raiders of the Lost Ark, in which unprecedented own stunts and fight scenes unfold before your eyes.
With a touch of adventure and a sense of mystery, Indiana Jones seeks to find the eponymous biblical artefact and overcome his enemies as he does so. It’s a movie in which Steven Spielberg sets the gold standard for enticing action.
Star Wars: Episode V – The Empire Strikes Back
In this action outer space war movie, science fiction meets action and suspense. Star Wars: Episode V – The Empire Strikes Back depicts the ongoing fight between the Galactic Empire and the Rebel Alliance, a gripping tale of resistance and adventure.
Training scenes in preparation for the war, a meeting of heroes and villains and unknown worlds all converge in this action-packed film produced by George Lucas and directed by Irvin Kershner. It portrays fast-paced battle scenes between opposing forces and memorable characters played by Harrison Ford and Carrie Fisher.
Police Story
This action-crime comedy film offers a little bit of everything. Plot twists, undercover police, drug smuggling and humorous moments. Jackie Chan, playing a good cop in a police squad, must absolve himself of blame after his rival antagonist, a drug lord, frames him for a dirty cop’s murder.
Though he is a man falsely accused of this wrongdoing, he aims to fix the situation in his own brand of revenge. This great film offers edge-of-your-seat action and suspense, so it’s worth watching.
The Godfather
Starring Robert De Niro, the Godfather is a suspenseful action movie with complex characters. It tells the story of the Corleone family, a mafia dynasty, and bad guy, crime lord Don Vito, who passes his empire to Michael in the movie’s first half.
The family is exposed to threats and danger as this epic story plays out in a fully-fledged dramatic style, delivering thrills. Ensure you catch the next two films to understand the conclusion of this action-packed epic.
What Are Some Brand New Action Movies to Stream Online and where Can You Find Them?
With greater technology available for visual effects, the action films of the 21st century are filled with impressive visual displays, edge-of-your-seat action sequences, and many elements that make watching action movies even more entertaining.
Here are some remarkable action films that have recently graced the screens. We share a couple of top contemporary movies, each with an unforgettable high point released in the 2010s and 2000s.
The Dark Knight Rises
The Dark Knight Rises is full of action, revealing the story of Bruce Wayne or Batman, as he reemerges from his exiled state and becomes the masked superhero once more.
Coerced into working against Anne Hathaway and Bane, Wayne (Christian Bale) must try to end the disruption of peace in Gotham City. This film is thoroughly engaging with some of the greatest action sequences.
Avengers: Infinity War
Avengers: Infinity War is perhaps one movie that used one of the largest budgets in movie history. Its special effects and incredible cast will grip you, and its story, though best enjoyed as alongside the many other Marvel movies, including Avengers Endgame and Marvel universe, will get your adrenaline pumping with excitement, especially the final thrilling sequence.
This shouldn’t be the first film you watch in the Marvel series. Still, you will enjoy the action scenes as the intergalactic villain Thanos attempts to gather all the infinity stones, a lethal weapon with extraordinary power.
At one point, we’re not sure how it will end. But during this struggle for power and the climactic battle, the Avengers and real life superhero characters such as Captain America and Spider-Man aim to stop Thanos and maintain peace and harmony.
The Bourne Ultimatum
There are three films in the Bourne series. In this movie, Jason Bourne (Matt Damon) must avoid assassination and pursuit by a CIA deputy’s team in this fast-paced, exciting action film – the third movie. Though he had lost his memory, he must avoid being gunned down by expertly trained killers.
As he fights to determine his real identity, Bourne makes it his goal to make his pursuers extinct and survive in the cat and mouse chase process. It’s the perfect follow-up to the Bourne Identity and Supremacy.
Top Gun: Maverick
Starring Tom Cruise, Top Gun Maverick is a gripping action movie. Though we know Cruise for his role in Mission Impossible Fallout and, recently, Tropic Thunder, he makes Top Gun: Maverick, the second film in the Top Gun series, an unmissable movie and box office hit in which he performs his own stunts.
Test pilot Pete Maverick trains his team of young men and graduates and prepares to face a challenging mission while facing his ghosts and demons.
Black Panther: Wakanda Forever
As the world powers strive to make their mark on and intervene in the Wakandan nation’s way of life, the Wakandans must rise to the challenge to fully protect and defend their home. There is a real sense of threat to the Wakandans.
The result is that this is one of the Marvel movies and superhero films that will not disappoint, offering action and dramatic battle scenes as well as an epic story and a climactic showdown.
The Woman King
This historical action movie tells the story of a group of female warriors, the only female warrior army, who must defend the Oyo empire and liberate women who have been enslaved. As General Nanisca faces her past ghosts, she looks for unique ways to ensure her home kingdom remains free of enslavement.
The Unbearable Weight of Massive Talent
In this action movie, Nick Cage, played by Nicolas Cage, has to attend a superfan’s birthday – the fan is a dangerous threat, but Cage must attend the event for which he will receive $1 million. As the scenes play out, CIA operative Vivian recruits him to protect those he loves and himself. This is an action movie available on Netflix.
Bullet Train
Brad Pitt stars in Bullet Train, an action movie shot on a rapidly moving bullet train in which Ladybug must face off five assassins all converging to complete the same mission. As he tries to get his hands on a mysterious briefcase before his trained assassin rivals do, Ladybug will lose the briefcase, recover it, lose it again, snatch it back, lose it and… How will it end?
Violent Night
The magic of Christmas is stolen from a wealthy family in this action-filled movie when threatening mercenaries attack their home. Santa’s goal is to stop the mercenaries and restore peace and prosperity to the family on this sacred day. With a sense of comedy layered with violence, this film will take you by surprise and make you laugh – though it’s not for the faint-hearted.
Black Adam
Whoever disturbs the earthly tomb of Black Adam must bear his wrath in Black Adam, but is he the villain? He is more of an anti-hero who must free Kahndaq from the Intergang syndicates. This is a movie that blends motifs of ancient Egyptian history, magic, powers and the old world versus new ones. Is Black Adam up to the task of stopping the Intergang group from retrieving the Crown of Sabbac?
Memory
In Memory, the tables are turned on the assassin-for-hire, played by Liam Neeson, an expert killer turned hunted target after declining to complete his job. In an eponymous reference to the title, Alex Lewis has other problems to face. His memory isn’t as it used to be as he seeks revenge and attempts to stay alive in this crime action thriller.
The Matrix Resurrections
You’ll never erase the bullet time moment from your mind or the thrillingly captivating scenes that unfold in The Matrix. To revisit those moments and the origin story of Neo, played by Keanu Reeves, watch the Matrix Resurrections – one of the best action films of all time.
We might recently have watched Reeves seek revenge and face off his enemies in John Wick, but this movie, The Matrix Resurrections, will call to mind the incredible fight scenes from its prior Warner Bros owned prequels.
Spider-Man: No Way Home
When Peter Parker’s identity as Spider Man gets unveiled to the whole globe, he finds himself in a predicament. In an attempt to reverse this problem, he seeks the help of Doctor Strange. The ultimate spell would do the trick. But what if the spell has devastating effects on the multiverse, including the attraction of power-wielding supervillains?
Thor: Love and Thunder
Marvel brings us Thor: Love and Thunder, in which Thor faces up against Gorr – butcher of gods. Thor must come out of retirement and work with close and distant allies, including Jane Foster, his ex-girlfriend, to find out everything they can about Gorr, the cause of his vengeful plans and defeat him once and for all.
John Wick: Chapter 3 – Parabellum
Now that John Wick has killed an international assassin guild member, a bounty of $14 million will be given to the hitman or woman who can destroy him. This third, but far from final film in the franchise stars Keanu Reeves as John Wick and Halle Berry as Sofia, his former friend, as they try to evade being murdered.
Avengers: Endgame
Thanos has wreaked havoc on the entire universe, but it’s time for the Avengers to step up, form alliances with the ultimate superheroes and fight. Their target: to reverse the chaos and havoc unleashed by Thanos and bring back harmony and stability. This is an epic movie that belongs to the Marvel Universe. It’s the ultimate fight to save not just the world but the universe itself.
FeaturedHow Can You Watch Action Movies for Free Online?
Streaming services like Disney Plus, Amazon Prime Video, Foxtel Now, BINGE streaming services, and Netflix provide great content in the action genre. You can even watch complete franchises in one place, like streaming all The Lord of the Rings movies on Foxtel Now, BINGE, and Prime Video. Most streaming services offer free trials, so you can cancel afterwards and watch action movies for free online
Your free trial can range from seven days to a more generous 30 days.
Which Streaming Services Offer Action Movies and Free Trials?
If you love to watch movies and enjoy streaming many of those, it only makes sense to sign up for one or two streaming plans or even more if you’re feeling luxurious. There are many examples of these streaming services that provide a free trial. It’s best to consult each website of the streaming service you are interested in to learn more about their specific features.
To get started on your comparison, though, you can check out some of the best free streaming plans in Australia that offer action movies below.
Streaming TV Plans
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7-day free trial - Monthly
- No Lock-in Contract
- Stream on up to 4 devices
- Watch hundreds of shows and movies ad-free
- $9.99/mth
7-day free trial 
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7-day free trial- Standard Monthly
- No Lock-in Contract
- Exclusive content
- Stream in HD on up to two devices
- $10.99/mth
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New customers: 7-day free trial![]()
3 months free when you buy an eligible Apple device- Monthly
- No Lock-in Contract
- 4K HDR included
- Up to 6 simultaneous streams
- $12.99/mth
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7-Day Free Trial - Basic with Ads
- No Lock-in Contract
- Stream in HD on a single device
- 25,000+ hours of the world's best shows & movies
- $10/mth
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10-Day FREE Trial- Starter
- No Lock-in Contract
- 30+ channels: Entertainment, Drama, Lifestyle, Comedy, and News
- Login on 5 devices and watch 2 at the same time
- $35/mth
- Standard Monthly
- No Lock-in Contract
- Stream in full HD & up to 5.1 audio
- Downloads on up to 10 devices
- $13.99/mth
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14-day free trial- Monthly Subscription
- No Lock-in Contract
- New docos added weekly
- Stream in HD, ad-free
- $8.99/mth
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30-day free trial- Monthly Subscription with Ads
- No Lock-in Contract
- Titles available in 4K
- Use 3 screens at the same time
- $9.99/mth
Which Other Action Classics Are Available to Watch Online?
The list of action classics is vast. Do you want to revisit even more of cinema’s most treasured action films? We’ve made this easy-to-browse selection below. Check the options there. You’ll even find that some of these are free to stream online instantly.
Best Action Movies to Watch Online with Free Streaming Trial – Find Top Entertainment
There are thousands of action movies that you can watch on your big-screen TV or online when you’re on the go. If you’re looking for more options on the best action movies to watch instantly, you’ve come to the right place. With more selections, you can indulge in heaps of fun, action-packed films whenever you want.
Check out Compare TV’s comprehensive guide for the latest information on the best action movies to watch online with a free streaming trial.
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Best Action Movies to Watch Online with a Free Streaming Trial – FAQs
Are you still curious to find more information about the best action movies to watch online with a free streaming trial? Look at the answers to these frequently asked questions to get the answers you need.
For big franchise blockbusters from the Marvel Universe, Star Wars, and a huge range of action movies, Disney+ should be your first streaming service port of call. This streaming service, alongside Cinemax provide the most action movies available in Australia.
Some of the highest grossing action movies of all time include Avatar, Avengers: Endgame, Spider-Man: No Way Home, and The Avengers. Avatar’s total gross equates to $785,221,649, Avengers: Endgame equates to $858,373,000, Spider-Man: No Way Home grossed $814,115,070 and The Avengers equates to $623.357,910.
It’s legal to watch American Netflix in Australia by using a virtual private network to get an American IP address. The Australian Copyrights Act supports this, meaning you can access action movies that may be geographically blocked. As long as you access it from a legitimate provider, this is not illegal.
If you’re wondering what’s available on Netflix Australia, the answer is that there are many movies you can choose from. The exact amount is more than 3,800 movies in its library, which are all different genres. This is slightly lower than the United States and Canada, which offer nearly 6,000 and 4,000 respectively.
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