Top 20 Action-Packed TV Shows to Stream on Netflix Now

Netflix has built one of the strongest streaming catalogs for action television. The service blends standout originals with preserved favorites, giving viewers everything from crime thrillers to martial arts sagas. Across genres and settings, these shows capture the intensity of survival, loyalty, and revenge while keeping thrilling momentum at the center of their storytelling.

Other platforms, like Amazon Prime’s action shows, have carved reputations in different directions—HBO Max for acclaimed drama, Hulu for comedy, Prime Video for genre-spanning blockbusters. Netflix, meanwhile, has become the most reliable destination for action, offering a library defined by variety and consistent global reach.

Lupin

2021–Present, 2 Seasons, 3 Parts

Lupin centers on Assane Diop, a master of disguise who reinvents one of the most sophisticated thieves: the legend of Arsène Lupin in modern-day Paris. His schemes blend intelligence with flair, pulling viewers into a world where every heist is as much about wit as it is about timing, and Omar Sy brings a magnetic charm to the lead role.

If that didn’t convince you,Lupin comes from practical effects visionary Louis Leterrier, director ofFast X, Marvel’sThe Incredible Hulk, theTransporter films and many more. Leterrier weaves Assane’s traumatic past with his fight to clear his father’s name, turning clever set pieces into moments of emotional reckoning. It’s stylish, heartfelt, and endlessly inventive.

Tomb Raider: The Legend of Lara Croft

2024–Present, 1 Season

Netflix’s animatedTomb Raider revives one of gaming’s most iconic characters in the signature anime-influenced Western style. Hayley Atwell voices Lara Croft, who leaps between tombs, ruins, and dangerous enemies while carrying the weight of her family’s legacy. The series keeps the adventure fast, but it also explores Lara as her own character.

Fans of the modern Tomb Raider games should know that Netflix’s show continues afterShadow of the Tomb Raider (2018) in the Survivor trilogy. New voice actor but same character, this time using the game’s lessons to realize the complicated relationship with Lara’s father.

Prison Break

2005–2009, 5 Seasons

Custom image by Yailin Chacon

Prison Break begins with Michael Scofield deliberately getting himself locked up to save his brother from death row. The plan is hidden in the tattoos covering his body, each one containing pieces of a larger design. The show builds its action out of blueprints, codes, and improvised tools, turning Fox River into a prison and battlefield.

Tension builds through small details, alliances formed out of necessity, or a single mistake threatening to ruin months of work. And the editing leans into that pressure, cutting between strategic planning and sudden danger so the audience is never at ease. Prison Break’s best epsiodes feel like a countdown running out of time, making for a brisk 45-minute watch per episode.

Arrow

2012–2020, 8 Seasons

After five years presumed dead, Oliver Queen returns to Starling City carrying scars the world can’t see. What begins as a tale of survival quickly becomes a story of reinvention, as the carefree heir trades privilege for a bow, a hood, and a mission that blurs justice with vengeance.

Arrow is worth watching for its slick stunt work and impressive world-building. Before James Gunn’s DCU reoriented the DC brand for the better, the CW’s Arrowverse shows did some serious heavy lifting in the shared universe department—and it all started with Stephen Amell in the lead as the Green Arrow.

The Recruit

2022–2025, 2 Seasons

Netflix’s spy thriller follows Owen Hendricks, a rookie CIA lawyer who gets pulled into the dangerous world of covert operations far beyond his experience. What begins as a legal desk job quickly spirals into a globe-trotting fight for survival, mixing espionage with dry humor and a protagonist who constantly feels out of his depth.

Instead of focusing on a hardened veteran,The Recruit evokes tension from Owen’s inexperience, letting mistakes drive both the plot and the comedy. In one of Noah Centineo’s best TV shows, his turn as Owen adds a self-aware charm that sets the series apart from grittier counterparts, proving that Netflix can still make espionage stories feel fresh and accessible.

Kingdom

2019–2021, 2 Seasons

Set during Korea’s Joseon dynasty,Kingdom blends historical drama with zombie horror in a way no other show quite manages. The series follows a crown prince investigating political corruption, only to uncover an epidemic that transforms the dead into ravenous monsters. The period setting gives its survival story a unique texture, where swords and strategy matter more than firepower.

Kingdom, Netflix’s first South Korean drama show masterpiece, elevated the zombie genre at a time when audiences were fatigued. By fusing royal intrigue with high-stakes action, the show delivers both heart-pounding set pieces and surprisingly sharp commentary on power. Netflix leaned heavily on it as a global hit, proving that international originals could stand shoulder to shoulder with its biggest Western titles.

The Witcher

2019–Present, 3 Seasons

The Witcher adapts Andrzej Sapkowski’s fantasy novels into a sprawling tale of monster hunters, sorcerers, and kingdoms at war. At its core is Geralt of Rivia, a mutated mercenary navigating contracts, destiny, and his invisible bond with the young princess Ciri. The series blends high fantasy world-building with monster-of-the-week horror adventures, anchored by wider political drama.

You might already recognize it as Netflix’s flagship fantasy series, especially having been directly launched at a time when audiences were hungry (and bitter) for a successor toGame of Thrones. Henry Cavill’s own status as a megafan catered to a performance that gave Geralt instant iconic status, bringing both gravitas and wry humor that matched the novel’s and video game’s portrayals.

The Witcher is by no means perfect, and it sucks thatCavillwas recast as Geralt, butThe Witcher remains a bold swing at building a long-term fantasy franchise.

Arcane

2021–2024, 2 Seasons

Arcane expands the world ofLeague of Legends into a richly layered animated drama centered on sisters Vi and Jinx. Set between the utopian city of Piltover and the oppressed undercity of Zaun, the series blends steampunk aesthetics with deeply personal storytelling, turning a video game universe into the most cinematic, best animated TV shows ever made.

And no, you don’t need to know a thing about the games—I’ve never been a fan, myself.Arcane deserves all of its universal acclaim, including a 100% Rotten Tomatoes score, because not only is it one of the first examples of video game adaptations done right, but it also set a new gold standard for action storytelling on streaming—regardless of medium.

Bloodhounds

2023–Present, 1 Season

Bloodhounds centers on two young boxers who find themselves working for a kindhearted moneylender, only to be drawn into a brutal war with a predatory loan shark. What begins as a story about friendship and debt spirals into a violent struggle for justice, with the pair fighting to protect vulnerable people caught in the crossfire.

The show’s grounded, bone-crunching fight choreography and unflinching look at economic exploitation is the main hook to watch. Actors Woo Do-hwan and Lee Sang-yi bring both charisma and vulnerability to their roles, making the action and high stakes always feel personal.

The Last Kingdom

2018–2022, 5 Seasons

The Last Kingdom adapts Bernard Cornwell’sSaxon Stories, following Uhtred of Bebbanburg, a warrior born a Saxon but raised by Danes, as he navigates loyalty, faith, and ambition during the formation of England. The show thrives on its historical setting, where shifting allegiances and battlefield strategy drive both personal and political conflict.

Fantasy TV shows are more popular than ever, butThe Last Kingdom delivers a grounded, historical alternative. Its battles are visceral yet always tethered to characters, making Uhtred’s torn loyalties extra compelling. Before Netflix closed the saga withSeven Kings Must Die,The Last Kingdom had already established itself as one of the most satisfying long-form historical TV shows ever.