Here are Cinephile Corner’s 10 recommendations for action movies like The Pickup:
G20
G20 is not just a misfire, it’s a symptom of a larger streaming trend: high-concept projects stretched thin by weak scripts, formulaic direction, and over-reliance on big names to carry the weight. Viola Davis has led action movies far superior to G20.
A Working Man
Jason Statham continues his relentless streak of mid-tier action vehicles with A Working Man, a film that feels as workmanlike as its title suggests. Following his roles in Meg 2: The Trench and The Beekeeper, Statham trades giant sea monsters and bee-themed vengeance for a more grounded but also more generic revenge setup. He plays Levon Cade, an ex-Royal Marine Commando turned construction foreman in Chicago, in a film that’s essentially a stripped-down Taken clone without much flavor or personality to distinguish itself.
Read our full review of A Working Man
Novocaine
Novocaine works best as an entertaining genre exercise. It’s competently made, sometimes clever, and visually sharp. But it never quite reaches the heights it’s aiming for. It doesn’t reimagine the action-comedy or elevate its characters beyond the surface. Still, it’s a watchable 90 minutes, and for fans of Jack Quaid or high-concept thrillers with a soft edge, it’s worth a casual look.
Read our full review of Novocaine
The Amateur
The Amateur plays like a collage of better films. It’s not egregiously bad—just forgettable, over-familiar, and often flat. Despite flashes of life from its supporting cast and a premise that could’ve breathed new life into the spy genre, this is a film that fizzles rather than detonates. If you’re looking for the next Mission: Impossible or Bourne, this isn’t it. It’s not even a great slow-burn alternative. It’s just… there.
Read our full review of The Amateur
Heads of State
There’s no shortage of international action movies each year, and Heads of State barely meets the bar to even be called one. It’s the kind of movie you might click on out of curiosity, watch for 20 minutes, and then forget existed by the next morning. For a film trying to make world leaders into action stars, it can’t even lead itself.
Read our full review of Heads of State
Love Hurts
Love Hurts tries to blend genre tropes and high-octane action into something fresh, but instead delivers a movie that feels like it’s going through the motions. There are flashes of potential, but the film never rises above its derivative bones. Ke Huy Quan proves he can lead an action film in this vein, but the film ultimately doesn’t deserve his talents.
Read our full review of Love Hurts
Back in Action
Back in Action is another addition to the increasingly crowded realm of streaming-exclusive action-comedies, but unfortunately, it does little to distinguish itself from its predecessors like Ghosted, Lift, The Gray Man, and Wolfs. Falling squarely into the Netflix tradition of star-studded, formulaic blockbusters, this film feels more like an obligation to content quotas than a labor of creative passion. Despite the charm of its leads, Cameron Diaz and Jamie Foxx, the movie struggles under the weight of a generic plot, uninspired action sequences, and a script that rarely rises above mediocrity.
Read our full review of Back in Action
Triple Frontier
J.C. Chandor delivers another remarkably succinct heist drama with Triple Frontier – with a cast about as strong as one can possibly get. Oscar Isaac and Ben Affleck lead a team of former special ops soldiers into South America to retrieve a large sum of money, and the events spiral from there. Chandor’s 2019 film stands among the best action movies of the late-2010s.
Read our full review of Triple Frontier
Carry-On
Jaume Collet-Serra wouldn’t seem like the next director to add to that list, given his recent track record with disappointing Dwayne Johnson vehicles like Jungle Cruise and Black Adam. However, his holiday thriller Carry-On defies expectations, moving quickly and building enough tension to make it a surprisingly worthwhile entry in the Netflix action canon.
Read our full review of Carry-On
Lift
Lift is another example of the Netflix’s inability to create lasting movies. Once the credits hit, Lift leaves your conscious. There are a few action sequences, and lively performances, that help it move towards a soft landing.
