Entertainment
10 Most Mediocre Movies of All Time That Are Truly 5/10
It’s easy to talk about good-to-great movies, and it’s also pretty easy (hell, maybe even easier) to talk about bad-to-terrible movies, but what about the no man’s land in between? Are 5/10 movies indeed better than 1/10 ones? If you believe 5/10 should be around average, then maybe a 5/10 movie will be about as boring as a movie gets. Such a rating might suggest there’s nothing particularly good or bad to be found within.
These go against the whole Goldilocks idea of something being balanced and “just right.” They’re just not very fun to watch, these sorts of movies. It’s also a subjective topic, picking out the most mediocre or disappointing movies of all time, so be warned. Most of these are thunderously average, but a couple have equal parts good and bad elements that cancel each other out, resulting in a 5/10 (and those are probably more interesting to watch and/or talk about).
10
‘The Fall Guy’ (2024)
The cinematic equivalent of eating slightly toasted bread with absolutely nothing spread on it (not even butter, get that dairy product the f**k outta here), The Fall Guy feels like it wanted to offend absolutely no one, and in the process, also appealed to absolutely no one. It’s a misguided attempt to make a blockbuster anyone can enjoy without too many brain cells being put to work, but they forgot to add anything funny, fun, or exciting.
It just unfolds with the mildest sense of competency. It is technically fine. Ryan Gosling and Emily Blunt are okay, given what they’re given to work with. The script is quite boring, maybe only being close to passable because it’s doing a blockbuster-level thing without resorting to superhero, fantasy, or sci-fi tropes. It’s kind of original (just forget it’s a loose reworking of an old TV series). There is action and there are indeed stunts. Still, it’s all incredibly dull, but not outright terrible, and quite astoundingly far from offensive, for whatever that might be worth.
9
‘Ocean’s Eight’ (2018)
As a heist movie, you can’t really go wrong with 2001’s Ocean’s Eleven, since it’s all very efficiently written and made. The sequels weren’t executed quite as well, but they’re sort of okay-ish. If Ocean’s Eight counts as a sequel, though, it’s definitely not very good. At the same time, it’s not terrible. That’s why it’s here and stuff. But it was a missed opportunity.
It assembles a good cast and is presented in a slick enough way, but there really isn’t any danger or tension throughout. You don’t exactly watch Ocean’s Eleven thinking things will end badly, but there’s just enough that goes wrong and feels tricky for the main characters, so there is some tension. Ocean’s Eight feels afraid to suggest its characters might do something wrong, so they just kind of go through it all a bit easily, and watching a heist movie play it this safe ends up being rather dull.
8
‘The Hunger Games: Mockingjay – Part 1’ (2014)
Before The Hunger Games split one book into two, for an adaptation, the Harry Potter and Twilight series had both done the same thing. Harry Potter did it pretty well, and then Twilight… well, Twilight is bad in a funny way, or it’s melodramatic in a charming and nostalgic way. But either way, it feels a bit weird to call any films in that series “average.”
Returning to The Hunger Games, though, the final book in the original trilogy didn’t have to be an email, when adapted, but it could’ve been just the one movie. There is a decent amount that happens in that book, just not enough for The Hunger Games: Mockingjay – Part 1 to really justify its existence, and getting through it is tedious when pretty much everything important to concluding this whole dystopian series is ultimately found in The Hunger Games: Mockingjay – Part 2, released the following year.
7
‘Judy’ (2019)
There’s a hesitance that comes with being negative about Judy, but it’s in this ranking, so there are inevitably things to appreciate here, alongside the more disappointing elements. It’s a look at a less well-known part of Judy Garland’s life, after she’d starred in some of the most iconic musicals of all time, all the while grappling with becoming older in the entertainment industry, where youth is celebrated more often.
Also, Garland’s shown to battle various personal demons, and Renée Zellweger gives a sort of good performance as Judy Garland, but it might feel a bit more like an impersonation than really capturing the core of Garland, as she was – or might’ve – been. Judy the film, though, plays things so safe and formulaic, which makes it a bit of a slog to get through, in the end, even if its heart might well be more or less in the right place.
6
‘Falling in Love’ (1984)
It’s surprising how mediocre Falling in Love ends up being, considering the talent involved. The title may end up suggesting how “eh” it’s all going to be, since it is just called Falling in Love, but it’s directed by Mike Nichols, and has two acting legends – Meryl Streep and Robert De Niro – in the main roles. Having Harvey Keitel in a supporting role might also sound enticing, especially if you’re a fan of Mean Streets and Taxi Driver (both De Niro and Keitel were in those).
Maybe the performances are a little engaging at first, but this is just a less interesting – and not nearly as moving – Brief Encounter sort of drama/romance film.
The movie, though, is thunderously boring. Maybe the performances are a little engaging at first, but this is just a less interesting – and not nearly as moving – Brief Encounter sort of drama/romance film, trying to be emotional yet not really succeeding. If you feel like you have to complete the filmographies of any of the people involved, you could well be tempted to watch Falling in Love, though it’s ultimately not worth it.
5
‘Meet Joe Black’ (1998)
There’s always an exhaustion that comes about when a story is too long. Take Meet Joe Black, for example, which is one of the most bafflingly long films ever, as it clocks in just two minutes shy of three hours. It is a fantastical romance film that doesn’t really have an epic scope or a huge number of important characters, so why it’s all so stretched out is anyone’s guess.
Like, Meet Joe Black looks good enough, and it does have a strong cast (oh hi, Brad Pitt and Anthony Hopkins), with various members of said cast getting lots of opportunities to shine, since the movie is so many minutes long. It’s too exhausting though, in the end, and it’s hard to stop thinking about why they made it this long, and not a more manageable two hours… or even around 100-ish minutes might well have been more than enough.
4
‘The King’s Speech’ (2010)
If you’re fond of British movies that feel like they existed mainly to win Academy Awards, then you might want to bail on this whole ranking, because there are a few of those coming up. To get the biggest hot take out of the way first, here’s The King’s Speech. It’s about a king who can’t talk so good, and he wants to talk more gooder, so he gets good talker man to help him talk more good, and then he do talk more good, and he give good speech. King give speech. King’s Speech get Oscar.
It did really well at the Oscars, even though it’s boooooring. The Social Network came out that year, and should’ve won the Oscars that The King’s Speech did, or whichever ones they were both competing for, whatever. Definitely Best Picture. This really wasn’t the best picture of 2010, by any means, and if their performances are good/worthy of praise, then Tom Hooper’s awkward direction undoes the good stuff. This is almost as poorly directed as (the admittedly much messier) Cats, but most people aren’t ready to have that conversation just yet. Soon. Maybe one day.
3
‘Darkest Hour’ (2017)
This one doesn’t faceplant when it comes to the direction and cinematography the same way The King’s Speech did, but Darkest Hour is similarly dull. You might hope you get a good performance here, at least, with Gary Oldman playing the most famous British politician of the 20th century, Winston Churchill, but he doesn’t really play the wartime Prime Minister, because it’s mostly just the make-up that does the acting for him.
That sounds like shade thrown at Oldman, but it’s not, because he is a legendary actor. It’s just he’s given so many performances that are more interesting than this one, and in better movies. Him being Churchill is all that this movie has going for it. Everything else is beyond underwhelming and flat, almost like no one else in front of or behind the camera wanted to step on Oldman’s toes. It’s some of the most blatant and shameless Oscar bait (mostly just focusing on that acting Oscar) of the last decade or so.
2
‘The Theory of Everything’ (2014)
The Theory of Everything is even blander, as a biopic, than the two previously mentioned movies about prominent English people. It’s about Stephen Hawking, chronicling what he did within the scientific field while dealing with health issues and grappling with personal relationships. If you know even a little about Hawking, it’s the kind of movie you can probably picture in your head without actually watching.
Eddie Redmayne gets the most Oscar bait of roles, with him playing someone with a medical condition, and also a real-life individual, so he gets to do a lot physically while impressing people by presenting all of Hawking’s traits, and mirroring his appearance, and blah, blah, blah. Redmayne won an Oscar, so good for him or whatever, but The Theory of Everything is a pretty nothing kind of film.
1
‘Maestro’ (2023)
There are times that Maestro comes close to being bad in a funny way, or it could be more that there’s a desperation to it that’s occasionally awkward, which inspires a nervous sort of laughter. It’s a movie that’s trying so hard to be great while being about someone whom Bradley Cooper, the film’s director and star, sees as great: Leonard Bernstein. And it’s a biopic of his life, looking at his accomplishments and some of his personal flaws.
Cooper swings big, and he makes something that can be admired for its ambition, some of its technical qualities, and certain performances, yet all that good stuff exists alongside some really clunky stuff. It’s like watching a great conductor do mostly great work, with most players sounding great, but a couple of people in his orchestra don’t have musical instruments, and are instead making fart noises with their armpits. Also, this hypothetical great conductor walks out on stage wearing a pair of clown shoes that honk loudly with every step, but he doesn’t seem to find anything funny about that. That experience would be exactly like watching Maestro.
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Sabrina Carpenter is speaking out after a moment from her Coachella performance quickly went viral and sparked debate online. During her Friday night set at the Indio, California festival, the pop star appeared caught off guard by a loud, high-pitched cheer coming from the crowd while she sat at the piano. In clips that circulated widely online, Carpenter could be seen looking confused before saying, “I don’t like it.” When someone in the audience shouted, “It’s my culture!” Sabrina Carpenter responded, “That’s your culture, yodeling?” before adding, “Is this Burning Man? What’s going on? This is weird.”
Sabrina Carpenter Faces Criticism Over Viral Moment
The sound that prompted Carpenter’s reaction was later identified as a Zaghrouta, a celebratory vocal chant commonly used across parts of the Middle East and North Africa to express joy.
As videos spread, some social media users criticized the singer’s response, with one post on X accusing her of reacting in a way that was “insensitive and Islamophobic.”
Carpenter Addresses Viral Coachella Moment
Sabrina Carpenter addressed the situation the following day, clarifying that her reaction was not intended to offend. “My apologies, I didn’t see this person with my eyes and couldn’t hear clearly,” Carpenter wrote in reply to the viral post. “My reaction was pure confusion, sarcasm, and not ill-intended.”
The singer also acknowledged she could have handled the moment differently. “Could have handled it better!” she said. “Now I know what a Zaghrouta is! I welcome all cheers and yodels from here on out.”
Fans React After Sabrina Carpenter Issues Apology
Following Sabrina Carpenter’s public apology, reactions online were mixed, with some continuing to criticize the moment while others offered support. One critic pushed back on her explanation, writing, “You clearly heard them and said, ‘ This is your culture?’ with that weirded-out face… if there hadn’t been backlash, you wouldn’t have even apologized.”
Another comment took a more intense tone, stating, “Know your place, Sabrina. Islam is here in America and growing faster than any other religion. Look at our new mayor. Soon you too will bow to Allah, peace be upon him.”
However, not all responses were negative, as some fans defended the singer and accepted her apology. “It’s okay, I’m Arab and wasn’t offended, everyone has the right to have an opinion and to like or dislike whatever, it shouldn’t be insulting, that’s just dumb. Love you,” one supporter wrote.
Another added, “thank you so much for apologizing and i will be looking foward to your new music.”
What Is A Zaghrouta?
A Zaghrouta is a traditional vocal expression often performed by women in the Middle East and North Africa during celebrations. It is widely recognized as a form of “ululation,” described as a long, wavering, high-pitched trill that conveys excitement and joy, typically created through rapid tongue movement and vocal modulation.
The sound has also appeared in mainstream pop culture, including a memorable moment during Shakira’s 2020 Super Bowl halftime show, where she incorporated the chant as a nod to her Lebanese heritage.
Sabrina Carpenter’s Coachella Set Packed With Star Power
Despite the controversy, Carpenter’s Coachella performance was one of the weekend’s most talked-about sets, thanks in part to its cinematic, Old Hollywood-inspired theme.
Her Friday night show opened with a black-and-white short film featuring Carpenter as a “Hitchcock Blonde,” driving a vintage car down a dark highway while singing along to Kool & the Gang’s “Hollywood Swinging.” The performance also included surprise appearances from Susan Sarandon, Will Ferrell, Samuel L. Jackson, and Sam Elliott.
Sarandon delivered a dramatic monologue as an older version of Carpenter, reflecting on fame while seated in a classic car at a drive-in. The moment stretched into an extended sequence before being interrupted by a carhop played by Carpenter’s former “Girl Meets World” co-star Corey Fogelmanis, bringing the segment to a close.
Later in the set, as Carpenter wrapped up “Bed Chem,” a sudden power issue caused the stage to short-circuit, prompting a quick fix from the festival’s “electrician,” revealed to be none other than Will Ferrell. The comedian played up the moment, jokingly complaining to the crowd that he thought he had signed up for Stagecoach, which actually takes place the weekend after Coachella.
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The “Euphoria” star is joined by musical guest Anitta.
Science fiction remains one of the most dominant genres in television history, whether it’s labyrinthine mysteries like Lost or established franchises like Star Trek. Even recent streaming hits like Star Wars: Maul — Shadow Lord are firmly set in the realm of science fiction, drawing in hardcore fans. One recently canceled sci-fi show, Resident Alien, is proving to be a massive streaming hit in its own right. According to FlixPatrol, Resident Alien pulled in a whopping 208 million hours of view time last year, sitting alongside other sci-fi shows like Halo and La Brea.
Anyone who’s seen Resident Alien can easily tell you that it’s one of the most inventive sci-fi shows of the modern age by its premise alone. Based on the Dark Horse comic book series by Peter Hogan and Steve Parkhouse, it tells the story of an extraterrestrial who travels to Earth to wipe out humanity. In the process, he ends up killing the doctor in a local town, Harry Vanderspeigle (Alan Tudyk), and assumes his identity. Harry’s mission takes a turn when he starts to grow connected to the people who live in his new home, all the while trying to pass himself off as human.
‘Resident Alien’ Thrived Thanks to a Roster of Sci-Fi Guest Stars & Alan Tudyk’s Performance
A large part of what makes Resident Alien work is Alan Tudyk’s brilliant performance. Throughout the series, Tudyk uses a combination of facial expressions and body movements that sell the illusion of an alien in a man’s body, resulting in scenes that are hilarious and often cringe-worthy to watch. A perfect example comes in the Season 4 episode “Mine Town,” where he tries to throw the town’s sheriff, Mike Thompson (Corey Reynolds) off his trail by taking unnecessarily large bites out of a turkey leg. Tudyk also provides the physical movements for Harry’s alien form in Season 2 and throughout, making odd jerky movements that don’t feel earthly in the slightest.
It also didn’t hurt that Tudyk had an impressive roster of guest stars to play off of, with most of them being sci-fi alums in their own right. That includes Linda Hamilton, who plays alien hunter Eleanor McCallister, and Tudyk’s Firefly castmates Nathan Fillion and Jewel Staite, who play an octopus and an FBI agent respectively. Resident Alien‘s main cast is also full of characters who are just as memorable as Harry, including Max Hawthorne (Judah Prehn), the mayor’s son who’s also one of the few people to learn Harry’s really an alien, and Asta Twelvetrees (Sara Tomko) who helps him form a deeper bond to humanity. These character interactions are a large part of what makes Resident Alien stand out in the sci-fi landscape.
Remembering the Icons of Television — Collider TV Quiz
These television artists were posthumously recognized for their work, and the awards they received were testaments to their lasting legacies.
‘Resident Alien’ Ended On a Near-Pefect Note, With Room to Continue
While Resident Alien received plenty of praise during its run, it was canceled after its fourth season. To the show’s credit, it manages to wrap up most of its plot lines in the series finale “The End is Here,” as Harry ends up confronting another member of his race and deciding to return to his home planet. Despite the untimely end, Alan Tudyk floated the chance of a possible continuation during last year’s San Diego Comic-Con.
“It’s a weird goodbye because the show’s very popular. By all metrics from a different time, that would assure another season. It’s just in this climate, the TV world is changing in a big way, and I feel like because we’re canceled now, we will become an existing IP, which then could be revived. So the quickest way to get a next season is to be canceled, oddly.”
Tudyk makes a good point, as the rise of streaming services and shifts in the network television landscape means that some shows could get a new life when you least expect it. Ironically, Firefly is the perfect example as an animated revival is in the works, with Tudyk set to return alongside the rest of the cast. Resident Alien definitely deserves a similar shot, especially since its streaming numbers prove that there’s still an audience willing to tune in for Harry’s extraterrestrial hijinks.
- Release Date
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2021 – 2025-00-00
- Writers
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Nastaran Dibai, Sarah Beckett, Jenna Lamia, Christian Taylor, Emily Eslami, Donald Todd, Cherry Chevapravatdumrong, Njeri Brown, Aaron Wiener, Biniam Bizuneh
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Sara Tomko
Asta Twelvetrees
Netflix has plenty of series that everyone talks about, but one short-lived show from the streamer deserves to be among them. Kaos only received one season, but the dark comedy is a unique series that fans want more of. Although there are only eight episodes, the 2024 series boasts an addictive story with surprising twists and compelling characters, which is part of why the series’ quick cancellation shocked viewers. Yet, even without more to the story, Kaos crafts a tale that will keep viewers pressing play on the next episode.
What Is ‘Kaos’ About?
Part of what makes Kaos great is that there are many moving parts, but none of them would matter without the gods. The series features a deeply insecure Zeus (Jeff Goldblum), who fears that he is losing power, leading to a clash between gods and humans. The god spirals, believing that a new wrinkle on his forehead is the first sign of the prophecy given by the Fates: “A line appears, the order wanes, the family falls, and Kaos reigns.” Zeus declares a state of emergency and summons Prometheus (Stephen Dillane) for guidance, who receives a brief respite from the horrific punishment Zeus had given him. Serving as the series’ narrator, Prometheus is rare among immortals because he isn’t so self-centered that he fails to notice what is going on in the rest of the story.
Much of the show’s narrative takes place elsewhere, both in the mortal world and the Underworld, as three mortals receive the same prediction that has Zeus worried. Riddy (Aurora Perrineau), Caeneus (Misia Butler), and Ari (Leila Farzad) all have stories that unexpectedly come together throughout the series. However, each faces a personal crisis, as Ari uncovers a dark family secret, Riddy’s failing marriage ends when she is sent to the Underworld, and Caeneus confronts his past in the afterlife. With these characters, Kaos explores the legends of the minotaur, Orpheus (Killian Scott), and Caeneus, but in each case, the series adds its own twist.
‘Kaos’ Takes a Creative Approach to Greek Mythology
With a wide variety of legends to choose from, Greek mythology retellings are popular. However, Kaos sets itself apart in one creative way, placing the gods in the modern world with all the technology that entails. The gods are still worshiped, and though it’s played for laughs as the all-powerful Zeus walks around in a tracksuit, the change ultimately makes the story more grounded. Kaos uses the addition of modern elements to its full advantage, reworking the gods themselves into new and deeply flawed contemporary interpretations. Zeus is an egomaniac in a midlife crisis, and the visual cues indicate this instantly in a way that would not be possible if his appearance were more traditional. Meanwhile, the way Kaos portrays the other gods adds to the show’s humor, with Poseidon (Cliff Curtis) living a laid-back life on his yacht, Hades (David Thewlis) as a stressed-out manager for the expanding Underworld, and Dionysus (Nabhaan Rizwan) a bored partier hoping to earn his family’s respect.
Yet, the gods are not the only ones who are changed in Kaos. The modernization of the myths creates opportunities for the human characters, like the exploration of Caeneus’ identity as a trans man and the focus on Riddy’s failing marriage to Orpheus. These modernized storylines highlight the dysfunction of various relationships, making them easily identifiable by the audience. Ultimately, there is no fantasy show like Kaos, and with so many surprises, it’s impossible for viewers to look away until the entire story unfolds.
- Release Date
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2024 – 2024-00-00
- Directors
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Georgi Banks-Davies, Runyararo Mapfumo
- Writers
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Charlie Covell, Georgia Christou
Addison Rae had a fiery message for her “haters” as she made her stage debut at the 2026 Coachella Valley Music and Arts Festival.
“To my fans who have supported me from Day 1, I love you, thank you,” Rae, 25, quipped in the middle of her Saturday, April 11, performance, per social media footage. “And to my haters? Suck my d***.”
Rae dazzled the crowd with several of her biggest hits on Saturday, also enlisting Dance Moms alum-turned-actress Maddie Ziegler to dance to “Aquamarine.” The set kicked off Rae’s “The Fame and Glory Show” tour.
Rae, who rose to fame as a TikTok influencer before taking over the pop charts and earning her first Grammy nomination, has clear goals for her music career.
Stars didn’t hold back with their creative outfits at the 2026 Coachella Music & Arts Festival. Bachelor Nation’s Kit Keenan, for example, hand-made her sparkling ensemble with help from her designer mom, Cynthia Rowley. She documented the design process via TikTok earlier this month, sharing behind-the-scenes clips of her mom busy at work sewing pieces […]
“I walked in with a binder, and I made a slideshow,” Rae told Rolling Stone in a January 2025 profile. “I just mood-boarded my vibes. I literally had no music to play [Columbia Records CEO Ron Perry] at that point, so it was about trust. Like, ‘Yes, I’m in the clouds, and I enjoy being there. But I’m also serious.’”
Rae further stressed that she always tries to be unapologetically herself when she hits the stage.
“People have decided who I am,” she told the outlet. “I’ll be your girl next door, but maybe there’s a wild side to the girl next door.”
Rae continued, “TikTok definitely gave me a lot of things, so it would be really sad to [see it] go, but hopefully the things that I create and put out surpass that platform … but I won’t beg for it. I’ll work for it.”
As Rae’s career has only exploded, she’s taking each moment as it comes.
Coachella 2026 tickets sold out within roughly a week. Both weekends — General Admission and VIP — are gone, and the official waitlist is closed. For a festival that draws visitors from over 60 countries and expects 125,000 fans each weekend, that kind of demand signals something worth understanding, whether you’re hunting for resale passes […]
“I enjoy fame. I think fame is very exposing and raw, and it puts you in a position that not everyone gets to experience,” the “Diet Pepsi” singer told The Guardian in December 2025. “I enjoy the luxury of it all, though of course there is a price you pay.”
She concluded, “I trust that the people who indulge in my artistry treat it with kindness and acceptance and love and understanding, in a way that maybe I didn’t before, and that’s honestly the dream, that I’m never fully understood. If that ever were to change, I think it would be quite boring actually.”
Rae will return to Coachella during its second weekend on April 18.
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What’s going on with Smalls, Benny, Ham, and Squints? Let’s check in with the child stars behind the ’90s classic.
Back in 2023, John Cena fans were eagerly awaiting the summer arrival of his latest animated effort, Coyote vs. Acme, a hybrid feature with live-action featuring Cena as Buddy Crane. However, the baffling decision was then made to remove the film entirely from the release schedule, with its July release date replaced by Barbie. Finally, after being acquired by Ketchup Entertainment in 2025, the film was rescheduled for release in 2026, over three years after it was supposed to debut. Barring any glaring issues, Coyote vs. Acme will come to a theater near you on August 28, 2026.
Exciting as this Cena role is, it is far from his first work in the animation realm, the most underrated of which has just quietly returned to the streaming charts. Ferdinand, a 2017 animated movie from 20th Century Fox Animation, Blue Sky Studios, and Davis Entertainment, saw Cena star alongside the likes of Kate McKinnon, Bobby Cannavale, Peyton Manning, Doctor Who favorite David Tennant, and more. Loosely based on the 1936 children’s book The Story of Ferdinand, the film follows a young bull who escapes a Spanish training camp and finds refuge on a farm, only for his solace to be broken when he is returned to his former captors. To escape, the bull joins forces with an unlikely team of other animals.
One of Cena’s more impressive voice performances, having been criticized for playing heightened versions of himself in other projects, Ferdinand rightfully earned praise from critics when it debuted nine years ago. On review aggregator Rotten Tomatoes, the film boasts a positive 70% score, with the consensus on the site reading, “Ferdinand‘s colorful update on a classic tale doesn’t go anywhere unexpected, but its timeless themes — and John Cena’s engaging voice work in the title role — make for family-friendly fun.” Almost a decade on, Ferdinand is a streaming hit again, landing a place in the top ten most-watched movies on HBO Max in the U.S., at the time of writing.
‘Ferdinand’ Was a Box Office Hit
Although the film has fallen into obscurity since, there was once a time when Ferdinand was a popular mainstream option for families in theaters. Against a production budget of $111 million, the film returned an impressive global haul of $307 million. Split between $84 million in domestic revenue and a further $223 million from overseas markets, this December 2017 release was the early Christmas present millions enjoyed, and many are now rediscovering.
Ferdinand is streaming on HBO Max. Make sure to stay tuned to Collider for more streaming stories.
- Release Date
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December 9, 2017
- Runtime
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108 minutes
- Director
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Carlos Saldanha
John Wick may have introduced one of the world’s most iconic assassins, but there is plenty of action beyond his universe. In 2014, Keanu Reeves took on the role of the titular hitman, who goes on a rampage after gangsters break into his home and kill his beloved puppy. Fueled by grief and vengeance, Wick hunts down those responsible, only to uncover a larger, more sinister scheme. At this point, retirement proves anything but peaceful.
However, while Wick stands as Hollywood’s quintessential assassin, there is still a wide range of action films worth exploring. He may be known for his signature “gun-fu” style, but some audiences crave more variety beyond relentless carnage and repeated techniques. Without further ado, here are the movies with even better action than John Wick.
‘Kill Bill: Vol. 1’ (2003)
As the Bride (Uma Thurman) would learn in Kill Bill Vol. 1, never leave your former lover hanging — especially when he’s the ringleader of the Deadly Viper Assassination Squad. The Quentin Tarantino classic is a pastiche of many elements: spaghetti western, martial arts, and samurai cinema. All of this is then greatly tied to the Bride’s quest to find the man who not only left her dead at her own wedding rehearsal, but also lost the child she was bearing.
Female rage is emotional, but being torn apart from her child becomes the perfect backstory for the Bride’s vengeance. She travels across the world to find the Deadly Vipers, battling each one with specificity. One standout is the scalp-cutting battle with O-Ren Ishii (Lucy Liu) and the Crazy 88. In this sequence, she single-handedly kills dozens of armed enemies. Another is the suburban showdown with Vernita Green (Vivica A. Fox), where they try to stay as discreet as possible, given their neighborhood surroundings. Each encounter with a Deadly Viper highlights the Bride’s fighting versatility and makes every fight feel freshly exciting.
‘Police Story’ (1985)
Police Story not only popularized Hong Kong cop movies, but it also revolutionized the art of stunts in action cinema. Action scenes are often known for their brutality, but Jackie Chan, who plays Chan Ka-Kui, shows that there are layers to crafting a great sequence. Action scenes should have style, and that comes from choreography. With Chan’s background in Peking Opera training, his approach leans heavily into acrobatics. This influence explains the constant tumbling and aerial momentum, even during hand-to-hand combat.
Another defining feature of Police Story is how environmental the action scenes are. Forget fighting rings or evil lairs — most of these fights take place in public spaces, leveraging whatever is in Ka-Kui’s surroundings. Instead of chasing a double-decker bus with a car, he clings to it using nothing but an umbrella. He swings himself upward while villains try to kick him off. In the film’s peak ending, an extended shopping mall fight, Ka-Kui throws a henchman into a moving escalator, revs up a display motorcycle and crashes it into glass fixtures, and even slides down a pole from the upper floor to the ground floor, wrapped in light bulbs.
‘The Raid: Redemption’ (2011)
The premise of The Raid: Redemption is remarkably simple yet clever: a 20-man squad of MBC (Mobile Brigade Corps) infiltrates a rundown apartment. The objective is to arrest crime lord Tama Riyadi (Ray Sahetapy), who sits calmly on the top floor. Taking over a building should be straightforward, especially when you’re a government-backed police force. But before they can even lay a finger on him, the MBC has to push through 30 stories of criminals, ranging from your everyday thugs to deadly assassins.
The Raid: Redemption takes claustrophobia to new, deadly heights. The moment the MBC officers enter through the front door on the ground floor, there is no escape. At every turn — every corridor and every door opened — a bloodthirsty killer is waiting to murder them by whatever means necessary, especially since they have been promised free residence by Tama. Being in a small, cramped space with threats coming from all directions creates constant urgency. There is no time for showmanship, and by the time the MBC officers have exhausted all their resources, they can only rely on their fists to fight their way through each floor.
‘Kung Fu Hustle’ (2004)
Beating the living lights out of gangsters doesn’t always have to be vicious. In Kung Fu Hustle, it can be whimsical and graceful. Inspired by the art of wuxia — the classic genre depicting martial artists in ancient China — much of the film’s fantasy draws on real spiritual elements. These elements form the basis of qi (life force), the energy that powers many of the action sequences in Stephen Chow‘s film.
Kung Fu Hustle emphasizes that fighting isn’t always about being on the offensive. To overcome injustice, one must first find inner peace to harness one’s qi. Only then can they unlock true power, and in the film’s case, even supernatural abilities like the Buddha’s Palm strike. Qi also serves as the foundation for many of the kung fu styles shown in the movie. These range from the rapid, grounded Hung Gar style to the low, coiled, yet explosive Hama Gong technique.
‘Hardcore Henry’ (2015)
In typical fashion, viewers watch movies from a third-person perspective. But if anyone has ever wondered what it’s like to literally be the one doing the action, Hardcore Henry is the go-to movie. Told from a first-person perspective, the film unfolds through the eyes of Henry, an amnesia-stricken man brought back from the dead by his wife (Haley Bennett). Moments later, she is kidnapped, and Henry — or rather, you — is thrust into the action, immediately under fire.
Hardcore Henry feeds your action-filled curiosities. One moment, you find yourself sliding down a crowded escalator and accidentally crashing into someone. Next, you’re peering through a sniper scope, picking off enemies from the top of a building. For adrenaline junkies, the film goes even further. You’ll be riding a high-speed motorcycle and ramming it into a van ahead of you. It’s a no-brainer action, but it pulls you in completely, letting you experience every moment viscerally.
‘Gladiator’ (2000)
For a movie filled with bloodshed, Gladiator still finds moments of humanity between its sword fights. Creative liberties aside — real gladiator battles did not typically end in death, and trained fighters were expected to survive multiple bouts — the film questions the universally troubling idea that people find violence entertaining. At the same time, it is this very violence that Maximus (Russell Crowe) is forced to endure. Each fight becomes part of his strategy to survive and move closer to Commodus.
The basis of Gladiator‘s action is embodied in the famous line Crowe improvised: “Are you not entertained?” The battles are designed to satisfy the masses watching them, and as a result, they go to extreme lengths. From decapitating an opponent to being trapped in a claustrophobic fight against heavily armored gladiators, to facing a former champion while real tigers circle the arena, each sequence is crafted to thrill. These battles are meant not only to entertain the crowds within the film but also the audience watching it.
‘RRR’ (2022)
Some think it’s kooky, while others call it camp. Either way, that doesn’t take away from the fact that RRR is packed with action from start to finish. The over theatrical nature of its stunts — reminiscent of the aesthetic in Baz Luhrmann‘s Romeo + Juliet — amplifies the film’s already fierce spectacle. Yet, beneath all the stylization, the story is rooted in history. RRR reimagines the resistance against British colonial rule through two real-life Indian revolutionaries of the 1920s: Alluri Sitarama Raju (Ram Charan) and Komaram Bheem (N. T. Rama Rao Jr.).
When we talk about heroes, there is a tendency to present them as larger-than-life figures. RRR fully embraces this idea through its over-the-top spectacle. The film holds nothing back in portraying its national heroes — the men who fought for the liberation of their people. From Bheem unleashing a collection of wild animals on British soldiers, to Raju fighting atop Bheem’s shoulders, each sequence escalates the action. It’s one explosion after another.
RRR
- Release Date
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March 24, 2022
- Runtime
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185 Minutes
- Director
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S.S. Rajamouli
- Writers
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S.S. Rajamouli, Vijayendra Prasad
Steve Howey is leaving High Potential but did his character, Captain Wagner, die before season 3?
During the season 2 finale, Wagner (Howey) was shot and left bleeding out as first responders were called to help. It wasn’t clear whether he survived before news broke that Howey, 48, was exiting the hit ABC series. (Howey was previously cast in upcoming seasons of Off Campus and Ransom Canyon, so he could potentially be written off the show.)
Deadline later confirmed that the season 2 finale marked the last episode as a series regular for Howey. The actor initially wasn’t expected to return due to him signing a one-year deal.
Wagner’s story has not been fully determined yet though and there is a chance Howey could come back as a guest star at the beginning of season 3 to wrap up his arc.
High Potential is returning for a third season — but not everyone is coming back after that surprise cast exit. The hit ABC series, which premiered in September 2024, follows Morgan (Kaitlin Olson), a high-potential intellectual who teams up with the LAPD to assist the department in solving murders. Morgan gets paired up with Karadec […]
Howey previously teased his arc on the show while speaking exclusively to Us Weekly in September 2025, saying, “Nick comes in and does ruffle some feathers. But his motives and his intentions are not to do that. He wants to help and we start seeing that in different episodes.”
He continued: “That was my fear and my concern. When you have such a lightning in the bottle strong dynamic of these characters, throwing in another character can potentially thrown that off. I’m still working on not doing that. This is going to evolve into something really cool. We don’t know about the chemistry with Nick and Morgan. Obviously there is [something]. But as he’s incrementally gaining more trust with the department, hopefully it gets better and better.”
Howey, for his part, was thrilled at the chance to join one of his favorite shows.
All good things must come to an end, even when it comes to TV. Over the years, many television stars have suddenly left their roles — while others have been cut from a series without much notice. Anna Faris announced in September 2020 that she was leaving CBS’ Mom after starring as the lead character […]
“The first season was amazing. It is not your usual procedure. I love the insert shots and I love their style. But I have friends in real life that are police officers and are part of the sheriff’s department. So I talked to them and they definitely made fun of me because that’s what they do,” he told Us. “I’m taking my own leeway a little bit about who this guy is and that comes from the writers about who his family is and how they were in law enforcement and now in politics. So he has something to prove to the department and to himself. So it’s fun to work on it and see what comes out of it.”
The decision about Wagner’s future on the show will be made after a new showrunner is found. News broke in March that showrunner Todd Harthan exited the show to focus on the upcoming live-action adaptation of Christopher Paolini’s young adult [YA] book series The Inheritance Cycle. The adaptation — titled Eragon — is cocreated with Paolini and Harthan will serve as coshowrunner alongside Todd Helbing.
High Potential, meanwhile, has been renewed for a third season. All episodes are currently streaming on Hulu.
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“Hopefully, people are going to watch the ‘Malcolm in the Middle’ reboot right after this race!” the actor-turned-driver said.
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