4 best Netflix action thriller movies of 2026 so far

It's been a huge year for movies, and we're not just talking about the ones that have made a massive splash on the big screen. Sure, everyone has been loving the latest billion-dollar Spider-Man sequel, The Odyssey, Toy Story 5, and so many more blockbusters but some of the best movies of 2026 have been the Netflix movies that have kept us on the edge of our seats.

While we love a good laugh from a comedy (like Little Brother and 72 Hours) and a bit of a spook from horror movies (like The Whisper Man and Trash), you can't deny that the favored genre these days is the thriller. It's even better if there's some action. Thankfully, Netflix has kept our watch lists fully stocked throughout the year with great action thrillers.

If you're looking to catch up on the best Netflix action thriller movies of 2026 so far, there are four particular titles that should be on the top of your list. Oddly enough, two of the movies star Ben Affleck and one was just released as a highly anticipated release for fall. Take a closer look at the year's best Netflix thrillers for an epic movie night marathon!

Animals

For the first time since 2023, we have the return of actor-director Ben Affleck as the Oscar winner follows up his Netflix movie debut from earlier this year with his latest directorial effort, his first for the streamer. Animals made its premiere on Oct. 9, also hitting the big screen in a limited release.

The political crime thriller comes from a script co-written by Affleck, Bill Ray, and Connor McIntyre and finds Affleck stepping into the role of Los Angeles mayoral hopeful Mark Kimball. Unfortunately, his son gets kidnapping, leading Mark and his wife Abigail (Kerry Washington) to pay a ransom, but it's not quite that easy when getting in with the wrong people threatens their future.

Animals presents a pulse-pounding story that's just as chilling as it is thrilling, with suspense, action, and incredible performances to keep viewers hooked. The cast also includes Gillian Anderson, Steven Yeun, Luis Gerardo Méndez, Adriana Paz, and Ray Fisher. Don't miss what's sure to be one of the most-watched Netflix movies of the fall.

The Rip

Clearly, it's been a big year for Ben Affleck movies, but it's also been a big year for Matt Damon. On top of producing Affleck's Animals and starring in The Odyssey, Damon also co-starred with his best friend and frequent collaborator in The Rip, which kicked off Netflix's year in thrillers in January.

From writer-director Joe Carnahan, The Rip marked the Netflix original movie debut for both Affleck and Damon but found them in familiar action-thriller territory. In the movie, the pair star as Miami-Dade County police officers who struggle to trust their squad following the murder of their captain and the possibility that someone in the department attempted to pull off a heist.

The Rip arrived at the start of the year and started Netflix's year in original movies on a high note. On top of being one of the most-watched movies of the year so far, the film also received mostly positive reception from critics. There's no better thriller double feature than Animals and The Rip.

War Machine

Aside from Ben Affleck and Matt Damon movies, Netflix has also boasted plenty of other star-studded action thrillers that fans have flocked to this year. This spring, Reacher star Alan Ritchson headlined War Machine, which quickly became one of the streamer's biggest movies ever.

War Machine brings a bit of science fiction into the action genre as 81 (Alan Ritchson) takes on a massive and seemingly otherworldly machine out for destruction during a training excercise. Before long, he and his team are forced into a survival situation as they work to destroy the alien machine and learn where it came from in the process.

Following its premiere on Netflix in March 2026, War Machine steadily made its way onto the streamer's Top 10 Most Popular Movies of All Time ranking, coming in at No. 9. There's now a sequel in development with Ritchson set to reprise his role.

Apex

The best Netflix action thrillers have certainly been star-studded, and if the past three selections weren't filled with enough movie stars, here's another two-hander with a pair of major talents. Charlize Theron and Taron Egerton star in the survival thriller Apex.

From director Baltasar Kormákur and writer Jeremy Robbins, Apex stars Charlize Theron as Sasha, a rock climber who is still grieving the loss of her partner. While venturing on a solo trip in Australia, Sasha finds herself meeting Ben (Taron Egerton), a local who appears to be a nice, fellow adventurer. However, he soon reveals himself to be a killer hunting Sasha down.

Theron and Egerton are no stranger to action and thriller movies, especially on Netflix. Of course, Theron led The Old Guard movies while Egerton starred in Carry-On, which is the third most popular Netflix movie of all time. Clearly, you can't miss this iconic on-screen team-up!

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