Looking for a dose of mid-week excitement on Prime Video, but not in the mood to rewatch the numerous “Transformers” or “Fast and Furious” flicks currently on the streaming service? Well, then you’re in the right spot, because I’ve combed through the current options on Prime Video and picked out a trio of action movies that I feel are just a little overlooked.
These range from a very different kind of Liam Neeson action-thriller, a Ryan Gosling-fronted blockbuster that really deserved better than to be branded a box office bust, and a zombie flick that plays by the genre rules but still manages to get your adrenaline pumping. Here are the three action movies you can watch on Prime Video right now that you might not have seen.
‘The Fall Guy’ (2024)
“The Fall Guy’s” underwhelming box office returns last year left me bemused. It was a well-received action-comedy starring two A-listers, Ryan Gosling and Emily Blunt (fresh from “Barbie” and “Oppenheimer,” respectively), and yet it just didn’t seem to connect with audiences. Ultimately, it resulted in a significant loss for the production studio. Few blockbusters deserved such a fate less than “The Fall Guy,” because it’s a wonderfully entertaining romp.
Gosling plays a former stuntman, injured in an on-set accident, called back into action to save the directorial debut of his ex-girlfriend (Blunt), when the movie’s star (Aaron Taylor-Johnson) goes AWOL. It’s a great concept for an action-comedy, and with “Bullet Train” and “Deadpool 2” filmmaker David Leitch behind the camera, it’s no surprise the mix of high-octane action and charming humor is perfectly managed. “The Fall Guy” may not have earned its deserved recognition in theaters, but on Prime Video it stands as one of the service’s best crowd-pleasing picks.
Watch "The Fall Guy" on Prime Video now
'In the Land of Saints and Sinners' (2023)
Liam Neeson's action-thrillers are typically fairly disposable. I’ve enjoyed plenty of them (from “Unknown” to “Non-Stop,” and of course, “Taken”), but I would typically rate them as fun but flawed movies. That's not the case with "In the Land of Saints and Sinners." For me, this represents the Northern Irish actor’s best work in the genre to date. Its gritty tone adds an edge that its contemporaries lack, and it genuinely has something thoughtful to say about the nature of violence.
Neeson plays Finbar Murphy, a war veteran, who has put his combat experience to use working for a local crime boss as a hitman. Becoming increasingly disillusioned with doing the dirty work of a criminal kingpin, he plans to leave the trade and retire to a peaceful life. However, when a group of IRA soldiers arrives and conflict brews in his small town, he’s forced into an increasingly high-stakes confrontation. Also featuring Kerry Condon, Jack Gleeson, Colm Meaney and Ciarán Hinds, “In the Lands of Saints and Sinners” showcases some of the best Irish acting talent and builds to a suitably thrilling conclusion.
Watch "In the Land of Saints and Sinners" on Prime Video now
‘Apocalypse Z: The Beginning of the End’ (2024)
I won’t deny that a large part of my positive sentiment towards “Apocalypse Z: The Beginning of the End” is because the scenes where Manel (Francisco Ortiz) rides through the ruins of society on a motorbike remind me of Days Gone, a very underrated PlayStation game. Still, even beyond its striking similarities to that particular 2019 video game, there’s a lot to like about this post-apocalyptic flick that's stuffed with zombie-fueled action sequences.
You know the drill here: “Apocalypse Z” is set in a world overrun with brain-munching walkers, society has gone down the pan, and survivors are doing their best to keep themselves free of the deadly rabies-like virus. Our look into this (fairly generic) zombie apocalypse is Manel, a man still grieving the death of his wife in a car crash. Ignoring the local evacuation order, he bunkers down in his home, with just a grumpy cat for company, but while scavenging for supplies, he might just find a reason to live, not just survive.
Watch "Apocalypse Z: The Beginning of the End" on Prime Video now
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