For fans of action, 2023 has proved to be a spectacular year with the success of engaging and explosive titles like Luther: The Fallen Sun, FUBAR, and many more. Netflix has once again established itself as the go-to source for thrill-seekers, thanks to its extensive library of heart-pounding adventures and binge-worthy TV shows. There is something on Netflix for fans of every action subgenre; whether it is a jaw-dropping thriller or a high-tech heist, Netflix is an action paradise.
The streaming juggernaut has already provided fans with an exceptional collection of blockbuster films and gripping serial journeys that keep viewers on the edge of their seats each month. To make 2023 a more remarkable year for the action genre, Netflix promises to go above and beyond to offer an unmatched selection of action flicks. Here are the top 10 action film and series releases we are looking forward to this year via the streaming giant.
Heart of Stone
Release Date: Aug. 11, 2023
Cast: Gal Gadot, Jamie Dornan, and Alia Bhatt
In September of last year, Netflix unveiled the first look at the upcoming spy action drama starring Gal Gadot. With Heart of Stone, the actress hopes to start her solo franchise after starring opposite Dwayne Johnson and Ryan Reynolds in the action movie Red Notice. Alongside Jamie Dorman as Parker and Bollywood actress Alia Bhatt in her Hollywood debut as Keya Dhawan, the film will follow Gadot in the role of a prestigious agent named Rachel Stone. The plot will revolve around the Charter, a highly mysterious and formidable international peacekeeping organization, with the theft of its most precious and lethal weapon, the Heart.
Nimona
Release Date: June 30, 2023
Cast: Chloë Grace Moretz, Riz Ahmed, and Eugene Lee Yang
Nimona is one of the most anticipated animated adventure films of 2023, mainly because the release is coming after multiple delays and cancellations. The film is based on the graphic novel of the same name by ND Stevenson and follows the titular character Nimona, a teenager with the power to shapeshift. Riz Ahmed will appear next to her as Ballister Blackheart, a former knight on a mission to assassinate Nimona. However, the plot unfolds when he is falsely accused of a crime, and Nimona seems to be the only one who can support the knight in proving his innocence.
Damsel
Release Date: Oct. 13, 2023
Cast: Millie Bobby Brown, Nick Robinson, and Angela Bassett
Netflix plans to release several fantastic female-focused films in 2023, each in its unique style. After her wildly successful Enola Holmes, fans have been yearning for some Millie Bobby Brown heroics, and now we have it! The movie’s plot sounds like a typical fairy tale: an obedient princess marries a dashing prince and enters a royal family, except this fairy tale is actually a nightmare. Damsel will star Millie Bobby Brown in the role of Princess Elodie, a devout damsel trapped in a cave with a fire-breathing dragon who must rely only on her wits and will to live. The film hails from the Oscar-nominated filmmaker Juan Carlos Fresnadillo, so prepare for some quality action as our damsel decides to pick up the sword and save the day.
Guy Ritchie’s The Gentlemen series
Release Date: 2023
Cast: Theo James, Kaya Scodelario, and Joely Richardson
In March of 2022, Deadline reported that a series adaptation of a Guy Ritchie film had been approved. The movie is none other than the Matthew McConaughey starring 2020 crime drama The Gentlemen. Before becoming a feature, the movie was intended as a TV series pitch. With the series’ approval, The Gentlemen has come full circle. The show will have a total of eight episodes, led by Kaya Scodelario as Sussie Glass and Theo James as Eddie Halstead. Fans might be hoping to see some of the original cast members reappear in the series, but that is yet to be seen.
Havoc
Release Date: 2023
Cast: Tom Hardy, Forest Whitaker, and Timothy Olyphant
Gareth Evans wrote the screenplay of Havoc under his exclusive deal with Netflix and was also confirmed to direct and produce the film back in 2021. Tom Hardy will play the lead role of a detective caught up in the murky web of corruption and conspiracy in the action thriller. The plot centers around a drug deal that goes awry, and the detective is tasked with rescuing a politician’s estranged son from the criminal underworld. Havoc will be a blasting action and an engaging thriller.
The Killer
Release Date: Nov. 10, 2023
Cast: Michael Fassbender, Charles Parnell, and Tilda Swinton
A neo-noir action crime movie based on the French graphic novel series by Alexis Nolent and Luc Jacamon is forthcoming from filmmaker David Fincher, a 40-time Academy Award nominee. On January 18, 2023, a sneak peek of Netflix’s 2023 film lineup was made public, revealing The Killer’s release date. Though the plot is being kept largely under wraps, the film is reported to follow an assassin as he confronts his employers, and himself, on a global quest he says is not personal. Given Fincher’s reputation as the maestro of psychological thrillers, we may anticipate The Killer to be an intense and adrenaline-fueled expedition in the criminal world.
Avatar: The Last Airbender live-action series
Release Date: 2023
Cast: Gordon Cormier, Kiawentiio Tarbell, and Ian Ousley
The mythical world of Avatar: The Last Airbender will return to our screens as a live-action television series thanks to a partnership between Netflix and Nickelodeon. The adaptation was first revealed in 2018, and though we don’t yet know the exact release date, the series could premiere on Netflix at any time in 2023. Originally an animated series, Avatar: The Last Airbender, created by Michael Dante DiMartino and Bryan Konietzko, was one of the most popular cartoons of the mid-2000s. The project’s original creators departed the series’ crew due to creative differences in 2020; nevertheless, we can’t wait to relive the enchanting escapades and watch the four Avatar nations come to life.
Rebel Moon
Release Date: Dec. 22, 2023
Cast: Sofia Boutella, Charlie Hunnam, and Anthony Hopkins
Netflix released the first look at the heroes and villains of Rebel Moon recently on June 7, and the Star Wars films and the works of Akira Kurosawa are thought to have inspired it. Rebel Moon started as a Star Wars project that Snyder pitched to Lucasfilm in 2012. However, after Lucasfilm was bought, the project was redesigned. Since then, the grand space opera movie has been on everyone’s must-see list, and it’s finally coming to Netflix this December. The story follows a young woman named Kora as she looks for warriors from different worlds to combat the oppressive army terrorizing her peaceful colony in a cosmos ruled by the corrupt government of the Mother World.
One Piece live-action series
Release Date: 2023
Cast: Iñaki Godoy, Mackenyu, and Emily Rudd
Following the May release of a new poster by the One Piece staff, anticipation for the live-action version of one of the best anime series ever is at an all-time high. Echoing the original storyline, the One Piece live-action series will follow the exploits of the runaway Straw Hat Pirates as they venture through perilous seas, hazardous places, and beyond in search of the ‘one piece.’ It will most likely re-tell some of the adventures from the animated series, and the concept looks promising so far. The series will join the long list of many anime live-action adaptations undertaken by Netflix, including My Hero Academia. If the series succeeds, it will pave the way for further live-action remakes of other popular anime.
Extraction 2
Release Date: June 16, 2023
Cast: Chris Hemsworth, Idris Elba, Olga Kurylenko
The most anticipated action sequel, by far, is coming to Netflix this Friday. Based on the graphic novel Ciudad, the original Extraction film became the most-watched original film in Netflix’s history, with over 99 million viewers during the first four weeks. Extraction 2 is now set to serve fans with more pulse-pounding action as Chris Hemsworth steps back into the shoes of Mercenary Tyler Rake, assigned to rescue a ruthless Georgian gangster’s family from the prison. Golshifteh Farahani and Adam Bessa will also reprise their roles as Nik Kahn and Yaz Kahn, Rake’s partners. Joining them in new roles would be Olga Kurylenko, Daniel Bernhardt, Tinatin Dalakishvili, and Idris Elba. Commenting on the sequel, Hemsworth stated
“With Extraction 2, we take that depth and plunge headfirst into uncharted territories, unearthing the hidden layers and delving deeper into the heart of the story.”
Of course, there are many other Netflix releases of 2023 for action fans, which also include the third season of the hit fantasy action-adventure series ‘The Witcher,’ the action-adventure crime series ‘Who Is Erin Carter?,’ and the South Korean crime action series ‘Bloodhounds.’