The Year’s Best Action Movie Just Got a Surprise Early Streaming Release

Image: Edko Films, Zhejiang Hengdian Film/Lionsgate

The finest action cinema doesn’t just startle; it leaves you utterly spellbound. Usually, this occurs during a singular, high-budget set piece that forces you to pause, bewildered, and ask: How on earth did they choreograph that? We’ve seen it with the legendary hallway brawl in Oldboy, the breathless train-helicopter sequence in Extraction 2, or virtually any moment where Iko Uwais decides to throw a punch.

However, this year, a new contender has arrived that didn’t just floor me for a single scene—it completely shattered my expectations from the opening frame and held me hostage for the next two hours. Best of all, you can finally experience this adrenaline-fueled masterclass from your own living room.

Why The Furious is an instant classic

Directed by martial arts virtuoso Kenji Tanigaki, The Furious hit U.S. screens in June and has now officially migrated to streaming platforms. For a time, it reigned supreme with a perfect 100% score on Rotten Tomatoes, and it currently sits at an imposing 98%. Critics have lauded its fight sequences as “balletic,” “manic,” and an absolute gift to genre enthusiasts. It’s been described as a beautiful, violent fever dream, and quite frankly, it earns every bit of its reputation. If I had to grade it, I’d give it five out of five stars without hesitation. It is, quite possibly, the most invigorating action achievement of 2026.

The film is a non-stop, kinetic barrage of creativity. Every strike feels seismic, every collision carries the weight of a meteor, and the choreography possesses a level of technical prowess that defies physics. It is, in every sense, a must-watch.

At its heart, The Furious thrives on a classic, reliable premise: protagonists on a mission to rescue their loved ones by dismantling everyone in their path. Joe Taslim shines as Navin, a journalist hunting for his kidnapped wife, while Xie Miao plays a mute handyman whose daughter is snatched, giving him all the justification he needs to let his combat skills do the talking. The cherry on top? The inclusion of Indonesian icon Yayan Ruhian, whose mere presence in a martial arts film serves as a gold-standard stamp of quality.

A masterclass in escalating tension

Critics might point to the film’s straightforward plot or its occasionally clunky dialogue, but that misses the forest for the trees. When you are witnessing a protagonist utilize a hammer to turn a nightclub’s MMA ring into a workspace, you aren’t looking for Shakespearean depth; you are looking for pure, unadulterated spectacle. The choreography is inventive and diverse—ranging from high-speed truck brawls involving flip-flop-wearing fighters to a literal bicycle “sword fight.”

The final confrontation is so staggeringly choreographed and relentless that it left me reeling long after the credits rolled. You’ll find yourself asking, “How did they pull that off?” and the answer is simple: they didn’t just film a fight; they crafted a legacy.

Source: Polygon