The Best Action Movies to be releases in 2021

Top Upcoming Action Movies 2021 & 2022 Trailer Compilation

1/ Wrath of Man is an upcoming American  action thriller film directed by  Guy Ritchie, from a script he co-wrote with Ivan Atkinson and Marn Davies, and is based on the 2004 French film  Cash Truck by  Nicolas Boukhrief  ^[2]. It is Ritchie’s fourth directorial collaboration with lead actor  Jason Statham, following  Lock, Stock and Two Smoking Barrels (1998),  Snatch (2000), and  Revolver (2005).  Holt McCallany,  Jeffrey Donovan,  Josh Hartnett,  Laz Alonso,  Raúl Castillo,  DeObia Oparei,  Eddie Marsan, and  Scott Eastwood also star.

2/ Hitman’s Wife’s Bodyguard is an upcoming American  action comedy film directed by  Patrick Hughes and written by Tom O’Connor and Brandon and Phillip Murphy. It is a sequel to the 2017 film  The Hitman’s Bodyguard and is set to star  Ryan Reynolds,  Samuel L. Jackson,  Salma Hayek,  Frank Grillo,  Richard E. Grant,  Tom Hopper,  Antonio Banderas and  Morgan Freeman.

3/F9 (also known as F9: The Fast Saga or Fast & Furious 9) is an upcoming American  action film directed by  Justin Lin, who also co-wrote the screenplay with  Daniel Casey. It is the sequel to  The Fate of the Furious (2017), the ninth main installment, and the tenth full-length film released overall in the  Fast & Furious franchise. The first film since  Fast & Furious 6 (2013) to be directed by Lin and the first since  2 Fast 2 Furious (2003) not to be written by  Chris Morgan, the film will star  Vin Diesel,  Michelle Rodriguez,  Tyrese Gibson,  Chris “Ludacris” Bridges,  John Cena,  Jordana Brewster,  Nathalie Emmanuel,  Sung Kang,  Helen Mirren, and  Charlize Theron.

F9 was originally scheduled for worldwide release in April 2019, but was delayed several times, first due to the releases of  Hobbs & Shaw (2019) and  No Time to Die (2021), and then the  COVID-19 pandemic. It is now officially scheduled to world premiere in  South Korea and  Taiwan on May 19, 2021, and is set to be released in the  United States on June 25, 2021.

4/Those Who Wish Me Dead is an upcoming American  neo-Western  survival  action thriller film directed by  Taylor Sheridan with a screenplay by  Michael Koryta,  Charles Leavitt, and Sheridan, based on Koryta’s novel of the same name. ^[1] The film stars  Angelina Jolie,  Nicholas Hoult, Finn Little,  Aidan Gillen, Medina Senghore,  Tyler Perry,  Jake Weber, and  Jon Bernthal.

Those Who Wish Me Dead is scheduled to be released in the United States on May 14, 2021, by  Warner Bros. Pictures under the  New Line Cinema banner, both in theaters and on  HBO Max.

5/Top Gun: Maverick is an upcoming American  action  drama film directed by  Joseph Kosinski from a screenplay by  Ehren Kruger,  Eric Warren Singer, and  Christopher McQuarrie and a story by  Peter Craig and  Justin Marks. ^[6] It is the sequel to 1986’s  Top Gun. The film stars  Tom Cruise,  Miles Teller,  Jennifer Connelly,  Jon Hamm,  Glen Powell,  Lewis Pullman,  Ed Harris, and  Val Kilmer. Cruise and Kilmer reprise their roles from the first film.

The film is scheduled to be theatrically released in the United States and Canada on November 19, 2021, by  Paramount Pictures. ^[7] It will also be available to stream on  Paramount+ 45 days after its theatrical debut. It was originally scheduled for release on July 12, 2019 but was postponed to “allow the production to work out all the complex flight sequences”. ^[8] Due to the  COVID-19 pandemic and scheduling conflicts, the film received further delays. ^{[9] [7]}

6/Tom Clancy’s Without Remorse (also known simply as Without Remorse), is an upcoming American  action thriller film directed by  Stefano Sollima and written by  Taylor Sheridan and  Will Staples. It is based on the  1993 novel of the same name by  Tom Clancy and a  spin-off of the  Jack Ryan film series. The film stars  Michael B. Jordan,  Jamie Bell,  Jodie Turner-Smith,  Luke Mitchell,  Jack Kesy,  Brett Gelman,  Colman Domingo and  Guy Pearce.

Originally produced and set for a theatrical release by  Paramount Pictures, due to the ongoing  COVID-19 pandemic,  Amazon Studios acquired the rights and will release it on  Prime Video on April 30, 2021. ^[3]

7/The Suicide Squad is a fictional  antihero team appearing in  American comic books published by  DC Comics. The first version of the Suicide Squad debuted in  The Brave and the Bold #25 (September  1959) and the second and modern version, created by  John Ostrander, debuted in  Legends #3 (January  1987).

The modern incarnation of the Suicide Squad is Task Force X—a team of incarcerated  supervillains who undertake high-risk  black ops secret missions in exchange for either  parole,  work release, and/or reduced prison sentences. Regardless of abilities and talent, every member of the squad is expendable, deniable, and it is expected that not many will return. As expendable assets, all members are fitted with an explosive device in their neck to assure obedience. The Suicide Squad’s name alludes to the dangerous nature of their missions. The team is based out of Belle Reve Penitentiary under the directorship of  Amanda Waller.

Various incarnations of the Suicide Squad have existed throughout the years as depicted in several self-titled comic book series, from its origins in the  Silver Age, to its modern-day Post- Crisis reimagining, to the current version that was introduced in 2020. The current incarnation of the team appears in the sixth volume of the Suicide Squad comic series, and the recurring members include  Enchantress,  Katana,  Killer Croc,  Captain Boomerang,  Deadshot and  Harley Quinn.

8/Black Widow is an upcoming American  superhero film based on the  Marvel Comics character  of the same name. Produced by  Marvel Studios and distributed by  Walt Disney Studios Motion Pictures, it is intended to be  the 24th film in the  Marvel Cinematic Universe (MCU). The film was directed by  Cate Shortland and written by  Eric Pearson from a story by  Jac Schaeffer and  Ned Benson, and stars  Scarlett Johansson as  Natasha Romanoff / Black Widow alongside  Florence Pugh,  David Harbour,  O-T Fagbenle,  William Hurt,  Ray Winstone, and  Rachel Weisz. Set after  Captain America: Civil War (2016), the film sees Romanoff on the run and forced to confront her past.

Development of a Black Widow film began in April 2004 by  Lionsgate, with  David Hayter attached to write and direct. The project did not move forward and the film rights to the character reverted to Marvel Studios by June 2006. Johansson was cast in the role for several MCU films beginning with  Iron Man 2 (2010). Marvel and Johansson expressed interest in a solo film several times over the following years, before Schaeffer and Shortland were hired in 2018. Benson and Pearson were added later. Filming took place from May to October, in  Norway,  Budapest,  Morocco,  Pinewood Studios in the United Kingdom, and in  Atlanta and  Macon, Georgia.

Black Widow is scheduled to be released in the United States on July 9, 2021,  simultaneously in theaters and through  Disney+ with  Premier Access. It will be the first film in  Phase Four of the MCU, and was delayed three times from an original May 2020 release date due to the  COVID-19 pandemic.

9/Free Guy is an upcoming American  science fiction  action comedy film directed by  Shawn Levy from a screenplay by Matt Lieberman and  Zak Penn and a story by Lieberman. The film stars  Ryan Reynolds,  Jodie Comer,  Joe Keery,  Lil Rel Howery,  Utkarsh Ambudkar and  Taika Waititi.

Free Guy is scheduled to be theatrically released in  IMAX in the United States on August 13, 2021 by  20th Century Studios. Its release had been pushed back three times from a July 2020 release date due to the  COVID-19 pandemic.

10/The King’s Man is an upcoming  period  action  spy film directed by  Matthew Vaughn from a screenplay by Vaughn and  Karl Gajdusek and a story by Vaughn. The third instalment in the  Kingsman film series, which is based on the comic book  The Secret Service by  Mark Millar and  Dave Gibbons, the film serves as a prequel to 2014’s  Kingsman: The Secret Service and 2017’s  Kingsman: The Golden Circle.

The film features an ensemble cast that includes  Ralph Fiennes,  Gemma Arterton,  Rhys Ifans,  Matthew Goode,  Tom Hollander,  Harris Dickinson,  Daniel Brühl,  Djimon Hounsou, and  Charles Dance.

The King’s Man is scheduled to be released on December 22, 2021, by  20th Century Studios, delayed several times from an original November 2019 release date, partially due to the  COVID-19 pandemic.

11/ Mortal Kombat is an American  media franchi /se centered on a series of  video games, originally developed by  Midway Games in 1992. The development of the first game was originally based on an idea that  Ed Boon and  John Tobias had of making a video game starring  Jean-Claude Van Damme, but as that idea fell through, a  fantasy-themed  fighting game was created instead, nonetheless paying homage to him with movie character  Johnny Cage, whose initials and personal style resemble Van Damme’s.  Mortal Kombat was the first fighting game to introduce a secret fighter, reached if the player fulfilled a set of requirements.

The original game has spawned  many sequels and spin-offs consisting of several  action-adventure games, as well as a comic book series and a card game. Movie producer  Lawrence Kasanoff licensed the rights to the game in the early 1990s and produced the first movie of the franchise. Kasanoff also produced the second movie, animated TV series, live-action TV series movies, the first one million platinum-selling album and a live-action tour. Mortal Kombat has become  one of the most successful fighting franchises in the history of video games and one of the  highest-grossing media franchises of all time.

The series has a reputation for high levels of graphic violence, including, most notably, its  Fatalities (finishing moves allowing the player to finish off their defeated opponent).  Controversies surrounding Mortal Kombat, in part, led to the creation of the  Entertainment Software Rating Board video game rating system. Early games in this series were also noted for their realistic  digitized  sprites and an extensive use of  palette swapping to create new characters. Following Midway’s bankruptcy, the Mortal Kombat development team was acquired by  Warner Bros. Entertainment and reestablished as  NetherRealm Studios.

12/Dune is a 1984 American  epic  science fiction film written and directed by  David Lynch and based on the 1965  Frank Herbert  novel of the same name. The film stars  Kyle MacLachlan (in his film debut) as young nobleman  Paul Atreides, and includes an  ensemble of well-known American and European actors in supporting roles. It was filmed at the  Churubusco Studios in  Mexico City and included a  soundtrack by the  rock band  Toto, as well as  Brian Eno.

Set in the distant future, the film chronicles the conflict between rival noble families as they battle for control of the extremely harsh desert planet  Arrakis, also known as “Dune”. The planet is the only source of the drug  melange—also called “the spice”—which allows  prescience and is vital to space travel, making it the most essential and valuable  commodity in the universe. Paul Atreides is the scion and heir of a powerful noble family, whose inheritance of control over Arrakis brings them into conflict with its former overlords,  House Harkonnen. Paul is also a candidate for the  Kwisatz Haderach, a messianic figure in the  Bene Gesserit religion. Besides MacLachlan, the film features a large  ensemble cast of supporting actors, including  Patrick Stewart,  Brad Dourif,  Dean Stockwell,  Virginia Madsen,  José Ferrer,  Sting,  Linda Hunt, and  Max von Sydow, among others.

After the novel’s initial success, attempts to adapt Dune as a film began in 1971. A lengthy process of  development followed throughout the 1970s, during which  Arthur P. Jacobs,  Alejandro Jodorowsky, and  Ridley Scott unsuccessfully tried to bring their visions to the screen. In 1981,  executive producer  Dino De Laurentiis hired Lynch as director.

The film was a  box office bomb, grossing $30.9 million from a $40 million budget, and was negatively reviewed by critics, who heavily criticized the screenwriting, lack of faithfulness to the source material, pacing, direction, and editing, although the visual effects, musical score, acting, and action sequences were praised. Upon release, Lynch disowned the final film, stating that pressure from both producers and financiers restrained his  artistic control and denied him  final cut privilege. At least three versions have been released worldwide. In some cuts, Lynch’s name is replaced in the credits with the name  Alan Smithee, a pseudonym used by directors who wish not to be associated with a film for which they would normally be credited. The extended and television versions additionally credit writer Lynch as  Judas  Booth. The film has developed a  cult following over time, but opinion varies among fans of the novel and fans of Lynch’s films.

A  new adaptation, directed by  Denis Villeneuve, is scheduled for release in 2021.

13/The Batman is an upcoming American  superhero film based on the  DC Comics character  Batman. Produced by  DC Films and distributed by  Warner Bros. Pictures, it is a  reboot of the  Batman film franchise. The film was directed by  Matt Reeves, who wrote the screenplay with  Peter Craig. It stars  Robert Pattinson as Bruce Wayne / Batman, alongside  Zoë Kravitz,  Paul Dano,  Jeffrey Wright,  John Turturro,  Peter Sarsgaard,  Barry Keoghan,  Jayme Lawson,  Andy Serkis, and  Colin Farrell. The Batman is set during Batman’s second year of fighting crime and follows him as he explores  Gotham City‘s corruption and faces the  Riddler, a riddle-obsessed  serial killer.

Development of a  DC Extended Universe (DCEU) Batman film began in 2014, with  Ben Affleck set to direct, produce, and star, and co-write the script with  Geoff Johns. After struggling with the script, Affleck stepped down as writer and director in January 2017 to focus on playing the character. Reeves took over directorial and scripting duties in February, and reworked the story to focus on a younger Batman and emphasize the character’s detective aspects more than prior films. Affleck left the project in January 2019, and Pattinson was cast that May. The film’s connections to the DCEU were subsequently eliminated.  Principal photography began in  London, England, in January 2020, and concluded in March 2021. Production was suspended between March and September 2020 due to the  COVID-19 pandemic.

The Batman is scheduled to be released in the United States on March 4, 2022. Its release was delayed twice from an original June 2021 date due to the COVID-19 pandemic. Two sequels are planned, while a spin-off prequel television series is in development for  HBO Max.

14/Godzilla vs. Kong is a 2021 American  monster film directed by  Adam Wingard. A sequel to  Godzilla: King of the Monsters (2019) and  Kong: Skull Island (2017), it is the fourth film in  Legendary‘s  MonsterVerse. It is also the 36th film in the  Godzilla franchise, the 12th film in the  King Kong franchise, and the fourth Godzilla film to be completely produced by a Hollywood studio. ^[b] The film stars  Alexander Skarsgård,  Millie Bobby Brown,  Rebecca Hall,  Brian Tyree Henry,  Shun Oguri,  Eiza González,  Julian Dennison,  Lance Reddick,  Kyle Chandler, and  Demián Bichir. In the film,  Kong clashes with  Godzilla as humans lure the ape into the  Hollow Earth to retrieve a power source for a  weapon to stop Godzilla’s mysterious rampages.

The project was announced in October 2015 when Legendary announced plans for a shared cinematic universe between Godzilla and King Kong. The film’s writers room was assembled in March 2017, and Wingard was announced as the director in May 2017.  Principal photography began in November 2018 in  Hawaii,  Australia and  Hong Kong, and  wrapped in April 2019. After being delayed from a November 2020 release date due to the  COVID-19 pandemic, Godzilla vs. Kong was theatrically released internationally on March 24, 2021, and in the United States on March 31, where it was released in theaters and on  HBO Max simultaneously.

The film received generally positive reviews from critics, with praise for the visual effects and action sequences, but criticism towards the script and human characters. It broke several pandemic box office records, and has grossed $390.9 million worldwide against a  break-even point of $330 million, making it the  third highest-grossing film of 2021. The film was also a streaming hit, becoming the most successful launch item in HBO Max’s history.

15/Jungle Cruise is an upcoming American  fantasy  adventure film directed by  Jaume Collet-Serra from a story by  Glenn Ficarra &  John Requa and a screenplay written by  Michael Green, Ficarra and Requa, based on  Walt Disney‘s  theme park attraction of the same name. Produced by  Walt Disney Pictures, the film stars  Dwayne Johnson,  Emily Blunt,  Édgar Ramírez,  Jack Whitehall,  Jesse Plemons, and  Paul Giamatti.

Jungle Cruise is scheduled to be released on July 30, 2021 by  Walt Disney Studios Motion Pictures.

15/ Morbius is an upcoming American  superhero film based on the  Marvel Comics character  of the same name, produced by  Columbia Pictures in association with  Marvel. Distributed by  Sony Pictures Releasing, it is intended to be the third film in the  Sony Pictures Universe of Marvel Characters. The film is directed by  Daniel Espinosa, written by  Matt Sazama and Burk Sharpless, and stars  Jared Leto as Michael Morbius alongside  Matt Smith,  Adria Arjona,  Jared Harris,  Al Madrigal, and  Tyrese Gibson. In the film, biochemist Michael Morbius becomes a vampire after attempting to cure himself of a rare blood disease.

After announcing plans for a new shared universe of films inspired by  Spider-Man characters beginning with  Venom (2018), Sony began developing one based on Morbius. Sazama and Sharpless had written a script by November 2017. Leto and Espinosa officially joined in June 2018. Work began in earnest at the end of the year with further casting, ahead of a production start in February 2019 in  London. Filming was confirmed to have been completed by June 2019.

Morbius is scheduled to be released in the United States on January 21, 2022, delayed from an initial July 2020 date due to the  COVID-19 pandemic.

16/ Vanquish is a 2021 American  crime thriller film directed by  George Gallo. It follows a single mother ( Ruby Rose) who is forced to do the bidding of a retired cop ( Morgan Freeman) after he kidnaps her daughter. The film was released on April 16, 2021.