Pluto TV boasts one of the largest movie catalogs among all the streaming services. This is thanks to partnerships with 170 content generators. The ad-sponsored network offers both 24/7 channels devoted to specific franchises and themes, as well as on-demand movies. These include some of the greatest Action Movies of all time.
What are the best action movies on Pluto TV?
The action genre is diverse and is made up of numerous subgenres. These include martial arts, historic period pieces, urban thrillers, and heist pictures. With that in mind, the following list of movies available on Pluto TV as of February 2026 attempts to offer a variety of classics.
Rambo: First Blood Part II (1985)
Former US Army Green Beret John Rambo (Sylvester Stallone) was imprisoned after having a violent breakdown. Three years later, Rambo is approached in prison by his former commanding officer, Colonel Sam Trautman. The Colonel explains that the US Army is facing pressure to investigate reports of American prisoners of war still being held in Vietnam.
To that end, an infiltration mission has been approved to confirm or refute these reports. Colonel Trautman says they could think of no better operative for this mission than Rambo, due to his own POW experiences. A full pardon is ready if he agrees to take the mission.
Unfortunately, time has not healed Rambo’s wounds, nor stemmed his tendency to ignore orders he doesn’t like. When Rambo has the opportunity to rescue a POW, he takes it, despite his orders to take only pictures of the POWs. Abandoned his handlers, Rambo is left to once again fight a one-man-war to free his fellow soldiers.
Rambo: First Blood Part II was a controversial movie for several reasons. Chief among them was that the movie scaled back the political themes of the original First Blood in favor of more fight scenes and explosions. This mattered little to action fans, however, who approved of the film’s many intense sequences These were scripted separately by James Cameron and Sylvester Stallone, with Cameron claiming he wrote most of the action and Stallone added in the political scenes discussing the plight of American soldiers after the Vietnam War.
The Untouchables (1987)
In 1930’s Chicago, gangster Al Capone (Robert DeNiro) ruled the city with an iron first. Capone ran the illegal liquor trade into the city during Prohibition and effectively owned the police department and many politicians. With the local authorities either unwilling or unable to fight Capone, Bureau of Prohibition Agent Elliot Ness (Kevin Costner) is tasked with bringing down the infamous kingpin.
To that end, Ness assembles a team to harass Capone and his operations. Veteran Chicago cop James Malone (Sean Connery). Idealistic rookie cop George Stone (Andy Garcia). Accountant Oscar Wallace (Charles Martin Smith), who begins to organize an effort to bring down Capone for tax evasion. Together, they will be remembered as legends and called The Untouchables.
While taking considerable liberties with the real history, The Untouchables was a well-received action movie. Sean Connery earned the Oscar and Golden Globe awards for Best Supporting Actor for his performance as James Malone. The movie also won a Grammy for Best Original Score.
However, the movie is most often remembered today for its intricate action sequences. Chief among these is the train station sequence, in which Ness and his men attempt to capture Capone’s accountant. This is made more difficult by the sudden appearance of a young mother with a baby carriage in the middle of the operation.
Total Recall (1990)
Construction worker Douglas Quaid (Arnold Schwarzenegger) has a seemingly idyllic life. He has a good job and a gorgeous wife. He also has recurring dreams of a strange woman and living on Mars. This leads him to seek out Rekall; a company that implants realistic false memories.
However, Quaid’s efforts to give himself the memories of a Martian spy seem to trigger something before the implant takes hold. Soon, he’s displaying combat skills he shouldn’t have and many people, including his wife, are trying to kill him. The truth of who he is will take him to Mars and the middle of a revolution against Mars’ dictator, Vilos Cohaagen.
Based on the Philip K. Dick story “We Can Remember It for You Wholesale,” Total Recall is widely considered to be one of Arnold Schwarzenegger’s best action movies. It is also considered one of the best cinematic adaptations of Dick’s writing. The movie is praised for its examination of the problems with colonialism and authoritarianism. It is also praised for its ambiguous ending, which leaves it unclear if Quaid’s experiences are real or a delusion. Beyond that, the production team did a fantastic job of bringing Mars to life and making it seem like a real world.
Hero (2002)
It is the time of Chinese history known as the Waring States period. The King of Qin sits upon a troubled throne, with multiple assassins trying to end his life and his efforts to unite China under one banner. Under tightened security, which forbids anyone coming within 100 paces of him, the King of Quin agrees to meet with a perfect called Nameless (Jet Li.)
Nameless spins an unlikely tale, in which he confronted the three assassins who tried and failed to slay the King; Broken Sword, Flying Snow, and Long Sky. The King counters with his own tale, based on rumors of a warrior that can kill a man at ten paces or strike with such precision that he can leave someone alive despite an apparently lethal blow. The truth of things may be more complicated.
Originally released in China as Yīngxióng, the movie called Hero in the United States faced a difficult time finding worldwide acclaim. It took the combined efforts of Quentin Tarantino, Disney executives, and the Government of China to secure a release of the film with English subtitles. Tarantino also lent his name to the film’s marketing.
Despite failing to win the Oscar for Best Foreign Language Film, Hero still holds an important position in film history. It was the first Chinese film to ever top the American box office and stayed there for two weeks. It also won multiple production awards at the Hong Kong Film Awards, including Best Art Direction, Best Action Choreography, and Best Costume/Make Up Design.
Crank (2006)
Chev Chelios (Jason Statham) is a hitman for crime boss Don “Carlito” Carlos. He’s been a loyal soldier, but an ambitious hood named Ricky Verona wants his job. To that end, Verona strikes a bargain with Carlito, after Chelios is sent out to kill rival gang leader Don Kim. If he can kill Chelios and convince the Triads he was a lone gunman, Verona will replace Chelios.
To that end, Verona injects Chelios with a synthetic drug while he is asleep. Known as the Beijing Cocktail, the drug inhibits the body’s ability to generate adrenaline. This eventually causes the heart to stop completely, mimicking the effects of a heart attack.
This leaves Chelios taking greater and greater risks to keep his blood pumping as he hunts for an antidote. Failing that, he needs to keep going long enough to clear his name and get revenge. He also needs to make peace with his long-suffering girlfriend.
Jason Statham was an established action hero long before Crank. However, many consider it to be the best of the many movies he starred in. Beyond Statham’s performance, the movie was also praised for its practical effects and stunt work. Indeed, the marketing made great play of how Crank did not use any CGI and Statham did his own fighting and driving stunts.
How we picked the best action movies on Pluto TV in 2026
There are many great action movies to be found on Pluto TV, and choosing between them is difficult. In the end, we decided to name some of the greatest action hero actors of all time. We then picked one movie among Pluto TV’s holdings that best exemplified their work. Other considerations included the movie’s historical significance and any awards it might have won.
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