The holidays may be here, but that does not mean that cinema fans have to slow down and indulge in Christmas classics. In fact, action fans can make their own celebration of the genre to combat the season’s lack of fisticuffs, shootouts, and high-octane stunts. We certainly do have Die Hard as a Christmas movie, which is being added to Peacock on December 1, FYI. Still, the focus on feel-good holiday films certainly overshadows all the new action movies coming to theaters and streaming.
We want to focus on those action releases, and here you will find a complete list of all movies in the genre coming to theaters or streaming in December. We have picked a few to highlight, including a brutal Viking epic and a fan favorite returning to theaters. Below is a complete list of all movies, including where and when they will be available.
‘The Northman’ (2022)
Streaming on Netflix on December 3
A brutal and mythic tale of redemption, The Northman follows Prince Amleth (Alexander Skarsgård), who goes into hiding after witnessing his father’s murder by his uncle, Fjölnir (Claes Bang). Amleth vows revenge and spends his youth training his body and battle skills as a warrior. Along the way, he encounters Olga (Anya Taylor-Joy), a woman with her own secrets and goals, and is also confronted with the truth behind his mother, Queen Gudrún (Nicole Kidman), and her loyalty to Fjölnir.
Everything directed by Robert Eggers has an artistic flair that sets it apart from genre norms, and The Northman blends Norse mythology, action, and drama into a unique concoction under his guidance. More importantly for action fans, the fight scenes here are visceral and brutal, aiming for authenticity rather than a more stylized vision of steel-clad conflict. This is not the first time the movie has landed on streaming, but its addition to Netflix will give many action fans easy access to this brutal Viking tale of revenge and redemption.
‘Kill Bill: The Whole Bloody Affair’ (2025)
In Theaters on December 5
Kill Bill returns to theaters, but in a new format. Here, Kill Bill 1 & 2 have been cut together to create the ultimate cut of the Tarantino classic. Kill Bill: The Whole Bloody Affair presents the film as Tarantino originally intended: a singular cinematic experience. It is unlikely that new fans will see Kill Bill in theaters for the first time, unless someone else introduces them to the flick. Still, it is a welcome addition to theaters, and an ideal way to re-experience the classic tale of revenge as Uma Thurman’s The Bride takes to the big screen once again. Just be ready for the long haul, as the film is a four-hour experience.
‘F1: The Movie’ (2025)
Streaming on Apple TV+ on December 12
F1: The Movie, being added to Apple TV, marks what is arguably the most anticipated action movie to make its way to streaming in December. Finding great success in theaters, with a potential sequel already on the horizon, the Brad Pitt-led film takes place in the world of the explosive sport. Here, Pitt plays a former racer, Sonny Hayes, who returns to help a struggling team alongside young, rising talent Joshua Pearce (Damson Idris) for one last shot at glory on the racetrack.
High-speed POV-style cinematography, filmed on F1 racetracks, offers the most immersive experience the sport has ever seen on the screen. Indeed, director Joseph Kosinski brought the same fine eye for capturing pulse-pounding, high-octane action sequences as in Top Gun: Maverick. Few people will ever know what it feels like inside an F1 car, but the film delivers as authentic a sensation as possible from home.
‘Plane’ (2023)
Streaming on Hulu on December 12
Commercial airline pilot Brodie Torrance (Gerard Butler) manages to land his plane after it is struck by lightning during a vicious storm. Yet, this is only the start of the danger he, his crew, and passengers face, as they land in a remote jungle which is home to a brutal militia. Most of the passengers are taken hostage, and Brodie ends up finding an unlikely ally in Louis Gaspare (Mike Colter), a convicted murderer who was being transported on his flight by the FBI. Together, the two set out on a deadly mission to save themselves and the passengers in Plane.
Action fans know that sometimes the most entertaining films are those that deviate little from the classic formula. We don’t need any “deeper” meanings or subversive storytelling, just get to the a**-kicking! Popcorn action at its best, Plane allows you to switch off your brain and indulge. Of course, even at its most straightforward, you need a good lead, and both Gerard Butler and Mike Colter are phenomenal here at pushing the action forward, while looking cool doing it.
‘Ne Zha 2’ (2025)
Streaming on HBO Max on December 24
Ne Zha 2 comes with a bit of a caveat: you need to see the first film. The great news is that the original Ne Zha is also streaming on HBO Max, right now! That means you can double-dip with phenomenal animated action films. The movies draw heavily from Chinese folklore and are presented with a sharp visual direction and a grand scale of action/adventure. The franchise, at its core, is about Ne Zha, a mythological hero, a rebellious and strong young figure from ancient legend who battles demons.
For action fans, the film draws heavily on the Wuxia genre; consider Ne Zha an animated love letter to the rich tradition. This means those who loved films like Crouching Tiger, Hidden Dragon, and Hero, or, if you are old school, A Touch of Zen, and One-Armed Swordsman, can check out Ne Zha and touch into that same blend of martial arts and fantasy that entranced them as kids.
Every Action Movie Coming to Theaters
* indicates a limited-theatrical release
- Kill Bill: The Whole Bloody Affair — December 5
- Frontier Crucible* — December 5
- Lone Samurai* — December 12
- Turbulence* — December 12
- Avatar: Fire and Ash — December 19
- Anaconda — December 25
Every Action Movie Coming to Netflix
- Troll 2 (Netflix Original) — December 1
- The Northman (2022) — December 3
- Wake Up Dead Man: A Knives Out Mystery (Netflix Original) — December 12
Every Action Movie Coming To Paramount+
- Guns Up — December 1
- 22 Jump Street — December 1
- American Renegades — December 1
- American Sniper — December 1
- Annihilation — December 1
- Batman (1989) — December 1
- Batman & Robin (1997) — December 1
- Batman Forever (1995) — December 1
- Batman Returns (1992) — December 1
- Beverly Hills Cop (1984) — December 1
- Beverly Hills Cop II (1987) — December 1
- Beverly Hills Cop III (1994) — December 1
- Braveheart — December 1
- Django Unchained — December 1
- From Dusk Till Dawn — December 1
- Inglourious Basterds — December 1
- Jungleland — December 1
- Monster Trucks — December 1
- No Country for Old Men — December 1
- Ocean’s Eleven (2001) — December 1
- Ocean’s Twelve (2004) — December 1
- Ocean’s Thirteen (2007) — December 1
- Pulp Fiction — December 1
- Safe — December 1
- Shaft (2000) — December 1
- The Equalizer (2014) — December 1
- The Equalizer 2 (2018) — December 1
- The Fighter — December 1
- The Hateful Eight — December 1
- The Hunt for Red October — December 1
- The Island — December 1
- The Italian Job (2003) — December 1
- True Grit (2010) — December 1
- Virtuosity — December 1
Every Action Movie Coming to Peacock
- Creed — December 1
- Creed II — December 1
- Creed III — December 1
- Die Hard — December 1
- Gladiator — December 1
- Pacific Rim — December 1
- Pacific Rim: Uprising — December 1
- Public Enemies — December 1
- Rocky — December 1
- Rocky II — December 1
- Rocky III — December 1
- Rocky IV — December 1
- Rocky V — December 1
- Troy — December 1
Every Action Movie Coming to Hulu
- Dawn Of The Planet Of The Apes (2014) — December 1
- Planet of the Apes (2001) — December 1
- Rise of the Planet of the Apes (2011) — December 1
- The Devil Conspiracy (2022) — December 2
- Inheritance (2025) — December 5
- Neighborhood Watch (2025) — December 12
- Plane (2023) — December 12
- Under Fire (2025) — December 12
- Chevalier (2023) — December 16
- American Sweatshop (2025) — December 18
- Finnick 2 (2025) — December 26
- Grand Prix of Europe (2025) — December 31
Every Action Movie Coming to HBO Max
- Aztec Batman: Clash of Empires (2025) — December 22
- Ne Zha 2 — December 24
Every Action Movie Coming to Apple TV+
- F1: The Movie — December 12
Every Action Movie Coming to Prime Video
- Bloodsport (1988) — December 1
- Double Impact (1991) — December 1
- Mad Max (1980) — December 1
- Sicario: Day of the Soldado (2018) — December 1
- The Phoenician Scheme (2025) — December 5
- Bullet Train (2022) — December 3
- Transformers: The Last Knight (2017) — December 9
- Merv (2025) — December 10
- Tell Me Softly / Dímelo Bajito (2025) — December 12
- Joker: Folie à Deux (2024) — December 16
- The Creator (2023) — December 20
- A Minecraft Movie (2025) — December 22
- Sinners (2025) — December 26
- The Naked Gun (2025) — December 29
- Blade (1998) — December 30
- Blade II (2002) — December 30
- Ready Player One (2018) — December 30
- Wrath of the Titans (2012) — December 30