A constant rush. Episodes that end on a cliffhangers. Excitement that keeps you glued to the screen – these are the key elements of action series. These shows deliver a steady stream of adrenaline-pumping moments. They bring together intricate plots with high-impact choreography and impressive stunts, making them the ultimate binge-watch, designed to grab your attention from the first scene and not let go until the season finale.
We’ve done the hard work of reviewing the best action series to bring you a definitive, expert-ranked list. Here, we present the top 10 best action series to stream now, covering everything from gritty crime action shows and mind-bending superhero sagas to intense military dramas. Our rankings are driven by what’s trending and the opinions of viewers, ensuring you experience the most exciting action series.
What are the best action series to stream now?
Looking to see how we ranked them? Our definitive ranking of the ten movies on this list is a genuine reflection of what’s currently captivating audiences. We developed our methodology to be transparent and practical, focusing on two key factors: viewer opinions and what’s trending.
In assessing the critical acclaim and the authentic conversations happening online and on social media, we reveal a true snapshot of what viewers are talking about right now. To ensure you have all the information you need to find your next favourite watch, we also included essential details for each film, such as its title, genre, director, cast, synopsis, streaming service, and runtime. This provides a comprehensive guide rooted in real-world popularity and expert insight.

The Terminal List: Dark Wolf
Drama •Action •Adventure •Mystery •Thriller
Overview
Before The Terminal List, Navy SEAL Ben Edwards finds himself entangled in the black operations side of the CIA. The deeper Ben goes into the ‘gray’, the harder it will become to not give himself over to his darker impulses. Every man has two wolves inside him – light and dark – fighting for control. Which wolf will Ben Edwards feed?
Cast
Taylor Kitsch, Chris Pratt, Tom Hopper, Dar Salim, Rona-Lee Shim’on

Peacemaker
Comedy •Action •Adventure •Sci-fi •Crime •Fantasy •Drama
Overview
The continuing story of Peacemaker – a compellingly vainglorious man who believes in peace at any cost, no matter how many people he has to kill to get it – in the aftermath of the events of “The Suicide Squad.”
Cast
John Cena, Danielle Brooks, Freddie Stroma, Chukwudi Iwuji, Jennifer Holland

The Rookie
Crime •Comedy •Drama •Action •Adventure
Overview
Starting over isn’t easy, especially for small-town guy John Nolan who, after a life-altering incident, is pursuing his dream of being an LAPD officer. As the force’s oldest rookie, he’s met with skepticism from some higher-ups who see him as just a walking midlife crisis.
Cast
Nathan Fillion, Melissa O’Neil, Eric Winter, Alyssa Diaz, Mekia Cox

The Last of Us
Drama •Horror •Sci-fi •Mystery •Thriller •Action •Adventure
Overview
Twenty years after modern civilization has been destroyed, Joel, a hardened survivor, is hired to smuggle Ellie, a 14-year-old girl, out of an oppressive quarantine zone. What starts as a small job soon becomes a brutal, heartbreaking journey, as they both must traverse the United States and depend on each other for survival.
Cast
Pedro Pascal, Bella Ramsey
Duration
73 minutes

NCIS: Tony & Ziva
Action •Adventure •Drama •Crime
Overview
When his security company is attacked, Tony and Ziva must go on the run across Europe, try to figure out who is after them and maybe even learn to trust each other again so that they can finally have their unconventional happily ever after.
Cast
Michael Weatherly, Cote de Pablo, Isla Gie, Amita Suman, Maximilian Osinski

Game of Thrones
Drama •Fantasy •Action •Adventure •Sci-fi
Overview
Seven noble families fight for control of the mythical land of Westeros. Friction between the houses leads to full-scale war. All while a very ancient evil awakens in the farthest north. Amidst the war, a neglected military order of misfits, the Night’s Watch, is all that stands between the realms of men and icy horrors beyond.
Director
ERLİK
Cast
Lena Headey, Emilia Clarke, Liam Cunningham, Jacob Anderson, Maisie Williams

The Day of the Jackal
Action •Adventure •Crime •Drama •Mystery •Thriller
Overview
An unrivalled and highly elusive lone assassin, the Jackal, makes his living carrying out hits for the highest fee. But following his latest kill, he meets his match in a tenacious British intelligence officer who starts to track down the Jackal in a thrilling cat-and-mouse chase across Europe, leaving destruction in its wake.
Cast
Eddie Redmayne, Lashana Lynch, Eleanor Matsuura, Chukwudi Iwuji, Úrsula Corberó

Star Trek: Strange New Worlds
Action •Adventure •Sci-fi •Drama
Overview
Follow Captain Christopher Pike, Science Officer Spock and Number One in the years before Captain Kirk boarded the U.S.S. Enterprise, as they explore new worlds around the galaxy.
Cast
Anson Mount, Ethan Peck, Jess Bush, Christina Chong, Celia Rose Gooding
Duration
51 minutes

The Terminal List
Thriller •Action •Adventure •Drama •Mystery
Overview
Navy SEAL Commander James Reece turns to vengeance as he investigates the mysterious forces behind the murder of his entire platoon. Free from the military’s command structure, Reece applies the lessons he’s learned from nearly two decades of warfare to hunt down the people responsible.
Cast
Chris Pratt, Taylor Kitsch, Constance Wu, Riley Keough, Arlo Mertz

Chicago Fire
Drama •Action •Adventure
Overview
An edge-of-your-seat view into the lives of everyday heroes committed to one of America’s noblest professions. For the firefighters, rescue squad and paramedics of Chicago Firehouse 51, no occupation is more stressful or dangerous, yet so rewarding and exhilarating. These courageous men and women are among the elite who forge headfirst into danger when everyone else is running the other way and whose actions make the difference between life and death.
Cast
Taylor Kinney, Kara Killmer, David Eigenberg, Eamonn Walker, Miranda Rae Mayo
Frequently asked questions
Offering a relentless rush, and episode cliffhangers, action series keep you glued to the screen. Adrenaline-pumping moments, combine with intricate plots with high-impact choreography and impressive stunts, offering the ultimate binge-watch, designed to grab your attention from the first scene and not let go.
Giving you an extended, multi-layered experience, the movies listed here are unlike a movie that tells a story in a single sitting. As you watch, you get to know the characters over many episodes, which raises the stakes for every chase and fight. But what’s also different is that the TV series format allows for more complex plots and bigger, more detailed worlds.
We include a few different types of action series, so you can find something to suit your tastes. Enjoy the crime sub-genre? Gritty crime action shows are here, where a detective is up against the clock, so you can take your pick. Like superhero action? We also include mind-bending superhero sagas, and intense military dramas that put you right in the middle of the action.
Using a transparent and practical methodology, we build our comprehensive list. And we additionally look at the opinions of the public and what is trending to see what people are genuinely excited about, so a show makes the list based on a combination of genuine viewer reviews and its enduring popularity in Australia.
A new release isn’t guaranteed a spot on our list, but it’s probably be on our radar if we see that it receives positive, strong public opinions and is trending. We believe a credible guide should include series that people are talking about and classic, well-loved series. And to provide you with the most relevant information, we always update our rankings.
We advise considering which genres you already enjoy to choose a new action series. Or, if you’re a fan of a specific actor or director, it’s worth looking for their work on your streaming platform to enjoy more from them. Our lists are also a good place to start if you want to find what’s trending and join in on a popular conversation.
Focusing on the lives of soldiers and their missions, and balancing intense action with deep, human drama, a military drama is a subgenre that explores the personal and professional struggles of their characters, and can have a war context.
Public sentiment for a show is a key factor in our ranking, and to measure it, we look at audience reviews, what’s being discussed on social media, and what titles are consistently being streamed. It’s a credible way of understanding which shows are truly resonating with viewers like you and building a trustworthy guide.