I saw myself fall in love with the genre due to the likes of Caught Stealing, The Running Man and Thunderbolts.
2025 saw the release of many highly anticipated action films, and I am usually not on the lookout for them. However, I saw myself fall in love with the genre due to the likes of Caught Stealing, The Running Man and Thunderbolts.
Caught Stealing
After a couple of cinema trips to see Caught Stealing, directed by Darren Aronofsky, it became one of my favourite releases of the year. Although I was initially drawn in by performances from Austin Butler, Zoë Kravitz and Matt Smith, (honourable mention to Tonic the cat), the thrill and fast paced intensity kept me entertained. Caught Stealing sees Hank, a burned-out ex-baseball player, catapulted into a fight for survival in a late 1990s New York City. With a dark, grungy atmosphere and a soundtrack full of rock and angst, we as an audience become fully immersed in the world that Aronofsky has created. Our main character, Hank, is incredibly flawed and at times self-destructive. Despite this, I couldn’t help but root for him because he’s just a normal guy caught in the crossfire and unable to catch a break throughout the 1 hour 47 minute runtime. I think it is easier to sympathise with Hank, even when he finds himself in the wrong, because Austin Butler’s portrayal feels so human, he is a complex character trying to navigate a new side of his personality, one where he is constantly in fight or flight. Yvonne, played by Zoë Kravitz emphasises this point as we see Hank neglect her affection and loyalty time and time again but running back to her in his times of need, inadvertently getting her caught in his mess. It’s not all doom and gloom though, Caught Stealing strikes the perfect balance between humour, discomfort and shock. Russ, Hank’s neighbour who gets him into all this trouble, played by Matt Smith, is a huge comedic relief for the audience whilst raising the stakes and stress levels simultaneously. Additionally, the stunts made this an intense, shocking watch full of action. Seeing Hank race through the streets of NYC, even while seriously injured, increases the stress levels as he becomes more under threat. These stunts and acts of violence committed by the characters amplify the shock and discomfort when the film subverts the audience’s expectations with some plot twists, keeping us on our toes the whole time.
The Running Man
Another film this year that highlighted my admiration for the genre was The Running Man, directed by Edgar Wright. The film introduces us to Ben, a working-class man scrambling to keep his sick daughter and family afloat, played by Glen Powell. Similarly to Caught Stealing, we watch his world get turned upside down, leaving him to rely on instincts and desperation. Ben finds himself as a contestant on The Running Man and uncovers the malpractice from the production, specifically the producer played by Josh Brolin, putting himself at greater risk. The commentary on media manipulation was fascinating to me, especially the way the film delivers information through certain characters. For example, the older brother’s myth busting show. Performances from Glen Powell, Colman Domingo and Michael Cera made this film exciting, providing humour and absurdity but also scenes of intensity and cruelty. Glen Powell brought an unbeatable, stubborn energy to his character Ben that was thrilling to me, it was shocking to see how far he would go.
Thunderbolts*
Lastly, Thunderbolts, directed by Jake Schreier surprised me with emotional elements paired with fast paced action. An unconventional team of misfits take on a mission that requires them to look inward and confront their traumas. When I saw Thunderbolts* in the cinema I did not expect to be blinking back tears but I welcomed it. Tackling anxieties and feelings of inadequacythat we all experience as humans, accompanied by superhero stunts and fight sequences, it struck a chord with me. With standout performances from Florence Pugh and Lewis Pullman, the film combines superhero action and human nature, making it understood and felt by all.
It is interesting that we can be so convinced of our taste and whether we will or will not enjoy something, but what I have taken away from this year is that I’ll be anticipating some more action films.
