The Furious Has a 99% Rotten Tomatoes Score — The Best Action Movie of 2026 Is Here

The Furious Is 2026’s Most Rave-Reviewed Action Film

If you’ve been hunting for a genuinely great action movie in 2026, look no further than The Furious. Currently sitting at a staggering 99% on Rotten Tomatoes (from 83 critics) and a 96% audience score, this Lionsgate martial arts film is being hailed as one of the best action movies of the entire decade. It’s also playing in theaters right now.

Directed by Kenji Tanigaki — a veteran stuntman with credits on over 50 films who finally stepped into the director’s chair — The Furious is the kind of no-nonsense, bone-crunching action flick that fans have been starving for. Critics are comparing it to Gareth Evans’s The Raid (2011), which is honestly one of the highest compliments an action film can get.

What The Furious Is About

The premise is straightforward and brutally effective: a man’s daughter is kidnapped by a criminal network, and a corrupt police force refuses to help. Teaming up with a journalist whose wife has also vanished, the two go on an absolute rampage against the kidnappers to rescue their loved ones. It’s lean, mean, and doesn’t waste a single minute on filler.

The Cast Is Loaded With Genre Veterans

• Miao Xie leads the film as the desperate father on a mission. With 28 movie appearances since 2020, including The Monkey King and IP Man: The Awakening, he’s the perfect anchor for this kind of story.
• Joe Taslim (last seen in Mortal Kombat) brings his signature martial arts intensity to the supporting cast.
• Yayan Ruhian is arguably the biggest name on the roster. You’ve definitely seen him — he’s in both The Raid movies, John Wick: Chapter 3, Boy Kills World, and even Star Wars: The Force Awakens. He’s basically a living legend of action cinema.

Why It’s Such a Big Deal

The Furious has a reported budget of only $20 million — a fraction of what studios spend on blockbusters like Disclosure Day, Scary Movie, Masters of the Universe, or The Backrooms. Yet it’s outperforming them in critical reception by a landslide. It’s a reminder that great action doesn’t need a massive budget; it needs great choreography, great talent, and a story that makes you care.

While it’s not in as many theaters as some wider releases, it’s had its first wide release since debuting at festivals back in September 2025. It’s expected to do particularly well in overseas markets where martial arts cinema has a deeply loyal fanbase.

Verdict: Skip the Blockbuster, See This Instead

With Steven Spielberg’s Disclosure Day also hitting theaters this weekend, audiences have a tough choice. But if you’re a true action fan, The Furious should be at the top of your list. It’s not just the best action movie of 2026 so far — it’s potentially one of the best action movies of the last decade. Period.

Where to watch: In theaters now, distributed by Lionsgate.