The Furious Has a 99% Rotten Tomatoes Score — This $20M Martial Arts Movie Might Be the Best Action Film of 2026

The Action Movie Everyone Is Talking About

If you have been waiting for an action movie that actually lives up to the hype, The Furious is the one you need to see right now. Currently sitting at a staggering 99% on Rotten Tomatoes from 83 critic reviews, with a 96% audience score to match, this martial arts film is doing something we have not seen in years: uniting critics and moviegoers on the same wavelength.

For context, most blockbusters that dominate the box office — think Toy Story 5, Masters of the Universe, or Steven Spielberg's Disclosure Day — land somewhere in the 70–90% range. A near-perfect score like this is rare, and it tells you something important: The Furious is not just good, it is exceptional.

What Makes It So Special?

Directed by Kenji Tanigaki, a veteran stuntman with credits across more than 50 films, The Furious channels the raw, bone-crunching energy of classics like The Raid (2011). Critics have been comparing the two, which is about as high a compliment as you can get in the action genre.

The premise is straightforward but brutally effective: a man's daughter is kidnapped by a ruthless criminal network, and when corrupt police refuse to help, he teams up with a journalist whose wife has also vanished. Together, they go on a relentless rampage through the underworld to find their missing loved ones. It is the kind of simple, visceral storytelling that lets the action speak for itself — and the action in this movie is absolutely spectacular.

A Cast That Delivers

The casting is where The Furious really flexes. Joe Taslim (Mortal Kombat) brings his signature physicality to the lead role. He is joined by Miao Xie, one of the most prolific martial arts actors working today, with 28 film appearances since 2020 including The Monkey King and IP Man: The Awakening.

But the real scene-stealer is Yayan Ruhian — yes, that Yayan Ruhian. You know him from The Raid duology, John Wick: Chapter 3, Boy Kills World, and even Star Wars: The Force Awakens. When a martial arts legend like Ruhian is in your cast, you know the fight choreography is going to be next-level.

Box Office: Small Budget, Big Impact

Here is the most impressive part: The Furious was made on a reported budget of just $20 million. In an era where superhero tentpoles routinely cost $200–300 million, this film proves that you do not need a ridiculous budget to deliver an unforgettable cinematic experience. You need talent, vision, and a director who understands how to stage a fight scene.

The film had its festival debut back in September 2025 and is only now getting its wide theatrical release, going head-to-head with heavy hitters like Obsession, Scary Movie, Backrooms, and Spielberg's Disclosure Day. While Lionsgate has kept specific box office numbers quiet, industry observers expect the film to perform particularly well in international markets where martial arts cinema has a massive built-in audience.

Whether The Furious ends up being the highest-grossing action film of 2026 or not, it has already achieved something far more important: it has reminded audiences why they fell in love with action movies in the first place. If you are choosing between this and the bigger studio releases this weekend, take the leap. Your inner action fan will thank you.