Gareth Evans’ Havoc joins the ranks of cinema’s many action offerings. Those familiar with Evans might also recognize him as the director of The Raid movies movies, which many consider to have some of the greatest fight scenes in movie history. Truthfully, Havoc doesn’t quite live up to that reputation, leaving some audiences hungry for bigger and better fight scenes.
If that sounds like you, then JustWatch has you covered. Here are the 10 best movie fight scenes of the past decade, meaning all these films released between 2015 and 2025, and where to watch them. While many great titles were certainly left off this list, those that were chosen are sure to delight action movie fans looking to treat themselves to some proper fight choreography where hand-to-hand combat shines.
Star Wars: The Force Awakens (2015) - Rey vs Kylo Ren
The Star Wars franchise franchise is loaded with memorable lightsaber battles and blaster shootouts. Regardless of your opinion on the sequel trilogy, Rey and Kylo Ren’s big standoff in Star Wars: The Force Awakens remains one of the best big-screen duels since Disney took over the franchise in 2012. The tension between Rey and Kylo is palpable and translates to their movements. Not to mention, it’s visually stunning. Watching the swish and slash of the red and blue lightsabers against the dark snowy forest is a visual feast for Star Wars fans, especially those who watch The Force Awakens without knowledge of the later movies diminishing their opinions.
Atomic Blonde (2017) - The Long Fight
People clamoring for a female James Bond sort of already got that in Atomic Blonde. Charlize Theron plays a kick-butt spy in this stylish action thriller from action movie director and stunt coordinator David Leitch. While Leitch undoubtedly brought his experience to Atomic Blonde’s fast action, Sam Hargrave took the lead in fight choreography. Perhaps most impressive is the faux one-shot fight that goes for just over seven minutes. Theron doesn’t miss a beat. The result is a tension-inducing action sequence where the characters feel like they’re fighting for their lives with every punch and block.
Mission: Impossible - Fallout (2018) - The Bathroom Fight
You’d think the Mission: Impossible series series might lose some of its charm after five movies and a TV series. However, the franchise remains as relevant as ever, thanks in large part to Tom Cruise. The sixth entry, Mission: Impossible - Fallout, contains one of the best action sequences in cinema history. Fight choreographer Daniel Locicero puts together a riveting hand-to-hand combat scene using set pieces in a nightclub bathroom that never gets dull. Even though we all know Ethan Hunt will come out on top, the tension remains high. From all the shattering glass to Ethan shoving Liang Yang’s character through a wall, the visual stimulus is high.
Nobody (2021) - The Bus Fight
When you think of the great fighters and martial artists in cinema history, Bob Odenkirk probably doesn’t come to mind. However, the Better Call Saul actor proved everyone wrong during the bus fight in Nobody. Taking on a group of thugs in an enclosed bus, Odenkirk’s Hutch Mansell delivers one heck of a butt kicking. It’s brutal. It’s gritty, and, at times, it’s even darkly funny. Unlike most action movies, the fight feels realistic, and Hutch gets about as injured as one would expect when significantly outnumbered in hand-to-hand combat.
Everything Everywhere All at Once (2022) - The Shield Fight
Everything Everywhere All at Once is chock-full of memorable fight scenes, and it’s hard to pin one down as the standout. Your best bet is booting up the absurdist comedy and watching it from front to back. However, Michelle Yeoh’s shield fight scene will leave you wondering why Captain America even bothers trying. The fight choreography, designed by the Le Brothers, is equally smooth and brutal. Yeoh swings the heavy swat shield around with mesmerizing grace, which isn’t that surprising if you’ve seen her acclaimed fighting skills in Crouching Tiger, Hidden Dragon and Reign of Assassins.
Shang-Chi and the Legend of the Ten Rings (2021) - Bus Fight
Just like Star Wars, the Marvel Cinematic Universe is filled with epic fight scenes. While the climactic battle in Avengers: Endgame makes an easy pick, Shang-Chi and the Legend of the Ten Rings harbors one of the franchise’s lesser-recognized fight scenes. Simu Liu’s Shang-Chi makes good use of his martial arts skills and the environment to rip and tear through a public transit bus with a dash of that trademark MCU humor to alleviate tension. At times, Shang-Chi’s acrobatic fighting style performance feels very Jackie Chan-inspired. For those who love Hong Kong action movies, don’t overlook Shang-Chi and the Legend of the Ten Rings just because it lacks “Avengers” in its title.
The Last Duel (2021) - The Big Duel
Despite receiving positive reviews from critics, audiences mostly slept on The Last Duel during its theatrical release. Ridley Scott’s historical drama dramatizes the true story of the last duel fought in France. With a woman’s sexual assault prompting the duel, the film delves into deeper topics, like violence against women and men’s reputations and honor. Capping off a solid story is the big battle the title teases, and it does not disappoint. Adam Driver’s Jacques le Gris faces off against Matt Damon’s Sir Jean de Carrouges in a duel that starts with jousting and ends with a grisly, up-close swordfight that perfectly captures the brutality of medieval combat.
RRR (2022) - Unleashing the Animals
No other movie does fight scenes quite like RRR. S. S. Rajamouli’s three-hour epic contains all kinds of over-the-top fighting and violence. There are a lot of scenes to love, but Bheem (N.T. Rama Rao Jr.) unleashing a menagerie of wild animals upon a group of British soldiers is truly one of the wildest. As the animals pick off the soldiers, Bheem works alongside them, carving out his own path. There’s plenty of slo-mo, CGI, and over-the-top, borderline silly moments that work to make RRR what it is: a fun and thrilling Tollywood film with the acclaim to back it up.
The Batman (2022) - Batman vs the Riddler’s Goons
While The Batman ensures every fight scene is a treat for audiences, it arguably saves the best for last. Fight and stunt coordinator Robert Alonzo delivers choreography that reminds everyone Batman isn’t anyone to trifle with, even when outnumbered. Robert Pattinson’s Batman faces off against the Riddler’s goons while navigating the rafters of Gotham Square Garden. The Caped Crusader uses his grapple gun, smoke, and pure grit to beat down the thugs. Keeping with The Batman’s theme, the fight recognizes that Batman is just a human. He falls. He stumbles, but he always gets back up.
John Wick: Chapter 4 (2023) - Night Club Fight
You’ll be hard pressed to find an action movie these days that doesn’t draw some inspiration from the John Wick franchise franchise. Everyone’s favorite hitman, played by everyone’s favorite actor, Keanu Reeves, has no shortage of iconic fights to pull from. However, when it comes to recent favorites, the nightclub scene in John Wick: Chapter 4 comes to mind. The thump of dance music combined with the neon-soaked cinematography turns a brutal fight into something almost beautiful. The fact that nobody stops dancing in the background just adds to the vibe.
Where To Watch The Best Movie Fight Scenes Of The Past Decade Online
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