For those unfamiliar with Tubi, they are a completely free streaming service which has an absolutely ridiculous selection of films, many of which offered in high quality high-definition transfers. For those not in the know, they are also one of the services that pays filmmakers the best and are very open to smaller budget films. They do present the films with ads, but that is a small price to pay for a great selection of fun films. Scrolling their offerings by genre is also the closest one can get to the video store experience of yesteryears. Here’s a list of five fun action movies on Tubi, kind of like a “Staff Suggestions” section at your local Mom & Pop video store.
The first in a series of mid-range budget action films, although each movie had a different lead (with Judge Reinhold an unlikely action hero in the first sequel). This one takes place on a mountain, at a ski resort where a cop happens to be vacationing when terrorists attack and he must step in to save the day. The story here is obvious, the stunts are fun, the lines are cheesy, and the performances are passable. However, this is a fun one and it stars Thomas Ian Griffith, Nastassja Kinski, and Christopher Plummer. Yes, that Christopher Plummer. This may come off like an odd mix of people and it is. Writing this one are Micheal Bafaro and Jonas Quastel and directing is Michael Mazo who has seven feature films and two Ninja Turtle episodes on his resume. He may seem to have had limited career, but his work here is fun. Overall, this is the kind of film to put on during a snowstorm or a rainstorm, popcorn in hand, and mind fully checked out. And, if you want to see what Cobra Kai‘s Terry Silver was like as an action star, here’s your chance.
Scott Adkins, the late Ray Stevenson, Michael Jai White, Ray Park should be all one needs to know to pick this one up. With a cast like that, it can only be fun. Add that most of them end up fighting Adkins, you know you’ve got a blast on your hands. Here, the fights are more than on point and director Jesse V. Johnson shows that he knows what to do with all these heavy hitters on his cast. Co-written by Adkins with Stu Small from the comic book by Pat Mills, this was developed for Adkins and it shows. It’s made for him with fights that are tailored to his skills. It’s got a few explosions to add a bit of spice to the proceedings and a bit of humor here and there. It’s a well-balanced Happy Meal of an action film and it goes well with an evening at home looking for some fun action movies on Tubi.
Also known as Crazy Samurai Musashi, this film by director Yûji Shimomura (Death Trance, Re:Born) stars Tak Sakaguchi who he worked with on both his previous directorial efforts. Here they team up to tell the story of Samurai Miyamoto Musashi who fought 588 opponents in a single day. The film portrays that with a 77-minute fight sequence without any cuts. Just seeing this sequence and how they pulled it up makes it worth tracking this film down. The performance by Tak Sakaguchi is central to the film and makes it what it is. His fighting capacities, how he handles the exhaustion on camera, and how he expresses himself throughout this extended sequence are the main reason to see this film. Of course, the fighting and how it all comes to be make this film worth watching more than once.
The first 3 films in the John Wick franchise show how the story of a man out for revenge can become one of the highest-grossing franchises in action film history after seemingly coming out of left field. The three films can easily be watched back-to-back-to-back, creating a sort of ultra long film perfect for an afternoon or evening in with blanket and popcorn, relaxing which random assailants get their faces bashed in, the knees and other body parts shot out, and revenge served upon the deserving and others who assist them in getting away. These films are now some of the most beloved action films in the world for a reason, being able to see all three in a row is a great way to catch up with the hype or return to a beloved franchise.
Starring Donnie Yen, this one is a no-brainer as the man is synonymous with quality action and fun fight sequences. Distributed in the US by Well Go USA, a sign of high-quality entertainment right there, this one is available on Tubi in its original language with subtitles, in English dub, and in Spanish dub, so there is no reason to not give it a try. Directed by Teddy Chen, this film follows a martial arts instructor who is also on the police force as he gets thrown in prison for accidental murder and then gets sprung out when a serial killer goes after martial arts masters. From this description alone, it’s clear that the film has plenty of fights and they are on point. Yen is known for his skills as a fighter and fight choreographer, so it is clear that the entertainment for action fans is of high value here. Please note that there is another Kung Fu Killer from 2008 starring David Carradine and it’s not quite on the same level here. Consider that one a “not so fun” action movie on Tubi.
Van Damme was one of the kings of the action aisle in any given video store and he has plenty of titles available on Tubi. This one, The Bouncer, is a mix of action, drama, and thriller, bringing a story that is better rounded than a lot of his earlier direct-to-video releases. Here, he plays a man who works as a bouncer to provide for his daughter. Soon, he finds himself in trouble with the police and must strike a deal. This may be a bit of a generic story, but the film really makes the most of it and shows a side of Van Damme his fans have been enjoying in some of his more recent work. Here, the action is peppered throughout the film and really works in context while the story is deeper than a simple string of fights. Director Julien Leclercq shows a knack for striking a balance between action and drama in his films and this one is no different.
Tubi is a treasure trove of films in any genre and they add new titles all of the time. Of course, some of the titles get removed at times, but usually they find their way back on there soon after, so add these to your list, go to through them at your own pace, and if one disappears, fret not it will be back in no time.