Top Action Thriller TV Shows That Outshine Movies

by

Action thrillers on TV have become incredibly popular, with some series even surpassing movies in quality. The best TV shows often include this exciting blend of action and suspense, as it consistently captivates audiences.

A truly great action thriller TV show grabs your attention and doesn’t let go, building suspense with each episode and delivering plenty of thrilling action. But it’s rare to find a series that’s actually better than a comparable movie.

The Boys

The TV show The Boys is a funny and often shocking take on the superhero genre, filled with plenty of action. But it also earns a spot on this list because of its suspenseful thriller, crime, and mystery storylines. The show, which is based on a comic book by Garth Ennis and Darick Robertson, imagines a world where people with superpowers live alongside ordinary citizens.

The heroes, known as “Supes,” actually work for Vought International, a powerful company that profits from their image and exploits their abilities. But behind the heroic facade, the Supes are revealed to be self-centered, corrupt, and even malicious. This leads to the creation of a vigilante team determined to take down Vought and expose the Supes’ true nature.

As a huge action fan, I gotta say, The Boys really hits different. It’s got all the superhero action you’d expect, but it’s way more gritty and realistic than your typical cape flick. What really grabbed me was the battle between the guys trying to take down Vought, and Vought’s desperate attempts to cover up everything and keep their superheroes looking good. It adds this incredible level of suspense and complexity that a lot of action thrillers just dream of achieving.

Sons of Anarchy

The show Sons of Anarchy is set in the made-up town of Charming, California, and follows a motorcycle club of the same name. The club is led by its president, Clay Morrow (played by Ron Perlman), and its vice president, Jackson “Jax” Teller (Charlie Hunnam), who also happens to be the son of one of the club’s original founders.

Over seven seasons, Sons of Anarchy delves into the conflicts faced by SAMCRO, both with rival groups and among its own members. The show is full of intense action – Jax and the others are quick to use violence to protect the club and establish dominance – but it’s also deeply dramatic.

Like many crime dramas, Sons of Anarchy features suspenseful and mysterious storylines, some leading to happy outcomes and others to tragedy. The show explores strong themes of brotherhood, family, and betrayal, and effectively blends action, thrills, and emotional drama.

24

MovieStillsDB

Many consider 24 to be one of the greatest action shows ever made. It follows Jack Bauer, played by Kiefer Sutherland, a counter-terrorism agent working in Los Angeles. Bauer’s job is to prevent terrorist attacks and keep the country safe. What makes 24 unique is that each episode covers just one hour in real-time.

Each season of the show 24 features 24 episodes, with each episode representing one hour in a single day. This real-time format is central to the show’s intense suspense, mystery, and fast-paced action—something a typical action movie couldn’t pull off without tiring viewers.

Money Heist

Netflix’s Money Heist is a hugely popular Spanish series, and it’s easy to see why. Set in Madrid, the show centers around a man called the “Professor” (played by Álvaro Morte) who recruits a team of eight individuals. Each member has a code name based on a city, and together they plan and execute two incredibly daring robberies.

The team’s initial targets are the Royal Mint of Spain and then the Bank of Spain. Though their heists are meticulously planned, they encounter unforeseen problems. Money Heist is exceptional at building suspense, delivering a thrilling experience filled with unexpected plot twists, intense action, well-developed characters, and a level of emotional resonance rarely seen in action thrillers.

Reacher

Prime Video has some excellent action shows, and Reacher is definitely one of the best. The series, based on Lee Child’s Jack Reacher books, stars Alan Ritchson as Jack Reacher, a former Army investigator and combat expert. Reacher now travels the country, and often finds himself confronting dangerous criminals.

Jack is skilled at taking down criminals, but he frequently encounters corruption within the system. The show, Reacher, successfully combines action, mystery, and a sarcastic wit with a realistic and intense setting, all enhanced by Alan Ritchson’s excellent acting. This makes it a highly engaging series—and often more entertaining than similar films.

Andor

Des Willie /©Disney+/Lucasfilm /Courtesy Everett Collection

In recent years, the Star Wars universe has moved beyond movies and onto television, and Andor is a standout series. Set five years before the film Rogue One, Andor delves into the inner workings of the Galactic Empire and how its policies affect ordinary people. The show also follows the growing resistance of the Rebel Alliance against the Empire.

The series centers on Cassian Andor (Diego Luna), a thief whose home world was destroyed by the Galactic Empire. Throughout the show, Cassian transforms from someone who doesn’t believe in causes to a committed rebel, and along the way, he encounters both helpful allies and dangerous enemies.

Considered one of the best TV shows of the 2020s, Andor stands out for its thrilling action, well-developed characters, and thought-provoking themes. It’s a complex and layered story with political intrigue, and it significantly expands the Star Wars universe. Even if you’re not a Star Wars fan, Andor is definitely worth watching.

The Last Of Us

Image via Max

The TV series The Last of Us is adapted from the popular video game created by Naughty Dog. The story takes place decades after a widespread infection destroys civilization, turning people into frightening creatures. It follows Joel (Pedro Pascal), who is tasked with protecting and guiding a young survivor named Ellie (Bella Ramsey).

It turns out Ellie can’t get infected, and what started as a simple job for Joel becomes a deeply emotional fight for survival. The Last of Us masterfully blends horror, action, and suspense with powerful drama, focusing on well-developed characters and unexpected twists.

Breaking Bad

Many consider Breaking Bad to be one of the greatest TV shows ever made, and it’s often praised as being more compelling than most action thrillers. The show centers on Walter White (played by Bryan Cranston), a high school chemistry teacher who receives a devastating lung cancer diagnosis. Feeling trapped and worried about his family’s future, White starts manufacturing and selling methamphetamine to provide for them financially.

Walter White teams up with his ex-student, Jesse Pinkman (Aaron Paul), and their small-scale meth operation quickly grows into a major criminal enterprise. Breaking Bad is a deeply emotional show, and its compelling storyline – driven by White’s legal troubles – combined with outstanding acting, makes it incredibly captivating.

Squid Game

Netflix’s latest sensation is the South Korean series Squid Game, a unique blend of thriller, drama, and action. The show centers around Seong Gi-hun, played by Lee Jung-jae, a divorced and financially struggling gambler. He receives a mysterious invitation to compete in a series of children’s games with a huge cash prize at stake.

Once Gi-hun enters the games, he quickly discovers they are far from harmless, and he, along with the other players, faces life-or-death challenges with each round. Packed with suspense, action, and drama, Squid Game also offers a thought-provoking look at society, making it a truly gripping and well-rounded action thriller.

Read More

2025-10-21 04:50