Nothing better showcases the divide between critics and audiences like action movies. Reliable box-office hits, but typically critical disasters, action movies can never have it both ways. Consider the last "Transformers" movie: an 18% rating on Rotten Tomatoes and a $1.1 billion dollar gross. Can action movies both kick ass and be well received critically?
Yes, they can. We came up with a list of eight films currently streaming on Netflix that are thrilling, intense, and applauded by critics. Read on to see the best-rated action films on Netflix:
"On The Job" (2013)
Rotten Tomatoes score:100%
"On The Job" is a Filipino action thriller following two prisoners released by a shady government organization. But this isn't an act of good will. The two men are ruthless assassins wrapped into a black ops mission to kill targets on the government's hit list. And that's only the beginning.
From the New York Times:
"Even at its most incomprehensible, the propulsive thriller “On the Job” is never less than arresting. Drawing energy from the rough-and-tumble seediness of its Metro Manila setting, this raw, twisty crime drama from the Filipino director Erik Matti begins with a blown-off face and never looks back."
Watch the trailer. | Stream the film.
"Fist of Legend" (1994)
Rotten Tomatoes score:100%
Jet Li stars in this martial arts flick that doubles as an examination of the complex political history between China and Japan. Li stars as a Chinese student in Japan, avenging his master who was killed during the Japanese occupation of China. The escalating racial tensions serve as backdrops for the highly applauded combat scenes.
From Laramie Movie Scope Review:
"As far as Chinese martial arts films go, this is one of the best I've seen. It is visually stunning with excellent color cinematography and the fight sequences staged by the best in the business."
Watch the trailer. | Stream the film.
"City of God" (2002)
Rotten Tomatoes score:90%
Set in the slums of Rio de Janeiro, "City of God" is a Brazilian action drama that follows a young man, Rocket, as he finds himself drawn into the dark world of the Brazilian organized crime. The underbelly offers money and fame, but Rocket is always a breath away from either prison or death. The tagline, translated form Brazilian, describes his dilemma: "If you run, the beast catches you; if you stay, the beast eats you."
From Roger Ebert's review:
"Breathtaking and terrifying, urgently involved with its characters, it announces a new director of great gifts and passions: Fernando Meirelles. Remember the name. The film has been compared with Scorsese's "GoodFellas," and it deserves the comparison."
Watch the trailer. | Stream the film.
See the rest of the story at Business Insider