10 Non-Stop Action TV Shows That Keep You On The Edge Of Your Seat
Anyone who enjoys their adrenaline levels at their peak is sure to have a few action films among their favorites, and a few more TV shows saved on their watch lists. Some movie franchises may feel like whole seasons of television with the amount of spinoffs, prequels, and even actual TV tie-ins. Ever since the likes of 24 and Homeland created must-see moments that audiences would tune into weekly, creators have been upping the stakes regularly.
Some shows offer a slow burn and others ensure the action never stops. There have been those that lasted multiple seasons, and one-off projects that wrapped everything up within a few precious episodes. Movie theaters aren’t the only places to get a fix of high-octane action, and these past few decades have managed to create some unforgettable heroes and thrilling scenarios.
10
The Night Agent (2023-Present)
Action & Adventure
7/10
- Release Date
-
March 23, 2023
- Network
-
Netflix
- Showrunner
-
Shawn Ryan
- Directors
-
Adam Arkin, Guy Ferland, Millicent Shelton, Ramaa Mosley
- Writers
-
Seth Fisher, Munis Rashid, Corey Deshon
-
-
Hiro Kanagawa
FBI Director Willett
The show starts very strong with an explosive sequence that sets the pace for the rest of the show. A convoluted conspiracy propels the action as Peter Sutherland uncovers an Oval Office secret that could change everything. The show manages to incorporate the tension of a race against time with some truly stressful action scenes that leave no room to breathe. With no guarantee of the outcome, each shootout is a thrill with some very high stakes, but they manage to still move the plot along at an exciting pace.
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As the mysterious call at the beginning of the first episode signals the start of something exciting and sees the main characters on the run. Flashbacks of the DC Metro bombing provide some backstory that helps paint a more cohesive picture of Peter, and leave the viewers wanting more. Season 2 managed to keep up the levels of action very well, and with a third season in production, it seems to be a winning formula.
9
Banshee (2013-2016)
Action & A New Start
- Release Date
-
2013 – 2016-00-00
- Showrunner
-
Jonathan Tropper
- Directors
-
Jonathan Tropper
- Writers
-
Jonathan Tropper
A small, seemingly quiet town gets to see its fair share of action as an ex-con seeks revenge and retribution among his previous business partners. The bone-breaking violence and constant switches of loyalty keep viewers on their toes with each episode. While it’s not the main focus of the show, the visceral rawness and brutalism of fights emphasize the focus on survival. Antony Starr’s strength is playing someone with a morally ambiguous character, and Lucas Hood is a fascinating protagonist.
He is torn between his criminal past and the new assumed identity of a sheriff, but his demons often manage to find him. The Amish gangster community feels like a constant threat, and their methods never fail to send a chill down viewers’ spines. Each season of Banshee features a curated number of episodes, meaning there is not a lot of time for filler or any let up.
8
The Terminal List (2022-Present)
Action & Revenge
5/10
- Release Date
-
July 1, 2022
- Network
-
Amazon Prime Video
- Showrunner
-
David DiGilio
- Directors
-
Paul McCrane
- Writers
-
Chris Pratt2, David DiGilio
Chris Pratt is on a mission to avenge a deadly ambush on his platoon and some disturbing threats against his family. These deeply personal reasons make him angry, deadly, and persistent. Each episode of The Terminal List focuses on another mission that he focuses on with steely determination. From every thrilling shootout to claustrophobia-inducing car chases, the show does not slow all that often.
From the initial ambush to the final showdown, the action comes hard and fast with each installment.
As Reece works on getting through his list, each episode serves as a countdown that sees him plan out and enact his revenge. This structure adds to the ticking clock feeling that serves as an additional layer of stress. The main protagonist of the show evokes a lot of protective feelings from the audience, as they can feel the effects of PTSD on his well-being and mental state. From the initial ambush to the final showdown, the action comes hard and fast with each installment.
7
The Punisher (2017-2019)
Action & Punishment
6/10
- Release Date
-
2017 – 2019-00-00
- Showrunner
-
John Romita Sr.
- Directors
-
Mark Goldblatt, Lexi Alexander
- Writers
-
Gerry Conway
After a fan-favorite appearance on Daredevil, Frank Castle earned his very own spin-off. A deeply disturbed character, he served as a worthy adversary to Matt Murdock and Wilson Fisk. Jon Bernthal’s powerful performance made this vengeful and deeply disturbed character feel much more relatable and human. The Punisher is even darker in its tone and ups the ante when it comes to violence and gore. It is Castle’s story after all.
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Throughout the two-season run, the show offers some highly tense fight scenes and violence that feels much more realistic than any other superhero show of the time. As the audience gets to know Frank, there is a combination of rooting for him to succeed in his quest, and rooting for him not to self-destruct just as much. The pace of the show feels like a punch in the face, and the action is not limited to shootouts and fist fights only. The verbal sparring and internal drama serve up just as much excitement and intrigue.
6
Bodyguard (2018)
Action & Politics
This miniseries starts in one of the most stressful openings imaginable. As David Budd attempts to defuse a suicide bombing, which sees children in danger of getting caught in the blast. With a well-planned story to tell, each moment is carefully designed to keep the audience’s undivided attention until the ending. Introducing the show with a scene like that made a clear statement of what to expect in the next six episodes. However, little did viewers know how much was about to happen.
Political corruption, abuse of power, and multiple assassination attempts power the plot as paranoia starts to creep in with every character interaction. The twist that happens in the very middle of the run feels like a true shock that nobody saw coming, and the emotional toll that everything has had on Budd is portrayed very powerfully by Richard Madden.
5
Warrior (2019-2023)
Action & Martial Arts
- Release Date
-
2019 – 2023-00-00
- Network
-
HBO Max
- Showrunner
-
Jonathan Tropper
- Writers
-
Jonathan Tropper
The original concept of the show was created by Bruce Lee, so it’s no wonder that this martial arts drama has his masterful skills in its DNA. The fight scenes are nothing short of spectacular, with a mix of well-structured choreography and jaw-breaking violence. With a war between a selection of crime lords, corrupt police officers, and those planning a revolution, there are enemies on all fronts, and the stress does not seem to ever let up.
It feels that each episode sees someone in the middle of a life-or-death situation, either bleeding in an alleyway or brawling in a bar. The rivalry between Sahm and Zing is compelling and layered, and each season features at least one spectacularly cinematic battle. Each one serves to keep the viewers glued to the action as they take in the impressive display of martial arts and high-stakes drama.
4
Reacher (2022-Present)
Action & Mystery
8/10
- Release Date
-
February 3, 2022
- Network
-
Prime Video
- Showrunner
-
Nick Santora
- Directors
-
Omar Madha, Carol Banker, Julian Holmes, Lin Oeding, M.J. Bassett, Norberto Barba, Stephen Surjik, Thomas Vincent
- Writers
-
Cait Duffy
With a few tries to bring this literary hero to life, this most recent outing has seen the most all-around acclaim. With viewers streaming this action-packed show in the millions, it continues to attract new audiences with each season release. Jack Reacher himself is a charismatic action hero who manages to mix his intellectual prowess with his impressive physical abilities. Mystery and action are equally important, with Reacher searching for clues as he’s faced by various antagonists.
This combination sets a very thrilling pace that keeps people’s minds engaged as well as showcasing some thrilling fight scenes. The use of mind games, combat training and impressive deductive skills puts the action at the forefront from start to finish. The likability of the main action hero allows viewers to always stay on his side and punch the air with every win he sees on the screen. Hopefully each new installment brings as much excitement as the previous seasons.
3
The Boys (2019-Present)
Action & Not-So-Superheroes
7/10
- Release Date
-
July 25, 2019
- Showrunner
-
Eric Kripke
- Writers
-
Eric Kripke
- Franchise(s)
-
The Boys
The Boys is in a justice league of its very own, with some of the most despicable characters and graphic scenes imaginable. Some people might have gone into the show thinking it would be similar to Daredevil or Agents of SHIELD, but that particular belief gets destroyed at the speed of a juiced up A-Train. As Hughie stands on the curb holding what remains of his girlfriend, it becomes clear that the rules here are not the same.
Each subsequent season and episode delves deeper into the mystery of the “supes” as well as the motivation of The Boys themselves. All the characters are unpredictable and volatile, leaving viewers uncertain about what they’re going to do next. Homelander is one of the best TV villains in recent history, and the obvious connections to the current state of the world are presented in a very thought-provoking way, leaning heavily on dark humor and sarcasm. With the final season due to be released in 2025, audiences are craving this final outing.
2
Squid Game (2021-Present)
Action & Games
8/10
- Release Date
-
2021 – 2024
- Network
-
Netflix
- Showrunner
-
Hwang Dong-hyuk
- Directors
-
Hwang Dong-hyuk
- Writers
-
Hwang Dong-hyuk
-
Lee Jung-jae
Seong Gi-hun / ‘No. 456’
-
This Netflix show became a phenomenon when it premiered during the pandemic, and had audiences gripped from start to finish. The story felt self-contained with a clear winner and many fan favorites not making it to the end, so it was surprising when a second season was announced. But, its unique premise alone sets this thrilling action show apart from many others. Seeing a group of desperate people compete in a series of cruel and deadly games in order to win a life-changing amount of money puts the stakes at the highest of heights.
As each episode builds the tension before the next murderous game, it’s impossible to look away as the competitors ready themselves for the inevitability that they can die at any time.
As each episode builds the tension before the next murderous game, it’s impossible to look away as the competitors ready themselves for the inevitability that they can die at any time. With hints of a self-inflicted version of The Hunger Games, the drama is sure to happen both in and out of whatever arenas and challenges they face. Season 3 has also been confirmed, meaning there is more to come from this brutal world.
1
Game Of Thrones (2011-2019)
Action & Dragons
10/10
- Release Date
-
2011 – 2019-00-00
- Showrunner
-
David Benioff, D.B. Weiss
- Directors
-
David Nutter, Alan Taylor, D.B. Weiss, David Benioff
Mixing epic action with political intrigue, Game of Thrones is a cult classic for a reason. From the initial mystery of the White Walkers in the first scene, each new part of Westeros brings with it something incredibly interesting and inevitably disturbing. There are sword fights, dragons burning people to a crisp, and some of the most epic battles ever filmed. Albeit a little bit too dark in one or two instances. While there might not be explosions and high-octane trills in every single scene, the way it builds up to these moments makes the payoff worth it every time.
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The verbal game of chess between Cersei, and just about anyone else, is always as tense and stressful as any Jon Snow fight. The early seasons would amp up the pace leading up to a showdown in episode 9, allowing the final one to set up the next season. The violence made the world feel unpredictable and unrelenting, and the rate at which main characters met their demise kept viewers on tenterhooks throughout. The last season may have its critics, but it’s an epic conclusion to an action series that continues to keep viewers on the edge of their seats.
