The action crime saga Reacher is easily one of the most popular shows in the world today, and with good reason. Developed by Nick Santora and adapted from Lee Child’s Jack Reacher novels, the series stars Alan Ritchson as the titular hero, following his various adventures across the United States. An entertaining action show anchored by its charismatic, larger-than-life protagonist, the series has earned a positive critical reception and even greater adoration from viewers, delivering ever-greater thrills with each season.
However, as amazing as the Prime Video show may be, it’s hardly the only great action show on streaming right now. Netflix, to their credit, has several great action series in their library, including some that rival and even surpass Reacher’s quality and entertainment value. Read on to discover our handpicked selection of Netflix’s best action shows that are even better than Reacher.
1
‘Black Doves’ (2024–Present)
A British spy thriller series starring Keira Knightley and Ben Whishaw, Black Doves was created by Joe Barton and follows the story of Helen Webb, a spy posing as a politician’s wife. After her lover is murdered by unknown forces, Helen teams up with an old friend, the assassin Sam, to find answers. Knightley leads the cast as Helen, with Whishaw as Sam. The show also features Sarah Lancashire, Andrew Koji, Andrew Buchan, Omari Douglas, and more in supporting roles.
Black Doves was already renewed for a second season even before it premiered on Netflix in December 2024, at which point the confidence was proven to be warranted by its excellent reviews and high viewership. An unpredictable, genre-bending series, Black Doves has been widely praised by critics and audiences alike for its performances, writing, stylish visuals, and absorbing narrative. It’s an exciting and suspenseful watch with gorgeous cinematography, excellent action sequences, and brilliant performances, particularly by Knightley and Whishaw, which help bring a surprising amount of emotional depth to its spy story.
2
‘The Night Agent’ (2023–Present)
Based on Matthew Quirk’s eponymous novel, The Night Agent is an action thriller series created by Shawn Ryan. The show stars Gabriel Basso as Peter Sutherland, the titular FBI agent tasked with monitoring a seldom-used phone line for undercover agents. When he receives an unexpected call one night, it sets Peter on a dangerous course that leads to shocking revelations and the uncovering of a major government conspiracy. Besides Basso, the show also features Luciane Buchanan, Fola Evans-Akingbola, Hong Chau, D.B. Woodside, and more in prominent roles.
The Night Agent premiered to high viewership and generally positive reviews in 2023, and it’s only gotten better since then. Often compared to Reacher and other classic thrillers like the Jack Ryan franchise, the show may not have a lot of depth to its stories, but it makes up for this with massive helpings of charm and style. An entertaining spy thriller show anchored by Basso’s endearing central performance, The Night Agent has had three successful seasons so far, and though its viewership dropped after Season 3, the series is expected to return with all-new stories in the not-too-distant future.
3
‘The Recruit’ (2022–2025)
Created by Alexi Hawley, The Recruit is a spy thriller show with strong elements of legal drama and political conspiracy. Noah Centineo stars as Owen Hendricks, a newly minted CIA lawyer who finds himself in over his head when a former asset threatens to go public about her ties to the agency, pulling him into a massive international conspiracy. Besides Centineo, the series also features Aarti Mann, Colton Dunn, Fivel Stewart, Daniel Quincy Annoh, Kristian Bruun, Vondie Curtis-Hall, Laura Haddock, and more in supporting roles.
The Recruit’s first season had mixed reviews but strong viewership, winning the attention of audiences worldwide with its interesting characters and entertaining story. Carried by Centineo’s charming performance in the lead role, the show is a highly enjoyable watch despite its fairly predictable plot, perfect for fans of classic spy stories. A second season was released in 2025, which is significantly better than the first, but the show was sadly canceled right after, cutting it short just as it was finding its footing.
4
‘Blue Eye Samurai’ (2023–Present)
Created by Amber Noizumi and Michael Green, Blue Eye Samurai is an adult animated action series set in Japan’s Edo period. The show follows Mizu, the mixed-race daughter of a Japanese mother and an infamously cruel white man, Abijah Fowler, who seeks revenge against her father. Maya Erskine leads the voice cast as Mizu, with Masi Oka, Brenda Song, George Takei, Randall Park, Stephanie Hsu, Ming-Na Wen, and Harry Shum Jr. in supporting roles, and Kenneth Branagh voicing Abijah Fowler.
A triumphant animation masterpiece that blends Western and Japanese influences, Blue Eye Samurai is an exciting action series with vibrant visuals and a thrilling story. The show earned universal acclaim when it debuted in 2023, earning praise for its animation, writing, and characterization, and it’s easily one of the greatest shows Netflix has produced in recent years. The series went on to win several accolades, including four Emmys and six Annie Awards. A second season is scheduled to arrive sometime in 2026.
5
‘Lupin’ (2021–Present)
Created by George Kay and François Uzan, Lupin is a French mystery thriller show that stars Omar Sy as Assane Diop, a charismatic modern-day gentleman thief inspired by the personality and adventures of Maurice Leblanc’s classic character Arsène Lupin. The show follows Assane on a series of ingenious heists, initially in service of a long-term revenge plan and later as part of a plan to reunite with his estranged wife and son. Besides Sy, the series also stars Ludivine Sagnier, Antoine Gouy, Soufiane Guerrab, Shirine Boutella, Etan Simon, Clotilde Hesme, Nicole Garcia, and Hervé Pierre in significant roles.
One of Netflix’s most consistently popular non-English shows, Lupin has been acclaimed by critics and audiences throughout its time on the streaming service. Anchored by Omar Sy’s easily likable and magnetic performance in the lead role, the series is a highly entertaining heist show with plenty of style. While it may not be directly comparable to Reacher, Lupin still features some of the best action sequences of any Netflix show, and it’s been rightly awarded several accolades, including a Critics’ Choice Award for Best Foreign Language Series.
6
‘The Punisher’ (2017–2019)
Created by Steve Lightfoot, The Punisher is an MCU-adjacent series based on the Marvel Comics character. A spin-off of Netflix’s Daredevil show, the series stars Jon Bernthal as Frank Castle, a ruthless vigilante haunted by the trauma of war and the deaths of his family, and it explores his grief and proclivity for violence as he uncovers intricate conspiracies and mysteries. The series also features Ebon Moss-Bachrach, Ben Barnes, Amber Rose Revah, Daniel Webber, Jason R. Moore, Deborah Ann Woll, and more in supporting roles.
Like Reacher, The Punisher is also a show about a one-man army who brings his own brand of justice to evildoers, but unlike Ritchson’s charismatic hero, Frank Castle is a deeply traumatized man whose story is meant to be more of a cautionary tale than an inspiration. While the character has been adapted multiple times before, Bernthal’s performance as the Punisher is widely regarded as the character’s best screen version, delivering a potent balance of vulnerability and brutality. Though the series is not without its share of flaws, it’s a genuinely thrilling action show that’s equally enjoyable for Marvel fans and viewers who are new to the character.
7
‘Bodyguard’ (2018)
A British thriller series created and written by Jed Mercurio, Bodyguard stars Richard Madden as David Budd, a Police Sergeant and army veteran suffering from PTSD. The show sees David work as a Principal Protection Officer (PPO) for Protection Command, tasked with guarding a controversial politician (Keeley Hawes) whose politics he disagrees with. The show also features Gina McKee, Sophie Rundle, Vincent Franklin, Pippa Haywood, Paul Ready, Tom Brooke, and more in supporting roles.
Originally a BBC One show that achieved worldwide recognition after its international release on Netflix, Bodyguard is a gripping series that uses its pulp story as a vehicle to tackle important issues like terrorism, PTSD, and government surveillance of private citizens. Almost universally acclaimed by critics and viewers, the show is built on Madden’s compelling central performance, with his intense internal conflict between personal trauma and professional duty providing the driving force for the series’ plot. His performance won Madden a Golden Globe for Best Actor, and the series has received several other accolades as well, including two Emmy nominations and a British Academy Television Award.
8
‘FUBAR’ (2023–2025)
Created by Reacher’s Nick Santora, FUBAR is an action comedy show starring Arnold Schwarzenegger in his first-ever leading television role. The series follows Luke Brenner (Schwarzenegger) and his daughter, Emma (Monica Barbaro), who both work for the CIA but don’t know each other’s true identities. When they do find out, it sets off a chaotic series of events as they take on missions together, testing their father-daughter dynamics and forcing them to relearn everything they thought they knew about each other and their job. Milan Carter, Fortune Feimster, Travis Van Winkle, Fabiana Udenio, Jay Baruchel, Barbara Eve Harris, and more star in supporting roles.
A hilarious combination of pulpy action and silly comedy, FUBAR had mixed reviews for its first season and worse ones for its second, but both are undeniably fun nevertheless. Sure, it’s a predictable show with cheesy stories, but that is sort of the point; the show leans fully into the ridiculousness of its genre, delivering a highly entertaining journey in the process. Though it was canceled after its Season 2 premiere in 2025, the show is still a perfect watch for fans of classic TV procedurals and the high-energy action movies that Schwarzenegger is known for.
- Release Date
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2023 – 2025-00-00
- Network
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Netflix
- Showrunner
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Nick Santora
- Directors
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Phil Abraham, Stephen Surjik
- Writers
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Michael J. Gutierrez
