Netflix's Next Big Blockbuster Action Thriller Officially Releases In 1 Week

1 week ago 6

Published Apr 16, 2026, 11:50 AM EDT

Cooper Hood is the Associate Editor for all new movie releases, in theaters and on streaming. In addition to writing articles about these titles and upcoming releases, he also oversees content planning for each, ensuring that ScreenRant continues to cover major releases for months after their release.

He has written various reviews for ScreenRant that appear on Rotten Tomatoes, coordinated Oscars and San Diego Comic-Con coverage, appeared on CNN to talk about Mission: Impossible - The Final Reckoning, and done select interviews with talent over the years.

Netflix is one week away from delivering its next big blockbuster, with the action thriller set up to be quite the streaming hit upon its arrival. The streamer has quite the reputation of being a destination for large-budget, spectacle-driven pieces of entertainment. And the consistency of these titles coming to Netflix has often turned the star-driven action movies into worldwide phenomena.

This is evident by looking at Netflix's top 10 most popular movies of all time. Films like Dwayne Johnson's Red Notice, Ryan Reynolds' The Adam Project, Jamie Foxx and Cameron Diaz's Back in Action, Ryan Gosling and Chris Evans' The Gray Man, and Millie Bobby Brown's Damsel are in that group. Thrillers with action like Taron Egerton's Carry-On and Sandra Bullock's Bird Box also have spots.

It's no surprise, then, that Netflix's 2026 slate has already included plenty of action thrillers. Ben Affleck and Matt Damon's The Rip, Alan Ritchson's War Machine, and Phoebe Dynevor's Thrash have already hit the streamer over the last few months. Each one has become Netflix's #1 movie in the world almost immediately upon release, showing the model of success the streamer has found with these types of films.

And even though Thrash is still topping Netflix's viewership charts, a new action thriller is right around the corner. Titled Apex, the movie officially drops on Netflix on April 24. Featuring major stars, lots of action, a compelling premise, and more, it's one of Netflix's April movie releases you won't want to miss.

Why Netflix's Apex Will Be Worth Watching

Apex has all the makings of a great action thriller, starting with its premise. It follows a rock climber who becomes an unwilling participant in a deadly game, as a hunter tries to kill her in the wilderness after directing her to the remote location and taking her items. She is then forced to climb, run, kayak, and hide in the forest to evade her would-be killer.

The two central participants in this narrative are played by Charlize Theron (the climber) and Taron Egerton (the hunter). They are among some of the biggest action stars on the planet, having repeatedly proven their skills in the genre — including on Netflix with The Old Guard and Carry-On.

Theron's other action movie credits include Mad Max: Fury Road and Atomic Blonde. Egerton was also the star of two Kingsman movies, with the first one being especially memorable. With both more than capable of pulling off all the action-related beats and injecting Apex with solid drama, the film holds great potential to be a terrific two-hander.

Adding to Apex's appeal is the steady hand of director Baltasar Kormákur. He's done great work with survival thrillers before with Jake Gyllenhaal and Josh Brolin's Everest, Shailene Woodley and Sam Claflin's Adrift, and Idris Elba's Beast. Kormákur is also known for directing some exhilarating action with Mark Wahlberg's Contraband and 2 Guns, which co-starred Wahlberg and Denzel Washington.

With a rather straightforward premise, a thrilling tone, some exciting action, two major stars, and a veteran director, Apex may wind up being one of Netflix's best action movies ever.

You'll Want To Watch Apex If You Love These Netflix Movies

Charlize Theron and Taron Egerton fighting in the water in Apex

If you're still on the fence about checking out Apex next week, reflect on Netflix's history with these types of movies further. Those who loved the action elements of the Extraction franchise or the thrills of The Rip should be able to find some enjoyment out of it.

Anyone who liked what Egerton brought to the table in Carry-On can have fun seeing him tackle a completely different role, this time embracing a villain mindset. Similarly, Theron's experience headlining Netflix's The Old Guard franchise has made her perfectly suited for this new part, and those waiting for The Old Guard 3 can fill the void with her latest action film.

Rather than looking at Apex strictly from an action or star standpoint, the survival element to the story expands the comparisons to other Netflix movies. Egerton and Theron's film will look to join Bird Box and Don't Move as some of the great entries in the thriller subgenre that the streaming service has produced over time.

So if you love any of these Netflix movies (not to mention Egerton, Theron, or Kormákur's filmography), Apex should be one you'll want to watch as soon as it's available on April 24.