Loads of entire action movie franchises have recently landed on streaming platforms. Here’s Eliza Janssen’s guide to the best of ’em—including how much time it’ll take you to sit through every movie.
While we’re in the midst of a real-life action movie apocalypse, there’s no better time to stay home and grind through one of those classic movie franchises you’ve always meant to check out. It could be a mere handful of movies you loved in the 90s, or a week-long Marvel marathon that leaves you feeling as battered as Doctor Strange after a few rounds with Dormammu. Either way we’ve got you covered.
See also
* Top 50 action movies to stream
* All new streaming movies & series
Here is our list of beloved action movie franchises that have recently arrived on Australian streaming platforms (either Netflix, Stan or Disney+).
We’ve included where to stream each of these beloved action franchises, as well as how long it’ll take you to marathon them. Remember to stay hydrated, and don’t come whining to us if your legs atrophy after the fourth James Bourne movie.
Bad Boys
Will Smith and Martin Lawrence would make excellent quarantine company, keeping you in a good mood with plenty of explosions and fun bro-y banter.
How long will it take to marathon: The first two movies will take you 4 hours and 26 minutes, a chill afternoon watch without the recent threequel Bad Boys For Life, which if you’re super keen you can watch on Google Play.
The Matrix
Netflix recently added the Wachowski sisters’ mind-blowing cyber-action trilogy to their collection. Relive Keanu Reeves’ dive into an existential rabbit hole before the anticipated fourth film drops next year.
How long will it take to marathon: 6 hours and 43 minutes if you take the red pill. If you take the blue pill and just decide to watch the first one, that’s totally okay.
Indiana Jones
A great action-adventure series to transition your kids towards more adult content, the Indy franchise is chock-full of lush world building and iconic fight scenes directed by Spielberg himself.
How long will it take to marathon: Get ready for that triumphant theme song to ring in your ears for 8 hours and 2 minutes.
Lethal Weapon
When you think ‘buddy cop’, the Lethal Weapon franchise is probably the first thing that comes to mind, perfecting the genre with the bickering relationship between cops Riggs (Mel Gibson) and Murtaugh (Danny Glover).
How long will it take to marathon: 7 hours and 49 minutes. Are you, in the words of Danny Glover, “too old for this sh**”?
James Bond
Twenty five movies, from 1962’s Dr No to the most recent Daniel Craig caper Spectre. If you’re not working at the moment, now might be the only period in your life in which you actually have time to watch every 007 film, one right after the other. Please stay hydrated.
How long will it take to marathon: 2 days, 4 hours, and 56 minutes. Hey, at least the main actor keeps changing every six hours or so, keeping things somewhat fresh?
Mission: Impossible
One tantalising aspect of the Tom Cruise-led Mission: Impossible franchise is the incredible directors that have been involved in each of the franchise’s installations. Brian De Palma! John Woo! JJ Abrams! And now the most recent Christopher McQuarrie entries are somehow taking things to another level.
How long will it take to marathon: It’s not impossible, just very exhausting. 12 hours and 48 minutes.
Star Wars
With the most recent Star Wars trilogy ending last year, you can now check out three generations of the Skywalker story on Disney+; the films that changed blockbusters forever in the 70s, the prequels that caused fanboy uproar in the late 90s, and JJ Abrams’ refreshing new franchise, which is still as fiercely discussed as ever.
How long will it take to marathon: Spend 1 day and 1 hour going over the whole series before taking to Twitter and raging about the plot hole of your choice.
Tomb Raider
Unfortunately, Tomb Raider is kind of the only franchise on this list with a female protagonist. Fortunately, that protagonist is an insanely watchable Angelina Jolie with a British accent, making this goofy video game adaptation into a brazen display of 2000s era star-quality.
How long will it take to marathon: 3 hours and 37 minutes. Play it in the background while doing some ironing or something!
The Jason Bourne Franchise
Grittier than the Bond franchise, these films saw Matt Damon (and, briefly, Jeremy Renner) being chased around the world just because of his shadowy past as a super spy. Leave him alone you jerks!
How long will it take to marathon: You might have forgotten your own identity by the time 9 hours and 59 minutes have gone by.
Beverly Hills Cop
Eddie Murphy’s ascent to 80s stardom was solidified by this action-comedy series. Three movies, showing off some of Los Angeles’ best car chases and one liners.
How long will it take to marathon: Although the first movie is clearly the best, the catchy ‘Axel F’ theme will keep you bopping for 5 hours and 12 minutes..
Transformers
Michael Bay’s bombastic adaptation of a line of Hasbro action figures is all CGI and hyper-saturated frames full of hot girls dodging flying shards of metal. What more could you ask for, to take your mind off the much-more-realistic problems of the outside world?
How long will it take to marathon: 12 hours and 42 minutes of metal clanking and screeching. After this you’ll be like a POW, hardened into total sensory numbness.
Robocop
All three Paul Weller Robocop films are available on Stan, as well as the glossy 2014 remake. Robo is a weirdly loveable superhero figure in all of ’em. Come for the crime-busting gore, stay for the blackly comedic critique of privatisation and capitalist hero worship.
How long will it take to marathon: 7 hours and 20 minutes is pretty manageable, over one Robo-weekend.
The Marvel Cinematic Universe
Hooooo boy. You really want to go there? Well, if you’re serious about watching the Avengers come together over 23 films, at least get the order right.
If you are planning to watch the films of the #MCU here are the films in true chronological order for you! pic.twitter.com/STN5fzhkle
— The Nerd Council (@TheNerdCouncil_) April 2, 2020
How long will it take to marathon: 2 days, 2 hours, and 3 minutes. Meaning that in about a decade, Marvel has almost churned out as much material as the much older James Bond franchise.
