Credit: Netflix

Modern action movies love to sell themselves as this massive dose of adrenaline rush, but a lot of their creative DNA goes back to the early 2000s. That was the moment when the genre started flexing a bit more than it did before.

Don’t get us wrong! The action genre has always been a crucial part of cinema, but the early 2000s were something else. Back then, studios were willing to bankroll larger productions, and directors were making bold filmmaking choices that made action feel bigger.

Going back to that era now is surprisingly fun because the filmmaking carries real swagger. The story gets moving almost immediately. It shows that those directors clearly trusted the audience to keep up, which means the movies waste very little time explaining things. You can still see the influence of those films across modern action releases.

So this weekend, we have decided to bring you a dose of five action movies from the aughts. If you think that your Netflix watchlist could handle a little extra adrenaline rush this weekend, revisiting that era is a pretty good idea.

The five best movies to watch on Netflix

Gladiator (Ridley Scott, 2000)

If you are in the mood for an action movie that still feels massive decades later, Gladiator is an easy recommendation. The story follows a Roman general named Maximus, played by Russell Crowe. He is loyal to the empire and respected by his soldiers, and the old emperor trusts him and even plans to give him an important role in the future of Rome. But things change because the emperor’s son, Commodus, takes power and sees Maximus as a threat. Maximus loses everything he once had and is forced into slavery. Soon, he ends up fighting in gladiator arenas, where survival depends on skill and courage.

Crowe’s performance turned the character into one of the most memorable heroes of modern cinema, and the film went on to win the Academy Award for Best Picture. Directed by Ridley Scott, Gladiator shows large Roman battles with a powerful revenge story. When it came out in 2000, it reminded audiences how exciting big historical epics could be. It remains one of the most memorable films about ancient Rome and gladiator combat.

Black Hawk Down (Ridley Scott, 2001)

Very few modern war films aim for realism as intensely as Black Hawk Down, and that was back in the day. Directed again by Ridley Scott, the film recreates the 1993 Battle of Mogadishu, where American soldiers found themselves trapped in an escalating conflict after two helicopters were shot down during an operation in Somalia. The film is made with remarkable attention to detail. Instead of building around a single hero, it follows many soldiers caught in the same dangerous mission.

The cast of the film is what gives it its strength, with actors like Josh Hartnett, Eric Bana, and Ewan McGregor, each portraying members of a unit. This film is pure action. You get helicopters circling the city, gunfire, basically the whole war drama. Scott presents combat in a raw and direct style that will make you feel as if you are in the middle of the operation. For anyone curious about modern military filmmaking, Black Hawk Down stands as one of the defining war movies of the early 2000s.

Casino Royale (Martin Campbell, 2006)

When Casino Royale arrived in theatres, it completely reshaped the James Bond franchise. After years and years of flashy 007 entries, this film introduced Daniel Craig as a tougher, more physical version of the British spy. He was cast to bring a rougher edge to the character, and he ate.

The story centres on Bond’s mission to defeat financier Le Chiffre during a high-stakes poker game that could disrupt a major terrorist network. The neat balance of espionage with intense action sequences proved to be a game-changer in the Bond movie franchise. Craig’s performance became the foundation for the modern Bond era.

The Transporter (Louis Leterrier and Corey Yuen, 2002)

For someone who enjoys action movies where the hero operates by strict rules, The Transporter has to be the ultimate pick. The film follows Frank Martin, played by Jason Statham, a highly skilled driver who transports mysterious packages for dangerous clients. His rules are simple: never change the deal, never ask questions, and never open the package. You can probably guess what happens next, right? Destiny pushes him to break his own rule, and before he realises it, he is caught in a much bigger situation involving trafficking and ruthless criminals.

What really keeps you watching, though, is the style of the action. If you are a fan of sleek car chases, you are in for a ride. This Netflix film also has some well-choreographed martial arts fights. At the time, audiences were just getting introduced to Statham as an action lead, and he did the job with utmost perfection.

Shaft (John Singleton, 2000)

Shaft is a great reminder of the fact that the main character is supposed to be larger than life. The film takes you back to the famous detective John Shaft, this time played by Samuel L. Jackson. If you like films like Knives Out, where the lead is a strong personality, you will probably like Shaft almost immediately.

The story begins when a wealthy man commits a racially motivated murder and then escapes justice by fleeing the country. When he returns years later, Shaft decides to reopen the case and make sure the truth finally catches up with him. You may also notice that the film connects to the legacy of the original Shaft starring Richard Roundtree. Jackson’s version keeps the character’s cool attitude while making sure he fits in a more modern crime story.