2026 is shaping up to be a truly thrilling cinematic journey for lovers of great stories. We’ve just wrapped up an incredibly exciting August, marked by the tension, scares, and chills of major horror releases like The Last House, Ice Cream Man, and It Ends. However, September isn’t far behind and is coming on strong with a lineup completely focused on the adrenaline, speed, and spectacle of action films.
The ninth month of the year brings with it a fairly diverse offering within this genre. We’ll witness tactical battles against biological threats in the visceral Onslaught, enjoy a clever blend of espionage and humor in the breakneck Mayday, and be moved by the impressive historical scale of The Uprising.
The repertoire also features a tense race against time to save a life in Runner, and a dramatic quest for military redemption in The Fix. To top it all off, an electrifying and unprecedented reinvention of survival horror awaits us in the latest Resident Evil film.
Between car chases, undercover missions, and mass uprisings, movie theaters and digital platforms will become the ideal refuge for those seeking thrills and nonstop action.
Onslaught
Where to Watch: In Theaters
Release date: Friday, September 4
Genre: Action, Science Fiction, Horror, Slasher, Suspense / Thriller
Produced by the acclaimed studio A24 and directed by Adam Wingard (Godzilla vs. Kong), this highly anticipated film seamlessly blends action, slasher, and science fiction as it tells the story of a battle against a relentless squad of genetically modified super-soldiers.
Adria Arjona plays Celeste, an army sniper and single mother living in a mobile home park. She simply does everything she can to provide a decent life for her young daughter.
However, Celeste’s peace of mind is shattered when she discovers that a trio of super soldiers has escaped from a secret military facility. These human weapons want nothing more than to hunt down, destroy, and harm her family, forcing her to use all her military training to survive. It’s worth noting that the film is spiritually connected to the universe of the cult classic The Guest, also directed by Wingard.
As for the cast, Onslaught features a strong lineup of well-known names, including Dan Stevens and Rebecca Hall, who have both worked with the director before. The supporting cast is spectacularly rounded out by professional UFC fighters Alex Pereira and Maurice Greene, alongside industry veterans such as Michael Biehn, Drew Starkey, Eric Wareheim, and Reginald VelJohnson.
Mayday
Where to Watch: Apple TV
Release date: Friday, September 4
Genre: Action Comedy, Adventure, Espionage, Political Thriller
Written, produced, and directed by John Francis Daley and Jonathan Goldstein—the minds behind the acclaimed Dungeons & Dragons: Honor Among Thieves—Mayday tells the harrowing story of a U.S. Navy pilot trapped behind enemy lines. With this ambitious original production, Apple aims to deliver an action comedy that radically reimagines the conventional spy thriller, completely refreshing the genre’s tropes.
In this adventure, Ryan Reynolds plays the brilliant Lieutenant Troy “Assassin” Kelly, who infiltrates Soviet territory at the height of the Cold War. When his reconnaissance mission fails, he finds himself stranded in a hostile environment. That’s where he crosses paths with Nikolai Ustinov (Kenneth Branagh), a former KGB agent with a passion for American culture. Together, these two unlikely friends will forge a bond far deeper than they ever imagined.
The supporting cast is rounded out by performances from Marcin Dorociński, Maria Bakalova, and David Morse.
The Uprising
Where to Watch: In Theaters
Release date: Thursday, September 10
Genre: Historical drama, Action, War film
Written and directed by Paul Greengrass (Jason Bourne), The Uprising recounts the true story of the Peasants’ Revolt of 1381 and their fierce struggle against the corrupt council of King Richard II.
The story is set in 14th-century England (the year 1381), just after the ravages of the Black Death. A humble and idealistic peasant named Wat Tyler (Andrew Garfield) decides to take up arms against the tyrannical and unjust tax system imposed by the young King Richard II (only 14 years old) to finance the Hundred Years’ War.
Tyler manages to unite and lead a massive popular army of more than ten thousand angry citizens marching toward London, sparking a historic revolt in pursuit of social justice and survival.
This cast is rounded out by Jamie Bell, Stephen Dillane, Tom Hollander, Cosmo Jarvis, Thomasin McKenzie, Jonny Lee Miller, Woody Norman, and Katherine Waterston.
Recently, the marketing team revealed that the film explores how this real-life conflict ultimately inspired the later legends of Robin Hood.
Runner
Where to Watch: In Theaters
Release date: Friday, September 11
Genre: Action, Comedy, Thriller
Among the highlights for this September is the highly anticipated release of Runner, an action film that brings Alan Ritchson and Owen Wilson together on screen for the first time.
Under the skilled direction of Scott Waugh (Need for Speed), the story follows the perilous odyssey of a former soldier who must transport an organ to save a life.
According to the official synopsis:
“A former soldier (Ritchson) is thrown into a brutal race against time when a critical medical delivery makes him and his unlikely partner (Wilson) the targets of a ruthless cartel. As the mission spirals into a deadly manhunt, every detour, delay, and bullet pushes them closer to failure. With betrayal closing in from every side, they must survive the chase and deliver their cargo to save the life of a little girl.”
Runner is set to be the perfect blend of high-tension chases and the undeniable charisma of its leads.
The Fix
Where to Watch: In Theaters
Release date: Friday, September 11
Genre: Action, War Film, War Thriller
The Fix follows a group of former CIA operatives, led by Tucker (Zachary Levi) and mentored by veteran Larry (Liam Neeson), who decide to venture into the heart of Tehran to carry out a daring and dangerous rescue mission. Their goal is to redeem themselves after a previous mission in Afghanistan went tragically wrong.
Director Guy Moshe (Bunraku, LX 2048) explained to FirstShowing that the film aims “to put audiences inside the chaos and moral weight of war, not just the action of it.”
The story’s authenticity stems directly from its roots: the original plot was conceived by Bazzel Baz, a former officer with the CIA’s Special Intelligence Operations Group who previously teamed up with the writers of the hit series The Blacklist.
Alongside Neeson and Levi, the production boasts a stellar international cast that includes Quincy Isaiah, Wes Chatham, Elnaaz Norouzi, Titus Welliver, and Navid Negahban.
Resident Evil
Where to Watch: In Theaters
Release date: Friday, September 18
Genre: Horror (Zombie Subgenre), Action, Science Fiction
Zach Cregger, considered one of the breakout directors of modern cinema thanks to hits like Barbarian, takes the helm of this electrifying cinematic reinvention of Resident Evil. Produced by Sony Pictures and Constantin Film, this installment breaks completely from familiar territory to present an entirely new story.
According to the official description:
“From the mind of visionary filmmaker Zach Cregger (Weapons, Barbarian) comes a thrilling—and terrifying—reinvention of the Resident Evil franchise. In an all-new story, Resident Evil follows Bryan (Austin Abrams), a medical courier who unwittingly finds himself in an action-packed, non-stop race for survival as one fateful, horrifying night descends into chaos.”
Written by Cregger himself alongside Shay Hatten (John Wick: Chapter 4), this film promises to restore the series’ most tense, terrifying, and claustrophobic atmosphere.
The main cast is rounded out by Zach Cherry, Kali Reis, and Emmy winner Paul Walter Hauser.