15 most action-packed TV shows of the last 25 years, from samurai duels to SEAL missions

MovieWeb assembled a list of the 15 most action-packed TV shows of the last 25 years, arguing that modern television can now match the pace and polish of big-screen action. The piece ranges from stylized sword fights to grounded military realism, covering series released between 2001 and 2025.

At the list’s newer end, MovieWeb highlights Last Samurai Standing (2025–Present, Netflix), which follows samurai Shujiro Saga in a deadly tournament and emphasizes explosive, stunt-heavy sword fights performed by the actors. Lioness (2023–Present, Paramount+) is praised for Taylor Sheridan’s grounded espionage approach and firefights that favor gritty realism over spectacle, centered on CIA operative Joe (Zoe Saldaña).

Also noted are genre spectacles such as Halo (2022–Present), based on the Xbox game and following Master Chief John-117 (Pablo Schreiber) against an alien threat with large-scale battles and zero-gravity combat, and Into the Badlands (2015–2018), a post-apocalyptic martial-arts series starring Daniel Wu that earned a following for its polished fight choreography and visual direction.

Military and tactical action earn strong mentions: SEAL Team (2017–2024) is credited for its authenticity and use of technical advisors to portray short, realistic bursts of violence, while Strike Back (2010–2020) draws on author Chris Ryan’s experience and ex-SAS trainers for its high-risk, worldwide missions.

last samurai standing, stunt-heavy sword fights, kodoku tournament, shujiro saga, lioness, grounded espionage firefights, cia operative joe, halo, master chief john-117, zero-gravity combat, seal team, strike back