Reading the comments on YouTube, there’s an awful lot of “inspirational” and “motivational” to be found there, and these are not wrong. This is as template-based a sports movie as you can imagine, to the point that it feels almost more like a Victorian melodrama, in terms of its saintly heroine, fighting (literally) for what she believes in. This sort of thing would normally be completely ludicrous, and isn’t helped by James Schafer’s soundtrack, which leaves no orchestral cliché uncued. However… I found a genuine sincerity on display here, helped by a very good performance from Stone, and this really sells the sub-Hallmark conceit at its core. Her character believes, so you do.
She plays up-and-coming amateur MMA fighter Jackie DeSpain, whose life has issues. She lives with her junkie sister Marie, whose little daughter Grace (Darling), is simply as adorable as a boxful of kittens. This situation preys on Jackie’s mind, causing her to lose a fight against Kate ‘The Killer’ Kinsella, much to the concern of her trainer, Hank (Wade). For when I say “lose”, we’re deep in “beaten to a pulp” territory. Though a positive is, this brings her into contact with hunky doctor Oliver (Akers). After Marie overdoses, Grace is taken away by the authorities, but if Jackie can just win enough fights to turn pro, then maybe she can convince a judge that she should have custody of her niece, while Marie rehabs.
You should easily be able to figure out from the above, where everything is going to go the rest of the way, and the film does not deviate from that template an iota. Will there be training montages? Could there be an injury threatening to derail Jackie’s plans? Might there be – oh, I’m just speculating here – blossoming romance between Jackie and Oliver? I’ll never tell. But despite the resolute predictability of proceedings, I remained engaged to a greater degree than you would imagine. Lyde has directed a number of films we’ve reviewed here, most recently Scarlett, also starring Stone, and the action here is good. If the MMA fights are somewhat stylized, they’re still credible, and have more impact than I was expecting.
There is, however, a curious lack of any antagonist here: just about everybody is nice: even the social worker who whisks Grace away into the care of the state is quite apologetic about it. Kinsella is likely the closest, yet she is more of an obstacle than an enemy, vanishing completely from the film between her fights against Despain. Despite the lack of dramatic conflict, and a large dose of the review tagline (top) as things wound there way forward, I bought into Jackie’s situation, and unquestionably found myself cheering her on. While this may be the simplest of stories, I found it executed well enough to overcome the limitations of its plot.
Dir: John Lyde Star: Melanie Stone, Jasen Wade, Isaac Akers, Rosie Darling
[The film is available now on YouTube and is embedded below]
This feels like a modern Western. I think it was shot up on the borders of Utah and Arizona, since I recognized scenes shot at the Buckskin Tavern, in that area. While contemporary, with relatively minor tweaks, it could easily take place a century or more ago, back when robber land barons were a thing in the Old West. Lupe (Covarrubias) is in desperate straits, with her mother Adamina (Miranda) in need of money to pay for medical treatment she can’t afford. There’s another shock: the father, Carl (Fitzgerald), who Lupe long believed dead, is actually alive, and might be the last chance of getting the necessary funds. So she decides to make the journey to see him.
Barely is she under way – she’s seeking to pawn jewellery to raise a little cash – when she encounters Maddie (Hethcoat). And when I say “encounters”, she comes out of the back of the pawn-shop, guns blazing. For Maddie has a sizable debt too, to some unpleasant people, and now they perceive Lupe as her accomplice. The two young women decide Carl could solve both of their problems, only to find him engaged in a dubious scheme to sell off land, which actually belongs to Adamina, to an oil company, having convinced them Adamina is dead. It’s a move which will result in the indigenous people being thrown off the property, and Lupe’s unexpected presence clearly represents a threat to the deal.
This does a lot of things right. Most obviously, it takes place in some gorgeous locations, and the photography does them justice. The performances are generally effective as well, with Hethcoat in particular a lot of fun to watch. She cuts a striking figure with her blonde hair, cowboy hat, and a take no prisoners attitude. Maddie is in sharp contrast to Lupe, who has been brought up “the right way”, and they make for an amusing pairing as they play off each other. Although scenes like the gratuitous flamenco dancing may not move the plot forward, they are still amusing to watch, and they build the character. Indeed, they might be fun precisely because they are separate from the plot.
Because that’s the film’s problem. It’s a script where far too much happens because the story needs it. Why did Adamina leave without taking the property deed, clearly her most precious asset? Why did Carl hang on, not just to the deed, but also the letter Adamina wrote to her own mother, for over twenty years? And don’t even start me on the remarkable coincidence of Maddie’s background. Add in a not-so subtle subtext of “Men are bad, and white men – they’re the worst“, and it all begins to topple over under the weight of its own moral superiority. I’ve no doubt Edwards’ heart is in the right place. However, the message here too often gets in the way of the movie.
Dir: Jesse Edwards Star: Briza Covarrubias, Allee Sutton Hethcoat, Micah Fitzgerald, Paula Miranda
If you had told me, when I wrote the preview for 2025, that the biggest hit of the year would be… KPop Demon Hunters? Yeah, I would have looked at you very oddly. But, certainly, in cultural terms – and especially if you have any young daughters – this was stunningly successful. It is now the most popular Netflix movie of all time, with over 325 million views worldwide – close to a hundred million more than the second-placed entry. I note, with some surprise, Damsel squeaking into the top ten. If I’d had to pick another GWG film there, I’d have gone with The Old Guard.
Otherwise, it was another thoroughly disappointing year, once again without a single action heroine film reaching the year-end top thirty at the North American box-office. Ballerina was the highest-placed, at #34 – one place below the spot that Furiosa: A Mad Max Saga had in 2024. M3GAN 2.0 (#63) just outgrossed the cinematic re-release of KPop (#65), and those two were the only others to reach the top hundred. We’ll draw a veil over complete flops like In the Lost Lands, or Honey Don’t! and Christy, which even I haven’t found the energy needed, to get round to reviewing.
I do predict that 2026 will break the streak, with one title in particular looking highly likely to make the biggest financial splash in our genre since the days before COVID. However, this is not exactly sticking my neck out, I will admit. Let’s take a look at that, and the other upcoming films which might be of interest in the year which began today.
Alpha (April 17)
While America has the Marvel and DC Cinematic Universes, India has the YRF Spy Universe. This is a franchise which consists of high-powered action movies, featuring patriotism, giant fireballs and more ludicrously macho nonsense than you can imagine. But the seventh entry is the first female-led entry – indeed, it may be the first big-budget action heroine film in Bollywood history. Information about the plot is limited: “Two fierce female agents tackle dangerous missions in a thrilling world of espionage, as they navigate perilous situations, execute daring stunts, and face unexpected turns.” It’ll be interesting to see how this is received locally (it was pushed back from a Christmas Day release), but having enjoyed most of its predecessors, I’m genuinely intrigued.
Apex (April 24)
This feels like the annual “Netflix Original movie starring Charlize Theron”. Between this and the Old Guard franchise, does the streamer have her under exclusive contract? This sees her play rock climber Sasha, “A grieving woman testing her limits in the Australian wilderness”, who finds herself “suddenly ensnared in a deadly game with a ruthless predator,” played by Taron Egerton. Yeah, based on their track records, I’m betting on Theron there. It’s directed by Baltasar Kormákur, whose Adrift I could have sworn I’d reviewed here, but apparently not. However, this will not be the only mountaineering action heroine film of the summer, because…
Cliffhanger (August 26)
This is a reboot of the Stallone movie from 1993, with a heroine taking Sly’s place. Naomi Cooper (Lily James) is the daughter of an experience mountain guide, who witnesses an excursion being ambushed by a gang of kidnappers, and has to save her sister and father. In other words, sounds like Die Hard on a mountain to me. However, director Jaume Collet-Serra has a decent track record, including The Shallows. I just hope James has beefed up for the role, and possesses arms appropriate for the task, rather than the twigs usually seen on Hollywood actresses. The picture (top) looks somewhat promising in that department.
Fall 2 (TBA)
The first film was a masterpiece of unease: my palms are getting sweaty just thinking about it. The sequel, which wrapped shooting in September under new directors The Spierig Brothers, reportedly has a similar plot, based on “the infamous plank walk of Mount Kwan in Thailand.” You will likely be unsurprised to hear that “A sudden rock-slide leaves them stranded on a fragile plank 3,000 feet in the air.” I would say this falls into the general category of, “If it ain’t broke, don’t fix it” with regard to writing a sequel. But given the original was a hit, and justifiably so, I will be here for this – probably clutching the arm of my chair, hard.
The Internship (January 26)
Director James Bamford has been a busy man, having directed four movies last year, according to the IMDb. He has graced these pages before with Air Force One Down, Hard Home, and Jade. All of which got three stars from me, so he’s nothing if not consistent. This certainly has an interesting premise: “A CIA-trained assassin recruits other graduates from her secret childhood program, The Internship, to violently destroy the organization. The CIA fights back with deadly force.” I’m not familiar with lead Lizzy Greene, or any of the lead actresses, but it still looks like it’s going to be another solid enough piece of entertainment. Three-star review incoming, I suspect.
Killer Whale (January 16)
Well, at least it’s a bit of a spin on shark movies. I always wonder how orcas largely managed to avoid the same level of negative publicity: I mean, it’s right there in the name. It’s not like they’re called sea pandas. Even this one, the aquatic killer in question is given a justification, having previously been cooped up in captivity. This “Follows best friends Maddie and Trish as they find themselves trapped in a remote lagoon with the dangerous killer whale named Ceto.” Having watched the trailer, I have to say I am firmly on #TeamOrca, and hope they all get eaten. I trust the movie will only leave me somewhat disappointed.
Mardaani 3 (February 27)
Despite what I said under Alpha, this franchise – also made by YRF – proves that there is room in Bollywood for action heroines. I reviewed both the first entry and its sequel here, so would expect the third installment to follow as well. Information is very limited, despite the release being just a few weeks away. Heroine Shivani Shivaji Roy will “investigate the most challenging case of her career” in “a dark, deadly and brutal chapter of the Mardaani franchise.” There’s no official trailer as yet either, just a bunch of fan-made fakes.
Protector (February 20)
“Former war hero Nikki’s peaceful life is shattered when her daughter is kidnapped. Thrust into the criminal underworld while hunted by cops and military, she must fight to rescue her child.” Yeah, that sounds amazingly generic, doesn’t it. However, I am still looking forward to it, since it stars Milla Jovovich, whom I will watch in almost anything, e.g. In the Lost Lands. In a startling deviation from normal process, however, it is not directed by her husband, Paul W.S. Anderson. Instead, it’s Adrian Grunberg, who did Rambo: Last Blood. I’m still not expecting much more than amazingly generic. However, I’ll happily take amazingly generic with Milla, any day.
Psycho Killer (February 20)
“The film follows police officer Jane Thorne (Georgina Campbell) on her mission to take down a serial killer known as the Satanic Slasher (James Preston Rogers), after he murdered her state trooper husband.” The script for this has been kicking around for close to twenty years, with director Gavin Polone attached to it as long ago as 2010. It does sound rather like it should be going straight to video sorry, I guess it’s now streaming, but is currently scheduled to be released theatrically – the same weekend as Protector. The same writer did Se7en, and looking at the trailer, it doesn’t appear this falls far from that particular tree.
Ready or Not 2: Here I Come (April 10)
Samara Weaving is rapidly carving out a niche as one of my favourite action actresses. She was certainly the best thing about Ready or Not, which I liked – but not as much as some people. Still, it did well enough to merit a sequel. I’m hoping this will give her opportunity to shine, and give her opponents worthy of her mettle – something which was absent in the original film, and perhaps its biggest problem. Here, Grace MacCaullay (Weaving) is forced back into the game, after her sister is kidnapped, and made to play a new game against powerful families. With a supporting cast including Sarah-Michelle Gellar, Elijah Wood and David Cronenberg (! – but if you think he can’t play a psycho, go watch Nightbreed), I’m down.
Seven Snipers (TBA)
“After retiring from her lethal career, elite sniper Kris Hendricks takes refuge on an Australian ranch with her rebellious 15-yearold daughter, Anja. But as a vengeful warlord named The Dragon tracks her down, she enlists her old team of elite killers to protect herself and her daughter to take out his deadly pawns one by one. When the true reasons for The Dragon’s revenge become clear, the deadly game of cat-and-mouse reaches an excruciating climax with unimaginable consequences for Kris and Anja.” I’m not sure who plays Kris, as the IMDb page has no character by that name, and the only photo released is of supporting actor Tim Roth. But the synopsis has promise.
Supergirl (June 26)
If you hadn’t already guessed the title alluded to in the introduction, this is the one, and it is going to be big. How big, remains to be seen. Comic-book fatigue is real, without a doubt. But Superman still managed to be the #3 film last year. I don’t expect his little sister to do quite so well: it’s just not such a beloved character. There may also be some resonance from the eighties’ flop adaptation. But Superman was well-received, and primed the pump well for this. We saw with Captain Marvel how that can make a huge difference in box-office, regardless of the film’s quality. If this can crack the top ten for the year, it would become the first action heroine film to do so since Black Widow reached #4 in the COVID-affected box-office of 2021.
As ever, all of this is subject to change: some may even end up in this feature again next year! There are also likely to be more released, especially in the latter half of the year, for titles which have not yet been formally assigned to 2026 yet on the IMDb. I did find some which might qualify, but there isn’t enough information to be sure. For example, Ursa Major stars Jessica Biel, and “Follows a mother and daughter who fight to survive on a terraformed planet while hiding from a group of relentless hunters.” Or Slay Day: “In Belle Falls, the dead rise on prom night, forcing Angie and her friends to fight for survival before the big dance becomes their last.” I’m inclined to leave those for now in a “We’ll see” category.
But below, you’ll find a playlist of trailers for as many of the titles discussed above, as I could find!
Reading the comments on YouTube, there’s an awful lot of “inspirational” and “motivational” to be found there, and these are not wrong. This is as template-based a sports movie as you can imagine, to the point that it feels almost more like a Victorian melodrama, in terms of its saintly heroine, fighting (literally) for what she believes in. This sort of thing would normally be completely ludicrous, and isn’t helped by James Schafer’s soundtrack, which leaves no orchestral cliché uncued. However… I found a genuine sincerity on display here, helped by a very good performance from Stone, and this really sells the sub-Hallmark conceit at its core. Her character believes, so you do. 
This feels like a modern Western. I think it was shot up on the borders of Utah and Arizona, since I recognized scenes shot at the Buckskin Tavern, in that area. While contemporary, with relatively minor tweaks, it could easily take place a century or more ago, back when robber land barons were a thing in the Old West. Lupe (Covarrubias) is in desperate straits, with her mother Adamina (Miranda) in need of money to pay for medical treatment she can’t afford. There’s another shock: the father, Carl (Fitzgerald), who Lupe long believed dead, is actually alive, and might be the last chance of getting the necessary funds. So she decides to make the journey to see him.
If you had told me, when I wrote the 
Alpha (April 17)
Mardaani 3 (February 27)
Ready or Not 2: Here I Come (April 10)