Top Grossing Action Movies of 2021
No Time to Die, the twenty-fifth James Bond film produced by Eon Productions and distributed by United Artists Releasing, grossed approximately $774 million worldwide against a production budget reported near $250 million. The film starred Daniel Craig and was released in October 2021. F9, the ninth main installment in the Fast & Furious franchise produced by Universal Pictures, earned roughly $726 million globally with a reported budget of around $200 million. Both films ranked among the highest-grossing action releases of the year according to public box office data. No Time to Die box office performance was tracked by multiple industry sources during its theatrical run.
Shang-Chi and the Legend of the Ten Rings, produced by Marvel Studios and distributed by Walt Disney Studios Motion Pictures, opened in September 2021 and earned over $432 million worldwide on a reported budget of $150 million. The film starred Simu Liu and marked the first Marvel Cinematic Universe superhero film led by an Asian protagonist. Eternals, also from Marvel Studios, grossed around $402 million globally after its November 2021 release. Both films were part of the Walt Disney Company's 2021 theatrical slate and were tracked by box office analytics platforms.
Highest Rated Action Movies of 2021
Critics and audiences ranked No Time to Die among the top-reviewed action films of 2021, with the film holding a 83 percent critics score on Rotten Tomatoes based on hundreds of reviews. The film was directed by Cary Joji Fukunaga and featured a screenplay co-written by Phoebe Waller-Bridge. Shang-Chi and the Legend of the Ten Rings received a 92 percent critics score on Rotten Tomatoes, with praise directed at its choreography, visual effects, and lead performance. Both films were cited in year-end best-of lists published by major entertainment outlets.
Atomic Blonde 2, a sequel in the spy action genre, was announced in 2021 with Charlize Theron attached to star and David Leitch directing. The project was being developed by 87North Productions and distributed by Universal Pictures. The original Atomic Blonde, released in 2017, grossed $100 million worldwide on a $30 million budget. Deadline reported on the development status of the sequel during 2021 production planning.
Key Studios, Directors, and Release Windows
Major studios including Universal Pictures, Walt Disney Studios Motion Pictures, and United Artists Releasing dominated the 2021 action slate. Universal Pictures released F9 and Atomic Blonde 2 development updates, while Walt Disney Studios Motion Pictures handled Shang-Chi and the Legend of the Ten Rings and Eternals. Eon Productions continued its long-running James Bond franchise with No Time to Die after pandemic-related delays from the original 2020 release date. SEC filings from Walt Disney Company included references to studio performance and theatrical distribution strategies during fiscal