Zoe Saldana has become one of the biggest action stars in Hollywood by jumping into some of the most exciting franchises out there, playing tough characters who fight with heart, skill, and a lot of grit. Her best action movies span worlds like blue-skinned aliens on Pandora, starships exploring the galaxy, superheroes saving the universe, and gritty revenge tales, making her a go-to actress for high-stakes thrills across different series.[1] Let’s dive deep into her top picks from these franchises, looking at what makes each one stand out, her standout moments, and why they pack such a punch for fans who love non-stop excitement.
Starting with the Avatar franchise, which kicked off her massive rise to fame, the original Avatar from 2009 is a game-changer where Saldana voices and motion-captures Neytiri, the fierce Na’vi warrior princess. Neytiri isn’t just beautiful with her glowing blue skin and long tail; she’s a master bow hunter who teaches Jake Sully, the human marine turned Na’vi, how to survive and fight on the lush, dangerous planet Pandora. Picture this: Neytiri leaping through glowing vines, drawing her bow with deadly precision to take down helicopters and RDA soldiers invading her home. Her action scenes mix graceful archery with hand-to-hand combat, like when she rides her ikran banshee into battle, diving at enemies with spears and arrows flying everywhere. What makes it her best in this series is how Neytiri evolves from a wary protector to a full-on rebel leader, bonding with Jake in epic aerial chases and ground assaults that feel real thanks to the groundbreaking motion-capture tech. The movie smashed box office records, pulling in billions, because Saldana’s performance brought real emotion to the chaos of war between humans and Na’vi.[1][3]
Then comes Avatar: The Way of Water in 2022, where Neytiri returns even fiercer as a mother defending her family from the returning humans led by a vengeful Miles Quaritch. This sequel ramps up the action with underwater battles that are jaw-dropping—Neytiri swims like a shark through ocean trenches, wielding knives and spears against recom soldiers in massive sea creature chases. One of the most intense scenes has her family fleeing on ilu mounts, dodging torpedoes and gunfire while she counters with precise shots from her bow, all while protecting her kids. Saldana pours so much raw power into Neytiri here, showing her as a warrior mom who doesn’t hesitate to dive into the fray, slashing through enemies in zero-gravity water fights. The film’s visuals make every splash and stab feel alive, and it became one of the top-grossing movies ever, proving the franchise’s staying power with Saldana at its heart.[1][3][6]
Looking ahead, the Avatar series keeps delivering for her with Avatar: Fire and Ash set for late 2025, where Neytiri faces new fiery threats on Pandora. Early buzz says the action goes even bigger with volcanic battles and ash-covered skirmishes, keeping Saldana’s warrior role central as she leads the Na’vi against fresh human incursions. Fans can’t wait to see her unleash more of that signature bow work amid lava flows and flying beasts.[4][6]
Switching galaxies to the Star Trek franchise, Saldana shines as Nyota Uhura, the brilliant communications officer with a backbone of steel. Star Trek (2009) introduces her in J.J. Abrams’ reboot, where Uhura isn’t just decoding alien languages—she jumps into fistfights and high-tension rescues. Remember the bar brawl early on? She holds her own against rough Klingon-like thugs, showing she’s no damsel. But the real action peaks during the Kelvin’s destruction and the crew’s scramble on Vulcan, with Uhura beaming into danger zones, dodging phaser fire, and outsmarting Nero’s forces. Her chemistry with Spock adds edge to the chaos, making her a key player in warp-speed chases and planetary invasions.[1][6]
Star Trek Into Darkness (2013) cranks it up, with Uhura beaming down to Kronos for a tense hostage standoff, phasering Romulan enemies and navigating treacherous caves while the Enterprise faces Khan’s sabotage. Saldana makes Uhura bold here—she argues strategy mid-battle and dives into zero-gravity fights on the ship, helping turn the tide against a superhuman foe. These scenes blend brains with brawn, like when she pursues leads on hostile planets, evading patrols in high-stakes espionage. The film’s thrilling space dogfights and hand-to-hand clashes highlight why Uhura is essential to the crew’s survival.[1][6]
Across the Marvel Cinematic Universe, Saldana voices Gamora in the Guardians of the Galaxy franchise, turning the deadliest woman in the galaxy into a fan favorite with her knife skills and no-nonsense attitude. Guardians of the Galaxy (2014) launches it all with Gamora as an assassin betrayed by her adoptive dad, Thanos. She’s flipping through zero-gravity fights on the Kyln prison ship, slicing minions with her favorite blades, and leading the team’s escape in pod chases across Knowhere. One epic moment has her battling waves of Ronan’s forces on Xandar, dodging energy blasts while quipping with Star-Lord. Saldana’s motion-capture work makes Gamora’s acrobatic kills feel personal and fierce, blending humor with brutal efficiency in this cosmic heist gone wild.[1][3]
Guardians of the Galaxy Vol. 2 (2017) keeps the momentum with Gamora facing off against her sister Nebula in intense sibling rivalries that turn into ship-to-ship battles and ground pounds. She wields Godslayer swords against massive Abilisk monsters and Ego’s minions, leaping across exploding platforms. Her action stands out in the final showdown, where she teams up for aerial assaults on the planet, proving her loyalty through fire and fury.[1]
Avengers: Infinity War (2018) expands her role galaxy-wide as Gamora helps the Avengers hunt the Infinity Stones. She’s stealthing through Thanos’ ship, fighting outriders in Wakanda’s massive clash, and enduring torture-level stakes. Saldana nails the tragedy of her arc amid the universe-shattering battles, from Titan’s gravity-defying fights to the snap’s chaos.[1][3]
Guardians of the Galaxy Vol. 3 (2023) gives Gamora a fresh twist with a variant version joining the High Evolutionary’s forces. Saldana delivers double duty—flashbacks of young Gamora’s brutal training lead to rocket-fueled rescues, lab explosions, and beast liberations. The finale’s all-out war on the cult’s ark ship has her variant slashing through guards in brutal close-quarters combat, while original Gamora’s legacy fuels the team’s rage.[1]
The MCU peaks for her in Avengers: Endgame (2019), where Gamora teams with past and present heroes for time heists and the massive final battle. She’s portal-jumping into 2014 for stone grabs, evading past Thanos’ army, and unleashing blad
