Jeremy Renner has built a solid reputation as one of Hollywood’s toughest action stars over the past ten years, delivering high-octane performances in films packed with chases, fights, and explosions that keep audiences on the edge of their seats. From his role as the sharp-shooting Hawkeye in the Marvel universe to gritty spy thrillers and survival epics, his movies from 2015 to 2025 showcase his ability to mix intensity with real grit, often playing characters who push through pain and chaos without backing down. Let’s dive deep into the best ones, starting with the standouts that defined his action hero status.
First up is Mission: Impossible – Rogue Nation from 2015, where Renner reprises his role as William Brandt, the clever IMF analyst who gets pulled into Tom Cruise’s wild world of espionage. This movie kicks off the decade strong with non-stop stunts, like the famous plane-hanging sequence and underwater vault heist that leave you breathless. Renner’s Brandt isn’t just the brains; he jumps into brutal hand-to-hand fights and high-speed chases across Vienna and London, showing off his physical chops while trading quips with Cruise’s Ethan Hunt. The plot twists around a shadowy group called the Syndicate, and Renner’s steady presence grounds the over-the-top action, making it feel like a team effort rather than a one-man show. Critics praised the film’s pacing, and it raked in huge box office numbers, proving Renner’s value in big-budget blockbusters.[7]
Right on its heels comes Mission: Impossible – Fallout in 2018, often called the pinnacle of the franchise and one of Renner’s finest action outings. Here, Brandt is back, now facing nuclear threats and double-crosses in a story that ramps up the stakes with helicopter dogfights, cliffside climbs, and Paris motorcycle pursuits that are pure adrenaline. Renner holds his own in intense close-quarters combat, including a savage bathroom brawl where he takes as many hits as he dishes out. His chemistry with the ensemble, including Simon Pegg and Ving Rhames, adds heart to the mayhem, and director Christopher McQuarrie crafts sequences so seamless they feel impossible—fitting the title. This film earned Renner some of his best reviews for balancing smarts with raw power, and it solidified his spot in action cinema lore.
No list of Renner’s best action flicks would be complete without Avengers: Endgame in 2019, the epic closer to over a decade of Marvel storytelling. As Clint Barton, aka Hawkeye, Renner gets a meaty arc where his character goes rogue as the vengeful Ronin, slicing through enemies with a katana in brutal, bloody revenge scenes set in Tokyo and New York. The film’s massive battles, like the final portal showdown, put Hawkeye front and center with his bow skills, picking off foes amid chaos involving Captain America, Iron Man, and thousands of extras. Renner’s portrayal adds emotional depth—his family man’s grief fuels the fury—making the action hit harder. Endgame shattered records as the highest-grossing film ever at the time, and Renner’s expanded role showed he could lead in superhero spectacles.
Earlier in the Marvel run, Captain America: Civil War from 2016 gave Renner a breakout action showcase as Hawkeye. In this superhero civil war, he flips between loyalties, engaging in airport brawls that pit him against Spider-Man and Black Panther in acrobatic, gadget-filled fights. His archery precision shines in team skirmishes, and quieter moments reveal the toll of constant battle. The movie’s split between Iron Man and Cap’s camps creates tense standoffs, with Renner bridging the divide through sheer tenacity. It was a box office smash and highlighted his versatility in crowded ensemble casts.
Shifting gears to non-franchise territory, 12 Strong in 2018 stands out as Renner’s gritty war horse. He leads as Captain Mark Nutsch in this true-story retelling of the first U.S. Special Forces team in Afghanistan post-9/11, riding horseback into Taliban strongholds with bombs exploding everywhere. The action is raw—machine-gun fire, horseback charges, and close-range ambushes in mountain terrain that test every ounce of his screen toughness. Renner captures the exhaustion and resolve of real soldiers, drawing from declassified accounts for authenticity. No medical details here beyond basic battlefield strain, but the film’s focus on endurance makes it a pulse-pounder.
Then there’s the heart-pounding Hawkeye series on Disney+ in 2021, technically a limited TV run but packed with movie-level action that fits the decade’s bill. Renner returns as Clint Barton, mentoring young Kate Bishop amid New York street fights, archery duels, and a showdown with trick arrows and fists against the Tracksuit Mafia. The hand-to-hand brawls in apartment stairwells and rooftop chases feel intimate yet explosive, with Renner’s Barton nursing old injuries while flipping over cars. It’s lighter on spectacle but heavy on character-driven scraps, earning praise for bridging Marvel’s film and TV worlds.
In 2015’s Avengers: Age of Ultron, Renner kicks off the decade’s Marvel streak with Hawkeye dodging Ultron’s drones and Hulk’s rampages in Seoul and Wakanda battles. His everyman skills—trick arrows, knife work—stand out in the chaos, and a farm family scene adds stakes to his fights. The film’s global destruction sequences put him in the mix with Thor and Black Widow, proving his reliability in world-ending threats.
Don’t sleep on Arrival in 2016, which has subtle action layers amid its sci-fi tension. Renner plays physicist Ian Donnelly, facing military standoffs and alien ship infiltrations that build to explosive confrontations. While more cerebral, the tactical ops and time-bending chases deliver thrills, with Renner’s calm under fire shining.
The 2024 Marvel flick Deadpool & Wolverine gave Renner a fun cameo as Hawkeye, popping up in multiverse mayhem with sword fights and vehicle wrecks alongside Ryan Reynolds and Hugh Jackman. It’s brief but packs explosive energy, nodding to his action legacy in a film full of cameos and gore.
Looking ahead, Renner’s gearing up for more with Mayor of Kingstown season teases in late 2025 appearances, hinting at gritty action continuations, though pure films like potential Mission: Impossible sequels loom. His 2014 edge into the decade with American Hustle had action sparks, but the real fire starts post-2015.
Beyond Marvel, Renner’s Wind River in 2017 blends action with thriller vibes. As tracker Cory Lambert, he hunts a killer on a Wyoming reservation, with snowy pursuits, shootouts, and bare-knuckle brawls in freezing conditions. The revenge-driven plot echoes his Ronin phase, and real-inspired details ground the intensity.
In the 2012 stretch bleeding into the decade’s feel, The Bourne Legacy from that year but relevant for its spy-action template saw Renner as Aaron Cross dodging black ops assassins in Manila chases and lab raids. Though pre-2015, its influence lingers in his later role
