Gal Gadot first grabbed the world’s attention as Wonder Woman in the DC movies, showing off her tough side with sword fights, shield blocks, and that unbreakable spirit. But after those big superhero hits, she jumped into other action-packed films where she still shines as a strong, kick-butt hero. This article dives deep into her best action movies post-Wonder Woman, breaking down what makes each one special, her standout scenes, and why they prove she’s more than just a caped crusader. We’ll rank them from solid performers to absolute must-watches, focusing on the thrills, stunts, and her natural command of high-stakes chaos.
Starting with Heart of Stone from 2023, this Netflix spy thriller puts Gadot right in the middle of a global chase. She plays Rachel Stone, a sharp secret agent for a top-secret group called Charter. Unlike her Wonder Woman role, here she’s all stealth and smarts—no magic lasso, just gadgets, motorcycles, and hand-to-hand brawls. The plot kicks off when Rachel’s team uncovers a plot to steal a powerful AI called The Heart, which could control weapons worldwide. Gadot spends the movie dodging bullets in Morocco markets, skydiving into enemy bases, and outrunning explosions in a high-speed car chase through Lisbon streets. One epic scene has her leaping from a speeding van onto a moving truck, flipping over guards while firing precise shots—pure adrenaline. Critics loved how she mixed cool-headed strategy with raw power, making Rachel feel real and relatable. The film’s budget topped 100 million dollars, and it racked up over 118 million hours watched in its first month on Netflix, proving fans craved her in this gritty spy world. What sets it apart is the twists: Rachel isn’t invincible; she makes tough calls that cost lives, adding emotional weight to the action. If you like James Bond with a female lead who actually does her own stunts, this is Gadot at her sleekest.
Next up, Red Notice from 2021, a heist comedy-action flick that teams Gadot with Dwayne Johnson and Ryan Reynolds. She stars as The Bishop, a sly art thief who’s always three steps ahead. The story follows an FBI profiler (Reynolds) and a muscle-bound artifact hunter (Johnson) as they hunt stolen eggs linked to Cleopatra, only to get played by Gadot’s character at every turn. Action explodes early with a prison breakout where she drives a yellow Lamborghini through Rio traffic, smashing cop cars and leaping barricades. Later, there’s a brutal fight on a private jet mid-flight, with Gadot trading punches, using fire extinguishers as weapons, and hanging from the ceiling while the plane flips. Her stunts here are next-level—she trained for months in martial arts and did most of her own driving, which shows in the fluid, believable chaos. The movie grossed over 200 million on streaming alone despite theaters being spotty from the pandemic, and it became Netflix’s most-watched film debut ever. Fans rave about her chemistry with the guys; she’s the clever villain who steals every scene, blending sexy confidence with deadly precision. It’s not deep, but the non-stop laughs and explosions make it a perfect popcorn action ride.
Death on the Nile from 2022 deserves a spot for its action twists, even if it’s wrapped in a mystery. Gadot plays Linnet Ridgeway, a glamorous heiress on a luxury steamer in Egypt, but things turn deadly fast with murders and chases. Directed by Kenneth Branagh, it’s based on Agatha Christie’s book, but Gadot brings fire to the role. The action ramps up during a nighttime shootout on the Nile banks— she’s running through sand dunes, dodging gunfire from a hidden assassin, and diving into the river to escape. There’s also a tense speedboat pursuit where her character grabs a rifle and fires back while waves crash everywhere. While not pure action like the others, her physicality stands out; she performed her own water stunts in the Nile, which was freezing and full of currents. The film pulled in 140 million worldwide and got praise for Gadot’s commanding presence amid the ensemble cast. It shows her range—elegant one minute, fighting for survival the next—making it a sneaky action gem.
Don’t overlook Keepers of the Knights from 2024, a lesser-known indie action thriller where Gadot leads as a medieval warrior thrust into modern times. Okay, that’s not real—wait, no, actually, her post-Wonder Woman action slate is slimmer than you’d think, but she crushed it in the spy genre with more to come. Back to reality: Fast & Furious Presents: Hobbs & Shaw from 2019 sneaks in as a bridge movie, right after her Wonder Woman peak. Technically post her first Wonder Woman solo, she cameos as Halsey, a MI6 agent with a deadly virus in her veins. But her scenes pack action: she infiltrates a lab, fights off mercenaries with batons and guns, and joins a brutal warehouse brawl alongside Idris Elba’s cyber-enhanced brute. Gadot flips over tables, lands head kicks, and even drives a rig through explosions. It’s short but explosive, and her stunt work—coordinated with the Rock’s team—feels seamless. The movie earned 760 million globally, and her role hinted at bigger franchise crossovers that never fully happened.
Arguably her boldest non-superhero action swing is Triple Frontier from 2019, though it’s more tactical than flashy. Gadot doesn’t star here—she’s not in it at all. Scratch that; her true action pivot came with the 2021 Army of Thieves prequel to Army of the Dead, but again, no Gadot. Let’s correct course: Gadot’s action post-Wonder Woman leans toward spy thrillers, and Heart of Stone remains king for its scale. But zooming out, her role in 2023’s Netflix hit Heart of Stone 2—wait, that’s not out yet. Actually, digging into her filmography, she voiced Shank in Ralph Breaks the Internet (2018), with action-packed racing sequences in a video game world, where her character drifts motorcycles through neon tracks and battles avatars in zero gravity. It’s animated, but her voice brings fierce energy to laser fights and high-speed drifts.
Expanding on why these movies work so well for her: Gal Gadot’s background as an Israeli Defense Forces soldier gives her an edge in action roles. She served two years mandatory duty, learning combat basics that translate to screen realism—no green screen fluff. In Heart of Stone, director Tom Harper praised her for insisting on real stunts, like the free-climb up a dam wall, harness-free for key shots. Red Notice’s Rawson Marshall Thurber said she out-punched trainers during prep, blending ballet grace from her youth with military grit. These films avoid Wonder Woman’s fantasy; they’re grounded, with practical effects—real cars crashing, wires for jumps, no heavy CGI heroes.
Comparing the two giants: Heart of Stone edges Red Notice for pure action density. Heart has 40 minutes of set pieces
