James Gunn Gives His Stamp of Approval to The Best Action Movie of 2026

James Gunn recently took to social media to sing praise for The Furious, an English-language Hong Kong action flick that is being widely hailed as one of the best action films of this year. Directed by Kenji Tanigaki, the film was released in American theaters by Lionsgate Films on June 12, 2026.

Despite its simple premise, its action sequences have won the hearts of fans. Some of its action scenes reportedly took days to film (via Variety). Here is what Gunn had to say about the film!

James Gunn is Blown Away By Kenji Tanigaki’s The Furious

James Gunn | Credits: CBS / Interview

James Gunn often uses social media to review or give his opinion on a bunch of things, including films. But the DC helmer surprised fans when he took his official social media handle to praise Kenji Tanigaki’s The Furious. 

With his movie already being hailed as a standout, Gunn praised Tanigaki, calling him one of the best action filmmakers of today. He wrote on X:

Coming from a filmmaker known for heavy-hitters like Guardians of the Galaxy, his words mean a lot. His praise piqued the interest of fans who wrote in the comments that they would be watching the film as well, while telling Gunn to use The Furious as an inspiration for DCU’s Batman adventure.

What is Kenji Tanigaki’s The Furious About?

Behind the phenomenal action choreography and adrenaline-pumping scenes, Kenji Tanigaki’s The Furious is a simple tale of a father trying to save his daughter.

The film centers on a mute handyman named Wang Wei, who is a single father. After his young daughter is kidnapped by human traffickers, he is forced to go on a one-man mission to save her while local corrupt police officers refuse to be of any help. 

The film then turns into an action-laced rescue mission with plenty of brutal fight scenes and mixed-martial arts stunt choreography. The cast includes several actors with a mixed martial arts background, which makes the film even more entertaining in terms of fight sequences. 

The film stars Xie Miao, Yang Enyou, Yayan Ruhian, and Jeeja Yanin, among other well-known Asian celebrities who have made a name for themselves across the world. As for Tanigaki, he already has a considerable fan following thanks to his three-decade-long career in action choreography and stunt coordination in Hong Kong, Japan, and Hollywood. Having made movies like Hidden Man and Twilight of the Warriors: Walled In, it is not a surprise that he came out with a flick as impressive as The Furious.

The Furious is currently running in theaters across the U.S.

Have you watched Kenji Tanigaki’s critically-acclaimed movie yet?