This December, the free streaming platform Pluto TV is offering an unconventional kind of holiday movie collection. The streamer's "Holidays are Brutal" library offers viewers a way to release some of that pent-up tension during the stress of the holidays with a huge list of classic action-packed movies. From colosseum battles to smart-mouthed cops, vampire hunters and murderous robots from the future, Pluto TV invites audiences to kick back and escape the Christmas stress with these great movies. Watch With Us wants to highlight some of the best movies you can stream from this collection. Check out our picks below and Pluto TV's full lineup of action-heavy movies this holiday season. If You Have to Watch '80s Movies, Stream These 5 Masterpieces Now 'Gladiator' (2000) In 180 Rome, general Maximus Decimus Meridius (Russell Crowe) is chosen to succeed the throne from Emperor Marcus Aurelius (Richard Harris). Enraged at being passed over by his own father, the ambitious and conniving Commodus (Joaquin Phoenix), murders his father and takes the throne. He arranges for the murder of Maximus' family and has him sent into slavery, where Maximus becomes a gladiator. As he rises through the ranks, Maximus gets closer to seeking vengeance. This period epic won Best Picture at the Academy Awards in 2001, and its massive popularity led to a sequel that was released in 2024 starring Paul Mescal. Gladiator's enduring popularity stems from its massive scale, unforgettable performances from Phoenix and Crowe and exciting direction from Ridley Scott. 'Beverly Hills Cop' (1984) Street-smart Detroit cop Axel Foley (Eddie Murphy) travels to Beverly Hills to investigate the murder of his childhood best friend. Feigning a California vacation, he checks in with an old acquaintance, whose boss he believes might somehow be connected to his friend's murder. But the Beverly Hills Police Lieutenant (Ronny Cox) is suspicious of Foley and gets in the way of Foley's investigation. The immediate blockbuster success of Beverly Hills Cops made Eddie Murphy an international megastar, and the movie remains one of the best action-comedy films of all time. With a briskly-plotted, funny script made into a masterpiece by virtue of Murphy's wise-cracking, fast-talking performance, Beverly Hills Cop remains one of Murphy's best movie roles. 'Rambo: First Blood (1982) In search of an old friend, Vietnam veteran John J. Rambo (Sylvester Stallone) finds his way into a rural town in Washington state, but is met with unkindness and judgment by the town's local sheriff (Brian Dennehy), who assumes Rambo to be a drifter. When the sheriff and his deputies arrest and mistreat Rambo, his war-induced PTSD is triggered, and he goes berserk. As Rambo fends off a manhunt, his hunters quickly realize that they are the ones being hunted. Stallone's commanding performance as Rambo has become iconic in Hollywood history, with the success of First Blood spawning an entire Rambo franchise. The first film excels as a gritty survival film, but it is also a surprisingly empathetic look at the after-effects of war and the PTSD endured by veterans. 'The Terminator' (1984) Traveling back in time from 2029, a cyborg assassin known as a Terminator (Arnold Schwarzenegger) disguises itself as a human with a mission to kill a woman named Sarah Connor (Linda Hamilton) - whose life holds the key to preventing an artificial intelligence takeover in the future. With the relentless Terminator hot on her trail, she is aided by Kyle Reese (Michael Biehn), who explains the nuclear holocaust that will transpire if she doesn't escape. The Terminator was a surprise box office hit in 1984, effectively launching director James Cameron's career and solidifying Schwarzenegger as leading man material. When you watch The Terminator, it's obvious why the movie became a phenomenon: it's a unique, energetic and epic action thriller, the kind of well-crafted but highly entertaining blockbuster that just doesn't get made anymore. 'Blade' (1998) Based on the Marvel Comics character, this superhero film is very different from something you'd watch out of the Marvel Cinematic Universe. Wesley Snipes plays Blade, a human/vampire hybrid who uses his superhuman abilities to battle real vampires while also battling his own thirst for human blood. Blade hunts down a group of vampires led by the vicious Deacon Frost (Stephen Dorff), who are intent on summoning an ancient vampire god to wipe out humanity. 11 Great Action Movies on Hulu Right Now (December 2025) Blade developed a cult following in the years since its release, and it has come to be regarded as one of Snipes' defining roles. With highly stylized direction and cinematography, exciting action set pieces and dynamic editing, Blade is an atmospheric and highly violent superhero film that's light on plot but high in fast-paced entertainment value. Need More Action? Pluto TV Is Where It's at If you're craving more action-packed thrills, you're in luck.