If you are drawn to characters who live in the moral grey, take matters into their own hands and refuse to play by society’s rules, then these action thrillers deserve a spot on your watchlist. Anti-heroes stand apart from the classic ‘good guy’ trope – they aren’t exactly villains, but are often flawed and driven by ambition or personal traumas that push them down dark paths. Their charisma and unpredictable nature make them highly engaging to watch while challenging us to question what is right and wrong. If you are looking for engaging action thrillers with morally grey characters, then the following movies and web series show them in all their gritty, unapologetic glory, each offering a different take on these fascinating figures.
1. Vikram Vedha (2017) – Disney+ Hotstar
The movie is a stylish, action-packed Tamil thriller centring around two main characters: Vikram, a tough and principled cop, and Vedha, a charismatic gangster with a philosophical outlook on life. The movie is inspired by the folk tale of Vikram and Betaal, where the hero and the villain engage in a series of thought-provoking exchanges. In this modern retelling, Vedha (Vijay Sethupathi) tells Vikram (R Madhavan) stories that challenge his perception of right and wrong, creating a tense cat-and-mouse game that keeps the audience guessing. Vedha is a quintessential anti-hero – he is ruthless and often violent, but he also operates with a moral code that makes his actions feel justified. Vikram, on the other hand, represents law and order but is not immune to his own flaws, making him just as morally ambiguous. There’s also a Hindi remake starring Saif Ali Khan and Hrithik Roshan.
2. Breaking Bad – Netflix
This is a groundbreaking web series that redefined the anti-hero narrative on television. It follows the journey of Walter White, a high school chemistry teacher who becomes a meth manufacturer after discovering he has terminal cancer. What begins as a way to secure his family’s future turns into a quest for power and control, transforming Walter from a mild-mannered teacher into the feared drug lord, Heisenberg. The show quite skillfully portrays his moral descent. Boasting a cast of unforgettable characters and intense storytelling, the series is a must-watch for fans of anti-hero narratives, as it pushes boundaries and keeps viewers hooked.
3. Dexter – Netflix
Dexter Morgan is a forensic analyst for the Miami Metro Police by day and a serial killer who targets other killers by night. Driven by his own twisted moral code and a compulsion he calls his ‘Dark Passenger’, which he controls by hunting criminals who have evaded justice. With his meticulously balanced double life, Dexter’s actions create complicated and suspense-filled situations as he attempts to maintain a semblance of normalcy. We get a peek into the psyche of a character who is terrifying and oddly sympathetic, making viewers question their preconceived ideas of justice, morality, and redemption. The darkly thrilling series offers a unique spin on the anti-hero archetype.
4. Agneepath – Netflix
This is an iconic Bollywood movie that explores the dark journey of an anti-hero consumed by vengeance. The story follows Vijay Dinanath Chauhan, a young man whose life is shattered when his father, an honest school teacher, is falsely accused and murdered by a ruthless gangster, Kancha Cheena. Determined to avenge his father and reclaim his family’s honour, Vijay – portrayed powerfully by Amitabh Bachchan in the 1990 original and later by Hrithik Roshan in the 2012 remake – embarks on a violent path, entering the criminal underworld to gain power and defeat his nemesis. With intense performances, haunting dialogues, and a storyline that captures the emotional toll of revenge, the movie keeps you glued to the screen till the end.
5. 7 Khoon Maaf – Amazon Prime Video
Based on Ruskin Bond’s novella Susanna’s Seven Husbands, this gripping psychological thriller revolves around Susanna Anna-Marie Johannes, a woman on a relentless quest for love and companionship – only for each of her marriages to end in tragedy and murder. Played brilliantly by Priyanka Chopra, Susanna is an anti-heroine whose desire for affection leads her down a dangerous path. The story follows her as she marries different men, each embodying different vices – from possessiveness and cruelty to betrayal. When Susanna realises the flaws of her husbands, she eliminates them. However, her odd situations leave us in a moral fix – whether to support her or pray for her downfall.
6. Aarya – Disney+ Hotstar
A captivating crime thriller series that explores the transformation of a devoted wife and mother into a powerful anti-heroine. Sushmita Sen stars as Aarya Sareen, a woman thrust into the dangerous world of crime after her husband is murdered. Initially a doting mother with no ties to her husband’s drug empire, Aarya is left with no choice but to take control of the family business to protect her children and find the truth behind her husband’s death. As she navigates the underworld, she makes morally ambiguous decisions, crossing legal and ethical lines, all in the name of survival and family. Inspired by the Dutch series Penoza, the series offers a unique anti-hero narrative, portraying a strong female protagonist who challenges societal expectations.
7. Baby Driver – JioCinema
Baby (Ansel Elgort) is a young, music-obsessed driver with an extraordinary talent for high-speed escapes. Baby, reluctantly working for crime boss Doc (Kevin Spacey) to pay off a debt, is a unique anti-hero – charismatic and endearing, yet part of a dangerous criminal underworld. Despite his role as a getaway driver, Baby is driven by a moral compass that sets him apart from his ruthless associates. He dreams of a life beyond crime, especially when he meets Debora (Lily James), a kind girl who inspires him to escape his dangerous world. But as he plans his final job, Baby gets dragged deeper into the web of crime. With pulse-pounding action, a killer soundtrack, and a protagonist who’s both relatable and morally complex, the movie is a refreshing, high-octane take on the anti-hero story.
 with morally grey characters that will leave you on the edge-of-the-seat; on Disney+ Hotstar, Amazon Prime Video and more (2024))
