I was a huge Scandal fan, always hoping Olivia and Fitz would finally get their happily ever after in Vermont, and I adored the morally grey Annalise Keating on How to Get Away with Murder. But I never imagined the actresses who brought these iconic characters to life would be headlining their own action movies. Damn, was I shortsighted. 

In the past month, we’ve been gifted two Black woman-led action movies—G20 and Shadow Force—starring Viola Davis and Kerry Washington, and I need to explain why I hope this is only the beginning of their action queen era.

G20, available to watch on Prime, isn’t trying to reinvent the action genre. It’s a capable, family-friendly thriller that you could watch with your teenager and likely predict the twists and turns along the way.

But what makes the film stand out is Viola Davis, who once again proves she’s a force to be reckoned with on screen. Playing the President of the United States during a hostage crisis at the G20 summit, she moves between high-stakes diplomacy and brutal hand-to-hand combat like it’s second nature. One minute she’s negotiating foreign policy and the next she’s taking baddies down with jiu-jitsu. She’s magnetic, and her electric chemistry with Ramon Rodriguez gives big Bodyguard vibes.

And this isn’t just a random role for the Oscar winner; Davis carved out this space for herself by producing G20 through her and her husband Julius’s company, JuVee Productions. 

She’s long been a force in the industry, and G20 feels like a natural progression after The Woman King, where she redefined what a warrior queen could look like. That film proved she could lead a massive action epic with power and heart, and G20 refines that focus. 

TBH, it’s hard not to want stronger material for someone with this level of talent, but I’m happy to see her shine here. Watching Davis handle weapons and take down henchmen with precision? Bliss! She needs an Atomic Blonde or Sarah Connor moment ASAP.

But the fact that Davis can elevate this standard action drama shows just how magnetic she truly is. And she’s not alone.

In Shadow Force, which opens this weekend, Kerry Washington stars as a former black-ops agent forced to go on the run with her husband (Omar Sy) to protect their son from a vengeful and corrupt boss who wants to take them out. 

Like G20, family is at the heart of the story. But let’s be clear: The real thrill is watching Washington go full beast mode. She moves through this role with precision and purpose, bringing the same intensity she brought to Scandal, but here, she gets to move. She’s flipping bodies, sliding across floors and manhandling everyone from her knucklehead husband to the untouchable crew of assassins hunting her down. 

That said, Shadow Force is in need of a much stronger script. There are a few plot holes, and some of the decisions these elite ex-agents make are incredibly questionable. But that doesn’t stop Washington from commanding the screen as she does everything possible to protect her adorable son, played by Jahleel Kamara.

Mark Strong (who doesn’t age) is fantastic as the corrupt CIA bad guy, and the rest of the supporting cast really shines, including Da’Vine Joy Randolph and Method Man as “Auntie” and “Unc,” black-ops agents who help Washington out. Their banter is super fun, and Randolph continues to steal every scene she’s in. Why haven’t we seen more of her since her Oscar win for The Holdovers? This woman can do it all: comedy, drama and now action. And frankly, she deserves to be front and center in her own movie(s). 

Here’s a fun tidbit: Shadow Force is co-produced by Washington and Sterling K. Brown, who was originally slated to star in the film. His onscreen involvement could have taken this movie in a whole different direction. Sterling has such undeniable charm and range, and after seeing what he brought to Paradise, I’m left wanting to see him kick some serious ass. He’s got the charisma and the chops to be a standout action hero, and I’d love to see more of that side of him.

Ultimately, G20 and Shadow Force both follow the typical action movie formula. But what sets them apart is that they’re the result of Davis and Washington taking the reins themselves and elevating the material. And hopefully, this is just the beginning. Because now that I’ve seen them go full action hero? I want more.