This Collider article argues that 2026 has been a standout year not only for horror but also for action cinema, positioning the Chinese-language wuxia epic Blades of the Guardians as one of the year's biggest action successes. Directed by veteran action choreographer Yuen Woo-ping — the man who brought wire-fu to Western audiences via Crouching Tiger, Hidden Dragon — the film is highlighted as it arrives on the premium video-on-demand (PVOD) market following a strong theatrical run in China.

Blades of the Guardians grossed more than $200 million in China and stars a roster of Chinese and Hong Kong icons including Wu Jing, Nicholas Tse, Tony Leung Ka-fai and Jet Li. Critics have responded warmly, with the film holding a 97% score on Rotten Tomatoes, where the consensus praises its fluid action, pulpy melodrama and grand battles. The piece frames this alongside the year's horror hits — such as Obsession and Backrooms, which together grossed nearly $800 million — to illustrate a broadly strong year for non-franchise genre films.