Action

stands out as one of the most marketable and appealing genres for widespread audiences, bringing movie fans into a world of skilled fighters, and reflecting a competence that everyone would like to believe they are capable of. There are plenty of action movies you can always rewatch, but also a handful that might appeal to an individual’s tastes less, yet still must be seen at least once. The best action movies of all time cover both categories, which propelled the genre forward with fresh plots and incredible fight choreography.

These тιтles are so iconic and resulted in such astounding leaps for action that everyone has to see them, just for context on the cultural zeitgeist. On the other hand, maybe they achieved a unique brand of action that has struggled to be replicated. You have the option of saying a certain landmark action movie is just not for you, but you still need to see them one time to be well-informed.

10

Mad Max: Fury Road (2015)

Directed By George Miller

Arguably the best action movie of all time, few things out there can rival George Miller’s gritty, post-apocalyptic world and the high-octane open-road chase sequences that take place within it, as realized in the legacy sequel Mad Max: Fury Road. The straightforward story is loaded with nuances about resources, dictatorships, survival, faith, and community, as Furiosa attempts to ferry several previously imprisoned women to safety and haphazardly ends up with the help of the тιтular character and a defected soldier.

In terms of design, Fury Road pulls no punches, from Furiosa’s powerhouse war rig that she maneuverers with ease to the ghostly and zealous war boys to a musician with a flame-throwing guitar joining the chase apparently just to deliver a kind of war cry. This movie is widely considered perfect and very difficult not to like, but everyone must see it to understand the standard all other chase sequences aspire to reach.

9

Terminator 2: Judgment Day (1991)

Directed By James Cameron

The Terminator franchise established many tropes of the killer robots and time travel subgenres and is also often touted as an example of when a sequel surpᴀssed the original movie, even when that first installment was a groundbreaking, near-universally acclaimed picture. The T-800, Sarah, and John become a perfect trio, all fearless in the face of Skynet’s impending takeover and balancing out each other’s characterizations. Terminator 2: Judgment Day takes the tense atmosphere of the first movie and improves upon it with a less inevitable story.

Driving the movie is the twist on the original of the T-800 being an ally, with Arnold Schwarzenegger delivering a career-defining performance of his charge’s growing bond with John. There is, of course, fantastic action and effects aplenty, and a myriad of unrivaled iconic one-liners. Even before you watch this movie obligatorily one time, you are probably familiar with the catchphrases of “Hasta la vista, baby” and “Come with me if you want to live.“

8

Die Hard (1988)

Directed By John McTiernan

Die Hard showcases an everyman turned action hero in a high-stakes scenario, wherein a gang of terrorists takes over an office building during a Christmas party — awkwardly making this movie a Christmas staple even though the setting has little to do with the story or its themes. Of course, once one has watched it, they can decide for themselves if it is really a Christmas movie. Bruce Willis is a powerful force as the determined and resourceful John McClane, but it is Alan Rickman who really shines as the suave, charismatic, and terrifying villain Hans Gruber.

Die Hard is a masterclass in tension, from John’s slow crawl through the building to his face-to-face meeting with Gruber. There are also famous quotes and explosions to thrill viewers, offering a kind of release after such a physically contained story. However, seeing Die Hard once is necessary to understand the everyman action trope, and how viewers want to see themselves in their heroes.

7

Pirates Of The Caribbean: The Curse Of The Black Pearl (2003)

Directed By Gore Verbinski

The influence of Pirates of the Caribbean on the broader action genre is perhaps limited outside of Disney, as the franchise went into a gradual decline after its surprise smash hit in the summer of 2003. However, nearly everyone agrees that the first Pirates of the Caribbean movie is the best, and rightfully so, when it represents a platonic ideal of pirate-centric, swashbuckling period action that has historically struggled in cinema. A classic Treasure Island-esque plot is given a twist with the bizarre talents of Johnny Depp as Captain Jack Sparrow.

Jack keeps the whole thing feeling fresh and modern, but Curse of the Black Pearl has the foundation of a solid story with clear individual motives and appealing characterizations. Additionally, the action is gorgeous, with detailed, stunningly choreographed sword fights reminiscent of The Princess Bride. Pirates might have fallen into disrepute in the years since, but it is worth it to see the first installment one time to understand what this franchise once was.

6

Speed (1994)

Directed By Jan de Bont

Speed is also a great lesson in how to keep an audience on edge throughout the movie’s runtime, with its inversely contained and moving setting and a singular concept for the threat. Speed doesn’t have as strong of a legacy as Die Hard, spawning much poorer sequels and imitators, making it all the more important to see the original iteration and understand where the others failed when they tried to achieve the same effect.

The high-stakes but relatively believable premise is aided by the strong individual performances of Keanu Reeves and Sandra Bullock, as well as their great on-screen chemistry. Speed thrills viewers with one curveball after another as the main characters struggle to keep the bus up to speed in an unpredictable landscape. It is an action flick in its purest form, telling a standalone story about innovation and heroism.

5

Enter The Dragon (1973)

Directed By Robert Clouse

Bruce Lee’s influence on the action genre can’t be overstated. He became a benchmark for martial arts-based action in movies across the decades, and Enter the Dragon is one of the тιтles that best showcases his talents, his only Hollywood production that was released shortly after his death. With a plot that speaks to some spy thriller fans, Enter the Dragon‘s tournament premise is a vehicle for great fights and character arcs.

Bruce Lee changed martial arts movies in many ways, including delivering on action that looks incredible but is still technically possible, as he performed his own stunts. Realism is a factor that action movies now all like to boast, perhaps most notably in the case of the works of Tom Cruise. Those who consider themselves action fans should go back to the beginning with the movie that inspired grounded martial arts movies that demanded such dedication worldwide.

4

Inception (2010)

Directed By Christopher Nolan

Inception is a reality-bending adventure that defines Christopher Nolan’s career, with production design and concepts that everyone should taste at some point in their lives. Leonardo DiCaprio’s protagonist, aided by right and left-hand support played by Joeseph Gordon-Levitt and Elliot Page, infiltrates dreams within dreams within dreams. Nolan notably used practical sets for Inception where possible, creating an experience that is otherworldly yet tangible.

While it may leave one questioning the real meaning of Inception‘s ending forever, you need to see it once to try your own hand at interpreting one of the most confusing movies ever. The action and the visuals are too unique not to be sampled. Some may find it too confusing for their tastes, but at least they can complain about this properly, having actually watched the multi-Oscar nominee.

3

Baby Driver (2017)

Directed By Edgar Wright

Baby Driver might not end up on many lists of the absolute best action movies of all time, but Edgar Wright’s genre-bending adventure deserves consideration, including and especially because of its car chases. Wright crafted a fresh, retro-meets-Fast and Furious vibe with his protagonist’s knowledge of all things music and his skill behind the wheel. With some perfect soundtrack choices accompanying the action, Baby Driver has the edge of all good action movies but with a classically cool cover.

Ansel Elgort and Lily James are endearing in the lead roles, with a cast of A-listers backing them up. Baby Driver is also a kind of redemption story, a common theme in such action movies, about Baby trying to find a way out of his criminal work. The bittersweet ending has some old Hollywood notes, setting most people up to be excited for Baby Driver 2, even if they never watch the first movie again.

2

Kill Bill (2003)

Directed By Quentin Tarantino

Kill Bill is Quentin Tarantino’s answer to all the great samurai movies, following a wronged woman left for ᴅᴇᴀᴅ by her former allies on a quest for revenge that will push her to her limits. Within the movie’s two parts, Uma Thurman, Lucy Liu, Daryl Hannah, and David Carradine give тιԍнт, melodramatic performances that capture exactly what kind of story Tarantino wants to tell. Kill Bill is over-the-top, but it is still about endurance and training paying off with unparalleled skill.

The fight scenes draw upon previous iconic movies and inspired the ones that came after it, with The Bride being a one-woman army. It all ends on a surprisingly happy note, barring the theories about what would happen in Kill Bill: Vol. 3. Anyone who loves a good revenge story or at least admires Tarantino needs to see Kill Bill to understand the director’s tastes and his forays into blockbuster action.

1

John Wick (2014)

Directed By Chad Stahelski

Kill Bill shares the status with John Wick of being some of the best revenge movies of all time, with the tortured protagonist driven by the goal of personal justice. We might not have thought Keanu Reeves could do something more memorable than Speed or The Matrix, but he became a terrifying, honed hitman who can win any battle. However, John Wick also very much stands out in terms of action, making waves like few other movies in the 21st century.

Namely, John Wick‘s fight scenes are highly stylized, leveraging both the character’s evident martial arts training and the sleek settings of luxury he finds himself in to deliver a visual feast every time. The real challenge for the John Wick spinoff Ballerina is to live up to this, although given Ana de Armas’ experience with No Time to Die, it is certainly possible. John Wick is another action тιтle that occupies such a space in cultural consciousness that everyone should see it once to see what it’s all about.